KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Sia, a global management consulting group, has expanded its international presence with the acquisition of Seven Consulting, an Australian management consulting firm.
Known for its expertise in business transformation, Seven Consulting brings together a team of over 100 consultants, half of whom are based in Sydney and the other half split between Melbourne and Manila.
“Seven Consulting’s deep expertise in programme delivery and change management, and its strong relationships with Australia’s largest banking, government and retail organisations, make it a highly strategic addition to Sia,” said Sia founder and chief executive officer, Matthieu Courtecuisse in a statement.
Meanwhile, Seven Consulting founder, Declan Boylan said: “We found in Sia a partner with the same entrepreneurial mindset, the same focus on high-impact client delivery, and the same conviction that our clients need practical, outcome-focused delivery expertise to navigate their most complex transformation programmes.”
The acquisition marks a key step in Sia’s expansion in Australia, giving the Group a combined team of around 130 consultants, alongside its existing base in Perth.
It also establishes a significant presence on Australia’s East Coast, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, while expanding Sia’s client portfolio across the banking, government, transportation and retail sectors.
As part of the integration, Seven Consulting will progressively leverage Sia's international reach, global solutions portfolio and deep expertise in data and artificial intelligence (AI).
By combining Seven Consulting's recognised capabilities in business transformation and large-scale programme delivery with Sia's global AI expertise, the combined business is positioned to become a leading AI transformation partner in Australia, helping organisations move from AI experimentation to enterprise-scale transformation.
This acquisition demonstrates Sia’s continued ambition to accelerate its international expansion while strengthening its sector and functional expertise in its most strategic markets.
-- BERNAMA
Monday, 10 August 2026
Wednesday, 5 August 2026
ALIXPARTNERS ACQUIRES AGENTIC AI CONSULTING FIRM ARTIUM
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- AlixPartners has acquired Artium, an agentic artificial intelligence (AI) software consulting firm that develops enterprise AI agents for clients including BNY Mellon, Mayo Clinic and eBay, as the global consulting firm expands its AI capabilities.
In a statement, the company said Artium will continue operating as a distinct team within AlixPartners under the brand "Artium by AlixPartners", with its people, including its founders, methodology and research relationships remaining unchanged.
AlixPartners Co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rob Hornby said Artium has developed production-grade agentic AI systems and established strong relationships across leading AI research organisations, adding that the combination is expected to enhance the firm's ability to deliver business transformation for clients.
Meanwhile, Artium CEO and Co-Founder, Ross Hale said AlixPartners was selected as the next growth partner because of its understanding of Artium's business, technology capabilities and long-term opportunities, while also supporting the culture and values that have contributed to the firm's growth.
AlixPartners said the acquisition combines Artium's AI engineering capabilities with the firm's industry experience and is expected to create new opportunities to transform businesses and integrate technology across enterprises.
Founded 45 years ago, AlixPartners provides consulting services to companies across a range of industries, focusing on performance improvement, restructuring, transformation and technology-enabled business change.
-- BERNAMA
In a statement, the company said Artium will continue operating as a distinct team within AlixPartners under the brand "Artium by AlixPartners", with its people, including its founders, methodology and research relationships remaining unchanged.
AlixPartners Co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rob Hornby said Artium has developed production-grade agentic AI systems and established strong relationships across leading AI research organisations, adding that the combination is expected to enhance the firm's ability to deliver business transformation for clients.
Meanwhile, Artium CEO and Co-Founder, Ross Hale said AlixPartners was selected as the next growth partner because of its understanding of Artium's business, technology capabilities and long-term opportunities, while also supporting the culture and values that have contributed to the firm's growth.
AlixPartners said the acquisition combines Artium's AI engineering capabilities with the firm's industry experience and is expected to create new opportunities to transform businesses and integrate technology across enterprises.
Founded 45 years ago, AlixPartners provides consulting services to companies across a range of industries, focusing on performance improvement, restructuring, transformation and technology-enabled business change.
-- BERNAMA
DARWINBOX UNVEILS AI-NATIVE HCM PLATFORM CORTEX
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Darwinbox, a human capital management (HCM) platform, has unveiled Darwinbox Cortex, the artificial intelligence (AI)-native HCM platform rebuilt from the ground up for AI.
Rather than adding AI features on top of existing software, Cortex embeds intelligence into the core of the platform. It is being launched with pilot customers and technology partners, including Microsoft, Slack and Glean.
Darwinbox said Cortex is designed to understand an organisation’s people, roles, policies, workflows and past decisions, enabling users to make requests within the governance and operational guardrails already established by the organisation.
“With Cortex, we reimagined the entire HCM experience from the ground up and pushed the boundaries of what AI can do for HR through a series of innovations, including the first Context Graph in the category.
