AM BEST AFFIRMS PANASIA RE RATINGS AT EXCELLENT LEVEL

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed Hawaii’s PanAsia Reinsurance Inc (PanAsia Re) financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent), with a stable outlook.

The credit ratings (ratings) reflect PanAsia Re’s very strong balance sheet, adequate operating performance, limited business profile, and appropriate enterprise risk management. The assessment also incorporates both implicit and explicit support from its parent, Hikari Tsushin Inc (Hikari Tsushin).

PanAsia Re’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by projected risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, supported by a significant capital injection from its parent in mid-2025, according to AM Best in a statement.

The company has demonstrated strong capital growth, expanding 102.9 per cent between fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2024, driven by profitable underwriting and capital infusion from the parent. Its low reliance on reinsurance and conservative investment strategy further support its capital position.

Operating performance is assessed as adequate, supported by consistent profitability with double-digit average return on equity and favourable combined ratios over the past five years.

The company’s small amount and short-term insurance (SASTI) segment, which forms the bulk of its portfolio, typically records low loss ratios, although commission expenses to its parent remain relatively high. PanAsia Re is pursuing gradual expansion of its SASTI business while exploring non-SASTI opportunities to diversify its premium base.

PanAsia Re operates under a captive licence, primarily reinsuring risks from affiliated entities, with selective third-party business subject to regulatory approval. Its business profile remains limited due to modest scale and concentration in Japan-originated personal property, health, and accident lines. The company’s risk management framework is closely integrated with that of its parent.

-- BERNAMA

HORIZON QUANTUM COMPLETES BUSINESS COMBINATION, LISTS ON NASDAQ

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- Horizon Quantum Computing Pte Ltd (Horizon Quantum) has completed its business combination with dMY Squared Technology Group Inc (dMY), securing approximately US$120 million in gross proceeds and marking its public debut on the Nasdaq. (US$1=RM3.94)

In a statement, Horizon Quantum said the transaction, approved by dMY shareholders on March 17, will see the combined entity begin trading on March 20 under the ticker symbols “HQ” for shares and “HQWWW” for warrants.

Horizon Quantum develops software infrastructure designed to enable developers to leverage quantum computing for complex computational challenges. The proceeds from the transaction will be used to accelerate research and development, enhance its hardware testbed, and advance its integrated development environment, Triple Alpha.

“Recent rapid progress in quantum hardware and error correction signals an inflection point for the industry.

“With our Nasdaq listing, we are well-positioned to deliver the software infrastructure needed to power the next phase of computing and enable broad quantum advantage,” said Horizon Quantum Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joe Fitzsimons.

Meanwhile, dMY Chairman and CEO, Harry You said Horizon Quantum’s hardware-agnostic approach positions it to benefit regardless of how quantum computing technologies evolve across competing modalities, including cloud-based systems.

Advisers to the transaction included Needham & Company LLC as exclusive financial adviser and placement agent, alongside legal counsel from Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, and White & Case LLP, among others.

The listing underscores growing investor interest in quantum computing, as companies seek to commercialise software platforms capable of unlocking future computational capabilities.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST AFFIRMS PVI INSURANCE’S TOP-TIER RATINGS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent), the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent), and the Vietnam National Scale Rating of aaa.VN (Exceptional) for PVI Insurance Corporation (PVI Insurance), with a stable outlook.

The credit ratings (ratings) reflect PVI Insurance’s very strong balance sheet, strong operating performance, neutral business profile, and appropriate enterprise risk management. The affirmation also factors in rating support from its ultimate parent, HDI Haftpflichtverband der Deutschen Industrie V.a.G. (HDI V.a.G.).

The global credit rating agency said in a statement that PVI Insurance’s balance sheet strength is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, measured via Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, which is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term.

The company benefits from financial flexibility as a majority-owned subsidiary of HDI V.a.G. Its investment portfolio is considered moderate risk, primarily in cash and term deposits, supplemented by non-rated corporate bonds, affiliated private equity, and real estate.

Offsetting factors include a high dividend payout ratio and reliance on reinsurance for underwriting large commercial property, engineering, and energy risks.

Operating performance is strong, supported by a five-year average return on equity ratio of 16.7 per cent from fiscal year (FY) 2021 to FY 2025. FY 2025 earnings improved due to favourable loss experience and reserve development following Typhoon Yagi.

Profitable results in both commercial and retail lines, combined with stable investment income from interest and dividends, are expected to continue driving overall earnings.

