Tuesday 27 February 2024

TDCX TO REVEAL FOURTH QUARTER, FULL YEAR 2023 RESULTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- TDCX Inc (TDCX), an award-winning digital customer experience solutions provider will announce its fourth quarter and full year unaudited financial results on March 6.

In a statement, TDCX said the earnings press release will be available at its investor relations website and the company will not host a conference call to discuss the results.

The special committee of TDCX’s board of directors, which was formed to consider the previously announced preliminary non-binding proposal letter from the company’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Laurent Junique with assistance from its financial and legal advisors, is in the process of evaluating the proposal letter and any potential alternative transactions involving TDCX.

Headquartered in Singapore, TDCX helps clients achieve their customer experience aspirations by harnessing technology, human intelligence and its global footprint.

It employs more than 17,800 employees across 30 campuses globally, specifically in Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia, among others.

-- BERNAMA

Friday 23 February 2024

MALAYSIA'S ENERGAS INSURANCE RATED EXCELLENT - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- AM Best has affirmed Malaysia’s Energas Insurance (L) Limited (Energas) financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent).

According to AM Best in a statement, the outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is negative.

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

In addition, the ratings factor in the neutral impact from the parent, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), which is the national oil and gas company of Malaysia.

Energas’ balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, which is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term.

The company’s investment portfolio was viewed by AM Best as conservative, with a majority of investments allocated to cash and deposits, and the remainder invested in good quality government and corporate bonds.

Capital requirements arising from underwriting risks are viewed to be low given the company’s low net underwriting leverage, though the accumulation of high severity losses from multiple policies may still lead to moderate balance sheet volatility.

AM Best views Energas’ operating performance as strong, supported by its five-year average combined ratio of 68.4 per cent (2018-2022). The company’s net underwriting margins have historically benefitted from favourable reinsurance commission income and low management expenses relative to net earned premium.

The credit rating agency considers the company’s business profile as neutral. As a single-parent captive to PETRONAS, Energas benefits from business access to the group’s insurance risks.

However, its underwriting portfolio shows concentration by line of business and geography, with a significant focus on upstream and downstream energy risks located in Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday 22 February 2024

OPENGEAR’S ADVANCED TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION FOR IT PROFESSIONALS TO MANAGE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURES



KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- Opengear, a provider of secure and Smart Out of Band management solutions and a Digi International Inc company, has launched its enhanced Technical Certification Program.

The programme aimed at empowering information technology (IT) professionals and network engineers in the Opengear network of channel and distribution organisations with comprehensive technical expertise to address evolving network challenges on the First Day, Worst Day, and Every Day.

“Opengear's channel plays a pivotal role in our market success. We are therefore thrilled to introduce our comprehensive Technical Certification Program, which is tailored to meet specific needs and empower our valued channel organisations.

“Equipping them with in-depth knowledge of Opengear’s solutions aligns with our continued commitment to helping them deliver enhanced value to their end customers, a cornerstone of our business philosophy,” said its Vice President of Sales, Americas, Tracy Collins in a statement.

Meanwhile, its Director, Sales Engineering, Americas, Dan Baxter said designed exclusively for the technical talents within its channel community, the programme is more than just training but a commitment to elevating technical excellence.

“This programme provides our channel technical community with technical resources and the certification they deserve, fostering expertise that benefits both their personal growth and the success of the entire team,” he said.

Developed by Opengear's channel engineers, the programme is a robust e-learning initiative designed specifically to equip solution architects and sales engineers with the skills needed to manage the toughest network challenges.

Directly tackling key industry issues, the new programme provides end-to-end education and training, enabling participants to gain deeper product knowledge and understanding of Opengear's solutions.

The programme certification empowers channel organisations with a competitive advantage, fostering successful and efficient deployments of Opengear solutions.

Features and benefits of the Opengear Technical Certification Program include equipping professionals with the technical education and expertise; focusing on real-world scenarios to ensure practical application; and facilitating learning and certification regardless of geographical location.

-- BERNAMA

Igor Beckerman Joins Jumio As Chief Financial Officer



KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Jumio, the provider of automated, end-to-end identity verification, risk assessment and compliance solutions, has announced the addition of Igor Beckerman as chief financial officer (CFO).

Beckerman’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Jumio, as its market-leading, artificial intelligence-powered solutions are reaching record-breaking automation and quality rates, according to a statement.

“The identity landscape is facing a seismic upheaval, and Igor joining our team of innovators is just another step we are taking to ensure Jumio remains the clear leader in this space,” said Jumio Chief Executive Officer, Robert Prigge.

Meanwhile Beckerman said: “I am thrilled to join Jumio at such an integral moment in the company’s evolution and look forward to helping make 2024 the company’s best year yet.”

Beckerman has three decades of finance leadership experience, most notably as leading customer success platform Gainsight’s first-ever CFO, and at Marketo, where he served through the initial public offering (IPO) and the eventual acquisition by Vista Equity Partners in 2016.

He was most recently the CFO at Newsela, and also held senior leadership roles at Precise Software Solutions and Symantec.

Beckerman holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University and a bachelor of arts in economics (with honours) from The University of California, Berkeley.

Based in Sunnyvale, Jumio platform provides advanced identity verification, risk signals and compliance solutions that help customers accurately establish, maintain and reassert trust.

