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Visa Data Shows Boost in Spend from Asia Pacific at Olympic Games Paris 2024

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Biggest spend came from Australia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Mainland China and Singapore cardholders[1]Significant increase in spending from Visa cardholders in many areas of commerce including apparel, retail goods, department stores, restaurants, and in contactless purchasesIncrease in travellers to neighbouring Greece, Italy and Switzerland

SINGAPORE, Sept. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Visa, the Official Payment Technology Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, today shared new data revealing consumer spending patterns from Mainland China, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore.

The world leader in digital payments has identified the positive impact that the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is having in boosting commerce in France and across Europe. Top spending patterns[2] by Visa cardholders from Asia Pacific include:

Asia Pacific cardholders spent more in France than in the previous year[3], with Australia recording over 100% increase in their spending, followed by Mainland China (over 80%) and Hong Kong SAR (over 70%)Within France, the biggest share of daily spend[4] comes from Hong Kong SAR (over US$230) Singapore (over US$160), Mainland China (over US$140)Asia Pacific cardholders[5] made twice the number of contactless purchases compared to the previous year’s averageOver 80% of total visitors used Contactless as the payment method[6]Over 30% of cardholders conducted their first international purchase in the last 12 months during their tripFivefold increase in spending on SMB merchants[7] compared to the previous year’s averageOver 50% of spend in shopping, lodging and dining (apparel & accessories, retail goods, department stores and restaurants)Increased spending beyond France in other parts of Europe, including Greece (over 250%), Italy (over 100%) and Spain (over 90%) 

Top Asia Pacific Travel Patterns

France saw an increase of over 70% in number of Asia Pacific travellers during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with over 60% of total visitors travelling to Paris[8]Other Olympic Games Paris 2024 host cities also benefitted from the Olympic Games with 10% of total visitors travelling to Nice, 5% to Marseille, and 4% to LyonTravel beyond France to other parts of Europe, including Greece (over 170%), Italy (over 80%) and Switzerland (over 60%) 

“The Olympic Games Paris 2024 has not only showcased athletic excellence but also demonstrated the power of global events to drive economic growth and digitalisation especially for small and medium businesses,” said Prateek Sanghi, Head of Visa Consulting and Analytics, Asia Pacific. “What’s really exciting is how contactless payments have doubled during the Olympics — a sign that people are embracing new ways to pay with ease, speed and convenience. We’re seeing the future of payments unfold in real time, uplifting everyone from local businesses in Paris to tourists from across Asia Pacific.”

Prior Visa data from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 revealed significant growth in international visitorship and spending. U.S. cardholders led with a 72% year-on-year increase, followed by Latin America (+62%) and Asia Pacific (+57%). This boost extended beyond Paris to other Olympic host cities. Similarly, Asia Pacific visitors to France increased by over 70%, with a rise of over 80% in overall tourism spend. These figures underscore the Games’ potential to stimulate host-country economies, aligning with Visa’s purpose to uplift everyone everywhere.

Visa’s responsibility to provide payment systems for the Olympic and Paralympic Games requires a robust and venue-specific plan combined with large-scale operations. Working hand-in-hand with the Organising Committee for the last three years, Visa has built a custom payment network across Paris and beyond, which ensures Visa contactless payments are accepted at 3,500 points of sale across 32 Olympic venues and 16 Paralympic venues.

About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com

Disclaimer:
Case studies, statistics, research and recommendations are provided “AS IS” and intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for operational, marketing, legal, technical, tax, financial or other advice. Visa Inc. does not make any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the Information within this document, nor assume any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such Information. The Information contained herein is not intended as legal advice, and readers are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent legal professional where such advice is required.

[1] Based on Visanet data: Cardholders from these five countries and territories form the highest number of Olympic ticket buyers from the Asia Pacific region.

[2] Figures compare the period from 1 July to 11 August 2024 with monthly average of last 12 months.

[3] Figures compare the period between 1 July to 11 August 2024 and the monthly average spends (per cardholder, by market) between of last 12 months, VisaNet.

[4] Figures describe in-person transactions in France between 1 July to 11 August 2024, VisaNet.

[5] Cross-border visitors to France: (1) international cardholders, and (2) have made CP International transactions in France; time period: 1 July to 11 August 2024.

[6] In-person contactless transactions in France between 1 July to 11 August 2024, VisaNet.

[7] AP Visa cardholders and spend increase in France comparing 1 July to 11 August 2024 and last 12 months’ average.

[8] Figures describe the number of Asia Pacific Visa cardholders in France between 2024-07-01 to 2024-08-11, VisaNet

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte. Ltd

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MATSON ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF 3 MILLION SHARES TO EXISTING SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM AND QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $0.36 PER SHARE

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HONOLULU, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, approved adding three million shares to its existing share repurchase program and extending the program to December 31, 2029.  As of April 23, 2026, the existing share repurchase program had approximately 0.7 million shares remaining.  The Board also declared a second quarter dividend of $0.36 per common share.  The dividend will be paid on June 4, 2026 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 7, 2026.

“We are pleased to announce an additional three million shares to our existing share repurchase program,” said Matt Cox, Matson’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “Since we commenced our share repurchase program in August 2021, we have repurchased approximately 14.3 million shares, or approximately 33% of the then outstanding shares, for a total cost of $1.3 billion.  Going forward, we will continue to be both disciplined and opportunistic in our capital allocation, and we remain committed to returning excess cash to shareholders to create additional shareholder value over the long-term.” 