PVI Insurance’s business profile is assessed as neutral. It remains Vietnam’s largest non-life insurer based on 2024 and nine months of 2025 direct premiums written. The company holds strong positions in commercial and industrial lines, including energy, property, engineering, aviation, and marine insurance.

Support from HDI V.a.G. has enhanced technical expertise and service offerings, strengthening PVI Insurance’s regional position in industrial risk coverage. Recent growth has been driven by expansion in inwards reinsurance, while prudent accumulation management continues to be monitored.

-- BERNAMA

CHINA TAIPING INSURANCE (MACAU) AFFIRMED EXCELLENT RATINGS BY AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent) of China Taiping Insurance (Macau) Company Limited (CTIM), with a stable outlook.

The credit ratings (ratings) reflect CTIM’s very strong balance sheet, strong operating performance, neutral business profile, and appropriate enterprise risk management, according to AM Best in a statement.

CTIM’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, remains at the strongest level. The insurer reported robust capital and surplus growth, reaching 1.053 billion Macanese pataca (US$132 million) in 2025 based on unaudited figures. (US$1=RM3.92)

Its conservative investment strategy—focused on cash and investment-grade bonds—alongside a comprehensive reinsurance programme with high-quality counterparties, continues to support its financial position, although moderate reliance on reinsurance partially offsets these strengths.

Operating performance has remained solid, with a five-year average return on equity of 17.8 per cent from 2021 to 2025. Underwriting results have outperformed industry averages, while stable investment income has supported earnings.

In 2025, the net combined ratio improved, driven primarily by lower loss ratios in motor and employees’ compensation segments.

Investment returns have remained consistent at mid-single-digit levels over the past two years and are expected to continue contributing stable income streams from interest, dividends, and rental sources.

CTIM retains a leading position in Macau’s non-life insurance market, holding an estimated 34 per cent share based on gross premiums written in 2025. Its diversified underwriting portfolio and distribution channels, including expanding digital platforms and cross-selling initiatives with affiliates of China Taiping Insurance Group Ltd, underpin its market strength.

-- BERNAMA

DMITRY SHUBOV: AI LOCK-IN RISK RISES FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA LEGAL-TECH

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Southeast Asian legal-tech startups targeting United States (US) expansion face mounting compliance and commercial risks as governments and enterprise buyers increasingly favour region-specific artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, in line with projections from Gartner.

“As suggested by Gartner’s findings, decisions about platforms require careful consideration. Founders who treat AI-platform and data-residency decisions as investor-grade deliverables will encounter fewer surprises when entering the US market,” said Dmitry Shubov Consulting Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dmitry Shubov in a statement.

Platform lock-in—driven by sovereign cloud frameworks and country-specific AI ecosystems—is expected to surge from five per cent to 35 per cent by 2027, complicating cross-border deployment strategies.

Founders pursuing US-based pilots, enterprise contracts, or fundraising must now account for stricter data residency, processing, and transfer requirements.

Governments and large buyers are increasingly mandating the use of approved local platforms, limiting cross-border data movement and introducing new operational constraints.

While regional large language models (LLMs) may offer advantages in regulatory alignment and multilingual capability, deploying across multiple jurisdictions can create friction for US customers and investors.

The shift is also raising due diligence standards. US stakeholders now expect investor-grade transparency, including auditable data flow diagrams, clear subprocessor disclosures, and legally compliant transfer mechanisms such as standard contractual clauses (SCCs) or binding corporate rules (BCRs).

These evolving requirements have direct commercial implications. Startups that proactively structure data governance frameworks and residency strategies can accelerate procurement cycles, reduce transaction risk, and improve valuation outcomes by addressing investor concerns early.

Dmitry Shubov Consulting advises Southeast Asian legal-tech firms on translating region-specific AI and cloud risks into investor-ready frameworks, including data mapping, contractual playbooks, and US go-to-market strategies.

-- BERNAMA

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC SECURES MAJOR ORDER FOR TWO SUDIRMAN JAKARTA

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced that two of its Indonesian subsidiaries have secured a major order to supply 66 elevators, 30 escalators, 404 air-conditioning units, and 38 hand dryers for Two Sudirman Jakarta.

The subsidiaries involved are PT Mitsubishi Jaya Elevator and Escalator, responsible for manufacturing, selling, installing, and servicing the elevators and escalators, and PT Mitsubishi Electric Indonesia, which handles the air-conditioning systems.

The high-quality equipment is expected to enhance the luxury and comfort of the complex, according to a statement.

Two Sudirman Jakarta is a huge mixed-use urban space scheduled to open in the heart of Jakarta at the end of 2028.

