Applications Are Open for ClimateLaunchpad, the World’s Largest Green Business Ideas Competition

ClimateLaunchpad 2026

SINGAPORE, March 6, 2026/AgilityPR-AsiaNet/ --

ClimateLaunchpad , the world's largest green business ideas competition by Climate KIC , has opened applications for its 2026 edition. Since 2014, the programme has supported nearly 5,000 ideas across 97 countries. This year, it is expanding its presence in Asia with Singapore hosting both the regional final and Global Grand Final for the first time. The competition is therefore partnering with regional partners Better Earth Ventures and TPC Group.

“Strengthening ClimateLaunchpad’s presence in Asia marks a profound new chapter for this programme and for the climate innovation movement more broadly. Asia is where so much of the world’s climate and nature future will be shaped, through business leadership, public-private partnerships and long term strategic thinking. We look forward to supporting this momentum with new business ideas and innovation ecosystem collaborations across more than a dozen countries. This expansion opens space for deeper cross-cultural connections and for first-time founders to turn sparks of imagination into solutions that serve both people and planet.”
- Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of Climate KIC.

What is ClimateLaunchpad and how to join?

Since its launch in 2014, ClimateLaunchpad has become the most accessible pipeline for green innovation.

The curriculum is designed to turn ideas on the back of a napkin into battle-proof businesses. Participants move through several stages:

1. An initial mini-course to refine the concept.
2. An intensive multi-day Boot Camp led by expert trainers.
3. Targeted coaching to perfect value propositions and investor pitches.
4. National and regional finals, where teams pitch to expert juries and gain wider visibility.
5. A place at the Global Grand Final, with prizes and access to a global climate network.

In 2025, the programme received over 2,700 applications from 40 countries. The winning ventures gain prize money, investor connections, and access to a global cleantech network.

Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of ClimateLaunchpad . Climate innovators, green venture builders, and entrepreneurs from around the world can apply here .

Partnering with regional players

This year, Climate KIC is partnering with Better Earth Ventures to host both ClimateLaunchpad Singapore and the Global Grand Final. Better Earth Ventures is a Singapore-based climate innovation platform supporting early-stage founders across Asia-Pacific. As the local delivery partner, they bring deep ecosystem relationships and hands-on experience running climate and agrifood innovation programmes, with a focus on turning promising ideas into scalable ventures. Their work is grounded in the belief that global change starts with local action, and that supporting entrepreneurs on the ground is key to building a resilient green economy.

“We are proud to host ClimateLaunchpad’s Regional and Global Grand Final in Singapore and to convene an international group of climate entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries. Climate solutions are emerging from every corner of the world, and bringing them together creates the kind of cross-border exchange and collaboration this moment demands. Our focus is to ensure early-stage founders have the structure, ecosystem access and support needed to move from idea to credible impact.”
- Rebecca Sharpe, Founder and CEO Better Earth Ventures

At the same time, the competition is entering a new chapter with Singapore-based TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) bringing a perspective rooted in interconnectedness. TPC is a fourth-generation family business ecosystem committed to advancing the well-being economy, with activities spanning global logistics, impact investment, education, and philanthropy.

This perspective recognises that climate, economy, culture and community do not operate separately. Addressing the climate crisis requires understanding how these systems overlap and designing solutions that reflect that reality.

This systems perspective also informs the work of NO.17 Foundation, part of the TPC ecosystem, which focuses on aligning capital, collaboration, and execution so that climate innovation can move from promising ideas to scalable systems change.

“Climate innovation is ultimately a human endeavour before it is a technological one. The most powerful solutions often emerge from people closest to the realities of climate change. Platforms like ClimateLaunchpad help connect these founders with the networks, capital, and collaboration needed to turn local insight into solutions that can scale globally.”
- Luis Alvarado Martinez, CEO of No. 17 Foundation

The partner network

ClimateLaunchpad is supported by long-term partners like Bank of America and Irish Aid. Support from Bank of America strengthens the ecosystem from the earliest stages, giving visibility to solutions that can deliver real-world impact and reshape our economy. Meanwhile, Irish Aid empowers entrepreneurs in emerging markets, ensuring those on the front lines of climate change have the tools to build their own local solutions.

