Mars’ Pending Acquisition of Kellanova Clears FTC Antitrust Review

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned, global leader in pet care, snacking and food, and Kellanova (NYSE: K), a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles and North America frozen foods, today announced that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has concluded its antitrust review of Mars’ pending acquisition of Kellanova.

Poul Weihrauch, CEO & Office of the President, Mars, Incorporated, said: “We are very pleased that the FTC has completed its review of the transaction without the imposition of any condition or requiring any remedy. The transaction has now received all but one of the 28 required regulatory clearances, with only the review by the European Commission outstanding. This brings us one step closer to uniting two iconic businesses with complementary footprints and portfolios, allowing us to deliver more choice and innovation to consumers.”

Steve Cahillane, Chairman, President & CEO, Kellanova, said: “This represents a significant milestone on our path to combine Mars Snacking and Kellanova. We continue to believe this is an exciting opportunity to create a broader, global snacking business that is better positioned to meet evolving consumer needs and preferences.”

Based on the current status of the ongoing antitrust review by the European Commission, Mars and Kellanova expect the transaction to close towards the end of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The exact timing cannot be predicted with any certainty at this point.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a global, family-owned business, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world. Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality snacking, food, and pet care products and services, we employ 150,000+ dedicated Associates. With more than $50 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including Ben’s Original™, CESAR®, Cocoavia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®. We are creating A Better World for Pets through our global network of pet hospitals and diagnostic services – including AniCura, BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, Linnaeus and VCA™ – using cutting edge technology to develop breakthrough programs in genetic health screening and DNA testing.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Kellanova

Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats®, RXBAR®, Eggo®, MorningStar Farms®, Special K®, Coco Pops®, and more, Kellanova’s vision is to become the world's best-performing snacks-led company, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our Net Sales for 2023 were $13 Billion.

At Kellanova, our purpose is to create better days and ensure everyone has a seat at the table through our trusted food brands. We are committed to promoting sustainable and equitable food access by tackling the crossroads of hunger, sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion. Our goal is to create Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). For more detailed information about our commitments, our approach to achieving these goals, and methodology, please visit our website at https://www.Kellanova.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release, and any related oral statements, includes statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, including statements regarding the pending acquisition (the “Merger”) of Kellanova (the “Company”) by Mars, Incorporated (“Mars”), regulatory approvals, the expected timetable for completing the Merger, the expected benefits and other effects of the Merger, the integration of the companies, the combined business going forward and any other statements regarding the Company’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the timing to consummate the Merger and the risk that the Merger may not be completed at all or the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, including circumstances requiring a party to pay the other party a termination fee pursuant to the merger agreement; the risk that the conditions to closing of the Merger may not be satisfied or waived; the risk that a governmental or regulatory approval that may be required for the Merger is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; potential litigation relating to, or other unexpected costs resulting from, the Merger; legislative, regulatory, and economic developments; risks that the Merger disrupts the Company’s current plans and operations; the risk that certain restrictions during the pendency of the Merger may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the diversion of management’s time on transaction-related issues; continued availability of capital and financing and rating agency actions; the risk that any announcements relating to the Merger could have adverse effects on the market price of the Company’s common stock, credit ratings or operating results; and the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability to retain and hire key personnel, to retain customers and to maintain relationships with business partners, suppliers and customers.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, should be considered forward-looking statements made in good faith by the Company, as applicable, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this communication, or any other documents, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “strategy,” “target,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management at the time that these statements were prepared and are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, are described in greater detail in the Company’s reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2024, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Forms 8-K and other SEC filings made by the Company. The Company cautions that these risks and factors are not exclusive. Management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report, and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made.

 

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Contacts

Mars

FGS Global for Mars

Kal Goldberg / Jenny Gore

kal.goldberg@fgsglobal.com / jenny.gore@fgsglobal.com

Kellanova

Media

Media Hotline, 269-961-3799

Media.Hotline@kellanova.com

Investors

John Renwick, CFA

269-961-9050

Brunswick Group for Kellanova

Jayne Rosefield / Monica Gupta

jrosefield@brunswickgroup.com / mgupta@brunswickgroup.com

Trident et la République démocratique du Congo signent l’accord final pour déployer DRCPass, le système national d'identification numérique à l'échelle nationale

  L’accord final constitue la pierre angulaire du partenariat et inaugure le déploiement officiel du Système national d’identité numérique en RDC et l’adoption de l'identité numérique basée sur le Web 3.0 en Afrique. Trident nommé prestataire exclusif des services électroniques de vérification d’identité (e-KYC) du pays.

SINGAPOUR et KINSHASA - jeudi, 26. juin 2025

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd (« Trident » ou la « Société », NASDAQ : TDTH), un facilitateur majeur de la transformation numérique dans les services d’optimisation technologique et d’activation Web 3.0 basé à Singapour, a annoncé aujourd’hui la signature définitive de l'accord de Partenariat Public-Privé (PPP) avec le Gouvernement de la République démocratique du Congo (« RDC » ou la « République »). Ce contrat ouvre la voie au déploiement à l'échelle nationale du « DRCPass », le système national d'identification numérique robuste, qui sera déployé par phases, soutenu par une campagne d'éducation et de sensibilisation du public.

