Friday, 31 May 2024

AM BEST: TAIWAN’S UNION INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED CREDIT RATINGS AFFIRMED

HONG KONG, May 30 (Bernama) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Union Insurance Company Limited (Union) (Taiwan). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

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

The company’s balance sheet strength is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level in 2023, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Union’s adjusted capital and surplus has largely been restored to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. This result was driven by significantly improved operating performance with full profit retention, and reserve releases related to pandemic insurance policies. The company’s pandemic insurance losses largely settled in the first half of 2023, which should allow Union’s capital position to grow through organic capital generation and profit retentions over the short to intermediate term.

For full release, click here: http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=48697

Thursday, 30 May 2024

SHOHEI OHTANI'S "OI OCHA" GIANT OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENT GOING ON DISPLAY AT MORE THAN 85 LOCATIONS AROUND WORLD

TOKYO, May 30, 2024 /Kyodo JBN/ --

- Starting with Iwate, Ohtani’s Home Area, Ads to Be Shown at Times Square in New York, Hollywood, Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei; Ohtani’s Statement on Becoming "Oi Ocha Global Ambassador" Released in Ads -

ITO EN, Ltd., the Tokyo-based maker of the world's No. 1 unsweetened green tea beverage brand "Oi Ocha" (*), is pleased to announce its outdoor advertisement placements featuring Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers player, at more than 85 locations in Japan and abroad. Starting with an advertisement at Morioka Station in Iwate Prefecture, Ohtani's home area, on May 31, the ads will appear at 82 locations (**) in Japan and six locations worldwide. With Ohtani appointed as the "Oi Ocha Global Ambassador" and following his appearance in 60 newspapers worldwide, ITO EN will continue promoting green tea’s appeal domestically and internationally.

Outdoor ad placement images: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M108169/202405241244/_prw_PI23fl_997oPSf9.png

Special landing page: https://www.itoen.jp/oiocha/ohtani/en.html

Ad placement outline: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202405241244-O5-61HFJxmD.pdf

- Visuals of "Oi Ocha Global Ambassador" Shohei Ohtani to be unveiled at more than 85 locations around the world
The giant outdoor advertisements are designed to attract many viewers and convey to the world ITO EN and Ohtani's shared desire to "spread Japan's fascinating green tea culture to the world."

The ad will go on display in Japan starting from Iwate Prefecture, Ohtani's home, on May 31. It will be displayed at a total of 82 locations (**) in 12 prefectures, including Sapporo, Morioka, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, as well as the JR Shibuya Station area in the Japanese capital, and at six locations worldwide -- in the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan. The ads will be displayed at Times Square from June 8 to 10 (local time), when Ohtani visits New York for the Yankees-Dodgers series.

6 spots worldwide: (NY, LA, Seoul, and Taipei)
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202405241244-O6-QTDb9FL5.pdf

- Giant bottles containing "haiku" (short Japanese poem) at Shibuya and Nagoya stations
Oi Ocha bottle designs with a message commemorating Ohtani's appointment as ITO EN’s Oi Ocha Global Ambassador, which caused a sensation when the global partnership was announced, and "Ohtani's new haiku," which became a buzz because of the ads, will appear on columns in the Shibuya and Nagoya stations. The pillars, which will look like giant "Oi Ocha" bottles, are a must-see.

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M108169/202405241244/_prw_PI24fl_MV1F5Rxa.png

About advertisements:
- Please refrain from contacting the locations regarding this matter.
- Posting contents and period are subject to change without notice.
- Images are for illustrative purposes only.
- A station ticket is required to enter ticket gates.
- Please refrain from making inquiries to the station, station staff, or stores in the vicinity.

(*) Guinness World Records (TM) Certified
Intage SRI+ Unsweetened Tea Beverage Market Data January-December 2023 "Oi Ocha" Brand Sales Value
Record name: "Largest unsweetened green tea beverage brand (latest annual sales)"
Official English record name: Largest unsweetened green tea RTD brand - retail, current
Recorded brand: Oi Ocha brand (excluding Oi Ocha hojicha products)
Year covered: January-December 2023

(**) The information on the domestic placements is current as of May 29 and is subject to alterations at any time.


Source: ITO EN, Ltd.

--BERNAMA

Wednesday, 29 May 2024

DUCK CREEK TECHNOLOGIES RECOGNIZES IAT INSURANCE GROUP AND COFORGE WITH ITS STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

IAT Insurance Group, in strategic partnership with Coforge, takes home the Standard of Excellence Customer Award for the transition from multiple siloed legacy policy administration systems into the cloud-based Duck Creek system, driving digital transformation

BOSTON, May 29 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, has recognized both IAT Insurance Group and their strategic transformation partner, Coforge, with the 2024 Standard of Excellence Customer Award winner at Formation ’24 in Dallas.

The Duck Creek Standard of Excellence Customer Awards recognizes customers who have achieved the highest level of excellence through their implementation of Duck Creek solutions and who are reimagining the future of insurance.

IAT Insurance Group, a leading specialty insurance company providing property, casualty, and surety products for niche markets, earned the Standard of Excellence Customer Award for the transformation of 7 diverse business segments that includes General Liability, Property, Management Liability, Excess, Inland Marine, and Commercial Auto lines of business. Moving key product lines onto the Duck Creek system has helped streamline the property and casualty insurer’s internal operations, improve user experience, and improve access to data and analytics.

Manish Chawla, CIO, IAT Insurance Group
said, “We are honored to receive the Standard of Excellence Award. Our vision for transformation is deeply aligned with our business priorities and our commitment to serving our customers better. We believe in leveraging technology to create solutions that not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations. This journey of transformation has been made possible through our strategic partnership with Coforge. Our shared vision has been instrumental in helping us turn our vision into reality, enabling us to deliver superior value to our customers.”

As part of a large, multi-year, multi-million-dollar business transformation initiative, IAT Insurance transitioned multiple lines of business onto the Duck Creek Full Suite, covering 50 states. This effort, supported by Coforge, was designed to modernize legacy systems, enhance scalability, and ensure regulatory compliance across IAT’s diverse portfolio of insurance products.

Rajeev Batra, Executive Vice President, Insurance, Coforge, said, “As a Premier Delivery Partner for Duck Creek Technologies, with 1000+ Duck Creek SME’s globally, Coforge is proud to be a part of IAT Insurance Group’s transformation journey. The synergy between Coforge, IAT Insurance Group and Duck Creek Technologies exemplifies flawless teamwork and collaboration.”

“It’s a great honor to be recognized with the Standard of Excellence Award. Our focus has been on leveraging innovative solutions to drive digital transformation for IAT Insurance Group. Our collaborative efforts have led to the successful transition of multiple business units onto a modern platform, enhancing scalability and regulatory compliance.”

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.

Media Contacts:
Carley Bunch
carley.bunch@duckcreek.com

About IAT Insurance Group

IAT Insurance Group (IAT) is a privately owned, specialty insurance company providing property, casualty, and surety products for niche markets. IAT goes to market through eight business units – Commercial Transportation, Excess & Surplus, Homeowners, Programs, Inland Marine, Reinsurance, Surety and Management Liability. The IAT Insurance Group companies are rated A- Excellent by A.M. Best. Connect with IAT Insurance Group on LinkedIn and learn more about the company at iatinsurancegroup.com.

