Day: November 8, 2021

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MADISON REALTY CAPITAL AND NEWBOND HOLDINGS LAUNCH HOSPITALITY LENDING PLATFORM WITH INVESTING CAPACITY OF $500M

Strategic Partnership to Originate and Purchase Hospitality Loans Across All Major US Markets as Madison Newbond

NEW YORK, Nov. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Madison Realty Capital, a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm focused on debt and equity investment strategies, and Newbond Holdings (Newbond), a vertically integrated real estate investment and operating platform founded by Neil Luthra and Vann Avedisian, today announced the launch of Madison Newbond, an institutional lending platform that will provide first mortgages, mezzanine loans and preferred equity to hotel owners and developers nationwide.  The partnership launched with approximately $500 million of initial lending capacity and will add scale in line with the opportunity.

Madison Newbond will build on Madison Realty Capital’s institutional lending platform and deep relationships as well as Newbond’s hospitality industry expertise and strong operational knowledge. The partnership will offer unique financing programs to new and existing borrowers across the hospitality spectrum from limited-service hotels to ultra-luxury resorts and will target opportunities including transitional lending and ground up developments across major metropolitan markets.

“The hospitality industry has experienced significant disruption throughout the pandemic and there is a clear need for creative and flexible lending solutions for hotel owners as they continue to recover from the changes to their business plans,” said Josh Zegen, Managing Principal and Co-Founder of Madison Realty Capital. “We are enthusiastic about joining forces with Newbond to expand our product offering tailored to meet the evolving needs of hospitality real estate owners and operators.”

“We are excited to launch this partnership with Madison Realty Capital, a firm with a world-class lending platform, and a team that we are deeply familiar with, to provide a wide range of lending options to the hospitality market,” said Neil Luthra, Founding Partner at Newbond. “Madison’s substantial resources coupled with Newbond’s extensive hotel underwriting capabilities will best position the platform to identify and capitalize on exciting opportunities in the hospitality space.”

Madison Realty Capital and the principals of Newbond have significant experience lending and investing in the hospitality sector.  The principals of Newbond have completed over $15 billion of debt and equity investments.  Notable recent Madison Realty Capital transactions include a $105 million loan to Fort Partners for the acquisition and modernization of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami and a $210 million loan to Fort Partners for the construction of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale.

For any financing inquiries or to request additional information about the Madison Newbond platform, please contact Andrew Fichte, a partner at Newbond, at afichte@newbond.com and Josh Zegen, at josh@madisonrealtycapital.com.

About Madison Realty Capital 

Madison Realty Capital is a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm that manages approximately $6.7 billion in total assets on behalf of an institutional global investor base. Since 2004, Madison Realty Capital has completed more than $16 billion in transactions in the U.S. providing reputable borrowers with flexible and highly customized financing solutions, strong underwriting capabilities, and certainty of execution. Headquartered in New York City, with an office in Los Angeles, the firm has over 60 employees across all real estate investment, development, and property management disciplines. Madison Realty Capital has been frequently named to the Commercial Observer’s prestigious “Power 100” list of New York City real estate players and is consistently cited as a top construction lender, among other industry recognitions. To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn and visit www.madisonrealtycapital.com.

About Newbond Holdings 

Newbond Holdings, founded by Neil Luthra and Vann Avedisian in 2021, is a real estate investment and operating platform focused on debt and equity investments across multiple real estate product types with a hospitality focus as well as investments in related operating businesses and technology platforms.  The partners at Newbond have completed over $15 billion of debt and equity transactions.  As a vertically integrated operating and investment platform, Newbond is uniquely positioned to create significant value beyond the typical investment process through creative structuring, operations and the development of single and multiple asset brands.

Attachments

For Madison Realty Capital: Nathaniel Garnick/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170
madisonrealty@gasthalter.com

For Newbond: Eric Waters
Great Ink Communications, Ltd.
212-741-2977
Eric.Waters@greatink.com

Tom Nolan
Great Ink Communications, Ltd.
212-741-2977
Tom@greatink.com
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At 2021 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Announces Initiatives to Support Cutting-Edge Science in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Help End the COVID Crisis

The foundation commits initial $50 million towards a new 10-year program and awards science leadership fellowships to 14 African scientists

SEATTLE, Nov. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today at the 17th Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an initial commitment of $50 million to support science and innovation in low- and middle-income countries. The Grand Challenges Global Call to Action is a 10-year initiative that will prioritize grants to scientists from low- and middle-income countries and support a balanced representation of women principal investigators.

