SOLARWINDS ADDS ASSISTED ONBOARDING AND NEXT-GENERATION TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, FURTHER EMPOWERING CUSTOMERS TO FULLY OPTIMIZE THEIR SOFTWARE INVESTMENTS

• The Smart Start assisted onboarding program gives customers direct access to product experts and best-practices configuration assistance
• SolarWinds Academy expands its curriculum and offers full-access subscriptions to customers under active maintenance contracts
• The updated and expanded SolarWinds Certified Professional program now covers more products and leverages an innovative subscription-based certification program

BARCELONA, Spain, Jan 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SolarWinds today unveiled major advancements in its Customer Success program. The enhancements will help speed time-to-value when deploying the company’s software to improve performance across networks, systems, and applications. The company launched an innovative assisted onboarding program called Smart Start, which gives customers direct, one-on-one access to experts who help them configure, deploy, and optimize their software to meet business goals. It also unveiled a new generation of its professional training and certification program, SolarWinds Academy.

SolarWinds made these announcements as part of its participation in the annual Cisco Live!^® conference beginning today in Barcelona. The new customer success initiatives are the company’s latest moves to enable a simple customer and partner experience, from trial, through purchase, and into full deployment.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31059

TFI TAB FOOD INVESTMENTS LAUNCHES INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

ISTANBUL, Turkey and NEW YORK, Jan 29 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TFI Tab Food Investments (“TFI”) today announced that it has commenced an initial public offering of 22,000,000  American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), with each ADS representing 12 ordinary shares, including 4,500,000 ADSs to be sold by the Company and 17,500,000 ADSs to be sold by certain existing shareholders. The underwriters will have an option to purchase up to an additional 3,300,000 ADSs from certain existing shareholders. The Company will use the net proceeds it receives to repay a portion of outstanding indebtedness and will not receive any proceeds from the ADSs sold by the selling shareholders. The price range for the initial public offering is currently estimated to be between $9.00 and $11.00 per share. The Company has applied to list its ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TFIG”.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, are acting as bookrunning managers and representatives of the underwriters for the proposed offering. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as bookrunners for the proposed offering. Rabo Securities U.S.A., Inc. is acting as a co-manager for the proposed offering.

The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering of these securities may be obtained from:

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, telephone: 1-800-221-1037 or by emailing newyork.prospectus@credit-suisse.com; or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31049

A.M. BEST REVISES OUTLOOKS TO STABLE FOR ERGO INSURANCE PTE. LTD.

A.M. BEST REVISES OUTLOOKS TO STABLE FOR ERGO INSURANCE PTE. LTD.

A.M. BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF FMG INSURANCE LIMITED

SINGAPORE. Jan 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of FMG Insurance Limited (FMGIL) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect FMGIL’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also reflect FMGIL’s modest underwriting leverage, prudent capital management policy and direct distribution network capability.

FMGIL has a well-established profile within New Zealand’s farming and rural sector. Due to its rural and provincial focus, FMGIL’s insured risks are spread widely across the country. Hence, FMGIL has less geographic risk concentration proportionally relative to its peers. In turn, FMGIL is able to maintain adequate catastrophe protection, while keeping reinsurance costs affordable through a robust reinsurance program.

Partially offsetting rating factors are FMGIL’s variable operating performance and a deteriorating trend in its underwriting performance in recent years. Operating results in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 in particular took a downturn, primarily due to claims costs from multiple weather events along with the impact of the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. In response, the company has implemented price increases across business lines, and prospective underwriting results are expected to improve.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31043

METRON WINS AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT CONTRACT FROM CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

DULLES, Va., Jan 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has awarded Metron Aviation, a subsidiary of Airbus, an Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) system contract. This system will be located at the Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre (SATCC).

Metron will be responsible for the design, supply, delivery, installation, integration, testing and commissioning of the ATFM system over a 23-month period and a 10-year after sales support service beginning after initial system acceptance.

Metron will supply Harmony, its flagship ATFM automation product for air navigation service providers. Harmony provides advanced features to monitor air traffic demand in airspace areas and at airports in the strategic, pre-tactical, and tactical timeframes. Harmony also provides advanced decision support tools to facilitate the modeling of Traffic Management Initiatives (TMI) and the implementation of these initiatives in situations of demand and capacity imbalance.

Harmony also provides complete functionality for aircraft operator’s collaborative decision making in the ATFM process to ensure that ATFM actions reflect a plan optimized across all aviation system participants.

“We are proud to have been selected for this contract by CAAS, a premier provider of air navigation services,” said John Kefaliotis, President, Metron Aviation. “CAAS has a leadership role in the development of a regional ATFM concept for the Asia-Pacific region that will become a model for regional ATFM cooperation around the world.”

“The CAAS selection of the Harmony platform to support this concept testifies to the advanced capabilities of the product, which are highly supportive of regional ATFM concepts,” said Kefaliotis.

The contract duration is approximately 11 years, with the following major milestones:

• Phase 1: Commissioning of the operational ATFM system, to occur 10 months after award;
• Phase 2: Commissioning of the ATFM system’s enhanced services, scheduled for 20 months after award;
• Completion of the system, which will occur three months after commissioning of Phase 2; and
• Ten annual options for support services for both hardware and software.

Metron will be responsible for the overall system implementation and maintenance over the duration of the contract. Metron Aviation is teamed with Singapore Technologies Electronic Limited, which will provide in-country services to include acquisition, storage, installation and maintenance of the primary equipment, as well as spare parts, for the duration of the contract.

About Metron Aviation

Founded in 1995, Metron Aviation is a trusted and proven innovator in the air traffic management (ATM) industry. A subsidiary of Airbus Americas, Metron Aviation has an honored past, developing ATM and air traffic flow management solutions for the global aviation industry, including the Federal Aviation Administration. By working with all stakeholders in the ATM ecosystem — air navigation service providers, airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities and other influencers — through its Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) process, Metron Aviation understands ATM’s greatest issues. It fuses advanced science and mathematics with unparalleled subject-matter expertise to turn groundbreaking ATM research concepts into next-generation operational capabilities. For more information, please visit www.metronaviation.com.

Contact:
Quentin Hunstad
Quentin.hunstad@airbus.com
571.306.7243

SOURCE: Airbus Americas, Inc.