About Coforge


Coforge is a global digital services and solutions provider, which leverages emerging technologies and deep domain expertise to deliver real-world business impact for its clients. A focus on very selects industries, a detailed understanding of the underlying processes of those industries, and partnerships with leading platforms provide us with a distinct perspective. Coforge leads with its product engineering approach and leverages Cloud, Data, Integration, and Automation technologies to transform client businesses into intelligent, high-growth enterprises. Coforge’s proprietary platforms power critical business processes across its core verticals. The firm has a presence in 21 countries with 25 delivery centres across nine countries.

Source: Duck Creek Technologies

--BERNAMA

Monday, 27 May 2024

AM BEST AFFIRMS FUSURE REINSURANCE CREDIT RATINGS

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Hong Kong’s FuSure Reinsurance Company Limited (FuSure).

In a statement, AM Best said these credit ratings (ratings) which have a stable outlook reflected FuSure’s balance sheet strength, which was assessed as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings also reflect the implicit and explicit support from its ultimate parent, Tencent Holdings Limited (Tencent), including capital, business development, investment, risk management and operational support.

The credit rating agency expects FuSure’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, will remain at the strongest level until 2027, according to the company’s provided business plan.

The company has maintained a prudent investment strategy with its invested assets consisting predominantly of investment-grade fixed-income securities and cash and cash equivalents, and has made an effort in diversifying its retrocessionaire panel in recent years.

In its projection period (2024-2027), FuSure targets double-digit gross premium written growth, while maintaining low single-digit return on equity. Underwriting volatility is limited due to less volatile health coverage nature of key treaties the company has underwritten, while investment yield is forecast to be stable at a low single-digit, supported by its short-duration fixed-income invested assets.

With three years of operating history, the company is actively establishing its expertise and market presence in health and accident lines in the Greater China region at its start-up phase, leveraging on Tencent’s support in business development and distribution.

While strengthening its core health business with product innovation, FuSure also plans to diversify its product offering and geographic reach from open market business in the medium term.

Tencent has a sizeable balance sheet and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with high financial flexibility and excellent credit fundamentals, and has demonstrated its commitment to FuSure via capital injection in 2023 for supporting its business growth.

AM Best expects FuSure will continue benefitting from the parent group in all aspects of operations and management, as well as particularly effective use of innovation and technology that could lead to competitive advantages in product design and pricing sophistication.

-- BERNAMA

Sunday, 26 May 2024

ALATION SIGNS RESELLER AGREEMENT WITH NTT DATA TO EXPAND ITS PRESENCE IN JAPAN AND MEET SURGING DEMAND FOR DATA INTELLIGENCE

The reseller agreement builds on the customer success with NTT DOCOMO to help more organizations deliver AI-ready data and accelerate digital transformation

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alation, Inc., the data intelligence company, today announced the expansion of its global operations in Japan. Alation partnered with NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader, to resell Alation and help more Japanese organizations find, understand, and trust their data. This builds on growing adoption by customers in the region, such as NTT DOCOMO, the leading wireless voice and data communications provider. Now, more organizations can leverage Alation to deliver AI-ready data enterprise-wide and accelerate digital transformations.

According to IDC, by 2028, 80% of CIOs in Japanese organizations will adopt AI, automation, and analytics to expedite digital transformation, focusing on cloud-first strategiesi. This shift is prompting increased investments in modernizing technology stacks, which allow users to leverage data to improve products, services, and business models. However, valuable data often remains in silos, restricting access and trust in data spread across the business. Alation centralizes metadata from disparate sources into a single platform that facilitates the discovery, description, governance, and management of data assets and products, including BI reports and AI models. This enables data and AI/ML engineers, data scientists, and business analysts to easily find, understand, and trust these resources. Alation accelerates the execution of data and AI initiatives, boosting the realization of business value and reinforcing a data culture at scale. 

The new reseller agreement with NTT DATA will fuel the adoption of the Alation Data Intelligence Platform, providing seamless and governed data access across organizations. This partnership will extend data intelligence to more Japanese enterprises, facilitating informed decision-making that drives innovation and improves business outcomes. NTT DOCOMO is one of more than 550 organizations, including 40% of Fortune 100 companies, that rely on Alation to unlock data potential and cultivate a strong data culture. Using Alation, NTT DOCOMO has significantly improved self-service analytics, achieving a 30% reduction in data analysts’ workloads. This has sped up decision-making and strengthened digital transformation efforts.  

"Alation is a critical partner in addressing Japanese organizations' surging demand for data intelligence,” said Kazumasa Taninaka, Head of Design and Technology Sector at NTT DATA. “This partnership is poised to break down the barriers of data silos, equipping Japanese organizations with the essential tools for enhanced, data-driven decision-making. We trust the Alation Data Intelligence Platform enables and improves collaboration of data access and visualization of values in data by enterprise users. Together, we are enabling more organizations to leverage data for reliable AI and decision-making, fostering smarter analysis, decisions, and strategic judgments. This collaboration not only accelerates digital transformation but also ensures organizations are AI-ready and remain competitive in a fast-evolving landscape." 

Saturday, 25 May 2024

Mitsubishi Electric To Form JV For Factory Automation Products in Vietnam

KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Bernama) -- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced it will acquire an 80 per cent stake in Fuji Bakelite Vietnam Co Ltd in the outskirts of Hanoi, a subsidiary of Fuji Bakelite Co Ltd in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

The new joint venture (JV) company, to be named Mitsubishi Electric FP Automation Vietnam Co Ltd will be established on June 1 and will begin production of air circuit breakers from January 2025, in addition to the current company’s existing line of small low-voltage circuit breakers.

According to Mitsubishi Electric in a statement, the new JV will leverage Fuji Bakelite Vietnam’s skilled workforce and expertise in manufacturing and quality control in Vietnam in its manufacturing operations.

Fuji Bakelite Vietnam, which has been in operation since 2014, manufactures small low-voltage circuit breakers for Mitsubishi Electric’s Fukuyama Works in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Establishing a JV company in Vietnam will enable Mitsubishi Electric to build a production system for low-voltage circuit breakers.

Moving forward, this JV company aims to further expand its factory automation (FA) systems business by enhancing product supply capabilities in ASEAN countries to meet the growing demand for FA products.

Up to now, Mitsubishi Electric has expanded its FA business in the ASEAN region by exporting products manufactured mainly in Japan.

In the future, however, the demand for FA products is expected to increase robustly in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, where strong economic growth is forecasted.

-- BERNAMA

APAC Is Second Fastest Growing Market In Global Amusement Industry

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the global association for the attractions industry, is set to host the eagerly anticipated IAAPA Expo Asia 2024 from May 27 to 30 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.

The amusement industry, one of the hardest hit by COVID lockdowns, border closures and restrictions, has made a strong comeback from the pandemic, recapturing an impressive 98 per cent of spending lost in 2020.