Ce contrat marque l’aboutissement de l’accord de collaboration initié en décembre 2024 entre Trident et le Bureau du Président, et constitue la pierre angulaire de l'initiative ambitieuse en matière de développement d'un système complet de gouvernement électronique (« e-GOV ») et d'identité numérique pour la RDC. En vertu de l'accord, Trident sera le prestataire exclusif de services électroniques de vérification d’identité (« e-KYC ») du pays, fournissant l'identité numérique nationale basée sur le Web 3.0.

La technologie e-KYC offre aux entreprises une vérification d'identité efficace et simple tout en renforçant la sécurité des transactions. Le déploiement du système de Trident reposera sur quatre cas d'utilisation principaux :

1. Enregistrement biométrique des cartes SIM : L’alliance de la biométrie et la blockchain de la carte SIM à une identité de citoyen vérifiée, permet d’éradiquer les lignes « fantômes » non liées à une personne vérifiable et réduire les pertes financières encourues par les opérateurs et dues à la fraude, ainsi que les amendes réglementaires en temps réel.

2. Accès simplifié aux portails de services électroniques gouvernementaux (« e-GOV ») et commerciaux : via la solution d'authentification unique (Single Sign-On - SSO), les Congolais pourront accéder et effectuer facilement des transactions avec les institutions publiques et privées via une seule connexion.

3. Facilitation des paiements numériques : en un seul clic, le service électroniques de vérification d’identité (« e-KYC ») évalue automatiquement les risques et débloque un accès instantané au crédit, favorisant ainsi l'accès financier formel au-delà des systèmes cloisonnés et axés sur les agences individuelles largement utilisés de nos jours.

4. Mise en place d’un registre d’identité numérique citoyenne : L’enregistrement d'identité centralisé et sécurisé complémentaire aux pièces d’identité physiques fournit aux Congolais un justificatif numérique vérifiable pour les transactions avec les secteurs public et privé.

Après leur enrôlement pour obtenir leur carte d'identité nationale, les citoyens pourront télécharger l’application mobile « Tridentity », qui leur permettra d’accéder aux applications et sites web autorisés par l’intermédiaire du DRCPass, qui utilise l'authentification unique sécurisée (SSO).

« Au cours des derniers mois, nos équipes ont collaboré étroitement avec le gouvernement de la RDC pour être prêts pour ce moment. Nous félicitons le leadership du pays pour avoir choisi d’adopter un avenir numérique et nous sommes impatients de soutenir le déploiement de ce système à l'échelle nationale, que d’autres pays africains chercheront sûrement à reproduire », a déclaré Soon Huat Lim, fondateur, président et directeur général de Trident.

Pour sa part, S.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, ministre des Postes, des Télécommunications et des Technologies numériques de la RDC a déclaré : « Ce moment historique ne se limite pas à la simple signature d'un contrat de partenariat avec Trident Digital Tech ; ça représente un tournant décisif dans les efforts de notre nation envers la modernisation numérique. En lançant le système national d'identification numérique, nous posons la première pierre d’une République démocratique du Congo numériquement souveraine, financièrement inclusive et résiliente face aux défis à venir. Alors que nous entamons le déploiement progressif du système DRCPass, nous ne nous contentons pas d'adopter l’innovation ; nous œuvrons pour façonner l'avenir de la gouvernance en Afrique. »

Selon les données de la GSMA Intelligence, la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) compte plus de 80 millions d'abonnés à l'Internet mobile et une base croissante de citoyens bancarisés qui bénéficieront directement des services e-KYC sécurisés (Electronic Know Your Customer) pour l'identification et la vérification des clients.

À propos de Trident

Trident est un facilitateur pionnier de la transformation numérique dans les secteurs de services d’optimisation numérique, services technologiques et l’activation Web 3.0 à l’échelle mondiale. Tridentity, son produit phare, est une solution d’identité innovante et hautement sécurisée basée sur la blockchain, conçue pour fournir des capacités d’authentification unique sécurisées aux systèmes tiers intégrés dans divers secteurs. Au-delà de Tridentity, la mission de Trident est de devenir le leader mondial de l’activation Web 3.0, en connectant notamment les entreprises à une plateforme technologique fiable et sécurisée, avec des expériences client sur mesure et optimisées, avec un fort accent sur l’Afrique australe et d’autres marchés à forte croissance.