--BERNAMA

APTEAN INTRODUCES NEW IDENTITY

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Jan 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptean, a leading global provider of mission-critical, industry-specific software solutions and support, has introduced a new, modern identity to reflect the company’s transformation and expansion since its formation five years ago.

“Aptean is now 2,100 employees, 7,000 customers and close to 50 products strong, with a renewed focus on operations and innovation so we can continue to serve our customers well,” said CEO Kim Eaton. “We’re bigger, better and different than we were five years ago, and that means we need a different way to present the company to our markets. I’m very excited to be at a point in our evolution that calls for a fresh new identity.”

In addition to a new logo and visual identity, Aptean is introducing new positioning to describe what the company does and its importance to customers. “We have survey data showing that 77% see workarounds such as managing by spreadsheet as a problem in their organizations. Too many companies spend too much time making homegrown, generic solutions do things they were never designed to do,” Eaton said. “We’re on a mission to end our customers’ workarounds and provide them with purpose-built software, expert support and new ideas and innovations.”

Since Aptean’s formation in 2012, the company has grown significantly through acquisition, adding 16 product lines to its portfolio of offerings. Acquisitions the company made in 2017 added strategic products and capabilities to complement Aptean’s ERP, supply chain management, asset management, complaints management and public sector solutions.

“When it comes to our customers, our mission to end their workarounds is one we couldn’t be more serious about,” Eaton said. “Whether through acquisition or innovation, our track record proves our dedication to offering industry-specific software to solve the problems of every production supervisor or customer relationship manager who has said ‘there has to be a better way’ to do their work.”

About Aptean

Aptean provides very specific industries with very specific ERP, supply chain management and customer experience solutions. In today’s fast-paced, highly competitive economy, organizations don’t have time to waste forcing homegrown software, spreadsheets and one-size-fits-all solutions to do things they were never designed to do. That’s why over 7,000 highly specialized organizations in more than 20 industries and 74 countries rely on Aptean to streamline their everyday operations. To learn how Aptean can help your organization stay at the forefront of your industry, visit www.aptean.com.

Aptean is a trademark of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Media Relations
Stephanie Zercher, Aptean
stephanie.zercher@aptean.com
678.681.9070


SOURCE : Aptean Inc.

CIPPE2018 TO GATHER MORE THAN 1800 COMPANIES IN BEIJING ON MARCH 27

BEIJING, Jan 30 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- With a highly optimistic anticipation for the global petroleum industry, nearly 1,800 companies, including 46 Fortune 500 companies and 18 international delegations, from 65 countries and regions will gather at the 90,000m² 18^th China International Petroleum & Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition (cippe2018), which will be on March 27-29, 2018 at the New China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing.

Besides the 7 traditional sectors, namely petroleum & petrochemical equipment, shale gas equipment, offshore oil and gas equipment, ocean engineering equipment, natural gas equipment, pipeline and storage equipment, and explosion-proof instruments and devices, cippe2018 will add new exhibition sectors such as Smart Field and Communications Equipment Sector, Institutions and Research Achievements Sector, Pump Valve Sector, Industrial Fire Control and Security Sector, New Materials Sector, and Field Environment Sector.

Exhibitors will include international companies such as Gazprom, NIGC, Caterpillar, NOV, Schlumberger, GE, Honeywell, Rockwell, Cummins, API, 3M, MTU, ARIEL, Atlas, Hempel, and Chinese companies such as CNPC, Sinopec, CNOOC, CSSC, CSIC, CASC, CIMC, Jereh, Kerui, RG Petro-Machinery.

Over 300 professional buyer delegations including all world’s top 50 oil companies will be attracted, such as Saudi Aramco, NIOC, CNPC, PDVSA, Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, Rosneft, Gazprom, Total, Chevron, PETROBRAS, Sonatrach, KNPC, PEMEX, LukOil, ADNOC, Qatar General Petroleum, Petronas, INOC, NNPC, ENI, EGPC, BHP Billiton, Apache, etc.

Meanwhile, dozens of forums, seminars, new products launching conferences, and business matching meetings such as the 10^th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Summit, cippe2018 Embassy (Oil & Gas) Promotion Conference, and cippe2018 Business Matchmaking Meetings will be held concurrently. These supporting activities may provide visitors with the latest information in the industry and lead to many business deals and partnerships.

As “smart field” is fueling a new round of technology revolution, cippe2018 will add the Smart Field and Communications Equipment Sector and hold the Smart Field and Smart Factory Forum. With this “display+forum” combination, the achievements in the smart field sector made by Internet companies and oil companies worldwide will be displayed, and the future development of smart field will be discussed by experts and industry professionals.

For pre-registration: http://v.zhenweiexpo.com/cippe/en/
 

Contacts

cippe 2018 Organizing Committee
cippe@vip.163.com
cippe@zhenweiexpo.com
or
For exhibitors
Mona Wang, 86-10-58236555
or
For visitors
Yolanda Zhao, 86-10-59273878

 

Source: cippe

WEST CORPORATION AGREES TO ACQUIRE NASDAQ'S PUBLIC RELATIONS SOLUTIONS AND DIGITAL MEDIA SERVICES BUSINESSES

OMAHA, Neb. and NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Corporation (“West”) and Nasdaq, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) (“Nasdaq”) jointly announced today that West has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the public relations (Public Relations Solutions) and webcasting and webhosting (Digital Media Services) products and services within Nasdaq’s Corporate Solutions business for approximately $335 million, subject to adjustments. Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services consist of a comprehensive portfolio of communication tools, media intelligence and multimedia services for organizations across all industries. These solutions help enterprises more effectively communicate with their investors, customers and employees and increase the relevance of messaging by ensuring that it reaches the targeted audience.

The products and services included in the transaction are:

• GlobeNewswire: a global press release distribution platform and media contacts database with analytics
• Webhosting: a web hosting service purpose-built for investor relations and external communications functions
• Webcasting: a multimedia service that publishes webcasts, webinars, video presentations and other content
• Media Intelligence: a media monitoring and analyst-curated daily news reporting service
• Influencers Database: a service to identify and connect with relevant journalists and social media profiles

As part of the terms of the transaction, Nasdaq has agreed to an exclusive multi-year partnership with West to provide eligible Nasdaq clients seamless access to certain products and services included in the transaction.

