VTC Academy targets raising US$20 million for 5-year development plan

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 -- VTC Information Technology and Design Academy (VTC Academy) has announced its business performance for three years after securing funding of US$3 million from Vietnam Investment Group (VIG). (US$1 = RM4.197)

In addition, VTC Academy revealed aiming to raise US$20 million for its next five-year development plan, according to a statement.

VTC Academy Chairman Hoang Viet Tung said: “According to the next five-year business plan, with a targeted fund of US$20 million, VTC Academy plans to provide high-quality educational opportunities for all students across the country by developing the digital academic ecosystem and expanding new branches.

“Our major goal is to develop a student-centred academic ecosystem that includes an online career orientation library 4.0, an E-learning platform, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, and a centralised data platform to engage students throughout the learning process, as well as a recruitment platform that connects enterprises and high-quality human resources in Vietnam.”

During the previous three years, VTC Academy received full support from VIG for the establishment of three branches in the two most dynamic cities in Vietnam, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. VTC Academy has mainly focused on building a high-quality professional team that develops various academic programmes, according to the strictest recruiting standards.

Therefore, those professionals play a critical role in R&D and are one of the key pillars at VTC Academy. In addition, a large international education partner network has differentiated VTC Academy from other institutions in Vietnam, resulting in its superior academic standards and the reputation.

For the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic adversely impacted most of the service companies and educational organisations in Vietnam, with several even having to shut down or go bankrupt.

However, VTC Academy proved its agility, adaptability, flexibility, and capacity by consistently coming up with innovative solutions, resulting in revenue and enrolment growth of up to 200 per cent each year over the previous three years.

-- BERNAMA

SPURWING COMMUNICATIONS APPOINTS EMMA JENKINS-LEE AS MANAGING DIRECTOR

Jenkins-Lee joins to continue the agency’s growth as a leading specialist healthcare-focused communications advisor

Singapore, Jan 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spurwing Communications, an award-winning leader in strategic healthcare communications, has strengthened its team with the appointment of Emma Jenkins-Lee to its newly created role of Managing Director.

In her new role, Jenkins-Lee will spearhead Spurwing’s next phase of growth, drive client relationships and lead the team to consistently deliver communication campaigns that drive positive change and have tangible business impact. She will work closely with Spurwing’s founder and CEO, Emma Thompson, to shape the business.

Commenting on the appointment, Thompson said, “I am thrilled to welcome someone of Emma’s calibre to the team. She brings solid communications counsel and experience evident through her impressive client tenure track record and the agency growth she has delivered in the region over the past decade. The breadth and depth of the work Emma has done in the technology sector, and many others, will be invaluable to strengthening our offering, leading our team of integrated experts and taking the business to the next level. We’re hugely excited to benefit from her expertise and fresh perspective as we prioritise growth in 2022 and beyond.” 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=42283

MEIJI YASUDA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY CREDIT RATINGS AFFIRMED - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘aa-’ (Superior) of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company (Meiji Yasuda) (Japan), with the outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) being stable.

According to a statement, the ratings reflect Meiji Yasuda’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Meiji Yasuda’s balance sheet strength assessment mainly reflects its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR).

This assessment is also supported by the company’s low financial leverage, with an adjusted debt leverage ratio that is well below 25 per cent. The use of sophisticated and transparent economic-based indicators, including the economic solvency ratio and group surplus results, also allows the company to evaluate its risk-taking activities and capital on a timely basis.

Meiji Yasuda’s operating performance has been strong and consistent, supported by a stable premium income and base profit with low volatility in the past. For fiscal-year 2020 (FY2020), the company recorded a stable base profit of JPY 580 billion (US$5.5 billion) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While the company’s new sales performance was adversely affected by the sales activities restriction in the first half of FY2020, its annualised premiums from new policies began to recover starting in the second half of FY2020. (US$1 = RM4.197)

A leading life insurance company in Japan, Meiji Yasuda continues maintaining a strong and effective agency channel and aims to diversify its distribution channels further to achieve revenue growth and strengthen profitability in its domestic market.

Its solid business relationships with regional government offices and private corporations continue to support its position as a market leader in group insurance business, and have modest geographical diversification with operations in the United States and other Asian countries.

The stable outlooks reflect the expectation that Meiji Yasuda will maintain its overall balance sheet strength, supported by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by BCAR.

For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

-- BERNAMA

TDCX EXPANDS INTO SOUTH KOREA, APPOINTS VP OPERATIONS MINJEE KIM

Mr Tony Bruno, Executive Vice President, North Asia and Business Strategy (Photo: Business Wire)

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- TDCX Inc, a digital customer experience solutions provider, announced its entry into South Korea, adding another location to its extensive network in Asia.

This is TDCX’s fourth new market in just two years, according to a statement.

The move strengthens TDCX’s Korean language capabilities and enables the company to increase its share of the customer experience market in South Korea. Globally, the outsourced customer experience services market is expected to be worth US$100 billion by 2025. (US$1 = RM4.205)

Executive Vice President, North Asia and Business Strategy, Tony Bruno said: “South Korea is a fast-paced and dynamic market. Its population of close to 52 million are tech-savvy and among the fastest adopters of new trends, making it an exciting market for innovative products and services.”

To helm its South Korea office, TDCX has appointed Minjee Kim as its Vice President of Operations. She will be responsible for overseeing site operations and championing training and talent development.

She has been managing Korean teams across Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and China and is returning to South Korea to launch TDCX’s newest site.

Kim said: “The need for brands to have a strong customer experience strategy is more pertinent than ever. Brands that can deliver great, differentiated customer experiences will see better business outcomes. I look forward to helping more brands win the hearts of Korean consumers.”

TDCX is kickstarting its operations in Korea with three projects – two omnichannel customer experience projects, one for a gaming company and the other for a technology company, as well as a sales and marketing project for a professional social network.

TDCX expects to expand its team in South Korea to cater to demand from its global clients and other new economy players. Its office is conveniently located in Gangnam.

More details at www.tdcx.com.

-- BERNAMA

2022 JAPAN PRIZE WINNERS REVEALED

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- The Japan Prize Foundation has announced the winners of the 2022 Japan Prize on Jan 25.

Prof Katalin Kariko (Hungary/USA) and Prof Drew Weissman (USA) are co-winners of the Japan Prize in the field of ‘Materials and Production’, and Prof Christopher Field (USA) has been awarded the Japan Prize in the field of ‘Biological Production, Ecology/Environment’.

With this year's prize, Kariko and Weissman are being recognised for their pioneering research contributing to the development of mRNA vaccines.

Meanwhile, Field is being recognised for his outstanding contributions to the estimation of global biospheric productivity and climate change science using advanced formulae based on observation.

This year, the Foundation asked approximately 15,500 prominent scientists and engineers from worldwide to nominate researchers working in this year's fields, and it received 208 nominations in the field of Materials and Production, and 138 nominations for the field of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment.

This year's winners were selected from that total of 346 candidates, according to a statement.

The establishment of the Japan Prize was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognised award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world.

With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.

The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realising peace and prosperity for all humanity. 

-- BERNAMA

AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST HISTORIC COLLECTION OF MILITARIA UNCOVERED

AsiaNet 94234

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 26, 2022/Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --
 
Some of the rarest items ever to be offered to the public have been discovered in Australia in shipping containers and storage sheds containing a lifetime collection of militaria from all around the world.
 
