Issuer Credit Rating outlook of Indonesia´s Jasindo revised - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- AM Best has revised the outlook to negative from stable, for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (Persero) (Jasindo).

The revision reflects AM Best’s expectation of a decline in the company’s technical performance for full year 2018, following reserving adjustments across its underwriting portfolio, as well as from a deterioration in attritional loss experience for motor business.

AM Best has also affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (good) and the Long-Term ICR of ‘bbb+’ of the company, whereby the outlook of the FSR remains stable, according to a statement.

The ratings reflect Jasindo’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorised as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Although Jasindo’s underwriting performance has been strong historically, there are growing concerns over a negative trend in performance fundamentals, given continued competitive market conditions and the potential for further unfavourable reserve movements.

Jasindo is the third-largest non-life insurer in Indonesia, based on 2017 gross written premiums. As a state-owned entity, it benefits from preferential access to underwriting corporate risks from other state-owned enterprises.

AM Best is a global rating agency and information provider focusing on the insurance industry. For more information, contact www.ambest.com.

-- BERNAMA

TACONIC BIOSCIENCES LICENSES THE WILD MOUSE GUT MICROBIOME FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES

RENSSELAER, N.Y., April 2 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Taconic Biosciences, a global leader in providing genetically engineered rodent model solutions, announces it has obtained a license to the Wild Mouse gut microbiome from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 
 
Investigators at the NIDDK studied wild mice gut microbiota, finding it differs dramatically from that of laboratory mice. Taconic’s germ-free mice were used in the study, which was featured in the journal Cell (https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(17)31065-6). For research applications, the Wild Mouse gut microbiota can be banked for future use and/or maintained in a laboratory mouse breeding colony for immediate research purposes. When transferred into laboratory mice, the microbiota promote host fitness, as seen in increased resistance to viral infection and tumorigenesis models. Taconic licensed the Wild Mouse gut microbiota from NIDDK as a complement to its existing microbiome solutions portfolio, which includes germ-free mice and custom microbiota associations. The role of the microbiome in drug discovery research is to clarify the impact of varying microbiomes on the efficacy of potential therapeutics and also to potentially identify new drug targets. By having a defined microbiome standard via the NIDDK Wild Mouse gut microbiome, customers now have a basis for comparison to better understand the microbiome of their research models.
 
“As demonstrated in the elegant study by Rosshart et al., mammals have co-evolved with gut microbes and this has led to health promoting effects. The Wild Mouse gut microbiota model will allow researchers to identify new host-microbe relationships as well as the potential for determining new disease protection mechanisms,” commented Dr. Alexander Maue, associate director of Taconic’s microbiome products and services.
 
To learn more about Taconic’s microbiome solutions portfolio, please call 1-888-TACONIC (888-822-6642) in the US, +45 70 23 04 05 in Europe, or email info@taconic.com.
 
About Taconic Biosciences, Inc.
Taconic Biosciences is a fully-licensed, global leader in genetically engineered rodent models and services. Founded in 1952, Taconic provides the best animal solutions so that customers can acquire, custom generate, breed, precondition, test, and distribute valuable research models worldwide. Specialists in genetically engineered mouse and rat models, precision research mouse models, and integrated model design and breeding services, Taconic operates three service laboratories and six breeding facilities in the U.S. and Europe, maintains distributor relationships in Asia and has global shipping capabilities to provide animal models almost anywhere in the world.
 
The content of this news release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views or imply endorsement of the National Institutes of Health.
 
Media Contact:
Kelly Owen Grover
Director of Marketing Communications
(518) 697-3824
kelly.grover@taconic.com
 
Source: Taconic Biosciences
 
--BERNAMA

The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto to organise two exhibitions

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan allows visitors to enjoy a wide array of modern art and craftwork through its exhibitions.

Beginning April 14, ‘Kyoto Textiles: From the 1960s to the Present’ will be held, while dyeing and weaving techniques as well as designs by 28 Kyoto dyeing artists from the 1960s, are showcased.

In addition, exhibition of ‘Potter Kawai Kanjiro: Works from the Kawakatsu Collection’ will also be held from April 26 to June 2, introducing ceramic works by Kawai Kanjiro, a leading artist in the folk art ‘Mingei’ movement in Japan.

Okazaki Park, where the museum is located, is one of Kyoto's best cultural areas, dotted with museums, theatres, library and zoo as well as famous old shrines and temples, including Heian Jingu Shrine and Nanzen-ji Temple.

Free guide apps explaining displayed artworks are available in English, Chinese and Korean.

Further details on www.momak.go.jp/English/

-- BERNAMA

Credit ratings of New Zealand´s Partners Life Limited upgraded - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- AM Best has upgraded New Zealand’s Partners Life Limited (Partners Life) Financial Strength Rating from B++ (good) to A- (excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating from ‘bbb+’ to ‘a-’.

The upgrades reflect an improvement in the company’s business profile as it has grown to become one of the top five largest life insurers in New Zealand, with a market share of approximately 10 per cent in 2018, based on in-force gross written premiums.

In a statement, AM Best has also revised the outlook of these credit ratings from positive to stable.

The ratings which reflect Partners Life’s balance sheet strength were categorised as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The company’s product range includes term life, income protection, trauma, medical and disability insurance, with business expansion supported by its robust relationship with a large network comprising independent financial advisers in New Zealand.

AM Best also viewed Partners Life as having strong financial flexibility, as demonstrated by a track record of capital support from shareholders to enable high business growth over recent years.

AM Best is a global rating agency and information provider focusing on the insurance industry. For more information, contact www.ambest.com.