“West is a leader in technology-enabled communication services and is focused on growth and expanding the depth and breadth of its enterprise communications client relationships,” said John Shlonsky, Chief Executive Officer of West Corporation. “This acquisition will complement and broaden our portfolio of products and services. We see tremendous opportunity to grow and enhance this business. We are also excited to partner with Nasdaq and add the talented Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services teams to West.”

Stacie Swanstrom, Executive Vice President, Nasdaq Corporate Solutions, added, “We are confident that West will be able to provide the resources needed to accelerate the various Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services product initiatives that are already underway, while providing additional flexibility and resources to deliver increased value for our clients and their communications needs. We look forward to our continued partnership with West. This strategic decision will allow us to focus our efforts on strengthening technology, data and analytics capabilities within our core investor relations and board collaboration solutions, which are an important component of Nasdaq’s relationships with its corporate clients.”

This process is a result of Nasdaq’s refined strategic direction and its decision to explore strategic alternatives for these products and services that was announced in September 2017.

The closing of this transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, is projected to occur in the second quarter of 2018. Nasdaq expects to use the proceeds from the sale for share repurchases. In conjunction with this, Nasdaq’s board of directors has authorized an additional $500 million for the share repurchase program to facilitate additional share repurchases and support the existing buyback objective of maintaining a stable share count.

Advisors and Financing Providers:

Credit Suisse and LionTree are acting as financial advisors to West. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as corporate counsel to West and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as financing counsel to West. Transaction financing is being provided by Credit Suisse and RBC Capital Markets.
Evercore is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Nasdaq. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as lead corporate counsel, Baker McKenzie is advising on international issues and Jones Day is acting as antitrust counsel to Nasdaq.

About West Corporation:

West Corporation is a global leader in technology-enabled communication services that connect people and businesses around the world, helping its clients more effectively communicate, collaborate and connect with their audiences through a diverse portfolio of innovative solutions.

For over 30 years, West has provided reliable, high-quality voice and data services. West has sales and/or operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and South America. For more information, please call 1-800-841-9000 or visit www.west.com.

About Nasdaq:

Nasdaq (Nasdaq:NDAQ) is a leading global provider of trading, clearing, exchange technology, listing, information and public company services. Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, Nasdaq enables customers to plan, optimize and execute their business vision with confidence, using proven technologies that provide transparency and insight for navigating today's global capital markets. As the creator of the world's first electronic stock market, its technology powers more than 90 marketplaces in 50 countries, and 1 in 10 of the world's securities transactions. Nasdaq is home to approximately 3,900 total listings with a market value of approximately $13 trillion. To learn more, visit: http://business.nasdaq.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including with respect to the proposed transaction between West and Nasdaq, including statements regarding the benefits of the proposed transaction and the anticipated timing of the proposed transaction. Forward-looking statements can be generally identified by the use of words such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "intends," "continue" or similar terminology. These statements reflect only West's or Nasdaq’s current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance or results. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that the parties may be unable to complete the proposed transaction because, among other reasons, the parties cannot satisfy the conditions precedent to the transaction; the timing of consummation of the transaction; the ability of the parties to secure regulatory approvals in a timely manner or on the terms desired or anticipated; the ability to implement the anticipated business plans following closing and achieve anticipated benefits and savings; the effect of the announcement of the proposed transaction on West’s and Nasdaq’s relationships with their respective clients, operating results and business generally; competition in West’s or Nasdaq’s highly competitive markets; increases in the cost of voice and data services or significant interruptions in these services; West’s and Nasdaq’s ability to keep pace with client needs for rapid technological change and systems availability; the continued deployment and adoption of emerging technologies; the loss, financial difficulties or bankruptcy of any key clients; security and privacy breaches of the systems West or Nasdaq’s uses to protect personal data; the effects of global economic trends on the businesses of West’s clients; the non-exclusive nature of West’s client contracts and the absence of revenue commitments; the cost of pending and future litigation; the cost of defending against intellectual property infringement claims; the effects of extensive regulation affecting many of West’s or Nasdaq’s businesses; West’s or Nasdaq’s ability to protect its proprietary information or technology; service interruptions to West’s data and operation centers; West’s or Nasdaq’s ability to retain key personnel and attract a sufficient number of qualified employees; increases in labor costs and turnover rates; the political, economic and other conditions in the countries where the parties operate; changes in foreign exchange rates; West’s and Nasdaq’s ability to complete this and future acquisitions, integrate or achieve the objectives of its recent and future acquisitions, including this acquisition; and future impairments of our substantial goodwill, intangible assets, or other long-lived assets. In addition, West is subject to risks related to its level of indebtedness. Such risks include West’s ability to generate sufficient cash to service its indebtedness and fund its other liquidity needs; West’s ability to comply with covenants contained in its debt instruments; West’s ability to obtain additional financing; the incurrence of significant additional indebtedness by West and its subsidiaries; and the ability of West’s lenders to fulfill their lending commitments. West and Nasdaq are also subject to other risk factors described in documents filed by the parties with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including Nasdaq’s annual report on Form 10-K, and West’s offering memorandum for its unsecured notes. 

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. West and Nasdaq undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

West Contact:

Dave Pleiss
(402) 716-6578
DMPleiss@west.com

Nasdaq Media Relations Contacts:

Allan Schoenberg
(212) 231-5534
allan.schoenberg@nasdaq.com       

Will Briganti
(212) 231-5012
william.briganti@nasdaq.com

Nasdaq Investor Relations Contact:

Ed Ditmire, CFA
(212) 401-8737
ed.ditmire@nasdaq.com

-NDAQG-

-WSTC-G-

SOURCE : Nasdaq, Inc.

A.M. BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF FIDELITY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

SINGAPORE, Jan 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” of Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited (Fidelity life) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Fidelity Life’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Fidelity Life’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which is maintained at the strongest level. Its regulatory solvency margin also has improved significantly following the recent capital injection by a new investor, New Zealand Superannuation Fund. Nevertheless, the company’s business model, which generally calls for high up-front commissions to generate new business, is highly capital-intensive to operate. This capital-intensive business model, together with the company’s dependence on reinsurance, weigh on the overall balance sheet assessment.

