AM BEST ASSIGNS B++ FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATING TO BEIBU GULF INSURANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has assigned a financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and a long-term issuer credit rating of “bbb+” (Good) to Beibu Gulf Property & Casualty Insurance Company Ltd (Beibu Gulf Insurance).

The outlook assigned to these credit ratings (ratings) is stable, reflecting the company’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Headquartered in Guangxi province, China, Beibu Gulf Insurance was established in 2013 through a joint partnership comprising 10 state-owned enterprise shareholders and three private sector investors, according to AM Best in a statement.

Its ultimate controlling shareholder, Guangxi Investment Group Co Ltd, a provincial-level state-owned capital investment company in Guangxi, holds a 29.73 per cent equity stake through its subsidiaries.

Despite being a small-to-medium-sized non-life insurer in China, Beibu Gulf Insurance holds a prominent position in Guangxi province, capturing nine per cent of the local market share by premium income in 2025. It maintains a diversified product mix, with motor insurance making up nearly half of its gross written premiums.

Leveraging strong relationships between its shareholders and local governments, Beibu Gulf Insurance gains access to business opportunities in policy-driven agricultural insurance and has continued to expand its liability lines in recent years.

Beibu Gulf Insurance’s strong balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation as at year-end 2025, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, supported by organic capital accumulation and controlled expansion in underwriting and investment risks.

After posting two years of net losses, Beibu Gulf Insurance returned to profitability in 2023 and sustained momentum to deliver mid-single-digit return on equity in both 2024 and 2025.

AM Best said the company maintains a well-diversified and liquid investment book, dominated by bonds, fixed-income wealth management instruments and cash. The investment portfolio generated a low single-digit investment return, which was above the average level of the domestic non-life industry in 2025.

-- BERNAMA

Pine Labs Extends Five-Year Technology Partnership With Woolworths Group

 

SINGAPORE, Sept 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Pine Labs, a global payments technology company, today announced the extension of its technology partnership with Woolworths Group, extending its role in powering their gift card ecosystem through enhanced platform capabilities, deeper API integrations, and support for new digital stored-value experiences.

Through its Qwikcilver subsidiary, Pine Labs powers the technology platform supporting Woolworths' gift card programs. The partnership will build on this foundation, with a focus on strengthening platform capabilities, enabling deeper technology integration, and supporting the evolution of gift card experiences across physical and digital channels.

Building a flexible technology layer for the gifting economy

Pine Labs’ Qwikcilver platform supports the lifecycle of gift cards products, including issuance, processing, transaction management, and omnichannel program capabilities.

Its API-led and modular architecture is designed to help Woolworths integrate gift card capabilities with their wider commerce ecosystems and progressively add new use cases by leveraging the existing technology infrastructure.

“The most valuable technology partnerships are built over time and become part of the infrastructure that businesses rely on every day,” said B Amrish Rau, CEO, Pine Labs. “Over the past five years, Pine Labs and Woolworths have established that kind of relationship. We are now expanding the technology foundation with enhanced platform capabilities that can support new gift card experiences and stored-value use cases.”

Technology engineered for enterprise scale

As retailers increasingly connect gifting, customer engagement, and digital commerce experiences, stored-value platforms are evolving into a critical component of enterprise commerce infrastructure.

Under the engagement, Pine Labs will support Woolworths' ongoing modernization of gift card infrastructure through enhanced API integrations, increased scalability, and stronger digital program capabilities.

“As gift card experiences become increasingly digital, integrated, and omnichannel, enterprises need technology infrastructure that can evolve alongside customer expectations. Our partnership with Woolworths is focused on providing that long-term foundation," added Rau.

The relationship with Woolworths reflects Pine Labs' focus on helping large enterprises modernize gift card and stored-value infrastructure through scalable, API-led technology platforms. Through its subsidiary Qwikcilver, Pine Labs provides a technology layer on which enterprises can operate and evolve their stored value programs as commerce models and customer expectations change.

To know more, please visit www.pinelabs.com

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Contact

Media Contact:
Sunil Param, Pine Labs
communications@pinelabs.com

Source : Pine Labs

VOCALBEATS.AI REINFORCES COMMITMENT TO AI INNOVATION AT FCGF 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Vocalbeats.AI, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence (AI) innovation company, continued its support for the FutureChina Global Forum 2026 (FCGF 2026), reinforcing its commitment to practical AI innovation and Singapore’s AI ecosystem.

Organised by Business China, the two-day FCGF 2026 was held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from Sept 24 to 25 under the theme “Strengthening Resilience, Rebuilding Trust”. The forum’s guests of honour included the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Tan Kiat How.

“We are pleased to support the FutureChina Global Forum and contribute to the wider discussion on how AI can be applied responsibly and translated into real-world value,” said Vocalbeats.AI Chief Executive Officer, Marco Lai Jinnan in a statement.

The forum featured a dedicated AI Track for the first time, highlighting the growing importance of AI in business and society, with discussions exploring AI deployment to improve productivity and deliver tangible business and societal value, drawing on applications ranging from enterprise software to robotics.

As AI systems become more capable and widely adopted, speakers also highlighted the importance of workforce skills, workflow redesign and viable business models, alongside safety, accountability and trust.

Vocalbeats.AI said these discussions reflect its belief that the next stage of AI development will be defined by its ability to address real-world needs and deliver tangible value to users.

The company develops AI-powered applications for productivity and communication, including Owll, an AI note-taking and productivity app, and Owll Translator, an AI-powered real-time translation app.

Vocalbeats.AI’s support for the forum forms part of its broader engagement with Singapore’s AI and technology ecosystem. Over the past year, the company has expanded its collaborations with universities, public-sector organisations and AI communities.

Its initiatives include the Vocalbeats.AI Scholarship at the National University of Singapore, the Vocalbeats.AI–Turing AI Scholarship at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; internship opportunities for students; and AI learning workshops for children and youth in local communities.

-- BERNAMA

​Tempo Software Chief Product Officer Kevin Nanney to Deliver Keynote Speech at Reuters Momentum AI Conference

Keynote will explore why becoming an AI enterprise starts with closing the distance between AI spend and the outcomes it funds

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept 25 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AI spending is showing up in enterprise budgets, but its impact on business priorities is harder to see. At this year's Reuters Momentum AI Conference, Tempo Software's Chief Product Officer Kevin Nanney will deliver a keynote speech that explores how leaders can close that distance between AI spend and the outcomes it funds.