The order reflects Mitsubishi Electric’s strong reputation in Indonesia for delivering reliable elevators, escalators, and related services.

The proposal to supply Two Sudirman Jakarta with the air-conditioning units was supported by Mitsubishi Electric’s extensive product lineup and the close cooperation between its group companies.

By providing advanced and dependable solutions, Mitsubishi Electric aims to contribute to safer, more secure, and comfortable urban environments in Indonesia.

-- BERNAMA

ABAXX SINGAPORE JOINS SBMA, BOOSTS PHYSICAL GOLD TRADING

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Abaxx Technologies Inc (Abaxx), a financial software and market infrastructure company, announced its subsidiary, Abaxx Singapore Pte Ltd (Abaxx Singapore), has been accepted as a Local Associate Member of the Singapore Bullion Market Association (SBMA).

“Abaxx has anchored its integrated precious metals market infrastructure in Singapore to align with Asia’s physical trade.

“That approach is consistent with the direction SBMA has set for the next phase of market development, and we look forward to contributing to smarter precious metals markets,” said Abaxx Exchange Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nancy Seah in a statement.

Meanwhile, SBMA CEO, Albert Cheng welcomed Abaxx Exchange, calling the newly launched Abaxx Gold Singapore futures contract a timely addition to Asia’s gold market infrastructure.

Cheng highlighted that the contract seeks to establish a Singapore-based, kilobar-native, physically deliverable benchmark, supported by modernised title and transfer mechanisms.

The SBMA is a non-profit, member-driven industry body that represents key participants across the precious metals value chain, underpinning Singapore’s position as a regional hub for physical gold trading and custody across the Asia-Pacific.

This membership highlights Abaxx’s increasing involvement in the physical gold market, coinciding with growing participation in the Abaxx Exchange’s kilobar futures contract, deliverable into Singapore.

Abaxx is leveraging its co-located spot and futures infrastructure to establish a direct access point for the kilobar market, enabling the next phase of market expansion as the region solidifies its role in global gold trading.

In a recent pilot, the company demonstrated the mobilisation of physical gold as collateral within existing market structures, enabling T+0 ownership transfer to support financing against vaulted inventory.

The transaction illustrates how Abaxx Digital Title can be applied to vaulted gold to address inefficiencies in a US$47 billion segment of gold trade finance, aligning with SBMA’s focus on deepening Singapore’s leadership in bullion services. (US$1=RM3.93)

-- BERNAMA

Healthcare technology research company, KLAS Research, reports 100% of surveyed customers would buy Vectramind Health’s Firstpass platform again

Dubai, UAE, Mar.18, 2026 /AgilityPr - AsiaNet / -- Vectramind Health today announced that its’ AI-native patient experience and engagement platform, Firstpass, has received strong validation in a newly released KLAS First Look report highlighting high levels of customer satisfaction and measurable improvements in patient engagement and operational efficiency.

The findings, published in the KLAS Research report ‘ Vectramind Firstpass Unified Patient Experience & Engagement Platform 2026’ , show that 100% of surveyed customers said they would buy Firstpass again and consider the platform part of their long-term plans. Healthcare organizations also reported increased patient engagement, improved patient flow, reduced no-show rates, and reduced waiting times.

The KLAS Research findings, which are based on a small sample of customers, also highlight strong customer confidence in Vectramind Health as a strategic partner, with customers citing the company’s integration expertise, responsiveness, and collaborative approach to supporting healthcare organizations.

Healthcare leaders interviewed by KLAS highlighted the partnership and expertise provided by Vectramind Health:

“Vectramind Health has a great sales team that is consistently engaged with us. They don't treat us as their customer; they treat us more as their partner. They are very engaged to see how we are consistently growing and seeing improvements” and “In terms of patient engagement, we have been able to improve our no-show rate without even integrating the system with our EHR. In terms of patients engaging with clinics and not just the call center, we have also seen an increase without EHR integration. Those were desired outcomes that we have been able to realize.” -  Directors, interviewed by KLAS Research

Firstpass is an AI-native, unified patient experience and engagement platform designed to help healthcare organizations orchestrate the entire patient journey. By connecting communication, workflow orchestration, and real-time patient journey management across the care continuum, Firstpass enables providers to engage patients before, during, and after care while reducing administrative burden for staff and improving operational efficiency.

“Healthcare organizations everywhere are working to improve access, reduce operational friction, and deliver a better patient experience,” said Dr. Murali Krishna Vakalapudi, Founder and CEO of Vectramind Group. “The feedback reflected in this KLAS Research report is especially meaningful because it comes directly from healthcare leaders using Firstpass to transform patient engagement and operational workflows. Our mission is to help providers eliminate fragmented care journeys and make person-centered care operationally sustainable at scale.”

