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MoneySmart Celebrates 15 Years of Empowering Consumers Through Smarter Financial Choices

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MoneySmart Group, Southeast Asia’s leading personal finance group, is proud to celebrate 15 years of empowering individuals and families to make smarter financial decisions through its flagship brand, MoneySmart. Since its founding in 2009, MoneySmart has evolved from a simple loan comparison site into a trusted and comprehensive financial marketplace and content hub, helping millions of users navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence.

Originally launched in Singapore (moneysmart.sg), and later expanding into Hong Kong SAR in 2017 (moneysmart.hk), the MoneySmart brand has been central to MoneySmart Group’s evolution, laying the foundation for the broader group business. Since then, over the last two years, MoneySmart has attracted over 60 million visits to its platform and facilitated more than 750,000 transactions, spanning a diverse range of financial products such as credit cards, loans and insurance.

Building on years of consumer insights gained through MoneySmart, the Group expanded into the insurance space in 2022 with the launch of Bubblegum, a digital-first insurtech brand. Bubblegum reflects the Group’s ongoing mission to provide not only expert advice and comparison tools, but also to push the boundaries to create financial products designed with the needs and preferences of today’s consumers. As part of the Group’s broader achievements, the launch of Bubblegum highlights MoneySmart Group’s continued commitment to shaping the future of personal finance across Singapore and Hong Kong SAR.

15 Years of Growth and Innovation

Vinod Nair, Founder and CEO, MoneySmart Group said, “Reaching our 15th anniversary is a significant milestone that speaks to the trust our customers, partners, employees and investors have placed in us. It’s a reminder of how far we have come from our early days. We started in 2009 with a dream to simplify the confusing world of personal finance and empower people to take charge of their financial futures as the first financial aggregator in the region. We’ve made great strides in bringing that to life but there’s so much more ahead.”

“Our approach has always been to stay focused on creating real value and driving long-term impact and growth. As we look to the future, we’re more determined than ever to push the boundaries of how financial products, knowledge and advice converge to guide consumers confidently,” said Nair.

Key Milestones Over the Past 15 Years

Expansion and Reach:

Grown from a small startup to a regional leader with a team size of over 140 across Singapore, Hong Kong SAR and remotely. This growth has been instrumental in supporting the Group’s ambitions to scale operations efficiently and effectively, and serve customers better.Achieved a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 34% in revenue from 2018 to 2023, demonstrating steady, long-term growth across the Group’s portfolio of brands.Attracted over 60 million visits to the MoneySmart platform in the last two years alone, establishing its position as one of the region’s most trusted personal finance platforms.Facilitated more than 750,000 transactions across credit cards, loans, insurance and investment products on MoneySmart Singapore and Hong Kong in the past two years. This milestone reflects the Group’s ability to provide high-value customer engagement across the financial ecosystem.Launched Bubblegum in 2022 which now covers travel, car and personal accident insurance. Bubblegum leverages MoneySmart’s extensive experience in understanding what consumers want and need to deliver desirable and value driven products and digital experience.

Customer Impact:

Launched SmartRewards on MoneySmart in 2023, providing members with flexibility and choice in how they are rewarded. The programme, which now features over 70 partner merchants, has processed more than 100 million points to date, offering members access to an ever-growing range of rewards from leading brands like Apple, Sony and Amazon. By putting the power of choice in the hands of customers, we’ve created a rewarding experience that aligns with their personal goals and preferences.Rolled out personalised recommendations in 2023, helping over 70,000 MoneySmart users across Singapore and Hong Kong SAR to date find the right credit cards, insurance and loan products tailored to their specific needs. By tailoring suggestions to individual needs, lifestyles and financial goals, we’ve made it easier for customers to discover relevant products and make confident and informed decisions.Published more than 5,000 articles across our moneysmart.sg and moneysmart.hk content platforms, building one of the most comprehensive financial knowledge hubs in the region. From budgeting tips to in-depth financial product comparisons, we’ve guided millions of consumers through complex financial decisions, helping them gain clarity and control over their financial futures.Achieved a Google Review rating of 4.4 in Singapore and 4.3 in Hong Kong SAR for MoneySmart, and a Trustpilot rating of 4.4 and Google Review rating of 4.3 for Bubblegum in 2024. These ratings reflect our ongoing commitment to delivering high levels of customer satisfaction across both markets and brands.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

Built strong relationships with over 120 financial institutions across banking, insurance and investment sectors. These partnerships enable the MoneySmart marketplace to feature a comprehensive range of products, solidifying the Group’s position as a trusted intermediary in the personal finance ecosystem.Played a pivotal role in driving customer acquisition for financial institutions by providing them with a platform to connect with consumers searching for personal finance products.