Every enterprise is now operating under the same instruction: adopt AI across the business, or fall behind the competitors already doing it. A second instruction lands right behind the first: govern the spend, or lose the authority to keep funding it. Nanney's keynote argues that resolving both at once, not choosing between them, is what separates enterprises becoming AI enterprises in practice from the ones still writing the strategy deck.

Drawing on his own experience leading product at Tempo, Nanney, who has more than 20 years of product leadership experience, will address an audience of enterprise leaders who are shaping AI strategy, governance, transformation, and growth. Nanney will share how two initiatives competing for the same engineering capacity told very different stories beneath the surface, and why an apparent efficiency problem prompted a change in measurement rather than a budget cut. He will outline practical steps for identifying strategic drift during planning, while there is still time to course correct, and what it takes to run an AI enterprise rather than just declare one.

The keynote lays out the three-part method Nanney argues closes that distance and turns the mandate to become an AI enterprise into an operating model, not just a goal. First, know what AI agents are doing: what they cost, what they deliver, and how they move strategic initiatives forward. Second, replace fragmented AI adoption with one governed operating model for human and agentic work, so every piece of work ties back to strategy. Third, move from static planning cycles to real-time, adaptive planning that surfaces drift early and recommends a course correction the same day it appears, not six weeks and a review cycle later. Nanney will close with practical starting points for leaders under pressure to show results now, including staying inside the tools their teams already use rather than forcing a migration.

Nanney's keynote, “Spend Is Tracked. Outcomes Are Not. The AI Accountability Distance Nobody Has Closed,” is slated for Thursday, Sept. 24 at 4:20 p.m. CT, on the conference's mainstage.

Tempo's recently released 2026 State of AI in Portfolio Management report found that 91% of surveyed organizations are piloting or actively using AI in project delivery, yet only 26% actively use it to prioritize or reprioritize work. That distance between AI adoption and AI-informed decision-making shows that using AI, by itself, is not a competitive advantage, and it's why continuous coordination of strategy, investment, and execution, with the ability to see drift and make real-time course corrections across human-agentic workforces, matters most for enterprise leaders navigating AI ROI. The mandate to adopt AI is already being met. The mandate to prove it is not.

Nanney's mainstage presentation comes just days after Tempo's launch of Loop, the AI-native Intelligent Portfolio Orchestration platform that helps enterprises move from fragmented AI adoption to an enterprise AI operating model for coordinating human and AI work. Loop gives leaders a continuously updated portfolio view of time, capacity, cost and execution across the systems their teams already use, and once a leader approves a recommendation, applies the change directly into enterprise-grade work systems such as Jira, Azure DevOps with Linear, and others to follow. Tempo also recently launched Workforce Intelligence, the first Atlassian Marketplace app to automatically attribute AI activity directly to Jira work items, epics, and initiatives.

In advance of the conference, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Tempo hosted an after-hours event with the team for drinks and conversation in one of Austin's distinctive venues in the warehouse district. Attendees were able to meet Tempo's leadership, product, and sales teams.

The 2026 Reuters' AI Momentum Conference, held in Austin Sept. 24-26, is North America's premier forum for enterprise AI. The conference convenes leaders responsible for making AI deliver real business value and articulating the ROI of AI investment. More than 500 senior executives are slated to attend the two-day event.

Explore Loop at tempo.io/loop to see how it fits your current tools. Workforce Intelligence is also available in Atlassian Marketplace.

About Tempo

Tempo Software is the leader in Intelligent Portfolio Orchestration, offering a next-generation platform for organizations to govern and measure human-AI teams. Tempo's suite of award-winning solutions gives planning and portfolio leaders the insights they need to connect strategy, investment, people, and delivery. Trusted by 30,000+ customers, including Cisco, Airbus, and Oracle, and 350+ global solution partners, Tempo is a leading partner in the Atlassian ecosystem. Discover more at Tempo.io.

About Kevin Nanney

Chief Product Officer Kevin Nanney leads product strategy and innovation across Tempo's portfolio. A seasoned product and GTM executive, Kevin has more than two decades of experience building and scaling enterprise SaaS products across work management, IT, and employee experience. His leadership experience spans prior roles at Iron Mountain, Workiva, and includes nearly eight years at ServiceNow.

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Contact

Media Contact
Erika Belezarian
Zer0 to 5ive for Tempo Software
erika@0to5.com

Source : Tempo Software

--BERNAMA

The Elmet Group to Acquire 4.99% Stake in Masan High-Tech Materials and Enter Multi-Year Tungsten Supply Partnership for the U.S. Market

 

^{Elmet will acquire a 4.99% stake in Masan High-Tech Materials (UPCoM: MSR) from a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan Group (HOSE: MSN)}


HANOI, Vietnam, Sept 25 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Masan High-Tech Materials Corporation (UPCoM: MSR, “MSR” or the “Company”), one of the very few fully integrated tungsten mining and refining platforms in the world, today announced a strategic partnership with The Elmet Group Co. (“Elmet,” NASDAQ: ELMT), a U.S.-based supplier of tungsten alloys and strategic mineral products to major North American customers. Combining a strategic equity investment with multi-year agreements for committed procurement and sale of tungsten volumes, the transaction marks another important step in MSR’s evolution into the world’s most trusted critical minerals processor, building a global strategic materials platform that connects global resources through its integrated processing capabilities in Vietnam to strategic end-markets such as semiconductors, aerospace, energy, automotive, specialty alloys, and advanced manufacturing.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260924219797/en/ 

Key Highlights

• Elmet will acquire a 4.99% stake in MSR, at an implied US$2.5 billion equity valuation, underpinned by MSR’s delivered earnings, and establishing an independent entry mark for the Company’s value from a NASDAQ-listed strategic partner that has spent more than twelve years inside MSR’s supply chain.
• The 8+ year partnership covers committed sales volumes of approximately 1,250 tonnes of WO₃-equivalent annually and approximately US$1.5 billion in estimated aggregate gross revenue over the initial term at prevailing tungsten prices, strengthening revenue visibility and refinery utilization.
• The partnership connects global tungsten resources through MSR’s trusted, integrated processing capabilities in Vietnam to U.S. advanced-manufacturing and industrial supply chains, extending a network that already spans South Korea, Japan, and Europe.

