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Taiwan Hosts Asian Animation Summit for the First Time Bringing Together Major Buyers Netflix and Warner Bros. to Promote Taiwanese Animation to the World

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TAIPEI, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Asian Animation Summit (AAS), the representative event with the greatest focus on the development of children’s animation in the Asia Pacific, was held in Taipei for the first time from November 19 to November 21. This year’s AAS was jointly organized by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and Kidscreen, the world’s leading animation magazine in the children’s entertainment industry. The event aimed to promote investment by European and American broadcasters in the development or co-production of Asian animation. It attracted well-known international animation channels and streaming platforms, including Netflix, Warner Bros., Discovery Kids APAC, and BBC Children. During the three-day event, Taiwan engaged in in-depth exchange with members of the animation industry from all over the world, discussing global trends and facilitating many opportunities for international collaboration.

 

AAS is focused on developing animation series suitable for children aged 15 and younger. Business matchmaking activities scheduled during the event consisted of investor pitches, one-on-one business meetings, and industry forums. Among attendees were European and American broadcasters and investors, as well as representative industry promoters from the Asia Pacific such as Japan’s Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), Thailand’s Thai Animation and Computer Graphic Association (TACGA), and Australia’s Screen Queensland. Numerous Taiwanese distribution platforms and investors with an interest in children’s content also attended, including PTS XS, Chunghwa Digital Cultural and Creative, Taiwan Mobile, Fubon Cultural & Educational Foundation, MOMO, and EBC YoYo. With Taiwan as the host, Taiwanese animation studios also used the opportunity to participate.

 

To increase the number of original works and enhance the diversity of children’s content, TAICCA promotes a series of support programs, including talent cultivation and content incubation projects. TAICCA also works with key international organizations, invests resources in initial development and individual projects, and assists in carrying out international co-productions. TAICCA Chairperson Homme Tsai indicated that with TAICCA’s support, AAS could be held in Taiwan for the first time this year, giving children’s content an edge. This opportunity also allowed animation companies, platforms, and important industry organizations to gather for exchanges, and to match more Taiwanese works with international buyers. TAICCA will continue to encourage co-financing and co-productions between Taiwanese and international animation teams, and invest more resources to push outstanding Taiwanese animation teams to the international stage.

For investor pitches, there were a total of 13 pitches from Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Australia, and India, including five works from Taiwanese teams recommended for selection by TAICCA: Coby & Jack by Whatube Studios, set in Taipei, combines the creator’s experience growing up with Eastern and Western humor to create a unique comedy short film for children; Aero Ace by TWR Entertainment, which uses “imagination is humankind’s most important asset” as its creative principle to create a world in which children can control machines with brain waves, hoping to encourage children to go outdoors and explore the world by stimulating their boundless creativity; the delightful Titi & Roro by Play Big Music, which draws on the concept of “Mudio = music + video,” uses music as the core of the story to lead viewers on a fantastical adventure. “This universe needs some joy!” Galaxy Wonders by Cheer Digiart, a science fiction comedy adventure short film that hopes children can explore, study, and discover this universe through the story; Pillow Pals by Pig Box Studio, featuring a soft and warm drawing style, with the underlying belief that “everything has a soul,” and that once children give toys a name, they will come to “life” and become soulmates. The pitches from the Taiwanese teams stood out and were favorites of buyers and industry members. Titi & Roro even won the audience choice award for most popular and will be advertised on the Kidscreen website.

During the industry forums, Libbie Doherty, Co-CEO of Run Wild Media, and David Kleeman, Senior Vice President of Global Trends of Dubit, shared little-known details about creating popular animation and using data to develop animation. Doherty pointed out that when facing challenges such as the pandemic, AI technology, and market changes, creators must understand the current ecosystem and creatively integrate universal values, establish an emotional connection with the audience, and create works with impact and emotional depth. She also said, “Children are the most amazing. Our mission is to let children have a happy childhood.” Kleeman shared that the generation of digital natives prefers user-generated content (UGC) and metaverse platforms; content creators can get instant feedback and test markets on these platforms, and they can use UGC and AI tools to make their content more interactive, to attract the attention of young groups in an ecosystem that combines virtuality and reality.

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SOURCE Taiwan Creative Content Agency

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Act Now: ez1095 Software Simplifies ACA Corrections with Built-In XML Import Feature

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April 21, 2026

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ez1095 ACA software includes a powerful XML data import feature included in the e-file version to streamline correction and replacement form filing.

REDMOND, Wash., Apr. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — With ACA compliance deadlines approaching and penalties on the line, Halfpricesoft.com is urging employers and tax professionals to act quickly with the latest 2025 ez1095 software, now equipped with a built-in XML data import feature designed to simplify ACA correction and replacement form processing.