Application open: Climate innovators, green venture builders, and entrepreneurs from around the world can apply here .

About Climate KIC

Climate KIC is Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community, creating climate-resilient communities and fighting climate breakdown by mobilising systems change in countries, regions, cities, and businesses. Together with partners across the globe, Climate KIC orchestrates solutions and facilitates learning to bridge the gap between climate commitments and current reality, driving faster and more ambitious action.

About Better Earth Ventures

Better Earth Ventures is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of transformative technologies and initiatives that mitigate climate change and promote sustainable living. Located in Singapore, we serve as a pivotal gateway to Asia-Pacific, with a strong regional network of commercial partners, investors and mentors to help growth-stage businesses scale sustainably across borders. Through collaboration, mentorship, and strategic partnerships, we empower visionary entrepreneurs to drive tangible impact and pave the way for a resilient and thriving planet.

About TPC (Tsao Pao Chee)

TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) is a fourth-generation family business holding company headquartered in Singapore that is committed to empowering the well-being and happiness economy. TPC does this by supporting global connectivity and resilience through its supply chain and logistics activities, and well-being-focused activities aimed at fostering individual and collective growth.

TPC’s purpose-led well-being business ecosystem comprises IMC Industrial, OCTAVE, and multiple non-profit organisations, including OCTAVE Institute, NO.17 Foundation and Restore Nature Foundation, operating in unity to add value to life, with corporate offices in the People’s Republic of China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan. Find out more about TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) at tsaopaochee.com and on LinkedIn.

About NO.17 Foundation

NO.17 Foundation is the nexus of capital, consciousness, and collaboration in the Well-being Era – the philanthropic heart of TPC (Tsao Pao Chee). Rooted in SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, NO.17 unites values-aligned funders, partners, and changemakers to catalyse systemic transformation. Through trust-based giving, regenerative coalitions, and strategic ecosystem building, we activate new forms of capital – financial, social, cultural, spiritual, institutional, ecological, and human – as a force for collective flourishing. Explore our movement to make philanthropy as a field of love for transformation at https://17foundation.org and on LinkedIn.

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

About Irish Aid

Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s international development cooperation programme. It works in more than 80 countries to reduce poverty, hunger and humanitarian need, often focusing on climate action, gender equality and strengthening governance. gov.ie

As part of Ireland’s foreign policy, Irish Aid supports inclusive development, helps communities adapt to climate change, and backs early-stage innovation in underserved regions. Its approach emphasises giving a voice, platform and opportunity to entrepreneurs worldwide — especially in regions hardest hit by climate risks.

Contact details:

Climate KIC
anne-sophie.garrigou@climate-kic.org

SOURCE: Climate KIC

--BERNAMA

Eight Sleep Reaches $1.5B Valuation, Accelerates Predictive AI for Health

Eight Sleep Reaches $1.5B Valuation, Accelerates Predictive AI for Health 

Capital fuels the company's shift from sleep optimization to predictive AI health platform

NEW YORK, March 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Eight Sleep, the leading sleep technology company, today announced a new strategic round led by Tether Investments, valuing the company at $1.5 billion. The investment will fund Eight Sleep’s expansion from sleep optimization into predictive, AI-driven health — building a system that anticipates disruptions to recovery and intervenes before they occur.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
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The round follows a milestone year. In 2025, Eight Sleep achieved free cash flow positivity while launching three new products — Pod 5, Pod Pillow Cover, and Thermal Blanket — expanding globally to 34 countries, and conducting the most rigorous clinical validation in the company's history. Two peer-reviewed studies show the Pod reduces menopausal hot flashes by 56% and, for the first time in any consumer device, restores the body's natural circadian temperature rhythm during sleep, improving cardiovascular recovery markers.

