#security listings / delistings

[tailschannel]

Significant cuts hits IDW's parent company in a self-described "reset"

IDW Media Holdings, the parent of IDW Publishing (the company behind the Sonic the Hedgehog comics), announced major cuts in an effort to unlock financial stability.

The company terminated their New York Stock Exchange listing, shook up senior management, and slashed entire promotional and editorial departments - around 39% of its workforce.

The newly-appointed CEO characterized the axe drop a "reset."

Background

There's no other way to describe it, the cuts at IDW are significant.

The axe drop was in direct response to a poor balance sheet in a tough economic environment. IDW suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and non-publishing segments (like direct-to-consumer games) continued to illustrate repeated quarterly losses.

It's no secret that IDW experienced cash flow issues and various others financial challenges, even though the comic books in particular (like IDW Sonic and TMNT) are significant revenue generators.

The company hopes that these cost-cutting measures will provide $4.4 million USD in estimated annual savings.

The impacted

Marketing, public relations, and editorial at IDW were impacted by today's announced cuts.

Comicsbeat reported that the entire marketing and PR departments, and half of the editorial team, got the axe, with more specific details yet to come. That's 39% of the total workforce.

At press time, @idwsonicnews told us that Shawn Lee, a "designer and letterer on many IDW titles", were among the laid off. He tweeted, "whelp, I'm officially a freelancer now."

---

Meanwhile, senior management got a shakeup. Former chairman Davidi Jonas replaced Allan Grafman as Chief Economic Officer. Chief Financial Officer Brooke Feinstein was ousted, and Amber Huerta was promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

IDW also voluntarily delisted their Class B common stock from the New York Stock Exchange, the largest trading venue in the world; and suspended their reporting status to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company hoped that this will "reduce pressure on limited resources and the Company’s current inability to realize many of the benefits."

Okay, what about IDW Sonic?

Deep breaths.

At press time, there's nothing we know that flags an immediate concern for the IDW Sonic comics. However, as this is a developing situation, and the long-term outlook is uncertain, the forecast can change.

Even though it, and other comic book franchises (TMNT, etc.) continues to generate significant revenue to the publishing unit, IDW will have to enact more critical decisions to remain financially sound.

IDW Sonic editors David Mariotte and Riley Farmer have yet to officially acknowledge the parent company's announcement, but both "retweeted posts related to the layoffs," @idwsonicnews told us.

We have reached out to IDW Publishing for further comment.

(Updated Friday 11:00 pm ET)

[reasoningdaily]

The Intercept: Police Harass Veteran on Terror Watchlist, Lawsuit Says

Saadiq Long was on his way to a night shift at the transportation company he works at when he saw flashing lights behind his car. Two police cruisers were signaling him to pull over. This would be the third time in just over a month that Long, a U.S. Air Force veteran with no criminal record, had been pulled over without explanation by Oklahoma City police officers. The stops frustrated Long. He suspected he was being targeted.

After wondering again why he’d been pulled over, this time would be different: He would get some answers, however unsettling, about why it was happening.

Long, 52, was initially told by an officer who stopped him that his car had been listed in a gang database. After waiting in his car for roughly 20 minutes, the officer, according to a video that Long made of the incident, came back with a different story. The police officer told Long that his car had come up as a “hit” in a national watchlist database, one that “automatically alerts us that this vehicle is under suspicion for a terrorist watchlist.” The cop said that Long’s presence on the watchlist, rather than any driving-related infraction or accusation of criminality, was why he had been pulled over.

Long is no stranger to harassment by federal authorities. In 2015, he sued the U.S. government over his placement on the Department of Homeland Security’s no-fly list, as well as the larger terrorist watchlist from which that database is built. Eventually, Long was told his name was removed from the no-fly list, but, as the traffic stops in Oklahoma indicate, he has remained on the broader terrorism watchlist. His lawsuit in federal court related to that watchlist is still ongoing.

More immediately, Long is trying to deal with the very local consequences of being on the federal watchlist.

The U.S. government’s terror lists are often thought of as a tool for protecting against foreign national security threats. Yet in Long’s case, his continued presence on the list, which is secret and has no clear avenues for an individual to be delisted, has now resulted in an unending cycle of harassment from local police in his hometown of Oklahoma City, where he lives with his family.

Since the December 30, 2022, stop where he was verbally informed that his car was on the terrorist watchlist, things have gotten much worse for Long. In subsequent stops, he has been pulled over, handcuffed, and placed in the back of a police cruiser. In one incident, Oklahoma City police officers leveled their guns at Long while blaring orders over a loudspeaker instructing Long to exit his vehicle.

Having failed thus far in his case against the federal government, Long is now suing the Oklahoma City Police Department over the traffic stops, as well as their use of the federal terrorist watchlist as a pretext to target his vehicle. (The Oklahoma City Police Department declined to comment on the case.)

“As Saadiq Long drives the roads of his city, the Oklahoma City Police Department has been watching, aiming its vast network of cameras and computers at him repeatedly,” the lawsuit says. “Using a secret, racist list of Muslims that the FBI illegally maintains, officers have repeatedly pulled Saadiq Long over, sometimes at gunpoint, unlawfully arresting him twice in the last two months.”

“Despite the fact that he has never been arrested or charged for any crime, due to his presence on this list, he has lost work licenses, been denied visas, and been prevented from flying on airplanes,” said Gadeir Abbas, an attorney with the Council on American-Islamic Relations who is representing Long. “The officers who are pulling him over are just doing it because their computers are telling them to do so due to his watchlisting status. He is not under investigation for anything, but this secret list is still terrorizing him whether on land or air.”

