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SBC and V&V Group Announce Strategic Consolidation of Technology and AI Capabilities into a Joint-Venture Platform

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14 tax-technology products and intellectual assets came together under a common AI-native integration layer, creating an integrated platform spanning transfer pricing, corporate tax, GST, e-invoicing, audit and suite of accounting products. Combined businesses served 1,500–2,000 clients, including over 350 multinational groups, and brought together nearly 500 professionals, with plans to expand into four to five jurisdictions within 24 months

HYDERABAD, India, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Steadfast Business Consulting (SBC), a Hyderabad-headquartered international tax, transfer pricing and tax-technology group, and V&V Group, a Bengaluru-based GST and audit-technology group, announced a strategic consolidation of their technology assets and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into a joint-venture technology platform. The initiative marks a significant step towards building an Indian-owned, AI-enabled technology enterprise that combines deep tax expertise, proprietary software and intelligent automation to serve businesses and professional services firms across global markets.

The consolidation brings together 14 technology products and intellectual assets spanning transfer pricing, corporate taxation, GST, e-invoicing, audit, bookkeeping and regulatory compliance. Together, the two organisations serve approximately 1,500–2,000 clients, including more than 350 multinational groups, and brings together nearly 500 professionals, comprising 40–50 chartered accountants and 40–50 engineers. Their services businesses across India, the UAE, the United States and Europe are positioned to serve as the platform’s first customers and international distribution channel.

The combined portfolio includes SBC’s TP Doc Gen AI (TAIGA), TaxMate, FixTag, SBC Track and ROC Data, alongside V&V Group’s GSTZen, WeAudit, DeskAudit, Papilio and the Tidy suite. The common AI-native integration layer is designed to connect these products, streamline workflows and reduce duplication in technology development, data infrastructure and service delivery.

Commenting on the announcement, CA Mithilesh Reddy, Founder & Managing Partner, SBC, said, “Indian firms never lacked talent. We lacked scale and ownership of our tools. This combination gave us both. By bringing together our domain expertise, proprietary technologies and AI capabilities, we took an important step towards building a globally competitive, Indian-owned technology enterprise. Our vision was to move beyond traditional consulting models and create a platform where every service engagement benefited from our own technology, enabling us to deliver greater efficiency, consistency and value to businesses worldwide.”

The combined technology estate included 51 AI agents, of which 44 are operational. The proposed common AI layer brings together regulatory knowledge, tax laws, rulings, comparables and financial data to support automation across document preparation, data processing, reporting and audit-related workflows. The architecture is designed to integrate with client enterprise resource planning systems, India’s GST and e-invoicing infrastructure, and relevant data providers.

The platform follows a human-led decision-making model: AI executed repetitive and data-intensive tasks, while qualified professionals retained responsibility for interpretation, review and final decisions. This approach sought to combine the speed and scalability of automation with professional judgement, accountability and regulatory expertise.

Vinay Thyagaraj, Co-founder, V&V Group and GSTZen, said, “Our GST, e-invoicing and audit engines already supported Indian businesses in managing their everyday compliance requirements. Bringing these capabilities together with SBC’s expertise in international taxation and transfer pricing created an opportunity to build a more comprehensive technology platform. With one AI layer and a wider global channel, we aimed to transform proven India-built solutions into scalable products that businesses and professional services firms across the world could use. Our focus remained on using technology to simplify complexity while keeping qualified professionals at the centre of decision-making.”

The organisations outlined a four-phase integration roadmap spanning 24 months. The initial 90 days focused on establishing joint technology leadership, a common data infrastructure and an integrated product roadmap. The next phase envisaged cross-selling opportunities across the combined client base and the establishment of a shared delivery centre. Within 12 months, the technology joint venture planned to introduce new products, including UAE e-invoicing, WeAudit AI and TidyBooks AI. The final phase targeted operations across four to five jurisdictions within 24 months.

TidyBooks AI is envisioned as an integrated platform connecting invoicing, accounting, financial statements, audit files and transfer pricing documentation. The roadmap also includes expanding the technology portfolio into global VAT and e-invoicing requirements, with Dubai positioned as a regional hub for the Gulf Cooperation Council market.