Global total spending for the industry is projected to reach nearly US$58.7 billion by end of 2024, while the Asia Pacific (APAC) amusement market is projected to increase by 67 per cent, second only to the Middle East in growth, signifying huge potential for innovation and profitability. (US$1=RM4.71)

IAAPA Expo Asia Pacific Executive Director and Vice President, Jack Chan said a primary factor contributing to the enduring popularity and growth is the universal appeal of entertainment and recreation activities.

“Amusement and theme parks are a cultural phenomenon that not only provide entertainment to millions, but also contribute significantly to the region’s and global economy,” he said.

“We live in an era where experiences are valued more than ever and consumers’ appetite and expectations for immersive entertainment are rapidly growing, so the task for industry players is to meet these challenges and stay ahead of the game – pardon the pun,” he said.

The three-day international extravaganza will see the global amusement industry converge to learn about the latest innovations and trends, as well as take a sneak peek into its exciting future, in addition to showcasing the newest technological advancements in the attractions industry from more than 300 exhibitors, according to a statement.

This year's theme, ‘Shape your evolution’ reflects the focus on education and growth. Industry experts and specialists will share insights and strategies to help attendees elevate their businesses.

Some prevailing trends and solutions which will be presented at the expo include the rise in 5D multisensory attractions that combine sight, sound, touch and even smell; innovative approaches to improving environmental impact and sustainability; demand for personalisation of guest experiences; and state-of-the-art safety and crowd/queue management technologies.

The jam-packed IAAPA Expo Asia 2024 programme also features a stellar line-up of key speakers from leading parks and entertainment venues, such as Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Universal Beijing Resort, Enchanted Kingdom (Philippines), Dreamworld (Australia), Studio City Macau and Ramayana Water Park.

-- BERNAMA


Friday, 24 May 2024

APRINOIA THERAPEUTICS' DIAGNOSTIC TOOL RECEIVES FAST TRACK DESIGNATION FROM FDA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- APRINOIA Therapeutics Inc (APRINOIA) announced the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) to APN-1607, a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer for imaging tau protein in patients with suspected progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

PSP is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused primarily by the accumulation of a specific form of tau in subcortical brain regions, and there are no FDA-approved diagnostic markers for PSP or any other rare tau-related disorder such as frontotemporal dementia, and until now, diagnosis has primarily relied on clinical assessment.

According to APRINOIA in a statement, APN-1607 may enable more accurate diagnosis at earlier disease stages, potentially improving patient management and resulting in more efficient clinical trial designs for novel therapies.

APRINOIA Chief Medical Officer, Dr Brad Navia said FDA’s decision to grant APN-1607 FTD underscores the significant unmet medical need for a diagnostic marker for the early diagnosis of PSP and potentially other tau-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.

“If approved, APN-1607 would provide physicians with an important diagnostic tool that will allow them to diagnose PSP with greater confidence and differentiate it from other disorders, thereby improving the management of these patients,” he said.

FTD is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of product candidates that demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need, with the goal of advancing important new diagnostic and treatment options to patients more quickly than traditional regulatory routes.

Once a drug candidate receives FTD, early and frequent communication with the FDA, including discussions around the product candidate’s development plan and regulatory review process are ensured. If the relevant criteria are met, the product candidate may be eligible for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review by the FDA.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, APRINOIA is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing highly sensitive as well as selective diagnostic and therapeutic agents for a broad range of neurodegenerative diseases.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday, 23 May 2024

CELEBRATE A MEDLEY OF EVENTS IN FANTASTICAL CHINESE LAND OF WULONG

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- The Wulong District in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality recently celebrated China Tourism Day to mark 30 years of achievements and seek further progress in tourism development.

In addition, a series of popular activities will be held throughout the year to entertain global visitors, including the Fairy Mountain ice and snow festival, the Fairy Mountain flight festival, the Fairy Mountain international camping music festival, earth art festival, outdoor sports open, pine-climbing competition, and Harley motorcycle music festival.

Known as the "World Karst Ecological Museum", Wulong boasts a variety of natural landscapes, such as giant sinkholes, rifts, grasslands, canyons, waterfalls, karst caves, forests, and rivers, according to a statement.

In 2006, Chinese director Zhang Yimou chose Wulong as the sole filming location for his movie "Curse of the Golden Flower", while American director Michael Bay filmed scenes for "Transformers: Age of Extinction" here in 2013, further showcasing its stunning natural beauty to the world.

The ethnic groups, such as the Tujia and Miao, contribute to the vibrant cultural tapestry of the region, in which their collective wedding ceremonies have attracted couples from all over the country to experience the traditional wedding customs.

In recent years, Wulong has made great efforts to develop six major cultural and tourism industries including experiential learning, sports, arts, wellness, wedding and matchmaking, and services.

Specifically, the China International Mountain Outdoor Sports Open (Chongqing-Wulong), which has been held for 18 consecutive sessions, has become one of the most influential, largest, and highest-level outdoor cross-country races in the world.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday, 21 May 2024

THE JEDDAH EDITION USHERS IN A NEW ERA OF SAUDI ARABIA’S HOSPITALITY




KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- EDITION Hotels debuted in Saudi Arabia with the recent opening of The Jeddah EDITION, symbolising the country's quest for economic and societal diversification.

By capturing the vibrant spirit and unique character of Jeddah, EDITION Hotels is not just opening its first property in the region but introducing a category-defining concept that aligns seamlessly with the aspirations of the Kingdom’s manifesto for change, according to a statement.

As the world's perception of Saudi Arabia evolves, The Jeddah EDITION stands as a symbol of the Kingdom's journey towards a progressive future, and this new addition to the EDITION family promises to redefine hospitality in the region, setting the stage for an era of growth and prosperity, blending multicultural ethos and innovative approach.

The unveiling of The Jeddah EDITION represents an exceptional collaboration between Marriott International, EDITION Hotels, and Yabu Pushelberg, uniting under the visionary leadership of Sela and its Managing Director, Dr Rakan Al Harthi.

Designed in partnership between EDITION and international design studio Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel remains firmly rooted in the EDITION brand’s strong sense of refined simplicity and style.

Located on the Jeddah Corniche, a 30 kilometres coastal resort area along the Red Sea, the urban resort is steps from the Jeddah Art Promenade, and a short drive from destinations such as Al-Balad, a UNESCO Heritage site in the historic part of the city, and The Red Sea Mall.

Perched atop one of the most exciting corners of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Circuit, adjacent to the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina, the hotel settles neatly into its location within a sleek low-rise building designed to resemble a superyacht.

The property showcases 52 rooms and 11 suites including two Penthouses, a rooftop terrace with a pool, spa, gym, as well as two lounges and a signature restaurant with meticulously curated culinary concepts by acclaimed New York chef, Cédric Vongerichten.

Each room is layered with travertine flooring, white oiled oak wall panelling embellished with black-and-white photographs of old Jeddah, and custom furnishings such as the inset leather headboards, accommodations are a vision of muted luxury, in addition to freestanding bathtubs and signature EDITION Le Labo toiletries that complete the serene enclave.

As Saudi Arabia enters a progressive new era, The Jeddah EDITION is a one-of-a-kind hotel supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and putting one of the country’s most exciting cities on the map.