Mise en garde relative aux énoncés prospectifs

Le présent communiqué contient des déclarations qui peuvent constituer des énoncés « prospectifs », faits aux termes des dispositions d’exonération de la loi américaine, « safe harbour » (règle refuge), notamment la Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 des États-Unis. Ces énoncés prospectifs peuvent être habituellement identifiés par l’emploi de termes comme « sera », « s'attend à », « anticipe », « vise », « futur », « a l'intention de », « planifie », « croit », « estime », « susceptible de » et d’autres expressions de même nature. Il se peut que la Société fasse des déclarations prospectives écrites ou orales dans ses rapports périodiques à la Securities and Exchange Commission des États-Unis (la « SEC »), dans son rapport annuel aux actionnaires, dans des annonces et autres documents écrits, et dans des déclarations orales faites par ses dirigeants, administrateurs ou employés à des tiers. Toutes les déclarations ne relevant pas de faits historiques, y compris les déclarations fondées sur les convictions, les projets et les attentes de la direction de la Société constituent des déclarations prospectives. De par leur nature, les énoncés prospectifs comportent des risques et des incertitudes inhérents, y compris la possibilité que le système national d'identification numérique et le processus e-KYC ne se concrétisent pas, comme le prévoit l'accord de Partenariat Public-Privé (PPP). En raison d’un certain nombre de facteurs, bon nombre de ces incertitudes et éventualités pourraient faire en sorte que les résultats réels diffèrent sensiblement de ceux exprimés ou sous-entendus dans tout énoncé prospectif. Un certain nombre de facteurs pourraient également faire en sorte que les résultats réels diffèrent sensiblement de ceux contenus dans tout énoncé prospectif, incluant, mais sans s’y limiter, les éléments suivants : le risque et les incertitudes quant au calendrier de la mise en œuvre de l'accord ; les effets indésirables potentiels ou les changements des relations d'affaires ; les changements défavorables dans les conditions générales de l'économie ou du marché ; et les actions d’organismes tiers, y compris des organismes gouvernementaux ; les stratégies de la Société, le développement futur des affaires, la situation financière et les résultats d'exploitation ; la croissance attendue du marché des solutions numériques ; les développements politiques, économiques, sociaux et juridiques dans les marchés où la Société exerce ses activités ou dans lesquelles la Société a l’intention de développer ses activités et ses opérations ; la capacité de la Société à maintenir et à améliorer sa marque. De plus amples informations concernant ces risques et d'autres sont incluses dans les documents déposés par la Société auprès de la SEC. Toutes les informations fournies dans le présent communiqué sont à la date du présent communiqué, et la Société décline toute obligation de mettre à jour aucun énoncé du présent prospectus, sauf dans la mesure prévue par la loi.

Contacts :

Contacts investisseurs et médias

Relations avec les investisseurs :

Robin Yang, Associé – ICR, LLC

investor@tridentity.me | +1 (212) 321-0602

Relations Presse :

Brad Burgess, Vice-président principal – ICR, LLC

brad.burgess@icrinc.com

Une photo accompagnant le présent communiqué est disponible à l'adresse suivante : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8672d8e2-07e1-4248-9dc8-3cae467061a5

Trident and Democratic Republic of Congo Sign Final Digital Identity Partnership and Launch Nationwide “DRCPass” Deployment

 Final contract caps partnership, officially launches DRC’s national digital identification system; Web 3.0 digital identity in Africa; Trident appointed official e-KYC service provider.

SINGAPORE and KINSHASA, - Wednesday, 25. June 2025

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd. (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a Singapore-based catalyst for digital transformation and Web 3.0 activation, today announced that it has signed the definitive public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC” or “Republic”). The contract paves the way for nationwide deployment of “DRCPass,” the Republic’s robust national digital identification system, to be rolled out in phases with an accompanying public-education campaign.

The agreement represents the capstone of the collaboration framework established in December 2024 between Trident and the Office of the President, forming the cornerstone of the DRC’s e-government and digital-identity initiative. Under the accord, Trident is the Republic’s exclusive provider of electronic Know Your Customer (“e-KYC”) services, delivering the Web 3.0-based national digital identity.

 

e-KYC technology streamlines identity verification for organizations while enhancing security. Trident’s deployment will focus on four core use cases:

1.  SIM-card registration: biometric-blockchain binding of the SIM to a verified citizen record, eradicating “ghost” lines and cutting operator-fraud losses and regulatory fines in real time.

2.  Seamless access to e-government and business portals: with single-sign-on (SSO), Congolese can access and conduct transactions easily with public and private institutions through one log-in.

3.  Digital payments enablement: one-click e-KYC that auto-scores risk and unlocks instant credit, driving formal financial access beyond the siloed, branch-first systems in use today.

4.  Digital Citizen Identity: centralized and secure identity record that complements physical IDs, giving Congolese a verifiable digital credential for public and private-sector transactions.

After registering for their national ID, citizens will be able to download the “Tridentity” mobile application and enroll their DRCPass, which uses secure single-sign-on (SSO) to access authorized applications and websites.

“Over the past several months our teams have worked hand-in-hand with the DRC government to prepare for this moment. We commend the Republic’s leadership for embracing a digital future and look forward to supporting a nationwide rollout that others in Africa will surely emulate,” said Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trident.

“Today marks more than the signing of a partnership contract with Trident Digital Tech; it marks a defining chapter in the digital rebirth of our nation. By launching the national digital identification system, we lay a cornerstone for a Democratic Republic of Congo that is digitally sovereign, financially inclusive, and resilient to tomorrow’s challenges. As we begin phased deployment of DRCPass, we are not merely adopting innovation; we are shaping the future of governance in Africa,” said H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs of the DRC.