Don’t risk ACA penalties or last-minute filing stress. Get ahead of correction and replacement filing with ez1095. Download the software, leverage the built-in XML import feature, and ensure accurate, compliant ACA submissions, click here to get started now.

Developers at Halfpricesoft.com have enhanced ez1095 ACA (Affordable Care Act) software to include XML import functionality at no additional cost, allowing users to efficiently process corrections with greater speed and accuracy.

“ez1095 2025 software includes an XML data import feature to process correction and replacement forms more quickly and securely,” said Dr. Ge, Founder of Halfpricesoft.com.

This feature significantly reduces manual data entry and helps organizations manage ACA corrections with confidence. Businesses handling only a few corrections can choose to print paper forms with the “Corrected” box checked and submit by mail, while those needing to efile can follow step-by-step guidance here.

ez1095 supports all required ACA forms, including 1095-C, 1094-C, 1095-B, and 1094-B, and is IRS-approved to generate electronic filing documents for both current and prior tax years. By managing ACA filings in-house, organizations gain greater control, improved data security, and reduced processing costs.

The software also eliminates the need for pre-printed forms by allowing users to print both IRS and recipient copies on plain white paper. With robust import capabilities, including spreadsheets, XML files, and prior-year data, ez1095 ensures faster setup and streamlined processing.

Flexible Pricing Options:

$295 – Print & Mail Version

$495 – Federal Efile Version

$695 – State & Federal Efile Version

Each version supports unlimited companies, recipients, and ACA forms at no additional cost. Learn more

Key Features Include:

Built-in XML import for fast ACA correction processing

IRS-approved efile document generation

Support for original, correction, replacement, and test submissions

Print ACA forms (1095/1094 B & C) on plain white paper

Unlimited form processing for multiple companies

PDF generation for recipient distribution

No internet required to run the software

Easy step-by-step interface with built-in help resources

Efile direct, add-on feature available for those with no time or TCC code

Compatibility with Windows 11, 10, and 8

Don’t hesitate! Correct ACA forms today by visiting Halfpricesoft.com. Test drive the ez1095 for up to 30 days at no cost or obligation. Please note: Trial will appear on forms and efile feature is not enabled for test drive.

Halfpricesoft.com is a leading provider of small business software, including payroll, accounting, time tracking, and check printing solutions. Its product lineup includes W2, 1099, and 1095 form software, as well as ezACH direct deposit tools. Trusted by businesses for over two decades, Halfpricesoft.com helps streamline operations and simplify payroll and tax reporting.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/act-now-ez1095-software-simplifies-aca-corrections-with-built-in-xml-import-feature-302735658.html

SOURCE Halfpricesoft.com

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Code & Co. Opens New York Office

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14 minutes ago

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April 21, 2026

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Kirby Montgomery Appointed to Lead Local Team

BERLIN, LONDON and NEW YORK, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Code & Co., the global AI & Technology Due Diligence firm, today announces the opening of its New York City office and the appointment of Kirby Montgomery as Head of North America.

The US has long been a core market for the firm, accounting for a significant share of its 800+ engagements to date. Kirby will lead the local expert team, backed by Code & Co.’s practice and proprietary AI and software platform.

An operator-first appointment with a decade of PE-adjacent experience

Kirby brings twenty years of experience scaling software products across fintech, payments, and healthtech. Most recently, he was Head of Product and GM at SAP Taulia, leading the 0-to-1 build of a new payments line. Earlier, as VP of Product Management at C2FO, he helped replatform a supply chain finance product generating over $130M in gross revenue and launched the C2FO API platform. As Director of International Product at TreviPay (then MSTS), he helped scale annual transactions to $5B and expand from 4 to 30 countries, ahead of its acquisition by Corsair Capital in 2020. He also co-founded TheraWe, acquired by Rethink First (a K1 Capital platform).

Code & Co. first met Kirby in 2020 during its Tech DD on MSTS for the Corsair transaction. Over the next six years, he worked alongside the firm in a senior advisory capacity, making a full-time move the obvious next step.

From Our Leadership Team

“We have been serving US clients for years, but having a strong team on the ground, in their timezone, changes what we can deliver. Faster access and the speed to insight that modern deal-making demands, backed by our global team with 800+ deals behind them.”
– Dan Bender, Founding Partner

“Most investors are asking harder questions about AI than ever before and need answers they can act on. That is what drew me to Code & Co. The team has spent a decade building the tools, methodology, and track record to give investors real conviction and real-world action plans. I am here to scale that further, on both the buy-side and sell-side, and everything in between.”
– Kirby Montgomery, Head of North America

What We Do

Code & Co. offers an end-to-end suite of AI & Technology DD services, purpose-built for the pace and demands of modern deal-making.