-- BERNAMA

Monday, 20 May 2024

VERDANTIS NAMES KUMAR GAURAV GUPTA AS CEO



KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Verdantis, a pioneering leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered data solutions, has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kumar Gaurav Gupta.

Taking on the role of the company’s CEO, he shoulders the responsibility of propelling growth, with a sharp focus on ensuring global customer success, according to a statement.

“It is a great honour to lead this data platform & services company at such an exciting time. Given the growing importance of data and the emergence of AI, I am confident Verdantis is poised to empower our customers in making data-driven ROI decisions,” said Gupta.

He will be instrumental in shaping Verdantis' strategic direction, fostering innovation, and driving the company's continued success in delivering cutting-edge data management solutions to clients worldwide.

Before Verdantis, Gupta held various roles including Vice President & Country Manager for the Indian subcontinent at SAP Concur and served as a business consultant advising customers on strategic priorities.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Delhi College of Engineering and a master's degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore.

Verdantis, stands at the forefront of data-driven solutions, empowering organisations across diverse industries to harness the potential of consistent and accessible data.

-- BERNAMA

Saturday, 18 May 2024

PT Asuransi Tokio Marine Indonesia Ratings Affirmed Excellent - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent) of PT Asuransi Tokio Marine Indonesia (TMI).

In a statement, AM Best said these credit ratings (ratings) which have a stable outlook reflected TMI’s balance sheet strength, was assessed as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

In addition, the ratings factor in rating enhancement from Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co Ltd, which is the main insurance operating entity of Tokio Marine Holdings Inc (TMH).

TMI’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), has deteriorated to the very strong level as at year-end 2023 while the company’s exposure to reinsurance credit risk has risen significantly in 2023 given recent large claims that were ceded to domestic (re)insurance counterparties of lower credit quality.

Notwithstanding this, capital adequacy is projected to recover following reinsurance settlements over the near to medium term in which the company has demonstrated strong internal capital generation, with average annual shareholders’ equity growth of 11.5 per cent over the past five years (2019-2023).

Additionally, the company has a conservative investment portfolio composed mainly of government bonds, cash and deposits.

TMI’s operating performance was assessed as strong, evidenced by a five-year average combined ratio of 85 per cent and return-on-equity ratio of 18 per cent (2019-2023), as well as its robust underwriting performance in 2023 with a combined ratio of 84 per cent.

The credit rating agency views the company’s business profile as limited and its portfolio to be diversified moderately by line of business with key lines including fire, marine and motor insurance, although with a geographic concentration in Indonesia.

TMI benefits from preferential access to Japanese interest abroad (JIA) related risks in Indonesia given its affiliation and common branding with TMH, having also shown significant growth in non-JIA-related risks over time, particularly for marine cargo.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday, 16 May 2024

GRADIANT LAUNCHES COMPLETE PFAS REMOVAL AND DESTRUCTION SOLUTION




KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- Gradiant, a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment, has launched ForeverGone, the industry’s only complete all-in-one solution to permanently remove and destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Gradiant Chief Operating Officer, Prakash Govindan said ForeverGone is different from anything in the marketplace as it completely solves the challenge of PFAS contamination.

“ForeverGone is precisely the disruptive innovation the industry has been calling for. We are delighted that Gradiant is enabling municipalities and industrial users worldwide to eliminate PFAS from nature, for good,” he added.

According to a statement, the current best available technologies for PFAS treatment merely concentrate or transfer wastes from one medium to another, necessitating further handling and transportation for ultimate disposal by landfilling or incineration.

Gradiant’s ForeverGone pairs two proven technologies, Micro-Foam Fractionation and Destruction Engine, to produce water that meets or exceeds the recently announced latest United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) drinking water standards for PFAS.

Micro-Foam Fractionation separates PFAS into a highly concentrated micro-foam optimised for removal, while the Destruction Engine uses electro-oxidation to permanently eliminate the full range of PFAS chemicals from the micro-foamate.

The integrated solution achieves comprehensive PFAS removal at the lowest total cost, setting new standards for simplicity, efficiency as well as sustainability.

With ForeverGone's modular design scales easily and adapts to a robust range of feed and product water conditions, the all-in-one PFAS removal and destruction solution is available as standalone containers that can be promptly shipped, installed, and commissioned at customer sites.

-- BERNAMA

MARY KAY PLANTS 60 TREES FOR 60 YEARS OF SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY



KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- Mary Kay Inc, a corporate leader in global sustainability, has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and Keep Lewisville Beautiful to host a tree planting event at Railroad Park to celebrate Mother Nature and Mother’s Day, on May 10.

“Through partnerships with organisations like the Arbor Day Foundation, Mary Kay is making positive environmental impact in ecosystems where we operate around the world.

“But change starts in your own backyard. We enjoyed ‘sprucing’ up the community by planting trees that will benefit local families for generations to come,” said its Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Rogers, who is also the grandson of founder Mary Kay Ash.

In a statement, the beauty brand said its volunteers planted 60 native trees along the trails and waterways in Railroad Park, symbolising the company’s 60th anniversary of enriching the lives of women and their families worldwide and protecting the planet.

The park is four miles from Mary Kay’s state-of-the-art Richard R. Rogers (R3) Manufacturing/Research and Development (R&D) Center, named in honour of the company’s cofounder and Mary Kay Ash’s son, Richard R. Rogers.

Built on 26 acres of land, R3 features state-of-the-art R&D laboratories and cutting-edge manufacturing technology, with 57 per cent of products manufactured are exported to Mary Kay’s international markets.

Trees planted at this location directly impact Lewisville communities by providing much-needed shade in community spaces, enhancing the beautification of recreational areas, and providing important ecosystem benefits in the Trinity River watershed.

Mary Kay’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, the world’s largest membership nonprofit dedicated to planting trees, stretches back more than 16 years, and in that time, the company has helped plant 1.4 million trees worldwide.

Meanwhile, Keep Lewisville Beautiful is a local environmental nonprofit that partners with organisations to plant trees and provide residents opportunities to care for Lewisville’s tree canopy on public lands. Following the planting, the Lewisville Parks Department is committed to long-term maintenance and upkeep of the trees with supplemental watering, pruning, and care.

-- BERNAMA

Survey Finds 72 Pct Consumers Worry Daily About Being Fooled By Deepfakes


KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- A new research from Jumio revealed that nearly three-quarters of consumers (72 per cent) worry on a day-to-day basis about being fooled by a deepfake into handing over sensitive information or money, and only 15 per cent have never encountered a deepfake video, audio or image before.

According to Jumio in a statement, this year’s results highlight significant concerns among consumers about the risks associated with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and deepfakes, including the potential for increased cybercrime and identity fraud.

The third installment of its annual global consumer research conducted by Censuswide examined the views of 8,077 adult consumers, split evenly across the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), Singapore and Mexico, that took place between March 25 and April 2.

The Jumio 2024 Online Identity Study found that even with high anxiety around this increasingly prevalent and ever-evolving technology, consumers continue to overestimate their ability to spot deepfakes, with 60 per cent believed they could detect a deepfake, up from 52 per cent in 2023.

Globally, men were more confident in their ability to spot a deepfake (66 per cent men versus 55 per cent women), with men aged between 18 to 34 demonstrating the most confidence (75 per cent), while women aged between 35 to 54 were least confident (52 per cent).

