TIME NAMES CARRIER'S OPTICLEAN A BEST INVENTION OF 2020

OptiClean Dual-Mode Air Scrubber & Negative Air Machine recognized for its rapid innovation to help create healthy indoor environments

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Dec 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Carrier’s OptiClean™ Dual-Mode Air Scrubber & Negative Air Machine has been named as one of TIME’s 100 Best Inventions of 2020. The OptiClean was developed through rapid innovation in early 2020 to help support infectious isolation rooms in hospitals. TIME featured OptiClean in the Medical Care category of its prestigious annual list that recognizes 100 ground-breaking inventions that are making the world better and smarter. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions.

“We are honored the OptiClean is being recognized by TIME for a product we developed and brought to market in record time while maintaining strict standards to ensure the highest quality,” said Carrier Senior Vice President, Engineering, Chris Kmetz. “At Carrier, we’re committed to doing our part to develop smart, sustainable and efficient solutions that will address our most critical needs.”

At the onset of the pandemic, Carrier invented the OptiClean as a negative air machine for hospitals treating COVID-19 patients to help hospitals protect caregivers, workers, and patients. OptiClean can plug into standard wall outlets and has a footprint of less than three square feet. As an air scrubber OptiClean can improve the indoor air quality of classrooms, restaurants, dental offices, commercial buildings and more, by pulling in air, scrubbing it using a HEPA filter, and then exhausting cleaner air back into the room, reducing contaminants in the air and offering further protection as part of an overall mitigation strategy.

OptiClean is one of the solutions offered through Carrier's Healthy Buildings Program, an expanded suite of advanced solutions to help deliver healthier, safer, more efficient and productive indoor environments and is expected to be available in Singapore market in early January. To view the full TIME 2020 Best Inventions list visit time.com/best-inventions-2020.

About Carrier
Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corporation and is a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. Carrier experts provide sustainable solutions, integrating energy-efficient products, building controls and energy services for residential, commercial, retail, transport and food service customers.

Follow us on Facebook @CarrierSG and LinkedIn at @carrier-seap


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Zynga, Black Eyed Peas collaborate in holiday-season social campaign

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 28 -- Zynga Inc, a global leader in interactive entertainment, is collaborating with internationally renowned recording artist – the Black Eyed Peas – to share positivity, encouragement and hope for the holidays.

As a continuation of the award-winning gaming industry initiative, #PlayApartTogether, the Black Eyed Peas have recorded words of encouragement and hope for a healthy, safe holiday season.

“We’re so thankful that the Black Eyed Peas, whose impact on culture and music is immeasurable, are bringing their words of strength and inspiration to the movement so we can head to a new year on a high note. Stay strong, stay safe and stay upbeat, and remember that we’re all in this fight together,” said Zynga’s President of Publishing, Bernard Kim.

Founding member of the Grammy award-winning group, Taboo, has created personal videos that will be shared through the #PlayApartTogether network of over 80 video game companies worldwide, bringing light, warmth and signature Black Eyed Peas style to this unprecedented holiday season.

According to  a statement, #PlayApartTogether is a global games industry initiative that encourages physical distancing and other powerful preventive measures in the fight against COVID-19 to the massive global audience of gamers.

Spearheaded by Zynga and growing to more than 60 participating companies, #PlayApartTogether has provided vital information, entertainment, and physically distanced connection to players globally.

More details at www.zynga.com.

-- BERNAMA

Branch unveils first-annual Mobile Growth Awards finalists

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 24 -- Branch, the leading cross-platform solution for linking and measurement, has announced the finalists for its first-annual Mobile Growth Awards.

The programme includes multiple award categories, namely Best Mobile Viral Campaign, Best Overall Growth Campaign, Best Phygital Experience, Best Digital Transformation, Best COVID Adaptation Campaign, Best COVID Retention Campaign, Best Onboarding Activation Campaign, and Best Mobile Innovation.