KLAS First Look reports provide early insights into emerging healthcare solutions based on direct feedback from customers who have implemented the technology. These reports offer healthcare leaders a transparent view of how solutions are performing in real-world environments.

Vectramind Health continues to expand adoption of the Firstpass platform among hospitals, health systems, and specialty healthcare organizations seeking to improve patient engagement while optimizing operational workflows and care delivery.

About Vectramind Health

Vectramind Health is a healthcare technology company focused on advancing patient access, engagement, and experience across the healthcare journey. Its’ unified platform, Firstpass, enables healthcare organizations to streamline patient access, reduce operational friction, and connect fragmented non-clinical workflows across the care continuum. By bringing together digital access, communication, and experience insights into a single operational platform, Vectramind Health helps providers create more seamless patient journeys and deliver scalable, person-centered care.

About KLAS Research

KLAS is a research and insights firm on a global mission to improve healthcare delivery by amplifying the provider's voice. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals and clinicians, KLAS gathers data and insights on software, services, and medical equipment to deliver timely reports, trends and statistical overviews. The research directly represents the provider voice and acts as a catalyst for improving vendor performance. Follow KLAS on Twitter and LinkedIn. Learn more at klasresearch.com.

Media Contact
Vectramind Health
press@vectramind.com

Source: Vectramind Health

--BERNAMA

AM BEST ASSIGNS RATINGS TO STRONGHOLD INSURANCE IN PHILIPPINES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has assigned a financial strength rating of B (Fair), a long-term issuer credit rating of “bb” (Fair) and a Philippines National Scale Rating of a.PH (Excellent) to Stronghold Insurance Company Inc (Stronghold).

In a statement, AM Best said the outlook assigned to these credit ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Stronghold’s strong balance sheet strength, adequate operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management.

The company’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, is expected to remain at least strong over the medium term. Stronghold’s investment portfolio is low-to-moderate risk, with the majority allocated to cash, deposits, and Philippine government bonds, supported by a reinsurance programme of generally good credit quality.

Operating performance remains adequate, with a five-year average return on equity of 5.7 per cent (fiscal years 2020 to 2024). The company has shown marginal improvement in combined ratios, supported by steady business growth and generally benign loss experience.

In addition, investment income, primarily from interest and rental returns, remains stable and contributes positively to overall earnings, with 2025 operating results staying in positive territory due to consistent underwriting and investment performance.

Stronghold is among the top 10 non-life insurers in the Philippines, with approximately four per cent market share. Key business lines include fire, surety and motor insurance, with premium growth driven in part by large fire policies.

AM Best notes that certain risk exposures, particularly to natural catastrophes such as typhoons and floods, exceed current risk management capabilities, though improvements are expected over time.

-- BERNAMA

OXFORD NANOPORE PARTNERS A.D.A.M. INNOVATIONS TO ADVANCE GENOMIC SEQUENCING IN JAPAN

 

From left to right: Dr. Iri Sato Baran, Genesis Healthcare (A.D.A.M Innovations), Vice Chair of the Board Ambassador Julia Longbottom, British Embassy Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Michel Mommejat, Genesis Healthcare (A.D.A.M Innovations), CEO and Executive Director Gretchen Weightman, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Senior Vice President Commercial and General Manager APAC, Dr. Toshiharu Furukawa, LDP, Chair of Medical Information Policy and Genomic Medicine, House of Councillors, Hirokazu Shimoda, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Senior Director

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Oxford Nanopore Technologies and A.D.A.M. Innovations (Japanese corporate name Genesis Healthcare Co) announced an international collaboration to accelerate advanced genomic sequencing and medicine applications in Japan.

The partnership aims to develop and deploy comprehensive nanopore sequencing technology across the Japanese genetic testing market, according to Oxford Nanopore in a statement.

Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Vice President Commercial and General Manager APAC, Gretchen Weightman commented that the joint force will help bring rapid, scalable sequencing directly into clinical pathways and strengthen scientific ties between the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan.

Meanwhile, A.D.A.M. Innovations President, Michel Mommejat noted that Oxford Nanopore’s innovative platform opens new possibilities for clinical genomics in Japan and is intended to enhance diagnostic capability and advance the nation’s genomic precision medicine.

The initial phase will establish Oxford Nanopore’s information-rich, real-time sequencing technology within A.D.A.M. Innovations’ advanced genetic testing portfolio. This integration is expected to enable rapid and precise genomic testing across multiple disease areas.