-- BERNAMA

New Standard Puts Pressure On South Korea Insurers' Capital Management - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The implementation of more stringent risk measurement under the Korean-Insurance Capital Standards (K-ICS) a year ago has led to a decline in the average solvency ratio for South Korea’s insurance industry.

According to a new AM Best special report, the enactment of K-ICS in South Korea, which began in January last year alongside the adoption of IFRS 17 accounting standards, will likely remain a major factor affecting the capital and business strategies of the country’s insurers.

The new standards replace South Korea’s previous risk-based capital (RBC) regime with a more accurate and comprehensive risk management approach in order to better align it with global best practices and standards.

“This is unlike the previous RBC regime, under which assets were measured at market value while liabilities were booked on a cost basis.

“Other key changes under K-ICS include the introduction of new risk categories, such as longevity, lapse, expense, catastrophe and asset concentration risks,” said AM Best financial analyst, Seokjae Lee in a statement.

The credit rating agency’s “Implementation of K-ICS Continues to Pressure South Korean Insurers’ Capital Management” special report notes that the magnitude of the decline in the industry’s average solvency ratio was smaller than initially expected.

The report describes K-ICS as an economic value-based model under which insurers’ assets and liabilities are assessed based on mark-to-market approaches (similar to the principle of IFRS 17).

According to the report, the economic value approach and more stringent risk measurement of K-ICS are expected to exert downward pressure on insurers’ solvency ratio, in contrast with the previous regime, in which the pressure could be worse for insurers with relatively weak asset liability management.

However, the currently elevated level of market interest rates, coupled with insurers’ continued efforts to improve asset liability management in recent years, could partly mitigate the solvency pressure under the new regime.

-- BERNAMA

Wednesday 21 February 2024

HERE Technologies, PSA Team Up To Enhance Truck Operations In Singapore

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- HERE Technologies, the location data and technology platform, announced it is enabling PSA Singapore (PSA) to transform its container truck ecosystem in Singapore, with the goal of optimising the movement of goods at Singapore’s ports.

With global connectivity being key to its success, PSA is linked to more than 600 ports worldwide and handled 38.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year.

To maximise truck resource utilisation and eliminate operational inefficiencies for Singapore’s container trucking community, PSA has developed OptETruck, a cloud-based transport management solution with features such as automated scheduling and asset pooling for truck drivers.

Powered by HERE Tour Planning and Location Services, OptETruck allocates jobs to drivers based on their location, offering real-time optimisation of routes and truck assignments, according to a statement. 

HERE Technologies Senior Vice President and General Manager for Asia-Pacific, Deon Newman said: “Together with PSA, we are crafting solutions that go beyond mere logistics optimisation – we are enabling PSA to set new standards in port management on a global scale.

“This collaboration not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions PSA at the forefront of innovation, ultimately supporting Singapore's ambition to be a smart nation. HERE is proud to enable PSA in shaping the future of port operations and smart logistics.”

Meanwhile, PSA Assistant Vice President, Community and Digital Solutions, Sriram Ramanujam said: “OptETruck has met the needs of Singapore’s trucking community and sets the stage for a sustainable future, transforming the logistics industry into a well-connected and resilient hub, aligning perfectly with our commitment to contributing to Singapore's vision as a smart nation.”

This system not only minimises empty runs, truck trips without any freight loaded, but also ensures that drivers are allocated jobs in proximity to their current location, improving overall transit and waiting times, drivers’ well-being and operational efficiency, while reducing carbon emission.

Companies that adopted OptETruck have been able to demonstrate about 50 per cent reduction in empty runs, translating to an annual reduction of approximately 10 million kilogramme of carbon emissions, equivalent to planting 300,000 trees in a year.

-- BERNAMA


Tuesday 20 February 2024

GARTNER MAGIC QUADRANT: TEALIUM LEADS THE WAY IN CUSTOMER DATA MANAGEMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Tealium, the largest independent and most trusted customer data platform (CDP), was named a Leader in the first-ever Gartner Customer Data Platforms Magic Quadrant.

This industry recognition marks a major milestone for CDPs and the maturity of the space on a global scale, according to a statement.

According to Gartner, Leaders execute well against their current vision and are well-positioned for tomorrow, and recognised Tealium as a Leader for its ability to execute and completeness of vision.

Tealium Chief Product Officer Bob Page said the company believes that this is a historic moment for the data sector, as Gartner acknowledges the maturity of the CDP space and its pivotal role in overall business success.

“Customer success is our North Star, and to be positioned as a Leader on the industry’s very first CDP Magic Quadrant is a true testament to Tealium’s commitment to product innovation and customer-first excellence since we first pioneered the space in 2013,” he said.

Tealium recently launched new solutions to help companies drive in-the-moment personalisation for their customers, including Tealium for artificial intelligence (AI), Tealium Moments, and Tealium’s Cloud Data Warehouse (CDW) Partner Ecosystem, in which fuel AI models with consented, filtered, and enriched data in real-time, allowing businesses to activate the most trusted experiences for their customers.

Additionally, Tealium differentiates against its competitors for its dynamic partner ecosystem, which includes over 1,300 turnkey connectors with the world’s most prominent media and technology experts, including Credera, a strategy, transformation, data, and technology consulting firm, and Ogilvy, one of the world’s largest advertising and communications firms.