AI & Tech DD: Fast, actionable, data-driven buy-side assessments covering every major market, strategy, and sector, supporting funds from first look through the entire value creation lifecycle.Sell-side & Vendor DD: Helping sellers get ahead of buyer scrutiny with rigorous exit readiness assessments and vendor DD materials that hold up to sophisticated acquirers.Lightning DD: Rapid pre-qualification delivering a sharp first point of view, driven by document analysis, deep research, and web signal intelligence, before significant time or capital is committed to a process.Cyber & IT DD: Full-spectrum infrastructure, security posture, and IT operational risk review, relevant across virtually every deal type.Embedded Software & Hardware: In-house expertise across embedded systems, hardware-adjacent software, and Industry 4.0 and IIoT environments.AI Future Readiness: Cutting through AI hype to assess whether a company’s strategy, architecture, governance, team, and roadmap are genuinely defensible and built to scale.Portfolio Monitoring & Continuous Diligence: Ongoing technology and AI maturity tracking across portfolio companies, powered by Code & Co.’s proprietary software stack.

About Code & Co.

Code & Co. is a leading AI & Technology DD firm serving private equity and growth investors globally. Founded in 2016, the firm has completed 800+ engagements for 200+ funds across buy-side, sell-side, and vendor mandates. Every team member is an operator with hands-on experience in technology, product, and AI. www.codeandco.com

Full press release: https://www.codeandco.com/media/code-co-opens-new-york-office

For inquiries: hello@codeandco.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/code–co-opens-new-york-office-302747121.html

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Fastmarkets and Expana form strategic partnership to strengthen forest products market intelligence

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15 minutes ago

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April 21, 2026

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LONDON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fastmarkets and Expana, global leaders in commodity price reporting and market intelligence, today announced a strategic partnership to deliver deeper, more actionable forest products intelligence to customers.

Under the partnership, Fastmarkets’ trusted forest products price benchmarks will be integrated directly into the Expana platform, giving customers streamlined access to essential upstream pricing alongside downstream market insights. The collaboration is designed to support faster, more confident decision‑making across increasingly complex and volatile forest products markets.

By combining Fastmarkets’ authoritative, IOSCO‑compliant price assessments with Expana’s downstream intelligence and analytics, customers can access critical pricing for key forest product categories – including pallets, wood, recovered paper and packaging – within a single workflow.

“As forest products markets become more volatile and margin pressure increases, customers need trusted price benchmarks embedded alongside downstream intelligence,” said Raju Daswani, CEO at Fastmarkets. “Partnering with Expana allows us to deliver that combination in a way that is practical, decision‑ready and directly aligned with how Expana’s agri-food customers operate.”

Fastmarkets delivers some of the most widely relied-upon forest products price assessments globally, spanning pulp, recovered paper, timber, biomass, wood products, pallets, tissue, nonwovens and graphic paper. These benchmarks provide transparency and confidence to buyers, sellers and traders navigating dynamic market conditions.

“At Expana, we are committed to providing our users with comprehensive, reliable data to support smarter decision-making,” said Julie Harris, CEO at Expana “Fastmarkets’ authoritative forest products price benchmarks are a natural fit for our customers, and this partnership represents a meaningful step forward in expanding the insights available on our platform,” she added.

Expana delivers comprehensive market intelligence and analytics across food, beverage and FMCG supply chains, with deep expertise in packaging materials, industrial inputs and cost modeling. The platform’s advanced analytics and forecasting tools help customers understand cross-commodity relationships and supply chain impacts, enabling more strategic procurement decisions across volatile markets.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment by Fastmarkets and Expana to improving market transparency and equipping customers across the value chain with high‑quality, decision‑critical intelligence.

For more information, contact media@fastmarkets.com or visit www.fastmarkets.com.

ABOUT FASTMARKETS

Fastmarkets is an industry-leading PRA and information provider for the agriculture, forest products, metals, carbon and energy transition markets. Its benchmark prices, analytics, forecasts, and insights are critical to customers seeking to trade, manage risk, and understand complex global markets.

Fastmarkets was founded in 1913, with a heritage dating back to 1865 through several of its acquired brands. Fastmarkets employs more than 700 people worldwide, with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The company is privately held and backed by Astorg, a leading European private equity firm.

ABOUT EXPANA

Expana is the world’s leading agrifood-focused Price Reporting Agency and global information provider. In markets defined by volatility, opacity and risk, Expana equips businesses with the foresight when to buy or sell, how much, where to source, what to reformulate and how to price. By uniting frequently updated pricing data, predictive forecasts, cost modeling and expert analysis, Expana transforms market data into negotiation power and boardroom-ready intelligence. The result: reduced risk, millions saved in COGS, stronger supply resilience, and faster, more confident growth.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fastmarkets-and-expana-form-strategic-partnership-to-strengthen-forest-products-market-intelligence-302747342.html

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