With Eight Sleep's advancements over the last year, the Company is shifting its focus from sleep optimization to AI-driven preventative health. Eight Sleep is applying predictive intelligence directly to the human body, transforming the bedroom into an intelligent health platform that creates the optimal conditions for recovery before any disruption occurs.

From reactive to predictive: the AI agent

Eight Sleep's Pod tracks biometrics — sleep stages, heart rate, HRV — and automatically adjusts temperature and elevation to improve sleep. Until now, the system has been reactive: reading signals during the night and making real-time adjustments that have been clinically proven to deliver better sleep.

The company is now building a predictive AI agent that anticipates how a user's night will unfold and acts before disruption occurs. The system simulates thousands of scenarios — a warm room, late exercise, a large meal, elevated stress — and optimizes the sleep environment before the user gets into bed.

Eight Sleep’s models are trained on more than one billion hours of real-world sleep data from users in 35+ countries — a proprietary dataset unmatched in scale, diversity, and fidelity. Early pilots of daytime AI-driven guidance have already driven measurable behavior change: nearly half of participants adjusted activity timing, caffeine intake, or sleep schedules based on automated insights.

Expanding into regulated health

Eight Sleep is advancing clinical and regulatory work in the United States, including FDA filings for sleep apnea detection and mitigation. FDA clearance would transform the Pod from a wellness product into a regulated health platform capable of screening, detecting, and intervening at population scale, passively, every night.

"Sleep was just the beginning,” said Matteo Franceschetti, Co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep. “We've built the most advanced AI-powered health sensing system in the world — one that learns your body better every night and acts on that knowledge. This investment gives us the resources to take that intelligence beyond the bedroom and into every dimension of personal health. What we're building doesn't exist yet — a system that understands your body better each night and acts on that knowledge. Our goal is to build the defining health technology company of this generation."

“We believe advanced personalized AI is the perfect pathway to understand and expand human potential,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “Eight Sleep has the potential to define the future of health tech by building intelligence that learns, scales, and evolves directly with humankind, turning advanced AI into practical, everyday insights and enhancements about core human biology. By helping people better understand sleep, recovery, and long-term health, Eight Sleep is laying the groundwork for a new standard in longevity-focused technology that is truly personalized, can function in any condition, directly on-device, resilient, and aligned with how people live. The age of human-first health intelligence has started.”

Investment priorities

The capital will be deployed across three areas: scaling R&D to accelerate predictive model development; expanding clinical trials and regulatory pathways; and deepening global commercial partnerships in priority markets.

About Eight Sleep

Eight Sleep is the first company to bring sleep fitness to the world by combining technology, physiology, and data to unlock deeper sleep and better health. Its products are trusted by professional athletes, including F1 driver Charles Leclerc and top American tennis player Taylor Fritz, business leaders, and health-conscious consumers across the globe. Recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and twice named to TIME's “Best Inventions of the Year,” Eight Sleep continues to redefine the future of sleep. Its products are available in over 34 countries at eightsleep.com.

View source version on businesswire.com:
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Contact

eightsleep@aiir.agency

Source : Eight Sleep

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

The Next Global AI Trend Has a Face: Kindred Labs Partners With IPX (LINE FRIENDS, BT21) to Turn Characters Into Everyday AI

 

^{LINE FRIENDS characters, now living across your devices with Kindred.}


SINGAPORE, March 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kindred Labs today announced a strategic partnership with IPX (formerly known as LINE FRIENDS), the globally recognized character brand LINE FRIENDS, BT21, ZO&FRIENDS and more.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303835585/en/  

Through the partnership, Kindred Labs and IPX will create AI-powered companion experiences that bring expressive character personalities into everyday digital life through responsive, emotionally resonant interaction.

The companions are being designed in a new form factor: a persistent character presence that lives on top of your screen, showing up in the flow of everyday moments, from desktop and mobile to emerging surfaces like smart glasses over time. Beyond personality and expression, these companions are being built to function as powerful personal assistants, designed to become a primary way people use AI throughout their day, expressed through a friendly and familiar presence.