Under the transaction, Elmet will acquire a 4.99% stake in MSR from a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan Group (HOSE: MSN), at an implied US$2.5 billion equity valuation. Masan Group will remain MSR’s controlling shareholder with approximately 87.46% ownership following the transaction. For Masan Group, the transaction establishes an independent benchmark for MSR’s value, underpinned by MSR’s delivered earnings, and set by the industry participant that knows the platform best after more than twelve years inside its supply chain, while the proceeds reinforce the Group’s consolidated balance sheet and capital-allocation flexibility. This transaction is the first step in Masan Group’s strategy of building long-term partnerships between MSR and strategic customers that require secure supply of tungsten. The Group will continue to evaluate similar partnerships across major strategic markets.

Completion of the equity investment is subject to customary closing conditions, including required regulatory and corporate approvals. The commercial agreements take effect upon completion. The parties target to close within the first half of October.

In parallel with the equity investment, the companies have entered into multi-year agreements with committed volumes. MSR will supply tungsten products and conversion services to Elmet from its integrated mining and refining platform in Vietnam. The agreements cement a commercial relationship of more than twelve years into a long-term contracted partnership, with committed volumes over eight years, providing MSR with recurring revenue and multi-year earnings visibility. Leveraging MSR’s scaled refining platform, the companies will also collaborate to secure additional tungsten concentrate from international partner mines for processing in Vietnam, serving growing global demand. The agreements cover approximately 1,250 tonnes of WO₃-equivalent annually, representing approximately US$1.5 billion in estimated aggregate gross revenue to MSR over the initial term at prevailing tungsten prices.

“Critical materials are vital to American supply-chain security, industrial resilience, and next-generation technologies,” said Peter V. Anania, Chief Executive Officer of The Elmet Group. “We have partnered with Masan High-Tech Materials for more than twelve years and have seen firsthand the strength of its platform, leadership team, and execution. Our investment reflects confidence in both the team and the opportunity ahead. By bringing together two leaders with deep expertise and complementary capabilities, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers, support critical industries, and help build more secure supply chains for the future.”

The transaction reflects growing collaboration across strategic materials supply chains, as rising demand from AI infrastructure, semiconductors, aerospace, energy, and advanced manufacturing increases the importance of secure, stable and reliable supplies of tungsten and other critical materials. Against this backdrop, long-term partnerships connecting diversified sources of supply, integrated processing capabilities, and strategic end-markets are becoming increasingly important. Building on MSR’s existing partnerships in South Korea, Japan, and Europe, Elmet further expands the Company’s network across major strategic markets. MSR is today one of the very few tungsten processors trusted simultaneously by customers in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Europe, reinforcing its evolution into a global strategic materials platform.

MSR has recently announced the strengthening of its global strategic materials platform by adding a potential of 115 million tonnes of tungsten-polymetallic resources and expanding tungsten oxides production capacity to more than 8,000 tonnes of WO₃ per annum. In the first six months of 2026, MSR generated approximately US$423 million in revenue and US$83 million in net profit after tax. The second quarter alone contributed US$309 million in revenue and US$63 million in net profit after tax. Results were supported by higher tungsten sales volumes, elevated realized APT prices, and improved operating efficiency. MSR has announced a maiden dividend of VND1.1 trillion (approximately US$42 million) and an expansion of its oxide conversion capacity to address growing demand. For the full year, MSR expects revenue of approximately US$1.4 billion and net profit after tax of approximately US$233 million.

“The technologies defining this century, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and aerospace, cannot exist without tungsten. The world can count on one hand the places that produce and refine it at scale. MSR is one of them. Elmet has spent twelve years inside our supply chain. They know what we have built and what it would take to build again. That is what trust looks like when it converts into capital. Their investment speaks for itself. This is the beginning, and we will unlock MSR’s full value for shareholders in Vietnam and beyond,” said Danny Le, Chairman of Masan High-Tech Materials.

With long-term contracted volumes underpinning its cash flows, MSR intends to establish a recurring dividend, positioning the Company to deliver both growth and cash returns to shareholders, and will continue to advance its previously announced capital-market roadmap, including its planned migration to the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE).

ADVISER

Jefferies Singapore Limited acted as exclusive financial adviser to MSR.

MASAN GROUP CORPORATION

Masan Group Corporation (“Masan” or the “Group”) believes in doing well by doing good. The Group’s mission is to provide better products and services to the 100 million people of Vietnam and global consumers, so that they can pay less for their daily essentials. Masan aims to achieve this by driving productivity with technological innovations, trusted brands, and focusing on fewer but bigger opportunities that impact the most lives.

Masan Group’s member companies and associates are industry leaders in branded fast-moving consumer goods, branded meat, modern retail, F&B retail, financial services, telecommunications, and value-add chemical processing, altogether representing segments of Vietnam’s economy that are experiencing the most transformational growth.

MASAN HIGH-TECH MATERIALS

Masan High-Tech Materials is a leading integrated tungsten platform and the world’s largest producer of midstream and downstream tungsten products outside China. The Company provides advanced tungsten materials used across critical industries, including electronics, chemicals, automotive, aerospace, energy, and pharmaceuticals, serving customers worldwide. Its integrated operations include the Nui Phao polymetallic mine and a state-of-the-art tungsten processing facility in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam. Masan High-Tech Materials is also a leading global producer of fluorspar and bismuth.

THE ELMET GROUP

The Elmet Group Co. (NASDAQ: ELMT) is a U.S.-based provider of critical materials, precision-engineered components and advanced high-energy systems, and the only U.S.-owned, vertically integrated producer of tungsten serving the full breadth of critical end markets. ELMT operates manufacturing and processing facilities in Lewiston, Maine; Coldwater, Michigan; and Euclid, Ohio, and completed its initial public offering earlier in 2026.

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the expectations of Masan and MSR, intentions or strategies that may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements, including Masan’s expectations, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of Masan and MSR, which may cause the actual results of Masan or MSR of operations, financial condition, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events or promises of future performance. Completion of the transaction described in this press release is subject to conditions and may not occur on the anticipated timeline or at all.

View source version on businesswire.com:
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Contact

Investors/Analysts
Thuy Dung Vu
T: +84 28 6256 3862
E: ir@msn.masangroup.com

Media
Van Pham
T: +84 28 6256 3862
E: pr@msn.masangroup.com

Source : Masan High-Tech Materials

Kaplan Professional strengthens Asia presence with senior Singapore appointment

Melissa Chan_Headshot.

 
Sydney, Australia, Sep.24,2026 /Medianet - AsiaNet /--

Kaplan Professional has strengthened its presence in Singapore and across Asia with the appointment of experienced education and digital learning executive Melissa Chan as Head of Business Development, Asia.