In 2013, Long was prevented from boarding a flight to Oklahoma from Qatar, where he then resided. A U.S. citizen and Air Force veteran, the denied flight to Qatar was when Long first discovered that he was on the DHS’s no-fly list. Ever since, he has faced detention and other harassment while traveling.

Long sued in 2015 to clear his name from this secret database. In 2020, Homeland Security informed Long that he had been removed from the no-fly list and would not be placed back on absent further information. The government argued in court that the removal of Long’s name from the no-fly list had rendered his claims moot. Yet his removal from the no-fly list has not meant his removal from the broader terrorism watchlisting database, nor from the dire consequences of his status.

Civil liberties advocates, who routinely challenge the constitutionality of the terrorism watchlist in court, have grown increasingly alarmed by the expansion of its use by local law enforcement agencies. In some cases, these local agencies have been tasked with both monitoring individuals assigned to the list and expanding its scope. In 2014, The Intercept published the government’s secret guidance for selecting individuals to the watchlist. Disclosures in a lawsuit from 2017 revealed that the watchlist had grown to 1.2 million people, the majority of whom are believed to be noncitizens and nonresidents of the United States.

Presence on the watchlist can generate numerous problems for those targeted, from harassment and detention while traveling to the type of routine law enforcement threats and harassment Long now faces.

“His experience, unfortunately, is very common for people who are still on watchlists, even if they are not on the no-fly list. It is par for the course for anyone on a watchlist to experience more aggressive traffic stops,” said Naz Ahmed, a staff attorney with the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility project at the City University of New York School of Law. “Officers are instructed not to do anything that gives away that a person they have pulled over is on a watchlist or to carry out warrantless searches. But you can imagine how an officer may react who doesn’t have much training on this subject, and does not see it commonly, when they come across someone in this situation.”

A 2016 report by Yale Law School and the American Civil Liberties Union found that the U.S. government had “drastically expanded a consolidated watchlisting system that includes hundreds of thousands of individuals based on secret evidence.” The report documented how the system was now being used and interpreted by local police forces who were frequently acting upon “potentially erroneous, inaccurate, or outdated information.” Unlike the no-fly list, which has some limited redress processes, the broader terrorism watchlist remains largely opaque and unchallengeable.

“The FBI accepts almost every single ‘nomination’ to its list submitted by anyone,” Long’s lawsuit says. “This is because the FBI uses a standard so low that, based on a string of speculative inferences, any person can be made to qualify.”

Long’s lawyers filed suit against the local police department in Oklahoma City on Thursday, to compel its officers to stop pulling him over based on his watchlisting status. Long is also asking for financial compensation for violations of his Fourth Amendment rights. (The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the suit.)

Despite his recent experiences, Long has continued driving to work, doing errands, and visiting family in Oklahoma City but with increasing trepidation about how his watchlisting status is being interpreted by local police. Some police officers have been apologetic while pulling him over; others have responded aggressively, treating him as a threat, pulling out weapons, and causing him to fear for his life.

“For the past year or two, I noticed that the Oklahoma City police often followed me while driving, though without pulling me over,” said Long. “I got kind of used to it, but just recently, within the last month and a half, that’s when this started turning into something much more serious.”

The most recent incident, when he was pulled over earlier this month by a group of police officers who drew guns on him and ordered him out of his vehicle — an incident that Long also caught on his own dashboard camera — was the most alarming in his recent series of run-ins. A video of the incident shows police officers yelling contradictory instructions at him for several minutes while standing with guns drawn behind his vehicle.

“I was wondering if they were going to make my wife a widow now for something so silly,” Long said, “just for me being on this list, when they themselves don’t even know why I’m on it.”

[oddnews]

Subsegment: Old News, (slightly) Odd Coincidences

One of the long-running geopolitical gordian knots of our time is the question of whether Iran is poised to cross the "nuclear threshold" and what (if anything) can be done by way of intervention to prevent it becoming a nuclear power.

In 2017 for example, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace held a panel event entitled "Beyond the Nuclear Threshold" which focused on the Iran Deal.

And in July 2020, the NY Times reported that a critical threshold had been passed because Iran's stockpile of nuclear fuel was sufficiently large to make a bomb.

There are many such examples.

My interest in this story has been piqued by three or four convergent factors besides than the obvious imperative that we should all be interested in the preservation of humankind and the avoidance of mutual destruction. First, the story was of professional interest because I was involved at one stage in trying to interpret both the Iranian sanctions regime as it applied to banking and finance and assess the impact of the JCPOA on emerging regulation; second it was of personal interest, because I'm certain that "nuclear" is one of those "code words" that people use to achieve a subtextual meaning that I've never fully understood; and, third, my curiosity was piqued because I once heard someone say "Jo knows all about Israeli intelligence on Iran's nuclear programme" which was both startling and utterly perplexing to me—just at it would be to you, mutatis mutandis—but also vaguely threatening and anxiety-producing.

As to the second of these, I've given up the game of trying to interpret subtexts from an alphabetical perspective, but I will mention—because it's relevant here—that my long and deep involvement in that exercise left me with a perennial interest in the letters "NU" as they appear in the word "nuclear".

So there we have it—a variety of "nuclear" threads which have to do largely with words, not weapons, which converge only for me and which don't mean anything to anyone else at all.