“This is not an incremental evolution of HCM; it defines a new category, and we are excited about what it can unlock for our customers,” said Darwinbox co-founder and co-chief executive officer, Jayant Paleti in a statement.
According to Darwinbox, the AI-native platform is built on four architectural foundations namely, the Signal Layer, the Context Graph, the Cortex Agent Platform and the Experience Layer.
The company said the platform is being introduced with a select group of global design partners, including Visteon Corporation and Transcarent, which are working with Darwinbox to apply Cortex to complex workforce-management challenges.
Darwinbox added that Cortex is designed for a connected enterprise environment, integrating with Microsoft 365, Teams and Co-pilot, as well as platforms such as Slack and Glean, allowing enterprise intelligence to be delivered through applications employees already use in their daily work.
-- BERNAMA
Rather than adding AI features on top of existing software, Cortex embeds intelligence into the core of the platform. It is being launched with pilot customers and technology partners, including Microsoft, Slack and Glean.
Darwinbox said Cortex is designed to understand an organisation’s people, roles, policies, workflows and past decisions, enabling users to make requests within the governance and operational guardrails already established by the organisation.
“With Cortex, we reimagined the entire HCM experience from the ground up and pushed the boundaries of what AI can do for HR through a series of innovations, including the first Context Graph in the category.
“This is not an incremental evolution of HCM; it defines a new category, and we are excited about what it can unlock for our customers,” said Darwinbox co-founder and co-chief executive officer, Jayant Paleti in a statement.
According to Darwinbox, the AI-native platform is built on four architectural foundations namely, the Signal Layer, the Context Graph, the Cortex Agent Platform and the Experience Layer.
The company said the platform is being introduced with a select group of global design partners, including Visteon Corporation and Transcarent, which are working with Darwinbox to apply Cortex to complex workforce-management challenges.
Darwinbox added that Cortex is designed for a connected enterprise environment, integrating with Microsoft 365, Teams and Co-pilot, as well as platforms such as Slack and Glean, allowing enterprise intelligence to be delivered through applications employees already use in their daily work.
-- BERNAMA
Kanadevia Inova Signs Concession Agreement for Its First Waste-to-Energy Plant in Africa
Artist’s impression of the Casablanca integrated Waste-to-Energy facility, combining waste treatment, renewable energy generation, and landfill management infrastructure
- Contributing to Addressing Environmental Challenges in Casablanca, Morocco -
OSAKA, Japan, Aug 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kanadevia Inova AG (Switzerland; hereinafter “Inova”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kanadevia Corporation (TOKYO: 7004) engaged in the development, design, construction, maintenance and operation of waste-to-energy and biogas plants, has signed a concession agreement (long-term project operation agreement) for a 33.5-year waste-to-energy project in Casablanca, Morocco, covering the design, financing, construction and operation of the facility.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260804844543/en/
Inova will carry out the project together with Nareva, a leading Moroccan integrated energy company, and ITOCHU Corporation. Inova will establish an SPC (Special Purpose Company) to implement the project while proceeding with EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and long-term maintenance agreements.
The project will construct a waste-to-energy plant adjacent to Médiouna landfill, one of the largest landfill site in Africa. The facility will process approximately 1.5 million tonnes of waste per year and have a power generation capacity of approximately 126 MWe. The objective is to hygienically treat waste while effectively utilizing it as an energy resource.
The facility will incorporate advanced technologies, including Inova’s large-scale combustion and boiler systems and its proprietary Autaro™ automatic combustion control system. In addition, it will include a 50 MW solar power facility, a 4 MW landfill gas recovery and utilization facility and a leachate treatment unit. By reducing methane emissions, which have a global warming potential approximately 28 times greater than CO2, the project is expected to generate around 1 TWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the annual electricity demand of approximately one million people.
The facility has also been designed to enable the future introduction of carbon capture technologies (CCUS). By capturing, utilizing, or storing CO2 contained in flue gases, the project aims to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support long-term decarbonization.
Project Overview
Location: Casablanca, Morocco
Processing Capacity: Approx. 1.5 million tonnes/year
Power Generation Capacity: Approx. 126 MWe
Scheduled Start of Operations: June 2030 (planned)
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260804844543/en/
Contact
Mikie Okawa
Public Relations Section
Kanadevia Corporation
Tel: +81-6-6569-0076
Email: kouhou@kanadevia.com
Source : Kanadevia Corporation
Vocalbeats.AI Named Strategic Partner Of AGI Playground 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Vocalbeats.AI, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence (AI)-powered audio company, has announced its role as Strategic Partner of AGI Playground 2026, taking place on Aug 3 to 4 at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.