According to GSMA Intelligence, the DRC has more than 80 million mobile subscribers and an expanding base of banked citizens populations that will directly benefit from secure e-KYC services.

About Trident

Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization and Web 3.0 activation. Its flagship product, Tridentity, is a blockchain-based identity platform that is designed to deliver secure single-sign-on authentication across diverse industries. Trident’s mission is to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, connecting organizations to reliable and secure digital infrastructure with optimized user experiences, with a strong focus on Southern Africa and other high-growth markets.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in announcements and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the national digital identification system and the e-KYC process will not materialize as contemplated under the PPP agreement. A number of factors could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the risk and uncertainties as to the timing of the implementation of the agreement; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships; adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; and actions by third parties, including government agencies; the Company’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the digital solutions market; the political, economic, social and legal developments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates in or in which the Company intends to expand its business and operations; the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8672d8e2-07e1-4248-9dc8-3cae467061a5

Contacts :

Investor & Media Contacts

Investor Relations

Robin Yang, Partner – ICR LLC

investor@tridentity.me | +1 (212) 321-0602

Media Relations

Brad Burgess, SVP – ICR LLC

brad.burgess@icrinc.com

Andersen Consulting Strengthens Capabilities with Collaborating Firm Market One

 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Andersen Consulting continues the expansion of its global platform through a Collaboration Agreement with Market One, a consulting firm based in Argentina that specializes in end-to-end commercial solutions.

Headquartered in Argentina, Market One is a leading consulting firm specializing in end-to-end commercial transformation. Founded in 2009 by Partners Esteban Neville and Jerónimo Fernández Abeijón, the firm brings a hands-on, results-driven approach to every project—accompanying clients from strategy to execution. Its expertise spans strategic consulting, commercial optimization, technology enablement, and insight-driven decision-making. With a proven track record of over 1,200 projects across more than 20 countries, Market One works with some of the most recognized brands in the world, helping them strengthen their commercial capabilities and achieve sustainable growth.

“We were born to solve, but how we do it sets us apart,” said Esteban Neville, co-founder of Market One. “Our commitment goes beyond advising—we co-create, we implement, and we stay involved until results are achieved. Joining Andersen as a collaborating firm significantly amplifies our value proposition—unlocking access to a global organization of top-tier consulting professionals. This collaboration enables us to scale our impact globally while maintaining the agility and closeness our clients value most.”

“Market One’s deep market knowledge and proven ability to deliver data-driven strategies will enhance Andersen Consulting’s offerings,” said Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen. “Their personalized, results-focused approach complements our commitment to providing clients with comprehensive, end-to-end consulting services.”

Andersen Consulting is a global consulting practice providing a comprehensive suite of services spanning corporate strategy, business, technology, and AI transformation, as well as human capital solutions. Andersen Consulting integrates with the multidimensional service model of Andersen Global, delivering world-class consulting, tax, legal, valuation, global mobility, and advisory expertise on a global platform with more than 20,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership and provides consulting solutions through its member firms and collaborating firms around the world.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250626121704/en/

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Contacts

mediainquiries@Andersen.com

HCL Group and UpLink Launch Fourth Global Aquapreneur Innovation Challenge to Boost Water Resilience

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--Global conglomerate HCL Group and UpLink, early-stage innovation initiative of the World Economic Forum, have announced the fourth challenge of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, the Water Resilience Challenge. The announcement was made at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China. Applications are open until August 4, 2025, with winners to be announced in January 2026. The top 10 winners will receive a total financial award of CHF1.75 million divided amongst the innovators. For detailed information and eligibility criteria, visit: https://wef.ch/4kTNwHD

 

Important Dates to Note

25 June to 4 August 2025

Open for submissions

August 2025

Review and selection process

January 2026

Announcement of the winners

The Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative is a 5-year, 15 million CHF collaboration between UpLink, HCL Group and the World Economic Forum’s Food and Water team, to create a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem for freshwater. The Innovation Challenge aims to empower global change-makers pioneering groundbreaking technologies, strategies and approaches to conserve, manage and protect water resources.

The Water Resilience Challenge seeks scalable, pioneering solutions that enhance the resilience of water systems facing mounting pressures from climate change, pollution and increasing demand. Submissions are invited across three critical sectors:

Strengthening Infrastructure Resilience – Solutions to strengthen urban and rural water systems including drainage, enhancing their ability to withstand extreme weather (including extreme heat, droughts, floods and stormwater), addressing infrastructure gaps and vulnerabilities, and meeting growing demand.

Rethinking Agri-food Water Use – Solutions to transform agricultural surface water and groundwater use through regenerative and nature-based approaches, improved irrigation practices, and innovations to conserve, reuse, and replenish water resources across food systems.

Optimising Water in the Tech Sector and Energy Systems – Technologies to improve water efficiency and reduce water-related risks in industries such as AI data centres, semiconductor manufacturing, along with solutions that improve water-efficiency in energy generation and recover energy from wastewater.