This long-term initiative is designed to ensure scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income countries play a central role in shaping the global R&D agenda and developing solutions that can better meet the needs of their communities. Initial focus areas will include data science, such as mathematical modeling to inform national malaria control programs; digital health services for pregnant women; and innovations to close gaps identified by current programs for eliminating neglected tropical diseases.

“We need the ideas and leadership of the people who are closest to the global health challenges we’re working to address,” said Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “The Grand Challenges Global Call to Action represents our commitment to advance innovation and equity while strengthening local partners in a sustainable way.”

At the annual meeting, which takes place November 8-11, the foundation will also launch the Global Immunology and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response (GIISER) program, which works to ensure scientists have the capacity to rapidly detect if new SARS-CoV-2 variants in their communities show signs of evading immune response. This will allow national and regional stakeholders to respond appropriately and develop products that meet the specific needs of their geographies. GIISER will operate as a decentralized network of autonomous and geographically distinct hubs that are able to connect local pathogen sequencing data and clinical epidemiology with local immunological understanding and tools. As part of this program, the foundation will provide $7 million over two years to investigative teams in eight countries (South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Brazil, and India) to expand their existing immunological capacity.

To further support scientists who are developing the innovations needed to end the pandemic and address urgent global health priorities, the foundation will announce the first cohort of the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship program on the second day of the meeting (November 9). Named after the late Calestous Juma, one of the world’s foremost visionaries in African-led science, the fellowship was launched at last year’s annual meeting to support the next generation of scientific leaders in Africa. The inaugural cohort includes 14 fellows from eight African countries—eight women and six men—who are leading projects that range from computational drug discovery to molecular epidemiology. Each fellow will receive up to $1 million over five years.

The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting is a global forum for researchers around the world to share their work, learn about cutting-edge advances in the field, and collaborate with other investigators and organizations. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drive inequity across the globe, this year’s meeting will focus on strengthening scientific collaborations to end the pandemic everywhere and promoting an inclusive recovery.

The 2021 fully virtual meeting is hosted by Global Grand Challenges partners and co-sponsored by Grand Challenges Canada, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Wellcome, the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Speakers at this year’s meeting include:

  • Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • Jason S. McLellan, Professor and Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin
  • Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization
  • John Nkengasong, Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Melanie Saville, Director of Vaccine Research and Development, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

The event will feature dozens of leaders from across the global health innovation landscape, as well as Gates Foundation leadership, including Bill Gates (Co-Chair & Trustee); Melinda French Gates (Co-Chair & Trustee); Mark Suzman (Chief Executive Officer); and Trevor Mundel (President, Global Health Division). The sessions will be posted shortly after the meeting at grandchallenges.org/annual-meeting.

About Grand Challenges

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recognizes that solving the most pressing challenges in global health and development requires more of the world’s brightest minds working on them. The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to engage innovators from around the world to solve these challenges. Grand Challenges initiatives are united by their focus on fostering innovation, directing research to where it will have the most impact, and serving those most in need. To learn more, please visit grandchallenges.org.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates.

Media contact: media@gatesfoundation.org

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À l’occasion de la réunion annuelle 2021 Grand Challenges, la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates annonce des initiatives visant à soutenir la science de pointe dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire et à contribuer à mettre fin à la crise du COVID

La fondation engage un montant initial de 50 millions de dollars dans un nouveau programme décennal et attribue des bourses de leadership scientifique à 14 scientifiques africains

SEATTLE, 8 novembre 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Aujourd’hui, lors de la 17e réunion annuelle de Grand Challenges, la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates a annoncé un engagement initial de 50 millions de dollars pour soutenir la science et l’innovation dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire. L’appel à action international Grand Challenges est une initiative de 10 ans qui donnera la priorité aux subventions accordées aux scientifiques des pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire et soutiendra une représentation équilibrée de femmes chercheurs principaux.

Cette initiative à long terme est conçue pour que les scientifiques et les institutions des pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire jouent un rôle central dans l’élaboration de l’agenda mondial de la R&D et dans le développement de solutions susceptibles de mieux répondre aux besoins de leurs communautés. Les domaines d’intérêt initiaux comprendront la science des données, comme la modélisation mathématique pour informer les programmes nationaux de lutte contre le paludisme, les services de santé numériques pour les femmes enceintes et les innovations pour combler les lacunes identifiées par les programmes actuels d’élimination des maladies tropicales négligées.

