Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Veridas Takes the Lead in the Race Against Gen AI Fraud with New Advanced Injection Attack Capability


 PAMPLONA, Spain

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Generative AI is fueling a new wave of identity fraud, making digital security more critical than ever. In response, Veridas, a global leader in AI-driven identity verification, has introduced an advanced injection attack detection capability to combat the growing threat of synthetic identities. This new feature strengthens fraud prevention by combining injection detection with liveness verification across face, voice, and document authentication.


Injection Attacks: The Hidden Threat in Digital Fraud


According to the Veridas Identity Fraud Report 2024, 85% of financial fraud cases now involve synthetic identities. The UK government recently declared deepfakes as the ‘greatest challenge of the online age’, highlighting these growing risks. Fraudsters inject deepfakes and synthetic data directly into identity systems—bypassing device sensors entirely. Traditional fraud detection only analyzes what’s presented (images, videos, or voices), not whether the device is compromised. Veridas has focused on Presentation Attack Detection (PAD), which detects fake images, videos, and voices. Now, we go further by ensuring the integrity of the device itself. Our new injection attack detection prevents fraud at its source, securing both the biometric input and the device it comes from.


Injection attacks pose a significant risk to millions of users and businesses. Traditional fraud prevention is no longer enough, and innovative solutions are needed to address these advanced threats.


Veridas’ Breakthrough: Advanced Injection Fraud Detection


For years, Veridas has been at the forefront of secure onboarding solutions, excelling in document verification, selfie authentication, and liveness detection. Now, with the introduction of its advanced injection attack detection feature, Veridas is taking fraud prevention to the next level.


This new security feature verifies device authenticity during onboarding to combat AI-driven injection attacks. Leading financial institutions in Italy, Spain, the US, and Mexico are already using it to uncover previously undetected fraud attempts.


“Our technology is a game-changer for businesses facing the challenges of Gen AI fraud. By adopting Veridas’ injection fraud detection, companies can protect their operations, maintain customer trust, and confidently meet compliance requirements,” said Javier San Agustín, CTO at Veridas.


About Veridas

Veridas is a global provider of advanced identity verification, biometrics, and anti-fraud solutions. Its end-to-end services enable organizations across sectors to build secure, user-friendly digital experiences.


 


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Contacts

Juan Campos

PR Manager Veridas

+34 667 245 257

jfcampos@veridas.com

PHC and CCRM Collaborate to Develop Primary T-Cell Expansion Culture Processes to Enhance Efficiency and Improve Cell Quality

TOKYO & TORONTO - Monday, 10. February 2025


(BUSINESS WIRE)--PHC Corporation has signed a Master Collaboration Agreement with CCRM to work together on the development of primary T-cell(*1) expansion culture processes that will seek to accelerate the manufacturing of cell and gene therapy (CGT) products. This joint initiative will integrate “LiCellGrowTM(*2), PHC’s cell expansion system under development, with CCRM’s deep knowledge of regenerative medicine and biomanufacturing to establish new culture processes to improve cell culture efficiency and quality for CGTs.


Primary T-cells are used in process development and manufacturing for CGTs, such as in CAR-T cell therapy.(*3) However, primary T-cells derived directly from patients often exhibit significant variability in growth rates and quality, making it challenging for researchers to ensure stable cell counts and maintain quality throughout the culture process. To address these challenges and improve the quality of cell-based therapeutics, better cell culture processes are needed.


Chikara Takauo, Director of PHC and Head of the Biomedical Division that leads the company’s Life Science business, commented: "We are delighted to begin this joint research and development initiative with CCRM, a leader with 14 years of experience in the commercialization of regenerative medicine and CGT. By combining the technologies and expertise of both of our organizations, we aim to advance the manufacturing processes for cell-based therapeutics and cell culture technologies, contributing to the early practical application of CGT."


PHC has developed proprietary In-Line monitoring technology to track key indicators of cell metabolism in real-time, which can help researchers address issues like cell quality and reproducibility, and establish optimal cell culture methods. This technology enables precise, continuous measurement of glucose uptake and lactate production during cell culture, providing a more precise understanding of changes in cell metabolism over time than is possible to observe using traditional sampling methods. In 2024, PHC launched the live-cell metabolic analyzer "LiCellMoTM(*4)" incorporating this technology in the United States, Canada, Europe and some Asian markets including Japan, China, Singapore and Taiwan.


Building on this technology, the company is also developing "LiCellGrow," a cell expansion system designed to exchange media automatically based on the metabolic state of the cells and to maintain the culture environment in an optimal state. PHC aims to further expand its product lineup to seamlessly support research, process development, and commercial manufacturing of cell-based therapeutics.


"We are excited to collaborate with PHC to unlock new possibilities in cell culture,” explained Michael May, President and CEO of CCRM. “Technology development partnerships, like this one, are key to advancing the industry and making CGT more cost effective, and therefore more accessible to patients around the world.”


The joint research with CCRM will allow PHC to analyze culture conditions using "LiCellGrow" to establish optimal culture processes for primary T-cells. The collaboration will seek to accelerate LiCellGrow’s development, contributing to improved cell quality, enhanced manufacturing efficiency, and cost reduction in the production of cell-based therapeutics.


(*1) Primary T cells, or autologous T cells, refer to T cells that are directly isolated from the body. T cells are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. They help protect the body from infection and may help fight cancer.

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/t-cell

https://www.cancer.gov/search/results?swKeyword=autologous


(*2) URL: http://www.phchd.com/us/biomedical/licellgrow


(*3) CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment in which a patient's T cells (a type of immune system cell) are changed in the laboratory so they will attack cancer cells.

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/car-t-cell-therapy


(*4) URL: https://www.phchd.com/us/biomedical/live-cell-metabolic-analyzer


About the Biomedical Division of PHC Corporation

Established in 1969, PHC Corporation is a Japanese subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 6523), a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures, sells, and services solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, diagnostics and life sciences. The Biomedical Division supports the life sciences industry helping researchers and healthcare providers in around 110 countries and regions through its PHCbi-branded laboratory and equipment and services including CO2 incubators and ultra-low temperature freezers.

www.phchd.com/global/phc


About PHC Holdings Corporation (PHC Group)

PHC Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 6523) is a global healthcare company with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries (referred to collectively as PHC Group) include PHC Corporation, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Epredia, LSI Medience Corporation, Wemex and Mediford. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, diagnostics and life sciences. PHC Group’s consolidated net sales in FY2023 were JPY 353.9 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries.

www.phchd.com/global


About CCRM and OmniaBio

CCRM is a global, public-private partnership headquartered in Canada. It has received funding from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and leading academic and industry partners. CCRM supports the development of regenerative medicines and associated enabling technologies, with a specific focus on cell and gene therapy. A network of researchers, leading companies, investors, and entrepreneurs, CCRM accelerates the translation of scientific discovery into new companies and marketable products for patients with specialized teams, dedicated funding, and unique infrastructure. In 2022, CCRM established OmniaBio Inc., a commercial-stage CDMO for manufacturing cell and gene therapies. CCRM is hosted by the University of Toronto. Visit us at ccrm.ca.