The long-term goal is to introduce new clinical workflows validated under Japan-specific standards, supporting scalable sequencing of DNA fragments of any length. Sequencing that captures complete genomic information is poised to expand testing accuracy beyond existing technologies.

A memorandum of understanding was signed at the British Embassy in Tokyo, in an event supported by His Majesty’s Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom.

The initiative aligns with the UK-Japan Health Memorandum of Cooperation and reflects a broader increase in bilateral life sciences collaboration, strengthening industrial cooperation and accelerating translational research for patient benefit.

-- BERNAMA

OXMIQ Labs and AM Intelligence Labs Partner to Architect One of the World’s Largest Renewable-Powered AI Compute Platforms

^{OXMIQ and AM Intelligence Labs are building one of the world's largest renewable-powered AI compute platforms - 2 Gigawatts by 2030, Phase 1 online in Noida, India by 2027.} 


Optimizing from photons to outcomes. Powered by 100% renewable energy.

CAMPBELL, Calif. and HYDERABAD, India, March 16 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- OXMIQ Labs (“OXMIQ”), the GPU architecture and AI technology company founded by Raja Koduri, today announced a strategic technology partnership with AM Intelligence Labs, a business division of AM Group, to provide data center and system infrastructure advisory for AM Intelligence Labs' 2 GW AI Compute Capability by 2030 with initial 1 GW AI Compute Hub in Uttar Pradesh, India. 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260315355703/en/

AM Intelligence Labs is a strategic business division of AM Group, parent of Greenko, India's largest green energy producer with 50 GW of renewable capacity across solar, wind, and hydro, backed by 100 GWh of intelligent energy storage and supplying approximately 2% of India's total power. Energy is owned, operated, and carbon-free priced at 50–70% below conventional data center power costs.

India is a rapidly changing center of demand in the global AI economy. Driven by its massive developer ecosystem, digital economy, and rapidly expanding enterprise adoption of AI, the country is emerging as the world's second-largest market for AI usage and token consumption.

AM Group has commenced development of its flagship AI infrastructure initiative, with Phase 1 of the Noida Compute Hub now in active execution. Bringing the initial compute capacity online by the end of 2027 will be a key milestone as the Group builds one of the world’s largest renewable-powered AI compute platforms. OXMIQ is working closely with AM Group to optimize system architecture, infrastructure design, and modular execution delivery to ensure the platform is deployed at speed while achieving best-in-class efficiency and scale.

Under the partnership, OXMIQ will serve as the architecture and engineering partner for the compute platform, working with AM Intelligence Labs to design the systems architecture, hardware roadmap, and supply chain strategy that will underpin the facility. OXMIQ brings deep expertise spanning the entire compute stack, from transistor-level GPU architecture and advanced packaging through rack-scale systems, high-performance interconnects, and the orchestration software required to operate AI workloads at massive scale. Together, the partnership delivers end-to-end optimization from photons to outcomes, ultimately making zettascale economics accessible to everyone.

AM Group is developing the 1 GW AI High Performance Compute Hub in Noida as a fully vertically integrated platform spanning owned carbon-free power generation, advanced data center infrastructure, high-performance accelerators, a complete software stack, applications, and flexible consumption models ranging from AI Pods-as-a-Service to Tokens-as-a-Service.

OXMIQ's deep expertise across the compute stack enables the platform to be architected for end-to-end optimization from photons to tokens. Every layer, from renewable energy generation through data center architecture, liquid cooling, interconnect topology, accelerator selection, and workload orchestration, will be engineered as a unified system. This integrated approach unlocks industry-leading electrons-to-tokens economics, delivering dramatically lower-cost AI compute at gigawatt scale.

Leadership Perspectives

"AM Intelligence Labs is the ideal partner for OXMIQ. They have solved the hardest constraint in large-scale AI infrastructure: access to reliable, carbon-free power at global scale. Our team has spent decades building silicon, systems, and software that power the world’s most advanced computing platforms. Bringing that expertise into AM Intelligence Labs’ infrastructure from the first architectural decisions means every rack, every interconnect, every storage and cooling system is designed around the workloads and economics required for the AI era."

— Raja Koduri, Founder and CEO, OXMIQ Labs

“OXMIQ gives AM Intelligence Labs access to some of the deepest hardware and systems expertise in the industry. Their team’s experience across leading Silicon Valley companies is exactly what we need to architect infrastructure that can compete globally. Together we are laying the foundation for AM Intelligence Labs to become a full-stack AI compute platform.”