Although a significant majority (60 per cent) of consumers call for more governmental regulation of AI to address these issues, regulatory trust varies globally, with 69 per cent of Singaporeans expressing trust in their government’s ability to regulate AI, compared to just 26 per cent in the UK, 31 per cent in the US and 44 per cent in Mexico.

Fraud is an all-too-familiar issue for many consumers globally, with 68 per cent of respondents reporting that they know or suspect that they have been a victim of online fraud or identity theft, or that they know someone who has been affected.

The study showed that one-third (32 per cent) of consumers who were or suspected they were a victim of online fraud said it caused significant problems and several hours of administrative work to resolve, and 14 per cent went as far as calling it a traumatic experience.

More than 70 per cent of consumers say they would spend more time on identity verification if those measures improved security in industries including financial services (77 per cent), healthcare (74 per cent), government (72 per cent), retail and eCommerce (72 per cent), as well as social media (71 per cent).

When creating a new online account, global consumers said taking a picture of their ID and a live selfie would be the most accurate form of identity verification (21 per cent), with creating a secure password coming in at a close second (19 per cent).


-- BERNAMA

Wednesday, 15 May 2024

INTERNET INITIATIVE JAPAN’S SECURITY PLATFORM WINS CYBER DEFENSE MAGAZINE AWARDS

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Bernama) -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc (IIJ) announced its Zero Trust security platform "Safous" has won four awards from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM) at 12th annual Global InfoSec Awards at RSA Conference 2024.

The awards were Editor's Choice SMB Zero Trust; Next Gen Zero Trust Application Protection; Hot Company Zero Trust BYOD; and Best Product Zero Trust Platform, according to IIJ in a statement.

“We are thrilled to receive one of the most prestigious and coveted cybersecurity awards in the world from Cyber Defense Magazine during their 12th anniversary as an independent cybersecurity news and information provider.

“We knew the competition would be tough and, with top judges who are leading InfoSec experts from around the globe, we could not be more pleased,” said IIJ Global Business Director, Miki Tanaka.

The CDM InfoSec Awards honouring global InfoSec innovators is open for any startup, early-stage, later-stage, or public companies in the information security (InfoSec) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service.

IIJ provides a variety of functions to solve corporate server security issues, such as security assessments of existing information technology (IT) assets and zero-trust access protection for IT / operational technology (OT) assets.

Founded in 1992, IIJ is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers with services include high-quality Internet connectivity services, system integration, cloud computing services, security services and mobile services.

-- BERNAMA

NAN SHAN LIFE BAGS FIRST UL VERIFIED HEALTHY BUILDING MARK IN TAIWAN

Sean McCrady, vice president and general manager of Enterprise Sustainability at UL Solutions, and Jonathan T.H. Chen, regional vice president of Taiwan at UL Solutions, presented a plaque bearing the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark to Nan Shan Life representatives during a ceremony in Taipei City, Taiwan, on May 13. (Photo: Business Wire)


KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, announced the headquarters of Nan Shan Life Insurance Co Ltd (Nan Shan Life) has achieved the first UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Environment in Taiwan.

“This achievement shows Nan Shan Life’s commitment to creating and maintaining indoor environmental quality that supports the health, well-being and comfort of employees and visitors at its Taipei City headquarters,” said UL Solutions vice president and general manager of Enterprise Sustainability, Sean McCrady.

This achievement marks a significant milestone in promoting the importance of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in the region, as the commercial real estate industry is transforming to meet the evolving demands of tenants, employees and investors regarding healthy buildings.

According to a statement, the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Environment is UL Solutions’ most comprehensive healthy building assessment, which helps the industry address these demands.

Verified buildings meet rigorous performance criteria and have policies and plans in place for the continual advancement of IEQ, including indoor air, water, hygiene, lighting and acoustics.

Nan Shan Life stated that achieving this milestone provides its employees with science-backed verification that its Taipei City facility meets UL Solutions’ indoor environmental quality criteria and demonstrates the company’s strong commitment to promoting the health and well-being of employees.

To achieve the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark, Nan Shan Life’s headquarters building underwent a desktop audit, on-site visual inspections and performance testing to evaluate various building conditions.

The programme includes an annual comprehensive assessment coupled with surveillance at the mid-year point. The UL Verified Mark is delivered through the UL Solutions Marketing Claim Verification service.

-- BERNAMA


Tuesday, 14 May 2024

NEW LRN RESEARCH: GEN Z EMPLOYEES TWICE AS LIKELY TO BEND THE RULES OR ENGAGE IN WORKPLACE MISCONDUCT



Latest Benchmark of Ethical Culture Report finds that top barrier to reporting misconduct is lack of trust in organizational justice systems


NEW YORK, May 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new report by LRN Corporation, the leader in ethics and compliance (E&C) solutions that enable organizations to inspire principled performance, has found that nearly a quarter (23%) of employees around the world agreed that “it is OK to break the rules if needed to get the job done,” and 14% said they had actually themselves “engaged in behavior that violated their company’s Code of Conduct or standards” in the past year.

Further, 22% of Gen Z respondents said they engaged in unethical conduct in the past year in the workplace, compared with just 9% of Boomers. The results suggest an inverse trend between this mindset and age, with Gen Z 2.5x more likely to agree with breaking the rules than Boomers.

The findings are included in LRN’s latest Benchmark of Ethical Culture Report, which is based on a comprehensive survey of more than 8,500 employees at major organizations and corporations in 15 different countries, and from 13 different industries. The research found that companies with strong ethical cultures have lower rates of observed misconduct and report their observation at a rate 1.5x higher than those in companies with weak cultures (93% compared to 63%). As companies can only address that which they are aware of, this higher level of reporting represents a significant reduction in risk.

Globally, one-third (33%) of respondents said they had observed misconduct or unethical behavior in the past year, with harassment, discrimination, conflicts of interest, and employee health and safety violations cited most frequently. Of those, one-fifth (21%) didn’t report their observation because they didn’t think their company would do anything about their concern (36%) or handle it effectively (30%), or because they feared retaliation (36%). These trends overwhelmingly signal a lack of trust in the system of procedural justice within the organization.

The research also probed employees’ perceptions of Artificial Intelligence and its place in work and on careers. While a slight majority believe AI will have a positive impact, employees who view their companies as adaptive and resilient are nearly 2x more receptive to the potential benefits of Artificial Intelligence on their workplace and career opportunities.

It is generally accepted that culture impacts business results; LRN’s research quantifies that relationship. Companies with strong ethical cultures outperform, by an average of ~50% percentage points more than companies with weak ethical cultures, on a variety of traditional business metrics including customer satisfaction, employee loyalty, competitiveness, innovation, and adaptability. Not only is this gap significant in its size, it represents a meaningful increase from similar research conducted in 2021, which identified a 30%-point performance gap. The performance gap is most pronounced when it comes to a company’s ability to adapt quickly to internal and external change (a critical determinant of resilience): the adaptability of companies with strong ethical cultures is rated 2.6x higher than those from weak ethical cultures. These companies also outperform on business results and innovation at a rate 2.3x and 2.2x higher.