 


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Contacts

 

Contact for media inquiries:

Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Department

PHC Holdings Corporation

TEL: +81-3-6778-5311

E-mail: phc-pr@gg.phchd.com


Contact for product and service:

Marketing Department, Biomedical Division PHC Corporation

E-mail: masayo.okada@phchd.com


Contact for CCRM:

Stacey Johnson

1-647-309-1830

stacey.johnson@ccrm.ca

Monday, February 10, 2025

NTT DATA Unveils Global Insights on GenAI Adoption in Banking: Divergent Strategies for Boosting Productivity vs. Cutting Costs


 TOKYO - 

Research from NTT DATA finds that as GenAI adoption rises, new pressures on return of investment are at the forefront of the challenges facing the banking industry.


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader, has today launched a new global research report uncovering the use of generative AI (GenAI) in the banking sector worldwide. The report, titled “Intelligent banking in the Age of AI,” has found that despite the growing adoption of GenAI technology in the banking industry, banks and financial institutions are split when it comes to outcome-based strategies – only half of banks (50%) see it as a tool for improving productivity and efficiency. Similarly, half (49%) believe it can be used for reducing operational IT spend.


Transforming Banking Through GenAI


GenAI is more disruptive than any previous advance in banking technology. It is less a question of if, but when banks embrace this technology, due to its transformative ability to embed intelligence at every layer of the banking ecosystem, from core banking to front-end systems. GenAI is already making waves in the banking industry, with 6 in 10 organizations (58%) already fully embracing its transformative potential, an increase from 2023, when only 45% of organizations had fully embraced GenAI, according to NTT DATA’s research.


“Generative AI represents a pivotal moment for the banking industry,” said Robb Rasmussen, Head of Global Marketing & Communications, NTT DATA. “While the potential benefits are enormous, the challenges of implementing GenAI are complex and varied, requiring careful navigation and a structured approach. Given the anticipated high spending on GenAI, achieving a return on investment is crucial. Many banks will be expecting GenAI to drive long-term savings by automating IT tasks, improving operational efficiency, and creating competitive advantages, but it’s important to note that achieving meaningful ROI requires a clear strategy, tailored implementation, and robust governance at the same time.”


Financial constraints increasing pressure on ROI


ROI has become a top priority for GenAI implementations, yet banking organizations are split in their opinions of which strategies are most important to them. Banks have long struggled with boosting productivity, and GenAI is poised to present a solution to this problem, but only half of banking leaders (50%) see it as a solution to current productivity woes. Cost optimization is another area where banks are split, with just under half (49%) looking to reduce IT budgets accordingly.


This disparity is highlighted on a global scale too – for example, almost 6 in 10 US banks (59%) are keen to reduce IT budgets and almost half (47%) want to cut operations budgets, while only 4 in 10 banks in Europe (43%) have IT budgets front of mind and just over a third (36%) are concerned with operations costs. Meanwhile productivity is the most important factor for European banks (46%), yet the US and APAC are placing even more emphasis on productivity themselves in comparison.


Key performance indicators (KPIs) that financial institutions are using or planning to use to evaluate the success of Generative AI initiatives:


 

Europe


 

US


 

APAC


 

LATAM


 

Japan


Improved productivity/efficiency


 

46%


 

52%


 

58%


 

43%


 

35%


Competitive advantage


 

42%


 

48%


 

57%


 

48%


 

40%


Cutting costs/Reducing IT budget


 

43%


 

59%


 

51%


 

44%


 

48%


Cutting costs/ Reducing operations budget


 

36%


 

47%


 

49%


 

36%


 

28%


Accelerate speed to innovate


 

37%


 

34%


 

50%


 

41%


 

35%


Increased net promoter score


 

29%


 

25%


 

31%


 

26%


 

40%


Differing strategies across differing regions


Strategies for realizing these benefits of GenAI differ vastly among organizations too. While around half of organizations are focusing on collaboration between humans and AI (51%) or a hybrid approach with existing systems (47%), over a quarter (28%) of banks are hoping to fully automate tasks and remove the need for manual input entirely. Fully automating tasks is an area which divides opinions worldwide as well, with a quarter of banks in the UK (25%) and Europe (24%) looking to fully automate the process, while almost a third of banks (32%) in the Americas and 35% of Japanese banks are looking to do the same.


Robb Rasmussen, Head of Global Marketing & Communications, NTT DATA added: “It is clear that the ability to balance innovation with fiscal responsibility will define success for banks. However, many banks are lacking in maturity when it comes to this technology and are unsure where to start. Partnering with systems integrators can be a good starting point, allowing them to access the latest knowledge while ensuring compliance with industry regulations. By working with specialized providers, banks can ensure that GenAI implementations can deliver the desired ROI, while maintaining robust data protection measures and meeting both internal security standards and regulatory requirements.”


NTT DATA’s research dives into specific areas of the banking industry, including Payments and Wealth Management, as well as Fraud Prevention. To read the full report, please go to “Intelligent banking in the Age of AI”


About the Research


NTT DATA's survey was carried out on 810 banking leaders, from all global banking markets, and provides a 360-degree perspective on the sector's journey towards innovation and GenAI adoption. This survey was led by NTT DATA Group's Global Industry Office, part of the Global Marketing & Communications Headquarters.


 


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Contacts

Global Marketing & Communications Headquarters

NTT DATA Group Corporation

global-marketing@kits.nttdata.co.jp

Rochon Genova LLP: Did You Purchase Shares of Aphria Inc. (“Aphria”) After January 29, 2018 and Hold Them Until March 23, 2018 and/or December 3, 2018

 TORONTO - Monday, 10. February 2025 AETOSWire 


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- A Settlement has been reached in the global class action (the “Class Action”) against Aphria and certain of its former officers and directors (“Individual Defendants”) announces Rochon Genova LLP. The Settlement requires Court approval at an upcoming hearing.