For Best Mobile Viral Campaign, among the finalists are Saurabh Gupta (Wynk Music Limited), Sam Levy (Hinge), and Shivgangi Gupta (Limeroad.com). Best Overall Growth Campaign finalists include John Ostrowski (Brainly) and Abhishek Khandelwal (Licious).

Best Phygital Experience finalists include Nicolai Schnack (Joe & The Juice), Sarha Arcand (Cadillac Fairview), and Siddarth Barman (Affle for PROTON), while among Best Digital Transformation finalists are Aik-Phong Ng (Fave) and Tyler Munson (Goldman Sachs).

Also named in Best COVID Adaptation Campaign are Brianna Severson (TodayTix) and Matt Hudson (Belk), while Best COVID Retention Campaign has named Mohit Poddar (Myntra Designs) and Rajesh Pantina (InMobi for Unilever Wall’s), among finalists.

Furthermore, Jeff Zakrzewski (Ritual) and Birk Jernstrom (Shopify) are among Best Onboarding Activation Campaign finalists, while Ratnesh Neema (Lenskart) and Rupanshi Guliani (Bobble AI) are among finalists in the Best Mobile Innovation category.

The Awards will be held on Jan 29, next year, according to a statement.

More details at https://mobilegrowth.org/awards.

-- BERNAMA

GRAVITY NEOCYON OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES 'ACTION RO2: SPEAR OF ODIN' IN SOUTHEAST ASIA REGION ON DECEMBER 22

- Gravity Neocyon's first action RPG using Ragnarok IP
- To be serviced in the Indonesian and English languages in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia
- Expectations building up with more than 230,000 pre-registration received since December 8


SEOUL, South Korea, Dec 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gravity Neocyon Inc., a subsidiary of Gravity, announced the official launch of its new RPG 'Action RO2: Spear of Odin' on December 22 in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201222005764/en/


Action RO2: Spear of Odin, a game that has been developed and serviced by Gravity Neocyon, is the first Action RPG using the Ragnarok IP. It is characterized by fascinating action scenes.

This game became a center of attention with more than 230,000 pre-registration received since December 8 from the Indonesian, Filipino, Malaysian, Singaporean, and Australian markets.

A Gravity Neocyon insider said, “As many users expressed their expectations, we will provide them with high quality fun expected of games using the Ragnarok IP. Along with magnificent action scenes; this game offers a raid system that enables users to enjoy playing the game with their friends.”

To celebrate the launch of Action RO2: Spear of Odin, Gravity Neocyon holds a number of in-game and community events. Between December 22 and January 5 next year, users can enter the “Spin the Wheel” event by obtaining specific tokens while playing the game. Other events include a special log-in event, which is to present the users with rewards for playing the game on a daily basis, as well as the “Hot Time” event and the “Push” event offering benefits relating to the game cards.

From December 22 to December 30, the “What will you do first” event will be held where users vote on which game level, card, and equipment they will upgrade first and win items that received the most votes. In addition, a Christmas event will be held from December 23 to December 28 and gifts will be presented randomly to the players.

[Facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RO2Odin/
[Homepage] https://ro2odin.gnjoy.id/


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SEOUL FINTECH LAB AND SINGAPORE FINTECH ASSOCIATION ENDS 'SEOUL FINTECH MEET' SUCCESSFULLY

 

^{XQuant CEO Chea Srun is pitching its service at the Seoul Fintech Meet 2020 hosted by Seoul Fintech Lab and Singapore Fintech Association. Seoul Fintech Meet was promoted to introduce Seoul to the world as an emerging global fintech city, and help Korean fintech startups in their global market entry. Fintech company XQuant is providing service to financial and market to market companies with TS-Expert Solution, a commercial program to extract, process, and save the necessary unstructured data by item in the non-standardized outside dealing contracts. (Graphic: Business Wire)}


- Held as an online networking event to prepare for the post COVID-19 era


SEOUL, South Korea, Dec 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Through collaboration between Seoul Fintech Lab (SFL) and Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), Korea’s fintech startups met up for exchange with investors and the related industry workers in Southeast Asia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201222005755/en/  

SFL hosted the online 'Seoul Fintech Meet' as part of the 10X Extension in Singapore on the 10th. This event was promoted to introduce Seoul to the world as an emerging global fintech city, and help domestic fintech startups in their global market entry.