But here's the (mildly) odd coincidence. On 23 January, the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel presented a strategic assessment to President Isaac Herzog which warned that Iran would soon become a "nuclear threshold state", and the term "threshold" suddenly zipped to the top of the news cycle again.

Following the presentation of the assessment, the former commander of Israel’s navy, Eliezer Marom, was reported as having said that, in light of the fact that Iran is on the threshold of obtaining nuclear weapons, it would be better to attack “now than later.”

"In my understanding, I think Israel has to attack, because the situation right now is that Iran is a threshold country - 100 percent," he replied.

That had exactly the effect one would suppose—inflamed tensions and more than a frisson of geopolitical anxiety.

Meanwhile, a cryptocurrency token named "Threshold" also hit the crypto news on 23 January when Coinbase listed it as a new asset on its roadmap:

Threshold (T), which nearly doubled in price following the listing, is the umbrella token under which two other companies and their tokens are in the process of merging (following a proposal that was adopted at the end of 2021 and initiated in February last year). Those tokens are produced by Keep Network (KEEP), and NuCypher (NU). KEEP and NU will be delisted on 6th February. Transfers of assets to Threshold from KEEP and NU have been possible from 25th January.

And that, it seems to me—the convergence of news on 23 January about Iran's IRL status as a "nuclear threshold country" and about Threshold's virtual status as a repository of value following the merger of KEEP and NU—is a mildly odd coincidence.

[maguneedsalife]

i basically only heard about this because i work at a synagogue, and our community watchdog email blast put out an alert. have seen absolutely zero talk about it outside my job.

The reason streamed services in particular are being targeted is because the trolls want to watch the police response from their fake swat call in real time. 

shul staffers (or people who belong to a shul & want to help them be safer), here is what you can do to mitigate risk on the streaming end:

1. if your shul livestreams services, make that shit private right now. Make the page private, de-index it, hide it from search engines. i cant speak for other kinds of sites but i know shulcloud lets you hide pages from search engines in the page settings. do that. you can even make sections in pages or entire pages themselves hidden from people who aren’t logged in (but depending on your community’s level of shabbat adherence that might not be a good solution; ymmv). if you stream using youtube, private or delist your videos. if you can get to your shul’s stream page from a google search in an incognito window your work is not done. i googled “[common synagogue name] + stream” and pulled up an absolutely depressing number of shuls whose streams are just out there for anyone to watch or hijack with a swat call.

2. absolutely do not post the link to that private stream page anywhere publicly accessible.  Do not give it out to just anyone who calls or emails. Honestly i wouldn’t even put it in your newsletters. Increase the number of hoops that strangers have to jump through to get that link. Make them call or email you. Ask them questions. Who are they. How did they hear about us. Are they affiliated with a shul. Why do they want our shul’s link in particular. It’s okay to be honest and say you’re doing this for security reasons due to the wave of fake swat calls. Anyone normal will understand. Also, instruct b’nai mitzvah families to be careful that the link does not leave their circle of invitees. and for the love of god do not fucking post it on facebook or instagram. 

We actually broke our old link in the process of making a new private page so that anyone who had the old one (any old joe schmoe who could have accessed our site during the pandemic) can’t see the stream anymore.

i know the high holidays are coming up and it’s about to be a busy time for shuls everywhere but you do not want to add armed police invasion to your list of things to worry about. private your streams. safeguard your links. thank you

Because I'm only seeing other Jews posting about this, non-Jews I need you to be aware that for the past month or two there has been a wave of bomb threats and swattings at synagogues all across the US. They usually do it when services are being livestreamed. I haven't seen a single non-Jew talking about this. High holidays are coming up in a few weeks, which is when most attacks happen against our communities. We're worried, and we need people to know what's happening to us.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Increase in tender offers fuels wave of company delistings on B3

Declining stock prices, coupled with changes to buyout rules, are expected to further accelerate activity, experts say

Since last year, as the Brazilian stock market has faced a downward trend, the number of public tender offers has been rising. This year alone, nine buyout offers have already been registered with Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), with the trend pointing upward. Experts say changes to tender offer rules, which have made these transactions easier to execute, are likely to drive even greater activity.

The backdrop to this trend is the undervaluation of many listed companies, a direct consequence of high interest rates in Brazil and significant global volatility. As a result, companies and financial investors are turning their attention to listed firms, believing many are fundamentally sound yet undervalued.

However, this wave of delistings resulting from public offers is also reducing the number of listed companies. New listings have been absent from the B3 stock exchange for over three years. Currently, there are 434 companies listed on B3, down from 456 a year ago.

Among the notable buyout offers this year was Cielo, whose controlling shareholders, Banco do Brasil and Bradesco, decided to delist the payments processor, ending its 15-year run as a publicly traded company. Another example was Alper, an insurance company, which was taken private after its control was acquired by U.S. private equity fund Walburg Pincus. Similarly, Safra, after acquiring control of Alfa, initiated a tender offer. The companies involved declined to comment.

Continue reading.

[primetrader01]

Crypto Insider Trading: Risks, Regulations, and Ethical Implications

Insider trading, a term widely recognized in traditional finance, has found its way into the cryptocurrency market, albeit with unique challenges and implications. In crypto, insider trading refers to the unethical and often illegal practice of trading based on material, non-public information, such as upcoming token listings or partnerships. Unlike traditional markets, crypto operates in a relatively nascent regulatory environment, creating opportunities for exploitation. The ethical, legal, and financial ramifications of crypto insider trading are profound, threatening market fairness and undermining trust among participants. Platforms like PrimeTrader are at the forefront of promoting fair trading practices and enhancing transparency to address these concerns.

