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A comprehensive round-up of the latest business news covering all sectors within the Isle of Man’s diverse and dynamic business environment. WORLD FIRST MANX TELECOM TECH POWERS NEW UK MOBILE NETWORK World-first technology developed by Manx Telecom in the Isle of Man is powering the launch of a new mobile network, which is the first of its kind in the UK. T he Audacious network, which launches today, uses the world’s first medically certified technology to personalise mobile calls based on the user’s unique hearing profile. It provides a solution for users with a range of hearing needs, but also has the potential to help those who struggle with sound quality on their mobile and find phone calls stressful. Audacious is endorsed by Ben Cohen MBE, the former England rugby union international and 2003 world cup winner, who experiences hearing loss. He said: “I’ve never let my hearing loss hold me back, whether playing sport at an international level or learning to ballroom dance. The one thing I find hard though is missing out on interactions with loved ones. I travel a lot and while text or email are great you can’t beat hearing the sound of someone’s voice. Audacious is a game changer as it means I can hear about my children’s day wherever I am.” The launch of Audacious follows the success of MT clearSound which was launched here on the Island last year. Manx Telecom’s pay monthly mobile customers were the first in the world to use the technology behind Audacious when MT clearSound was launched last September. The MT clearSound story goes back to 2012 when Goshawk Communications’ founder, Matthew Turner contacted University of Cambridge’s Emeritus Professor Brian Moore who developed the first algorithms to measure someone’s hearing loss over the telephone using a mobile network. Matthew is also the founder of Audacious. He has suffered moderate to severe hearing loss since birth and made it his personal mission to develop the technology that could tailor phone calls to individual hearing loss or needs and so empower people to have better, clearer conversations. Goshawk’s technology was later proven in several technical and clinical trials here on the Island using Manx Telecom’s world class mobile network, with support from the Isle of Man’s Department of Health and Social Care’s Audiology Services team, the Manx Deaf Society, and the Ideas For Ears social enterprise. MT clearSound was brought to market by Vannin Ventures (Manx Telecom’s business incubator), and telecoms solutions specialists Partitionware which is also part of the Manx Telecom group. Partitionware developed the Goshawk technology from a proof of concept, allowing it to be deployed on a full mobile network capable of simultaneously enhancing hundreds of mobile calls. For more information about Audacious visit www.audacious.co.uk PALATINE-OWNED SMP GROUP COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF HELM TRUST COMPANY Palatine Private Equity owned SMP Group of Companies (SMP), has announced the successful completion of a deal to acquire Helm Trust Company Limited (Helm), a highly regarded trust and corporate services provider based in Jersey. T he deal, originally announced in July, has been approved by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Helm has now begun trading as SMP Helm Trust Company Limited (SMP Helm), as part of a staged integration process that will see SMP’s existing Jersey offi ce merge with the acquired business. Lewis Buckley, who has been a Director of Helm since 2011, has moved into the position of Managing Director of SMP Helm, providing continuity of leadership. He has also joined the board of SMP Group, alongside fellow Helm Director, Claire Machin. Lewis commented: “This is an incredibly exciting time for staff and clients of SMP and Helm alike. Joining the group means significant, rapid, and targeted investment into our business, allowing us to drive improvements and modernisation across the board. We are also eager to act on the many opportunities for our clients resulting from an expanded service suite and offi ce network.” David Hudson, Group CEO of SMP Group, added: “We have long considered Jersey to be a strategically important jurisdiction for us, something which is reflected in this deal and the invitation to Lewis and Claire to join our global board. We are really pleased to welcome such a strong team of professionals into our group and discover just how much we are able to achieve together, honing and developing our global service offering.” Andy Lees, Partner at Palatine Private Equity, said: “We completed the MBO of SMP in June and have quickly followed that with a very significant acquisition in Helm. The Group now has real scale in the Isle of Man, Jersey and the Caribbean. With additional international reach, SMP can offer its clients a truly global service.” The acquisition was supported with additional debt funding provided by Apera Asset Management. | 5