It was a meaningful event to introduce Korea’s fintech startups dreaming for global market entry through video conferencing, while face-to-face networking has been disabled due to the spread of COVID-19.

At the start of the event, an online ceremony for the MOU signing between SFL and SFA was held. Both parties also agreed on cooperation to develop the fintech industry and foster fintech startups, raising expectations to play important roles in shared growth of both cities.

In their welcoming speeches, Managing Director HoHyun Ko of SFL and President Chia Hock Lai of SFA promised to provide every support necessary in the information exchange and growth of fintech startups in Seoul and Singapore.

Gug-hyun Im, Head of Financial Industry Team, Division of Economic Policy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government gave a special presentation titled “Seoul, the City of Fintech and Innovation” where he introduced the city’s support for fintech and financial industries and also proposed a blueprint for developing Seoul into a city of global financial competitiveness.

Julien Ng, Assistant Director of Fintech & Innovation Group at Monetary Authority of Singapore presented about “Support for Fintechs in Singapore.” Ng expressed his wish for Korean fintech startups’ entry to the Singaporean market, while explaining about a plan to open personal communication channels for Korean fintech startups.

Then, SBCN, XQuant, Finhaven, Fin2B, and 800m, the SFL startups, pitched their businesses. At the networking session, the Singaporean participants and SFL startups gathered up around virtual tables prepared for each startup. The participants chose a table and freely engaged in networking with the startups.

Through close cooperation with SFA, Seoul Fintech Meet was made within the Singapore Pavilion of Singapore Fintech Festival, the world’s largest event of its kind. As a result, over 110 Singaporean local investors, accelerators, and fintech companies pre-registered for the event.

“Seoul Fintech Meet was a meaningful opportunity to meet with the members of Singapore’s fintech industry,” said CEO Sang-hyun Son of SBCN. “As Korean fintech startups are receiving a high level of attention in the Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, we will build competitive power and accelerate our entry into the market.”

“Singapore is a country where the most number of SFL startups have entered. This city state holds significance as companies that have entered this market can expand their business across Southeast Asia,” said HoHyun Ko, Managing Director of SFL. “This event was organized through collaboration with SFA to help Korean fintech startups find a way out of their difficulty in global market entry. As much as so, I hope this meet-up will provide them with substantial assistance.”

SFL supports a business space for up to two years to startups and provides the “Accelerating” programs according to the growth stage of each startup, such as on mentorship and educational and marketing support. SFL organizes online meet-ups to help the startups in their global network expansion along with several programs to assist in overseas market entry including support for participation in leading fintech exhibitions and conferences abroad and preparation for IR, marketing, and PR.

You can watch the Seoul Fintech Meet 2020 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IlMWg3iOwQE.

SFL Startups Participated in Seoul Fintech Meet

1. SBCN (www.sbcn.co.kr)

SBCN is a fintech company that provides financial big data and AI-based investment information content services. It independently operates the “Investment Master” app, a B2C investment information platform, while providing the “Investment Master” service to large-scale securities companies in Korea.

2. XQuant (https://www.xquant-ai.com/)

XQuant is a fintech company that specializes in the processing, analyzing, and servicing of unstructured financial data using artificial intelligence technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). Currently, XQuant is providing service to financial and market to market companies with TS-Expert Solution, a commercial program to extract, process, and save the necessary unstructured data by item in the non-standardized outside dealing contracts.

3. Finhaven (https://www.finhaven.com/)

Finhaven, a fintech company that has obtained a license in Canada for integrated operation of the function as a securities company, exchange, clearing institute, and depository on a platform, is opening up a new world of electronic securities. Finhaven plans to integrate the global financial market by opening Finhaven Private Markets in Asia and Europe.