Shares will be repurchased in the open market from time to time at the Company’s discretion, based on ongoing assessments of the capital needs of the business, the market price of its common shares and general market conditions.  The Company may enter into Rule 10b5-1 plans to facilitate purchases under the program.  The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

About the Company

Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services.  Matson provides a vital lifeline of ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia.  Matson also operates premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, which includes cargo from other Asia origins, provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Alaska to Asia.  The Company’s fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and barges.  Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson’s transportation network throughout North America and Asia.  Its integrated logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, supply chain management, and freight forwarding to Alaska.  Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement, including but not limited to, statements about capital allocation plans, the timing, manner and volume of repurchases of common shares pursuant to the repurchase program, and use of excess cash.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.  This release should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC through the date of this release, which identify important factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this release.  We do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Matson, Inc.

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Accord Specialty Pharmacy Named Finalist in MMIT’s 11th Annual Retail Specialty Pharmacy Patient Choice Awards

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ORLANDO, Fla., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Accord Specialty Pharmacy, an independent specialty pharmacy serving patients across multiple states, has been named a finalist in the MMIT Patient Choice Awards, a recognition based on patient-reported satisfaction and experience.

Accord was selected as the only independent pharmacy among finalists in its category, alongside national pharmacy organizations such as Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and Walmart Specialty Pharmacy. This distinction highlights the company’s commitment to delivering personalized, high-touch care for patients managing complex and chronic conditions.

The MMIT Patient Choice Awards recognize specialty pharmacies that demonstrate excellence in patient satisfaction, service quality, and overall care experience. Finalists are determined based on direct patient feedback, making the recognition a meaningful reflection of the trust patients place in their pharmacy providers.

“Being recognized alongside national organizations and as the only independent finalist validates our belief that personalized, patient-centered care drives better outcomes. We are building a model that combines clinical depth, national reach, and operational flexibility to better serve patients, providers, and partners.” said AJ Patel, Founder and Pharmacy Manager of Accord Specialty Pharmacy.

Accord Specialty Pharmacy supports patients across complex specialty categories, including oncology, rare disease, and infusion, through a clinically driven, high-touch care model designed to improve access, adherence, and outcomes. The company’s approach emphasizes personalized support, responsive care coordination, and strong clinical engagement to help patients navigate complex therapies more effectively. With a growing national footprint and multi-state licensure, Accord is positioned to support patients, providers, and partners across diverse markets.

For more information, visit MMIT Announces Finalists of the 11th Specialty Pharmacy Patient Choice Awards – MMITNetwork.

About Accord Specialty Pharmacy:

Accord Specialty Pharmacy is an ACHC-accredited, multi-state licensed independent specialty pharmacy located in Central Florida, dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care for individuals managing complex and chronic conditions. Through personalized support, clinical expertise, and a high-touch approach, Accord helps patients navigate every step of their treatment journey. Learn more at www.accordspecialty.com.

CONTACT: contact@accordspecialty.com

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SOURCE Accord Specialty

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HAIVISION ANNOUNCES VOTING RESULTS FROM 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

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MONTRÉAL, April 23, 2026 /CNW/ – Haivision Systems Inc. (“Haivision” or the “Company”) (TSX: HAI) is pleased to announce the voting results from its annual meeting of shareholders held today in a virtual format.

A total of approximately 45.97 % of the issued and outstanding common shares of Haivision were represented at the meeting.

Election of Directors

Each of the six nominated directors of Haivision was elected as director of the Company with the following results:

Director

Votes
For

% Votes
For

Votes
Against

% Votes
Against

Miroslav Wicha

11,110,245

99.26 %

82,583

0.74 %

Harvey Bienenstock

11,155,137

99.66 %

37,691

0.34 %

Robin M. Rush

11,121,855

99.37 %

70,973

0.63 %

Neil Hindle

10,794,005

96.44 %

398,823

3.56 %

Julie Tremblay

10,941,969

97.76 %

250,859

2.24 %

Lee K. Levy II

9,084,418

81.16 %

2,108,410

18.84 %

2.   Appointment of Auditors

Deloitte LLP were reappointed auditors of the Company for the ensuing year with 12,492,582 (98.84%) votes cast in favour and 146,406 (1.16%) votes withheld.

3.   Approval of the Unallocated Awards under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan

The Company’s unallocated awards were approved with 8,710,347 (77.82%) votes cast in favour and 2,482,481 (22.18%) votes cast against.

4.   Reapproval of Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan

The Company’s shareholder rights plan was approved with 10,572,490 (94.46%) votes cast in favour and 620,338 (5.54%) votes cast against.

Final voting results on all matters voted on at the meeting will be filed under Haivision’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Haivision

Haivision is a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video streaming and visual collaboration solutions. Our connected cloud and intelligent edge technologies enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision making. We provide high quality, low latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale. Haivision open sourced its award-winning SRT low latency video streaming protocol and founded the SRT Alliance to support its adoption. Awarded four Emmys® for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Haivision continues to fuel the future of IP video transformation. Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Learn more at haivision.com.

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SOURCE Haivision Systems Inc.

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