The Class Action alleges that, between January 29, 2018 and December 3, 2018, Aphria and the Individual Defendants made public misrepresentations to the capital markets, including in an Aphria Prospectus Offering in June 2018, in connection with two significant international business acquisitions made by Aphria during 2018, namely: (i) Aphria’s acquisition of a company called Nuuvera Inc. which was publicly announced on January 29, 2018; and (ii) Aphria’s acquisition of a company called LATAM Holdings Inc. which was publicly announced on July 17, 2018. The Class Action alleges that the substantial drop in Aphria’s share price following certain public disclosures about Aphria’s business on March 22 and on December 3, 2018, amounted to a public correction of misrepresentations about Aphria’s business.


Aphria and the Individual Defendants deny all allegations pleaded against them in the Class Action.


The Settlement, if approved by the Court, provides for the payment by the Defendants of the total amount of CAD $30,000,000 to resolve the Class Action. The Settlement is a compromise of disputed claims and is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Aphria or the Individual Defendants.


The Settlement will be considered for approval by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at a Settlement Approval Hearing which has been set for March 26, 2025 in Toronto at 11:30 am. At the Hearing, the Court will also address a motion to approve Class Counsel’s fees, which will not exceed 30% of the settlement amount plus reimbursement for expenses incurred in the Class Action.


Persons who purchased Aphria shares on or after January 29, 2018 and held them on March 23 and/or December 3, 2018 (“Class Members”) may object to or support the Settlement, by making a submission in writing prior to March 14, 2025. Class Members may also attend the Settlement Approval Hearing in person or remotely via Zoom. For more information about your rights and how to speak to the Settlement, please see the Long-Form Notice available online at www.AphriaSettlement.com or call toll-free: 1-888-700-9930.


 


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Contacts

Media contact (press only): Jon Sloan, jsloan@rochongenova.com, 866-881-2292

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Mary Kay Inc. Names Dr. Lucy Gildea Chief Brand and Scientific Officer


 DALLAS 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--To empower future growth, iconic beauty and entrepreneurship company Mary Kay Inc. announced today the appointment of Dr. Lucy Gildea as Chief Brand and Scientific Officer.


Gildea and her freshly designed cross-functional team will pioneer a new operating model to power up Mary Kay’s global brand and science aiming for growth and customer loyalty in over 40 markets. In her expanded role, Gildea will shape a powerful brand identity, image, and strategy consistent across all platforms and geographies supported by an impactful product portfolio embracing the ever-evolving needs of consumers. She and her team will activate the brand through engagement strategies harnessing the power of next-gen entrepreneurs and resonant brand storytelling to win the hearts and minds of consumers.


"With her expertise in science and beauty innovation and customer-centric approach, Lucy will lead a strategic chapter of our transformation into the future. The new Global Brand and Science organization will contribute to our mutual business success by enabling our Independent Beauty Consultants to share a transformative brand experience with their customers and thrive as personal beauty advisors, thus reinforcing the unique value proposition of direct selling," said Ryan Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Mary Kay and grandson of Mary Kay Ash.


Since joining Mary Kay in 2017, Gildea has focused on modernizing and enhancing the company's competitiveness through product innovation and by improving organizational efficiencies. Gildea spent 15 years at Procter & Gamble working primarily in beauty technology and beauty/skin product development. She also held a variety of senior roles including leading development teams for upstream technology and measurement sciences across healthcare, beauty and personal care industries. During her tenure at P&G, Gildea lived in Singapore, advancing her experience with international markets.


"Mary Kay was founded on a dream to enrich women’s lives with a product portfolio rooted in science. I am confident that integrating brand and science is the winning formula to meet global consumer needs and work toward our continued success. I look forward to maximizing synergies across our teams to captivate our Independent Beauty Consultants and invite a new generation of consumers to fall in love with our brand," said Dr. Lucy Gildea, Mary Kay’s Chief Brand and Scientific Officer.


Gildea earned a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Immunology in a joint appointment with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the University of Cincinnati Department of Immunology. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky.


Gildea is a passionate STEM advocate for women and girls. She serves as a Board Member at Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation and a Board Advisor at Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center.


This leadership appointment by Ryan Rogers honors Mary Kay Ash’s legacy of empowering women. At Mary Kay, women make up 63% of the R&D team, 54% of the executive team, and 63% of the global workforce1.


Did you know:


In 2023 and again in 2024, Mary Kay was named the #1 Direct Selling brand of skin care & color cosmetics in the world by Euromonitor International2.

Mary Kay holds more than 1,600 patents for products, technologies, and packaging designs in its global portfolio3.

About Mary Kay


One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of Independent Beauty Consultants in more than 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.


_______________________

1 Source: Women Representation and Leadership at Mary Kay (May 2024).

2 “Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2024 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2023 data”

3 As of 2023.


 


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Contacts

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications

marykay.com/newsroom

972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com


 

Friday, February 7, 2025

Al Salam Bank Net Profit Grows by 40% to Record Levels

 Al Salam Bank (Bahrain Bourse trading code “SALAM”, Dubai Financial Market trading code “SALAM_BAH”) achieved record profitability with net profit attributable to shareholders increasing by 39.8% to US$ 156.5 million for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, up

from US$ 112.0 million in 2023. The substantial growth in profitability was predominantly driven by the strong performance of the Group’s core banking operations, subsidiaries, and associates as well as the successful acquisition of Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain (“KFH-Bahrain”), the Group’s fifth banking M&A transaction.


 


Maintaining its position as the largest Islamic bank in Bahrain, the Group’s balance sheet expanded significantly with total assets growing by 37.2% to US$ 18.73 billion in 2024, from US$ 13.65 billion in 2023, driven by the successful implementation of key growth initiatives in banking. The Group’s financing portfolio increased by 36.8% to US$ 9.71 billion while customer deposits increased by 41.7% to US$ 13.12 billion. While total equity attributable to shareholders expanded by 6.8%, return on average equity increased significantly to 15.7% in 2024, up from 13.2% in 2023.


 


The Group set a new benchmark in the M&A space, having completed the fastest and most seamless banking transition in the region following the acquisition of KFH-Bahrain from Kuwait Finance House Group in H1 2024. Completed in record time, the integration ensured uninterrupted services for clients while creating new avenues for growth and innovation. During the year, the Group also launched ASB Capital, its asset management arm headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), with a starting AUM of US$ 4.5 billion in assets under management (AUM).