How Insider Trading Works in Crypto

At the heart of crypto insider trading lies information asymmetry, where privileged access to non-public knowledge gives select individuals an unfair trading advantage. Examples include early knowledge of token launches, pre-announcements of exchange listings that lead to price spikes, or undisclosed partnerships.

The influence of crypto whales—individuals or entities holding significant quantities of a token also plays a role in market manipulation. By leveraging insider knowledge or executing large trades, whales can sway market trends, often at the expense of retail investors. These practices undermine the integrity of the market, making fair competition a challenge for everyday traders.

Legal and Regulatory Landscape

Traditional Market Regulations vs. Crypto In traditional markets, strict insider trading laws are enforced to protect investors and maintain market integrity. However, the cryptocurrency sector often operates in a regulatory gray area, with inconsistent rules across jurisdictions. While some countries have implemented robust frameworks, others lack clear guidelines, leaving loopholes for unethical behavior.

Regulatory Efforts in Crypto

Organizations like the SEC have started addressing insider trading in crypto. High-profile cases, including actions against individuals trading unregistered securities, highlight the need for comprehensive regulations. Non-compliance carries severe consequences, including fines, delisting of tokens, and reputational harm for platforms. By collaborating with global regulators, the crypto industry can move toward a more standardized and secure trading environment.

Ethical Implications of Insider Trading in Crypto

Insider trading erodes trust, a cornerstone of any market. In crypto, where many investors are retail participants, this creates an uneven playing field. Ethical dilemmas arise in decentralized markets: should transparency be prioritized to uphold decentralization's principles? The impact of insider trading extends beyond financial loss, as it discourages participation and stifles innovation in the crypto space. Upholding ethical trading practices is crucial for maintaining investor confidence and market sustainability.

Blockchain Transparency: A Double-Edged Sword

Blockchain’s public ledger system offers a unique form of transparency, allowing suspicious trading activities to be traceable. For instance, unusual wallet movements before major announcements can raise red flags. However, this transparency has limitations:

Privacy Coins: Cryptocurrencies like Monero and Zcash obscure transactions, making illicit trades harder to trace.

Anonymized Wallets: The inability to link wallets to real-world identities complicates enforcement efforts. While blockchain technology offers tools to combat insider trading, the challenges of proving intent and identifying individuals remain significant hurdles.

High-Profile Cases of Insider Trading in Crypto

Several notable cases have highlighted the prevalence of insider trading in crypto. For example, pre-listing trades on exchanges often lead to price surges before official announcements. Investigations into employees of major crypto firms leaking confidential information have also surfaced. These incidents damage investor trust and reinforce the need for stricter oversight. Learning from such cases, platforms like PrimeTrader emphasize transparency and implement robust internal controls to safeguard market integrity.

Measures to Prevent Insider Trading in Crypto Efforts to curb insider trading require a multi-faceted approach:

Platform-Level Protections

Exchanges must enforce transparency for token listings and corporate disclosures.

Internal controls, such as restricted access to sensitive information, can deter insider leaks.

Regulatory Improvements

Stricter regulations, coupled with consistent enforcement, are vital for deterring insider trading.

Collaborative efforts between global regulatory bodies can help create standardized practices.

Community Efforts Whistleblowers play a critical role in exposing unethical behavior. Encouraging the reporting of suspicious activities helps uphold market integrity. Platforms like PrimeTrader support these measures by fostering a transparent and ethical trading environment.

How Traders Can Protect Themselves Retail traders can take steps to safeguard their investments:

Avoid Hype: Stay away from pump-and-dump schemes driven by insider trading.

Research Thoroughly: Evaluate projects based on fundamentals rather than speculative news.

Monitor Market Activity: Use blockchain tools to identify unusual wallet transactions or market movements. By focusing on informed decisions and ethical platforms like PrimeTrader, traders can minimize exposure to insider-driven risks.

The Future of Insider Trading Regulation in Crypto As blockchain analytics tools advance, detecting illicit trades will become more efficient. The rise of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) introduces new challenges, but also opportunities for enhanced transparency. Regulatory frameworks are expected to evolve, addressing insider trading with greater precision. As these changes unfold, platforms like PrimeTrader will continue to lead the way, promoting fairness and innovation in the crypto trading ecosystem.

Conclusion Crypto insider trading poses significant risks to market integrity, undermining trust and exposing traders to financial losses. Addressing this issue requires a combination of robust regulations, ethical trading practices, and vigilance from the community. To navigate the crypto market confidently and ethically, choose platforms like PrimeTrader, where transparency and fairness are at the core of every transaction.

[legalwires]

Delisting of Securities: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction According to SEBI, ‘delisting’ refers to the permanent removal of a listed company’s securities from a stock exchange, resulting in those securities no longer being traded on that exchange. Delisting of securities occurs when a company chooses to withdraw its securities from the stock exchange where they were previously listed and traded. If a company decides it no longer wishes to…

[sandraps]

Private investors in Dubai

Private investors, often referred to as angel investors or private equity investors, are individuals or groups who invest their personal funds in private companies.

Unlike public investors who trade in stocks listed on exchanges, private investors provide capital directly to businesses, often in exchange for equity ownership or convertible debt.

This type of investment can be crucial for startups and small businesses that may not have access to traditional financing options.

Angel Investors: Typically affluent individuals who provide capital for startups, often in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. They usually contribute not only money but also valuable mentorship and networking opportunities.

