Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/286290
Events 46 maltatoday, Sunday, 30 March 2014 MSV Life p.l.c. increases 2013 bonuses MSV Life p.l.c. (MSV Life) an- nounced that it has increased the 2013 Regular Bonuses under its core savings and investment products from 3.1% to 3.35%. The Board of Directors of MSV Group approved a resolution where- by differential rates of Regular Bo- nuses were declared in respect of with-profits plans held with MSV Life for the year ended 31 Decem- ber 2013. These amounted to 3.15% for the MSV Comprehensive Life Plan (regular and single premium policies), 3.35% in respect of the MSV Comprehensive Flexi Plan (regular and single premium poli- cies), 3.35% under the MSV Single Premium Plan and 3.35% under the with-profits options of the MSV In- vestment Bond and of the MSV Re- tirement Plan. On the 'Old Series' Endowment and Whole Life poli- cies, a Regular Bonus of 2.20% of the basic sum assured plus bonuses was declared. In addition, the Board also ap- proved the declaration of a Final Bonus in respect of the Compre- hensive Life Plan (single and regular premium) and the Comprehensive Flexi Plan (single and regular pre- mium) policies that have been in force for more than 10 years. The Final Bonus will be paid on claims payable as a result of death or ma- turity between 13 March 2014 being the date of the 2013 bonus declara- tion and the next bonus declaration, at a rate of 1.00% for every full year after the 10th year of the policy. This final bonus will be paid on the value of the Policy Account as at the date of death or maturity. The Board also approved a Regu- lar Bonus of 3.35% on those Secure Growth policies, which formed part of the portfolio of business trans- ferred to MSV Life from Assicurazi- oni Generali S.p.A. during 2000. Finally the Board also approved a Regular Bonus of 1.75% on the Alico 78 policies and a Regular Bonus of 2.00% on the Alico 66 polices which formed part of the portfolio of busi- ness transferred to MSV Life in 2011 from American Life Insurance Company ("ALICO"). The Chairman of MSV Life, John Cassar White stated, "MSV's invest- ment portfolio performed well in 2013 with all asset classes delivering positive returns. In relative terms, risk assets outperformed risk-free assets with both global equities and corporate bonds outperform- ing cash and government bonds by a considerable margin. By the end of the year, MSV's total investments exceeded the €1.3 billion mark." Mr. Cassar White added, "dur- ing 2013, MSV policyholders have benefitted from the asset diversifi- cation and geographical spread of MSV's investment portfolio, which was well placed to capture the con- tinued recovery of the international capital markets and which we have in turn reflected in our bonus dec- laration for 2013." The Chief Executive Officer of MSV Life, David G. Curmi, stated, "With profits investments combine a balanced asset mix with smooth- ing of investment returns and un- derlying guarantees. This means that profits investments remain a good choice for investors seek- ing steady growth from a spread of investments over the longer term with some downside protection. The benefits of smoothing and guarantees can provide advantages for profits policyholders over other forms of investment." Vodafone Malta Foundation supports the Helen Keller Resource Centre VODAFOnE Malta Foundation has recently equipped the jacuzzi at the Helen Keller Resource Centre with a ceiling hoist, making it much safer for students to access the bath and easier for the staff who assist the youngsters. The Helen Keller Resource Centre is a centre for stu- dents with profound and multiple learning disability of secondary and post-secondary age up to the age of twenty-two. "Sessions in water have a beneficial impact on youngsters with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, PMLD; helping them to relax while stimulating their senses," said Gem- ma Mifsud Bonnici, Chairperson of the Vodafone Malta Foundation while visiting the centre and present- ing them with a donation. "We are convinced that the Foundation's in- vestment in this centre will reap the benefits by widening the reach of the services offered by the centre." The Helen Keller Resource Centre originally catered for students with visual and auditory impairment, but was designated as a centre for stu- dents with PMLD in 2009, following the education reformation act. The students follow an adapted curricu- lum as part of a holistic programme that seeks to give them a wide experi- ence of life in general through a va- riety of sensorial media. The centre is equipped with specialized service rooms which include a motor-senso- ry studio, a multiple-sensory