4. Fin2B (https://www.fin2b.com)

Fin2B provides the fully digitized SaaS (subscription economy)-based supply network financial platform service to the financial institutes in Southeast Asia. Fin2B supply network financial platform service enables efficient operation of financial institutes while keeping their burden to a minimum.

5. 800m (www.go800m.co.kr)

The management philosophy of 800m, an insure-tech startup, reflects the experience of the company’s founder and CEO performing as an insurance planner for over ten years. This company develops services by understanding the needs of the financial industry and customers. Established with a group of IT experts, 800m sells and maintains financial products through untact channels. 800m’s critical mind is gradually winning response in the market.

About Seoul Fintech Lab

Seoul Fintech Lab was established in 2018 by the Seoul Metropolitan City. In October 2019, the Lab moved its office to Seoul's Yoido so that it can raise its competitiveness by strengthening interactions with financial firms in the area. The Lab provides spaces to fintech startups for up to two years while providing accelerator programs which are startup custom-tailored to their growth needs. The Lab plans to increase the number of startups within it to 100 in 2020.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201222005755/en/

Contact

Seoul Fintech Lab
Jiwon Moon
+82 2 786 0653
jiwon.moon@seoulfintechlab.kr

Source : Seoul Fintech Lab

Aptorum Group submits ALS-4 Clinical Trial Application for infection treatment

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 -- Biopharmaceutical company, Aptorum Group Limited (Aptorum Group or Aptorum) has announced the company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Aptorum International Limited, submitted a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) with the Public Health Agency of Canada (Health Canada) to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial of ALS-4.

According to a statement, ALS-4 is an orally administered small molecule drug for the treatment of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Pending Health Canada’s approval, the Phase 1 trial is designed to test the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ALS-4 in healthy volunteers.

Aptorum Group Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director, Dr Clark Cheng said: “Further to our previous update in September 2020, we are pleased to announce this CTA submission which represents a major development milestone for our ALS-4 antimicrobial programme.

“As shown in our internal preclinical data and subject to further clinical trials, ALS-4 can be potentially used on a standalone basis or in combination with existing antibiotics (for example, vancomycin) with the aim to reduce mortality and morbidity of the infected patients especially in severe cases.”

The Phase 1 clinical trial is planned to be conducted in Canada and targeted to recruit up to 48 and 32 healthy volunteers for the single-ascending dose (SAD) and multiple- ascending dose (MAD) cohorts, respectively.

The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of SAD and MAD of ALS-4 administered orally to healthy subjects. The secondary objective is to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of SAD and MAD of ALS-4 administered orally to healthy subjects.

For details, visit www.aptorumgroup.com.

-- BERNAMA

Hong Kong Cyberport supports local mobile, arcade and console game developers

 KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 -- The novel coronavirus has dealt heavy blows to many industries, yet it has also presented new business opportunities for sectors such as digital entertainment, of which game development is a key component.

Although countries like the United States, Japan and China have well-established in the gaming market, Hong Kong’s game developers are starting to shine.

As the city’s leading digital technology community, Cyberport has supported a number of promising game developers, whereby their work is available as mobile games, games for home consoles and arcade games.

Cyberport’s Chief Public Mission Officer, Eric Chan said: “We have seen more game development start-ups leveraging the Cyberport Incubation Programme for business development support. Designated quotas are allocated for digital entertainment start-ups, including game developers.”

The Cyberport Incubation Programme has cultivated a number of mobile game developers, who have produced games catering to diverse user preferences ranging from mysteries to car racing, exploration and business simulation.

As games must be extraordinary to stand out amongst the wide variety of car racing games already on the market, Cyberport has incubatee Twitchy Finger which made a name for itself with ‘Mini Legend’, released five years ago.

There are now close to 150 digital entertainment and esports companies in the Cyberport community, of which over 60 are engaged in gaming development whereby, Cyberport provides one-stop entrepreneurial support.