Venture Capitalists : These are professional groups that manage pooled funds from many investors to invest in startups and small businesses. VCs usually look for high-growth companies with the potential for significant returns.

Family Offices: These are private wealth management advisory firms that serve high-net-worth individuals or families. They invest in various assets, including private companies, real estate, and more.

Private Equity Firms: These firms invest directly in private companies or buy out public companies to delist them from stock exchanges. They typically focus on established firms rather than startups.

Why Are Private Investors Important?

Private investors are instrumental in fueling innovation and entrepreneurship. Here are a few reasons why they are crucial:

Access to Capital: Many startups struggle to secure funding through traditional banks. Private investors provide much-needed capital that can be used for product development, marketing, and scaling operations.

Expertise and Mentorship: Besides funding, many private investors come with a wealth of experience and industry knowledge. They can offer strategic guidance, helping businesses navigate challenges and identify growth opportunities.

Network Opportunities: Investors often have extensive networks that can be beneficial for startups. They can introduce entrepreneurs to potential customers, partners, or additional investors.

In conclusion, private investors play a pivotal role in the financial landscape, providing essential capital to fuel innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

Their flexibility and long term investment horizon allow for a more personalized approach to wealth generation and risk management compared to institutional investors.

By carefully selecting opportunities and diversifying their portfolios, private investors can achieve substantial returns while also contributing to the development of businesses and industries.

[criptox]

Sec Alivia Regulación Para 12 Criptomonedas En Binance

Understanding SEC's New Regulations on Cryptocurrencies in Binance

The world of cryptocurrency has always been a wild ride, full of highs and lows. With the recent news about the U.S. SEC's decision to regulate twelve specific cryptocurrencies on Binance, it’s essential for both seasoned investors and newcomers to grasp what this means for them.

What's the Big Deal?

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken recognition of the rapid growth and popularity of cryptocurrencies. With that, they’ve set their eye on a dozen cryptocurrencies available for trading on Binance, a major cryptocurrency exchange. This decision is aimed at overseeing the market, protecting investors, and maintaining fair trading practices.

Impacted Cryptocurrencies

According to the announcement, here is a list of cryptocurrencies that are most affected:

Ethereum Classic (ETC)

Neo (NEO)

Cardano (ADA)

Tron (TRX)

Dash (DASH)

Monero (XMR)

Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Litecoin (LTC)

Algorand (ALGO)

Stellar (XLM)

Quant (QNT)

VeChain (VET)

These coins have been noted for potential risks and regulatory issues, creating a stir among traders who either hold or are considering investing in them.

Why Regulation Matters

Regulation is a double-edged sword. On one side, it can enhance investor confidence by ensuring that trading platforms comply with certain rules. This can lead to more people entering the market, which could normalize cryptocurrency as a legitimate form of investment. On the other hand, stringent regulations may deter smaller investors who fear hefty compliance costs, or who find the landscape too complicated to navigate.

Binance's Position

Binance has long been in a grey area regarding compliance and regulations. The exchange has made efforts to adapt, such as enforcing KYC (Know Your Customer) policies and striving for greater transparency. The recent SEC regulations may enforce Binance to revise its offerings, potentially delisting certain cryptocurrencies or increasing its compliance investments.

How Should Investors React?

For investors, it’s vital to stay informed. Here are some steps you might consider:

Educate yourself about the specific cryptocurrencies you hold.

Monitor news regarding SEC regulations closely.

Consult with a financial advisor, particularly if you’re projected to invest in any of the affected cryptocurrencies.

Diversify your portfolio to mitigate potential risks.

In Conclusion

The SEC's regulation of these twelve cryptocurrencies marks a significant milestone in the world of digital assets. While change is daunting, understanding regulations and trends can empower investors to make informed decisions. Whether this leads to a more robust crypto market or creates further complications remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure: the evolution of cryptocurrencies is ongoing.

Stay tuned to our blog for more insights into the ever-changing landscape of finance and investment technology!

Sec Alivia Regulación Para 12 Criptomonedas En Binance

[sa7abnews]

Mideast oil powerhouse bans Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels that seek to undermine sanctions

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/16/mideast-oil-powerhouse-bans-russian-shadow-fleet-vessels-that-seek-to-undermine-sanctions/

Mideast oil powerhouse bans Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels that seek to undermine sanctions