— Anil Chalamalasetty, Group Chairman, AM Group

About OXMIQ Labs

OXMIQ Labs, headquartered in Campbell, California, is a GPU architecture and AI technology company founded by Raja Koduri, whose career spans leadership at Apple, AMD, Intel, and ATI Technologies. OXMIQ delivers licensable chiplet-based AI hardware and software solutions built for the age of inference. OxCapsule and OxPython deliver immediate optimization across heterogeneous hardware, while OxCore and OxQuilt provide the chiplet-native roadmap to zettascale efficiency. For more information: www.oxmiq.ai

Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains forward looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Specific projects and deployments will be subject to definitive agreements.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260315355703/en/

Contact

Media Contacts:
OXMIQ Labs: press@oxmiq.ai 

Source : Oxmiq Labs Inc.

EIG’s MidOcean Energy to Acquire Additional Gorgon LNG Interest from JERA; Parties Explore Strategic Alliance

 

 

• Transaction increases MidOcean’s equity exposure to premier Australian LNG project
• Adds incremental uncontracted LNG volumes, enhancing portfolio optimization and marketing flexibility
• Planning future collaborations, exploring further transactions and opportunities with JERA across other assets globally with the aim of creating a future strategic alliance

WASHINGTON, March 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- MidOcean Energy (“MidOcean”), a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company formed and managed by EIG, today announced it has entered into definitive agreements with JERA Co., Inc. (“JERA”) to acquire JERA Gorgon Pty Ltd, which holds JERA’s 0.417% interest in the Gorgon LNG project. MidOcean is an existing participant in the Gorgon LNG project, and this transaction increases MidOcean’s interest in Gorgon to 1.417%. The transaction perimeter also includes JERA’s 0.735% interest in the Ichthys LNG project. Subject to the satisfaction of relevant conditions precedent, the interests in Gorgon and Ichthys will be sold to MidOcean, and then the Ichthys interest shall be transferred, subject to the satisfaction of further conditions, to an existing joint venture participant in the Ichthys LNG project.

The acquisition increases MidOcean’s equity exposure to a large-scale, long-life, integrated LNG project operated by Chevron, further strengthening its portfolio of high-quality producing assets.

In parallel, MidOcean and JERA plan future collaborations, exploring future transactions and opportunities on LNG and adjacent energy transactions globally with the aim of creating a strategic alliance. This reflects a shared objective to pursue disciplined growth and unlock additional sources of value across the LNG value chain.

Gorgon LNG is supplied by the Gorgon and Jansz-Io gas fields in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia and comprises three LNG trains with total nameplate capacity of approximately 15.6 Mtpa. The project includes domestic gas supply and condensate production, supported by extensive offshore and onshore infrastructure on Barrow Island.

R. Blair Thomas, MidOcean Chairman and EIG CEO, said:

“This transaction advances MidOcean’s strategy to build a scaled, globally diversified LNG company anchored by high-quality assets and counterparties. Increasing our position in Gorgon enhances the quality and durability of our portfolio while expanding our equity exposure to one of the industry’s benchmark LNG projects. Looking ahead, our collaboration with JERA including exploring the establishment of a strategic alliance positions us to pursue additional high-quality opportunities in a disciplined and repeatable way.”

De la Rey Venter, CEO of MidOcean, said:

“The acquisition adds incremental uncontracted equity volumes, increasing our ability to optimise across our portfolio and capture value through commodity cycles. Gorgon is a high-quality, cash-generative asset with long reserve life and strong operating performance. Deepening our relationship with JERA also strengthens our ability to originate and execute future transactions in the global LNG market.”

JERA Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Low Carbon Fuel Officer, Mr Ryosuke Tsugaru, said:

“Australia remains strategically important to JERA as a trusted and reliable LNG supplier, and we value the longstanding partnerships we have built there. Through our ongoing portfolio optimisation, we are strengthening our ability to support long-term energy security for Australia, Japan and the broader region. JERA looks forward to collaborating with MidOcean Energy across the LNG value chain.”

The parties aim to close the transaction during the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

UBS acted as financial advisor to MidOcean, and White & Case acted as legal advisor.

About EIG

EIG is a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors with $25.4 billion assets under management as of December 31, 2025. EIG specializes in private investments in energy and energy-related infrastructure on a global basis. During its 43-year history, EIG has committed over $53.4 billion to the energy sector through 425 projects or companies in 44 countries on six continents. EIG’s clients include many of the leading pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and sovereign wealth funds in the U.S., Asia and Europe. EIG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Houston, London, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong and Seoul.