Tealium was the first CDP to start with data collection and manages customer data throughout the entire journey. Serving more than 850 global enterprises with real-time-driven solutions, Tealium helps address industry-specific challenges and was one of the first companies to release a pharma and healthcare CDP solution that supports HIPAA-compliant initiatives.

A total of 18 CDP vendors were analysed for the report, in which Gartner undergoes rigorous analysis for its Magic Quadrant findings, including expert-led, practitioner-sourced, and data-driven research.

-- BERNAMA

Monday 19 February 2024

NX Logistics Thailand Goes Green With Maiden Electric Truck

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express Logistics (Thailand) Co Ltd (NX Logistics Thailand), has introduced its first all-electric truck that emits no carbon dioxide (CO2) or pollutants while on the road as part of its efforts to address climate change.

While electric vehicles are being increasingly adopted in countries worldwide to reduce CO2 emissions, there have not yet been many examples of electric trucks being used as commercial vehicles in Thailand’s logistics industry.

In this context, NX Logistics Thailand introduced its first electric truck with maximum payload capacity of 8,800 kilogrammes and a cruising range of 200 kilometres on Jan 19, according to a statement.

This electric truck, assigned to the Bangkok Logistics Center near Suvarnabhumi Airport, will be used for air cargo delivery and other operations.

A group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, the company will continue to consider actively introducing trailer heads and other types of electric trucks in future.

The Nippon Express Group has positioned addressing climate change as a material issue for realising its long-term vision of becoming a logistics company with a strong presence in the global market.

It has declared its support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) and is pursuing measures based on the TCFD’s recommendations.

To date, the group has introduced more than 12,000 hybrid vehicles, electric trucks, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) powered by hydrogen and other environmentally friendly vehicles in Japan in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions in its own operations.

-- BERNAMA

Friday 16 February 2024

CELIGO AND NETIZEN DELIVER ENHANCED INTEGRATION SOLUTIONS ACROSS APAC



REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb 16 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Celigo, a leader in the integration platform as a service (iPaaS) sector, today announced continued success in Asia Pacific (APAC) via an alliance with Netizen, a top-tier SAP Platinum Partner. The ongoing partnership promises to enhance Celigo's market presence in Thailand and Southeast Asia by integrating Celigo's advanced platform within Netizen's Business Technology Transformation (BTX) agenda. The partnership has already helped foster operational efficiency and innovation for SAP users across the region.

"We are excited to partner with Celigo, whose integration system aligns perfectly with our SAP operational system. By combining these systems, we can enhance value and generate business value across various domains without limitations in data connectivity," said Seree Satukijchai, CEO at Netizen.

The partnership, which was originally announced last year, has helped Netizen streamline internal processes and enhance services provided to clients. Celigo has been instrumental in helping Netizen broaden their market share, improve their research and development initiatives, and refine their sales and marketing strategies.

In addition, Netizen has been able to shift resources to revenue-generating activities that drive growth instead of focusing on internal integration development. Instead, they now seamlessly leverage Celigo's integrative capabilities to assist their customers. This shift has allowed Netizen to embark on a true Business Technology Transformation (BTX) journey.

"With fewer limitations, we can harness our crucial resources more efficiently, thereby boosting our earning potential. Our team now has the freedom to apply their expertise to initiatives that not only bolster our business but also expand our service offerings. Celigo's partnership has not only improved our day-to-day operations but has also empowered us to scale effectively, enabling us to deliver even greater value to our clients."

Netizen's customers have reaped significant benefits from using Celigo through the jointly developed "HoneyConn" solution. The integration of Celigo into their operations has reduced the time required for tasks, decreased the number of personnel needed, improved work efficiency, reduced errors in data integration, and added value to their work.

One such customer is Do Day Dream PLC., a large health and beauty product manufacturer and distributor. Netizen has successfully implemented HoneyConn to connect their POS data recording system with SAP, ensuring real-time updates for their transactions. Do Day Dream’s Head of Physical Distribution and MIS & IT commented that “HoneyConn (Celigo) is a tool that makes difficult tasks easy.”

In the coming year, Netizen and Celigo plan to expand on the HoneyConn initiative through the HoneyConn Out of the Box Solution, which will involve integrating HoneyConn with various ecommerce systems. This solution will be applicable to customers across Asia, including platforms like TikTok, Shopee, and Lazada, to support the growing trend of online product sales.

"Through our partnership and collaboration, we have been able to streamline data integration for SAP customers, enabling them to easily connect SAP with various system operations," said George Polyzos, Vice President of APAC at Celigo. "We are proud of the work we've accomplished with Netizen so far and look forward to bringing more innovations to improve business automation to the APAC market."

Looking ahead, Netizen has ambitious long-term plans for automation, including teaching Celigo to final-year university students, establishing a Center of Excellence (COE) for automation technologies, and expanding its automation initiatives into neighboring nations such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan.

Netizen continues to innovate and develop solutions that integrate SAP systems with various operational systems, supporting business expansion and growth. The partnership with Celigo is an integral part of this ongoing technological transformation.

"Throughout our partnership, Celigo's support has remained nothing short of exceptional," commented Seree Satukijchai. "They have consistently delivered prompt resolutions and provided proactive assistance, thus fortifying our operational resilience and ensuring the seamless continuity of our business processes. Their support has emerged as an indispensable cornerstone of our overarching success."