Photo:
https://distribution.medianet.com.au/Download/Document?j=965618&s=2&k=1312138
Caption:World War 2 Era, Australian Bren Gun Carrier for Auction at Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers in Australia.
 
Photo:
https://distribution.medianet.com.au/Download/Document?j=965618&s=3&k=1312138
Caption:Australian 2 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun, 1942, built by General Motors Holden for auction at Lloyds Auctions in Australia
 
Photo:
https://distribution.medianet.com.au/Download/Document?j=965618&s=4&k=1312138
Caption:USA 37mm M3 Anti Tank gun for Auction at Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers in Australia.
 
Photo:
https://distribution.medianet.com.au/Download/Document?j=965618&s=5&k=1312138
Caption:Army Helmet features part of a massive militaria collection going for auction in Australia at Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers.
 
Photo:
https://distribution.medianet.com.au/Download/Document?j=965618&s=6&k=1312138
Caption:WWI Great British Torso Uniform and Accessories for auction in Australia at Lloyds Auctions
 
 
Over 10,000 items across many acres constituted a lifelong military collector’s passion. "We were in complete disbelief when we arrived to inspect the collection," said Mr. Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers in Australia.
 
"These are some of the rarest militaria collectables from WWI and WWII that we have ever seen, there is everything from military tanks to firearms, swords, military uniforms, helmets, boots and heavy artillery," said Mr. Hames.
 
"As we were uncovering the special collection of militaria, we came across some very rare pieces many of which are “one off” and may be worth significant amounts of money," continued Mr. Hames.
 
The "Rod Bellars Collection" was built by Rod over 60 years, accumulating items from all around the world. Sadly, his recent passing has meant these amazing icons of history have to find new custodians.
 
"We really hope that museums and libraries and passionate collectors from across the world are successful in securing some of these important pieces of history, so they can be preserved and displayed and educate people for many years into the future," continued Mr. Hames.
 
Items featured across the collection will be sold through 14 separate online auctions which are live now and include tanks, artillery, swords, firearms, helmets, radios, boots, parachutes, military uniforms and much more.
 
If you would like to take a journey back in time and own some significant pieces of military history then head to www.lloydsauctions.com.au where bidding is open online now.
 
If you would like to see some footage on the collection, then please click here
(https://youtu.be/xM5F9YQFH6U).
 
All Public Enquiries Contact: Lee Hames, +61-498-623-629
 
 
SOURCE: Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers

WHR GROUP INC OFFERS FREE EMPLOYEE RELOCATION POLICY REVIEWS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- WHR Group Inc (WHR), a leader in the global employee relocation industry, is offering companies free relocation policy reviews.

According to a statement, WHR will also help companies create new policies from scratch.

Even with the Covid pandemic, companies are still relocating employees to fill crucial roles. Reviewing relocation policies and making critical adjustments help organisations win in the war for talent, meet employees’ needs, benchmark against the competition and control business costs.

“With the current war for talent, it's critical to have a structured and competitive relocation programme. This helps companies attract and retain top talent,” said WHR’s Business Development Regional Manager, Ben Koceja.

Meanwhile, WHR’s International Business Development Manager, Linden Houghtby, MBA, GMS, MIM+, said: “Having a relocation policy aligned with your company culture, talent strategy, and recruiting goals is essential to having a successful relocation/mobility programme.

“It allows companies to move employees where they are needed most. Policies ensure transferees will be taken care of in a way that reflects the organisation’s values and goals.”

Benchmarking a policy against other companies also helps organisations stay competitive in the war for talent. The policy needs to include a choice of offerings since relocation policies are wrapped into job offers.

Companies also need to ensure they’re allocating the right amount of dollars to transferees and organisational needs. It is important organisations are not paying for unnecessary or outdated benefits.

WHR has offices in Wisconsin, Switzerland, and Singapore.

More details at https://www.whrg.com.

-- BERNAMA

New Insurers to Drive Digitalisation in South Korea Non-Life Segment - AM Best report

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 -- New and fully digitalised insurance companies entering South Korea’s non-life industry hold the potential to exacerbate a highly competitive marketplace in the long term, according to a new AM Best report.

In its Best’s Special Report, “New Insurers to Drive Digitalisation in South Korea Non-Life Segment,” AM Best notes that technology giant Kakao Corp, which runs South Korea’s dominant mobile messenger app, KakaoTalk, is planning its foray into the non-life insurance segment in the first half of 2022, leveraging its user base and digital ecosystem.

Several other players have entered or are planning to enter South Korea’s digital non-life business segment, offering products such as pay-per-mile auto insurance with a monthly deferred payment scheme.

According to a statement, the report also states that large financial groups are increasingly expressing interest in the digital non life business.

Digital insurers typically concentrate on simple and small-ticket insurance products when they enter the market, according to the report, and as a result, these new players will require time to amass a sizeable premium base in order to cover the upfront investment in technology and ultimately make meaningful profits.

At the same time, according to the report, a digital insurer that is able to accumulate a large policyholder base quickly while preparing to expand into major product lines could find itself able to compete meaningfully against traditional incumbents.

The report also notes that digital insurers likely will turn first toward auto insurance, given that auto policies are mandatory and that online sales are more easily accepted; however, claims management expertise among traditional players will remain a barrier for new entrants.

While AM Best does not expect new digital insurers to have a material impact on overall competition in the short term, they could motivate existing players to reexamine their business structures and strategies.

Innovative products and services introduced by new digital entrants could inspire traditional insurers to accelerate their innovation efforts and increase insurance penetration in areas that historically have been underinsured.

More details at www.ambest.com.

-- BERNAMA

JUNIPER RESEARCH: SHANGHAI IS WORLD'S NO 1 SMART CITY FOR 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Juniper Research has ranked Shanghai, China, as the world’s number one smart city for 2022.

The other smart cities in the top five ranking are Seoul (South Korea), Barcelona (Spain), Beijing (China) and New York (United States), Juniper Research said in a statement.

It said the smart city rankings were compiled following an extensive study of cities around the globe as published in its latest research, Smart Cities: Key Technologies, Environmental Impact & Market Forecasts 2022-2026.

The ranking of 50 world cities is based on an evaluation of many different aspects of smart cities, covering transportation and infrastructure, energy and lighting, city management and technology, and urban connectivity.

The research particularly lauds Shanghai’s Citizen Cloud as a one-stop point for over 1,000 different services for city residents.

Thanks to the city's rapid deployment of data management platforms, efficient, digitised utility management and public services have become common in many cities across Asia; allowing them to climb Juniper Research’s rankings.

“Many cities have deployed technology and data to help local authorities reduce environmental impact and energy usage,” remarked research co-author Mike Bainbridge.

“The top cities in our recent ranking are finding innovative ways to leverage that technology to deliver observable benefits for their citizens as well,” he added.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector; providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

-- BERNAMA

Vuzix, AMA strengthen partnership addressing deskless workforce future

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 -- Vuzix® Corporation (Vuzix or the Company) and AMA have announced the reinforcement of their partnership to grow and strengthen both organisations’ ability to deliver world-class remote collaboration for the deskless workforce.

Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products, while AMA is a pioneer of assisted reality and workflow management software solutions.

Vuzix and AMA have been closely working together for over five years and are now widening the scope of their partnership agreement to accelerate the digital transformation of their joint industrial and healthcare customer base.

“Our partnership is taking a new step forward. We are convinced that our combined, forward looking vision of remote assistance is key to accompany the rapid digital transformation of our customers,” said VP Product & Partnerships at AMA, Guillaume Campion in a statement.