Through initiatives including the Cyberport Incubation Programme and the Cyberport Creative Micro Fund, start-ups can receive up to HK$1.1 million in financial aid, plus other forms of assistance. (HK$100 = RM53.56)

-- BERNAMA

Zeek secures US$10 million funding for further Southeast Asia market expansion

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 -- Southeast Asia-focused logistics technology startup, Zeek recently secured approximately US$10 million in Series Pre-A financing from regional strategic investors and investment funds. (US$1 = RM4.043)

The company will use the new funding for further expansion in Southeast Asia markets, enhancement and refinement of logistics management technology and data analytics applications, according to a statement.

The latest round of financing takes Zeek’s total funding raised to around US$15 million up to date from investors including SF Holding; Chinachem Group; Philippines KHO Group family; and Dr Lee Ka Kit, Chairman and Managing Director of Henderson Land in private investment.

“This round of financing will help our extension of intelligent logistics applications to more industries and fuel our expansion in Southeast Asia where Internet penetration and young consumers are massive and exponential growth of online consumption is underway,” said Zeek Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, KK Chiu.

Established by Kin Shun Information Technology Limited in 2017, Zeek has been focusing on the provision of data-driven intelligent logistics technology to Southeast Asian merchants with solutions spanning across online order management, delivery capacities management, big data analytics and O2O operations enhancement for an array of industries.

Zeek’s leveraged intelligent logistics technology was trusted by global merchants and Southeast Asian brands which have established strategic partnerships with Zeek in the application of intelligent logistics to digital transformation.

The company’s revenue has exceeded US$28 million this year, and is estimated to grow by at least 100 per cent next year. Zeek is confident to become one of the leading intra-city intelligent logistics players in F&B and lifestyle sectors in Southeast Asia.

More details at https://www.zeek.one.

-- BERNAMA

Prix Galien Award honours Germitec’s Hypernova Chronos as Best Medical Device for 2020

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 -- The Prix Galien Award, considered an equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research and medical technology research, has honoured Germitec’s Hypernova Chronos as the Best Medical Device for 2020.

Germitec, a global healthcare leader in designing UV-C High Level Disinfection systems for ultrasound probes, has radically simplified the lives of healthcare professionals in terms of safety, time and responsibility.

The firm has received the 2020 Prix Galien Award for Best Medical Device for its Hypernova Chronos™ system, a breakthrough patent technology that replaces chemicals with photons.

According to a statement, the award recognises excellence in scientific innovation that improves the human condition globally.

“We are honoured by this prestigious recognition. Winning the award not only highlights the breakthrough technology behind Hypernova Chronos in High Level Disinfection but the unrivalled team that worked to develop and bring it to market,” said Germitec Chief Executive Officer, Clement Deshays.

Hypernova Chronos breakthrough technology has positively changed clinical workflow practices in decontamination of ultrasound probes between patients in Women’s Health (IVF), Radiology and Imaging, Urology, Outpatient/Day Surgery, Intensive Care, and Accident and Emergency.

The technology is reducing the risk of Healthcare Associated Infections, which are estimated at five to 10 per cent of hospitalised patients every year, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality.

It has been rigorously tested to kill high-risk cancer strains 16 and 18 of Human Papillomavirus that cause 70 per cent of cervical cancer and other anogenital cancers, providing extra safety to patients.

-- BERNAMA

JOONGANG GROUP BUILDS SOUTH KOREA'S FIRST AI-DRIVEN ENTERPRISE NETWORK BY JUNIPER NETWORKS

 

South Korea’s leading media conglomerate transforms its enterprise networking experience with Juniper’s wired and wireless solutions driven by Mist AI to create a secure and productive mobile work environment


SEOUL, Korea, Dec 21 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced that JoongAng Group has selected Juniper’s wired and wireless solutions driven by Mist AI to transform its network system. With the country’s first AI-driven enterprise network by Juniper, JoongAng Group can continue to lead its diverse array of business and broadcasting services, while securely maximizing operational efficiency and flexibility for future business expansion.