Other notable findings from the report include:
  • A large majority (79%) of employees who observed misconduct reported their observation, with most raising their concern to either their direct manager or another manager in the company (77% combined)
  • Of all ethical culture measures, psychological safety was the greatest predictor of whether employees would report misconduct they had observed
  • Executive and senior leaders are 2.6x more likely to indicate their company has a strong ethical culture than individual contributors and front-line employees, illustrating a stark leadership disconnect with the realities on the ground
  • Hybrid employees have more positive perceptions of their company’s ethical culture than their fully in-office peers; they also observe misconduct at a lower rate, and report their observations at a higher rate
  • A company’s ethical culture explained a significant proportion (41%) of the variation in an employees’ willingness to stay at their organization, outside of other factors such as compensation, title, or job responsibilities
About LRN Corporation

LRN's mission and purpose is to inspire principled performance and help people around the world do the right thing. Since 1994, LRN has worked to propel organizations forward with the partnership, knowledge, and solutions to build ethical culture. Learn more at LRN.com and follow on TwitterLinkedIn, and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240513291208/en/

Contact

Charlotte Hole, Gabriel Oben, Jamie Rollo or Catherine Oswalt, Infinite Global (for LRN)
LRN@infiniteglobal.com

Source : LRN Corporation

YARA CLEAN AMMONIA TO OFFTAKE RENEWABLE AMMONIA SUPPLY FROM INDIA'S AM GREEN PROJECT

Ammonia production facility and port infrastructure on East coast of India (Photo: Business Wire)


KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Bernama) -- Yara Clean Ammonia signed a term sheet with Greenko ZeroC, the green ammonia production arm of India-based AM Green, securing up to 50 per cent of renewable ammonia supply from Phase 1 of AM Green’s ammonia production facility in Kakinada, India.

The plant will produce and export renewable ammonia derived from round-the-clock carbon free energy by 2027, according to a statement.

Yara Clean Ammonia Chief Executive Officer, Hans Olav Raen said the AM Green Kakinada project expands its portfolio of ammonia produced with renewable energy and consolidates the company’s position as a reliable supplier of low-emission ammonia to established and emerging markets such as fertiliser production, cracking of clean ammonia to hydrogen, shipping fuel, power generation, and other industrial applications.

Meanwhile, AM Green President, Mahesh Kolli said: “Continuous focus on innovation combined with execution reinforces AM Green’s leadership position as a global clean energy transition solutions platform for low-cost green molecules such as hydrogen, ammonia, fuels and other chemicals.”

Renewable ammonia and other sustainable fuels from AM Green’s platform, will be compliant with European Union (EU) renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) and Renewable Energy Directive requirements.

For Yara Clean Ammonia, the renewable ammonia supply will contribute to producing low-emission fertiliser and for decarbonising other industries like shipping, power, and other industries.

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Yara Clean Ammonia operates the largest global ammonia network with 15 ships and has, through Yara, access to 18 ammonia terminals and multiple ammonia production and consumption sites worldwide.

-- BERNAMA

Saturday, 11 May 2024

Australia’s Guild Insurance Rated Excellent - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Australia’s Guild Insurance Limited (GIL).

AM Best in a statement said these credit ratings (ratings) which have a stable outlook reflected GIL’s balance sheet strength, was assessed as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

In addition, the ratings factor in a neutral holding company impact from the company’s ultimate ownership by The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGOA).

GIL’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was at the strongest level in fiscal year-end 2023 (June 30, 2023), as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

Whilst GIL’s financial flexibility is considered limited given its ultimate ownership by a not-for-profit organisation, the company has prudent capital management in place to support its regulatory solvency position, as well as maintain its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level over the medium term.

AM Best views GIL’s operating performance as adequate, with an average return-on-equity ratio of 4.7 per cent (fiscal-years 2019-2023), in which the operating performance metrics exhibited heightened volatility, due to the impact of COVID-19-related provisions, weather events and volatility in the financial markets.

Despite this, GIL’s expense ratio improved as a result of increased operational scale and cost management initiatives. Prospectively, AM Best expects an adequate level of operating performance to be maintained and underpinned by positive technical profits and investment income.

The company is considered a small insurer in Australia’s non-life sector, with gross premiums of AUD$287 million and an overall market share of below one per cent in 2023. (AUD$1 = RM3.12)

However, GIL is a leading provider of insurance protection to allied health professional associations, supported by its direct access to members of its parent, PGOA, which is a national employers’ organisation representing community pharmacies across Australia.

-- BERNAMA

ANAQUA UNVEILS PATTSY WAVE VERSION 8 IP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

New release empowers IP professionals with enhanced operational efficiency and functionality

BOSTON, May 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology, today announces the launch of PATTSY WAVE Version 8, the latest release of the patent and trademark management software. With this announcement, PATTSY WAVE Version 8 offers a streamlined IP management experience for IP professionals in corporations and law firms focused on efficient task execution.

Created to simplify workflows, mitigate risk, and elevate accuracy, Version 8’s new components help IP professionals manage their portfolios with greater precision and ease. New capabilities include:

· Inventor Portal: A cutting-edge tool that enhances collaboration between inventors and legal teams. The Inventor Portal streamlines the invention disclosure process with customizable, no-code questionnaires, intuitive tracking mechanisms for inventor awards, and automated workflows for legal processing.
· APIs: PATTSY WAVE’s APIs will provide a standard, reliable mechanism to share data with external applications. Clients will be able to retrieve bibliographic and action data from any of PATTSY WAVE’s primary modules.
· Unlimited Parties & Customizable Roles: Users can now assign an unlimited number of responsible parties to any matter. Teams can also define roles applicable to their organization and create specialized roles associated with Action Categories.

PATTSY WAVE Version 8 also includes enhanced user experience and functionality with expanded data validation to provide global coverage and detailed assignment history, ensuring a comprehensive and intuitive system for all.

“With the release of PATTSY WAVE Version 8, Anaqua continues our commitment to empowering intellectual property professionals with innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and drive productivity," said Bob Romeo, CEO at Anaqua. “Version 8 is the ideal solution for IP professionals seeking a modern, integrated tool to drive their IP operations with speed, accuracy and control.”

For more information about PATTSY WAVE Version 8 and its latest features, visit anaqua.com/pattsy-wave/

Friday, 10 May 2024

SUSTAINABILITY TRAINING RAISE AWARENESS ON SINGAPORE'S FOOD PRODUCTION WORTH

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) -- NX Global Engineering Pte Ltd (NX Global Engineering), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, participated in a plantation tour and a microgreen cultivation workshop organised by Edible Garden City, a plantation operator in Singapore.

According to a statement, the members who took part in this recent training tour commented that the programme had boosted their awareness of the importance of food production in Singapore and given them an opportunity to think about their own roles in achieving sustainable societies.

Singapore relies on imports for more than 90 per cent of its food, and low food self-sufficiency is a social problem. To address this issue, Singapore is pursuing a "30 by 30" initiative aimed at raising its food self-sufficiency rate to 30 per cent by 2030.

Agriculture utilising food technology such as cell-cultured meat and other technologies has garnered attention in this initiative as the country’s next growth industry, and Singapore has been working in earnest to foster this industry.