By proposing the lightweight and ergonomically versatile Vuzix M400 smart glasses on the entire XpertEye remote assistance product range, customers will be able to boost productivity and successfully complete remote support tasks safely and efficiently.

Customers will now benefit from hands-free collaboration with voice control on XpertEye Essential as well as from seamless remote assistance with the Vuzix M400 wearable display connected to a dedicated smartphone on XpertEye Advanced.

As a strategic partner, AMA has been the first to successfully test and leverage Vivoka’s embedded multilingual automatic speech recognition, now standard on Vuzix full line of smart glasses. 

With 18 languages available, the XpertEye assisted reality solution embraces the unparalleled and secured voice AI capabilities of this embedded speech technology.

-- BERNAMA

BIOMEBANK NEW CHAIR CHRIS HALL TO ACCELERATE COMMERCIALISATION STRATEGY

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- BiomeBank has announced Chris Hall as the new Chair for the clinical stage biotechnology company, with the appointment effective Jan 17.

Having recently served as Chief Investment Officer of Ellerston Capital, prior to this, Hall served as Managing Director of BlackRock Asset Management (North-Asia Ltd).

He succeeds Dr Stephen Rodda, who recently retired having served as the BiomeBank Chair since 2019, according to a statement.

BiomeBank Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Mitchell said: “We're thrilled to welcome Hall as the new Chair of BiomeBank. He brings with him over 30 years' experience and an impressive track record of investment management across both public and private markets within the APAC region.

“As we move towards closing our Series A funding round in early 2022 and formal TGA approval of our first-generation product, Hall's experience in global markets will support our growth ambition into the Asia Pacific and European region.”

Meanwhile, the newly-elected BiomeBank Chair, Hall said: “I'm excited to join BiomeBank as we move into the next stage of expansion and progress our promising pipeline of second-generation products.

“Having observed the Company's expertise in developing microbial therapies to treat unmet need, I believe we're in a strong position to improve the quality of life for people and continue to build our business into a global biotechnology leader.”

Backed by a world-leading team of translational microbiome experts, BiomeBank's platform uses a unique combination of machine learning and microbiology to identify bacterial strains which influence disease, leading to the discovery and development of new therapies.

-- BERNAMA

NIPPON EXPRESS (BELGIUM) ACQUIRES GDP CERTIFICATION FOR FACILITY IN BRUSSELS AIRPORT'S CARGO AREA

 TOKYO, Jan. 20, 2022 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/--

Nippon Express (Belgium) N.V./S.A. (hereinafter "NX Belgium"), a company of the Nippon Express Holdings, Inc. Group, has obtained Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification, effective December 21, 2021, for air and ground forwarding operations, inclusive of inventory control, at a facility in the cargo area of Brussels Airport, evidencing its compliance with GDP standards for the proper distribution of pharmaceuticals.   Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202201176158-O3-bvsjuUa0   Photo1: Warehouse interior https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202201176158/_prw_PI2fl_P21bPD7U.jpg     Belgium has become a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and development, hosting numerous global pharmaceutical companies as well as contract manufacturing organizations, vaccine manufacturers and biotechnology research laboratories.   NX Belgium has signed a business partnership agreement with Medexi, which specializes in pharmaceutical transport, and obtained GDP certification for operations at a Medexi-owned temperature-controlled 2,000 m2 facility dedicated to pharmaceutical products and capable of both refrigerated (2C - 8C) and constant-temperature (15C - 25C) storage. Medexi's pharmaceutical knowledge and advanced operational quality will be combined with the NX Group's international temperature-controlled transport services and warehouse storage functions to provide customers with a pharmaceutical logistics platform.   The NX Group will continue stepping up its initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry, identified as a priority industry in the Group's Business Plan, and globally enhancing and expanding its services to meet the increasingly sophisticated and diversified pharmaceutical transport needs of its customers.   Name and address of company Name: Nippon Express (Belgium) N.V./S.A. Address: Bedrijvenzone Machelen Cargo 738/1, Machelen Belgium   Nippon Express website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/   Official LinkedIn account: NX GROUP https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/     Source: Nippon Express Holdings, Inc.    http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=42200

EMQ STRENGTHENS SOUTHEAST ASIA MOBILE WALLET CAPABILITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Global payments network EMQ has announced a significant enhancement to its global payment capabilities by enabling real-time payouts to major mobile wallets in Indonesia, further complementing its ability to provide an integrated suite of payment solutions globally with direct access to one of the most vibrant wallet ecosystems in the region.

“With the booming e-commerce and digital economy in Southeast Asia, enterprises need a payment platform like EMQ that facilitates seamless cross-border payouts in local currencies to meet their customers’ expectations,” said EMQ Global Head of Networks and Expansion, Steven Liu.

“As we continue to expand and optimise our payout network, we are able to provide increased access to the vibrant wallet ecosystems, while helping our customers tap into new markets.

“With our long-standing commitment to Indonesia and Southeast Asia, we will continue to grow our network of strategic partners and explore new ways to expand our payments infrastructure to address the evolving global payment landscape,” Liu said in a statement.

Powered by EMQ’s real-time payments network, the enhanced mobile wallet payout to Indonesia is now available across all EMQ’s global markets.

With one single integration with EMQ Connect API, enterprises and their customers are enabled to effectively transfer money to major mobile wallets including Ovo, Dana, LinkAja, ShopeePay, GoPay, Paytren, TrueMoney, IMKas, Astrapay in Indonesia.

EMQ offers one of the most comprehensive payment networks in the industry as it continues to enhance its product suite with near real-time payments capabilities across Europe, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and 19 markets in Africa, with expansion underway in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

The company is currently licensed in Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and registered as a Money Service Business in Canada.

For more information, visit www.emq.com.

-- BERNAMA

JUMIO ANNOUNCES 4STOP ACQUISITION COMPLETION

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Jumio, the leading provider of AI-powered end-to-end identity orchestration, eKYC and AML solutions, has announced completion of its acquisition of 4Stop, the leading data marketplace and orchestration hub for KYB, KYC, compliance and fraud prevention.

4Stop’s hub integrates with multiple vendors giving access to more than 650 data sources across 195 countries.

This technology, when combined with Jumio’s award-winning solutions, will enable organisations to manage the entire customer identity lifecycle within a single, unified platform and allow for rapid configuration and integration through one easy and intuitive API layer.

They’ll also have an integrated and comprehensive view of their entire system, ensuring superior monitoring and risk management.

“Jumio is once again disrupting the entire identity industry and redefining what modern organisations need in order to provide complete customer lifecycle management,” said Jumio CEO, Robert Prigge based on a statement.

“We are thrilled to complete this acquisition and welcome 4Stop to the Jumio family.”

Jumio, which helps organisations fight fraud and financial crime, operates globally with offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific and has been the recipient of numerous awards for innovation.

Jumio is backed by Centana Growth Partners, Great Hill Partners and Millennium Technology Value Partners.

For more information, visit www.jumio.com.