Sundar Mahalingam, President of Strategy at HCL Group, said, “Through HCL’s collaboration with the World Economic Forum and UpLink, we are helping build a global ecosystem for water innovation — one changemaker at a time. We focus on strategic support — enabling promising innovators to access global platforms, visibility, investors, policymakers, and peer networks. In just three years, 30 innovators supported through this initiative have raised over $90 million and saved over 12 billion litres of water. Our goal is to empower at least 50 such changemakers — and many more in the years ahead.”

John Dutton, Head of UpLink, World Economic Forum, added, “UpLink and HCL Group’s Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative recognizes that solving the water crisis demands a dynamic ecosystem to scale effective solutions. Together with the World Economic Forum's Food and Water Initiative, we are proud to launch the Water Resilience Challenge, calling on bold early-stage start-ups addressing the most urgent water needs of our time, from rising demands in the tech and agritech sectors to climate-driven infrastructure vulnerabilities. By supporting breakthrough innovators and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we’re working together to build the water resilience every industry needs to thrive in a water-stressed world.”

“Being part of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative has been transformative. For a company at our stage, the credibility from HCL, UpLink, and the World Economic Forum has opened doors to high-level partners and investors we couldn't have reached otherwise, including HCL itself. The financial award and global recognition have positioned us for our next stage of growth, and we've joined a powerful community of innovators tackling the world’s biggest water challenges,” said Mansi Jain, Co-founder and CEO of DigitalPaani, a grantee from the previous cohort.

An official announcement regarding the launch of the Water Resilience Challenge will also be made on June 26 at the Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO) Meeting at the ongoing London Climate Action Week organized by the World Economic Forum.

In response to the growing climate variability, groundwater depletion and water-intensive industrial demands, the Water Resilience Challenge seeks to catalyze a new generation of sustainable, scalable and equitable solutions. Selected participants will gain access to funding, mentorship, global visibility, and a powerful network of experts, investors and partners.

About HCL

Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL Group has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$13.8 billion with 220,000 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com

About UpLink

UpLink is a World Economic Forum initiative, founded in collaboration with Deloitte and Salesforce, designed to unlock the power of entrepreneurship to tackle the world’s most urgent challenges. UpLink builds ecosystems that enable purpose-driven, early-stage entrepreneurs to scale their businesses for the markets and economies that are essential to a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable future. For further information, click here.

 

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Contacts

On behalf of HCL:

Alisha Bisherwal- alisha.a@hcl.com / 8447821231

Shruti Saxena- shruti-saxena@hcl.com / 9654356487

 

Groups Representing Patients, Healthcare Professionals and Pharmaceutical Industry Author New Principle on Use of AI In Healthcare

 GENEVA 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Six leading international organizations representing patients, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry have today adopted the first joint ethical principle in the healthcare industry on the responsible use of health data and technology, including artificial intelligence.

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The new principle joins the International Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration (ICF), a longstanding principles-based voluntary agreement that guides ethical collaboration across these major healthcare bodies, working together to deliver high quality care for patients.

The ICF was established in 2014 as a global platform to ensure that relationships across the health ecosystem are grounded in ethical, transparent, and responsible decision-making. It unites six leading health bodies representing patient organizations, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry.

The founding principles of the ICF focus on prioritizing patients; supporting ethical research and innovation; ensuring independence and ethical conduct; and promoting transparency and accountability.

The new fifth principle focuses on autonomy, data stewardship, and shared accountability in the use of health data. This reflects the growing importance of digital health and AI, and the need for ethical considerations to evolve alongside scientific innovation.

“No single hospital or stakeholder can navigate today’s rapid advances in health data and technology alone,” said Ronald Lavater, CEO of the International Hospital Federation. “The ICF enables collective action, empowering global health leaders to build trusted partnerships that unlock the full potential of ethical, person-centered innovation.”

“Data and technology may evolve care delivery, but ethics guides our why, how and for whom,” said Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses. “This principle affirms the enduring importance of trust, compassion, and dignity — values nurses uphold every day across health systems worldwide.”

Patient voices are central to the adoption of this principle. “This new principle is a major step forward in safeguarding the rights of patients and people with lived experience in the digital age,” said Dani Mothci, CEO of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations. “As a founding member of the ICF, IAPO welcomes the clear ethical commitment around autonomy, data stewardship, and accountability highlighting focus on putting patients first. To make this a reality, we encourage patient organizations to actively engage with this principle and ensure its implementation reflects real-world patient experiences.”

“Ethics is the cornerstone of effective global health policy. It ensures that decisions are guided by fairness, respect, and accountability. The World Medical Association believes that ethical collaboration is essential to building resilient health systems and delivering better care to all, especially the most vulnerable,” said Dr. Ashok Philip, President of the World Medical Association.

Paul Sinclair, President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation, called on pharmacy professionals to embrace the new principle: “FIP supports ethical and responsible decision making, which involves pharmacy practitioners in relation to patients, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical sector to ensure high-quality care. I invite all our members to adopt and adapt this framework at the country and regional levels of practice.”

