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FlexFin: The FinTech Game Changer Acquired By Alpha Bank To Revolutionize Factoring

Alpha Bank has acquired 100% of FlexFin, a pioneering FinTech company that offers liquidity solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This strategic move aims to integrate FlexFin’s factoring operations with Alpha Bank’s ABC Factors, strengthening its presence in the factoring market.

FlexFin, founded in 2017 in Cyprus and later expanding to Greece, provides innovative factoring services, helping businesses quickly turn invoices into cash to cover daily expenses. The company serves SMEs in both Cyprus and Greece, focusing on a market that was previously overlooked by larger factoring firms.

Co-founded by Dimitris Vranopoulos and Alexandros Kelaiditis, FlexFin has garnered support from over 45 investors, including the National Bank of Greece, RayCap, and IQBICITY. The company’s Greek subsidiary achieved a significant revenue increase, reporting €1.1 million in 2023, up from €568,000 in 2022.

FlexFin’s services, which help businesses obtain liquidity even when traditional loans are unavailable, fill a crucial gap in the market. The acquisition by Alpha Bank is expected to enhance the bank’s ability to provide comprehensive financial solutions for SMEs.

The company’s success is backed by a team of experienced leaders, including Vranopoulos, a former Goldman Sachs executive, and Kelaiditis, who has extensive experience in investment banking. FlexFin’s growth is set to continue under Alpha Bank’s ownership, offering more efficient and accessible funding solutions to SMEs.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

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