Ms Chan will focus on developing corporate relationships, strategic accounts and partnerships, strengthening Kaplan Professional’s commercial capability on the ground as it expands its professional education, continuing professional development (CPD) and tailored learning solutions for financial services organisations and industry partners across Asia.

The appointment comes as new research commissioned by Kaplan Professional highlights evolving workforce capability needs across Singapore’s financial services sector. In a study of 200 professionals across banking, insurance and wealth management, 47% ranked Advisory and Client Needs Assessment among the top three skill areas required to meet business objectives over the next 24 months.

At the same time, 49% identified difficulty applying learning to real-work situations as a barrier to professional development, while 64% cited lack of time due to work commitments. ¹

The findings point to demand for practical, role-relevant and flexible professional development that can be applied in the workplace – an area Kaplan Professional is targeting as it grows its regional corporate learning capability.

Kaplan Professional Chief Executive Officer Brian Knight said Ms Chan’s appointment reflected the organisation’s longterm commitment to building its presence and partnerships across Asia while responding to changing industry and workforce needs.

“Our research in Singapore reinforces what we are hearing from employers and industry partners: organisations are looking beyond technical knowledge alone and increasingly focusing on the practical capabilities their people need to perform – from advisory and client communication to leadership and the responsible use of emerging technologies.

“Melissa brings an exceptional combination of education sector knowledge, commercial experience and deep regional expertise, with extensive experience building markets and strategic partnerships across different cultures.

“Over recent years, we have built strong foundations in Singapore and Malaysia through our association and corporate partnerships. Having Melissa on the ground gives us additional capability to deepen those relationships, identify new opportunities and work more closely with organisations to understand their workforce needs.

“Our aim is to combine Kaplan Professional’s education, content and digital learning capabilities with local market and industry expertise to develop high-quality learning solutions that respond to the needs of organisations, their people and the environments in which they operate,” Mr Knight said.

Ms Chan brings more than 20 years of commercial experience across education, digital learning and publishing in Asia, including more than 17 years with Cengage Asia in senior regional sales, marketing and management roles.

Her appointment builds on Kaplan Professional’s existing relationships across the region, including partnerships with the Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA), Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) and National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors (NAMLIFA).

In Singapore, Kaplan Professional has partnered with IFPAS to deliver the FChFP Certification, alongside the HNW Certification. The FChFP Certification has also expanded into Malaysia through Kaplan Professional’s partnership with NAMLIFA, extending its professional education offering to financial services practitioners across the region.

Alongside these established programmes, Kaplan Professional is expanding its CPD and corporate learning solutions across Asia, with a growing focus on areas including advisory and client capability, leadership and coaching, artificial intelligence (AI), sustainable finance, ethics, and affluent and high-net-worth capability.

Kaplan Professional General Manager, Asia Sarah Barton said having dedicated business development capability in Singapore would strengthen the organisation’s ability to work closely with clients and partners as it expands its regional offering.

“Singapore is a sophisticated financial services market, and organisations rightly expect their learning partners to understand their business, their people and the environment in which they operate.

“Melissa brings extensive regional experience, but just as importantly, she understands education and digital learning, and knows how to translate local market knowledge and client needs into meaningful learning solutions.

“Singapore and Malaysia are important markets for us, particularly through the relationships we have developed with our association partners. Melissa will help us build on those foundations, deepen our engagement with clients and partners, and develop stronger corporate relationships and new opportunities across the region,” Ms Barton said.

Ms Chan said her immediate priority would be building relationships with financial services organisations and industry partners, and understanding the capability challenges they are seeking to address.

“Organisations across the region are looking for education partners that understand their business and can deliver relevant, flexible and high-quality learning solutions.

“I am looking forward to spending time with our clients and partners to understand the challenges they are trying to solve and where Kaplan Professional can add value.

“There is a real opportunity to combine Kaplan Professional’s education, content and digital learning capabilities with strong local relationships and market insight to develop solutions that are practical, relevant and able to make a difference in the workplace,” Ms Chan said.

Ms Chan commenced with Kaplan Professional on 14 September 2026 and is based in Singapore.

Her contact details are melissa.chan@kaplan.edu.au and +65 8188 7674.

Media enquiries

Business enquiries – Asia

Tom Baldwin
PR & Communications Manager | Kaplan Professional
M: +61 407 029 666
E: tom.baldwin@kaplan.edu.au

Melissa Chan
Head of Business Development, Asia | Kaplan Professional
M: +65 8188 7674
E: melissa.chan@kaplan.edu.au

About Kaplan Professional Kaplan Professional is a leading provider of financial services education in Australia. Delivering services to over 45,000 industry professionals each year, Kaplan Professional is at the forefront of practical and relevant education in the country. Kaplan Professional’s progressive and customer-focused approach has cemented our reputation as the trusted corporate partner to many major institutions in Australia and Asia-Pacific. For more information, please visit: www.kaplanprofessional.edu.au .

¹ Research methodology

Research commissioned by Kaplan Professional and conducted by Blackbox Research in 2026 comprised 10 in-depth interviews with senior Singapore financial services industry professionals and stakeholders, and a quantitative survey of 200 professionals across banking, insurance and wealth management.

Source: Kaplan Education Pty Ltd

--BERNAMA

Equativ Brings ChatGPT Ads to Brands as Advertising Partner

Equativ becomes a technology partner of ChatGPT ads, bringing full-funnel contextual and native expertise to brands worldwide


NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equativ, the leading independent end-to-end media platform, today announced it is now a technology partner of ChatGPT Ads, becoming one of a select group of partners to help brands and agencies advertise within ChatGPT. As a technology partner, Equativ offers ChatGPT Ads to engage users at every step of their customer journey, from discovery to purchase intent, with bespoke ad formats, layouts, and messaging tailored to each stage.

ChatGPT has become one of the fastest-growing platforms in internet history, now reaching more than 1B weekly active users and processing 2.5 billion prompts per day, with 20% of conversations showing shopping intent. As consumers increasingly use ChatGPT over traditional search engines to discover, research, compare, and purchase products, the platform represents a significant and largely unexplored opportunity for brands to reach high-intent audiences at every stage of the consumer decision journey. Unlike traditional search engine marketing that relies on specific keywords, ChatGPT’s sophisticated LLM understands the nuances of user intent and conversation context.