Planned to launch in April 2026 globally excluding China, the partnership aligns with the 15th anniversary of LINE FRIENDS’ iconic character BROWN, introducing a new way for fans to connect with BROWN in daily life.

The partnership was negotiated by Beanstalk, a division of CAA Brand Management, which represents IPX as its interactive licensing agent.

Quote

“The primary way people will experience their personal AI will be through something they genuinely love seeing every day. I can already imagine the delight fans will have when BROWN start showing up in their daily lives, like this familiar presence you're happy to see. We’re taking these characters into a whole new paradigm, one that brings us closer to why we love them in the first place.”

Max Giammario, CEO, Kindred Labs

About Kindred Labs

Kindred Labs is the character-powered AI network built on Sei, bringing officially licensed iconic IP to life as a constant, emotionally intelligent presence by your side. Kindred is among the world’s fastest-growing AI companion startups, with over 8 million users on its waitlist.

To learn more about Kindred labs, visit www.kindredlabs.ai and follow @kindred_AI on X.

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Contact

hey@kindredlabs.ai
Rachelle Irene

Source : Kindred Labs

Kao’s Laurier Launches New Brand Communication Initiative across Asia: Strengthening Global Integration as a Core Brand in Kao’s Asian Business

 

^{Laurier Campaign Key Visual}


TOKYO, March 4 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Starting on International Women’s Day, March 8, Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452) will launch new brand communication campaign in nine Asian countries and regions for its feminine sanitary product brand, Laurier, which is the core of its Asian business.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303996141/en/ 

Laurier aims to help create more supportive and understanding environments around menstruation, so that women can feel more at ease, both physically and emotionally, under the key message “Comfort, Made Together,” which will be implemented simultaneously across Asia. Kao aims to further develop Laurier as a global brand.

Laurier, one of the core brands supporting Kao’s consumer care business in Asia, has been promoting globally integrated operations since 2023. Across all nine Asian countries and regions including Japan, Laurier has been working to unify product specifications and consolidate production sites to improve asset turnover ratio. Moreover, Laurier has promoted discussions to unify interpretations of the brand purpose and worldview, which varied across regions, and has renewed the global guidelines.

Through these efforts, in order to simultaneously communicate its value throughout Asia, Laurier is currently initiating a new brand communication initiative. By returning to Kao’s founding principle of a consumer perspective, Laurier will further strengthen brand equity by offering products designed for long-term use and advancing empathy-driven marketing through consistent communication across regions.

Laurier conducted a survey on attitudes toward menstruation among 4,500 women across nine Asian countries and regions.* The findings revealed that across Asia, many women feel that menstrual symptoms, concerns, and the limitations associated with menstruation have an impact on their overall sense of comfort in daily life.
*An online survey on attitudes toward menstruation was conducted by Kao among women aged 15–44 in nine Asian countries and regions, including Japan, in November–December 2023 and October–November 2024 (valid responses: 4,500).

Through this initiative, Laurier will further its efforts toward creating an inclusive environment where women can live lives full of possibilities without feeling restricted by their periods.
As a global brand, Laurier not only provides products but also supports women throughout their lives by providing information and educational support, contributing to the creation of a society where each woman can continue to live in a way that feels true to herself.

About the Brand Communication Initiative

- Key Message
Comfort, Made Together ―Laurier is here to listen.
It’s natural to find it difficult to be your normal self while you’re on your period. A woman shouldn’t have to find menstrual comfort on her own. We may not be able to completely eliminate physical discomfort or pain. But by encouraging understanding from those around us and shaping more supportive environments, we believe periods can feel a little more comfortable.
- Overview
This campaign will unify the brand’s worldview across nine Asian countries and regions, and will implement the following initiatives:

• Development of a common key visual and message across Asia
• Release of anthem films (9 country/regional versions) conveying Laurier’s message of menstrual support
• Launch of a special campaign website

- Countries/Regions: Kao Corporation / Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Hong Kong) Ltd. / Kao (Taiwan) Corporation / Kao Vietnam Co., Ltd. / Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. / Kao Singapore Pte. Ltd. / PT Kao Indonesia
- Start Date: March 4, 2026

Ongoing Social Initiatives

As a brand that supports women, Laurier is continuously engaged in the following activities in each country and region.