Positioning for the Future

Raymond Ong, Chief Financial Officer, MoneySmart Group added, “Our financial discipline and focus on operational excellence have been the backbone of our success over the years, allowing us to adapt and thrive in a competitive market. By managing resources wisely and staying committed to efficiency, we’ve created sustainable value for our stakeholders. As we continue to grow, we’re excited to explore new opportunities that will strengthen our position and continue empowering consumers with confidence and clarity to achieve their financial goals.”

About MoneySmart Group

MoneySmart Group is a leading personal finance group in Southeast Asia, encompassing two dynamic brands: MoneySmart and Bubblegum. Bringing together these brands to offer a comprehensive range of financial products, knowledge and advice, MoneySmart Group is dedicated to empowering consumers with clarity, confidence and control over their financial future.

MoneySmart serves as a financial marketplace and content platform for consumers to make informed decisions across a variety of banking, insurance and investment products. We do the hard work of compiling the information and sharing advice to make it easy for you to understand, compare and choose the best personal finance products for you. Our SmartRewards programme also enables customers to earn points on transactions that can be redeemed for rewards.

Under our Bubblegum brand, we create desirable insurance products and experiences, aiming to become the leading digital insurtech brand of the future.

For more information, please visit www.moneysmart.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Jasmine Hong
Communications Manager, MoneySmart Group
jasmine.hong@moneysmart.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/moneysmart-celebrates-15-years-of-empowering-consumers-through-smarter-financial-choices-302291515.html

SOURCE MoneySmart Group

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Anthology’s Blackboard Ranked as a Top Learning Management System by Leading EdTech Analyst Firm

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BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Anthology, the leading educational technology company, today announced Blackboard secured a top placement in the inaugural Tambellini StarChart™ 2024 for Learning Management Systems (LMS). Blackboard was rated as a Commander, a distinction reserved for market leaders with highly innovative and user-focused designs that push the boundaries of technology and usability to new heights.

Combined with its leadership in AI-driven features that optimize instructional efficiency and support student AI literacy, Blackboard stands among the top of the LMS platforms available.  

Blackboard has released more features than any other LMS over the past three years and was the first major LMS to offer generative AI features in the market. Its award-winning AI Design Assistant and the recently released AI Conversation tools are empowering learners and educators to drive AI literacy, enhance learning, and optimize instructional efficiencies.

“It’s clear to see the significant investment Anthology has placed into Blackboard,” said Matthew Winn, Ph.D., Senior Analyst at the Tambellini Group. “Today’s Blackboard is aggressive in its commitment to the user experience, with a foundation in customer collaboration and a co-design process that captures the voice of educators and learners. Combined with its leadership in AI-driven features that optimize instructional efficiency and support student AI literacy, Blackboard stands among the top of the LMS platforms available.”

Anthology’s Blackboard has won and been recognized for a multitude of awards and commendations in 2024, including being ranked as a Leader in the G2 Learning Management System Grid® Report, reflecting high Satisfaction and Market Presence scores. Blackboard was also recognized as a 2024 SIIA CODiE Awards “Learning Management System” Finalist.

“Higher education is navigating many challenges. That’s why we invest so heavily in innovation and thoughtful features in Blackboard—to help institutions improve efficiencies, engage students more deeply, and incorporate cutting-edge technology in a meaningful way,” said Bruce Dahlgren, CEO of Anthology. “We are focused on delivering solutions with our customers that make a real difference and create life-changing opportunities around the world.” 

Built upon the robust foundation of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Blackboard ensures a seamless, integrated educational experience.  The AI features currently released in Blackboard are included as standard in core licenses. All AI features are developed following Anthology’s trustworthy AI approach. Learn more about Blackboard at anthology.com or sign up for a free trial at anthology.com/try.

Tambellini Group is a leading independent technology research, analyst, and advisory firm dedicated exclusively to higher education.

About Anthology

Anthology delivers education and technology solutions so that students can reach their full potential and learning institutions thrive. Millions of students around the world are supported throughout their education journey via Anthology’s ecosystem of flagship SaaS solutions and supporting services, including the award-winning Blackboard® (LMS), Anthology® Student (SIS/ERP), and Anthology® Reach (CRM). Through the Power of Together, we are uniquely inspiring educators and institutions with innovation that is meaningful, simple and intelligent to help customers redefine what’s possible and create life-changing opportunities for people everywhere. www.anthology.com.