Fidelity Life has a track record of positive operating earnings. Nonetheless, recent profitability has been under pressure, owing largely to the impairment of intangible assets and unfavorable discount rate movements. Prospectively, A.M. Best expects operating earnings to remain positive, supported by steady revenue growth, adequate rates for its in-force portfolio and a stable stream of investment income.

Fidelity Life is the third-largest life insurer in New Zealand, with a market share of around 11% based on in-force premiums. The company also has a low to moderate product risk profile, with a majority of its in-force premium related to mortality risk; the remainder is mostly income protection and trauma. However, the company remains reliant on independent distributors to distribute its products. For certain lines of business, the company continues to face a challenging environment due to fierce competition, especially for mortality risk products.

A.M. Best views Fidelity Life’s ERM to be appropriate, based on its current size and risk profile. The company has a developed set of ERM responsibility and internal reporting commitments. Fidelity Life’s risk management capabilities are considered to be aligned appropriately with its risk profile and supported by its low product and investment risk profile, as well as a conservative reinsurance strategy.

Fidelity Life is well-positioned for its current rating level. Negative rating actions may occur if there is significant deterioration in operating performance as a result of factors such as higher-than-expected lapse rates. Additionally, downward rating pressure could occur if the company experiences difficulties in reaching its targeted surplus.

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 A.M. 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 A.M. Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best Rating Action Press Releases.

A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2018 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Contacts

A.M. Best
Sin Yee Chuah
Associate Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5022
sinyee.chuah@ambest.com
or
Jason Shum
Associate Director, Analytics
+65 6303 5020
jason.shum@ambest.com
or
Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com
or
Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

 

Source: A.M. Best

CORPORATE DIRECTORS TO CONVENE IN GENEVA FOR WORLD'S FIRST-EVER GLOBAL CYBER FORUM

NACD to Host Global Boardroom and Cybersecurity Leaders to Elevate Cyber-Risk Oversight Practices WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the authority on boardroom practices representing more than 18,000 corporate board members, today announced its 2018 Global Cyber Forum, which will be held April 17–18 in Geneva, Switzerland. This event recognizes the global nature of cyber threats and gives international scope to NACD’s efforts to drive board members’ greater understanding of, and role in, cybersecurity oversight. An elite group of nonexecutive directors (NEDs) of multinational corporations, C-suite and managing-director-level executives, cybersecurity experts, global cybersecurity policy and law enforcement officials, and other thought leaders will attend the forum. Participants will examine leading board-level cyber-risk oversight practices and explore key themes that include cross-border law enforcement, the shifting global regulatory landscape, the impact of emerging technologies on cybersecurity, and leading practices in cyber hygiene. The forum will engage attendees in a cyberbreach simulation for interactive learning. “As new threats arise amid increased global integration and connectivity, corporate boards need to be well-versed in their companies’ vulnerabilities in order to be prepared in the event of a cyberbreach,” said NACD CEO Peter Gleason. “Our primary goal is to provide NEDs and company leaders with practical information they can take back to the boardroom.” http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31026

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION RELEASES SMALL DUAL MOSFET FOR RELAY DRIVERS

TOKYO, Jan 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation today announced the launch of “SSM6N357R,” a new MOSFET with a built-in diode between the drain and gate terminals. The device is suited to driving inductive loads, such as mechanical relays. Volume shipments start today.

SSM6N357R integrates a pull-down resistor, a series resistor and a Zener diode, which reduces the parts count and save on board space. Furthermore, since it is a dual-type package product (2 in 1), it has an approximately 42% smaller mounting area than the alternative of using two SSM3K357R (2.4 x 2.9 x 0.8 mm) single-type package products.

An industry-standard TSOP6F-class package, a low operating voltage of 3.0V and AEC-Q101 qualification make the SSM6N357R suitable for automotive and many other applications.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31050

BUDDHIST LEADER IKEDA URGES HUMAN RIGHTS FOCUS AS KEY TO RESOLUTION OF GLOBAL ISSUES AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION

TOKYO, Jan 26 (Bernama-AsiaNet) -- On January 26, 2018, Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda, President of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), issued his annual peace proposal, titled "Toward an Era of Human Rights: Building a People's Movement."

Ikeda welcomes the July 2017 adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as a turning point in the global history of efforts to achieve peace and disarmament, emphatic that while nuclear weapons exist, a world of peace and human rights will remain elusive. He outlines strategies for gaining support for the Treaty from the nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-dependent states.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31030

DUCO ANNOUNCES $28M GROWTH INVESTMENT FOR DATA ENGINEERING IN THE CLOUD

LONDON & NEW YORK, Jan 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Duco, the data engineering technology company, today announced the completion of a $28m investment round by Insight Venture Partners, NEX Opportunities and Eight Roads Ventures. The round also includes an investment by lifetime entrepreneur and former CEO of SunGard, Cristóbal Conde.

Duco provides technology that enables banks, brokers, asset managers and exchanges to normalise, validate and reconcile any type of data in Duco’s cloud, providing firms with on-demand data integrity and insight. The company has seen rapid and global growth as the industry re-platforms, adopting advances in leading technology to eliminate operational risk and cost and making actionable data more immediately available across the enterprise. Duco will use the investment to expand its global footprint, with headcount growth in Europe and the US, the launch of an Asia office and an expansion of its award-winning product set.

Christian Nentwich, CEO of Duco, said, “Duco’s approach to solving complex data problems in financial services is to empower experts with self-service solutions. We have gained considerable traction as the industry looks for intelligent answers to evolving new market realities. Our clients have engaged us globally at a strategic level and are relying on our proven ability to deliver at scale. This investment enables us to push further in applying our natural background in Computer Science to solving fundamental industry problems, while strengthening our resources to deepen relationships with our existing client base.”

Peter Sobiloff, Managing Director, Insight Venture Partners, said, “Insight Venture Partners tracks many companies, but few stand out. Duco is one of the few. The company has already demonstrated tremendous growth, and we are looking forward to scaling that growth to the next level. We are impressed by the management team’s ability to deliver tangible impact in a challenging and complex business-to-business environment while amassing an impressive global client list with high customer satisfaction levels and retention rates. Insight is looking forward to working with the Duco team.”