That's also Equativ's clearest point of difference. While traditional campaigns are built around lower-funnel, keyword-style campaign management, Equativ delivers a comprehensive full-funnel strategy thanks to its contextual advertising expertise and years of honing native ad copy best practices. They used this expertise and lessons from live ChatGPT Ads campaigns to build a proprietary full-funnel tool called the Equativ Ad Studio, which helps recommend a customized targeting and creative strategy to allow advertisers to maximize the full-funnel of visibility, brand discovery, and purchase intent. This enables advertisers to engage audiences across every stage of brand discovery within ChatGPT with the optimal targeting and ad copy. The result is advertising that respects the ChatGPT user experience and ad principles while still driving measurable outcomes for brands at every touchpoint.

 
"This transition represents a natural step forward for Equativ. Our strategy has always centered on consumer-centric solutions, and building on over a decade of native advertising and contextual technology, we are uniquely positioned to help brands show up meaningfully within ChatGPT conversations while preserving the user experience that makes the platform so valuable," said Ben Skinazi, Chief Commercial Officer, Equativ.

Our partnership covers the markets where ChatGPT is currently available, including Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with additional countries launching on an ongoing basis.

Brands and agencies interested in activating ChatGPT Ads campaigns through Equativ can learn more at: Equativ ChatGPT Ads

About Equativ

Equativ is a global, end-to-end media platform empowering advertisers and publishers to achieve real outcomes by uniting premium inventory, dynamic creative formats, and engaged audiences with advanced curation and AI-powered ad tech across all channels. Purpose-built for the attention economy, Equativ delivers quality, engagement, and performance while prioritizing respectful, user-centric ad experiences. With a team of over 750 professionals across 19 countries, Equativ combines global scale with deep local expertise. Learn more at Equativ.com.

Media Contact:
Caroline Millié Figueiredo: pr@equativ.com 

SOURCE: Equativ

ITRON LAUNCHES GRID EDGE METERS FOR APAC UTILITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Itron Inc, an intelligent infrastructure provider for modern energy and water management, has announced the availability of its grid edge portfolio, including Itron Riva S and Itron Riva T IEC electricity meters, for utilities in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

As the first Itron Gen6 network platform devices available in APAC, the launch marks a significant milestone in its expansion of Grid Edge Intelligence in the region, according to the company in a statement.

Itron senior vice president of Networked Solutions, John Marcolini said the launch was an important step in helping utilities translate awareness into action, with an interoperable and modular architecture designed to preserve technology choice and expand value over time.

The Itron Riva meters provide utilities with a practical starting point to improve visibility across the low-voltage network and respond to the growing impact of distributed energy resources (DERs) with advanced intelligence over time.

Serving as both grid sensors and DER control points, the meters provide utilities with real-time visibility into grid conditions, enabling earlier identification of emerging network faults and constraints, proactive management of growing DERs across the low-voltage network, and optimisation of operational and capital budget allocation.

By extending sensing and intelligence to the grid edge, the Itron Riva meters allow utilities to begin with advanced metering and localised grid awareness and seamlessly expand to distributed intelligence (DI) applications as operational needs evolve, improving grid reliability, resilience and efficiency.

The meters also extend visibility beyond energy consumption data, helping utilities detect voltage fluctuations, transformer loading issues, emerging faults and other network conditions through high-frequency sensing and edge computing capabilities.

Built on open DLMS/COSEM standards and designed to meet International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) requirements, the meters help utilities modernise their infrastructure while maintaining flexibility to integrate with existing and future technologies.

The Itron Riva IEC electricity meter is initially available in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and is expected to expand to additional APAC countries, helping utilities modernise grid operations and respond to growing network complexity across the region.

-- BERNAMA

World Off-Track on Nearly Every Food System Goal – Latest Assessment Reveals

Geneva, Washington DC, Sep. 23, 2026 /AgilityPR-AsiaNet/--

The 2026 Food Systems Countdown analysis reveals that progress is too slow and insufficient to meet 2030 goals, but 2050 could still be achievable, provided actions are consistent and accelerated.

The latest study from the Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI) reveals the stark reality of where global food systems transformation stands – for most indicators on health, environment, livelihoods, governance and resilience, a vast majority of countries will not meet the internationally agreed 2030 goals. And for some indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions from food systems, no country in the world is projected to meet the target.

The study, published in Nature Food , represents the most comprehensive performance assessment of food systems to date, covering 197 countries and 44 indicators across five themes: diets, nutrition and health; environment, natural resources and production; livelihoods, poverty and equity; governance; and resilience. And for the first time, the study goes beyond tracking trends to assess progress and measure how food systems are actually performing, and how much more needs to improve to meet globally set targets.

“What makes this Countdown paper different is that it doesn't just tell countries whether they're moving in the right direction — it tells them how far they still have to go, and against a benchmark that's actually within reach. That distinction between tracking trends and measuring performance is what turns a monitoring exercise into a tool for accountability,” said Dr. Bianca Carducci, lead author.

Key Findings:

• The study finds that, of 30 indicators, only one — mobile phone subscriptions, a proxy for connectedness and resilience — has been met by most countries. For 22 indicators, fewer than one third of countries will meet their global target or benchmark by 2030.
• The indicator ‘greenhouse gas emissions from food systems’ has one of the largest gaps, with the global average 75% away from the target. No country in the world will meet the target at its current pace.

Most regions of the world would need dramatic annual changes to achieve 2030 targets. For example, Africa will require at least a 15-20% improvement across 23 indicators every single year, and Asia will have to cut food insecurity by over 63% every year. High-income regions are not exempt. In Europe, 19 indicators remain unattainable by 2030. The analysis also shows that some indicators are moving in the wrong direction, notably civil society participation, governmental accountability, ultra-processed food sales, agricultural water withdrawal, pesticide use and changes in emissions from food systems.

“Accountability for food systems transformation requires accelerated progress — without it, efforts risk becoming performative rather than transformative. We can no longer afford to continue at the present pace,” said Dr. Mario Herrero, Professor, Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, Cornell University.

Bright Spots Offer Hope

Despite the sobering picture for 2030, the study is not entirely bleak. For 7 of 33 indicators, at least a third of countries are already on track to meet the 2030 target. And half the indicators have been moving in a desirable direction at the global level. The study also offers the pace at which changes are required to achieve the targets by 2050, making progress feel achievable rather than impossible.

In some cases, regional and income benchmarks provide more realistic milestones that can motivate countries. For example, on average African countries are 58.7% away from the global benchmark for affordability of a healthy diet, but that gap narrows to 32.2% when measured against a regional benchmark set by the average of the top fifth of African countries.