The consolidation is expected to generate operational efficiencies through a shared engineering team, common data stack, unified AI gateway, integrated delivery infrastructure and a single go-to-market strategy. The model followed a ‘build once, deploy everywhere’ approach, allowing the organisations to scale technology across their combined client base without duplicating development efforts.

Beyond serving their own clients, the organisations envisage a white-label and subscription-based delivery model that enabled other professional and consulting firms to access the platform under their own brands. The approach was intended to help smaller and mid-sized firms adopt advanced technology without having to independently develop and maintain complex software infrastructure.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for technology-enabled professional services. By combining its accounting expertise, engineering talent and cost-efficient delivery capabilities, the group aimed to export technology-led tax and compliance solutions to international markets while creating opportunities for professionals skilled in AI, taxation and regulatory technology.

About SBC: SBC is an international tax, transfer pricing and tax-technology group with operations in Hyderabad and Dubai and a presence in the United States. It serves more than 350 multinational groups across international taxation, transfer pricing, Advance Pricing Agreements, UAE corporate tax, Pillar Two, virtual CFO services and Global Capability Centre advisory. Its technology portfolio includes TP Doc Gen AI (TAIGA) and TaxMate. SBC is a member of Kreston Global, an international network spanning more than 120 countries. Website: steadfastconsultants.in 

About V&V Group and GSTZen: V&V Group, co-founded by Vinay Thyagaraj and CA Venugopal Gella, is a Bengaluru-based technology group specializing in GST, e-invoicing, audit automation, bookkeeping, VAT and customs technology. Its portfolio includes GSTZen, WeAudit, DeskAudit and the Tidy suite of products. The group focuses on simplifying tax compliance, financial reporting and audit processes through technology-enabled solutions. Website: gstzen.in

 

 

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Club Offers for Travel Enthusiasts in Canada

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TORONTO, Oct 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Travelzoo® (NASDAQ: TZOO), the club for travel enthusiasts, announces three of many new Club Offers for Club Members in Canada.

Rigorously vetted and negotiated for us travel enthusiasts:

$799—COSTA RICA WEEK WITH FLIGHTS & CAR
We think fall is an ideal time to visit Costa Rica; the scenery is lush and the crowds are gone. Drive between volcanic Arenal and the idyllic beaches of Tamarindo on this seven-night trip. Since it’s not as busy, we were able to negotiate a price that saves members up to $648 on departures through mid-December.

$899—BARCELONA: 5 NIGHTS WITH FLIGHTS
Explore Barcelona’s world-class museums and architectural masterpieces in the quieter winter months to pack more into your trip. You won’t waste hours in lines and can access top restaurants that are fully booked in summer. We save $300 on travel this January and February, when temperatures are still spring-like. Roundtrip flights from Toronto, hotel and daily breakfast are included.

$999—ST. KITTS GETAWAY FOR 2, REG. $2083
Most visitors to St. Kitts book months in advance, but when we pointed out that travel enthusiasts are more spontaneous, this resort gave us a terrific rate for stays this November and December. Spend four nights in Frigate Bay and get an upgraded Oceanview room, too.

Are you a travel enthusiast? Join the club today: https://travelzoo.com

Who are we?
We, Travelzoo®, are the club for travel enthusiasts. We reach 30 million travellers. Club Members receive Club Offers negotiated and rigorously vetted by our deal experts around the globe. Our relationships with thousands of top travel companies give us access to irresistible deals. Our club and its benefits are built around the lifestyle of a modern travel enthusiast.

Media Contact: 
Amanda Ieraci – Toronto
+1 437 866 8540
aieraci@travelzoo.com

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SOURCE Travelzoo

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Howard Hughes Holdings Set to Join S&P SmallCap 600

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HHH) will replace Arcosa Inc. (NYSE: ACA) in the S&P SmallCap 600 effective prior to the opening of trading on Wednesday, October 28. S&P 500 constituent CRH plc (NYSE: CRH) has acquired Arcosa in a deal that closed today, October 23.