The United Arab Emirates has pushed back on Russia’s efforts to circumvent Western sanctions through a “shadow fleet” by refusing entry to its port for any ship from the African country of Eswatini. “Using a ‘shadow fleet’ to smuggle oil while concealing its origin, in order to circumvent Western economic sanctions has been part of Putin’s playbook of sanction-proofing Russia’s economy,” Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of “Putin’s Playbook,” told Fox News Digital. “Moscow anticipated U.S. sanctions prior to the invasion of Ukraine,” Koffler said. “So, Putin has been sanction-proofing the Russian economy with several measures since 2014, when the Russian forces took over Crimea.””The vessels comprising this dark fleet are typically aging, lack proper safety standards, lack insurance, hence they present a threat to maritime security as they can create a hazardous situation at any time,” she added. PUTIN SCRAMBLES AS UKRAINE ADVANCES TROOPS ALONG ‘DORMANT FRONT’ IN BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONA list of ships published by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure names Eswatini as the latest country to which no services from any UAE ship agents or maritime company should be provided as they “are not complying with this circular to avoid legal accountability.” “…this Administration has decided to include the vessels registered under the flag state of Eswatini (Swaziland) to the existing list of restricted flag State vessels calling UAE waters and ports, unless they are classified by a member of IACS Class or by the Emirates Classification Society,” the notice read. The flags of Eswatini started showing up this year, with ship broker Clarkson Research Services Ltd. reporting zero ships in 2023 registered under the Eswatini flag even as 26 such ships now sail the seas. TRUMP-MUSK INTERVIEW: 5 BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO THE US BORDER CRISISEswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa and has increasingly worked with Russia to transport oil as part of dodging sanctions. Bloomberg tracked the ownership of 18 Eswatini-flagged ships in ship-tracking data, finding that 16 had “unclear” ownership, but that several tankers transported oil produced in Russia and Iran. The United States sanctioned three Eswatini ships for supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and later helping export grain from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine during the briefly brokered grain corridor, according to The Economist. A spokesman for the Eswatini ship registry told the outlet that the country delisted two of the ships for breaking the country’s administration guidelines of compliance, but one month later two of the ships continued to fly the Eswatini flag. The spokesman argued that once the country delists a ship, they stop following them, and any use of the flag is “illegal and invalid.” BIDEN ADMIN ANNOUNCES ANOTHER $125M IN MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR UKRAINE AS FIGHTING INTENSIFIES ON RUSSIAN SOILThe Atlantic Council think tank in January published a report on the growing Russian “dark fleet,” estimating that 1,400 ships make up the fleet and operate in a “gray zone” that makes it hard for countries to punish. The great concern, as both Koffler and the Atlantic Council noted, focuses on the poor condition of these ships since they operate illegally and do not want to raise suspicion from officials. The think tank called such ships “aging and poorly maintained,” which has given rise to incidents that legitimate vessels end up having to pay for, since the shadow fleet lacks proper insurance.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThat puts the burden on coastal nations, which are obligated under search-and-rescue convention to put in time and resources to help distressed illegal vessels without recourse. “The potential harm to coastal states is tangible, but since the aggression doesn’t involve military, it means it’s virtually impossible for a country to avenge harm caused to it by a shadow vessel, even if it can prove the ship is transporting Russian cargo,” Atlantic Council senior fellow Elisabeth Braw wrote. 

[36crypto]

SEC Revises Binance Lawsuit, Drops Solana from Alleged Securities List

The SEC has changed its lawsuit against Binance and has delisted Solana from the cryptocurrencies it claimed to be securities. This decision comes after a court declared that secondary markets in Binance’s BNB token did not fall under securities. On the same day, the 30th of July, the SEC filed a joint status report with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia concerning the…

[ngo-pilot123]

“Social Stock Exchange Faces Delisting Dilemma"

When To Delist From The Social Stock Exchange

There are wolves hidden under the cover of the law because non-profit organizations’ alternative financing methods using such common tools as debt and shares are severely limited. But at the same time, it is possible to get resources as the zero coupon zero principal bonds are placed on the SSE. ZCZP bonds that carry an equal tenure to the duration of the project for that which is funded, and at tenure, they will be written off the investee’s books. These instruments are for those investors who are looking to create social impact instead of not getting any return on investment. In this article, we will discuss the termination of Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments, which is equivalent to delisting. There are different modes of fund raising, like Equity, ZCZP, Development impact Bonds, Social Impact Funds and Donation through Mutual Fund.

About Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments

They are a type of financial derivative that has no periodic interest payments and no repayment of principal at maturity. They are also known as pure discount instruments or zero coupon bonds and there is no need to pay any securities transactions on zero coupon zero instrument

Zero coupon zero principle instruments (ZCZP) are financial instruments that a non-profit organization may use to raise funds. When an entity issues these securities and raises money, it is not a loan but a donation. The borrowing entity does not have to pay interest—therefore zero coupon—and does not have to pay the principal (zero principal) either. Like any other debt instrument, it will come with a time duration.

Any individual or corporate can buy the security through SSE once they are open for business.

The Finance Ministry had declared zero coupon zero principle instruments (ZCZP) as securities for the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. These instruments will be governed by rules by the SEBI. It will help organizations and corporates to utilize their social responsibility funds and support non-profit organizations more transparently.

This Provision is not applicable to For Profit Organization because For-profit organizations is not eligible to issue Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments for raising funds.

If NPO wants to renew the registration after a year and they have not raised any fund in the previous year through SSE so this is acceptable and they can do so.

Advantages

Fixed Return

Lower Credit Risk

Useful For Liability Matching

Lock In Return

Disadvantages

Interest Rate Sensitivity

Reinvestment Risk

Taxation On Imputed Interest

When bonds are issued, they are listed on Social Stock Exchange and these bonds will not be traded in the secondary market but can be transferred for other purposes. Termination of ZCZP is equal to delisting from the social stock Exchange.

Termination of the listing of Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments by the Social Enterprise shall occur in the following events:

When Tenure Is Over, It Is Considered Terminated From The Social Stock Exchange, Which Is Equivalent To Delisting.

When The Object For Funds Was Raised, That Has Been Achieved, And The NPO Has Submitted A Certificate To The Social Stock Exchange, It Is Also Considered A Bond That Has Been Terminated From SSE.

If The NPO Decides Not To Issue ZCZP To The Public But Only To Limited Donors, It Can Do So Privately Through Social Impact Funds Or Other Means.