-- BERNAMA

Personetics Secures Over $160 Million in 2021 and Accelerates the Global Expansion of its AI-Driven Personalization and Engagement Solutions for Financial Institutions With $85 Million Investment From Thoma Bravo

Co-founders of Personetics, David Sosna (CEO, left) and David Govrin (COO, right) (Photo: Business Wire)

- Over 120 million bank customers are now ‘self-driving’ their finances with Personetics’ Engagement Platform and improving their financial well-being

- Personetics’ Engagement Platform has generated over 6.5bn insights and saved for customers utilizing its business solutions over $500m

- Personetics partners with over 80 financial institutions in 30 global markets

- Personetics’ growth has been driven by its advanced AI analytics and data assets which are adaptive to any market

LONDON & NEW YORK & RIO DE JANEIRO & PARIS & SINGAPORE & SYDNEY & TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan 20 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Personetics, the leading global provider of financial-data-driven personalization and customer engagement solutions for banks and financial services providers, today announced it has raised $85m in growth funding from Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm. Personetics secured a total funding of over $160 million in 2021. Personetics is backed by Viola Ventures, Lightspeed Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Nyca Partners and Warburg Pincus.

Operating in a global market worth approximately $15 billion, Personetics’ AI-based engagement platform is becoming a market standard in financial-data-driven personalization, customer engagement and money management for global financial institutions across all channels. Personetics partners with financial institutions to re-invent financial services by integrating automated intelligence into every customer interaction, creating significant business impact in months rather than years.

Personetics’ AI-powered technology is focused on proactive engagement: analyzing financial data in real-time, understanding individuals’ financial behaviors, anticipating their needs and acting on their behalf. Personetics provides day-to-day enriched data, insights, financial advice, and automated wellness programs, tailored to retail banking, small business, wealth management and cardholders. Financial Institutions using Personetics’ AI software see an increase of up to 35% in digital customer engagement, a 20% increase in account and balance growth; and a 17% increase in the adoption of personalized product recommendations and advice.

Personetics strives to actualize a world of ‘self-driving finance’ where financial institutions proactively act on behalf of their customers to increase lifetime value and drive business impact. Combining Personetics’ self-driving finance with open banking/finance will reshape the financial services business model and accelerate engagement with customers.

Flagship clients include many of the worlds leading banks, such as U.S. Bank (US), Huntington Bank (USA), RBC (Canada), BMO (Canada), Intesa Sanpaolo (Italy), Santander (Spain), KBC (Belgium), Metro Bank (UK), UOB (Singapore), Hyundai Card (Korea) and MUFG (Japan).

Financial institutions use Personetics’ agile tools and its low-code Engagement Builder, a Creation & Management Console, to quickly modify hundreds of pre-programmed insights and build customized user journeys to accelerate their innovation. This empowers financial institutions to share real-time personalized insights and advice, as well as automated, self-adjustable financial wellness programs across its customer base which is comprised of individual banking customers, small businesses and wealth management customers.

David Sosna, CEO and Co-Founder of Personetics, said:

“Data-driven personalization and customer engagement is the battleground for financial institutions all over the world. Banks are increasingly moving from a passive to a proactive relationship with customers and are looking for new ways to help them improve their financial well-being. Personetics provides financial institutions with the most comprehensive engagement platform on the market, enabling agility and differentiation with an agile delivery for quick business impact. We are excited to partner with Thoma Bravo, one of the world’s most experienced financial technology investors, to further drive this rapid growth and innovation. Together, we will deliver our vision of ‘self-driving finance’; reaching new partners and clients, while also supporting our existing customers with innovative business solutions that drive business impact.”

Robert Sayle, a Partner at Thoma Bravo, said:

“As the range and complexity of financial products continues to grow, Personetics simplifies and personalizes banking for consumers with its industry-leading AI technology. We are thrilled to partner with Personetics and leverage our operational expertise in software and financial technology to help accelerate the company’s momentum, the introduction of new products and technology, and the platform‘s reach to financial institutions and their customers across the globe.”

About Personetics:

Focused on enabling proactive engagement for Financial Institutions, Personetics’ AI analyzes financial data in real-time to understand customer financial behavior, anticipate customer needs and deliver a hyper-personalized experience. With solutions designed for the mass market, wealth management, and small business customers, the technology enables banks to offer day-to-day insights, financial advice, and automated wellness programs to customers. Banks use Personetics’ agile tools to rapidly create their own personalization IP to serve the unique needs of their customers and differentiate themselves in a crowded market. With these advances, banks have transformed their digital banking into the center of the customers’ financial lives while also delivering significant business impact.

Led by a team of seasoned financial and technology entrepreneurs, Personetics strives to actualize a world of ‘Self-Driving Finance’ where banks proactively act on behalf of their customers – a win-win for customers and banks alike. Founded in 2011, Personetics operates through offices in New York, London, Paris, Singapore, Rio De Janeiro and Tel Aviv. To learn more, visit www.personetics.com.

About Thoma Bravo:

Thoma Bravo is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with more than $91 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2021. The firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Leveraging the firm's deep sector expertise and proven strategic and operational capabilities, Thoma Bravo collaborates with its portfolio companies to implement operating best practices, drive growth initiatives and make accretive acquisitions intended to accelerate revenue and earnings. Over the past 20 years, the firm has acquired more than 325 companies representing over $155 billion in enterprise value. The firm has offices in Chicago, Miami and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.thomabravo.com

Contacts

Inquiries:

Personetics:
Dorel Blitz, dorel.blitz@personetics.com
Laura West-Wilson, personetics@pancomm.com

Thoma Bravo:
Megan Frank, mfrank@thomabravo.com
Abigail Farr, abigail.farr@fgh.com

Source: Personetics

POLYPLASTICS UNVEILS INNOVATIVE BONDING TECHNOLOGY TO JOIN DIFFERENT RESIN MATERIALS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Polyplastics Co Ltd, a leading global supplier of engineering thermoplastics, has introduced an innovative bonding technology that is unlike traditional joining methods such as plastics welding or adhesion.

According to a statement, AKI-Lock (R) has few restrictions on the materials that can be used and forms strong, airtight bonds with combinations of different materials for which bonding had previously been difficult.

AKI-Lock (R) opens the door to a broad range of new product development possibilities. This bonding technology meets the increased market demand for weight reduction to address the U.N. SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), reduces the number of parts, and provides stable adhesive strength and longevity.

The AKI-Lock (R) technology uses the glass fibres in glass fibre-reinforced resins as a physical anchor for bonding. Glass fibre is made bare by laser irradiation which is completed in a grid pattern.

Strong bonds can then be achieved by pouring the resin to be bonded onto these anchors. Since the bond is formed by physical anchors, there is no time limitation from laser treatment until bonding.

Masking is unnecessary since specific treatment areas can be identified. There is no need for etching solution to roughen the surface and no waste liquids or materials are produced.

AKI-Lock (R) helps to reduce assembly work and the number of components, thus lowering overall cost. The joining system also helps to reduce an environmental impact through the use of dry processes, including the elimination of adhesives.

More details at https://www.polyplastics-global.com/en/approach/9.html

-- BERNAMA

JUMIO ENDS 2021 WITH RECORD-BREAKING OVER 130 PER CENT REVENUE GROWTH

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Jumio, the leading provider of AI-powered end-to-end identity orchestration, eKYC and AML solutions, has announced the record-breaking close to a successful 2021, with revenue growing by over 130 per cent in Q4 2021 from Q4 2020.

“Doubling our revenue and expanding our global leadership in the identity space is a massive accomplishment, especially in such a challenging environment,” said Jumio Chief Executive Officer, Robert Prigge.

“I am incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish last year and look forward to 2022 being the best year in Jumio’s history.”

Thanks to an uptake of automated solutions and expanded product offerings, Jumio’s annual revenue more than doubled year over year in 2021, according to a statement.

