Money Without Frontiers

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1 Money Without Frontiers

2 Universal Foreign Exchange Sterling House Fulbourne Road London E17 4EE United Kingdom Dealing Desk Tel: +44 (0) Dealing Desk Fax: +44 (0) Switch Board Tel: +44 (0) Switch Board Fax: +44 (0) Website: Universal Foreign Exchange is the trading name of Universal Foreign Exchange Ltd Registered in England & Wales under No Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under FRN Registered with HMRC registration No

3 Universal Foreign Exchange is a member company of the Kounnis Financial Group Kounnis Financial Group is a corporate umbrella encapsulating the different activities of the group, and which are as follows: Audit, Accountancy, Taxation General Insurance Broking Property Consultancy Foreign Exchange For further information please visit our master website and from there you can navigate into the activity you might be interested.

4 The Foreign Exchange Market The Company Officers About Universal Foreign Exchange

5 The Foreign Exchange Market The foreign exchange market (forex, FX, or currency market) is a global decentralized market for the trading of currencies. The main participants in this market are the larger international banks. Financial centres around the world function as anchors of trading between a wide range of different types of buyers and sellers around the clock, with the exception of weekends. The foreign exchange market determines the relative values of different currencies. The foreign exchange market works through financial institutions, and it operates on several levels. Behind the scenes banks turn to a smaller number of financial firms known as dealers, who are actively involved in large quantities of foreign exchange trading. Most foreign exchange dealers are banks, so this behind-the-scenes market is sometimes called the interbank market, although a few insurance companies and other kinds of financial institutions are involved. Trades between foreign exchange dealers can be very large, involving hundreds of millions of dollars. Because of the sovereignty issue when involving two currencies, Forex has little (if any) supervisory entity regulating its actions. As such, it has been referred to as the market closest to the ideal of perfect competition, notwithstanding currency intervention by central banks. According to the Bank for International Settlements, as of April 2010, average daily turnover in global foreign exchange markets is estimated at US$3.98 trillion, a growth of approximately 20% over the US$3.21 trillion daily volume as of April Some firms specialising in the foreign exchange market had put the average daily turnover in excess of US$4 trillion. The US$3.98 trillion break-down is as follows: US$1.490 trillion in spot transactions US$475 billion in outright forwards US$1.765 trillion in foreign exchange swaps US$43 billion currency swaps US$207 billion in options and other products Trading in the United Kingdom accounted for 36.7% of the total, making it by far the most important centre for foreign exchange trading. Trading in the United States accounted for 17.9%, and Japan accounted for 6.2%.

6 The Company Officers Demetrios (Jim) K Kounnis (Chairman). Mr Kounnis is a multi talented pioneer and a bold thinker. He was born in Cyprus in 1939 and immigrated to the UK in 1958 to further his education. In 1962 he founded the Audit and Accountancy firm D K Kounnis & Co which was subsequently incorporated into the London based Audit and Accountancy firm Kounnis And Partners Limited. He is currently the Chairman of Kounnis And Partners Limited and of several other companies with activities ranging from Audit and Accountancy, General Insurance Broking, Foreign Exchange and Realty. Over the years he has built up multi-million pound property companies which are still under his control and chairmanship. This is mainly UK Commercial, Semi-Commercial and residential properties. Over the last 50 years there isn t much he has not seen or done in the UK Property sector. Amongst his property collection is the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham (a 44,500 Sq Ft commercial property and of well known presence in the area and nationally). Mr Kounnis is cousins to the Chief Finance Officer Andreas Y Kounnis and to the Chief Accounting Officer Antony M Kounnis. Costas A Joannou (Vice Chairman & CEO). Costas was born in 1956 in Cyprus and in 1977 he came to London to further his education. He holds a BSc (hons) in Management Science from the London School of Economics, an MSc in Accounting from the University of South Wales and he is also a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He commenced his career in the City of London in Commercial Banking and specialising in Shipping Finance. Subsequently he was appointed as the Chief Internal Auditor of the Commercial Bank of London Plc (now Alpha Bank London Ltd), a company which at the time was listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 1989 he joined the Audit and Accountancy firm D K Kounnis & Co and in 1991 he became a partner. D K Kounnis & Co was subsequently incorporated into Kounnis And Partners Limited. Costas is currently the Vice-Chairman of this company and he is responsible for a substantial portfolio of clients including multi-billion pound groups spread all over the world. He specialises in Auditing, Accountancy and International Tax Planning. He was also a member of The Baltic Exchange for many years, a British Maritime Institution with a history of almost 300 years. Costas is also the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CAJ Group ( a multi-million pound Private Equity Group with a well diversified portfolio both in the UK and abroad. He is a member of the Board of Directors of several companies ranging from Audit and Accountancy, Realty, General Insurance broking, Shipping and Foreign Exchange. He has a huge network of contacts all over the world and in various sectors and he has travelled extensively to many parts of the world to carry out feasibility studies and to assist his clients.