« Nous avons besoin des idées et du leadership des personnes qui sont les plus proches des défis de santé mondiaux que nous nous efforçons de relever », a déclaré Mark Suzman, PDG de la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates. « L’appel à action international Grand Challenges représente notre engagement à faire progresser l’innovation et l’équité tout en renforçant les partenaires locaux de manière durable. »

Lors de la réunion annuelle, qui se déroulera du 8 au 11 novembre, la fondation lancera également le programme Global Immunology and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response (GIISER), qui vise à garantir que les scientifiques aient la capacité de détecter rapidement si les nouvelles variantes du SRAS-CoV-2 dans leurs communautés montrent des signes d’échapper à la réponse immunitaire. Cela permettra aux intervenants nationaux et régionaux de réagir de manière appropriée et de développer des produits qui répondent aux besoins spécifiques de leurs géographies. GIISER fonctionnera comme un réseau décentralisé de centres autonomes et géographiquement distincts, capables de relier les données de séquençage des agents pathogènes locaux et l’épidémiologie clinique aux connaissances et outils immunologiques locaux. Dans le cadre de ce programme, la fondation fournira 7 millions de dollars sur deux ans à des équipes de recherche dans huit pays (Afrique du Sud, Sénégal, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ouganda, Brésil et Inde) afin de développer leurs capacités immunologiques existantes.

Afin de soutenir davantage les scientifiques qui développent les innovations nécessaires pour mettre fin à la pandémie et répondre aux priorités urgentes en matière de santé mondiale, la fondation annoncera la première cohorte du programme Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship le deuxième jour de la réunion (9 novembre). Nommé en l’honneur de Calestous Juma, l’un des plus grands visionnaires de la science conduite par l’Afrique, ce programme a été lancé lors de la réunion annuelle de l’année dernière pour soutenir la prochaine génération de leaders scientifiques en Afrique. La cohorte inaugurale comprend 14 boursiers de huit pays africains, huit femmes et six hommes, qui mènent des projets allant de la découverte informatique de médicaments à l’épidémiologie moléculaire. Chaque boursier recevra jusqu’à un million de dollars sur cinq ans.

La réunion annuelle Grand Challenges est un forum mondial permettant aux chercheurs du monde entier de partager leurs travaux, de s’informer des avancées les plus récentes dans le domaine et de collaborer avec d’autres chercheurs et organisations. Alors que la pandémie de COVID-19 continue d’engendrer des inégalités à travers le monde, la réunion de cette année se concentrera sur le renforcement des collaborations scientifiques pour mettre fin à la pandémie partout et promouvoir une reprise inclusive.

La réunion entièrement virtuelle de 2021 est organisée par les partenaires de Global Grand Challenges et coparrainée par Grand Challenges Canada, l’Agence des États-Unis pour le développement international (USAID), Wellcome, l’Institut de recherche médicale Bill & Melinda Gates (Gates MRI) et la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates. Parmi les conférenciers de la réunion de cette année, citons :

  • Anthony Fauci, directeur, Institut national des allergies et des maladies infectieuses
  • Jason S. McLellan, professeur et titulaire de la chaire Robert A. Welch en chimie, Université du Texas à Austin
  • Matshidiso Moeti, directrice régionale pour l’Afrique, Organisation mondiale de la santé
  • John Nkengasong, directeur, Centres africains pour le contrôle et la prévention des maladies
  • Melanie Saville, directrice de la recherche et du développement des vaccins, Coalition pour les innovations en matière de préparation aux épidémies

L’événement réunira des dizaines de leaders du paysage mondial de l’innovation en matière de santé, ainsi que les dirigeants de la Fondation Gates, notamment Bill Gates (coprésident et administrateur), Melinda French Gates (coprésidente et administrateur), Mark Suzman (directeur général) et Trevor Mundel (président de la division Santé mondiale). Les sessions seront publiées peu après la réunion sur le site grandchallenges.org/annual-meeting.

À propos de Grand Challenges

La Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates reconnaît que la résolution des défis les plus urgents en matière de santé et de développement mondiaux exige qu’un plus grand nombre des esprits les plus brillants du monde y travaillent. La famille d’initiatives Grand Challengescherche à engager les innovateurs du monde entier à résoudre ces défis. Les initiatives Grand Challenges sont unies par leur volonté d’encourager l’innovation, de diriger la recherche là où elle aura le plus d’impact et de servir ceux qui en ont le plus besoin. Pour en savoir plus, veuillez consulter grandchallenges.org.