Revenue growth for Jumio’s AML solutions exceeded 330 per cent and the company continued to see explosive global expansion in APAC and LATAM regions, with over 300 per cent growth.

Jumio also signed a record number of new customers in 2021. This diverse mix of customers, ranging from financial services to digital health and social media, speaks to the growing need for all modern enterprises to know and trust their users, from onboarding to ongoing monitoring.

Other notable highlights in the fourth quarter include 4Stop Acquisition. In December, Jumio announced its intent to acquire current strategic partner 4Stop, the leading data marketplace and orchestration hub for KYB, KYC, compliance and fraud prevention.

4Stop’s technology, when combined with Jumio’s award-winning solutions, will enable organisations to manage the entire customer identity lifecycle within a single, unified platform, and will allow for rapid configuration and integration through one easy and intuitive API layer.

More details at www.jumio.com.

-- BERNAMA

BitMEX welcomes Raphael Polansky as new Chief Operating Officer

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 -- Crypto investment platform BitMEX has welcomed Raphael Polansky as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). 

As COO, Polansky is in charge of managing the company’s operations and infrastructure, driving business growth and market expansion, and transforming BitMEX into a full crypto investment ecosystem. 

According to a statement, Polansky reports directly to BitMEX’s Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Höptner.

“I’m thrilled to have Raphael join our leadership team as COO. His wealth of crypto, financial markets, and management experience is proving to be instrumental in delivering greater operational efficiency, coordination, and synergy during the next phases of our growth,” said Höptner.

Meanwhile, Polansky said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to drive the continued growth of BitMEX. We have a strong pipeline of projects planned for 2022 and beyond, and a solid team of talented and innovative people with a common goal of building a better global financial ecosystem.”

Prior to joining BitMEX, Polansky was Managing Director at Blocknox for almost two years, where he set up and operated its crypto custody platform, and led the company’s business strategy, IT development, and operations.

Having worked in leadership positions at Boerse Stuttgart and Deutsche Boerse, he brings almost one and a half decades of high-level management and financial markets experience.

BitMEX is a trading platform that offers users access to the global digital asset financial markets.

-- BERNAMA

Medisca Signs Deal as Exclusive Global Distributor outside the USA & Israel for the Padagis Line of ORA Products

MONTREAL, Jan 19 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- On December 9, 2021, Medisca entered into an exclusive global manufacture, supply, license and distribution agreement with Padagis (formerly, the Rx Division of Perrigo) for their ORA Product Line consisting of the following Padagis products in finished form: ORA-Plus®, ORA-Sweet®, ORA-Sweet® SF, ORA-Blend®, and ORA-Blend® SF. With this, Medisca has exclusive distribution rights on all global markets except the United States and Israel, and non-exclusive distribution rights with contractual benefits in Australia.

“This exclusive agreement reinforces Medisca’s commitment as a pioneer in personalized medicine around the world,” says Panagiota Danopoulos, Senior Vice President Global Strategy & Innovation, Medisca. “Partnering with Padagis is another important step in expanding our reach, as we continue to build the power of Medisca brands into a global trailblazer across the pharmaceutical compounding, scientific lab, cosmetic, and other healthcare industries.”

Developed over 20 years ago by Paddock Laboratories, which was acquired by Perrigo in 2011, ORA products are manufactured by Padagis in Minnesota and are the longest-standing compounding oral vehicles on the market, with over 150 stability studies to support their use. In fact, this unmatched study portfolio is key to why many view ORA products as the go-to compounding oral vehicles across the globe. Outside of compounding, the ORA brand continues to make its mark, found in department stores as over the counter products and included as part of FDA-approved finished drugs.

“Until now, the ORA Product Line has used multiple distributors worldwide,” says Colter VanStedum, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, Padagis. “Our decision to centralize distribution through Medisca was heavily influenced by their global distribution capabilities. The ORA products have vast potential in critical patient care – especially pediatric care – and should be widely available to pharmacists, physicians, and most importantly, patients – in all markets across the globe. Creating this partnership was a strategic move to maximize positive impact to patients around the world.”

Danopoulos adds, “Medisca’s quality standard and international network are what allow an agreement like this to be signed. It is another key milestone in our commitment to growth and leadership, making a meaningful, sustainable difference in emerging markets.”

With this agreement, Medisca will also be filing international trademark applications in certain countries in its name.

About MEDISCA

MEDISCA is a global leader in healthcare with well-established footings in pharmaceutical compounding and advancements in scientific labs, cosmetics, other healthcare industries. For 30+ years, MEDISCA has been serving pharmacies and allied healthcare institutions with cutting-edge offerings and passionate commitment, developing a worldwide network dedicated to personalized medicine. Through genuine relationships, worry-free experiences, convenient processes, and strategic global partnerships, MEDISCA provides top-quality and innovative products, industry-leading services, and world-class support systems. For more information about MEDISCA, please visit www.medisca.com, and follow us on Twitter at @medisca.

About PADAGIS

PADAGIS is dedicated to improving the well-being of as many patients and consumers as possible by developing, manufacturing and distributing high quality, affordable specialized healthcare products. The company is a leading provider of extended topical and other specialty pharmaceuticals, employing over 1,300 people worldwide. Visit PADAGIS online at (http://www.padagis.com).

Contact

Panagiota Danopoulos
SVP Global Strategy & Innovation at Medisca
www.medisca.ca
1-800-665-6334

Source : Medisca

TaiwanPlus Docuseries 'Road To Legacy' Unveils Taiwan Indie Music Scene

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 -- TaiwanPlus, a new global English-language video streaming platform, launches a 2022 TaiwanPlus Original Series titled ‘Road to Legacy’, a 10-episode docuseries detailing the journey to fame of 10 bands in Taiwan.

On Jan 17, TaiwanPlus holds the world premiere at Legacy Taipei, with the docuseries launched exclusively and free to stream worldwide via www.TaiwanPlus.com. on the same day.

Since its inception, “TaiwanPlus strives to provide a platform to showcase the diverse, creative culture that flourished under Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.

“Following the positive reception from the TaiwanPlus Film Festival, which was an online curation of 10 iconic Taiwanese films, the platform now seeks to Bring Taiwan to the World through the country’s dynamic indie music scene,” indicates TaiwanPlus CEO Joanne Tsai in a statement.

Produced by TaiwanPlus, ‘Road to Legacy’ is a co-production with Legacy Taipei, a live house institution in Taiwan that has hosted many renowned international and Taiwanese bands since 2009.

Executive Producer Tien Tsung Ma says: “Contemporary Taiwanese music ranges from electronic music, rock, folk to hip-hop, and this docuseries is a timely snapshot of Taiwan’s music scene.”

Shot over the course of 2.5 years, the docuseries unveils the truest side of these music artistes, sharing their personalities, philosophy, and vision.

Among the 10 bands featured, Tizzy Bac, ABAO and Namewee have garnered the most international presence. Tizzy Bac offers a unique style of indie rock by integrating jazz, alternative rock, and electronic elements while indigenous Taiwanese R&B artiste, ABAO, is hailed a symbol of culture and heritage. Malaysian artiste and musician, Namewee, is known for pop and hip-hop, having garnered a following in East and South-East Asia.

-- BERNAMA

TOMMY HILFIGER FASHION FRONTIER CHALLENGE WINNERS REVEALED

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Tommy Hilfiger, owned by PVH Corp. has announced Lalaland and UZURI K&Y as winners of the third Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge, a dedicated global programme designed to find and support ideas that lead to a more inclusive fashion landscape.