Michael Spencer, CEO of NEX, said, “The evolution of the post-trade environment in financial services requires fundamental changes in market structure, processes and technology. In areas such as data, a deeper and more technical level of innovation has been required and this is exactly where Duco are the industry’s pioneers. NEX has supported the firm from its conception and we are thrilled, but not surprised, to see its substantial progress.”

Cristobal Conde said, “I am delighted to be deepening my relationship with Duco at this important inflection point for the company. Reconciliation in financial services, and particularly in banks and large asset managers, is an area that requires a shake-up and re-engineering in the coming years. Duco is focused on bringing technological advancements to market in an industry that is ripe for disruption. The company is taking significant market share and will emerge as a household name in the coming years.”

About Duco

Duco provides self-service data engineering in the cloud. We empower users to normalize, validate and reconcile any type of data on demand. New clients are live in 24 hours, with results in 7 days and tangible business value in 30 days. Our customers include international banks, brokers, exchanges, asset managers, hedge funds, administrators, service providers and corporates. Headquartered in London, with offices in New York and Luxembourg, Duco serves clients throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. For more information go to https://du.co

About Insight Venture Partners

Insight Venture Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight has raised more than $18 billion and invested in over 300 companies worldwide. Our mission is to find, fund and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on growth expertise to foster long-term success. Across our people and our portfolio, we encourage a culture around a core belief: growth equals opportunity. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit www.insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

About NEX Opportunities

A NEX business, NEX Opportunities helps companies challenge convention and accelerate growth. We invest in financial technology companies that are transforming markets. We partner with pioneers who are bringing new technologies, sciences, business models and talent to capital markets technology. Investments include: Abide Financial, AcadiaSoft, ENSO Financial, Duco, OpenGamma, Axoni, Digital Asset Holdings, OpenFin and Cloud 9. For more information, go to www.euclidopportunities.com.

About Eight Roads

Eight Roads Ventures is a global venture capital firm with more than 40 investments in the FinTech space. Together with associated funds it manages $3.6Bn of capital across offices in the UK, India, Japan, China and the US. Eight Roads has a near 50-year history of investing, that includes partnerships with companies such as Alibaba, Ant Financial, Appsflyer, China PnR, Compte Nickel, Curam, Future Advisor, Kensho, InnoGames, iPipeline, Letgo, Made.com, Neo4j, Nuance, Ping Identity, Prosper, Recurly, Wuxi Pharmatech, Xoom.

About Cristóbal Conde

Cristóbal is the former President and CEO of SunGard. He spent 24 years at the firm, growing SunGard into a Fortune 500 Company and the largest privately held software and services company in the world, employing over 26,000 staff. Prior to President and CEO, Cristóbal held various senior roles at Sungard including Executive Vice President and COO.
 

Contacts

Chris Peacock, +44 20 3111 9294
press@du.co
or
MWWPR for Insight Venture Partners
+1 646 376 7037
insightventurepartners@mww.com
or
Bryony Scragg, +44 20 7818 9689
Head of Media Relations
Bryony.Scragg@nex.com
or
Alex Prescot, +44 20 7074 5473
alex.prescot@eightroads.com

 

Source: Duco

 

FEDEX COMMITTING MORE THAN $3.2 BILLION IN WAGE INCREASES, BONUSES, PENSION FUNDING AND EXPANDED U.S. CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- FedEx Corporation is announcing three major programs today following the recently enacted U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:
 
1) Over $200 million in increased compensation, about two-thirds of which will go to hourly team members by advancing 2018 annual pay increases by six months to April 1st from the normal October date. The remainder will fund increases in performance-based incentive plans for salaried personnel.

2) A voluntary contribution of $1.5 billion to the FedEx pension plan to ensure it remains one of the best funded retirement programs in the country.

3) Investing $1.5 billion to significantly expand the FedEx Express Indianapolis hub over the next seven years. The Memphis SuperHub will also be modernized and enlarged in a major program the details of which will be announced later this spring.
 
FedEx believes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will likely increase GDP and investment in the United States.
 
The company has made no change to its fiscal 2018 earnings or capital expenditure guidance as issued on December 19, 2017, as a result of these actions.
 
Corporate Overview
 
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $62 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 400,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com.
 
http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31040

DAVID BINKS, FEDEX EXPRESS EUROPE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TNT, TO RETIRE

Bert Nappier to Succeed Binks June 1, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) today announced that David Binks, FedEx Express Europe president and CEO of TNT, will retire in June.

Bert Nappier, currently FedEx Express senior vice president of finance - international, will succeed Binks in the role effective June 1, 2018.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31036

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION INTRODUCES SOI PROCESS WITH LOW NOISE FIGURE FOR LOW-NOISE RF AMPLIFIERS FOR SMARTPHONES

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION INTRODUCES SOI PROCESS WITH LOW NOISE FIGURE FOR LOW-NOISE RF AMPLIFIERS FOR SMARTPHONES

ALGECO SCOTSMAN ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION

BALTIMORE, Jan 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algeco/Scotsman Holding S.à r.l. (together with its subsidiaries, "Algeco Scotsman") today announced that it has made available certain information relating to Algeco Scotsman on its website, which contains an update on the financial performance of the Group and certain other information and can be accessed at http://www.algecoscotsman.com/pdf/Algeco-Information-Release_Jan_25_2018.pdf

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31024

​LIGHTBRIDGE AND FRAMATOME LAUNCH ENFISSION TO COMMERCIALIZE INNOVATIVE NUCLEAR FUEL

RESTON, Va., Jan 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ:LTBR) (the "Company"), a nuclear fuel technology company, and Framatome, a leader in nuclear fuel, components and reactor services, finalized and launched Enfission, a 50-50 joint venture company to develop, license and sell nuclear fuel assemblies based on Lightbridge-designed metallic fuel technology and other advanced nuclear fuel intellectual property. Lightbridge is a U.S. nuclear fuel development company and Framatome is a leader in designing, building, servicing, and fueling today's reactor fleet and advancing nuclear energy.