 


In light of the strong financial performance, the Board of Directors recommended a dividend distribution of 14% of issued and paid-up share capital (6% cash dividends and 8% stock dividends), aggregating US$ 99.6 million and reflecting an increase of 20% from 2023. This recommendation is subject to AGM and regulatory approvals.


 


His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Mustahail Al Mashani, Chairman of Al Salam Bank, commented: “Our exceptional performance in 2024 demonstrates the effectiveness of our long-term strategy and the hard work, dedication, and collective efforts of our team. Our focus for the coming period will be on exploring new opportunities, especially in banking, takaful, and asset management, to solidify our position as a leading and diversified regional financial group. Our commitment to create long-term, sustainable value for our shareholders and our wider stakeholder base remains at the core of our strategy as we navigate an increasingly dynamic and competitive industry.”


 


Rafik Nayed, Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Salam Bank, added: “We are proud of our achievements in 2024 having completed several key strategic initiatives which have cemented our position as a leading diversified financial group. Over the course of the year, we successfully completed the acquisition and seamless integration of Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain in record time, launched the Group’s asset management arm (ASB Capital), strengthened capitalization, expanded our balance sheet, and significantly increased profitability to record levels. Looking ahead, our strategic plan includes initiatives to drive efficiencies through AI and digital adoption, significant market share acquisition across Group companies, and the launch of new verticals to further diversify, optimize, and increase profitability.”


 


The full set of consolidated financial statements, which were audited by external auditor KPMG, with unmodified opinion, are available on the websites of Dubai Financial Market and Bahrain Bourse.


 


LinkedIn



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Contacts

Yusuf Janahi


Corporate Communications and Media Manager – Al Salam Bank


y.janahi@alsalambank.com

Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association Announces 2024 Sake Export Data: Record-High Exports to 80 Countries, Up 6% YoY

  TOKYO - Friday, 07. February 2025 AETOSWire 




(BUSINESS WIRE)--2024 Sake Export Performance


The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) has released 2024 sake export data. The total export value reached JPY 43.5 billion, a +6% increase from the previous year, with 3.45 million cases (9L equivalent) shipped to a record 80 countries. Since 2020, export value has grown 1.8 times, the average unit price increased 1.3 times, and the number of export destinations expanded by 19. Premium sake markets have seen significant growth in the past five years.


Regionally, Asia accounted for 61% of total export value but saw a slight decline YoY. However, South Korea recorded a notable 29% growth, while Thailand and Malaysia also performed well. North America saw a 27% increase, driven by fine-dining adoption. Western Europe grew 18% YoY, expanding 2.5 times over five years due to wine industry collaborations. The UK and France, in particular, expanded approximately threefold and 2.6 times, respectively.


JSS’s 2024 Key Initiatives and Future Outlook


To enhance global awareness of sake, JSS has strengthened partnerships with the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and the Union de la Sommellerie Française (UDSF). In 2024, JSS held a masterclass at the ASI Boot Camp in Spain to educate young sommeliers on sake. Additionally, JSS participated in international trade fairs, including ProWein, ProWine São Paulo, and Warsaw Wine Experience, to expand distribution channels.


A key milestone in 2024 was sake’s inclusion in the service task of the finals at the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East 2024, furthering its recognition among sommeliers. Furthermore, the registration of "Traditional knowledge and skills of sake-making with koji mold in Japan" as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2024 has boosted sake’s global presence. In 2025, JSS aims to accelerate expansion into Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia to drive further export growth.


 


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Contacts

Contact:

Takeshi Itani

takeshi.itani@sakeexperiencejapan.com

DNIB.com Reports Internet Has 364.3 Million Domain Name Registrations at the End of the Fourth Quarter of 2024

 RESTON, Va. - Friday, 07. February 2025 AETOSWire Print 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), a global provider of critical internet infrastructure and domain name registry services, today announced that, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief Quarterly Report from DNIB.com, the fourth quarter of 2024 closed with 364.3 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs), an increase of 2.0 million domain name registrations, or 0.5% compared to the third quarter of 2024. Domain name registrations also increased by 4.4 million, or 1.2%, year over year.


The .com and .net TLDs had a combined total of 169.0 million domain name registrations in the domain name base at the end of fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of 0.5 million domain name registrations, or 0.3% compared to the third quarter of 2024. The .com and .net TLDs had a combined decrease of 3.7 million domain name registrations, or 2.1%, year over year. As of Dec. 31, 2024, the .com domain name base totaled 156.3 million domain name registrations and the .net domain name base totaled 12.7 million domain name registrations. New .com and .net domain name registrations totaled 9.5 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 9.0 million domain name registrations at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023.


Total country-code TLD (ccTLD) domain name registrations were 140.8 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 0.8 million domain name registrations, or 0.6% compared to the third quarter of 2024. ccTLDs increased by 2.5 million domain name registrations, or 1.8%, year over year. The top 10 ccTLDs, as of Dec. 31, 2024, were .cn, .de, .uk, .ru, .nl, .br, .au, .fr, .in, and .eu.


Information about the statistical methodology used in creating the Domain Name Industry Brief Quarterly Report and DNIB.com’s dashboards is available here.


About DNIB.com


DNIB.com, sponsored by Verisign, provides global statistical and analytical research and data on the domain name industry, plus analyses of key policy, security, and technology trends. The latest Domain Name Industry Brief Quarterly Report, previous reports, and interactive dashboards with expanded domain name industry data are all available at DNIB.com.


About Verisign


Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN), a global provider of critical internet infrastructure and domain name registry services, enables internet navigation for many of the world’s most recognized domain names. Verisign helps enable the security, stability, and resiliency of the Domain Name System and the internet by providing root zone maintainer services, operating two of the 13 global internet root servers, and providing registration services and authoritative resolution for the .com and .net top-level domains, which support the majority of global e-commerce. To learn more please visit verisign.com.


VRSN


© 2025 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VERISIGN, the VERISIGN logo, Domain Name Industry Brief, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.


 


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Contacts

Investor Relations: David Atchley, datchley@verisign.com, + 1 703-948-3447

Media Relations: Dave McGuire, davmcguire@verisign.com, + 1 703-948-3800


 

Saudi Aramco Joins The Open Group as Platinum Member

 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Open Group, the vendor-neutral technology standards organization, has today announced that Saudi Aramco has become its latest Platinum Member. In this capacity, Saudi Aramco will have the opportunity to expand its presence across The Open Group Forums, take a leadership position, and have representation on the Governing Board.