The programme’s final virtual event took place on Jan 12-13, where the six finalists pitched their concepts to a prestigious jury panel, according to a statement.

The winners will share a prize fund of €200,000 and receive a year-long mentorship with internal experts from Tommy Hilfiger and from INSEAD — one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools. (€1 = RM4.773)

They also secured a place in an INSEAD programme that brings people, cultures, and ideas together to cultivate innovative leaders.

This year's programme particularly strived to amplify and support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who are working to advance their communities, while fostering a more inclusive future for the fashion industry.

For the first time, fans of the TOMMY HILFIGER brand were able to participate in the initial phases of the challenge, where they cast their digital vote to help narrow down the applications to identify the finalists. 

Alongside Tommy Hilfiger associates at the final event, they were also invited to vote for their favourite pitch to award an additional €15,000 to one of the finalists.

Lalaland, a Netherlands-based platform that uses artificial intelligence to generate customised and inclusive synthetic models of different ethnicities, was awarded €100,000, while UZURI K&Y, a Rwandan-based eco-friendly shoe brand that uses recycled car tyres from sub-Saharan Africa and employs local youth, was also awarded €100,000.

In addition, Clothes to Good, a South African-based social enterprise that creates micro-business opportunities and jobs for people with disabilities through textile recycling, was awarded €15,000. 

Applications for the fourth installment of the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge will open in March.

Tommy Hilfiger’s mission is to become a leading sustainable designer lifestyle company that Wastes Nothing and Welcomes All, through how it creates its product, manages its operations and connects with its communities and stakeholders.

-- BERNAMA

FIRST CREATE-TO-EARN NFT CARD-BASED GAME, MYTHERIA REAPS SUCCESS WITH BINANCE IGO

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The NFT game industry is undoubtedly expanding fast, with an aspiring newbie ramping up.

Mytheria: Clash of Pantheons – the first Create–to–earn NFT card-based game ever on the blockchain platform reaped its initial success with the Binance Initial Game Offering (IGO) on Jan 6, with all 3,000 Pandora Packages offered in this IGO sold out in just 24 hours, with the most premium Diamond Packages gone in just under three seconds.

According to a statement, the game also broke the record on Binance with a US$10 million trading volume. (US$1 = RM4.185)

Mytheria riveted the attention of NFT enthusiasts and the GameFi community quickly whereby, its top-notch graphics, Marvel-style experiences, exciting drama and the unique mythological game universe can surely keep the players on the edge of their seat.

In the game, gods and mortals of Northern Europe, Greece, Egypt, China, Vietnam—and many more will join the battle together to pursue honour and glory.

Notably, in this IGO, Mytheria tested its unique God Forge feature for artists to create their very own god images and share revenue with the in–house team. This feature will contribute greatly to the global creator economy. Buyers and sellers will use a Marketplace to earn cryptocurrencies, which can be exchanged for real money.

Mytheria offered 3,000 Pandora Packages, including 50 Diamond Packages and 2,950 Gold Packages. Each Pandora Package includes a Main Chest and a Bonus Chest. Only 500 Diamond chests will ever be minted.

The highlight of this IGO is the 12 Zodiac Animals – a distinct Asian cultural feature. Only 2,600 Zodiac Animal Cards will ever be minted, and Mytheria has already released 100 cards this time.

Mytheria was created by Le Manh Cuong, who was brave enough to drop out of university to pursue his dream of becoming a game artist.

-- BERNAMA

THE 2022 STEVIE® AWARDS FOR SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- By popular demand, the Stevie® Awards have extended the final entry deadline in the 16th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service to Feb 2.

The original entry deadline was Jan 12. These are the world’s premier awards for sales and customer service professionals, teams, and organisations.

Eligible nominees include departments, teams, and professionals from worldwide who work in customer service, contact centre, business development, and sales. New products and services and solution providers used by those professionals are also eligible.

The 2022 awards will recognise achievements since July 1, 2019, according to a statement, 

Winners will be announced on Feb 28, 2022. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners will be celebrated at a virtual awards ceremony on May 11.

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service feature over 150 sales awards, customer service awards, business development awards, new product awards, and solution provider awards categories. Entrants may submit any number of nominations to any number of categories.

New this year, for all categories the submission requirements have been extended to allow nominations to include accomplishments for the past two years instead of one.

There are many new categories for 2022 including Sales Engineer of the Year, Sales Support Professional of the Year, Virtual and Pre-Sales Professional of the Year, and, Remote Sales Innovation of the Year.

The Stevie Awards is also pleased to present the Ethics in Sales Award, sponsored by Sales Partnerships. This category has no entry fee. This award recognises organisations for best practices and achievements in demonstrating the highest ethical standards in the sales industry. 

More details at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

-- BERNAMA

PANDO SOFTWARE RELEASES NEW P2E GAME, LEGEND OF PANDONIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Legend of Pandonia (L.o.P), a new P2E game and a collection-based strategy action RPG where players can collect and enjoy 120 unique heroes along the arduous journey of Knights striving to find Soul Stones that can give a tremendous power, has been released. 

L.o.P is played with three main heroes and three support characters, which implies a total of six heroes in a battle. It has also a tag system that allows players to fight by collecting tag gauges and swapping secondary and main heroes.

Furthermore, the touch&drag system, which moves friendly heroes or directly designates the target of an attack, enables targeting way of combat as well as allows players to experience L.o.P distinctive battle system using active skills, etc.

Six classes of heroes, including tankers, warriors, melees, AD carries, sorcerers, and support heroes, have five unique attributes: fire, water, wind, light, and darkness. Players can use these attributes as an advantage to achieve victory by structuring their strategy.

According to a statement, its special 'Synergy system' activates a synergy buff for placing heroes with some contact points in the scenario to the attacking party. The synergy is for two or three characters, and by completing the active synergy dungeon together, players can get mPANDO Coins on a specific stage.

While playing the game, mPANDO Coins can be earned from plenty of content such as completing daily quests, seasonal rewards for a PVE content ‘Tower of Heroes’, an arena for rank matches, or achievement quests.

A function that allows the acquisition of extra heroes through wallet linking and staking is under development, and it was announced to be reflected in the first L.o.P update.

-- BERNAMA

Cellebrite Joins AWS Partner Network as an Advanced Technology Partner

Company announces Cellebrite Guardian is available on AWS, part of the Company’s industry leading investigative Digital Intelligence platform

Customers can now harness the power of AWS with Cellebrite Guardian to manage and collaborate on digital evidence as part of their investigative workflow

PETAH TIKVA, ISRAEL and TYSONS CORNER, Va., Jan 13 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellebrite (Nasdaq: CLBT), a global leader in Digital Intelligence (DI) solutions for the public and private sectors, today announced that it has joined the AWS Partner Network (APN) as an Advanced Technology Partner and is providing Cellebrite Guardian, an investigative digital evidence management solution designed specifically for investigators, examiners, and attorneys, on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Cellebrite Guardian is the latest offering in Cellebrite's end-to-end investigative DI Platform designed to help public safety agencies and enterprises modernize their investigative workflow.

By joining the APN, Cellebrite gains access to a community of over 10,000 Partners in 150 countries using AWS to build solutions and services for customers across a range of different sectors and disciplines. Access to the APN’s joint go-to-market programs, expertise, and resources will support Cellebrite’s ability to expand its portfolio of cloud-based solutions that help customers reduce risk, increase collaboration, and drive down storage, hardware, and system maintenance costs.