The two companies already began joint fuel development and regulatory licensing work under previously signed agreements initiated in March 2016. The joint venture is a Delaware-based limited liability company.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31023

A.M. BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF THE DAI-ICHI LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, LIMITED

HONG KONG, Jan 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “aa-” of The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited (DL) (Japan), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
 
The ratings reflect DL’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
 
DL’s very strong balance sheet is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalization that A.M. Best considers to be at the strongest level and by a positive impact from the holding company, which is offset partially by DL’s moderate asset/liability duration gap. The company’s capital requirements, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), continue to be driven by asset risk due to its sizeable investment assets relative to its shareholder funds. DL’s financial leverage remains adequate for the current ratings.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31025

CISCO ACCELERATES MULTICLOUD JOURNEY WITH HYPERFLEX PLATFORM INNOVATIONS

Adds support for containers and Microsoft Hyper-V, integrates multicloud services


SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cisco today announced platform innovations for Cisco® HyperFlex™ with the 3.0 software release that delivers performance and simplicity for any application, on any cloud, at any scale.   Enhancements include support for Microsoft Hyper-V, stretch clusters, containers, and new multicloud services that enable applications to be deployed, monitored and managed in any cloud. The result is a platform that uniquely enables development and deployment of both traditional and cloud-native applications on a common hyperconverged platform.

Cisco HyperFlex: The Power to Simplify More
Other hyperconverged solutions neglect the crucial roles that networking and distributed file systems play in the performance and scaling of clustered servers. Cisco redefined hyperconvergence with a complete end-to-end approach that engineers high performance server and networking technology, with a purpose-built filesystem. The result is industry leading performance that enables customers to efficiently support a broader array of applications, including databases and mission critical ERP workloads.

“HyperFlex’s approach enables high performance of Microsoft SQL and Oracle databases and critical applications with faster delivery of the environment, lower costs, and more effective management,” said Edivaldo Rocha, CEO, CorpFlex.

The latest release of HyperFlex builds on this superior architecture and expands the opportunity for customers to simplify more.  “Customers tell us they need operational simplicity, effortless scalability, and the ability to serve the unique needs of each of their applications,” said Liz Centoni, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Computing Systems Product Group.  “The new HyperFlex platform underscores our commitment to continuously simplify and improve data center operations and help organizations thrive in a multicloud world.”

Run Any Application
The HyperFlex 3.0 software release delivers significant advancements for mission critical and cloud-native workloads:

• Multi-hypervisor Support. In addition to VMware ESXi, HyperFlex adds hypervisor support for Microsoft Hyper-V.
• Container Support. Data platform enhancements include a FlexVolume driver to enable persistent storage for Kubernetes managed containers, enabling development and deployment of cloud-native applications on HyperFlex.
• Enterprise Application Validations. HyperFlex is ready for a wide range of workloads with workload profiling and sizing tools available to support application migration projects. In addition to design and deployment guides for Virtual Server Infrastructure (VSI) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) , Cisco design guides are now available for mission critical databases, analytics and ERP applications - including Oracle, SQL, SAP, Microsoft Exchange, and Splunk.

On Any Cloud
Organizations today require workload mobility and application monitoring across public and private clouds.  HyperFlex is the platform for the multicloud era featuring new service integrations with Cisco’s multicloud software portfolio:

• Application Performance Monitoring. AppDynamics with HyperFlex enables performance monitoring of hybrid applications running on HyperFlex and across multiple clouds.
• Application Placement. Cisco Workload Optimization Manager (CWOM) for HyperFlex assists customers with automated analysis and workload placement.
• Cloud Management. Introduced last year, CloudCenter for HyperFlex enables workload lifecycle management across one to many private and public clouds.
• Private Cloud. CloudCenter for HyperFlex simplifies the deployment and management of VM’s, containers and applications, making it easy for developers and administrators to consume private clouds.

At Any Scale
Only Cisco enables customers to power rapidly growing workloads with comprehensive resiliency while enjoying the global reach of cloud-based systems management.

• Greater Scalability and Resiliency On-prem. Supporting customers with higher virtual machine density,  HyperFlex clusters now scale to 64 nodes with added resiliency through fully-automated availability zones. 
• Stretch Clusters Across Datacenters. To meet data protection and high availability requirements, HyperFlex can now be configured into stretch clusters for campus and metro mission critical availability.
• Cloud-based Management Across Datacenters. Cisco Intersight now supports HyperFlex Cloud Deployment, extending simplified deployment and management to any remote location.

Applications are at the heart of digital transformation.  The changing application landscape demands support for both traditional, monolithic workloads as well as distributed microservices architectures. In addition, the ability to enable a multicloud operating environment is quickly becoming a data center requirement. According to IDC’s July 2017 CloudView Survey, 85 percent of respondents are evaluating or using public cloud, while among current cloud users 87 percent have taken steps towards a hybrid cloud strategy and 94 percent plan to use multiple clouds.

Organizations are rapidly adopting hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) to help simplify their environments.  HCI is one of the fastest growing segments in the data center space with a 5-year CAGR (2016-2021) of 30.2 percent (Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Converged Systems Forecast Tracker, 3CQ17). Cisco HyperFlex is being adopted as the platform of choice for enterprise IT, accelerating this market transition with more than 2000 customers globally.

Additional Resources

• Join us on February 28^th for a deep dive into HyperFlex 3.0 with TechWise TV – Accelerating Multicloud IT with the New Cisco HyperFlex. Register Today!
• Read Kaustubh Das ’s blog - HyperFlex 3.0: Platform for the Multicloud Era
• Going to Cisco Live Barcelona? Get the new details on HyperFlex there.
• Experience HyperFlex 3.0. Watch here!
• Learn more about Cisco HyperFlex at www.cisco.com/go/hyperflex

About Cisco HyperFlex Systems™

Cisco HyperFlex Systems delivers complete hyperconvergence, combining compute, storage, and networking resources into a simplified, easy-to-use platform. The HyperFlex data platform engineered with Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) delivers a dynamic data fabric™ with the industry-leading performance customers need to simplify more applications in their data centers. Cisco HyperFlex Systems deliver the agility, scalability, and pay-as-you-grow economics of the cloud, but with the benefits of on-premises infrastructure. Cisco HyperFlex. Simplify more.

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow's digital opportunity today. Discover more at thenetwork.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.


Press Relations                                                                       
Lee Davis                                                                                             
Cisco                                                                                                         
650-868-3036
leedavis@cisco.com                                                              

Analyst Relations
Jennie Olean
Cisco
978 936-0223
jolean@cisco.com

Investor Relations
Carol Villazon
Cisco
408-527-6538
carolv@cisco.com


Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f62645a1-5b28-4671-ac70-24a5338e2371
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/312438df-ca48-4c77-ac19-4664ff6f1106


SOURCE : Cisco Systems, Inc.