About MidOcean Energy

MidOcean Energy, an LNG company formed and managed by EIG, seeks to build a diversified, resilient, cost- and carbon-competitive global LNG portfolio. It reflects EIG’s belief in LNG as a critical element of a lower carbon, competitive and more secure global energy system. MidOcean Energy has diverse LNG interests, including in Gorgon LNG, Pluto LNG, QCLNG and Peru LNG. The company is headed by De la Rey Venter, a 27-year industry veteran who has held a variety of senior executive roles, including Global Head of LNG for Shell Plc.

For additional information, please visit MidOcean Energy’s website at www.midoceanenergy.com or EIG’s website at www.eigpartners.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311979630/en/

Contact

EIG/MidOcean Contact Information
FGS Global
Kelly Kimberly / Brandon Messina
+1 212-687-8080
EIG@fgsglobal.com 

Source : EIG

EXPEREO NAMES KEVIN BROWN AS COO TO DRIVE GLOBAL OPERATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- Expereo, a leading global Managed Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, has appointed Kevin Brown as Chief Operating Officer (COO), reinforcing its focus on operational integration, efficiency, and scaling customer and supplier-facing functions worldwide.

In a statement, Expereo Chief Executive Officer, Ben Elms said that Brown’s appointment provides a single point of executive ownership, enabling faster decision-making, clearer operational integration, and stronger execution, marking a key milestone in the company’s next phase of growth.

Meanwhile, Brown said: “I am joining Expereo because it sits at the centre of one of today’s most critical business needs – secure, resilient global connectivity.

“I look forward to driving operational excellence, accelerating transformation, and strengthening the customer experience.”

Brown will oversee operational strategy, transformation delivery, and performance across all customer and supplier-facing functions, working closely with Expereo’s Digital Office to advance its digital transformation.

He brings extensive global leadership experience across telecom, cybersecurity, and Software as a Service (SaaS), most recently serving as NCC Group Global COO, where he built and scaled operating models to drive customer experience, efficiency, and growth.

Previously, Brown led BT’s cybersecurity business, establishing a strong track record of transforming operations into engines of value creation at scale.

-- BERNAMA

Airwallex Delivers Triple-Digit Revenue Growth in Singapore for a Second Consecutive Year; Latest Report Reveals Shifting SME Priorities in 2026 Amid Rising Cost Pressures

 

 

• Airwallex reports 107% revenue growth in Singapore for FY2025, extending its growth streak with a strong FY2025 performance
• Latest SME study reveals rising cost pressures and a shift towards more cautious investment in 2026
• Fintech adoption surges as SMEs prioritise faster transactions and expansion closer to home in Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE, March 11 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Airwallex, a leading global financial and payments platform, reported strong FY2025 performance in Singapore, delivering triple-digit growth in revenue for the second year running. FY2025 revenue in Singapore grew 107% year-on-year (YoY), with transaction volume rising 93% over the same period.

“2024 was our launchpad, and 2025 solidified our lead in Singapore. In 2026, we will look to seal our leadership position across the region, building upon our momentum in Singapore,” said Arnold Chan, General Manager, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Airwallex. “Singapore is the engine room for our APAC expansion, and our performance here reflects a deliberate strategy of combining deep local trust with a relentless focus on execution. By staying agile to our customers’ needs and deepening our strategic partnerships, we are ready to deliver yet another standout year by driving growth for both Airwallex and the businesses that rely on our financial infrastructure to achieve their global ambitions.”

Airwallex strengthened its local footprint in 2025, welcoming customers such as Minor Hotels, HipVan, Lovet, J&Co Jewellery, and Motherswork, while continuing to fuel growth for brands like GlobalTix, Endowus, and Love, Bonito to better manage their global financial operations.

Along with its strong commercial momentum, Airwallex’s Singapore headcount grew by 62% in 2025, with hires across its Corporate, Commercial, and Product, Engineering and Design (PED) functions. PED saw the strongest growth at 130%, reflecting continued investment in AI, data and engineering capabilities. Airwallex Singapore plans to grow its headcount by more than 70% by the end of 2026. Singapore is Airwallex’s dual headquarters alongside San Francisco and a central pillar of its global operations. Airwallex’s Singapore team spearheads the company’s expansion across APAC, including new market entries into Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea in 2025 alone.

SMEs remain growth-oriented while recalibrating strategies amid intensifying cost pressures

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with regional and global growth ambitions have been a key driver of Airwallex’s growth in Singapore. Airwallex surveyed 250 local business decision-makers, building on a 2025 report to gain deeper insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by this key business segment. The research uncovered trends around financial pressures, talent constraints, cross-border expansion and the shift towards digital financial tools.