Ryan Reynolds, US Justice and Public Safety Leader at AWS, said: “We welcome Cellebrite into our AWS Partner Network where customers will find an industry-leading solution that allows them to securely manage, collaborate, and gain insights from digital evidence as part of their investigative efforts.”

Leeor Ben-Peretz, Chief Strategy Officer at Cellebrite, commented: “Introducing new market-leading DI solutions in the cloud is a significant area of focus for Cellebrite. The AWS Partner Network will enable us to scale quickly and meet growing customer demands for cloud-based investigative solutions.”

Cellebrite and AWS customer, Joshua Lee, a police sergeant in the City of Mesa (Arizona) Police Department, said: "Using Cellebrite Guardian to manage chain of custody for physical evidence and digital evidence, while streamlining every step throughout the workflow, makes it an essential solution for conducting effective investigations and accelerating time to action. The transformational change from paper and USB drives to Cellebrite Guardian will directly and positively impact the ability of investigative teams to optimize resources. Guardian is flexible and can be adapted to any workflow, helping to eliminate manual processes, and allows investigators to review findings in real-time. It is great that two industry leaders have teamed up to provide an essential solution when backlogs are just getting longer."

For more information on Cellebrite Guardian, please visit here.

About Cellebrite
Cellebrite’s (Nasdaq: CLBT) mission is to enable its customers to protect and save lives, accelerate justice, and preserve privacy in communities around the world. We are a global leader in Digital Intelligence solutions for the public and private sectors, empowering organizations in mastering the complexities of legally sanctioned digital investigations by streamlining intelligence processes. Trusted by thousands of leading agencies and companies worldwide, Cellebrite’s Digital Intelligence platform and solutions transform how customers collect, review, analyze and manage data in legally sanctioned investigations.

To learn more visit us at www.cellebrite.com and https://investors.cellebrite.com.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This document includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “forecast,” “intend,” “seek,” “target,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may,” “plan,” “outlook,” “future” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict, project or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward looking statements include estimated financial information. Such forward looking statements with respect to revenues, earnings, performance, strategies, prospects, and other aspects of the business of Cellebrite are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: Cellebrite’s ability to develop technologically advanced solutions and successfully integrate with the software solutions used by customers; acceptance of solutions by customers; errors, failures, defects or bugs in solutions; a failure to maintain sales and marketing personnel productivity or hire, integrate and retain additional sales and marketing personnel; the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of competition on pricing and on Cellebrite’s market share; sub-optimal results from products due to misuse by customers; Cellebrite’s failure to maintain and enhance its reputation and brand; inaccuracy of the estimates of Cellebrite’s market opportunity and forecasts of market growth; changes to packaging and licensing models that adversely affect the ability to attract or retain customers; failure to manage future growth effectively; failure to introduce new solutions and add-ons; issues in the use of artificial intelligence resulting in reputational harm or liability; the need for additional capital to support the growth of Cellebrite’s business; a failure to maintain the security of operations and the integrity of software solutions; the impact of government budgeting cycles and appropriations, early termination, audits, investigations, sanctions and penalties; a decline in government budgets, changes in spending or budgetary priorities, or delays in contract awards; a failure to adequately obtain, maintain, protect and enforce Cellebrite’s intellectual property or infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; perceptions or court or regulatory decisions that Cellebrite’s solutions violate privacy rights; the use of solutions by customers in a way that is, or that is perceived to be, incompatible with human rights; failure to comply with laws regarding privacy, data protection and security, technology protection, sanctions, export controls and other matters; and other factors, risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the final proxy statement/prospectus relating to Cellebrite’s consummated business combination filed with the SEC on August 5, 2021 and in other documents filed by Cellebrite with the SEC, which are available free of charge at www.sec.gov. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, in this communication or elsewhere. Cellebrite undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

Media        
Adam Jaffe
VP of Global Communications
+1 973 206 7643
adam.jaffe@cellebrite.com – or –
RapidResponse@cellebrite.com

Investors
Anat Earon-Heilborn
VP Investor Relations
+972 73 394 8440
investors@cellebrite.com

Source: Cellebrite DI Ltd 

SEOUL-BASED VIDEOMONSTER ADVANCES INTO GLOBAL MARKET

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Seoul-based video-tech startup VideoMonster has advanced into the global market.

VideoMonster is an online short-form videomaking platform where anyone can create captivating 30-second videos within three minutes, according to a statement.

With its 4,500+ quality video templates and 400 loyalty-free music tunes, VideoMonster offers users a unique experience of creating professional videos with simple drag and drop.

After its successful entry into Japan, VideoMonster is now present in more than five countries, drawing keen attention to the driving force of its successful global debut.

Team VideoMonster reckons what mattered for its successful debut was ‘perfect localization.’ The team’s relatively small size did not stop them from actively pursuing sophisticated localization of its service.

Since its launch in mid-2019, VideoMonster has produced more than 4,600 professional video templates and acquired over 400,000 users from more than six countries, exceeding 6,000 daily average users (DAU) and 150,000 monthly average users (MAU).

As it offers professional motion graphic templates with an easy and intuitive editing UI, VideoMonster’s popularity is validated by its rapidly expanding user-base in the e-commerce industry and loyal customers from startups, corporates, advertising agencies, and government institutions.

In 2022, VideoMonster strives to expand its customer base further by introducing customised SI for various platforms and entering new markets including Singapore and North America.

More details at https://videomonster.com/.

-- BERNAMA

Lenovo’s research reveals close to half of employees willing to work in metaverse

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 -- Just as businesses are starting to find their groove with hybrid working, the workplace has begun to evolve again with the emergence of the metaverse.

New research from Lenovo revealed that close to half of employees (44 per cent) are willing to work in the metaverse and believe that it can deliver benefits like productivity to the workplace, according to a statement.

The metaverse is primarily defined as a shared digital space with digital representations of people, places, and objects. In the future, the metaverse can be a highly immersive extension of the physical world, with its rich user interface.

At the enterprise level, this opens up possibilities for businesses to create a more viable, interactive workplace.

However, there is skepticism on whether companies have the capabilities to pull it off. Two in five (43 per cent) respondents believe their employers do not, or probably do not have the knowledge or expertise to enable them to work in the metaverse of the future.

President, Lenovo Solutions and Services Group, Ken Wong, said: “The pandemic challenged us all to adapt to new ways of work – forcing organisations of all sizes to evolve at an exponential pace.”

“The metaverse presents businesses with new opportunities but also more complex technological challenges, such as the need for more computing power, better integrated hardware, and simpler and more flexible IT solutions.”

Key findings from the survey include: while half of employees (44 per cent) are willing to work in the metaverse, 20 per cent are unwilling, with 21 per cent say they are neutral and another 15 per cent say they are not sure.

In addition, half of working adults (51 per cent) agree that an employer’s speed of adoption of new technology is an indicator of readiness for new technological realities, such as the virtually enhanced physical reality of the metaverse.

To manage an increasingly complex technology, businesses need simple and flexible IT solutions. Lenovo’s solutions include ThinkReality platform, which is powering the enterprise metaverse with a portfolio of award-winning hardware, software, and services.

More details at https://www.lenovo.com.