About Celigo

Celigo is the leading AI-driven integration platform as a service (iPaaS). At Celigo, we understand the evolving market and believe integration should be accessible to everyone in your organization. Our platform is built for both the line-of-business user and technical teams, promoting automation at every level of the business and enabling growth and innovation at scale. For more information, visit www.celigo.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Netizen

Netizen is a leading SAP Platinum Partner providing consultation and implementing SAP systems for over 20 years. The company focuses on Business Technology Transformation (BTX), integrating technology to support customer operations in Thailand and Southeast Asia. For more information, visit www.netizen.co.th.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240215889094/en/ 

Contact

Media
Alex Miller
fama PR for Celigo
Celigo@famapr.com

Source : Celigo

SINGAPORE COMPANIES LEAD GLOBAL ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE - LRN REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- LRN Corporation, leader in ethics and compliance (E&C) solutions, has released its Ethics & Compliance Programme Effectiveness Report, in conjunction with its 10th anniversary.

According to a statement, the report found that organisations in Singapore compare favourably to global counterparts on ethics and compliance.

LRN Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Michielsen said businesses globally are facing numerous challenges from a regulatory and technological perspective, and it is important that their E&C programmes anchor board members and employees alike to company values and missions.

“The more adaptable, organised and clearly communicated an E&C programme is, the more prepared a company is to face the everchanging industry and regulatory challenges that lie ahead,” he said.

Meanwhile, LRN Director, Advisory Service Solutions and lead author of the Singapore report, Eric Morehead said: “This year’s report shows that companies in Singapore are committed towards maintaining high E&C standards. They have taken action on ethical issues at a higher rate than worldwide peers and lead their global counterparts across several E&C metrics.”

The latest edition of the report has found that 90 per cent of organisations surveyed in Singapore reported making difficult decisions that were consistent with the organisation’s values in the past year, 20 per cent higher than the global and Asia Pacific (APAC) averages.

Further underscoring their commitment to E&C, especially in critical business decisions, 72 per cent indicated that their boards have actively modified or abandoned business initiatives based on compliance factors, also 20 per cent higher than the global and APAC averages.

Singapore organisations also significantly outperform global and APAC programmes in the implementation of incentives and disincentives for ethical behaviour, factoring these considerations into measuring management performance.

This report from LRN is based on a survey of more than 1,400 E&C professionals at companies and organisations in 19 different countries and 26 industries across North America, Europe, and APAC, including 112 companies in Singapore.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday 15 February 2024

CROWDSTRIKE SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTS IN INDIA OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE PROTECTING BUSINESSES FROM MODERN CYBER ATTACKS

 New office cements CrowdStrike’s commitment to provide industry leading protection to organizations in India and the broader region



PUNE, India, Feb 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- CrowdStrike (Nasdaq: CRWD) today announced the opening of its new, state-of-the-art office in Pune, India, significantly strengthening the company’s presence in the region. The new, 52,000 square foot facility nearly doubles the capacity of previous facilities in Pune, cementing the cybersecurity leader’s commitment to protecting organizations in India and across the region.

Headquartered in the U.S. with global operations, CrowdStrike is one of the fastest growing and most innovative security companies in the world. CrowdStrike has been investing in India since 2018, when it first opened the CrowdStrike Innovation and Development Center in Pune to serve as its regional hub for talent, innovation and customer engagement. The expanded facility and market presence supports the continued growth of the global product, engineering and business services teams.

“India plays a critical role in the growth and development of our global operations and is a leading reason why we established our Innovation and Development Center in the heart of Pune. Our footprint here gives us access to incredible talent, and provides a central location to engage with customers from across the region,” said Michael Sentonas, president at CrowdStrike. “Our development team in India has played a pivotal role in delivering the innovation and powerful platform capabilities our customers require to stop breaches. We’ll continue to invest in key regions like India to make the Falcon platform, the gold-standard of protection, available to every customer around the world.”

The expanded office in Pune underscores CrowdStrike’s commitment to investing in global operations and extending its mission of stopping breaches to organizations around the world.

CrowdStrike recently opened a new Asian hub in Singapore, and continues to achieve certifications by global governments and industry associations to expand access and accelerate the adoption of the AI-native CrowdStrike Falcon® XDR platform. The powerful combination of its market-defining Falcon platform, elite incident response and services, and renowned cyber threat intelligence team have made CrowdStrike one of the most trusted global brands in cybersecurity.

Additional Resources
About CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike (Nasdaq: CRWD), a global cybersecurity leader, has redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced cloud-native platform for protecting critical areas of enterprise risk – endpoints and cloud workloads, identity and data.

Powered by the CrowdStrike® Security Cloud and world-class AI, the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform leverages real-time indicators of attack, threat intelligence, evolving adversary tradecraft and enriched telemetry from across the enterprise to deliver hyper-accurate detections, automated protection and remediation, elite threat hunting and prioritized observability of vulnerabilities.

Purpose-built in the cloud with a single lightweight-agent architecture, the Falcon platform delivers rapid and scalable deployment, superior protection and performance, reduced complexity and immediate time-to-value.