The company in a statement said the partnership deepens its engagement with the global AI community and builds on its commitment to advancing voice AI, human-centric product design, and the development of Singapore’s AI ecosystem.
Organised by Founder Park, GeekPark’s incubated founders’ community, AGI Playground makes its global debut in Singapore this year, having drawn more than 1,500 AI founders, engineers and operators at past editions.
The Singapore edition is positioned as a builder-focused gathering rather than a traditional summit, with speakers and guests from leading technology organisations including OpenAI, AMI Labs, Genspark, and Insta360.
The two-day programme is anchored around two themes, namely “Go Action”, focused on AI agents solving real-world problems beyond chat interfaces, and “Go Physical”, exploring how AI moves off the screen into robotics, hardware, and embodied systems.
The partnership builds on Vocalbeats.AI’s broader engagement with Singapore’s AI ecosystem. Its participation in AGI Playground reflects its commitment to supporting AI innovation and nurturing the next generation of talent.
In 2026, the company served as Gold Sponsor of SuperAI 2026, joined SGTech's Singapore Enterprise Chapter, and established university scholarship programmes with NTU Singapore and the National University of Singapore (NUS).
The company’s broader product philosophy focuses on improving everyday life through more lifelike, intuitive and accessible voice AI. Its flagship applications, Owll and Owll Translator, are voice-first productivity tools available across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and web, and have achieved top App Store rankings across more than 100 markets worldwide.
Vocalbeats.AI said it looks forward to building new partnerships and exploring the technologies that will shape the future of voice AI as it continues to evolve from a convenience feature into a foundational layer of how people work and communicate.
-- BERNAMA
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
LENDLEASE REIT REPORTS HIGHER 2H FY2026 REVENUE, DPU
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Lendlease Global Commercial Trust Management Pte Ltd, the manager of Lendlease Global Commercial REIT (Lendlease REIT), has announced its second half (2H) and full-year financial results for FY2026, with gross revenue rising 6.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to SG$110.0 million in 2H FY2026. (SG$1 = RM3.19)
In a statement, the company said net property income (NPI) for 2H FY2026 increased 6.6 per cent YoY to SG$78.7 million, driven by the acquisition of PLQ Mall and the performance of its Singapore retail assets, partially offset by the divestment of the Jem office.
Distribution per unit (DPU) for 2H FY2026 stood at 1.85 Singapore cents, bringing the full-year DPU to 3.70 Singapore cents, up 3.0 per cent YoY, supported by recurring earnings from a strong portfolio of operational assets in Singapore.
“FY2026 marked a year of meaningful progress for Lendlease REIT. We took decisive steps to strengthen our financial position through the successful divestment of Jem office, reducing aggregate leverage to 38.9 per cent and improving our interest coverage ratio to 2.1 times.
“Looking ahead, our enlarged Singapore retail portfolio provides a stronger platform for growth. We remain committed to disciplined execution, active asset management and capital stewardship as we pursue further DPU growth and long-term value creation in FY2027,” said the manager’s Chief Executive Officer, Guy Cawthra.
Property operating expenses increased by SG$1.4 million compared with FY2025, mainly due to the acquisition of PLQ Mall, partially offset by the divestment of the Jem office.
As at June 30, 2026, Lendlease REIT’s gross borrowings stood at SG$1.7053 billion, with a gearing ratio of 38.9 per cent. The weighted average cost of debt was reduced to 2.75 per cent per annum, while approximately 68 per cent of borrowings were hedged at fixed rates.
The manager also reduced its outstanding perpetual securities through refinancing exercises undertaken in April 2025 and June 2026, lowering the total quantum from SG$400 million to SG$240 million.
In the same period, Lendlease REIT’s portfolio committed occupancy stood at 94.6 per cent. Its retail portfolio maintained a strong occupancy rate of 98.5 per cent, while occupancy at the Milan office portfolio stood at 89.1 per cent.
The company will continue pursuing active asset initiatives to drive income growth by unlocking value through the reconfiguration of retail space at PLQ Mall and refreshing Discovery Walk to integrate with the multifunctional event space.
-- BERNAMA
In a statement, the company said net property income (NPI) for 2H FY2026 increased 6.6 per cent YoY to SG$78.7 million, driven by the acquisition of PLQ Mall and the performance of its Singapore retail assets, partially offset by the divestment of the Jem office.
Distribution per unit (DPU) for 2H FY2026 stood at 1.85 Singapore cents, bringing the full-year DPU to 3.70 Singapore cents, up 3.0 per cent YoY, supported by recurring earnings from a strong portfolio of operational assets in Singapore.