As the company prepared to spread its workforce across two office buildings after the completion of its JTBC Building in 2019, JoongAng Group wanted to introduce a next-generation network system that would provide a unified experience for all employees in both buildings.

To achieve that goal, JoongAng Group decided to plan their infrastructure based on a smart office concept centered on providing a fast, seamless wireless network that would bridge the two physically separated buildings. If the two buildings’ networks were not perfectly integrated, employees would have to go through cumbersome procedures, including configuring their IP settings and authenticating repeatedly.

Juniper’s wired and wireless network solutions fulfilled all of the company’s needs and were first deployed in the JTBC Building last year followed by the JoongAng Building. In particular, Juniper’s Wireless Access Points driven by Mist AI equipped with Wi-Fi 6 stood out for providing enterprise-grade performance and an AI engine that has replaced manual IT tasks with AI-driven proactive automation and self-healing. The integration of the two buildings’ networks was completed this year, resulting in exceptional user and device experiences.

Since deployment, the company has introduced a security and emergency response system that leverages patented virtual Bluetooth LE^® technology for indoor location tracking without the need for battery powered beacons. With Juniper’s AI-driven network, JoongAng Group has jumped a step ahead of the industry in terms of network efficiency, leveraging automation and insights to lower IT costs while maximizing the end-user experience.

News Highlights

• Juniper’s network switching and AI-Driven Enterprise portfolio provide JoongAng Group with scalable, agile and reliable solutions that help meet their growing networking infrastructure needs.
• Juniper’s Wireless Access Points driven by Mist AI have been deployed in conjunction with the Wi-Fi Assurance cloud service to simplify network operations and automate the support experience for a workforce that is split between two office buildings.
• Juniper Networks EX9200 and EX3400 have been deployed to enable collaboration and provide simple and secure access for the delivery of mission-critical applications, which is crucial in the execution of the company’s smart office concept.
• With Juniper’s patented virtual Bluetooth LE^® technology, JoongAng Group is able to improve the accuracy of real-time indoor location services without the need for battery beacons and create a safer and more secure environment for both employees and guests.

Supporting Quotes:
“With a Juniper powered network that offers AI-driven proactive automation and self-healing capabilities, JoongAng Group will be able to provide a secure work environment with a focus on uninterrupted workflows for all of our employees. As an organization built on a network-based work environment, we expect to evolve and diversify our offerings in the future, which will result in a demand for higher speeds. We are confident that the various AI-driven network upgrades by Juniper will drive value in every corner of our organization and put us in a strong position for continued growth.”
          
- Young Ki Kim, Director, JOINS JoongAng

“In an industry where the fast exchange of accurate information is crucial, the introduction of leading-edge networks is essential to taking the front-runner position among fierce competition. We are honored that the nation’s leading media company, JoongAng Group, has chosen Juniper’s solutions to build an AI-driven network. The trust they have placed in us is a testament to the capabilities of our innovative AI-driven solutions. As we continue to power connections and empower change in Korea, we look forward to bringing the vision of an AI-Driven Enterprise to more customers.”

- Ki Byung Chai, Country Manager, Korea, Juniper Networks

Additional Resources:

• Case Study: JoongAng Group Reimagines the Workplace of the Future with AI
• Blog: Juniper Recognized as a Leader in Magic Quadrant for Wired and Wireless LAN Access Infrastructure
• Product & Solution Pages: 
  • Juniper Series of High-Performance Access Points
  • Juniper Mist Wi-Fi Assurance
  • Juniper Networks EX Series Ethernet Switches
  • Juniper Mist Cloud Services
• Follow Juniper Networks online: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• Juniper Blogs and Community: J-Net

About Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks challenges the inherent complexity that comes with networking and security in the multicloud era. We do this with products, solutions and services that transform the way people connect, work and live. We simplify the process of transitioning to a secure and automated multicloud environment to enable secure, AI-driven networks that connect the world. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Relations:
Satheeson Paramason
Juniper Networks
+65 6511 3595
satheeson@juniper.net 


SOURCE : Juniper Networks, Inc.