CrowdStrike: We stop breaches.
Learn more: https://www.crowdstrike.com/
Follow us: Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Start a free trial today: https://www.crowdstrike.com/free-trial-guide/

© 2024 CrowdStrike, Inc. All rights reserved. CrowdStrike, the falcon logo, CrowdStrike Falcon and CrowdStrike Threat Graph are marks owned by CrowdStrike, Inc. and registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and in other countries. CrowdStrike owns other trademarks and service marks, and may use the brands of third parties to identify their products and services.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240214296247/en/

Contact

Media Contact
Andy Sommer
CrowdStrike Corporate Communications
press@crowdstrike.com

Source : CrowdStrike

Friday 9 February 2024

ClickUp Opens Singapore Data Centre To Broaden Localised Data Hosting In APAC

 KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- ClickUp, the productivity platform that brings work together in one place, has announced the expansion of its investment in Asia Pacific (APAC) with an additional Singapore data centre.

“As demand continues to grow in APAC, it is so important that we are able to guarantee that our customer's data is safe and well managed.

“The establishment of our Singapore data centre reinforces our commitment to the region and provides another way to support our rapidly growing customer-base,” said ClickUp Vice President APAC, Ankesh Chopra in a statement.

ClickUp customers on its Enterprise plan will now have another location in APAC to host their data at no additional cost, and this comes shortly after the company announced localised data hosting in Sydney at the end of 2023.

Customers will see enhanced performance and can grow their operations without concern of losing speed or efficiency as ClickUp has already begun migrating eligible workspaces to the new data centre.

ClickUp's presence in APAC continues to grow with customers such as Shopee, Eastspring Investments, Singapore Management University and YSQ International, in addition to 10 new partners including HarmonyX, Web Spiders Group, and Digibeacon.

Founded in 2017 and based in San Diego, the United States, ClickUp replaces all individual workplace productivity tools with a single, unified platform that includes artificial intelligence, project management, document collaboration, whiteboards, spreadsheets and goals.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday 8 February 2024

ZCG EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH SCUDERIA FERRARI FOR 2024 FORMULA 1 SEASON




KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- Z Capital Group (ZCG) announced it has signed as a Team Partner with Scuderia Ferrari for the 2024 Formula 1 season, continuing the successful partnership between ZCG and Scuderia Ferrari that began last year, which led to numerous collaborative and innovative initiatives.

During the 2024 Formula 1 season, ZCG aims to work closely with Scuderia Ferrari to expand these initiatives and find new and creative ways to engage Formula 1 fans globally given ZCG’s international exposure.

ZCG Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer, James Zenni said the company took great pride in their relationship and look forward to continuing its support of Scuderia Ferrari and building upon the success of the partnership in the 2023 season.

“Ferrari consistently pushes the boundaries of innovation and global expansion. ZCG shares Scuderia Ferrari’s vision for excellence and strategic growth, and we eagerly anticipate further collaboration that can bring the experience and excitement of Formula 1 to more fans around the world,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Scuderia Ferrari Chief Racing Revenue Officer, Lorenzo Giorgetti said: “We are pleased to renew our partnership with ZCG, with whom we share a passion for excellence and the desire to push the boundaries of innovation, without losing sight of the values and authority that stem from decades of experience in our respective fields.

“We are keen to continue working with ZCG to reach an even wider audience with which to share the unique experience of Formula 1 and the very special world of Scuderia Ferrari.”

Scuderia Ferrari will unveil its Formula 1 car on Feb 13. As a distinguished Team Partner, ZCG will prominently display its logo on the livery throughout the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, starting at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2.

In addition to the logo placement, this partnership includes broader collaboration and multifaceted engagement, underscoring a joint commitment to advancing success and growth for the partnership between Scuderia Ferrari and ZCG.

ZCG remains committed to supporting the growth of Formula 1 through its partnership with Scuderia Ferrari, the most successful team in the history of this sport.

-- BERNAMA

NXHD Expands e-NX Quote Coverage To More Countries, Regions

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express Holdings Inc (NXHD), will be expanding the number of countries and regions covered by its e-NX Quote digital forwarding service, to 35 starting with a launch in Japan, on Jan 31.

According to a statement, the online quotation tool for ocean freight shipping, which allows users to get quotes online, now also includes a carbon dioxide (CO2) emission calculation function.

The e-NX Quote digital forwarding service provides instantaneous freight quotes for Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL) cargo by simply entering the quantity, origin and destination, commodity information, and online.

The service was introduced in July 2023 for 20 countries/regions and has since expanded to 35 countries/regions with the addition of numerous lanes, including some departing from Japan.

In addition, e-NX Quote is now linked to the NX-Green Calculator, a tool for calculating CO2 emissions from international transport, to approximate transport CO2 emissions along with online estimates.

NXHD plans to further enhance the service’s functionality by increasing the number of lanes covered and extending its scope to encompass international air freight estimates.

Meanwhile, the NX Group will be accelerating its digital transformation of international transport operations by making full use of information technology and digital technologies, and working to develop optimal logistics solutions to support its customers' global business development and provide new value to customers worldwide.

-- BERNAMA

Carry1st Secures Sony Innovation Fund's Maiden Investment In Africa

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- Carry1st, Africa’s top game publisher and digital commerce platform, has announced a strategic investment by Sony Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Sony Group Corporation (Sony).