FIRST DATA EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH SBI CARD TO PROVIDE CARD PROCESSING SERVICES IN INDIA

As part of long-term agreement, SBI will leverage the latest version of First Data’s innovative VisionPLUS^® software

NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- First Data (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in commerce-enabling technology, today announced an expanded partnership with SBI Card, a leading credit cards issuer in India with more than 5.6 million customers. Under the new, multi-year agreement, First Data will provide comprehensive card management solutions powered by its proprietary VisionPLUS^® software. To support the partnership, First Data will operate a new data center facility in India.

“We are thrilled to grow this partnership with SBI Card. As India continues its path towards demonetization, the country remains an important market for us, and we are uniquely positioned as a leader of both card issuance and acquiring solutions in India, driving innovation with mobile and digital solutions,” stated Ivo Distelbrink, Executive Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific for First Data. “First Data is committed to investing in and expanding our business in India, responding to the increasing need for robust, secure and flexible solutions for cardholders, and enabling clients like SBI Card to maintain a competitive edge in the market,” Distelbrink added.

“We are pleased to appoint First Data as our new partner to provide end-to-end processing services hosted in India. First Data will set up and manage new data center facilities in India to provide card management solutions,” Vijay Jasuja, Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card, said. “These services from First Data will enable us to get better economies of scale and enhance services levels. We will also leverage new digital capabilities from First Data in the future. We look forward to a long term association with First Data.”

SBI Card will leverage First Data’s VisionPLUS system, which is a proven global software payment solution, offering service-oriented core architecture capabilities and open APIs for quicker application development and integration. VisionPLUS powers card processing for major issuers across the India market.

“First Data offers comprehensive services to many of the major financial institutions around the world,” said Andrew Gelb, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Financial Solutions for First Data. “This agreement with a great partner, SBI Card, demonstrates the continued expansion of our global processing footprint, the scalability and flexibility of our world-class VisionPLUS platform and services, and our commitment to partnering with the world’s leading financial institutions.”

In India, First Data serves top national and international banks, corporations, and small and mid-sized merchants. First Data powers a significant portion of all eCommerce transactions in India through the First Data payment gateway. The company was also the first to introduce multi-payment and digital self-service channels for merchants through mobile applications.

To learn more about First Data’s VisionPLUS solution, visit here.

About First Data

First Data (NYSE: FDC) is a global leader in commerce-enabling technology, serving approximately six million business locations and 4,000 financial institutions in more than 100 countries around the world. The company’s 24,000 owner-associates are dedicated to helping companies, from start-ups to the world’s largest corporations, conduct commerce every day by securing and processing more than 2,800 transactions per second and $2.2 trillion per year.

About SBI Card

SBI Cards and Payment Services Private Limited (SBI Card) is an Indian financial services company to offer Indian consumers extensive access to a wide range of world-class, value-added payment products and services. Presently, the brand has a wide customer base of over 5.6 million. With a market share of 16%, SBI Card operates through over 100 locations in India. SBI Card is based on the value proposition of “Make Life Simple”.
 

Contacts

Liidia Liuksila
First Data U.S.
+1 212 515 0174
Liidia.Liuksila@firstdata.com
or
Vanessa Frida
First Data APAC
+65 6511 8729
Vanessa.Frida@firstdata.com
or
Tripti Modi
SBI Card
+91 9599213959
Tripti.Modi@sbicard.com

 

Source: First Data

ASCOM WILL SHOWCASE ITS DIGISTAT SUITE OF HEALTHCARE ICT SOLUTIONS AT ARAB HEALTH 2018

Ascom presents its Digistat suite at Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2018 (29 Jan – 1 Feb), a healthcare ICT solution with a wide range of applications for caregivers; Recent additions to the Digistat portfolio show its versatile use to increase the efficiency in patient care


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascom (SWX:ASCN.SW), the global solutions provider focused on healthcare ICT and mobile workflow solutions, will showcase the sophisticated Digistat suite of clinical data management modules at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2018. Digistat is a suite of software modules that can be configured into numerous solutions especially for ICUs, surgical and OR management, medical device integration, and the centralized display of patient data collected from multiple medical devices.

Gianluca Testasecca, Head of Digistat International Sales at Ascom, who will be attending Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2018, emphasizes that Ascom will focus on recent additions to the Digistat portfolio: “We are, for example, excited to demonstrate the new Ascom Digistat Vitals application. It’s a pioneering app that lets caregivers record vital parameters and perform guided scoring calculation at the bedside. This helps achieve faster, more accurate and more direct registration of vitals into Electronic Medical Records. Double documentation and paper-to-EMR registration are time-intensive and prone to errors and omissions—issues that are addressed by Ascom Digistat Vitals.”  

This is the fourth time Ascom participates in Arab Health. “The Middle East and Asian markets are increasingly important to Ascom,” comments Testasecca. “There is a growing demand for smart mission-critical solutions. And as healthcare infrastructures develop and mature, there is increasing awareness that our solutions can play a key part in maximizing investment returns while simultaneously contributing to patient safety and satisfaction.”

The Ascom stand at Arab Health 2018 is S1. B50

Disclaimer: Availability of products are subject to regulatory clearance. Products may not be available in a particular country or region. Specifications and availability are subject to change without further notice.

About Ascom

Ascom is a global solutions provider focused on healthcare ICT and mobile workflow solutions. The vision of Ascom is to close digital information gaps allowing for the best possible decisions – anytime and anywhere. Ascom’s mission is to provide mission-critical, real-time solutions for highly mobile, ad hoc, and time-sensitive environments. Ascom uses its unique product and solutions portfolio and software architecture capabilities to devise integration and mobilization solutions that provide truly smooth, complete and efficient workflows for healthcare as well as for industry and retail sectors.

Ascom is headquartered in Baar (Switzerland), has subsidiaries in 15 countries and employs around 1,300 people worldwide. Ascom registered shares (ASCN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich.