“FY2026 marked a year of meaningful progress for Lendlease REIT. We took decisive steps to strengthen our financial position through the successful divestment of Jem office, reducing aggregate leverage to 38.9 per cent and improving our interest coverage ratio to 2.1 times.
“Looking ahead, our enlarged Singapore retail portfolio provides a stronger platform for growth. We remain committed to disciplined execution, active asset management and capital stewardship as we pursue further DPU growth and long-term value creation in FY2027,” said the manager’s Chief Executive Officer, Guy Cawthra.
Property operating expenses increased by SG$1.4 million compared with FY2025, mainly due to the acquisition of PLQ Mall, partially offset by the divestment of the Jem office.
As at June 30, 2026, Lendlease REIT’s gross borrowings stood at SG$1.7053 billion, with a gearing ratio of 38.9 per cent. The weighted average cost of debt was reduced to 2.75 per cent per annum, while approximately 68 per cent of borrowings were hedged at fixed rates.
The manager also reduced its outstanding perpetual securities through refinancing exercises undertaken in April 2025 and June 2026, lowering the total quantum from SG$400 million to SG$240 million.
In the same period, Lendlease REIT’s portfolio committed occupancy stood at 94.6 per cent. Its retail portfolio maintained a strong occupancy rate of 98.5 per cent, while occupancy at the Milan office portfolio stood at 89.1 per cent.
The company will continue pursuing active asset initiatives to drive income growth by unlocking value through the reconfiguration of retail space at PLQ Mall and refreshing Discovery Walk to integrate with the multifunctional event space.
-- BERNAMA
Bitget Integrates TradingView Charts for Commodities (CFD) Market
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has upgraded its CFD platform with a native TradingView integration, bringing professional-grade market analysis and order execution into a single interface. The enhancement reflects a broader evolution in trading platform design, where reducing friction has become as important as expanding market access.
As traders increasingly participate across assets, the trading experience has become fragmented between analysis and execution. Active traders rely on external charting platforms to monitor markets before returning to their exchange to place trades, creating unnecessary delays during fast-moving market conditions. Bitget's latest upgrade removes that disconnect by embedding TradingView directly into the CFD trading experience.
TradingView now serves as the default charting interface for Bitget CFD, allowing users to analyze markets and execute trades from the same screen. The integration includes customizable chart layouts, split-screen market monitoring, an extensive library of technical indicators, and advanced drawing tools, enabling traders to monitor multiple markets while executing positions without leaving the platform.
“With this integration we’ve removed the friction of switching between live charts in CFD trading; providing efficiency for traders to capitalize on market opportunities.” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.
The upgrade builds on Bitget's broader Universal Exchange vision of creating a unified trading environment across asset classes. While much of the industry's focus has been on expanding access to new markets, Bitget is equally focused on simplifying how users interact with those markets by reducing the operational complexity between research, analysis, and execution.
Bitget CFD enables users to trade global financial markets, including commodities, foreign exchange, and indices, through a single USDT-settled account. The addition of TradingView further strengthens the platform's analytical capabilities while supporting a more streamlined workflow for active traders seeking institutional-grade tools within a unified trading experience.
To find out more, visit here.
About Bitget
Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships such as MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.
For more information, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com
Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bf6e9eb6-0cc1-4859-a740-a547f08c0045
SOURCE: Bitget Limited
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.
As traders increasingly participate across assets, the trading experience has become fragmented between analysis and execution. Active traders rely on external charting platforms to monitor markets before returning to their exchange to place trades, creating unnecessary delays during fast-moving market conditions. Bitget's latest upgrade removes that disconnect by embedding TradingView directly into the CFD trading experience.
TradingView now serves as the default charting interface for Bitget CFD, allowing users to analyze markets and execute trades from the same screen. The integration includes customizable chart layouts, split-screen market monitoring, an extensive library of technical indicators, and advanced drawing tools, enabling traders to monitor multiple markets while executing positions without leaving the platform.
“With this integration we’ve removed the friction of switching between live charts in CFD trading; providing efficiency for traders to capitalize on market opportunities.” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.
The upgrade builds on Bitget's broader Universal Exchange vision of creating a unified trading environment across asset classes. While much of the industry's focus has been on expanding access to new markets, Bitget is equally focused on simplifying how users interact with those markets by reducing the operational complexity between research, analysis, and execution.
Bitget CFD enables users to trade global financial markets, including commodities, foreign exchange, and indices, through a single USDT-settled account. The addition of TradingView further strengthens the platform's analytical capabilities while supporting a more streamlined workflow for active traders seeking institutional-grade tools within a unified trading experience.
To find out more, visit here.
About Bitget
Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships such as MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.
For more information, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com
Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bf6e9eb6-0cc1-4859-a740-a547f08c0045
SOURCE: Bitget Limited
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.
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