“Bold global targets are vital for inspiring ambition. But they can become a source of inertia if they seem permanently out of reach. Therefore, regional and income-group benchmarks keep progress within sight and help identify the exemplar countries that can show others how it is achievable,” said Dr. Jessica Fanzo, James Anderson Professor of Food Policy and Climate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies Europe.

Urgent Call to Accelerate Action

The study highlights the urgent need for accelerated action across all indicators. Priority actions should focus on indicators where progress is most off track, like food affordability, food insecurity, government effectiveness and food systems emissions. Food systems emissions change will require annual reductions exceeding 60%, which is challenging even for 2050.

“Food systems transformation is a shared responsibility. The governance indicators including government effectiveness, accountability and civil society participation are not just one category among five. They are the enablers. Improving them unlocks progress across the entire system,” said Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.

Improving government effectiveness and accountability are the critical leverage points that interact with the largest number of indicators. However, the urgent need for transformation involves more concerted, creative and accelerated action from the global community that must recommit to achieving these targets by 2050, especially for those most vulnerable.

“The kind of comprehensive assessment that this Countdown study provides is critical for governments and all other partners to set priorities, direct investments and resources, and draft and redraft policies. Our global food systems demand urgent, decisive action — starting now,” said Dr. José Rosero Moncayo, Chief Statistician and Director of the Statistics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The 2026 Food Systems Countdown analysis gives every country a mirror, as well as a signpost for what needs to be done, in which direction and at what pace. The world owes it to the billions whose livelihoods depend on food systems, and the billions more who cannot afford a healthy diet, to act now, and to act fast.

WEBINAR:

The findings of the report will be presented at a Webinar, including a Q&A with the FSCI researchers.

Register Free -
https://gainhealth.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VzrB_-YjREGaXAzXNN5xPw#/registration

Date: September 25 th , 2026, Time: 9:30-10:30 Eastern Time.


MEDIA CONTACTS:

For interview requests and/or enquiries regarding the 2026 Countdown study and report, please contact:

T Sam Kaiser, Media & Communications Manager

Email: tkaiser@gainhealth.org

Phone: +91 96771 33877


Christopher Emsden, FAO News and Media (Rome)

Email: christopher.emsden@fao.org

Phone: (+39) 06 570 53291


More on this topic

Full report: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/ce0778en

Summary: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/ce0482en

Nature Food article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-026-01379-0


About the study:

The study, “Food Systems Performance Evaluated Against Targets and Benchmarks Reveals Urgent Gaps and a Path to 2050,” and accompanying report, “The Food Systems Countdown Report 2026: Assessing Performance, Driving Change,” is available at www.foodcountdown.org. Country-level data and profiles are accessible through the Food Systems Dashboard. Code is available on GitHub (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).

About the Countdown:

The Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI) is a global interdisciplinary research collaboration co-led by Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. It produces annual monitoring reports and a country-level data platform to support evidence-based policymaking and accountability for food systems transformation.

Source: The Food Systems Countdown Initiative

--BERNAMA

YEAHKA’S YEAHPAY EXPANDS MERCHANT SERVICES TO SEVEN MARKETS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Yeahka Limited, a payment-based technology platform, announced that its international payment business, YeahPay, is working with Stripe to expand merchant services to seven markets.

Businesses incorporated in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States can now be onboarded by YeahPay for online acquiring in their respective markets, supporting merchants and platforms with integrated online and in-store payment capabilities.

Yeahka in a statement said the expansion further strengthens YeahPay’s online payment infrastructure across key global markets.

“The number of ways to pay is growing faster than any business can integrate them, and the gap only widens from here. New rails, new currencies, and buyers who are not always human.

“Our clients should not have to predict any of it. YeahPay is the single integration a business needs to accept any form of payment, and when the next way to pay arrives, they will already be able to accept it,” said YeahPay Global Vice President, David Tay.

Alongside expanding its international market coverage and payment capabilities, YeahPay is also preparing for the next evolution of commerce by prioritising capabilities around agentic payments, exploring applications across online retail, dining and gaming, and beginning proof-of-concept collaborations with international financial institutions.

As intelligent agents increasingly participate in transactions, YeahPay continues to expand its payment capabilities and help merchants prepare for the next generation of commerce.

Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020, Yeahka serves approximately 9.2 million merchants and nearly one billion consumers. Its international payment brand, YeahPay, offers secure, seamless and efficient digital financial services to global clients.

-- BERNAMA

CIGRE 2026: CHINT Highlights Advanced Power Technologies For Europe

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- CHINT, an integrated power and energy solutions provider, has showcased its advanced power technologies at CIGRE 2026 in Paris to support the modernisation of electricity networks and growing energy demands of the digital economy.

“As the age of AI, renewable energy and electrification reshape Europe's power landscape, customers are increasingly looking for partners that can deliver integrated, reliable and future-ready power solutions rather than standalone products.

“At CHINT, we see this transformation as an opportunity to drive innovation and create value for our customers,” said CHINT Global Vice President Beibei Zheng in a statement.

Held in August, CIGRE 2026 brought together power industry leaders and stakeholders, with CHINT’s engineering specialists engaging with utilities, contractors, consultants and technology partners on applications including high-voltage transmission, substation modernisation and sustainable power distribution.

CHINT also showcased two solutions, namely the 750 kilovolts Natural Ester Oil-immersed Power Transformer, designed to support the development of high-capacity transmission networks, and the Data Center Power Pod, an integrated power solution designed to support the infrastructure required by next-generation digital facilities.

The transformer combines high-voltage performance with enhanced environmental protection and safety. It supports lower-carbon power infrastructure while enhancing fire safety, contributing to the sustainable modernisation of Europe’s power networks.

Beyond the two featured products, CHINT also presented a wide array of solutions spanning transmission and distribution, energy storage and digital infrastructure. Its presence at CIGRE reflected its focus on delivering integrated solutions and supporting customers throughout the lifecycle of increasingly complex energy projects.

Operating in more than 140 countries and regions, CHINT aims to support the development of power infrastructure capable of meeting today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities as Europe invests in a more secure, sustainable and digitally enabled energy future.