Media contacts:
Erin Mitchell, Director of Communications, Anthology. Erin.Mitchell@anthology.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anthologys-blackboard-ranked-as-a-top-learning-management-system-by-leading-edtech-analyst-firm-302291824.html

SOURCE Anthology

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MoFo Survey: Tech M&A Revival Buoyed by Market Rally, Lower Financing Costs, and Private Equity Deal Making

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Enthusiasm for transformative technologies and drive to maintain competitive advantages in an evolving tech ecosystem fuel optimism for increased dealmaking in 2025

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, today announced the results of its annual Tech M&A Survey conducted in conjunction with Mergermarket, which reveals that momentum for tech dealmaking is gathering steam amid market optimism and demand for transformative technologies across all sectors. This is reflected in aggregate reported deal value, which surged by 39% reaching $482 billion so far in 2024. The new Morrison Foerster and Mergermarket survey report, “Powering Up: Sentiment, Stocks, and Security Drive the Tech Deal Revival” shows that 54% of respondents are expecting deal volumes to increase over the next 12 months, up from 48% in last year’s survey.

Morrison Foerster’s Tech M&A Survey conducted in conjunction with Mergermarket reveals that momentum for tech dealmaking is gathering steam amid market optimism and demand for transformative technologies across all sectors.

“We’re seeing a renewed appetite for big-ticket tech M&A, driven by improved buyer sentiment and a rally in key tech stocks,” said Brandon Parris, partner and co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s global M&A practice. “The tech M&A market is reawakening, marked by a trend toward fewer but heftier transactions. This energy is a decisive shift from last year’s retreat, laying the foundations for a recovery in 2025.”

“Dealmakers are evaluating more considerations in this shifting market with deal structures that offer flexibility, shared risk, and performance guarantees,” added Jeremy White, partner and co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s global M&A practice. “However, tech M&A continues to be a priority as investor interest in larger, domestic acquisitions of high growth companies are seen as the key for unlocking the promise of transformative technologies like generative AI.”

Key Findings

More Tech M&A Deals Expected Ahead: The technology sector witnessed a resurgence in M&A activity during the first nine months of 2024. Volume remained steady at 6,500 deals, while aggregate deal value surged by 39%, reaching $482 billion. This aligns with sentiment among survey participants, with fifty-four percent of respondents expecting deal volumes to increase over the next 12 months, up from 48% in our previous survey.Private Equity Leads Revival: Private equity firms are especially bullish with 57% anticipating tech deals compared to 51% of corporates. Global private equity-backed deals worth $5 billion and above jumped in 2024 and totaled $123.64 billion as of July, already exceeding the $75.2 billion for full year 2023.Tech’s AI Transformation Just Beginning: Survey respondents indicated that companies in business services (59%), technology (55%), and retail (42%) are leading in AI integration and utilization by quickly adopting AI for central tasks. Pharmaceuticals, medical and biotech (51%), and energy, mining, and utilities (49%) were identified as the sectors with the most potential for new or improved AI.Alternative Deal Structures Maintain Appeal: Investors are looking to mitigate financial, regulatory, or market risks through minority investments, earnouts, and other alternatives like joint ventures and contingent consideration. Eighty percent of PE firms surveyed will be exploring minority investments in their tech M&A plans over the next 12 months. Seventy-eight percent of corporate buyers will use earnouts or contingent considerations in future tech M&A transactions.Rise of Shareholder Activism: The focus on technology’s tremendous disruptive potential and high valuations has led to an increase in shareholder activism globally. Fifty-one percent of respondents indicated that shareholder activism in connection with tech M&A is likely to increase over the next three years. Dealmakers now need to carefully assess and prepare for potential activist investors when initiating M&A activity. The introduction of the universal proxy card in the United States has led to the proliferation of first-time occasional activists.ESG Standards Here to Stay: Dealmakers continue to focus on ESG considerations during risk assessments for acquisition targets and rated it 8.1 out of 10 this year. The responses increased to 8.7 out of 10 in ESG importance for future due diligence. New ESG disclosure requirements from various jurisdictions should provide standardized reporting for future M&A due diligence.

To download the full survey results with additional insights, visit: https://www.mofo.com/tech-ma-forecast.

Methodology

In Q2 2024, Mergermarket surveyed 300 dealmakers from around the world to gain insights into the future of technology related M&A. Respondents were equally distributed among corporates with a minimum of $250 million in annual revenue and private equity (PE) firms with a minimum of $500 million in assets under management. In respect of geography, 30% of respondents were based in North America, 30% in Europe, 30% in Asia-Pacific, and 10% in Latin America. All responses are anonymous, and the results are presented in aggregate.