À propos de la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates

Guidée par la conviction que chaque vie a une valeur égale, la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates s’efforce d’aider tous les individus à mener une vie saine et productive. Dans les pays en développement, elle vise à améliorer la santé des populations et à leur donner la possibilité de se sortir de la faim et de l’extrême pauvreté. Aux États-Unis, elle cherche à faire en sorte que tous les individus, en particulier ceux qui ont le moins de ressources, aient accès aux opportunités dont ils ont besoin pour réussir à l’école et dans la vie. Basée à Seattle, dans l’État de Washington, la Fondation est dirigée par le PDG Mark Suzman, sous la direction de Bill Gates et de Melinda French Gates.

Contact pour les médias : media@gatesfoundation.org

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Boyden Sees Strong Growth in East Africa, focused on social impact, healthcare, education, private equity and high growth start-ups

Boyden hires new Partner Farah Esmail in East Africa, as client needs drive growth in leadership for multinationals, social impact, family and private equity-backed businesses

Farah Esmail

Partner, Boyden East Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boyden, a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 75 offices in over 45 countries, welcomes new partner Farah Esmail as Boyden East Africa continues to provide exceptional leadership solutions and client service to social impact enterprises, family firms and hyper-growth, private equity-backed businesses.

“Boyden East Africa is culturally astute and demonstrates a deeply held commitment to the region’s social and economic progress,” commented Trina D. Gordon, President & CEO of Boyden. “We are delighted that Farah Esmail is joining the team as Boyden thrives on its work with trailblazing organisations in the region. She has magnetic energy in collaborative success, an impressive track record aligned with client needs and valuable experience in corporate governance”.

Boyden East Africa provides leadership solutions to multinationals, family businesses, social impact organisations and start-ups building innovative new models leveraging digital payment capabilities distinctive to the region. The team is uniquely connected to the Kenyan diaspora through its deep roots in East Africa and international engagement across Boyden’s global footprint.

Clients recognise the gold standard of Boyden East Africa. The team have a significant record of delivering results, for example for CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution, enabling it to acquire a global expert in investment, deal execution and portfolio management. “I am delighted to see Boyden welcome Farah Esmail to its team. Farah Samanani’s keen sense for identifying excellent talent has supported CDC in shaping our dynamic East Africa team. Farah Esmail’s insight will enhance Boyden’s ability to match skilled and passionate leaders with businesses that play a key role in driving growth and impact throughout the region,” said Tenbite Ermias, Managing Director, Africa, CDC Group.

Farah Samanani

Managing Partner, Boyden East Africa

Boyden’s CEO track record includes a search for Copia Global, a leading retail goods and services m-commerce platform, built to serve 750 million middle- to low-income African consumers, even those who are remote, unbanked and unconnected. Through a network of 25,000 Copia Agents (local shops where orders can be made and delivered), Copia is able to serve over 1 million customers in Kenya and Uganda today and meet them where they are, online via a smartphone app or offline in person, whichever interface they prefer. “Boyden understood our leadership needs both as a start-up and as an organisation with a compelling future in m-commerce,” commented Tracey Turner, Founder & Chairman, Copia Global. “Farah Samanani enabled us to attract and acquire a global CEO with exceptional customer, retail and logistics experience. Tim Steel is focused on the low- to middle income customer and providing them with their everyday shopping needs. He has built a brand synonymous with quality and best in class customer service. He has also championed a life changing ecosystem between agents, customers and transport suppliers. We are delighted to have expanded into Uganda during the pandemic and look forward to further, customer-led growth.”

Farah Samanani, Managing Partner of Boyden East Africa said, “Boyden East Africa is in a sweet spot, with our skills and capabilities perfectly matched to the needs of clients in a fascinating business environment. Farah Esmail is an exceptional addition to our team, with strong consulting, corporate and board experience. Her personal drive and ethos have enabled her to achieve impressive social impact goals, including an innovative educational model in Kenya. Boyden East Africa will continue to support clients transforming people’s lives, as well as global investors seeking talent experts who understand these dynamic, complex markets.”

Farah Esmail will leverage her extensive experience with multinationals, most recently as Head of Kenya at Sirdar Group, as well as her affiliation with the Ibuka1 Program, a premier incubation and acceleration program run by the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Affiliation involved helping organisations in the Program to structure their businesses, enhance visibility and gain exposure to local and international investors.