-- BERNAMA

EBC Financial Group Named Best CFD Provider - Global at Global Forex Awards 2026

Award reaffirms EBC Financial Group's commitment to regulatory accountability and consistent execution for clients navigating fast-moving markets

LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Sept 17 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EBC Financial Group (EBC) has been named Best CFD Provider – Global in the Global Forex Awards 2026 – Retail, further extending the Group's international recognition and reaffirming its commitment to delivering reliable access to global markets while reinforcing the regulatory and infrastructural standards behind its trading environment.

The Global Forex Awards is one of the retail forex industry's most closely watched recognition programmes. The 2026 edition attracted more than 25,000 public votes, the highest participation in the awards' history, with winners recognised across global and regional categories spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa.

For EBC, this Best CFD Provider – Global recognition reflects a broader priority: building a trading environment where regulatory discipline, institutional-grade infrastructure, and consistent execution work together, especially as market conditions grow more complex.

Regulatory accountability as the foundation of trust

EBC's operating entities hold financial licences calibrated to the products and clients each is authorised to serve, with regulatory status independently verifiable rather than simply claimed. Client funds are held in segregated accounts, separate from the Group's own operating funds, and further protected by professional indemnity insurance arranged through the Group's institutional insurers. Each entity operates within the specific regulatory framework of its own jurisdiction, reflecting EBC's view that accountability is built entity by entity rather than asserted at group level.

Institutional-grade infrastructure, extended to every client

EBC connects to more than 50 Tier-1 banking and non-bank liquidity providers, aggregating interbank pricing into raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips with five-level market depth. Order execution averages under 20 milliseconds, more than 87.6% of orders are executed at improved prices, and system stability stands at 98.75%. Eligible professional clients can also access liquidity clearing accounts with leverage of up to 100:1, while high-volume traders use EBC Private Room, a dedicated channel designed to protect trading information from market targeting.

Access spans forex, commodities, indices, precious metals and energy, as well as US stocks and ETFs, across more than 100 countries, supported by EBC's international network of local teams.

“Being recognised as Best CFD Provider – Global is meaningful because the quality of CFD trading is ultimately measured by what clients experience when they enter the market: the reliability of their access, the consistency of execution and the conditions available to them when markets move quickly,” said Andria Phiniefs, Marketing Director, EBC Financial Group.

“Our responsibility is to keep strengthening the infrastructure and service behind that experience. As EBC continues to grow internationally, we remain focused on pairing global market access with high operational institutional-grade standards and local expertise, so clients can approach opportunities across markets with greater confidence.”

A global award shaped by an increasingly engaged trading community

The Global Forex Awards – Retail have grown alongside an increasingly sophisticated global trading community. With more than 25,000 public votes cast in the 2026 programme and nearly 295,000 verified votes recorded across Holiston Media awards to date, this year represented the awards' highest level of participation so far.

Commenting on the 2026 winners, Archie Humphries, Director of Holiston Media, said, “The Global Forex Awards 2026 – Retail have once again shown the depth of excellence throughout the industry, with many returning names and some new faces taking home awards. This year's winners continue to make their mark within the industry and will now benefit from increased brand awareness, enhanced credibility and an elevated level of trust from their traders and industry peers alike.”

Building on a year of global recognition

The latest award extends a strong run of international recognition for EBC in 2026. Earlier this year, EBC received two global honours at the World Finance Forex Awards 2026, where it was named Most Trusted FX Broker and Best CFD Broker, the fourth consecutive year the Group has been recognised by World Finance. Together, the awards highlight complementary dimensions of EBC's development: the trust and consistency expected of a global financial services provider, and the infrastructure, execution and market conditions underpinning its offering.

As trading markets become more interconnected and clients gain access to an expanding range of global opportunities, EBC continues to invest in technology, operational resilience, regulatory compliance, institutional-grade infrastructure and client support, while strengthening its presence across key markets. Today, EBC serves clients in more than 100 countries, with over 5 million registered users and more than USD390 billion in average monthly trading volume, supported by regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions and local teams providing market insight and support across regions.

The Best CFD Provider – Global recognition at the Global Forex Awards 2026 – Retail therefore represents more than the performance of a single product category. It reflects the standard EBC is working to maintain as it scales globally: regulatory accountability, institutional-grade infrastructure, and dependable market access for every client.

For more analysis from EBC, visit: www.ebc.com.

Disclaimer: This material is for information only and does not constitute a recommendation or advice from EBC Financial Group and all its entities (“EBC”). Trading Forex and Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed your deposits. Before trading, you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and consult an independent financial advisor if necessary. Statistics or past investment performance are not a guarantee of future performance. EBC is not liable for any damages arising from reliance on this information.

About the Global Forex Awards – Retail

Now in their eighth year, the Global Forex Awards – Retail recognise brokers and fintech companies demonstrating excellence across the global retail forex industry. Awards are presented across worldwide and regional categories, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa.

The awards are organised by Holiston Media, which operates international recognition programmes across both retail and B2B financial services, including the Global Forex Awards – Retail, Global Forex Awards – B2B, Online Money Awards and Professional Trader Awards.

About EBC Financial Group 

Founded in London, EBC Financial Group (“EBC”) is a global brand known for its expertise in financial brokerage and asset management. Through its regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions—including the UK, Australia, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, South Africa and others—EBC enables retail, professional, and institutional investors to access global markets and trading opportunities, including currencies, commodities, CFDs and more.

Trusted by investors in over 100 countries and honoured with global awards including multiple year recognition from World Finance, EBC is widely regarded as one of the world's best brokers with titles including Best Trading Platform and Most Trusted Broker. With its strong regulatory standing and commitment to transparency, EBC has also been consistently ranked among the top brokers—trusted for its ability to deliver secure, innovative, and client-first trading solutions across competitive international markets. 

EBC's subsidiaries are licensed and regulated within their respective jurisdictions. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, and EBC Asset Management Pty Ltd are regulated by Australia's Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); EBC Financial (MU) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission Mauritius (FSC); EBC Financial Group SA (Pty) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). 

At the core of EBC are a team of industry veterans with over 40 years of experience in major financial institutions. Having navigated key economic cycles from the Plaza Accord and 2015 Swiss franc crisis to the market upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic. We foster a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor relationship is handled with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

EBC is a proud official foreign exchange partner of FC Barcelona and continues to drive impactful partnerships to empower communities – namely through the UN Foundation's United to Beat Malaria initiative, Department of Economics at the University of Oxford, and a diverse range of partners to champion initiatives in global health, economics, education, and sustainability.

https://www.ebc.com/

Media Contact: 

Ginny Dang
Global Public Relations Executive
Ginny.dang@ebc.com

Aldric Tinker
Global Public Relations Lead
aldric.tinker@ebc.com 

SOURCE: EBC Tech 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.  

