Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462122
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 MARCH 2022 17 COMMERCIAL CaterEssence and CareMalta supporting families fleeing war-torn Ukraine VASSALLO Group companies, CaterEssence and CareMalta collaborated with another sub- sidiary of the group, Vassallo Builders, to provide Ukrainian families, arriving in Malta, with mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, and blankets. The aim is to help furnish offices at Bighi, Kalkara, which were converted into dor- mitories to accommodate ten Ukrainian families. The offices were being used by the kENUP Foundation, an in- ternational non-profit founda- tion supporting research-based innovation in the health indus- tries. Together, CaterEssence and CareMalta donated a total of 30 mattresses, 30 pillows, 60- bed sheets, and 30 blankets and were delivered to the dormito- ries by Vassallo Builders person- nel. The families, comprising of around 30 people, will arrive in Malta from Poland in the com- ing days after they fled Ukraine where the humanitarian crisis has led to over one million peo- ple fleeing their country after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine in February, which has led to a mass exodus of refugees. Ing. Alexander Tranter, Ca- terEssence CEO and Director of CareMalta stated that "We are very proud to have responded immediately to a call for sup- port for the setting up of a small centre to provide refuge to 10 Ukrainian families. The war in Ukraine is displacing a huge number of women and children and this small centre will pro- vide a safe haven for displaced Ukrainian families." On March 3rd, 2022, Malta welcomed the first Ukrainian citizens fleeing war as tensions continue to escalate in their home country. Ing. Tranter added that "in line with our Group's philosophy of being a private Group with a public conscience, we will con- tinue supporting both locally and internationally this massive humanitarian effort current- ly underway across Europe in helping the plight of Ukraini- ans." For more information about Vassallo Group, click on the fol- lowing website link: https://www. vassallogroupmalta.com/ Together, CaterEssence and CareMalta donated a total of 30 mattresses, 30 pillows, 60-bed sheets, and 30 blankets and were delivered to the dormitories by Vassallo Builders personnel. Malta Stock Exchange marks the 100th corporate listing THIRTY years after starting its operations in January 1992, the Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) is marking the 100th corporate listing with the admission of a €3,000,000 bond issue by Class Finance plc to the Prospects MTF market. Trading in the Class Finance plc bonds commenced on 16 February 2022, and the event was marked by the traditional bell ringing event at the Ex- change's premises in Valletta on 16 March 2022. Class Finance plc is the financ- ing arm of Class Optical, an or- ganisation which operates in the provision of a full spectrum of optical products and services to the optical retail sector. MSE Chairman Joseph Portel- li welcomed the board of di- rectors and the CEO of Class Finance plc and congratulated them on being the 100th com- pany currently raising capital on the Exchange. "Over the past 30 years, the MSE has managed to develop a robust capital market. Togeth- er with my team, we are proud that the Exchange has become the fundraising avenue of choice for companies and that we provide an alternative to bank financing for the local en- trepreneurs," Mr Portelli said. He thanked the MSE team and the service providers involved in the process of every issue, whether on the Regulated Main Market or Prospects MTF. Mr Portelli said these stakeholders make it possible for Maltese companies to raise the neces- sary finance through capital market issues. Over the past 30 years, a host of issuers have benefited from the MSE services. These issues cover a wide spectrum of eco- nomic sectors such as banking, financial services, automotive, healthcare, food and beverage, insurance, fashion and retail, real estate, retail, pharmaceu- tical, telecoms, IT and many more. The very first issuer was Bank of Valletta. In his address, Dr John C Grech, Class Finance Chairman observed that the reason that the MSE has managed to help the growth of local companies over the past 30 years is because it has always been a member of the community and sensitive to the business needs of the local companies. Co-incidentally, Mr Grech said that Class Optical Group started growing around 30 years ago when Mr Cyril Gab- arretta and Mr Robert Tua started opening the first chain of optical stores. Since then, he added, the group continued to grow and has now also expand- ed with operations in Morocco and Libya, underpinning the group's international growth. Mr Grech concluded by thanking the MSE team and Calamatta Cuschieri who were the corporate advisors for the issue, for their professional ser- vice and for making this issue a success. Cyril Gabaretta and Mr Rob- ert Tua, the original founders of the company, rang the bell at the MSE building. Class Finance plc is the 100th unique issuer to be admitted on the Malta Stock Exchange