• Cost inflation rears its head as the top SME threat: Rising expenses have sharpened into a critical challenge, with nearly three-quarters of SMEs (73%) citing it as a top concern in 2026, up from 62% in 2025. This continued year-on-year increase underscores mounting pressure on margins and operating models. While manpower gaps (43%, down from 46%) and anticipated cash flow challenges (42%, down from 48%) remain key concerns, both have eased slightly.
• Regional expansion matures from ambition to discipline: SMEs are pivoting from aggressive broad-market entries to high-conviction, regional growth strategies. Among SMEs planning to expand overseas, over 97% of SMEs intend to do so within the next 18 months – suggesting that many are approaching regional expansion with more deliberate planning. Interest in Southeast Asia has risen from 40% to 46%, with Malaysia (36%), Thailand (24%), and Vietnam (16%) emerging as the top target markets – signalling a shift towards familiar trade corridors and geographically proximate markets where execution risk is lower.
• From aggressive expansion to strategic intent: Regional expansion has evolved from a race for market presence into a disciplined, high-conviction pursuit. The proportion of SMEs planning to increase spending has fallen from 76% in 2025 to 58% in 2026, while those maintaining current spending levels have nearly tripled from 11% to 32%. This shift signals greater capital discipline rather than retreat, as businesses balance growth ambitions with rising costs and economic uncertainty.
• Fintech adoption reaches a tipping point: Adoption of digital and tech enabled financial platforms accelerated significantly, rising from 38% in 2025 to 57% in 2026. This marks a breakthrough moment, with digital financial tools now viewed as core infrastructure for managing complexity and improving efficiency.
• SMEs show cautious optimism about the global business environment, with strong government support reinforcing that confidence: 67% of SMEs remain optimistic about the global business environment, up from 64% last year. Confidence in Singapore remains strong, with 70% agreeing that the government provides sufficient and accessible support for SMEs expanding overseas – reinforcing Singapore’s position as a stable base for regional growth.

“These findings confirm a fundamental shift. SMEs are adapting strategically – trading broad market ambition for strategic discipline,” added Chan. “While cost pressures are intensifying, businesses are not retreating – they are recalibrating. They continue to invest, but selectively. SMEs are also accelerating digital adoption, and focusing on regional markets where they see a stronger path to winning growth. Speed, efficiency and regional connectivity are becoming decisive advantages for them.”

To read the full report, click here.

Notes to editor

The research was conducted by Censuswide among a sample of 250 Local SME Decision Makers in Singapore (defined as entities with at least 30% local shareholdings, have group annual sales of not more than S$100 (turnover/revenue) in the most recent financial year, employment size not exceeding 200 employees. The data was collected between 09.02.2026 - 17.02.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles

About Airwallex

Airwallex is an AI native global financial platform for modern businesses. We are building the future of global banking for a borderless, real-time, intelligent economy.

More than 200,000 companies worldwide – from startups to public enterprises – use Airwallex to manage their global banking and financial operations, or to build and monetise their own financial products using Airwallex infrastructure.

Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Airwallex holds 80 licenses across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, forming one of the most comprehensive financial infrastructures in the world. This regulated backbone powers Airwallex products at global scale, including: payment acceptance, billing, global accounts, corporate cards, and spend management.

The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore with over 2,000 employees across 26 offices. Learn more at www.airwallex.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310485447/en/

Contact

For media inquiries, please contact Airwallex at press@airwallex.com.

Source : Airwallex

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

ClimateLaunchpad 2026

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

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

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

What is ClimateLaunchpad and how to join?

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

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

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

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

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

Partnering with regional players

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

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

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

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

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

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

The partner network

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

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

About Climate KIC

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

About Better Earth Ventures

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

About TPC (Tsao Pao Chee)

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

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

About NO.17 Foundation

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

About Bank of America

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

About Irish Aid

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

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

Contact details:

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

SOURCE: Climate KIC

--BERNAMA

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

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

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

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

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304029870/en/

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

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

From reactive to predictive: the AI agent

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

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

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

Expanding into regulated health

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

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

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

Investment priorities

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

About Eight Sleep

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

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304029870/en/

Contact

eightsleep@aiir.agency

Source : Eight Sleep

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

--BERNAMA

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

 

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Quote

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

Max Giammario, CEO, Kindred Labs

About Kindred Labs

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

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

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303835585/en/

Contact

hey@kindredlabs.ai
Rachelle Irene

Source : Kindred Labs