Following is a summary of the changes that will take place prior to the open of trading on the effective date:

Effective Date

Index Name  

Action

Company Name

Ticker

GICS Sector

October 28, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Addition

Howard Hughes Holdings

HHH

Real Estate

October 28, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Deletion

Arcosa

ACA

Industrials

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

S&P Dow Jones Indices
index_services@spglobal.com

Media Inquiries
spdji.comms@spglobal.com

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SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

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Chelsea FC announces multi-year sleeve partnership with Sokin, the business payments and FX platform

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Chelsea FC name fast-growing fintech platform as Principal Partner

LONDON, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chelsea Football Club has today announced a multi-year partnership with Sokin, the embedded finance and payments company used by businesses worldwide. Sokin will be named a Principal Partner and Official Business Payments and FX Partner of Chelsea FC and Chelsea FC Women.

As a Principal Partner, Sokin will be represented on the sleeves of the Chelsea FC men’s, women’s and academy home, away, and third kits from the 2026/27 season.

The partnership brings together two ambitious London-headquartered organisations with worldwide reach – a club with millions of fans across the world and a fintech platform through which businesses move more than $11 billion a year. A club of Chelsea’s scale works in many currencies every day, with partners, competitions and supporters around the world, and needs a financial partner built to handle that.

Sokin gives finance teams business payments, multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange, checkout and treasury in one place, so they spend less time juggling banks and providers and keep more of what they move.

As Official Business Payments and FX Partner, Sokin will simplify how Chelsea FC sends, receives and manages money in the currencies the club operates in.

The Sokin logo will feature on the sleeve of the Chelsea shirt for the first time [when the men’s team host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 24th October.]

Jason Gannon, President at Chelsea FC said:

“At Chelsea, we seek to partner with organisations that share our ambition and innovative mindset. Sokin’s expertise in business payments, and their focus on making both simpler for the businesses they serve, makes them a natural fit for the Club. We are pleased to welcome Sokin to the Chelsea family and look forward to working together in the years ahead.”

Vroon Modgill, CEO and founder at Sokin said:

“Chelsea plays on the biggest stage in world football, and its business runs in dozens of currencies. Sokin was built for that with regulated, multi-currency payments and foreign exchange for organisations that operate internationally. We’re proud to be the platform behind the business payments and FX of one of the most iconic teams in football. Sokin’s platform serves businesses in more than 170 countries. We’re thrilled to be partners for the season ahead. An organisation as sophisticated as Chelsea doesn’t leave its finances to chance.”

About Sokin

Sokin is the financial layer global business runs on. Businesses can transact, convert and hold money in 70+ currencies across 170+ countries. Some businesses use Sokin to manage global finance in-house. Others build it into their products to power financial experiences for their customers. Businesses move more than $9 billion a year on licenses Sokin holds in 36+ countries and infrastructure Sokin owns. Founded in 2019, Sokin has raised over $100 million from investors including Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and Prysm Capital.

About Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club is one of the biggest, most successful football clubs globally and our men’s team are reigning world champions, having won the four-yearly FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. Our women’s team, Chelsea Women, are also multiple trophy winners.

Founded in 1905, Chelsea is London’s most central football club, based at the iconic 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium. Nicknamed the Blues, the club lifted the Champions League for the first time in 2012 and domestically has won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup eight times, the Football League Cup five times and the Football League Championship once, in 1955.

The Chelsea Women’s team have enjoyed a huge amount of success and in 2025 won the FA Women’s Super League for a sixth consecutive year and the eighth time overall. The Women’s FA Cup has been won on six occasions. We have also captured the FA Women’s League Cup four times as well as reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021. In two seasons, 2020/21 and 2024/25, a domestic treble of trophies was secured.

The Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, helping to improve the lives of children and young people all over the world.

Media Contacts:

Taina Biggs
taina.biggs@sokin.com 

Nerissa Chesterfield
nerissa.chesterfield@chelseafc.com 

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