Saudi Aramco first joined The Open Group in 2016 as a Member of the Open Process Automation™ Forum (OPAF). The company has since collaborated with industry leaders on an O-PAS™ Automation Test Bed, assessing and validating next-generation open and interoperable technologies. In 2020, Saudi Aramco also became a member of The Open Group OSDU® Forum, joining industry peers in developing transformational technology to support the world’s changing energy needs.


Steve Nunn, President and CEO of The Open Group, commented: “It is gratifying to see that Saudi Aramco has realized such significant value from participation in The Open Group that they wish to take their membership to the highest level. We share a vision of open standards being core to successful organization and industry transformation, and we look forward to Saudi Aramco’s future leadership role in this. We are delighted to see our relationship evolve and excited about our future collaboration.”


Rashed Alyami, Manager Digital Platforms & Architecture Design Division at Saudi Aramco, said: “Collaboration is at the heart of every industry. As we strive for a more sustainable world, The Open Group creates the perfect environment for like-minded organizations to meet and partner with each other. Since joining The Open Group nearly ten years ago, we have been privileged to be involved in the creation of initiatives that have made a tangible impact in the technology space. We’re proud to now take this next step in our Member journey and to continue working with The Open Group to create technology standards that will underpin the next stage in our industry’s digital transformation.”


The Open Group Platinum Membership is designed for organizations that want to influence and lead the direction of key global industry standards and certifications across the globe. Platinum Members significantly influence the direction and strategy of The Open Group, and as a result, the impact that its standards have on multiple industries.


To learn more about The Open Group Membership, click here.


About The Open Group


The Open Group is a global consortium that enables the achievement of business objectives through technology standards and open source initiatives by fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual respect among our diverse group of 900+ memberships. Our Membership includes customers, systems and solutions suppliers, tool vendors, integrators, academics, and consultants across multiple industries. More information on The Open Group can be found at www.opengroup.org.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250206630761/en/



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Contacts

Media contact

Monika Boudova

Hotwire for The Open Group

UKOpengroup@hotwirepr.com

Saudi Sports for All Federation Unveils Riyadh Marathon Route, Venues, and Sponsors for Inaugural SFA International Sporting Events

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Thursday, 06. February 2025

The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) has announced key details for the inaugural 2025 SFA International Sporting Events, which include the SFA Expo and Riyadh Marathon. The SFA Expo will take place from February 5-7, 2025, at Riyadh’s JAX District, while the Riyadh Marathon is set for Saturday, February 8, 2025.

The SFA Expo will serve as the marathon’s bib collection hub and will feature interactive zones focused on sports, health, and fitness, showcasing cutting-edge equipment, wellness activities, and emerging technologies. The event will also include a B2B lounge for industry networking, and workshops on mindfulness and nutrition. Another highlight will be the Primal Race on Friday, February 7, a functional fitness challenge featuring a series of high-intensity activities interspersed with 400m group runs.

The Riyadh Marathon will offer four race categories: the full marathon (42km), half marathon (21km), 10km, and a family-focused 4km race. The routes will pass key Riyadh landmarks, including Boulevard City and Wadi Hanifah, starting around Boulevard World and finishing near Kingdom Arena.

The SFA Expo and Riyadh Marathon will also be supported by a strong lineup of sponsors and partners. Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) returns as presenting partner, with ASICS and Tawuniya as headline sponsors for both events. Gatorade, Aquafina, and PepsiCo will provide hydration for marathon runners, while Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group (HMG) will offer medical support at the Expo.

The Riyadh Marathon will also be supported by Ford, providing race vehicles, KAFD, hosting pre-event activations, and MDL, bringing DJs to energize the event. Calo, JP Morgan, Centrum, and Kayanee will contribute as supporting partners, as will Joe & The Juice, which has introduced a special Riyadh Marathon drink. BAE Systems and Kudu are official partners, helping to promote the marathon, and Huawei will provide mass participant awards. JAX District serves as the Expo’s venue partner, while ASICS provides official sports apparel to race participants.

As part of the broader Vision 2030 goals, these events reinforce SFA’s commitment to promoting fitness and physical activity as key pillars of Saudi Arabia’s evolving sports culture.

About the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA)

The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA), a proactive community sport and wellness organization founded to promote a healthy lifestyle in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aims to provide access to opportunities for all members of society to practice physical activity. Partnering with government organizations, sports delivery bodies, sports federations, and the wider public and private sector to achieve its goals, the SFA focuses on increasing physical activity and health and wellness metrics across the country. Physical activity is achieved by advancing four strategic priorities: education; community and volunteering; fitness and wellbeing; and campaigns and promotion. The SFA does this by designing and deploying recreational sports programs tailored for women, men, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities across Saudi Arabia.

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/sfa06022025en

Contacts

Malek Abdelrahman

mabdelrahman@apcoworldwide.com

Andersen Global Adds Dimension to European Footprint with Allyum in Belgium

 SAN FRANCISCO - Thursday, 06. February 2025


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Andersen Global bolsters its platform in Europe through a Collaboration Agreement with Allyum, a leading Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) firm in Belgium, adding another dimension to the tax and legal platform in the region.


Founded in 2004 by Managing Director Raphaël Abou, Allyum specializes in comprehensive financial services for mid-cap companies with a specific focus on managing sell-side transactions from start to finish. The firm has expertise in mergers and acquisitions, private placements, IPO advisory, corporate venturing, shareholder restructuring, and financial analysis and planning.


“Over the past decade, we've assisted hundreds of companies on successful transactions and developed excellent relationships with the investment funds in our region,” Raphaël said. “Our collaboration with Andersen Global represents an exciting opportunity to apply our comprehensive approach to financial advisory through an unmatched global platform.”


"As we continue to expand our global M&A capabilities, Raphaël, his Partner Martin Delépine and their team bring invaluable expertise and a new dimension to our existing client relationships,” said Mark L. Vorsatz, Global Chairman and CEO of Andersen. "The experience Allyum brings will be immensely valuable for our clients navigating the M&A landscape in Belgium and across Europe.”


Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax, legal, and valuation professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 18,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250206717985/en/



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https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/0602202544462


Contacts

Megan Tsuei

Andersen Global

415-764-2700

AEVEX Achieves AS9100 Certification

 


TAMPA, Fla. - 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- AEVEX Aerospace, a global leader in cutting-edge unmanned systems and services, is proud to announce it has been awarded the prestigious AS9100 certification for its Tampa, Florida facility. This internationally recognized standard provides the framework for developing and implementing quality management systems within the aviation, space, and defense industry. Achieved in just 9 months from official project launch, this certification further demonstrates the AEVEX commitment to delivering world-class products to the aerospace and defense markets.