About Morrison Foerster

Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been named to The American Lawyer’s A-List for 20 of the ranking’s 21 years. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of having at least 30% women, minority, LGBTQ+, and lawyers with disabilities representation across notable leadership roles and within partnership. In addition, the firm was selected as the “Outstanding Firm for Diversity & Inclusion” as part of the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: USA 2023. Morrison Foerster also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment. For more information, visit http://www.mofo.com.

Media Contact

Ming Lacey, Morrison Foerster, 917-340-7251, mlacey@mofo.com, https://www.mofo.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/mofo-survey-tech-ma-revival-buoyed-by-market-rally-lower-financing-costs-and-private-equity-deal-making-302291268.html

SOURCE Morrison Foerster

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PropertyChecker.com Set to Exhibit at NAR NXT – The REALTOR® Experience 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts

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Boston, Massachusetts, October 30, 2024, PropertyChecker will be exhibiting at the largest real estate expo in the nation and will be introducing their exclusive PropertyChecker Pro membership to realtors, either individuals or agencies.

BOSTON, Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Boston, Massachusetts, October 30, 2024, PropertyChecker will be exhibiting at the largest real estate expo in the nation and will be introducing an exclusive PropertyChecker Pro membership to realtors, either individuals or agencies. Up to 10 users can use the same membership, and they benefit from customized PDF reports. All attendees are invited to stop by their booth and see firsthand why their platform is changing the way real estate transactions are made.

NAR NXT is the largest annual event for top-tier real estate professionals. It features education and networking sessions that encompass every aspect of the real estate industry with renowned speakers from around the globe.

In today’s ever-evolving real estate landscape, making informed decisions can feel like navigating a maze without a map. Whether a seasoned investor, a first-time homebuyer, or an agent striving to close the perfect deal, understanding property data is one’s compass in this complex market.

From tracking trends and pricing dynamics to uncovering hidden gems and potential pitfalls, leveraging accurate property information empowers everyone to make smarter choices that lead to successful transactions. Harnessing the power of property data is not just beneficial—it’s essential for thriving in the competitive world of real estate.

Harness The Power of Property Data:

Property Owner(s): Looking to find out information on who owns a property? Obtain details such as the property owner’s name, phone number, and mailing address.Purchase History: Uncover the property’s sales history, including past sale prices, sale dates, transfer type, and additional details.Loan Records: Conducting loan records searches reveals crucial property details, such as loan amounts, terms, rates, status, lender information, and associated names.Deeds: Searching property deed records can provide a lot of information about the property ownership. Users can find information such as type of deed, seller and buyer info, liens, and terms of sale.Property Details: Property details are essential for anyone buying, selling, or investing in real estate. Reviewing property records provides valuable insights, including square footage, bedroom and bathroom count, lot size and location, renovation history, and more.Neighborhood Info: When purchasing a home, understanding the neighborhood is crucial. Neighborhood records offer details on proximity to parks, schools, and others. PropertyChecker reports also provide critical stats like crime, school ratings, demographics, Household income, etc.Tax Records: Examining property tax records is vital for uncovering tax assessment values, owed taxes, exemptions, land, and property enhancements, and more.Market Values: Knowing property values empowers users with essential information for buying, selling, or investing. Gain insights into size, location, condition, and improvements, as well as historical changes.Building Permits: Gain essential details like permit status, type, applicant name, fees paid, effective date, and permit number.Foreclosures: Explore comprehensive foreclosure records featuring key details such as publication date, record last update, record type, borrower name, lender name, trustee name, foreclosure document instrument number, original loan amount, and auction city.Lien Records: Discover vital information within lien records, including publication date, record last update, record type, debtor name, creditor name, lien amount, lien instrument number, and lien status.Residents: Obtain detailed resident profiles, including full names, contact information, and tenure duration at specific properties.

Property data plays a pivotal role during negotiations. It equips buyers and sellers with essential information that can influence the terms of an agreement. Knowledge of local market trends, comparable property values, and historical sales data can empower negotiators to advocate for their best interests.

During due diligence, having access to comprehensive property data is crucial. Buyers need details on zoning regulations, tax assessments, and potential liens or encumbrances. This knowledge helps identify any red flags before finalizing a deal.

Sellers benefit as well; by understanding current market conditions through accurate data, they can confidently set competitive prices. Armed with this information, both parties can engage in more transparent discussions.

Ultimately, leveraging quality property data fosters trust between buyers and sellers while streamlining the entire transaction process.

For complete information, visit: https://propertychecker.com/

Media Contact

Chafiq Elbissouri, PropertyChecker, 1 (800) 396-4909, press@propertychecker.com, https://propertychecker.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/propertycheckercom-set-to-exhibit-at-nar-nxt—the-realtor-experience-2024-in-boston-massachusetts-302291590.html

SOURCE PropertyChecker

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