This document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to subscribe for, purchase or sell any securities. This document is not being issued in the United States of America or the United Kingdom and should not be distributed in any jurisdiction in a manner where such distribution would not comply with regulatory requirements. In particular, this document may not be distributed into the United States, to United States persons or to publications with a general circulation in the United States. In addition, the securities of Ascom have not been and will not be registered in any jurisdiction outside Switzerland. The securities of Ascom may not be offered, sold or delivered and no solicitation to purchase such securities may be made within the United States or to U.S. persons absent an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the United States securities laws or within any other jurisdiction and in a manner where such offer, sale, delivery or solicitation might not be in compliance with regulatory requirements (including the United Kingdom).


Contact: Adam Jaffe, Marketing Growth Markets, Ascom
Phone: +61 411 830 568
Email: adam.jaffe@ascom.com

SOURCE : Ascom Holding AG

BEST'S BRIEFING: TYPHOON HATO SHOWS MACAU'S INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE MODELS TO BE ROBUST

HONG KONG, Jan 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Macau non-life insurance industry ability to withstand 2017’s Typhoon Hato (Hato) shows that despite the market’s small size, it remains a healthy one, with well-capitalized companies that have strong earning capabilities to help withstand losses, according to a new A.M. Best briefing.
 
The new Best’s Briefing, titled “Typhoon Hato Shows Macau’s (Re)insurance Models to be Robust,” states that Macau’s insurance regulator takes a conservative approach by requiring a minimum solvency margin for non-life business based on gross premiums written. Under these high capital requirements, local insurance companies tend to focus on the bottom line in order to deliver their shareholders an expected return-on-equity (ROE). As a result, the earning capabilities of the top three non-life insurers in Macau, which represent 70% of the market share, are considered strong, with five-year ROEs ranging from 9% to 24%.
 
The vast majority of insured losses associated with Hato were ceded to the international reinsurance market, with only a very small portion retained in the local market. As a result, the net retained losses from Hato, which made landfall in August 2007 as the strongest typhoon to hit Macau in more than half a century, are manageable for local insurers. Although Macau is an affluent city, risk awareness is relatively low. Because of this, personal lines penetration is low, with fairly simple product offerings that meet only basic needs.
 
Overall, A.M. Best believes the net retained typhoon loss is an earnings event rather than a capital event, as the market is well-capitalized and well-protected by reinsurance. Non-life insurers have experienced stable and profitable performance in the past, and A.M. Best expects these companies will recover their losses from Hato in a couple of years.
 
For the full copy of this briefing, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=269978.
 
A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
 
Copyright © 2018 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
 
http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=31021

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GRANTS PREQUALIFICATION TO BHARAT BIOTECH'S ROTAVIRUS VACCINE, ROTAVAC®

NEW DELHI, Jan 25 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Bharat Biotech today announced that the World Health Organization (WHO Geneva) has awarded prequalification to the developing world’s first rotavirus vaccine, ROTAVAC®.

WHO Prequalification is necessary for UN agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to purchase the vaccine in partnership with developing countries and will help accelerate availability of the ROTAVAC® to the developing countries with the highest burden of disease. India has introduced ROTAVAC® into its national immunization program during 2016, with ~35 million doses delivered till date.

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea among children less than five years of age around the world, resulting in ~215,000 deaths and 2 million hospitalizations. Vaccinations are an important part of global public health efforts to meet the Sustainable Developmental Goals of UNDP.

“We are highly honored and delighted to become the first rotavirus vaccine from the developing world and India to be WHO Prequalified. We feel proud to dedicate this innovated in India and Made in India vaccine to the world. The true impact of vaccines can be seen, when vaccinations are carried out in affected populations. The Government of India has given a big boost by making ROTAVAC® available to millions in India already," said Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech.

“Bharat Biotech’s track record of lifesaving vaccines is a testimony to the company's long-standing commitment to make affordable vaccines for the developing world. ROTAVAC® has been supplied to low income countries at $1.0 / dose, with the feasibility for further ~30% price reductions, based on the procurement of ~100 million doses to these countries,” Dr. Krishna Ella added.

ROTAVAC® was developed as a result of a multi-country - multi-partner collaborative model of team science for over 2 decades. This large public private social innovation partnership included the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Translational Health Sciences and Technology Institute (THSTI), the Society for Applied Studies (SAS), Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, King Edwards Memorial Hospital (KEM) Pune, Stanford University School of Medicine, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Johns Hopkins University and PATH. The ROTAVAC® partnership has resulted in more than 15 international publications, including the pivotal phase III publication in Lancet in 2014.

“The novel team science partnership that developed this vaccine serves as a useful model for others to follow,” said Dr. Roger I. Glass, Director of the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, who helped shepherd the process. “The result is an effective, yet economical, vaccine that has the potential to save thousands of children’s lives in Africa and elsewhere.” According to him, Rotavirus is responsible for an estimated 36% of hospitalizations for childhood diarrhea around the world and for an estimated 200,000 deaths in low and middle income countries.

WHO prequalification for ROTAVAC® is the result of a rigorous regulatory process. ROTAVAC® has been under development since the year 2000 necessitating investments of around USD 200 million towards product development and dedicated manufacturing infrastructure. The Genome Valley facility has an installed manufacturing capacity of up to 200 million doses / year, and is a scalable model ready to meet global demand.

“India’s leadership in developing and introducing its own rotavirus vaccine is commendable and emphasizes a national commitment to improving the health of their children,” said Duncan Steele, deputy director on the Enteric Diarrheal Diseases team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “The advent of a locally manufactured, WHO Prequalified rotavirus vaccine offers promise to protect children in India, Africa, the Americas and the rest of Asia from this debilitating disease.”

Bharat Biotech has successfully miniaturized the dose volume of ROTAVAC®, to 0.5 ml / dose and is presented in a ready-to-use format, requiring no further reconstitution, similar to oral polio vaccines. The product profile of ROTAVAC® has been optimally designed for the developing world by the developing world to aid ease of administration, reduced training requirements, and with the lowest cold chain footprint for an oral rotavirus vaccine in the world. The cold chain footprint has been reduced to ~3 cm³ / dose, resulting in significant savings in cold chain storage and distribution costs. The 0.5 ml dose volume also reduces the amount of spit-ups by infants when the vaccine is administered.
 

Contacts

Bharat Biotech
Sheela Panicker, +91 984 980 9594
enRight@enrightpr.com
 

Source: Bharat Biotech