AS9100, an industry-specific enhancement of ISO9001, establishes a set of robust quality management requirements to ensure the reliable delivery of safe, high-performance aerospace products. To achieve certification to this standard, AEVEX underwent rigorous evaluation by an industry recognized third party registrar. Each process and procedure were examined for a range of criteria, including resource identification, risk mitigation, quality planning, performance measurement/monitoring, and continuous improvement.


“This certification reflects a commitment to the quality of our work and the maturity of our organization,” said James “Mookie” Sturim, Senior Vice President. “As a company holding AS9100 certification, we look forward to expanding our differentiated, combat-proven product portfolios within the aerospace and defense sector, while continuing to provide the top-tier experience our customers have come to expect.”


About AEVEX Aerospace:


AEVEX Aerospace supports U.S. and partner nation security objectives by providing full-spectrum aviation and technology-based solutions. The company’s expanded capabilities include a wide variety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), a combat-proven portfolio of loitering munitions, and a family of multi-mission Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV). These additions complement AEVEX’s offerings in custom design & engineering, manned/unmanned aircraft modification & certification, sensor integration & sustainment, and other fielded solutions, including advanced intelligence analysis and tailored mission-system tools. AEVEX is headquartered in Solana Beach, California, with other major locations in Florida, Ohio, and Virginia. Learn more by visiting https://aevex.com.


 


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Contacts

Press Contact:

Matt Gunn

Director of Marketing

mgunn@aevex.com


 

Rimini Street Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of its Corporate Foundation with a $100,000 RMNI LOVE Charitable Grant Giveaway

 LAS VEGAS - Thursday, 06. February 2025


Company’s self-funded charitable program invites certified charities in select cities to apply for one of ten $10,000 grants


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced a $100,000 RMNI LOVE Charitable Grant Giveaway, commemorating the 10th anniversary of its self-funded philanthropic program, the Rimini Street Foundation. Registered charities in select cities across the globe, where a concentrated number of Rimini Street employees and clients are represented, are invited to apply for one of ten $10,000 grants, to be awarded throughout 2025 at various in-person gatherings.


The Rimini Street Foundation: 10 Years of Giving and Growing


Founded in 2015 and governed by employees representing the diverse culture of Rimini Street, the corporate foundation celebrates its milestone year, entering ten years of financial giving, in-kind donations and team volunteer events, funded 100% by the company.


“The Rimini Street Foundation is a cornerstone of who we are as a company, reflecting our commitment to create equal opportunity for all,” said founder and committee chair of the Rimini Street Foundation, Janet Ravin. “Throughout the years, we’ve connected with so many wonderful organizations and new community friends, sharing hearts and building memories together in our combined efforts toward societal progress.”


In 2022, the Foundation launched the first RMNI LOVE Grant Program in its hometown of Las Vegas. Honoring the company’s “Follow-the-Sun” model of client support, which ensures client cases are attended to by dedicated engineers until resolved, the program then moved to Tokyo (2023) and London (2024).


Highlights of the 2022 Las Vegas ceremonies can be found here, the 2023 Tokyo event here and the 2024 London event here.


Celebrating a Milestone Year with a $100,000 RMNI LOVE Grant Giveaway


Now in its 10th year, the Rimini Street Foundation is announcing a special $100,000 grant giveaway, awarding ten charities with a $10,000 grant each. Government-certified charities in the following cities are invited to apply via the Rimini Street RMNI LOVE website:


Denver, USA


Houston, USA


Kyoto, Japan


Manila, Philippines


Melbourne, Australia


Paris, France


São Paulo, Brazil


Seoul, Korea


Taipei, Taiwan


Toronto, Canada


“Selecting just ten cities out the many is difficult enough, even tougher when we have to choose from the vast number of organizations that apply for the grants each year. Each charity is so deserving, and their passion for good makes it a real challenge for our Global Steering Committee when reviewing RMNI LOVE Grant submissions,” said Emily Garczynski, core committee member of the Rimini Street Foundation.


The program will accept nominations starting February 10, 2025, and will close submissions on March 9, 2025. Additional details and requirements can be found on the RMNI LOVE site, along with sections where charities can share their stories and impact on the community.


“One of the best parts of the RMNI LOVE Grant Program is learning about the selfless, determined superheroes who are making a difference each and every day,” said Ravin. “We see you, we hear you and we appreciate you. Thank you from the depths of our RMNI hearts!”


The Rimini Street Foundation has partnered with and supported 550 global charitable organizations to date. Learn more about Rimini Street’s award-winning philanthropic program, activities and impact at www.riministreet.com/foundation.


About Rimini Street, Inc.


Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of unified solutions to run, manage, support, customize, configure, connect, protect, monitor, and optimize enterprise application, database, and technology software. The Company has signed thousands of contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who selected Rimini Street as their trusted, proven mission-critical enterprise software solutions provider and achieved better operational outcomes, realized billions of US dollars in savings and funded AI and other innovation investments.


To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.


Forward-Looking Statements


Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, adverse developments in and costs associated with defending pending litigation or any new litigation, including the disposition of pending motions to appeal and any new claims; additional expenses to be incurred in order to comply with injunctions against certain of our business practices and the impact on future period revenue and costs; changes in the business environment in which Rimini Street operates, including the impact of any macro-economic trends and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; the evolution of the enterprise software management and support landscape and our ability to attract and retain clients and further penetrate our client base; significant competition in the software support services industry; customer adoption of our expanded portfolio of products and services and products and services we expect to introduce; our ability to grow our revenue, manage our cost of revenue and accurately forecast revenue; the expected impact of recent and anticipated future reductions in our workforce and associated reorganization costs; estimates of our total addressable market and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; variability of timing in our sales cycle; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately predict retention rates; the loss of one or more members of our management team; our ability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, including sales personnel, and retain key personnel; our business plan, our ability to grow in the future and our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; our plans to wind down the offering of services for Oracle PeopleSoft products; the volatility of our stock price and related compliance with stock exchange requirements; our need and ability to raise equity or debt financing on favorable terms and our ability to generate cash flows from operations to help fund increased investment in our growth initiatives; risks associated with global operations; our ability to prevent unauthorized access to our information technology systems and other cybersecurity threats, protect the confidential information of our employees and clients and comply with privacy regulations; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand and intellectual property; changes in laws and regulations, including changes in tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take, a failure by us to establish adequate tax reserves, or our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk, including uncertainty from the transition to SOFR or other interest rate benchmarks; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; uncertainty as to the long-term value of Rimini Street’s equity securities; catastrophic events that disrupt our business or that of our clients; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 30, 2024, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250206639812/en/



Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/0602202544460


Contacts

Janet Ravin

VP, Global Communications

Rimini Street, Inc.