David Reddy, Director General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, echoed the call for collective responsibility: “For the past decade, the ICF has fostered stronger alliances and shared values between key partners involved in healthcare delivery, through sustained engagement on emerging ethical challenges. Today, by integrating a new principle on digital health and AI, we’re echoing a growing consensus: as innovation accelerates, ethical collaboration must evolve in tandem. Our focus is on delivering for patients — first and always.”

Notes to editors

About the International Consensus Framework

Established in 2014, the International Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration is the only global platform of its kind that brings together patients’ organizations, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry in support of high-quality, patient-centered care. The Framework is jointly supported by six leading bodies – the IAPO, ICN, IFPMA, FIP, WMA, and IHF- all united by a shared commitment to ensuring that relationships across the health ecosystem are grounded in ethical, transparent, and responsible decision-making. The Consensus Framework is a living document and is open to other stakeholders in life sciences and healthcare delivery, who are encouraged to endorse and contribute to its evolution. It is guided by four founding principles: put patients first; support ethical research and innovation; ensure independence and ethical conduct; promote transparency and accountability. In 2025, the Framework was expanded to include a fifth principle: uphold responsible use of health data and technology. This reflects the growing importance of digital health and AI, and the need for ethics to evolve alongside innovation.

 

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Contacts

 

Media contacts

For more information on the ICF and new principle, please contact the following member organization representatives:

IFPMA: Ana-Maria Nia, am.nia@ifpma.org

ICN: Pilar Millan, millan@icn.ch

IAPO: Rachel Githinji, rachel@iapo.org.uk

IHF: Katherine Bennett, katherine.bennett@ihf-fih.org

WMA: Magda Mihaila, magda.mihaila@wma.net

FIP: Aysu Selçuk, aysu@fip.org

TH Global Capital Announces Its Growth Advisory Practice: ‘TH Growth Strategy + Deal’ to Drive Sustained Value Creation for Clients

 LONDON - 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--TH Global Capital, an award-winning global investment banking firm recognized as Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year for three consecutive years, with a track record of closing transactions in 29 countries, is pleased to announce the launch of ‘TH Growth Strategy + Deal’. This enhanced growth advisory practice is designed to help mid-market companies around the world unlock transformative growth, drive strategic revenue expansion, and execute high impact deals through a hands on, results driven approach.

The growth advisory practice enables clients to exit, raise capital or recapitalize at a higher valuation. TH Global Capital partners closely with clients to elevate their businesses through tailored interventions that are designed to drive measurable improvements in revenue, accelerate order bookings, expand geographic reach, improve EBITDA margins, and build a sustained sales capability engine with the goal of unlocking long term value.

Vivek Subramanyam, Founder and CEO of TH Global Capital said, “While many of our clients were growing inorganically through acquisitions and raising growth capital, we increasingly heard their desire to drive organic growth and unlock deeper value from within. The launch of TH Growth Strategy + Deal reinforces our commitment to not just advising on transactions but also on creating long term value for our clients through transformative growth and margin improvement strategies. By closely working with the Board and C-suite, this strategy aims to address top of mind challenges in addition to advising on transactions."

This move further strengthens TH Global Capital’s role as a long term strategic growth partner, helping companies identify and execute high impact opportunities, and bridging the gap between strategy and execution to drive scalable and sustainable growth.

A Distinct Value Proposition:

With decades of experience in investment banking and growth consulting, TH Global Capital has a proven track record of driving scalable growth for its clients. Drawing on insights from multiple engagements across 29 countries, the firm offers unmatched market intelligence and strategic context. More than just advisors, TH Global Capital works side by side with clients - executing hands-on strategies that deliver measurable results, from top-line growth, margin improvements to enhanced valuations.

To learn more about how TH Growth Strategy + Deal can accelerate your growth journey, visit the website https://thglobalcapital.com/services/growth-advisory/ or contact the team at THGrowthStrategy_Deal@thglobalcapital.com

 

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Contacts

THGrowthStrategy_Deal@thglobalcapital.com

Bentley Systems, Enactus Launch 2025 iTwin4Good Challenge Amid Global Infrastructure Workforce Shortage

 EXTON, Pa. 

International student competition leverages digital twin technology to tackle infrastructure challenges

(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the global infrastructure sector faces a critical workforce shortage, Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company, and Enactus, a global nonprofit advancing student innovation and entrepreneurship, announce the start of the 2025 iTwin4Good Challenge. This international competition empowers university students to develop digital twin solutions to help address global infrastructure challenges.

This initiative comes at a pivotal time. In recent years, global infrastructure sectors have faced a critical workforce shortage, despite rising demand for better and more resilient infrastructure. For example, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Research Institute reports that 49 percent of engineering firms face project backlogs of one year or more, while the construction industry is short more than 400,000 workers, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors.