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings Of NEWGT Reinsurance Company, Ltd.

HONG KONG, Dec 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” of NEWGT Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (NEWGT) (Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect NEWGT’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

NEWGT’s strong balance sheet assessment is well-supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The assessment also reflects its modest capital base and conservative investment portfolio. Although the company has a moderate reliance on reinsurance, the associated risk is mitigated by its high quality and well-diversified reinsurance programme.

NEWGT’s underwriting results for its general account have been consistently positive, with a five-year average net loss ratio of 67% and a five-year average net combined ratio of 94%. For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2020, NEWGT’s net income from its general account decreased to JPY 171 million (USD 1.6 million) from JPY 214 million, mainly due to the short-term impact of its portfolio improvement initiative. Following the completion of its portfolio improvement this year and the closure of its run-off segregated account business in December 2019, AM Best believes the company’s underwriting results will remain profitable and gradually improve over time by focusing on its existing and profitable business.

NEWGT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Itochu Corporation, one of Japan’s largest general trading companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For its general account, which forms the large majority of its business in terms of net premium written, NEWGT acts as a single-parent captive of Itochu to insure and reinsure the risks of affiliated companies within the Itochu group. In addition to Itochu-related business, the company also underwrites some third-party and non-marine related risks through its segregated account, which consists of well spread and less volatile lines such as motorcycle theft, renters insurance and group personal accident.

The types of risk underwritten by NEWGT may expose the company to low frequency and high severity losses. The company also identifies credit risk from third-party reinsurers as one of its key risks. However, AM Best believes the company has an appropriate risk management framework to manage these risks including its cautious underwriting approach, strict underwriting policies and a high quality reinsurance programme.

Negative rating actions could occur if NEWGT’s risk-adjusted capitalisation declines significantly, or if there is a substantial increase in losses caused by a material increase in risk appetite. Negative rating actions could also arise if there is any significant deterioration in Itochu Corporation’s credit profile, including its operating profitability, financial leverage and interest coverage level.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=38969

Cloudflare unveils next generation website development platform to businesses, developers

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 -- Cloudflare Inc, the security, performance, and reliability company has announced the release of Cloudflare Pages, the next generation website development platform with exceptional performance, security, scalability, and pricing. 

Cloudflare Pages is JAMstack-compatible and offers exceptional security, scalability, pricing, and performance — up to twice as fast as other platforms, providing developers a simpler, faster and more collaborative way to build websites for free.

Cloudflare co-founder & chief executive officer, Matthew Prince said with Cloudflare Pages, the company now provided developers with a scalable, fast, secure, cost-effective platform to build next generation applications that they could deploy globally.

Cloudflare Pages is the next breakthrough in the web performance battle, building entire sites directly onto the edge of the Internet, and closer to the end-users. 

According to a statement, with Cloudflare Pages, developers can focus on building brilliant websites rather than spending time on integrating disparate systems.

Pages automatically generates preview links for every commit, allowing all stakeholders to easily provide feedback. Users can add an unlimited number of collaborators for free to each project, making Pages ideal for teams of every size.

More details at www.cloudflare.com.

-- BERNAMA

Nippon Express (Vietnam) Amata Logistics Center secures GDP certification

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 -- Nippon Express (Vietnam) Co Ltd (NE Vietnam), a local subsidiary of Nippon Express Co Ltd based in Tokyo, recently obtained Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification, for the air/ocean cargo forwarding, road haulage and warehousing services of its Amata Logistics Center.

This evidences the facility's compliance with standards for the proper distribution of pharmaceuticals, according to a statement.

Having acquired this GDP certification, NE Vietnam will be working to handle the anticipated increase in pharmaceutical imports from Europe as well as business expansion by Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturers.

It will also extend its services globally in cooperation with other Nippon Express Group companies that have already obtained GDP certification.

Nippon Express will strive to further enhance its services and step up its efforts on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry to meet growing customer needs inside and outside Japan.

