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Time Business News
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Send Email Online vs. Letter Mailing Service: Which One Suits Your Needs in 2025?
Introduction In 2025, organizations and individuals have more ways than ever to reach customers, partners, and loved ones. Two options dominate: send email online through cloud-based platforms, and use a Letter Mailing Service to deliver printed correspondence. Each channel offers unique advantages—and potential drawbacks—depending on your goals. This guide breaks down both methods, highlights emerging trends, and helps you decide which solution (or combination) fits your needs. Factor Send Email Online Letter Mailing Service Average Delivery Time Seconds 1–7 days (domestic); longer international Cost per Message Often free; premium plans $0.0001–$0.02 $0.55–$3.50 (print, envelope, postage) Personalization Dynamic content, segmentation, A/B tests Hand-signed letters, custom stationery, enclosures Legal Validity eIDAS 2.0, ESIGN, PKI signatures Wet ink signatures, Certified/Registered Mail Security & Privacy Encryption, DMARC, MFA Tamper-evident sealed envelopes Environmental Impact Low carbon footprint; server emissions Paper, ink, transport emissions Engagement Rate* ~21 % open; 2–3 % click (B2C avg) 90 % open; 42 % read within 3 minutes Best For Rapid updates, marketing automation, receipts Contracts, official notices, high-value donors *2024–2025 global averages across industries Cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) lets you send one or one million messages instantly. Transactional emails—order confirmations, password resets—arrive within seconds, maintaining customer trust. 2025's email platforms now embed Gen AI to write subject lines, segment audiences, and predict send-times. Tools like Mailchimp AI Assistant and HubSpot's AI Optimizer can lift click-through rates by up to 19 %. Dashboards show opens, clicks, conversions, and device type in real time. Integrations with GA4 and CRM systems help marketers attribute revenue precisely. Most ESPs offer free tiers; even enterprise senders pay fractions of a cent per email. This is unbeatable for newsletters, drip campaigns, and customer success updates. • End-to-end encryption under TLS 1.4• Default BIMI logos that validate brand identity in inboxes • FIDO2 multi-factor login, minimizing account takeovers When 'Send Email Online' Shines Daily marketing or product updates Digital receipts and invoices Real-time alerts (IoT, banking, travel) Low-cost global outreach for startups Physical mail creates a sensory experience—paper weight, embossing, even scent. In an age of overflowing inboxes, a high-quality letter stands out and signals importance. Courts and government agencies worldwide still require hard copies or wet signatures for certain documents: property deeds, some HR notices, certified compliance letters. A Letter Mailing Service handles printing, secure sealing, and tracking via USPS Intelligent Mail or comparable systems. Research by the Postal Innovation Council (2024) shows that 42 % of recipients place a meaningful letter on a desk or fridge for at least 17 days—far longer than the average email lifespan of 2 seconds in the inbox. Variable-data printing lets you merge names, offers, even QR codes that link to personalized webpages—bridging print with digital. Modern services integrate APIs: you upload a PDF and address list, and the provider prints, stuffs, and mails within hours. Some also embed NFC chips or augmented-reality triggers to create interactive experiences. When a 'Letter Mailing Service' Excels Priority legal notices (termination, debt collection) Fundraising for nonprofits (average donation up to $57 vs. $11 via email) Luxury brand invitations or VIP loyalty programs Hand-signed thank-you notes and holiday cards Global Data Privacy Laws Tightening New AI-generated phishing attacks push businesses to adopt DMARC at 100 % enforcement. Authentic-looking physical mail counters email spoofing for certain missions. Rising Postal E-Stamp APIs USPS, Royal Mail, and Pakistan Post now offer digital postage APIs, letting SaaS platforms compare email delivery with auto-generated mailing labels in one dashboard. Green Mandates Corporations must report Scope 3 emissions. Sending email online has a smaller carbon footprint, but recycled paper and carbon-offset shipping make letter mailing more eco-friendly than in 2020. Hybrid Customer Journeys A 2025 Gartner survey shows campaigns mixing email and direct mail enjoy a 27 % higher ROAS. Example: send a promo code by email; follow up with a postcard to top spenders. Ask yourself these four questions: How urgent is the message? Need immediate action? Send email online. Can wait a few days but must be noticed? Letter Mailing Service. Is legal proof or physical signature required? Yes → Letter Mailing Service (prefer Certified/Registered). No → Email with e-signature (DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat). What budget constraints exist? Low or zero budget → Email. High-value client outreach → Direct mail ROI often justifies cost. What engagement depth is needed? Short-term clicks → Email. Memorable unboxing experience → Letter or package. Implement BIMI to display brand logo next to the 'from' line. to display brand logo next to the 'from' line. Adopt AI content filters to avoid spam triggers. to avoid spam