The iTwin4Good Challenge places students on a path to address workforce shortages by combining their passion for social and environmental impact with the power of digital technology. Through skills building and mentorship, the program brings together global talent to grow a new and diverse pipeline of future infrastructure leaders and solution developers. Students embark on a six-week program featuring technical training, mentorship from across Bentley, and the opportunity to get certified as an iTwin Developer Associate. Participants—competing solo or in teams of up to three—will use Bentley’s iTwin platform to create apps that could drive positive environmental or social impact in their communities.

Challenge Overview

From June through October 2025, students from the U.S., Germany, Canada, the UK and Ireland (competing jointly), and Brazil will participate in national rounds. Top performers will present their solutions to a panel of industry experts, compete for cash prizes, and advance to a virtual "Champions of Champions" showdown, with the global winner earning the opportunity to attend the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok.

“The iTwin4Good Challenge is more than a student competition, it’s a catalyst for change and a strategic investment in the future of infrastructure,” said Chris Bradshaw, chief sustainability and education officer, Bentley Systems. “By engaging young minds in real-world problem-solving and equipping the next generation with digital twin expertise, we’re cultivating talent capable of addressing both today’s infrastructure needs and tomorrow’s sustainability challenges.”

George Tsiatis, president & CEO, Enactus Global & Resolution Project added, “This partnership exemplifies what we do best—empowering students to tackle real-world challenges through innovation and entrepreneurship. When young people combine cutting-edge technology with purpose-driven action, they don't just solve today's problems, they build the foundation for a more sustainable future.”

This hands-on experience develops industry-ready professionals who can apply digital twin technology to solve real-world challenges, bridging the gap between academic learning and impactful infrastructure innovation. For a look at the initiative in action, watch the 2024 iTwin4Good Championship final presentations from Kazakhstan.

# # #

About Enactus

Enactus is the world's largest experiential learning platform developing entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators across 35+ countries. Through our network of universities and business leaders, we engage over 40,000 students annually in team-based projects that build essential leadership, project management, and enterprise skills while creating meaningful economic, social, and environmental impact. Founded in 1975, Enactus students have launched more than 75,000 projects and businesses, benefiting millions of people worldwide while developing tomorrow's leaders with a head for business, and a heart for the world. For more information, visit www.enactus.org.

About Bentley Systems

Around the world, infrastructure professionals rely on software from Bentley Systems to help them design, build, and operate better and more resilient infrastructure for transportation, water, energy, cities, and more. Founded in 1984 by engineers for engineers, Bentley is the partner of choice for engineering firms and owner-operators worldwide, with software that spans engineering disciplines, industry sectors, and all phases of the infrastructure lifecycle. Through our digital twin solutions, we help infrastructure professionals unlock the value of their data to transform project delivery and asset performance.

© 2025 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley, the Bentley logo, and iTwin are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. All other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

 

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Contacts

For more information, contact:

Bentley Press: Chris Phillips, PR@news.bentley.com

Bentley Investors: Eric Boyer, IR@bentley.com

Enactus Press: Jared Proudfoot, jared@resolutionproject.org

Newpark Fluids Systems Strengthens Executive Leadership and Board to Drive Continued Growth

HOUSTON - Thursday, 26. June 2025

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Newpark Fluids Systems (“Newpark” or the “Company”), a leading global independent provider of drilling and completion fluids solutions, and SCF Partners (“SCF”) are pleased to announce several key additions to the Company’s executive leadership and Board of Directors. These strategic appointments, along with significant capital investments, including the development of a leading liquid mud facility in West Texas and a new technology center of excellence in Saudi Arabia, underscore Newpark’s commitment to operational excellence, customer value, and accelerated global growth following its acquisition in 2024.

Nathan Snoke has joined Newpark Fluids Systems as Senior Vice President, Western Hemisphere bringing nearly two decades of predominantly North American oilfield experience to his role, most recently holding operational and commercial leadership positions with Halliburton and Flotek. He has worked across every major U.S. shale play—from the Rockies and Permian to the Marcellus and Haynesville—developing a deep understanding of basin-specific challenges and customer needs.

In addition to this key executive hire, Newpark has expanded its Board of Directors with the following senior industry leaders:

Robert West – Former CEO of Anchor Drilling Fluids, Robert brings over 50 years of leadership in the oil and gas industry. During his tenure at Anchor, he guided the company from $25 million to nearly $500 million in revenue, overseeing significant growth and strategic acquisitions.

W. Quentin Dyson – Most recently Senior Vice President of Operations at Southwestern Energy, Quentin brings 30+ years of experience leading engineering and field operations across drilling, completions, and integrated services. Quentin also held senior roles at EP Energy, BP, and Schlumberger.

Richard Barker – EVP and CFO at Noble Corporation, Richard has a deep financial and strategic background from his 15-year investment banking career at Moelis & Company and JPMorgan.

David Paterson, CEO of Newpark Fluids Systems, commented,

"We are thrilled to welcome Nathan, Robert, Quentin, and Richard to the Newpark team. Each brings a unique set of skills and experience that perfectly complements our strategy for expansion, innovation, customer alignment and long-term value creation in both domestic and international markets . Their leadership will play a key role in shaping our next chapter of growth."