-- BERNAMA

LIONTOWN SEALS FOUNDATIONAL BINDING OFFTAKE TERM SHEET WITH LG ENERGY SOLUTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Liontown Resources Limited (Liontown or the Company) has signed foundational binding Offtake Term Sheet with premier global battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES).

Cornerstone offtake agreement provides strong market validation for the product quality and Tier-1 jurisdiction credentials of Liontown's Kathleen Valley Lithium Project, according to a statement.

Among the highlights, Binding Lithium Spodumene Concentrate Offtake Term Sheet signed with South Korean-based LGES. Foundation agreement underpins the development of Liontown's A$473 million Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia. (A$1 = RM3.01)

Initial five-year term expected to commence in 2024, with the ability to extend for a further five years. 

In addition, LGES to purchase 100,000 dry metric tonnes (DMT) in the first year, increasing to 150,000 DMT per year in subsequent years.

Meanwhile, pricing determined using a formula-based mechanism referencing market prices for Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate.

The landmark Offtake Term Sheet is strongly aligned with Liontown's offtake strategy, which is targeting Tier-1 customers downstream in the global battery value chain.

Negotiations continue with several Tier-1 customers that will complement Liontown's offtake strategy of establishing a diverse portfolio of high-quality customers, defined both by geographic location and position within the global battery value chain.

-- BERNAMA

CLARITAS HEALTHTECH OBTAINS US FDA CLEARANCE TO MARKET CLARITAS IPET™

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Claritas HealthTech Pte Ltd (Claritas), a healthcare technology company specialising in innovative deep-learning and advanced image enhancement to improve the quality and efficiency of medical imaging and AI assisted diagnosis, has announced receiving 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Claritas iPET™.

Claritas iPET is an image processing software that implements a powerful algorithm-based solution to enhance the quality of PET scans by denoising, sharpening organ boundaries and achieving super-resolution.

PET scans can be further improved to provide additional details by using an overlay of an MRI or CT image of the same region. The iPET enhancement capability is significant as it can reduce scan times by up to 80 per cent while yielding similar image quality as captured under standard duration.

“While Claritas iPET enhances PET scans captured under standard duration and provides improved visibility of details previously obscured by noise, the degree of enhancement is particularly significant for reduced duration scans and scans using reduced contrast agent,” said Dr Laszlo Neumann, Head of Research and Development, at Claritas HealthTech.

In a statement, he added: “We are very pleased to receive the FDA 510(k) clearance for Claritas iPET as the software can be used to enhance PET and PET-CT/MRI scans and substantially reduce scan duration times improving patient experience and increasing hospital and imaging centre efficiency.”

Claritas iPET works with all types of radionuclides and can be easily integrated into existing systems.

The provision of adjustable parameters with iPET, enables physicians to calibrate the elements of enhancement as required, while comparing the original (raw) scan with the enhanced scan.

Hospitals and imaging centres can enhance images from accelerated scans increasing scan throughput and profitability, while providing a much-improved patient experience.

For more information, visit www.claritashealthtech.com.

-- BERNAMA

MonetaGo begins Japan operations led by Munetoshi Yamada

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 -- MonetaGo has announced the launch of operations in Japan, effective immediately. The Japanese business is led by Munetoshi Yamada, Managing Director Japan, based in Tokyo.

“Our continued expansion throughout the APAC region into Japan is a real testament to how our business continues to grow from strength to strength,” said Chief Executive Officer of MonetaGo, Jesse Chenard.

“Japan is a critical market for MonetaGo, home to some of the world’s most well-established financial institutions with operations spanning the globe. We hope to help them safeguard their global operations against fraud.”

“I’m thrilled to join the MonetaGo team to continue spearheading the use of cutting edge technologies as MonetaGo has,” said Yamada. “I look forward to working with their extraordinary team to bring their innovative products such as Secure Financing and workflow solutions to Japan and beyond.”

Yamada brings with him a wealth of experience in the thriving Japanese financial sector having proven himself a senior leader at Hitachi Consulting, with his primary focus being the banking industry.

Most recently, Yamada was the Partner Manager leading Japan’s efforts on behalf of R3, focusing on the establishment of their joint venture with SBI.

An avid technologist, he was also a university lecturer on the subject of Enterprise Blockchain, a distinguished technology blogger and the owner of blockchain-related patents, according to a statement.

MonetaGo provides the first-ever global solution to duplicate financing fraud in trade finance, and is the world’s foremost provider of such technology to prevent both domestic and cross-border duplicate financing.

More details www.monetago.com.

-- BERNAMA

SUBSCRIPTION ECONOMY GLOBAL MARKET VALUE TO HIT US$275 BILLION THIS YEAR - JUNIPER RESEARCH

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- A new study from Juniper Research has found that the global market value of the subscription economy will grow to US$275 billion in 2022; rising from US$224 billion in 2021. (US$1 = RM4.195)

According to a statement, after evaluating 10 key subscription-based markets, the research identified the following three as generating the highest revenue in 2022, namely Physical Goods; Digital Video; and, Digital Music.

The new report, Subscription Economy: Future Strategies & Market Forecasts 2022-2026, found increased user demand for reliable, recurring deliveries of key items, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the support of automation in subscription services, are key reasons for the uptake of subscription services across these three verticals; representing 75 per cent of global subscription market revenue in 2022.

The research identified that physical goods will account for the largest subscription revenue opportunity and are expected to represent 45 per cent of the global revenue by 2022. 

The report confirmed that physical goods subscriptions have seen increased user demand, with users keen to secure reliable sources of medicines and daily essentials in the face of the pandemic.

Additionally, the report found subscriptions to digital services, including music, video streaming, spoken word, and video games, will be a major revenue stream; representing 39 per cent of global subscription market value in 2022.

The research established that support for alternative payment methods was key to growing future subscription-based services. In turn, it urges subscription economy vendors to support multiple payment methods, including Open Banking and digital wallets, to boost convenience to the end user. 

Juniper Research recommends that platform providers should focus on the most popular alternative payment methods in their target countries, in order to minimise payment process friction, and so reducing churn.

-- BERNAMA

HONG LEONG INSURANCE (ASIA) LIMITED CREDIT RATINGS AFFIRMED EXCELLENT - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘a-’ (Excellent) of Hong Leong Insurance (Asia) Limited (HLIA) Hong Kong.

The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable, according to a statement.

The ratings reflect HLIA’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

HLIA’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR).

The assessment also reflects HLIA’s low underwriting leverage and a reinsurance programme of good quality. Offsetting factors include the company’s modest capital size, some concentration risk in a real estate and moderate reinsurance dependency.

HLIA’s strong operating performance is evidenced by positive underwriting results, with a five-year average net combined ratio of approximately 80 per cent and a five-year average return on equity of 8.7 per cent.

HLIA maintains a small market presence in Hong Kong’s general insurance market. While the company focuses on personal lines, it is expanding its commercial lines business to offset the drop in premium from travel insurance amid COVID-19.

In regard to distribution, HLIA continues to utilise its online platform and direct channel to source new personal lines business and cross-sell with low acquisition expense. The company also plans to expand its distribution channels by cooperating with some intermediaries.

The company’s risk profile shows moderate business concentration risk given that it is a local insurer in a small market and has some asset concentration. 

Nevertheless, AM Best considers the company’s risk management capabilities to be aligned appropriately with its risk profile, supported mainly by the company’s prudent underwriting guidelines and robust reinsurance programme.

More details at www.ambest.com.

-- BERNAMA