triggers. Maintain ADA compliance (WCAG 2.2) with alt text and clear fonts. Use recycled FSC-certified paper to meet ESG goals. to meet ESG goals. Add dynamic QR codes that load personalized landing pages. that load personalized landing pages. Track via USPS Informed Delivery so recipients preview your letter digitally first. Q1: Can I automate both email and letter mailing from one platform? Yes. Providers like PostGrid, Lob, and ClickSend offer unified APIs to trigger either channel based on business logic. Q2: Is email legally binding in 2025? Under ESIGN, UETA (U.S.), and eIDAS 2.0 (EU), digital signatures are valid. But some jurisdictions still mandate paper for certain contracts. Q3: Which option is greener? Email consumes less energy per message, but data-center electricity isn't zero. Choose renewable-powered ESPs; for mail, select recycled materials and carbon-offset shipping programs. In 2025, 'email vs. snail mail' isn't a zero-sum debate. Send email online for immediacy, scale, and analytics. Use a Letter Mailing Service when legal compliance, tangible impact, or premium branding matters. The smartest communicators blend both: automate routine emails, then deploy limited-run direct-mail pieces to break through the noise. Evaluate your audience, objectives, budget, and compliance needs—then craft a hybrid strategy that delivers results today and in the future. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Globe and Mail
14-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
SEALSQ Announces Pricing of $60.0 Million Registered Direct Offering
Geneva, Switzerland, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Offering to be led by Heights Capital Management, Inc., and will consist of ordinary shares sold at $4.00 per share, accompanied by warrants with an exercise price of $4.60. SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ: LAES) ("SEALSQ" or "Company"), a company that focuses on developing and selling Semiconductors, PKI and Post-Quantum technology hardware and software products, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with several institutional investors to purchase 15,000,000 ordinary shares and accompanying warrants to purchase up to 30,000,000 ordinary shares at a combined purchase price of $4.00 per ordinary share and accompanying warrants, representing a premium of about 10% to SEALSQ's closing stock price on July 11, 2025 (the 'Offering'). The warrants will have an exercise price of $4.60 per ordinary share, will be immediately exercisable, and will expire seven years following the date of issuance. Gross proceeds for the Offering are expected to be approximately $60.0 million, before deducting commissions and offering expenses. The Offering will be led by Heights Capital Management, Inc. Carlos Moreira, President and CEO of SEALSQ, commented: 'We plan to utilize the net proceeds to advance our Post-Quantum and Quantum roadmap, as SEALSQ has been rapidly expanding its portfolio in this field, as well as for strategic acquisitions and general corporate purposes. We are executing with determination to deliver the most secure technologies to protect billions of connected devices through our post-quantum semiconductors and software solutions. This transaction represents a strong endorsement of our technical progress, strategic acquisitions, growing IP portfolio, and the exceptional talent we've assembled. With it, SEALSQ expects to benefit from a pro-forma cash position of approximately $170 million as of July 15, 2025, providing a solid foundation to fuel our next phase of growth.' Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole placement agent for the Offering. SEALSQ currently intends to utilize the net proceeds from the Offering to reinforce its already strong cash position, allowing the Company to accelerate its Post-Quantum and Quantum commercialization roadmap and deployment in the United States. The Offering is expected to close on or about July 15, 2025 (the 'Closing Date'), subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-286098) previously filed with and subsequently declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') on April 2, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus that form a part of the effective shelf registration statement. A prospectus supplement relating to the securities to be issued in the Offering will be filed by the Company with the SEC. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the Offering, together with the accompanying prospectus, can be obtained at the SEC's website at or by contacting Maxim Group LLC, at 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Syndicate Department, or via email at syndicate@ or by telephone at (212) 895-3745. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About SEALSQ: SEALSQ is a leading innovator in Post-Quantum Technology hardware and software solutions. Our technology seamlessly integrates Semiconductors, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), and Provisioning Services, with a strategic emphasis on developing state-of-the-art Quantum Resistant Cryptography and Semiconductors designed to address the urgent security challenges posed by quantum computing. As quantum computers advance, traditional cryptographic methods like RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) are increasingly vulnerable. SEALSQ is pioneering the development of Post-Quantum Semiconductors that provide robust, future-proof protection for sensitive data across a wide range of applications, including Multi-Factor Authentication tokens, Smart Energy, Medical and Healthcare Systems, Defense, IT Network Infrastructure, Automotive, and Industrial Automation and Control Systems. By embedding Post-Quantum Cryptography into our semiconductor solutions, SEALSQ ensures that organizations stay protected against quantum threats. Our products are engineered to safeguard critical systems, enhancing resilience and security across diverse industries. For more information on our Post-Quantum Semiconductors and security solutions, please visit Forward Looking Statements This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning SEALSQ Corp and its businesses. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our business strategy, financial performance, results of operations, market data, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the expected completion, timing and size of the Offering, the intended use of the proceeds from the Offering, SEALSQ's ability to implement its growth strategies; SEALSQ's ability to successfully launch post-quantum semiconductor technology; SEALSQ's ability to capture a share of the quantum semiconductor market; the growth of the quantum computing market; SEALSQ's ability to expand its U.S. operations; SEALSQ's ability to make additional investments towards the development of a new generation of quantum-ready semiconductors; SEALSQ's ability to continue beneficial transactions with material parties, including a limited number of significant customers; market demand and semiconductor industry conditions; the growth of the quantum computing market; and the risks discussed in SEALSQ's filings with the SEC. Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by SEALSQ with the SEC. SEALSQ Corp is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Press and Investor Contacts SEALSQ Corp. Carlos Moreira Chairman & CEO Tel: +41 22 594 3000 / info@ SEALSQ Investor Relations (US) The Equity Group Inc. Lena Cati Tel: +1 212 836-9611 / lcati@
IOL News
12-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
MAS shareholders reject asset sales amid takeover bids
JSE and Altx-listed central and eastern Europe property investment group MAS has received offers to buy out its shareholders from Prime Kapital Investment Holdings (PKI) and South African retail-focused property Hyprop. On Friday its shareholder rejected a proposal that its directors realise the value of all of MAS's assets, within five years. Image: AI Ron The shareholders of MAS, the JSE-listed property company that is the target of two takeover bids and shareholder concerns about board governance, on Friday voted against resolutions to sell off the company's central and eastern retail Europe assets. MSA's share price fell 3.2% to R22.93 on Friday on the JSE - a year ago the share price traded at R19.21. The resolutions tabled at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), which was requested by development partner, potential bidder and shareholder PK Investments (PKI), were not passed by the requisite majority of more than 50% of the shareholder voting rights exercised, a statement to the JSE's news service said. The first resolution would have authorised the directors to dispose of all the assets within 5 years, with the overarching aim of maximising returns for shareholders. The second resolution would have authorised the board to declare and pay special dividends to return the proceeds of the asset realisations. Meanwhile, last week, nine minority shareholders asked the board for another, separate EGM to remove two MAS directors and appoint four new directors, amid concerns about alleged conflict of interest by the two directors, Mihail Vaslescu and Dan Pascariu. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The minority shareholders are Ninety One, Meago and Eskom Pension and Provident Fund, Sesfikile Capital, MandG Investment Managers, Catalyst Fund Managers, Stanlib Investment Managers, Maz Capital and Momentum Investments Management. They want to appoint to the MAS board former Resilient REIT CEO Des de Beer, retired ABSA Group executive Robert Emslie, investment banker Sundeep Naran and former Lighthouse Properties CEO Stephen Delport. In May, PKI said it would buy all of MAS' shares for cash and shares. After that, Hyprop Investments indicated it would bid for MAS, which then prompted PKI to raise its offer twice. The terms of a development joint venture partnership with PKI are also the subject of different opinion between the parties. MAS announced Friday it had appointed Investec Bank as corporate adviser to assist with the implications of the potential bids, as well as alternative strategic options for MAS. On June 30, the company said neither PKI nor Hyprop had yet made formal offers to MAS shareholders, and the board had not yet consulted with either party about their offers. MAS said in an operational update for its central and eastern European assets, for the year to June 30, that occupancy rates for the five months to May 30 were excellent at 99.2%, while occupancy fell marginally to 97.8%, from 98% at December 31, 2024, mostly due to the completed strip malls assets disposals during the period. Visit:
Globe and Mail
02-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CYBR Rides the Machine Identity Wave: Can Pricing Models Keep Pace?