studio, a gym and a Jacuzzi which is used for the students' hydrotherapy sessions. Connie Richard, Head of St. Ben- edict College, from the Helen Keller Resource Centre said, "It is thanks to the support of such beneficiaries that students can benefit from equipment and services which are regularly be- ing upgraded according to their par- ticular needs. We would like to thank Vodafone Malta Foundation for sup- porting this project entirely. now that funds are available, another dream has come true!" Louise Luke, representing British High Commissioner and Vodafone Foundation board member Rob Luke, said "In our everyday life, we are constantly bombarded with stim- ulation which we learn to manage. Unfortunately, a person suffering from PMLD encounters problems in managing these inputs. It is the use of specialist environments such as this Centre that makes it possible for these persons to cope with their learning difficulties." Lights out at Banif for Earth Hour! BAnIF Bank (Malta) plc is once again joining Banif Financial Group and other companies around the world and switching off all auxiliary lights across its branch network for Earth Hour. On Saturday 29th March between 8.30pm and 9.30pm millions of people across the globe will be do- ing the same, in what has grown to be a global collective action in solidarity with the planet and the environment. "Earth Hour is but one initiative Banif Bank takes in connection with the environment it operates in," said Adrian Coppini, Chief Officer Corporate Services at Banif Bank. "We take great care to ensure the smallest possible envi- ronmental footprint, factoring in the best ways to use energy and maximise the use of daylight and other natural resources. As Earth Hour is doing, we urge people to go beyond this symbolic event and embrace a lifestyle that is kinder to the planet and a more sustainable future." Earth Hour is a young project. But over the short period of six years it grew to become the world's largest mass participation event ever. From a single city event in 2007 Earth Hour now mobilises 7,000 cities in 7 continents bring- ing together millions of people in one joint action on climate change. Earth Hour is a global environmen- tal movement, and part of WWF. FRAnK Salt Real Estate has teamed up with Kayak for Char- ity and has been confirmed as its official sponsor for 2014. This summer, a team of three - And- rea Scorcia, Ian Laferla and Vince niesz - will embark on a never-at- tempted round trip Malta-Sicily- Malta by kayak in aid of Inspire, the Foundation for Inclusion. This translates to a course of more than 100 nautical miles (190 km), which will be paddled non-stop. The three kayakers, who will be alternating in shifts on board of a double kayak, are committed to complete the route in less than 40 hours. Kayak for Charity was founded in 2008 by Albert Gambina and Dorian Vassallo, two kayak en- thusiasts who decided to put their love for the relatively unfamiliar sport to good use, with the idea of getting more people to know about it and at the same time help people in need. They have been paddling for worthy causes ever since. Ben- efitting charities so far include the Malta Cancer Foundation, Puttinu Cares, the Hospice Movement and the Angie Bajada Foundation. To date, funds collected totaled ap- proximately €65,000. Their en- deavours have been recognized by the Malta Canoe Federation, with awards by the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport (KMS) and the Malta Olympic Committee. "We are very excited about sup- porting this local event which brings together sports and altruis- tic elements, and we are commit- ted to help the organisers reach out to as many people as possible, with the hope of collecting the much needed funds for Inspire Malta." said Joseph Lupi, Director at Frank Salt Real Estate. Whilst still a budding organi- zation, Kayak for Charity is very active in promoting and assisting philanthropic causes. Only last year, Albert Gambina and Dorian Vassallo followed St. Paul's trail from Malta to Rome, paddling 600 nautical miles in three weeks in aid of the Community Chest Fund. Inspire, the charity benefitting from this year's challenge, is a non-profit organisation leading the way in providing therapeutic, education and leisure services to persons with disabilities in Malta and Gozo. Among many other noble initiatives, Inspire engages people with disabilities in sports activities and trains them for the Paralympics. The public is invited to follow the group's Facebook page at ht- tps://w w w.facebook.com/Kaya k- ForCharity for more information or to make a donation. Frank Salt Real Estate confirmed as official sponsor of Kayak for Charity 2014