Conclusion: 

If social enterprises want to terminate or delist their instruments, they must comply with the above conditions. After completing tenure and the object has been fulfilled, they will automatically delist the instrument from the social stock exchange. If the company wants to list the instruments, then it again has to list them with the process of issuing zero coupon for zero principal instruments with other purposes that should be related to eligible social activities.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on the latest guidelines and regulations. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, it may not reflect the most current legal or regulatory changes. Taxpayers are advised to consult with a qualified tax professional or you may contact to our tax advisor team through call +91-9871990888 or info@ngopilot.in.

[influencermagazineuk]

UK Unveils Largest Overhaul of Listings Regime in Decades

Regulators have greenlit the most extensive revision of rules governing London-listed companies in thirty years, aiming to rejuvenate the UK's capital markets amidst stiff international competition and declining investment inflows. Under the new listing rules, company executives will gain increased authority to make decisions without requiring shareholder votes. Additionally, companies will have greater flexibility to adopt dual-class share structures, which are favored by founders and venture capital firms to secure enhanced voting rights compared to other investors. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) formally announced these changes on Thursday, shortly after the Labour government's election, confirming a report initially by the Financial Times last month. The new regime is set to take effect on July 29, following two public consultations conducted by the FCA since May 2023. Despite acknowledging an elevated risk for investors, the FCA emphasized that these adjustments would better align with the necessary risk appetite for economic growth. London has faced challenges in competing with New York for listings of high-growth startups, a trend exacerbated by major companies like Flutter and CRH moving their primary listings to the US. "The financial services sector is pivotal to the UK economy, integral to this government's growth strategy," remarked Rachel Reeves, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Thursday. "These new regulations mark a significant initial step towards revitalizing our capital markets, aligning the UK with global standards, and attracting the most innovative companies to list here." This overhaul builds upon broader reforms initiated by the previous Conservative government, which the Labour administration intends to uphold. These reforms include the Edinburgh and Mansion House initiatives aimed at boosting domestic pension fund investments in UK assets and fostering a culture of increased risk-taking. Looking ahead, the FCA plans to launch a review of the UK's prospectus rules later this summer. The latest listing rule changes announced on Thursday are more extensive than previously proposed by the FCA in December, as they allow institutional investors to hold super voting rights under dual-class share structures. Initially, the FCA had proposed limiting extra voting rights to natural persons such as founders and directors. Notably, the new rules also exempt sovereign wealth funds from the 10-year limit on holding super voting rights, potentially facilitating easier listings for certain Middle East-owned companies in the UK. In a published document, the FCA acknowledged strong opposition from investors regarding the expanded use of dual-class structures, highlighting significant concerns within the investment community. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicated that companies and their advisors largely supported the increased flexibility to utilize dual-class shares. They emphasized that investors would retain the option to abstain from investing in any structure they found uncomfortable. Advocates of the proposals pointed out that investors already endorse overseas companies employing dual-class shares, including prominent US tech firms. Under the new rules, requirements for shareholder approval of related party transactions or certain large deals will be eliminated. However, shareholder votes will still be mandatory for actions like delisting, executing a "reverse takeover" of a larger entity, or responding to a takeover bid. Additionally, the new rules will streamline the current system by consolidating the premium and standard listing segments into a single category. Existing companies will have access to transitional arrangements. In defense of these changes, FCA chief Nikhil Rathi argued that maintaining the status quo was not viable. He stated, "We do not believe the status quo is an option," expressing concern that failing to revise the rules could lead the UK's regulatory framework to diverge significantly from international standards. This, he warned, would diminish the attractiveness of the UK as a preferred listing destination for companies seeking growth opportunities. Read the full article

[drewssam]

The Most Poorly Performed ETFs This Year in Australia are Crypto-Related Ones

The Australian Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) market witnessed a decline of nearly $2 billion in overall capitalization by the end of November 2022, primarily attributed to the poor performance of cryptocurrency-related ETFs. Notably, the BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF (CRYP) and the Cosmos Global Digital Miners Access ETF (DIGA) were the worst-performing ETFs.

BetaShares introduced the CRYP ETF on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in October 2021, coinciding with a period of peak cryptocurrency prices. However, CRYP plummeted by over 82% year-to-date, while DIGA, listed on the Cboe Australia market, experienced a 72% drop. CRYP provides exposure to publicly traded blockchain and cryptocurrency companies, including major players like Coinbase and Riot Blockchain.

DIGA tracks the performance of firms primarily engaged in cryptocurrency mining, with Galaxy Digital being its largest holding at 12.3% of the portfolio. However, just one year after its launch, Cosmos requested the delisting of DIGA and two other ETFs tied to Bitcoin and Ether due to dwindling interest in cryptocurrencies, leading to a fall in net asset value below $1 million. Investor sentiment in 2022 has been influenced by concerns about inflation and rising interest rates, with a shift away from tech-focused ETFs.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Eased takeover rules attract funds to Brazilian listed companies

Changes in quorum requirements make it easier to take companies private

The recent delisting of insurance broker Alper by U.S. private equity group Warburg Pincus marked a significant milestone for this industry, drawing close attention from market players. This was the first transaction involving the acquisition of control of a publicly-traded company on Brazil’s B3 exchange by a private equity fund in nearly 15 years, leading to its delisting. The last such buyout took place in 2010, when Apax acquired control of IT company Tivit and took it private.

Henrique Muramoto, who oversees Warburg Pincus’s operations in Brazil, noted that this was the firm’s first such transaction in the country. He recalled that this model is commonly used by private equity funds in the U.S. “We are looking at one or two opportunities with similar characteristics,” he said. Mr. Muramoto shared that since finalizing the desilting of Alper, banks and funds had approached him to inquire about the process, leading him to project that more transactions of this kind are likely to occur.