-- BERNAMA

Juniper Networks lends support to LINE´s explosive growth in traffic demand

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- LINE Corporation, operator of one of the world’s largest instant messaging apps, LINE, has extended its long-term relationship with Juniper Networks as networking vendor to support LINE’s explosive growth in traffic demands.

Due to a rapidly expanding user base of over 164 million active users per month across four countries, LINE has expanded beyond instant messaging into a full-fledged IT services platform and offers a wide variety of services including payments, food delivery and shopping.

With consistent growth momentum since its launch in 2011 across Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia, LINE has seen its overall Internet traffic grow 30-fold in the past six years.

To meet existing and long-term bandwidth demands, LINE first deployed the Juniper Networks MX960 Universal Routing Platform at its Tokyo data centre in 2013 to future-proof the scalability of its network and cope with the anticipated growth in traffic demands.

As user base continued to expand, this was quickly followed by additional MX960 units at an overseas site and a newly-established Osaka data centre in 2018 to deliver high levels of scale, stability and security, meeting LINE’s current and projected future traffic demands.

The MX960 supports a broad set of automation tools and telemetry capabilities that allows LINE to greatly simplify its (LINE’s) network management and operations, allowing them to focus on expansion and growth without having to worry about their infrastructure lagging behind.

Juniper Networks is an industry leader in automated, scalable and secure networks. It simplifies the complexities of networking in the cloud era with products, solutions and services to transform the way people connect, work and live.

For more information, contact https://www.juniper.net.

-- BERNAMA

NEW CEO LEADS TERUMO BCT'S AMBITION TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF BLOOD AND CELL TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTHCARE

Antoinette Gawin Focuses on Terumo BCT’s Potential to Treat Disease and Play a Greater Role in Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine—Serving More Patients
 
LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 2 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Antoinette Gawin is expanding Terumo BCT, a biomedical company, beyond its heritage in working with blood centers and hospitals to serve rapidly growing areas of healthcare, such as cell therapy technologies and regenerative medicine. Terumo BCT produces technologies that collect and process blood and cells used in a wide range of therapeutic areas. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Gawin will oversee the company with nearly $1 billion in revenue and 7,000 associates supporting customers in 130 countries.
 
“Terumo BCT has been passionately engaged in enabling access to blood and cells around the world. Our innovations automate complex processes and help researchers and clinicians unlock the healing potential of an individual’s genetic material,” Gawin said. “We must diversify our portfolio to fund continued innovation in this cost-conscious healthcare environment and remain relevant to our customers.” 
 
Strategies include embedding the company’s products in the cell therapy manufacturing process, increasing the awareness of therapeutic apheresis as a treatment to address autoimmune diseases, building infrastructure in growth geographies and expanding beyond devices into patient data management and services. These efforts increase Terumo BCT’s ability to influence healthcare standards and reach more patients.
 
Gawin succeeds David Perez, who has led the company for 20 years and will continue until June 2019 on the board of directors for Terumo Corporation, parent company of Terumo BCT. Gawin is now one of three women serving the Terumo Corporation as executive officers. This progressive Tokyo-based company has been contributing to society through healthcare for nearly 100 years.

Diverse Perspectives 
Gawin values all aspects of diversity and believes diversity is a foundation for patient-centered innovation. These values are reflected in her passionate commitment to patients and drive her interest in changing policy and practices to increase access to healthcare technologies. Gawin has brought experience in public policy and her perspective as a global citizen to nonprofit organizations that promote equitable access to healthcare, education and clean water. 
 
Gawin joined Terumo BCT in 2016 in the role of executive vice president, global commercial, bringing nearly 30 years’ experience directing diverse global teams and transformational change across Baxter and GE, with global leadership roles at GE Healthcare Technologies, GE Industrial and Power Systems, GE Information Services and GE Financial Services. She holds a master’s degree in health policy from DePaul University and bachelor’s degrees in economics and English from the University of Michigan.
 
About Terumo BCT 
Terumo BCT, a global leader in blood component, therapeutic apheresis and cell therapy technologies, is the only company with the unique combination of apheresis collections, manual and automated whole blood processing and pathogen reduction technologies. We believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers. www.terumobct.com
 
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/916aa8a7-3fa5-41d9-a167-dce1ab4cb245

Media Contact
Terumo BCT
Christine Romero
Corporate Communications            
+1.303.205.2599
press@terumobct.com
 
Source: Terumo BCT
 
--BERNAMA

Efinix enhances product production, expands executive leadership team

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- Efinix, an innovator in programmable product platforms and technologies has announced the transition of its Trion T20 FPGAs to high-volume production.

Since the T20 samples were launched a few months ago, Efinix has achieved this milestone swiftly, meeting customers’ orders for millions of units, according to a statement.

“Market reception to Trion T20 FPGAs worldwide has been in a word – monumental. Driving the future of AI edge computing is our mission and volume production is a big step along that path,” said senior vice-president of operations and applications, Ming Ng.

“Market excitement for the Trion FPGA platform is exploding for applications such as custom logic, compute acceleration, machine learning and deep learning. T20 FPGAs are just the beginning as we expand our product line with T120 samples.”

The company has also expanded its executive leadership team with appointments of Jing Kuo as vice-president of sales and business development for China, and Itsu Wang as vice-president of sales and business development.

Kuo’s growing and sustainable Trion sales structure in China earned him a position on the Efinix executive leadership team. He spent 13 years at Altera where he was a key contributor for the company’s success with Huawei in China.

Meanwhile, Wang is experiencing similar success with customer engagements. At Efinix, he is responsible for sales and business development in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and North America West.

For more information, contact https://www.efinixinc.com.

-- BERNAMA