--BERNAMA 

LRN LAUNCHES COMPLIANCE POLICY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- LRN Corporation, a global provider of ethics and compliance solutions, has launched Catalyst Policy, a compliance policy management solution integrated into LRN Catalyst platform.

In a statement, the company said Catalyst Policy enables organisations to manage policy creation, communication and adoption across geographies, languages and regulatory requirements, as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes governance, risk and compliance requirements.

The solution was developed based on LRN’s work with clients managing global policy governance, including collaboration with Howden Group, a global insurance intermediary. The partnership drew on Howden’s experience in building compliance programmes and ethical cultures.

LRN Chief Executive Officer, Bob Lemmond said Howden’s experience had helped shape Catalyst Policy around the needs of global ethics and compliance teams.

Meanwhile, Howden Group Head of Compliance, Ian Jacob said effective policy lifecycle management was essential to reducing risk, meeting regulatory obligations and ensuring employees understood workplace conduct expectations.

LRN said organisations face growing policy complexity as regulatory requirements, business risks and the deployment of AI-related policies and governance continue to expand, increasing the need for clear oversight, accountability and audit readiness.

Catalyst Policy enables organisations to manage policies through a centralised model, replacing fragmented repositories and manual review and translation processes. Its features include in-platform redlining and track changes such as AI-assisted translations with human review; scoped access for external auditors and reviewers; and evergreen links and an immutable repository.

The solution also connects policy governance with attestations, training, policy access, analytics and behavioural insights within the LRN Catalyst platform.

LRN said its research on ethics and compliance programme effectiveness shows that high-impact programmes integrate data and analytics across ethics and compliance initiatives into day-to-day management. Catalyst Policy forms part of the company’s broader approach to connected governance, behavioural insights and data-driven compliance management.

-- BERNAMA

UNIVAR SOLUTIONS LISTED IN TIME’S BEST COMPANIES FOR FUTURE LEADERS 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Univar Solutions LLC (Univar Solutions), a global solutions provider to users of speciality ingredients and chemicals, has been recognised on TIME’s distinguished list of Best Companies for Future Leaders 2026.

Presented in partnership with Statista, an industry data and rankings provider, TIME’s Best Companies for Future Leaders ranking highlights businesses and organisations across the United States that have contributed meaningfully to the journeys of the country's most influential leaders.

Univar Solutions Chief Legal and Administrative Officer Alexandra Colin said the recognition reflects the company’s commitment to building a culture where people can grow, contribute and lead.

“Our success is driven by talented employees who are empowered to make an impact for our customers, communities, and industry, and we are proud to invest in programmes and opportunities that enable our people to develop their careers while advancing our purpose of helping keep communities healthy, fed, clean, and safe,” added Colin in a statement.

Meanwhile, Univar Solutions Chief Human Resources Officer, Ingredients + Specialties, Lamiya Mammadova said the recognition highlights the company’s ongoing commitment to cultivating talent, fostering innovation and creating an environment where people can thrive and achieve their full potential.

This year’s ranking is the result of an extensive analysis of approximately 4,900 leaders from a wide array of fields, including business, government, science, arts and activism. Organisations were recognised for the unique opportunities and impactful professional experiences they provide.

-- BERNAMA

Gradiant Wins New Water Contracts for Major US Semiconductor Fabs in New York, Virginia, Idaho, and Utah

 

^{Gradiant today announced $300 million in new contracts from semiconductor manufacturing customers since the start of 2026.}


$300 million in new ultrapure water, wastewater, and zero liquid discharge contracts mark continued commercial momentum in the chips layer of the AI economy


BOSTON, Sept 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gradiant, the water layer of the AI economy, today announced $300 million in new contracts from semiconductor manufacturing customers since the start of 2026, reflecting strong commercial momentum in a sector where water security is becoming a critical enabler of scale and speed.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260915041166/en/ 

Among the wins, Gradiant secured new contracts with several leading global semiconductor manufacturers across five fabrication sites in New York, Virginia, Idaho, and Utah. The projects include ultrapure water (UPW), high-recovery wastewater treatment, local scrubber reclaim, and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems designed to reduce freshwater demand, increase water reuse, and maximize production in increasingly water-constrained environments.

Rather than serving a single point in the water cycle, Gradiant will deliver its full semiconductor portfolio across these sites — from ultrapure water production to high-recovery wastewater treatment, scrubber reclaim, treatment of complex streams such as hydrofluoric-acid wastewater, and zero liquid discharge. Several of the awards are repeat contracts from existing customers, including the second phase of a high-recovery wastewater facility at one of the world’s largest semiconductor fabs and a scrubber reclaim design, already proven for the same customer in Singapore, Taiwan, and the U.S., that recovers more than 80 percent of feed volume.

"Water has become one of the defining constraints on how quickly the world can build the chips powering AI data centers, including high-bandwidth memory," said Prakash Govindan, CEO of Gradiant. "That's why leading semiconductor manufacturers keep choosing Gradiant: we own the full water cycle, from ultrapure water to the most complex wastewater streams, as one accountable partner. Water will not be the reason a fab falls behind."

"These wins are exactly the kind of momentum we need to reach our target of a $1 billion U.S. order book next year," said Nish Vora, Managing Director, Americas at Gradiant. "Each of these contracts reinforces Gradiant's position as the water layer for semiconductors, eliminating water as a constraint for the companies building the chips the AI economy runs on."

From ultrapure water and advanced wastewater treatment to high-recovery water reuse and ZLD systems, Gradiant's semiconductor solutions are designed to help manufacturers increase capacity while reducing water consumption and environmental impact. As investment in AI infrastructure continues to accelerate, water management is becoming a critical enabler of how fast the next generation of semiconductor fabs can scale.

About Gradiant

Gradiant is the Water Layer of the AI Economy. Founded at MIT and headquartered in Boston, Gradiant builds the water and wastewater infrastructure behind AI's build-out, from chips and data centers to the energy and industries that depend on them. As AI demand accelerates, water is becoming the resource that determines what can be built. Gradiant's technologies reduce what industry withdraws, reclaim what it would waste, and renew clean water to nature, with more than 3,000 treatment plants built across 92 countries. Learn more at gradiant.com.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260915041166/en/

Contact

Corporate Contact
Felix Wang
Gradiant, Global Head of Marketing
fwang@gradiant.com

Source : Gradiant