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

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST MAINTAINS UNDER REVIEW WITH POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS STATUS FOR CREDIT RATINGS OF CENTURY INSURANCE COMPANY (GUAM) LIMITED

 HONG KONG, Dec 18 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has maintained the under review with positive implications status for the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” of Century Insurance Company (Guam) Limited (CIC Guam) (Guam).

These Credit Ratings (ratings) were initially placed under review on 3 July 2019, following an announcement that DB Insurance Co., Ltd. (DBI) entered into an agreement with CIC Guam’s parent company, Tan Holdings Corporation (THC), to acquire an 80% stake in each of THC’s three insurance subsidiaries, including CIC Guam and two other insurers in Saipan and Papua New Guinea. DBI also was expected to secure the management rights in all three companies. At that time, AM Best indicated that the ratings would remain under review until the transaction was completed, and an assessment of the subsequent impact to CIC Guam’s business profile and other credit fundamentals could be determined.

Based on AM Best’s recent conversations with company management, THC and DBI remain in close contact on this transaction. Currently, there is no clear date for closing; however, CIC Guam does continue to operate unencumbered by this ongoing development. Despite a continued contraction in premium volume for the nine-month period that ended Sept. 30, 2020, which led to further increase in underwriting expense ratio, CIC Guam’s combined ratio decreased significantly to 88.2% from 100.2%, mainly due to lower claims volume over this period.

CIC Guam’s ratings will remain under review until the resolution of the transaction and AM Best has the necessary information to assess the full rating impact.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Source : AM Best

LeddarTech-Renesas collaboration accelerates autonomous driving, ADAS development

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 -- LeddarTech®, a global leader in Level 1-5 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD) sensing technology, has announced a strengthened collaboration with Renesas.

This is via joining the R-Car Consortium, and with a new collaboration on the development and promotion of an automotive ADAS reference platform, according to a statement.

This platform combines LeddarTech’s industry-leading raw data sensor fusion stack and LiDAR technology with Renesas’ newly launched R-Car V3U – a best-in-class ASIL D system-on-chip (SoC) for ADAS and AD systems.

According to LeddarTech Chief Executive Officer, Charles Boulanger, Renesas is the market leader in automotive processors.

“Our collaboration on this project accelerates the market introduction of a safer and cost-efficient ADAS system that offers an improved user experience. The solution also enables software for extensible and upgradable ADAS & AD platforms, accelerating subsequent innovation and development cycles.”

Renesas is already investing in LeddarTech SoC development and production for the LeddarEngine™, consisting of the world’s most advanced and integrated LiDAR SoCs, the LCA2 and LCA3, and accompanying LiDAR measurement software.

This automotive ADAS reference platform expands the companies’ collaboration to the system level with a sensor fusion solution applicable to the camera and RADAR sensor-based systems plus systems that add LiDAR to deliver higher safety and performance.

More details at www.LeddarTech.com.

-- BERNAMA

AM Best affirms Peak Re, subsidiary Credit Ratings

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘a-’ of Peak Reinsurance Company Limited (Peak Re) Hong Kong and its subsidiary, Peak Reinsurance AG, Switzerland.

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

The ratings reflect Peak Re’s balance sheet strength, which the global credit rating agency, AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Peak Re’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its robust level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

The company’s capital and surplus reported a compounded average growth rate of 9.7 per cent during the five-year period from 2015 to 2019, mainly attributable to capital injections from its shareholders and the full retention of earnings.

The company has also demonstrated favourable financial flexibility, having completed, in October, an issuance of perpetual subordinated guaranteed capital securities of US$250 million. (US$1 = RM4.047)

Given the expanded balance sheet from the hybrid capital issuance, AM Best expects Peak Re will continue to uphold a prudent approach toward business expansion and maintain a robust level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, while gradually refining its underwriting and investment portfolios to strengthen operating performance over the short to intermediate term.

Positive rating actions are unlikely over the near term. Negative rating actions may occur if there is a material deterioration in the company’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, or if there is a deteriorating trend in its operating results.

-- BERNAMA