In a statement, Carry1st said it is the inaugural investment out of Sony Innovation Fund: Africa, which was established by Sony as an initiative to support the growth of entertainment businesses in Africa.

“The relationship will help Carry1st to drive the future of gaming in Africa. At Carry1st, we believe that the African console market is a massively underestimated opportunity.

“Our distinct regional capabilities, paired with Sony's expertise in gaming and entertainment, creates a powerful combination. Together, we hope to bring the best games in the world to players across Africa,” said its Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Cordel Robbin-Coker.

Meanwhile, Sony Ventures Corporation Managing Director – EMEA, Antonio Avitabile said: “We are excited to welcome Carry1st as our first investment in Africa. We believe there is tremendous untapped potential for the gaming market in Africa, which we hope to experience and contribute to through our investment in Carry1st.

According to data from Newzoo and Carry1st, Africa’s gaming industry has over 200 million unique players and is set to reach a market size of over US$1 billion in 2024, driven by rapidly increasing technology adoption. (US$1=RM4.75)

While there is limited formal console presence, Africa presents an incredible growth opportunity for this sector, particularly with the rise of live services.

-- BERNAMA


PACIFIC PRIME COMPLETES MALAYSIA’S MIT INSURANCE BROKERS ACQUISITION



KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- Global insurance brokerage Pacific Prime has fully acquired MIT Insurance Brokers Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s insurance brokerage firm specialising in risk management, insurance, and reinsurance.

“Malaysia is an exciting country for us to expand our operations. With the integration of MIT Insurance Brokers, we will bring together a team of established and experienced personnel to provide innovative and strategic solutions both within and outside of the region.

“This is of utmost importance in light of the numerous global regulatory and technological changes taking place,” said Pacific Prime Chief Executive Officer, Neil Raymond in a statement.

Meanwhile, MIT Insurance Brokers Director, Shahrizal Shahruddin said: “This acquisition happens at an opportune time for us to showcase what we are capable of together. MIT Insurance Brokers has been in the market for over 50 years, and I hope we carry on this momentum.”

With unwavering dedication to providing exceptional service, MIT has been at the forefront of Malaysian property and casualty, financial lines, and employee benefits solutions since 1973.

Pacific Prime’s merger with MIT Insurance Brokers heralds a new age of broker unity, where insurance is simplified, streamlined, and client-centric in the face of evolving challenges.

Among Pacific Prime's 15 offices globally, MIT Insurance Brokers will operate as part of Pacific Prime Consultants Malaysia, a fully-licensed client service point that provides localised products as well as flexible benefits administration and servicing within the region.

In the coming weeks, it is anticipated that MIT’s staff will continue their journey onboard the Pacific Prime flagship with the shared goal of simplifying insurance.

-- BERNAMA

Wednesday 7 February 2024

IPS HIRES GORDON NICHOLSON AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR TO SPEARHEAD AUSTRALIAN OFFICE

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- IPS-Integrated Project Services LLC, a provider of engineering, procurement, construction management, and validation (EPCMV) services, has appointed Gordon Nicholson as the Regional Director, Australia, New Zealand (ANZ), to lead IPS’ new office in Melbourne, Australia.

Its Managing Director, APAC, Matthew Shippey in a statement said: “Gordon’s appointment as Regional Director, ANZ allows us to further support our clients in bringing life-changing therapies to patients in Australia and beyond.

“The strategic hire of Gordon is the first step of the 2024 regional transformation plan. His commitment to operational efficiency, coupled with years of experience in the APAC market, will be integral to IPS’s ongoing success and expansion in Australia.”

Working closely with Asia Pacific (APAC) leadership, Nicholson will have key responsibilities crucial for the company’s success, in which he will spearhead business development, leveraging his extensive industry network and over three decades of experience to identify strategy opportunities as well as cultivate valuable partnerships.

His expertise will play a pivotal role in driving project and operational excellence, ensuring that IPS continues to deliver client-centred and cutting-edge solutions.

Nicholson’s leadership will be instrumental in fostering growth within the Australian market, positioning the company as a leading force in the life sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.

Throughout his career, he has successfully led and contributed to a multitude of projects, spanning the design and construction of various life science facilities including Cell and Gene Therapies, from research labs to large-scale manufacturing plants.

Before joining IPS, Nicholson served in leadership roles across the APAC region from Singapore to Shanghai and Melbourne. Having worked with clients like Sanofi, Bayer, GSK, NovoNordisk and AstraZeneca, he has developed a vast professional network and an in-depth understanding of the region’s dynamics.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday 6 February 2024

NX GLOBAL OCEAN NETWORK OFFERS NVOCC SERVICES IN SINGAPORE

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- NX Global Ocean Network Pte Ltd (NXGO), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, started its Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) services in Singapore on Jan 1.

According to a statement, NXGO began operations in Singapore in May 2022 to further strengthen the Nippon Express (NX) Group's international ocean freight forwarding business.

It has now launched new NVOCC services to achieve competitive prices through centralised purchasing that takes advantage of economies of scale of the entire NX Group's international ocean freight.

The NX Group will develop its services globally under the unified brand name of "NX".

NVOCC is a carrier that does not have its own means of transport such as ships or aircraft, but that takes on the responsibility of utilising such means to transport cargo for unspecified shippers.

