MPH Ventures Completes Acquisition of Travelucion Media: Name Change to Cuba Ventures Corp.
VANCOUVER, March 18, 2016 - MPH Ventures Corp. (TSX VENTURE:MPS)(OTCBB:MPSFF) (FRANKFURT:IJA2) (the "Company") today announces that the Company has received regulatory acceptance for its change of business ("COB") through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Travelucion S.L. ("Travelucion Media"). The Company will undergo a name change to Cuba Ventures Corp. and is scheduled to commence trading Monday morning under the new symbol CUV on the TSX Venture Exchange.Travelucion Media, now a wholly owned subsidiary, is a cash-flow positive online travel and digital media marketing company that specializes in travel marketing, electronic reservations and online booking solutions for international visitors to Cuba.
The COB was achieved through the acquisition of the remaining 80% of the shares in Travelucion S.L. not previously owned by the Company by the issuance of 16,000,000 common shares of MPH Ventures to Mr. Steve Marshall. To reflect its new business, the Company will change its name from MPH Ventures Corp. to Cuba Ventures Corp.
Travelucion Media has developed and owns one of the most significant portfolios of Cuban focused web assets with 432 websites collectively generating over 30 million page-views per year, directing traffic to the main Travelucion Media booking and e-commerce sites. Since 1995 these proprietary websites have been promoting Cuba and offering online travel services to the Caribbean nation. The websites cover all facets of the island including specific tourist destinations, hotels and resorts, golf, spas, restaurants, classic car rentals, Cuban culture, health, commerce, food and much more.
Travelucion Media's revenues have continued to grow quickly in the wake of the notable shift in American policy towards Cuba. Diplomatic ties are improving as the two nations normalize relations and travel restrictions on Americans visiting Cuba continue to relax.
Jim Pettit, President and CEO of MPH Ventures, stated: "This is a significant milestone for the Company and its shareholders. Cuba Ventures Corp. will commence trading Monday, March 21st as one of the first and only Cuba-focused publically traded vehicles in North America offering investors direct exposure to the island. Our team is dedicated to value creation and capitalizing on the growth and unique opportunities present in Cuba. Our acquisition of Travelucion Media marks our initial entry into Cuba and its largest sector the tourism industry."
Steve Marshall, the Founder and President of Travelucion Media, stated: "Taking Travelucion Media public is the pinnacle of my life's work. Building an online travel and media company focused on Cuba has required years of hard work and relationship building on the island. Two decades later with President Obama arriving in Cuba, the first sitting U.S. President to visit Cuba in almost 90 years, my vision seems to be coming to fruition. These past 15 months have been exciting times at Travelucion Media with rapidly increasing travel-related revenues as well as a surge in American web visitors to our 432 websites. This growth clearly exemplifies the unwavering passion the American people have to discover more about Cuba, a place I called home for 11 years."
Mr. Marshall remains the President and CEO of Travelucion Media now a wholly owned sub of the Company. He is a trilingual entrepreneur specializing in international marketing and deal brokering. Steve spent 11 years in Cuba specializing in Cuban joint ventures and successfully founded a number of companies including the Primeras Inversiones (Havana Free Zone), the first State approved real estate joint venture (CIMEX), the Dimension W-Tech start-up joint venture with the Ministry of Communications, and the first Cuba-centric online marketing company handling over 30 million annual internet visitors with the Ministry of Tourism.
Steve's past Cuban ventures have received coverage in the Financial Times, BBC News, CNN, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and The Wall Street Journal. Steve was a special advisor to a number of Cuban corporations spearheading their entrance into the new economy and providing support and investment in a range of commercial sectors. He is knowledgeable concerning the idiosyncrasies of dealing with the Cuban Government and Cuba's foreign investment laws.
About MPH Ventures Corp.:
MPH Ventures Corp. has acquired Travelucion Media, now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Travelucion Media is a cash-flow positive online travel and digital media company that specializes in travel marketing, electronic reservations and online booking solutions for international visitors to Cuba. Travelucion Media owns one of the most significant portfolios of Cuban focused web assets, through its 432 websites, which collectively generate over 30 million page-views per year and direct traffic to the main Travelucion booking sites including www.Havanatur.com.
For further information on MPH Ventures Corp. (TSX VENTURE:MPS) or Travelucion Media visit the companies' websites at www.mphventurescorp.com or www.travelucion.com.
MPH Ventures Corp.
JAMES G. PETTIT
President & CEO
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.
Contact
MPH Ventures Corp.
James G. Pettit, President & CEO
604-687-3119
604-687-3376 or Toll Free: 800-567-8181
MPH Ventures Corp.
Don Myers
Director
604-687-3119
604-687-3376 or Toll Free: 800-567-8181
info@mphventurescorp.com
www.mphventurescorp.com