During the very challenging business environment brought about by COVID-19, Boyden East Africa has continued to deliver the right leadership for clients, sourcing exceptional talent globally and recruiting them to the region. In the last two years, Boyden has placed exceptional professionals from Spain, Germany, USA and the Middle East, helping them relocate their families and take C-Suite leadership positions in highly innovative companies, focused on implementing uniquely African solutions using global best practice.

About Boyden

Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 75 offices in over 45 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. Boyden is ranked amongst the top companies on Forbes’ Americas Best Executive Recruiting Firms for 2021. For further information, visit www.boyden.com.
______________________
1 ‘Ibuka’ is Swahili for ‘emerge’.

Contacts:

Chris Swee, Boyden
Global Head of Marketing
T: +1 914 747 0172
E: cswee@boyden.com		 Farah Samanani, Boyden
Managing Partner, East Africa
T: +254 791 242 192
E: fsamanani@boyden.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67d9a8f5-ecb6-44e8-8147-b6eb8b7a2718
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e7f1f88-30e2-438e-bab1-318ba10bad17

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Amnesty International Report Demands Compensation for Uganda’s Benet People

A report by Amnesty International documents several violent forced evictions in Uganda of the Benet indigenous people. Affected members of the community narrate details of the eviction from their ancestral land saying it took place without notice and they are asking the Ugandan government to compensate them.

 

More than a decade after being violently evicted from their ancestral forest lands in Mount Elgon, Amnesty says Uganda’s Indigenous Benet people continue to languish in deplorable conditions.

 

This includes living in ramshackle resettlement camps with little access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare for 13 years according to a report by Amnesty International.

 

The report titled, “13 Years in Limbo: Forced Evictions of the Benet in the Name of Conservation”, found that the Benet are still suffering disruption to their way of life and they remain at risk of physical harm from forest rangers despite repeated promises by the government to resettle them.

 

David Chemutai is an affected member of the Benet group. He says that through the different evictions, about 100 people have since lost their lives and many remain psychologically traumatized.

 

“The UWA officials came, they forced us to burn our own houses. They give you the matchbox and they have a gun and they tell you that, please burn your house. You have no alternative, the food is inside, the properties, they are inside. We had nowhere to go and we had to reside under the trees and in the caves,” he said.

 

Roland Ebole, a researcher at Amnesty International, says the evictions among a community of 18,000 people constitute a range of human rights violations including the right to housing and the rights of indigenous people.

 

Ebole says Amnesty found that the Benet are suffering as the government’s promises of protection and resettlement go unkept.

 

“The multiple inter-related and interconnected human rights violations that the indigenous people of the Benet have suffered, following violent forced evictions by the state, have deepened the poverty and disparities experienced by this community. Leaving them landless, marginalized and at risk of further human rights violations,” he said.

 

Amnesty International’s report says the Benet were first evicted from the forest by the National Forest Authority in 1983, and subsequently by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, UWA, in 1993 when the Ugandan government declared the forest a national park.

 

The report further notes that in 2008, the UWA forcefully evicted about 200 Benet families, this time targeting members of the community who the UWA claimed were still settled inside the national park despite the government’s allocation of land to them.

 

Amnesty is calling on the government to, among other things, recognize the Benet as indigenous people, recognize their right to their ancestral lands in Mount Elgon and to ensure that all Benet people who were subject to forcible evictions get remedy and reparations.

 

The organization also demands that all allegations against the UWA be investigated and responsible persons prosecuted.

 

Bashir Hangi, public relations officer for the Uganda Wildlife Authority describes the Amnesty report as baseless and pure speculation. According to Hangi, the Benet vacated their land for conservation voluntarily and are now going back on that.

 

“It Is also not true that UWA is involved in killing people. Why do we kill people? We are a government entity established to be responsible for all protected areas. In the process of taking care of a protected area, we don’t allow encroachers. We are not doing anything wrong. We are executing our mandate as per the law,” he said.

 

Hangi adds that they are working closely with communities neighboring all protected areas and the government aims to resettle displaced communities.

 

The Benet are a hunter-gatherer and pastoralist community who many Ugandans refer to as “the primitive people of the mountain.”

 

Their land issues date back to the colonial period when the British colonial government first declared the Mount Elgon moorlands and grasslands, home to their ancestors, as a forest reserve.

 

Source: Voice of America

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