Established in 2016 in Singapore, NX Global Engineering handles heavy haulage and maintenance for a variety of plants and factories.

The NX Group will continue actively communicating with local communities and engaging in community-based social activities with the aim of realising sustainable societies.

As a partner that goes beyond simply transporting goods, the group is committed to creating sustainable and environmentally-conscious supply chains, striving to co-create its customers' future by providing innovative solutions.

-- BERNAMA

JBI Studios Acquires Cody AI’s Platform To Accelerate AI Capabilities For Enterprises, SMBs

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- Just Build It (JBI), a visionary company focused on designing, building and renovating companies announced the strategic acquisition of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Cody AI into its marketing and sales product division, JBI Studios, forming new product offering ‘AI Suite’.

In a statement, the company said the acquisition and formation of ‘AI Suite’ established JBI as a trailblazer in sophisticated data warehousing and enterprise AI for financial services.

JBI Co-Founder and Managing Partner, John Wise said the creation of its AI Suite focused on bringing together three fundamentals, namely Enterprise, Data Warehousing, and Custom Application.

Meanwhile, Cody AI Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Oriol Zertuche said the company already had a proven track record in enabling enterprises and large institutions to utilise AI across millions of documents with a high level of precision, and JBI’s expertise in assembling training data will accelerate those opportunities.

JBI’s acquisition of Cody AI into JBI Studios positions them at the forefront of markets eager for innovation, with the adoption and integration of AI leading crucial conversations worldwide. Cody AI’s platform will leverage JBI's decades of data warehousing and data modelling expertise.

The AI Suite products enable large organisations to leverage AI effectively, merging public, private and client-specific data, while strictly adhering to data privacy and security obligations.

The JBI team understands and has successfully modelled the vast majority of many industry sectors and solved for complexities related to timeliness, scale, privacy, security and entitlements for many large global institutions.

Custom applications will be available to clients through AI Suite toolkits, and with JBI Studios AI Suite, Enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) alike can design and build unique solutions that allow them to leverage AI for insights and growth, while retaining full control of their data.

In addition, JBI also unveiled complementary partnerships with global marketing and communication agencies Cognito and Metia for distribution. This series of strategic moves marks JBI's first public announcement since its inception, signalling a major move to bring AI technology into the deep vertical of the financial sector.

This strategic partnership will support JBI Studios in conducting in-depth Data Studies and AI Studies, equipping clients with a structured approach to creating and executing their AI strategy.

-- BERNAMA


New York Reigns Supreme As World's Richest City

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- The United States (US) led the pack as the largest creator of millionaires and billionaires in the world, with 11 of the top 50 richest cities, including New York City, which holds firmly onto first place in the 2024 World’s Wealthiest Cities Report.

Published annually by international wealth migration specialists Henley & Partners, the report revealed that the total wealth held by the Big Apple’s residents now exceeds US$3 trillion, higher than the total wealth held in most major G20 countries, and a staggering 349,500 millionaires and 60 billionaires live in the city. (US$1=RM4.74)

Hot on its heels in second place is Northern California’s Bay Area (encompassing the city of San Francisco and Silicon Valley), which has increased its millionaire population by a whopping 82 per cent over the past decade, and is now home to 305,700 millionaires and 68 billionaires.

According to Henley & Partners in a statement, some cities worldwide have seen a reversal of fortune whereby Tokyo, which led the pack a decade ago, has suffered a five per cent decline in its resident high net worth individual (HNWI) population, and now sits in third place with just 298,300 millionaires.

London, the wealthiest city in the world for many years, tumbled to fifth place, with just 227,000 millionaires and 35 billionaires, a decline of 10 per cent over the past decade.

By contrast, Singapore climbed two spots to fourth in the ranking following an impressive 64 per cent growth in millionaires over the last 10 years, approximately 3,400 HNWIs moved there in 2023 alone and the city state now boasts 244,800 resident millionaires, and 30 billionaires.

Los Angeles also rose on the list, moving up two places to sixth place with a 45 per cent jump in the number of millionaires.

Meanwhile, China has established a notable presence in the ranking, with five cities in mainland China making the list, and seven cities including Hong Kong (143,400 millionaires) and Taipei (30,200). Beijing cracked the top 10 for the first time following a 90 per cent increase in millionaires over the past decade to 125,600.

Turning to the Middle East, Dubai easily takes the crown as the wealthiest city in the region, with an impressive growth of 78 per cent in its millionaire population over the past 10 years and currently ranked as the world’s 21st wealthiest city.

Monaco, arguably the world’s top safe-haven for the super-rich, where the average wealth exceeds US$20 million, is also the top-ranked city on a wealth per capita basis. It is also top of the World’s Most Expensive Cities list, with apartment prices regularly exceeding US$35,000 per square metre.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday, 9 May 2024

INGREDION COMPLETES REORGANIZATION, REPORTS FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS UNDER NEW SEGMENTS AND RAISES GUIDANCE



  • First quarter 2024 reported and adjusted EPS* were $3.23 and $2.08, an increase of 13% and decrease of 26%, respectively
  • Completed sale of South Korea business, another step in reshaping the portfolio and redeploying assets
  • Raising guidance for full-year reported EPS to be in the range of $10.35 to $11.00 and adjusted EPS to be in the range of $9.20 to $9.85
  • For the second quarter 2024, the Company expects operating income to be up low to mid-single-digits


WESTCHESTER, Ill., May 9 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food and beverage manufacturing industry, today reported results for the first quarter of 2024. The results, reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, include items that are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures that the Company presents.

“Against a strong comparison with last year's record first quarter performance, this quarter’s results exceeded expectations. As anticipated, our net sales volumes in the quarter improved sequentially, despite the impact of extreme cold weather on shipments in the U.S. and taking into account the sale of our South Korea business,” said Jim Zallie, Ingredion’s president and chief executive officer. “Furthermore, we maintained our gross margins above 22% as the strength of our business model effectively managed the impact of variable rate contracts which require the pass through of lower corn costs.”

“Looking forward, our Driving Growth Roadmap continues to guide our long-term value creation. Also, in support of our new Winning Aspiration, the reorganization is enabling clearer focus on the opportunities presented by our global customers to drive growth. We are encouraged by the levels of customer engagement, particularly in our texture solutions business. Additionally, we anticipate deploying cash this year toward organic investments, dividends, and a step-up in share repurchases,” Zallie concluded.

As previously disclosed, effective January 1, 2024, Ingredion will report financial and operational results under its new reporting structure. For comparison purposes, results for the first quarter of 2023 throughout this news release are unaudited and have been revised to reflect the new reporting structure in which there are three new reportable segments as described below.
*Adjusted diluted earnings per share (“adjusted EPS”), adjusted operating income and adjusted effective income tax rate are non-GAAP financial measures. See section II of the Supplemental Financial Information entitled “Non-GAAP Information” following the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this news release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.