7 Andreas C Stylianou (Chief Tax Officer). Andreas was born in Cyprus in 1950 and immigrated to the UK in 1969 to further his education. He successfully completed a business studies course in 1972 and was awarded with the Higher National Diploma in Business Studies. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1980 and joined the Audit and Accountancy firm D K Kounnis & Co in 1982 where he became a partner in D K Kounnis & Co was subsequently incorporated as Kounnis And Partners Limited and Andreas is a member of the Board of Directors. He has wide experience in all aspects of general accountancy practice and specialises in all property related matters in connection with direct and indirect taxation. He is also advising a large portfolio of clients both in the UK and overseas. He has contributed to the establishment of multi-million pound real estate entities. Andreas Y Kounnis (Chief Finance Officer). Andreas was born in London in He graduated with a BA (hons) degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of East London in At the age of 22 he qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant and he spent the following three years with a London based firm of Accountants and Auditors. In 2005 Andreas was appointed as the Chief Finance Officer of the General Insurance Broking Group Kounnis Insuforce Ltd as well as to the board of the London based Audit and Accountancy firm Kounnis And Partners Limited. From a very young age Andreas has had exposure to both residential and commercial property investments through his family property investment company. He acquired his first property investment just after graduating at the young age of 21 and he has continued to expand upon that investment to enlarge and manage his own property portfolio. Andreas has vast experience in Property Investment, Audit and Accountancy, International Tax Planning, Finance, General Insurance Broking and Foreign Exchange. He has travelled widely to carry out feasibility studies and to assist his clients. He has clients whose businesses operate in different parts of the world and are involved in all kinds of industries and sectors ranging from Property, Oil Trading and Construction and many others. Andreas is cousins to the Chairman Jim K Kounnis and the Chief Accounting Officer Antony M Kounnis. Antony M Kounnis (Chief Accounting Officer). Antony was born in London in After completing his studies at The University of East London, he joined Cyprus Airways Limited in 1996 as an internal accountant in their Central London offices. In 1997 he joined a London based firm of Accountants and Auditors where he commenced his professional career. He qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in Antony joined the London based Audit and Accountancy firm, Kounnis And Partners Limited, in July 2002 and in April 2005 he was admitted to the Board of Directors of Kounnis And Partners Limited and Kounnis Insuforce Ltd, a London based general insurance broking company. He currently specialises in Accounting and Taxation matters with an emphasis on Property Investment and Property Management companies. He also has experience in Foreign Exchange and General Insurance Broking and is active in his UK based family property business which comprises of managing commercial, mixed use and residential property investments. He is a director of various companies which cater for the above activities as well as the Chairman of a UK based property investment company that he operates with his family. Antony is cousins to the Chairman Jim K Kounnis and the Chief Finance Officer Andrew M Kounnis.

8 About Universal Foreign Exchange Universal Foreign Exchange is a London-based company with access to Global Foreign Exchange Markets and the added ability to provide International Payment Services as well. The volatility of the foreign exchange markets compounded by the complexity of making international payments can have a huge impact when you are purchasing or selling your dream home or investing or making regular transfers abroad. By using Universal Foreign Exchange you will have access to competitive exchange rate of any currency and a dedicated dealer to execute your instructions in an efficient and professional manner as well as the knowledge that your money is secure as it is held in segregated clients bank accounts. Universal Foreign Exchange is a bespoke FX organisation that provide a personalised Service for both Corporate and Private Clients alike. Our clients use our services for a range of purposes such as the sale or purchase of overseas assets, repatriation of funds and regular overseas invoice payments. We believe in the personal touch. To help us understand your business requirements we have a team of experienced currency specialists who will visit your business to discuss your requirements and propose solutions and services to your company. To arrange for one of our team to visit for a no obligation meeting please get in touch. Universal Foreign Exchange has international payment solutions that combine state-of-the-art technology and industry expertise. Through our professional and consultative approach, our Corporate Division helps businesses of all sizes develop and implement appropriate overseas payment strategies. We offer a package of services which are tailored to the specific requirements of our clients and which are adaptable to their ongoing business needs. Universal Foreign Exchange has a range of services that helps many exporters operate in a range of currencies. As an exporter you will need to invoice, collect and convert currency payments from overseas customers. Universal Foreign Exchange has a range of services and currencies that can help exporters.

9 Universal Foreign Exchange Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Authorised Payment Institution under the Payment Services Regulations 2009, under Firm Registration Number Universal Foreign Exchange Ltd is also a registered Money Services Business (MSB) with HM Revenue & Customs registration No The forex trading market is an international decentralized financial market whereby one currency is exchanged for another. Individuals and business entities can buy an amount of one currency and pay for it with an amount of another. The market is not bound by borders and is easy to access. It is available 24 hours- a-day, five days a week and it is the most liquid market in the world according to experts. Universal Foreign Exchange Ltd is a Financial Institution which came into existence due to the constant demand by our Group s clients for a reliable and honest provider. The directors of the company have the required expertise and experience in FX and will provide clients with access to global currencies as well as International Payment Services. Having registered and being regulated by Her Majesty s Revenue and Customs, as a Money Services Business (MSB), we are subject to UK money laundering regulations. All client funds are held in client transaction accounts and are supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority, under the Payment Services Directive This ensures that we operate by putting our clients interests first.

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