The NX Group will continue expanding its international ocean freight business centred on NXGO and providing high-quality services to its customers.

-- BERNAMA

Sunday 4 February 2024

Xsolla Unveils Creator Platform For Digital Storytelling




KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- A global video game commerce company Xsolla, has introduced Story3, a distinctive project that enables creators to explore storytelling beyond conventional boundaries.

According to Xsolla in a statement, Story3 embodies a new era of storytelling freedom and the company's commitment to fostering the creative ecosystem.

The platform provides a unique avenue for creators to interact directly with their audience and earn a justifiable share of revenue for their work.

Xsolla Founder and acclaimed author of Once Upon Tomorrow, Shurick Agapitov said: “Story3 is our bold response to these issues, offering creators a platform to negotiate better terms and achieve more stable and predictable earnings from their work.”

In his visionary book "Once Upon Tomorrow", author Shurick Agapitov explores the transformative power of storytelling and the creators' role in shaping the future of digital interactions.

Meanwhile, its Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chris Hewish said the current digital narrative landscape often overlooks the value of its creators and with Story3, Xsolla is changing this narrative.

“We are providing a platform where creators can directly engage with their audience and be rewarded fairly for their contributions, fostering a healthier, more vibrant future for digital storytelling,” said Hewish.

In an era marked by an explosion of digital content, the disparity in creator compensation has become increasingly pronounced, and in response to this pressing issue, Xsolla brings forth Story3 as a meticulously engineered platform to empower storytellers, journalists, and writers, facilitating effective monetisation while deepening the connection with their audience.

Xsolla’s Story3 features direct and enhanced audience interaction; efficient and user-friendly monetisation process; and streamlined payouts.

-- BERNAMA



Saturday 3 February 2024

MGA ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES 4 SUBSIDIARIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- MGA Entertainment Inc (MGA), one of the world’s largest and fastest growing privately held toy and entertainment companies, has established four wholly-owned subsidiaries in the European Union (EU) to support its fast growing international business.

The four subsidiaries, namely, MGA Toys Iberia S.L. (led by Managing Director Mila Gonzalez), MGA Entertainment Greece (led by Managing Director Panos Kalogeropoulos), MGA Entertainment Italy SRL (led by Managing Director Andrea Signorelli), and MGA Toys France (led by Managing Director Thierry Thivolle).

These subsidiaries will support marketing and sales administration efforts, staffed by employees who have worked for MGA Entertainment in each of the markets, now employees of their respective subsidiary in the same roles.

“Our business outside of the US is strong and increasingly important to MGA Entertainment. Establishing these new subsidiaries will allow us to grow our business more quickly in these important markets.

“I look forward to working closely with the teams in each of these markets to continue to bring new, innovative, and fun MGA toys and products to consumers across the EU,” said MGA Entertainment Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Isaac Larian.

According to MGA in a statement, this move demonstrates the company’s commitment to growing its businesses in those markets and to its international business overall.

MGA previously announced its plans to merge with Zapf Creation AG, Europe’s leading manufacturer of nurturing dolls, while its wholly-owned German subsidiary has entered into negotiations of a merger agreement which is expected to close in late spring of this year.

-- BERNAMA

HAZER'S COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATION PLANT PRODUCES FIRST HYDROGEN AND GRAPHITE

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Hazer Group Ltd (Hazer), a clean-technology developer, has announced the start-up of its Commercial Demonstration Plant (CDP) as well as first production of hydrogen and graphite.

In a statement, the company said currently, it introduced feed gas to the reactor at Hazer process conditions and subsequently achieved first hydrogen and Hazer-produced graphite at the facility.

“This is a landmark achievement for Hazer, as we realise the successful start-up of our CDP and the production of low-cost, low-emissions hydrogen and graphitic carbon utilising our world-first pyrolysis technology.

“As the team strives towards extended continuous operation of the plant in 2024, we are excited to build on this momentum for the next scale-up of the technology with our global partners in key markets, including North America, Europe and Asia,” said Hazer Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Glenn Corrie.

Corrie also said this is an important juncture for Hazer commercialisation strategy as its pipeline of opportunities is growing and with CDP proving that the company’s technology can operate at commercial scale.

The company expects to ramp up operations through the first half of 2024, safely executing the performance testing programme to deliver data that demonstrates its commercial readiness.

The performance testing programme will focus on demonstrating continuous operation at a commercial scale and be leveraged into Hazer’s global commercial project portfolio, in which Hazer will provide updates as key results become available.

An Australian technology company, Hazer is driving global decarbonisation efforts with the commercialisation of the company’s disruptive world-leading climate-tech.

-- BERNAMA

NX Netherlands Secures IATA CEIV Pharma Certification

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express (Nederland) B.V. (NX Netherlands), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, has acquired the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) certification, a quality certification for pharmaceutical transport.

Established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), this certification is for its warehouse facility in Schiphol Trade Park near Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, effective Dec 7, 2023, according to a statement. 

NX Netherlands had already received Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification in September 2021, evidencing its compliance with internationally recognised standards for the proper distribution of pharmaceuticals.

Hence, with the acquisition of CEIV Pharma certification, it will now be able to provide safer and higher-quality pharmaceutical transportation services in the Netherlands, an important hub for the pharmaceutical industry.