+1 702 285-3532

pr@riministreet.com


 

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Global CIO Study Reveals ROI Remains Greatest AI Adoption Barrier, Despite Three-Fold Spend Increase

 

  • Lenovo-commissioned research reveals forty-two percent of global organizations plan to institutionalize Generative AI use cases
  • Thirty-seven percent of management remains skeptical toward AI

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Business leaders and IT decision-makers confirm AI use will reach mainstream levels of adoption as organizations devote a greater slice of their IT budgets to AI implementations, according to new IDC research commissioned by Lenovo. The new global 2025 CIO Playbook entitled It’s Time for AI-nomics, highlights AI spending expectations by IT decision-makers globally to nearly triple in 2025 compared with last year. But critical challenges include uncertain financial returns on these investments and gaps in organizational readiness.

Proving ROI: The Greatest Barrier

While most AI use cases have met business expectations, proving the return of these investments remains challenging—financial risk and uncertain ROI rank as the greatest barriers to AI adoption. This tension is magnified by a disconnect between growing AI investments and pervasive doubts among decision-makers about its value. Despite the forecasted surge in AI spending, business decision-makers are not unanimous in their optimism of its impact. The CIO Playbook revealed that 37% of management remain skeptical or have reservations toward AI, while approximately 9 out of 10 AI-adopting respondents, mostly made up of IT professionals, said that AI has met their expectations. This highlights a significant divide between the unbound potential of AI and business confidence.

Generative AI Adoption Accelerates

IT leaders expect AI to account for nearly 20% of tech budgets in 2025, driven by accelerated adoption of Generative AI use cases. While only 11% of enterprises are currently using GenAI-powered applications, this number is expected to increase almost fourfold to 42% in the coming year. IT operations, software development and marketing departments are expected to see the highest level of GenAI applications.

“AI is a marathon and a sprint – requiring parallel efforts to move quickly to modernize systems, while ensuring the future-proofing of tech stacks,” said Ken Wong, President, Solutions & Services Group, Lenovo. “Our research shows organizations need to simplify the design, deployment, and integration of AI solutions to demonstrate the impact of these investments. This will instill greater confidence and fuel future investments.”

Overcoming Organizational Readiness Challenges

The research also reveals several organizational readiness challenges. While ethical issues and biases in AI and machine learning were cited as the most complex or risky aspect of AI, more than half of global businesses do not have an AI Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) policy in place. To realize compelling productivity gains promised with AI agents and assistants, organizations also must train and upskill staff, modernize IT systems to effectively integrate these tools, and establish organizational processes that help navigate the ethical and responsible use of these tools.

Data Quality: A Critical Success Factor

The AI-nomics Report also underscores the fundamental importance of data quality in delivering successful AI implementation. Ensuring data sovereignty and compliance, and availability of quality data were cited as the most important factors in successful implementations, whereas AI failures are caused most often by data quality issues, IT costs and integrating AI with existing systems and processes. To this end, 33% of respondents said that their organizations will be developing data management capabilities in the next 12 months.

The Need for Skilled Partnerships

Despite the urgency to move AI agendas forward, enterprises recognize they can’t go it alone. Lack of skilled expertise is the most common reason for not investing in AI, while the research found that access to partners with strong AI capabilities remains one of the most important factors in successful AI implementation.

“To harness AI’s transformative power, organizations need a data-driven strategy that ensures scalability, interoperability, and tangible business outcomes," said Ashley Gorakhpurwalla, President, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Lenovo. "At Lenovo, we believe a hybrid approach to AI—seamlessly integrating and enabling private and public models—is essential for delivering scalable solutions, driving measurable impact, and accelerating AI-powered business transformation.”

Explore the full 2025 CIO Playbook

To learn more about Lenovo’s Hybrid AI offerings visit:

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$57 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #248 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

 



Contacts

Zeno Group for Lenovo: lenovossg@zenogroup.com


Align Partners Submits Shareholder Proposals at Coway Co., Ltd. to Protect the Interests of Minority Shareholders

SEOUL, South Korea - Thursday, 06. February 2025 AETOSWire


    Proposals follow Coway’s failure to respond to governance concerns surrounding how the Board manages conflicts of interest with its largest shareholder, Netmarble.
    Align submitted shareholder proposals to strengthen the independent oversight mechanism at Coway by nominating an independent governance and capital markets expert.
    To ensure minority shareholder representation is upheld, and meet market best practice, Align is also proposing Coway to introduce cumulative voting.

 

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Align Partners Capital Management Inc. ("Align Partners"), a shareholder of Coway Co., Ltd. ("Coway" or "Company") since 2023, submitted 4 shareholder proposals on February 6, 2025, for the upcoming Annual General Meeting (“AGM”). These proposals aim to ensure that Coway’s governance works for all, and not just its largest shareholder.

More specifically, Align Partners will be seeking support to appoint Namuh Rhee, an independent governance and capital markets expert and Chair of the Korea Corporate Governance Forum, to the Board and Audit Committee. To secure his place, Align Partners will seek to expand the Board to prevent any defensive seat-filling by Coway. Finally, Align Partners aim to protect minority rights by securing approval to introduce cumulative voting, ensuring their voting power serves as a meaningful accountability lever.

Our concerns have been transparent regarding Coway’s governance—concerns that, based on shareholder feedback, are widely shared. To ensure equal access to information, we formally submitted questions to Coway, demanding clarity on fundamental yet critical aspects of its governance framework. The Board’s failure to outline a clear framework for mitigating the conflict of interest between its Executive Chair—who also leads Netmarble, Coway’s largest shareholder—and minority shareholders poses a serious governance risk. Given Netmarble’s track record of capital misallocation, these concerns are only further magnified.

All shareholders deserve greater transparency and stronger governance from Coway. We urge shareholders to support our proposals and demand that Coway disclose its “Value-Up Plan" (planned for disclosure sometime Q1 2025) before the AGM, ensuring shareholders can make fully informed decisions at the meeting.

More information can be found in our Presentation available at https://www.bside.ai/coway/feed/1206.