• Japan: “Laurier in Workplace” and “Laurier in School,” making sanitary napkins available as standard supplies at workplaces and schools
• Indonesia: “Dr. Laurier,” providing expert knowledge on menstrual concerns that are hard to discuss with others

In addition to the above, Laurier provides menarche education to deliver accurate knowledge to individual in all nine countries and regions. Through these activities, Laurier will continue to be more than just a feminine sanitary product brand; it will continue to be a presence that supports women at all stages of their lives and in their social environments.

Comment from Kazuya Miyashita, President of the Sanitary Business, Kao Corporation

Laurier has been striving to strengthen its globally integrated operations. The launch of this new brand communication across nine Asian countries and regions marks the next stage in building a consistent global brand―one that transcends borders, listens to the voices of individual, and shares Laurier’s vision and values across Asia. While menstrual concerns and feelings vary from person to person, there are many aspects of menstruation that have been discussed as something to be endured or a personal issue. Through this communication campaign, Laurier aims to elevate menstrual concerns beyond a personal issue, encourage understanding from others, and foster an environment in which women can live with greater peace of mind. As a core brand in Kao’s Asian business, Laurier will continue to contribute to sustainable growth and the realization of a society where women can live their lives with comfort, confidence, and fewer limitations—no matter the day.

About Kao

Kao, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its brands such as Attack laundry detergent, Bioré and Jergens skin care products, Laurier sanitary products, Curél, SENSAI, and MOLTON BROWN cosmetics, and Oribe hair care products, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,630 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 32,600 people worldwide and has more than 130 years of history in innovation. As an enterprise that provides products people use on a daily basis, the Kao Group takes responsibility to actively reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the product lifecycle. This is laid out in Kao’s ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which launched in 2019.
Please visit the Kao Group website for additional information.

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Contact

Media inquiries should be directed to:
Public Relations
Kao Corporation
corporate_pr@kao.com

Source : Kao Corporation

CIRRUS EXPANDS TO SINGAPORE, ADVANCES NOVEL EYE THERAPIES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Cirrus Therapeutics, a global ocular immunology company, announced several business and pipeline updates to support its strategy of advancing first-in-class and best-in-class therapies for chronic blinding diseases.

The updates include expanding its global footprint to Singapore, forming a strategic partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and unveiling a next-generation retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy as its second pipeline programme.

“Our presence in Singapore well positions us to leverage critical research, clinical development and partnering opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We look forward to collaborating with A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and renowned clinician-scientist Dr Xinyi Su to accelerate advancement of cutting-edge ocular medicines, including our differentiated next-generation RPE cell therapy,” said Cirrus Therapeutics Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Ying Kai Chan in a statement.

The company established a new research and development (R&D) site in Singapore, expanding its infrastructure beyond its United Kingdom science origins and United States presence, gaining access to the Asia-Pacific biopharma market. Si Hui Tan, who previously led the first-in-class liver regeneration programme at Lerna Biopharma, has been appointed as Director, Pipeline and Site Head, Singapore.

Related to the expansion, Cirrus entered into a multi-million dollar strategic collaboration with Singapore’s A*STAR. This partnership is aimed at accelerating the advancement of innovative ophthalmic assets, including Cirrus’ newly unveiled second pipeline programme. The collaboration will be led by A*STAR IMCB Executive Director, Dr Su.

Cirrus unveiled its second pipeline programme, a novel RPE cell therapy designed for the treatment of centre-involving geographic atrophy (GA). This next-generation cell therapy is differentiated, offering the potential for class-leading vision restoration due to its capacity to function and survive in the hostile GA environment.

The company also continues to advance its lead programme—a novel ocular gene therapy aimed at restoring IRAK-M to prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression and preserve central vision.