Table


Other Financial Items
  • At March 31, 2024, total debt and cash, including short-term investments, were $1.9 billion and $445 million, respectively, versus $2.2 billion and $409 million, respectively, at December 31, 2023.
  • Reported net financing costs for the first quarter were $19 million versus $32 million for the year-ago period.
  • Reported and adjusted effective tax rates for the first quarter were 21.0% and 28.4%, respectively, compared to 25.1% and 27.7%, respectively, for the year-ago period. The decrease in the reported effective tax rate was primarily driven by the low effective tax rate on the sale of our South Korea business during the first quarter of 2024.
  • Capital expenditures, net were $65 million, down $10 million from the year-ago period.

Business Review

Table

Table


Dividends and Share Repurchases

In the first quarter of 2024, the Company paid $51 million in dividends to shareholders and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share that was paid on April 23, 2024. During the quarter, the Company repurchased $1 million of outstanding shares of common stock.

Updated Second Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Outlook

For the second quarter of 2024, the Company expects net sales to be flat to down low single-digits and reported and adjusted operating income to be up low to mid-single-digits.

The Company now expects its full-year 2024 reported EPS to be in the range of $10.35 to $11.00, which includes the impact of the gain on the divestiture of the South Korea business completed on February 1, 2024, and adjusted EPS to be in the range of $9.20 to $9.85.

Excluding the effects of the divestiture of the South Korea business, the Company expects full-year 2024 net sales to be flat to up low single-digits, reflecting the pass-through of lower corn values. Reported and adjusted operating income is expected to be up mid-single-digits.

Corporate costs are still expected to be up mid-single-digits.

For full-year 2024, the Company now expects a reported and adjusted effective tax rate of 24.5% to 25.5%, and 26.5% to 27.5%, respectively.

Cash from operations for full-year 2024 is still expected to be in the range of $750 million to $900 million. Capital expenditures for the full year are still expected to be approximately $340 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Ingredion will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 8 a.m. CT/ 9 a.m. ET, hosted by Jim Zallie, president and chief executive officer, and Jim Gray, executive vice president and chief financial officer. The call will be webcast in real-time and can be accessed at https://ir.ingredionincorporated.com/events-and-presentations. A presentation containing additional financial and operating information will be accessible through the Company’s website at https://ir.ingredionincorporated.com/events-and-presentations and available to download a few hours prior to the start of the call. A replay will be available for a limited time at https://ir.ingredionincorporated.com/financial-information/quarterly-results.

About the Company

Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With 2023 annual net sales of approximately $8 billion, the Company turns grains, fruits, vegetables and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, and industrial markets. With Ingredion’s Idea Labs® innovation centers around the world and approximately 12,000 employees, the Company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature and technology together to make life better. Visit ingredion.com for more information and the latest Company news.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Ingredion intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for such statements.

Forward-looking statements include, among others, any statements regarding our expectations for full-year 2024 reported and adjusted earnings per share, net sales, reported and adjusted operating income, corporate costs, reported and adjusted effective tax rate, cash from operations, working capital, and capital expenditures, our expectations for second quarter 2024 net sales and reported and adjusted operating income, and any other statements regarding our prospects and our future operations, financial condition, volumes, cash flows, expenses or other financial items, including management’s plans or strategies and objectives for any of the foregoing and any assumptions, expectations, or beliefs underlying any of the foregoing.

These statements can sometimes be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “plan,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “continue,” “pro forma,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “propels,” “opportunities,” “potential,” “provisional,” or other similar expressions or the negative thereof. All statements other than statements of historical facts therein are “forward-looking statements.”

These statements are based on current circumstances or expectations, but are subject to certain inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control. Although we believe our expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, investors are cautioned that no assurance can be given that our expectations will prove correct.

Actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in or implied by these statements, based on various risks and uncertainties, including geopolitical conflicts and actions arising from them, including the impacts on the availability and prices of raw materials and energy supplies, supply chain interruptions, and volatility in foreign exchange and interest rates; changing consumer consumption preferences that may lessen demand for products we make; the effects of global economic conditions and the general political, economic, business, and market conditions that affect customers and consumers in the various geographic regions and countries in which we buy our raw materials or manufacture or sell our products, and the impact these factors may have on our sales volumes, the pricing of our products and our ability to collect our receivables from customers; future purchases of our products by major industries which we serve and from which we derive a significant portion of our sales, including, without limitation, the food, animal nutrition, beverage; the risks associated with pandemics; the uncertainty of acceptance of products developed through genetic modification and biotechnology; our ability to develop or acquire new products and services at rates or of qualities sufficient to gain market acceptance; increased competitive and/or customer pressure in the corn-refining industry and related industries, including with respect to the markets and prices for our primary products and our co-products, particularly corn oil; price fluctuations, supply chain disruptions, and shortages affecting inputs to our production processes and delivery channels, including raw materials, energy costs and availability and cost of freight and logistics; our ability to contain costs, achieve budgets and realize expected synergies, including with respect to our ability to complete planned maintenance and investment projects on time and on budget as well as with respect to freight and shipping costs and hedging activities; operating difficulties at our manufacturing facilities and liabilities relating to product safety and quality; the effects of climate change and legal, regulatory, and market measures to address climate change; our ability to successfully identify and complete acquisitions, divestitures, or strategic alliances on favorable terms as well as our ability to successfully conduct due diligence, integrate acquired businesses or implement and maintain strategic alliances and achieve anticipated synergies with respect to all of the foregoing; economic, political and other risks inherent in conducting operations in foreign countries and in foreign currencies; the failure to maintain satisfactory labor relations; our ability to attract, develop, motivate, and maintain good relationships with our workforce; the impact on our business of natural disasters, war, threats or acts of terrorism, or the occurrence of other significant events beyond our control; the impact of impairment charges on our goodwill or long-lived assets; changes in government policy, law, or regulation and costs of legal compliance, including compliance with environmental regulation; changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liability; increases in our borrowing costs that could result from increased interest rates; our ability to raise funds at reasonable rates and other factors affecting our access to sufficient funds for future growth and expansion; interruptions, security incidents, or failures with respect to information technology systems, processes, and sites; volatility in the stock market and other factors that could adversely affect our stock price; risks affecting the continuation of our dividend policy; and our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. If we do update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections. For a further description of these and other risks, see “Risk Factors” and other information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

 
Ingredion Incorporated
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)


Above is a reconciliation of the company’s expected full-year 2024 GAAP ETR to its expected full-year 2024 adjusted ETR. The amounts above may not reflect certain future charges, costs and/or gains that are inherently difficult to predict and estimate due to their unknown timing, effect and/or significance. The company generally excludes these adjustments from its adjusted ETR guidance, which makes the company more confident in its ability to forecast adjusted ETR than it is in its ability to forecast GAAP ETR. These amounts include, but are not limited to, adjustments to GAAP ETR for resegmentation costs, net gain on sale of business and certain Mexico tax items.

These adjustments to GAAP ETR for 2024 include the following:

i.  Tax impact from resegmentation costs related to the company’s resegmentation effective January 1, 2024
ii. Tax impact as a result of the sale of the company’s business in South Korea completed February 1, 2024
iii. Tax benefit as a result of the movement of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar and its impact to the remeasurement of the company’s Mexico financial statements during the period

CONTACT:
Investors: Noah Weiss, 773-896-5242
Media: corpcomm@ingredion.com 


SOURCE : Ingredion Incorporated