CyberArk CYBR is experiencing rapid growth in its machine identity business, but the challenge now lies in scaling its pricing model. During the first quarter, management noted that machine identities now outnumber human identities by more than 80 to 1, which is up from a 45 to 1 ratio just a year ago. This rise reflects the broader shift toward automated systems, AI agents, and workload-based architectures. However, as volumes scale into the millions, CyberArk knows traditional per-identity pricing won't work. During first-quarter 2025 earnings call, management acknowledged that customers won't pay premium prices for each machine or agent. Moreover, CyberArk is emphasizing bundled platform deals. This strategy appears to be gaining traction. Machine identity products, including Venafi and Secrets Management, were included in nine of the company's top 10 deals during the first quarter. Another tailwind is a policy shift from the Certificate Authority/Browser Forum to shorten certificate lifespans from 398 days to just 47 days. This change is expected to significantly increase certificate turnover. That drives a need for security management automation, something CyberArk is ready to capitalize on with its machine identity and PKI offerings. With machine identity volumes growing rapidly, CyberArk's ability to offer scalable and flexible pricing will be critical. If executed well, it will lead the company to unlock the full potential of this growing market. During the first quarter earnings call, management stated that while per-unit pricing will drop, the total deal size could grow two to three times larger than typical privileged access management deals. So, CyberArk's future in machine identity looks strong, if its pricing scales smartly. How Competitors Fare Against CYBR CrowdStrike CRWD and Okta Inc. OKTA are also evolving their platforms to meet enterprise security demands. CrowdStrike is another established player in the identity security space, providing unified, real-time protection across cloud, identity and endpoint. CrowdStrike is enhancing its identity security platform with the implementation of AI copilots like Charlotte AI and agentic AI solutions like Charlotte AI Agentic Workflows. OKTA focuses on identity and access management, providing cloud-based solutions that help businesses safeguard user data. Enterprises can now implement Identity Threat Protection with Okta AI to leverage AI and machine learning techniques for real-time detection of the entire spectrum of Identity attacks. CYBR's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Shares of CyberArk have gained 17.6% year to date compared with the Zacks Security industry's growth of 25.7%. CYBR YTD Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, CYBR trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 13.4, below the industry's 15.11. CYBR Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CYBR's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of 26.4% and 25.1%, respectively. The estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised downward over the past 30 days. CyberArk currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Click to get this free report CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR): Free Stock Analysis Report Okta, Inc. (OKTA): Free Stock Analysis Report CrowdStrike (CRWD): Free Stock Analysis Report
Express Tribune
01-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Farmers demand end to GST on local cotton
Listen to article Following the government's decision to impose 18% General Sales Tax (GST) on imported cotton and yarn in the amended Finance Bill 2025, farmers and industry groups are now urging authorities to abolish GST on locally produced cotton and its by-products. Pakistan Kissan Ittihad (PKI) President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar has strongly opposed the continued taxation of domestic cotton, saying it unfairly targets local growers and further erodes already thin profit margins. While the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) welcomed the tax on imported cotton to help restore balance in the textile value chain, it warned that domestic producers still bear the brunt. "Local spinners are still subject to GST, which they recover from farmers, effectively treating them as withholding agents. This is unjust and must be corrected," said PBF South Punjab Chairman Malik Talat Suhail. Cotton farmers, already burdened by soaring production costs, are finding it harder to keep cultivating. According to PKI, cotton output has dropped from 14.8 million bales in 2011-12 to under 7.5 million bales in 2024-25 — a decline of nearly 50%. Meanwhile, imports now exceed 5 million bales, and exports have nearly vanished. One major issue is the widening gap between input costs and output prices. In 2010-11, cotton fetched Rs5,500-6,000 per maund, or about $70 at the exchange rate of Rs85 per dollar. Now, in 2024-25, the price is around Rs7,600 per maund, equal to just $27 due to currency depreciation. This marks a 250% fall in dollar terms, while input costs have skyrocketed. Fertiliser prices have more than tripled in a decade. A 50kg bag of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), once priced at Rs3,236, now costs Rs12,900 (298% rise). NP (Sarsabz Nitrophos) has jumped from Rs2,108 to Rs8,100 (284%), Urea from Rs1,035 to Rs4,230 (309%), and SOP (Sulphate of potash) from Rs2,807 to Rs10,000 (256%). These hikes have put over 90% of small and medium farmers under severe financial strain. Energy prices have also surged. Diesel has climbed from Rs85 per litre in 2012 to Rs264 in 2025. Electricity for irrigation has risen from Rs4 per unit to Rs42 — a 950% increase. Labour costs are up too, with cotton-picking charges rising from Rs100 per maund in 2010-11 to Rs1,000 per maund today. In response, PKI has outlined urgent reforms. These include abolishing the 14% GST on tractors to support mechanisation and removing the 18% GST on locally made tractor-mounted implements. They also demand removal of GST on "Khal Banaula," a key cotton by-product used in livestock feed. PKI has called for the creation of a Commodity Price Commission to ensure fair pricing and a guaranteed 25% return on farmer investments. They further propose a flat electricity rate of Rs10 per unit for irrigation tube wells and the timely export of surplus produce to stabilise prices and reduce losses. PBF echoed these concerns, stressing that taxes on cottonseed and cottonseed cake — exempt in most cotton-producing countries — hurt farmers and shift cultivation toward water-intensive crops, threatening both agriculture and water security. Both organisations warn that without bold reforms, Pakistan risks becoming a net importer of cotton.