The transaction began to take shape in 2023. After meeting with four key shareholders of the insurance company, Warburg Pincus launched a voluntary takeover bid to acquire up to 100% of the company’s shares, with a premium of 40% over the market value. In this public acquisition offer (OPA), the fund achieved the minimum necessary quorum and purchased 72% of the company’s shares. Later, when applying for a second OPA for the cancellation of registration and delisting, the fund requested that the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (CVM) consider the quorum from the first meeting—meaning they would not need two-thirds of shareholders to proceed with the new offer. Their strategy referenced a precedent involving Eletropaulo, where the energy company successfully obtained this flexibility. In this transaction, the fund was advised by Trindade Advogados and BTG Pactual.

The current OPA rules mandate a new quorum of at least two-thirds for the second OPA (of delisting). The challenge is that, at this stage, the liquidity of the shares is significantly reduced due to the previous offer, leaving the quorum in the hands of shareholders who either did not sell their shares in the first OPA or did not attend the meeting. This situation complicates the take-private process, leading funds to fear that the process might “die on the vine,” with the private equity fund becoming “trapped” in a listed company without liquidity.

Continue reading.

[lvy131419]

 Solanas: Pushing the frontier of digital arts and cultural value on the Solana blockchain

introduction

The digital asset and non-fungible token (NFT) market has exploded in recent years, providing unprecedented opportunities for artists, creators, and collectors. However, as the market expands, so do the challenges it faces, such as inefficient transactions, high fees, and a lack of ease of use. The Solanas project was created to address these challenges by leveraging the efficient performance of the Solana blockchain to facilitate the trading and collection of digital art and cultural value.

Project overview

Based on the Solana blockchain, the Solanas project is dedicated to minting, trading, and holding NFTs with unique artistic and cultural values. The project leverages the high throughput and low transaction fees of the Solana blockchain to facilitate the trading and collection of digital art and cultural values, and promote the development of the digital asset industry.

Solanas is innovative

The Solanas project has demonstrated significant improvements to the existing system by introducing new NFT standards and smart contracts that optimize the minting and trading process. These innovations take full advantage of the Solana blockchain's technological benefits, such as automating transaction processes, increasing transaction speed, and reducing costs, improving the efficiency and user experience of the entire ecosystem.

A new definition of the inscription and its value

Inscription concept

The inscriptions in the Solanas ecosystem are NFTs that represent unique artistic or cultural values, emphasizing the value of each pieceUniqueness and irreplaceability.

Quantity limit

To guarantee its scarcity and value, the total circulation of the Solanas project is set at 500 million inscriptions.

## Economic Model & Token Distribution

Inscription distribution

The maximum number of mintable inscriptions per wallet is 50,000 and is designed to encourage wider participation and avoid market monopolies.

Cost of participation

The extremely low wallet participation fee and the token airdrop after minting the inscription significantly lowers the barrier to entry and incentivizes users to participate.

Transaction types and operations

Operations such as minting, mapping, transferring, listing/delisting, and purchase are included, increasing the flexibility and liquidity of the ecosystem.

Technical architecture

The technical architecture of the Solanas project includes blockchain infrastructure, smart contracts, layered architecture, and security mechanisms, aiming to provide an efficient, secure, and easy-to-use platform.

Project Objectives and Vision

Solanas aims to build a stable, fair and sustainable digital asset ecosystem, through technology upgrades and ecosystem expansion, to introduce more types of artworks, improve the functionality of the trading platform and increase user interaction elements.

Community and collaboration

Community building

By providing educational resources, organizing events, and encouraging community collaboration, Solanas is committed to building and maintaining a strong community. The active participation of community members is critical to the success of the project, and they will be encouraged to participate in the project decision-making process, ensuring transparency and fairness in the project.

Partnerships

Solanas will seek to build partnerships with the arts, technology, and other blockchain projects to expand its reach, improve its technical capabilities, and bring in more art creators, technology developers, and potential users. These collaborations will contribute to the development of technology, marketing, and operations, fostering ecosystem diversity and innovation.

Risks and challenges

Technical Risks

As a blockchain project, Solanas faces risks such as cybersecurity threats, smart contract vulnerabilities, and more. The project will invest resources in conducting security audits and system testing to ensure the security and stability of the platform.

Market Risk

In the fast-growing blockchain and NFT market, Solanas needs to constantly innovate to attract and retain users. This requires projects to develop new art varieties, improve the user experience, expand community engagement, and expand market reach through partnerships.

Regulatory Risk

There is uncertainty about the regulatory environment for blockchain technology and NFT markets on a global scale. Solanas will continuously monitor changes in laws and regulations and ensure that its operations comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Ongoing development risks

Keeping the ecosystem growing and active is a challenge. Solanas needs to deliver continuous innovation and value to support all ecosystem participants, including artists, collectors, investors, and technology developers.

conclusion

Through its innovative technology platform and economic model, the Solanas project aims to build a platform that supports digital art andAn ecosystem for the trading of cultural values. Despite the technical, market, and regulatory challenges, Solanas is poised to overcome these challenges and become a pioneer in the digital art space through continued innovation, partnerships, and community support. Looking to the future, Solanas plans to continuously expand its ecosystem, introduce more types of artworks, improve the functionality of the trading platform, increase user interaction elements, and build a stable, fair and sustainable digital asset ecosystem.