A quality certification programme, CEIV Pharma covers the air transport of pharmaceutical products that sets out high standards encompassing the differing GDP guidelines of countries around the world for the storage and transport of pharmaceuticals.

The Nippon Express (NX) Group has positioned the pharmaceutical industry as a key industry and is pursuing the global development of a safe and secure pharmaceutical logistics platform to meet the ever more sophisticated and diverse needs of the pharmaceutical logistics industry.

The NX Group is committed to contributing to the health of people worldwide by supporting its customers in the global pharmaceutical industry from a logistics perspective through the establishment of a reliable and safe global pharmaceutical logistics platform.

-- BERNAMA

Friday 2 February 2024

KIOXIA JOINS HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE SERVERS ON SPACE LAUNCH DESTINED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

 

KIOXIA SSDs on Space Launch Destined for the International Space Station (Graphic: Business Wire)

HPE Spaceborne Computer-2, Features KIOXIA Value SAS, Enterprise SAS and NVMe SSDs, Enables Scientific Experiments with Over 130 TB of Data Storage Capacity

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Jan 31 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today, KIOXIA SSDs took flight with the launch of the NG-20 mission rocket, which is delivering an updated HPE Spaceborne Computer-2, based on HPE EdgeLine and ProLiant servers from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), to the International Space Station (ISS). KIOXIA SSDs provide robust flash storage in HPE Spaceborne Computer-2 to conduct scientific experiments aboard the space station.
 
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130946786/en/ 

HPE Spaceborne Computer-2, based on commercial off-the-shelf technology, provides edge computing and AI capabilities on board the research outpost as part of a greater mission to significantly advance computing power in space and reduce dependency on communications as space exploration continues to expand. Designed to perform various high-performance computing (HPC) workloads in space, including real-time image processing, deep learning, and scientific simulations, HPE Spaceborne Computer-2 can be used to compute a number of experiment types including healthcare, natural disaster recovery, 3D printing, 5G, AI, and more.

As the data storage provider for the HPE Spaceborne Computer-2, Kioxia has provided flash memory-based SSDs, including KIOXIA RM Series value SAS, PM Series enterprise SAS and XG Series NVMeTM SSDs, to enable these advancements. In addition to eight 1,024 gigabyte (GB) NVMe and four 960 GB value SAS SSDs, each of the four enterprise SAS SSDs provided by Kioxia have a capacity of 30.72 terabytes (TB) for a total of more than 130 TB - the most data storage to travel to the space station on a single mission. [1] 

Thursday 1 February 2024

HYCU R-CLOUD INCORPORATES GEN AI FOR SAAS DATA PROTECTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- HYCU Inc, a leader in data protection as a service has announced the HYCU Generative AI Initiative, aiming to seamlessly integrate generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) technology.

This project includes Anthropics' AI assistant Claude with HYCU's R-Cloud data protection platform, redefining the development process of data protection integrations and creating an easy to use way to create Software as a Service (SaaS) integrations.

Its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Taylor said this development with Anthropic’s frontier generative AI model Claude is more than an integration; it is a leap forward in the future of data protection.

“By harnessing AI, we are not only accelerating our development processes but also reinforcing our commitment to security and operational efficiency. We are excited to take R-Cloud to the next level and pioneer this space and set new standards for the industry,” he said in a statement.

The HYCU Generative AI Initiative includes an AI-driven development process; deep understanding of data protection complexities; dramatic reduction in development time; and maintaining high standards.

This project marks three significant innovations to the HYCU R-Cloud award-winning platform such as pioneering infrastructure software protection and recovery; synergising company missions; as well as setting new benchmarks for SaaS and cloud services with AI.

HYCU R-Cloud includes the world’s first low-code development platform for data protection that enables SaaS companies and service providers to deliver application-native backup and recovery efficiently and rapidly.

It has been recognised for setting the bar for SaaS data backup and protection for its ease of use of integration for both end users and SaaS providers.

-- BERNAMA

EZE Cloud Consulting Endorsed As Workday Partner






KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- EZE Cloud Consulting, a fast-growing Workday-only advisory and consulting firm, has announced it is now an official Workday Partner.

According to a statement, the partnership with Workday also reflects EZE Cloud's continued commitment to excellence for organisations planning to use Workday for their finance and human capital needs.

“This significant milestone solidifies our position as a trusted advisor within the Workday ecosystem.

“As an official Workday Partner, we look forward to helping organisations with their adoption, integration, and optimisation of various Workday solutions,” said EZE Cloud Consulting, Co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Damodar Pai.

Meanwhile, its Co-CEO and Board Member, Sandeep Sharma said this partnership marked the beginning of an exciting journey of mutual growth and success for EZE Cloud and Workday.

“Driven by the same values and vision of empowering the workforce and enhancing business operations for all, we look forward to helping organisations harness the full potential of Workday, ultimately helping them adapt, innovate, and succeed in a rapidly changing world,” Sharma said.

Founded in 2020 amid the pandemic, reaching this accomplishment is a testament to the remarkable journey of EZE Cloud and its employees who have worked tirelessly to help more than 20 of its global customers, including several Fortune 500 organisations, on its Workday journeys.

As a Workday Partner, the firm is now more prepared than ever to ensure consistent Workday support, advisory, and readily available solutions for critical finance and human capital challenges facing organisations across the globe.

-- BERNAMA