About

Align Partners is a Korea-focused investment firm led by CEO Changhwan Lee, leveraging private equity and investment banking expertise to drive sustainable growth and address the "Korea discount."
https://www.alignpartnerscap.com/en/.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250206617823/en/

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/6022025444588

Contacts

Wooseok Choi / Jane Kim
coway_valueup@alignpartnerscap.com
+82-2-6956-8033

 

B2PRIME Group Secures Financial Services Provider Licence from FSCA in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Tuesday, 04. February 2025


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- B2PRIME Group, a leading global multi-asset Prime of Prime liquidity provider, has strengthened its regulatory presence by securing a Financial Services Provider (FSP) licence (No. 54191) from the South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) through its subsidiary, B2B Prime Services Africa (Pty) Ltd.


This latest approval marks the company’s fourth operating licence, adding South Africa to its existing regulatory framework, which includes Cyprus, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The expansion further enhances B2PRIME Group’s regulatory reach, reinforcing its commitment to offering fully compliant brokerage and liquidity solutions in emerging markets.


Stakeholders interested in verifying the licence can do so by clicking here and entering Licence No. 54191.


Commitment to Compliance and Operational Integrity


The FSCA upholds rigorous regulatory standards, ensuring that licenced entities comply with stringent requirements concerning governance, operational integrity, and client protection.


The new authorisation enables B2B Prime Services Africa (Pty) Ltd to provide a comprehensive range of regulated financial services directly to local businesses. This eliminates the reliance on liquidity sourced from distant financial hubs, offering institutional and professional clients a more efficient and locally compliant framework. Clients will benefit from enhanced strategic growth opportunities, risk management solutions, and superior execution quality.


Through this licence, clients gain access to deep liquidity sources aggregated from Tier-1 providers, covering more than 235 instruments across multiple asset classes. These include FOREX, Cryptocurrencies, Spot Indices, Precious Metals, Commodities, and NDFs, all available through a single margin account.


Additionally, B2PRIME Group’s advanced connectivity solutions—OneZero, PXM, Centroid, FXCubic, FIX API, and cTrader—ensure seamless integration and optimised execution efficiency.


“Seeing Africa's increasing importance in global finance, B2PRIME Group's move into South Africa shows our dedication to building strong local partnerships, making financial services more accessible, and promoting best practices. We're excited to connect local players to global markets and offer innovative solutions.


Our goal is to support sustainable growth, uphold the highest regulatory standards, and continuously develop the market throughout the region, benefiting local brokers, hedge funds, money managers, institutional clients, and liquidity providers.”


Eugenia Mykulyak, Founder and Board Member of B2PRIME


A Foundation for Sustainable Growth


Securing an FSCA licence represents a pivotal regulatory milestone for B2B Prime Services Africa (Pty) Ltd, providing a solid foundation for long-term growth in the region.


Leveraging B2PRIME Group’s global expertise, cutting-edge infrastructure, and deep understanding of local markets, the company is poised to deliver transparent, robust, and reliable financial services.


This development aligns with B2PRIME Group’s overarching strategy to extend its global presence and reinforce its standing as a premier liquidity provider. Since its establishment in Cyprus in 2020, followed by regulatory approvals in Mauritius in 2023 and Seychelles in 2024, the company has continuously expanded its service offerings to meet the dynamic demands of the global financial sector.


Contact B2PRIME Group to learn how their services can support your business objectives.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250131921446/en/



Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/0402202544409


Contacts

info@b2prime.com

+357 25 582 192


 

Telcoin Granted Approval to Open Nebraska’s First Digital Asset Bank

 

Regulators give green light for first regulated bank explicitly authorized to connect US consumers to decentralized finance, ushering in a new era of blockchain-integrated banking.

NORFOLK, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE/AETOSWire)-- Telcoin, a pioneer in blockchain-based financial services, announced that its application to become Nebraska’s first Digital Asset Depository Institution has been conditionally approved by the state’s Department of Banking and Finance. This approval brings Telcoin Bank, a Digital Asset Bank, another step closer to creating the first real bridge between traditional finance and cryptocurrencies.

Telcoin Bank is now poised to become the first regulated crypto bank in the United States. Its upcoming launch is expected to disrupt the US$200 billion stablecoin market and transform the financial landscape by offering fully regulated, bank-issued “Digital Cash” stablecoins, as well as an innovative suite of blockchain banking products and services. This development promises to accelerate the adoption of crypto in mainstream finance and provide unparalleled access to digital financial services for mobile phone users worldwide.

“This approval marks a major milestone for Telcoin and the entire US crypto industry,” said Paul Neuner, Founder and CEO of Telcoin. “I’ve always believed that the key to making crypto usable in payments and mainstream finance is a digital asset bank with native connections to the existing financial system.” Neuner pointed out that while Wyoming and the OCC did issue three charters previously, none of them have been able to gain access to the Fed payment system. “The Nebraska charter creates an actual bank charter, and the first that is explicitly authorized to connect consumers to DeFi,” he added.

Telcoin Bank is scheduled to launch operations early this year by releasing the first bank-issued stablecoin, eUSD, as the backbone of its broader multi-currency Digital Cash strategy. “We are creating the Internet of Money,” Neuner explained, “where digital asset banks globally issue free-floating Digital Cash that can be transacted directly between consumers and merchants.”

The company said that this initial launch will provide the foundation for a wider suite of digital financial products. In accordance with the Nebraska Financial Innovation Act, which Telcoin helped draft and passed into law in 2021, Telcoin Bank will be authorized in the future to take any cryptocurrency deposits, facilitate DeFi staking programs, provision digital asset loans, and more. This launch also coincides with enhancements to the Telcoin Wallet application, providing users with an intuitive mobile interface to access Digital Cash and Telcoin Bank's innovative services.

Telcoin Group is headquartered in Singapore where its operating entity is licensed as a Major Payment Institution. The Group’s subsidiaries are also registered as a European virtual asset service provider in Lithuania and as a money services business in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Telcoin was also the first blockchain company to become a member of the GSMA, the world’s largest telecom industry organization, in 2018.

###

ABOUT TELCOIN

Telcoin, a multinational fintech serving 171 countries, is revolutionizing global finance by merging blockchain technology, telecommunications, and banking. Telcoin is launching the world's first regulated blockchain bank and eUSD, a pioneering bank-issued “Digital Cash” stablecoin. Telcoin offers secure, self-custodial blockchain payments and banking services globally, powered by its own decentralized financial infrastructure. This compliant, banking-first approach harnesses blockchain's power to redefine how the world interacts with money on the internet. Learn more at www.telco.in.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250204461633/en/

 

*Source: AETOSWire

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACT
Taylor Hadden
taylor@scrib3.co