-- BERNAMA

GBI LAUNCHES GLOBAL BUILDING CERTIFICATION TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY, PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced the global launch of Ascent Building Certification, a science-based whole building programme designed to evaluate sustainability, health, and resilience practices for commercial real estate across regions and portfolios.

Ascent will be available for new and existing projects in the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), and other international markets, excluding Canada and the United States, to improve the built environment’s impact on climate and society.

Ascent Building Certification represents a global expansion of GBI’s trusted third-party assessment and certification programmes. GBI has certified over 93 million square metres (one billion square feet) of commercial real estate with its flagship certification, Green Globes.

The strong adoption of Green Globes and market demand for consistent, proven, and transparent methodology across borders fuelled the decision to expand globally under the Ascent brand, according to a statement.

Designed for owners and project teams managing assets in all lifecycle phases, Ascent provides a consensus-based framework, consistent with Green Globes, that adapts to local standards and regulatory requirements, offering transparency, trustworthy independent assessment, and practical usability without unnecessary administrative burden.

“Building owners and investors are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable performance and return on investment across global portfolios. GBI’s Ascent Building Certification answers that demand with a practical, transparent, and ESG-aligned approach,” said GBI chief executive officer, Vicki Worden.

The certification is specifically designed for organisations seeking user-friendly, portfolio-ready certification. Key features include global consistency with local relevance through a unified framework, transparent scoring, and independent third-party assessments conducted via GBI’s established assessor network.

The programme also provides user-friendly software tools featuring centralised reporting dashboards and aggregated portfolio scoring, along with dedicated expert support from GBI’s green building specialists and project managers.

Certification levels align with the Green Globes One through Four rating system, and performance categories address critical building outcomes and Environmental Assessment Areas, including project management and responsible business practices, site, energy, water, materials, and indoor environment.

-- BERNAMA

AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited

SINGAPORE, March 2 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb+” (Good) of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Lombard) (India). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the India National Scale Rating (NSR) of aaa.IN (Exceptional) of ICICI Lombard with a stable outlook.

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect ICICI Lombard’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. In addition, the ratings factor in the neutral impact from ICICI Bank Limited (ICICI Bank), one of the largest private sector banks in India.

The revision of the FSR and Long-Term ICR outlooks to positive from stable reflects AM Best’s expectation that ICICI Lombard’s balance sheet strength fundamentals will continue to strengthen over the near to medium term, underpinned by continued robust capital generation and good capital management. The company’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). ICICI Lombard’s investment portfolio is of moderate risk, given its exposure to higher-risk investments, such as equities and fixed-income securities, which are not rated on an international rating scale. An offsetting balance sheet factor includes the company’s significant exposure to contingent liabilities relating to ongoing disputes with the tax authorities in India; although, these disputes have not resulted in material financial impact to date.

AM Best views ICICI Lombard’s operating performance as strong, with a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 17.3% (fiscal-years 2021-2025). The company reported higher net income in fiscal-year 2025 compared to the prior year, driven by better investment returns and an improvement in underwriting results. In addition, earnings remained resilient in the first nine months of fiscal-year 2026. Despite its lack of underwriting profitability, ICICI Lombard has consistently outperformed India’s general insurance market. The company’s investment income, including capital gains on equity investments, remains a key contributor of overall earnings to offset underwriting losses.

ICICI Lombard is the second-largest non-life insurer in India, with an overall market share of 8.7% based on gross domestic premium income in fiscal-year 2025. The company holds market-leading positions in major business lines, including property/casualty, marine cargo, liability and motor, as well as ranks second in the fire and engineering business lines. ICICI Lombard’s underwriting portfolio is well diversified by lines of business and distribution channels with premiums generated predominantly in India.

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 use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

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 London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Contact

Sin Yee Chuah, CFA
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5022
sinyee.chuah@ambest.com 

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com 

Chris Lim, FCII, CFA
Director, Analytics
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@ambest.com 

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com 

Source : AM Best 

--BERNAMA