“Newpark has long been a global leader in drilling and completion fluids, known for its technical strength, customer focus, and operational reliability. These new leaders, coupled with our strategic infrastructure investments, will deepen our capabilities and position us to grow with our customers—across established basins and in emerging markets.”

— Deviyani Misra-Godwin, Managing Director at SCF Partners and Board Member, Newpark Fluids Systems

About Newpark Fluids Systems

Newpark Fluids Systems is a leading provider of drilling and completion fluids solutions, serving oil and gas operators across the globe with a rapidly growing footprint in the geothermal space. With a commitment to performance, sustainability, and innovation, Newpark delivers customized fluid systems and engineering services that maximize drilling efficiency and well productivity. For more information, visit www.newpark.com.

About SCF Partners

Founded in 1989, SCF provides equity capital and strategic growth assistance to build and grow leading energy service, equipment, and technology companies that operate throughout the world. SCF has invested in more than 80 platform companies, made more than 400 additional acquisitions, and also developed 18 publicly listed energy service and equipment companies over its history. The firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and has offices in Aberdeen, and Australia.

www.scfpartners.com

 

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Media Contact: Kassie Harris, Sr. Mgr. Strategy & Marketing, kharris@newpark.com

BeOne Medicines Showcases Groundbreaking Oncology Pipeline at R&D Day

 SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Thursday, 26. June 2025 AETOSWire Print 

BRUKINSA, sonrotoclax, and BTK CDAC data, including combinations, are designed to comprehensively address unmet needs across CLL patient populations

Promising new data from pipeline assets in breast, lung, and GI cancer franchises, including CDK4 inhibitor, B7-H4 ADC, and novel PRMT5 inhibitor, will be featured

Pipeline is at an exciting inflection point with 20 near-term milestones in the next 18 months

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- In a significant showcase for investors, BeOne Medicines Ltd. (NASDAQ: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, will announce major advancements to its industry-leading oncology pipeline during today’s investor R&D Day. The event comes at a pivotal moment for the Company, which has more than 40 clinical and commercial stage assets in development, a signal of both scale and ambition.

“At BeOne, our mission is simple yet bold: to create the world’s first next-generation oncology company,” said John V. Oyler, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO. “What we will unveil demonstrates our progress towards this goal today, and the promise for tomorrow. From our innovative discovery engine to one of the broadest pipelines in oncology, we are well-positioned to bring transformative medicines to patients worldwide—and to do so with speed, quality, and purpose.”

BeOne’s integrated, end-to-end R&D model is engineered for efficiency without compromise. The Company’s differentiated approach—combining in-house discovery targeting unmet patient needs, parallel early-stage exploration at low incremental cost, and rapid proof-of-concept generation—enables swift progression from bench to clinic. Our in-house manufacturing around the world, including our flagship facility in Hopewell, NJ, means we have a sustainable business model, purpose built with competitive advantages. This rigorous model has fueled a pipeline of more than 40 clinical and commercial-stage assets, making it one of the most productive in the industry. To complement this research engine, BeOne has built a robust global clinical development platform, with more than 170 trials conducted across 40 countries and more than 25,000 patients enrolled to date.

In hematologic cancers, the Company’s program is driven by its wholly-owned assets including BRUKINSA® (zanubrutinib), a second-generation covalent BTK inhibitor and the backbone of the hematology franchise, sonrotoclax, a potential best-in-class next-generation BCL2 inhibitor, and BGB-16673, a BTK CDAC. New clinical data from CaDAnCe-101 highlight the promise of BGB-16673, a potential first-in-class BTK degrader, for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Meanwhile, early data show the combination of sonrotoclax and BRUKINSA has demonstrated compelling efficacy and the potential to offer a best-in-class fixed-duration treatment in CLL, setting the stage for a possible new standard of care.

In solid tumors, the Company is advancing multiple targeted modalities beyond its foundational PD-1 inhibitor TEVIMBRA® (tislelizumab-jsgr), including CDK4 inhibitor BGB-43395, which has shown clear pharmacodynamic activity and is expected to enter registration-enabling studies for the treatment of breast cancer within the next six to 12 months.

Promising new data for the B7-H4 ADC (BG-C9074) point to a potential first-in-class therapeutic option for patients with B7-H4 expressing tumors, including those without selection criteria. Additionally, early data from the novel PRMT5 inhibitor suggest a favorable safety profile and promising efficacy, supporting its potential for differentiation in the competitive lung cancer field.

“Our R&D team is running at full speed,” said Lai Wang, Ph.D., Global Head of R&D. “With more than 1,200 scientists and more than 3,700 clinical development and medical affairs colleagues dedicated to pushing the boundaries of oncology, we have built the infrastructure, mindset, and capabilities to deliver sustained innovation. The volume of clinical milestones we anticipate over the next few years is extraordinary, and our agility in moving from idea to execution sets us apart.”

Speakers at today’s event include BeOne’s executive leadership team, senior R&D leaders, and distinguished key opinion leaders, offering a multi-faceted view of the Company’s scientific strategy and execution momentum. The live webcast begins at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time and is available on the investor relations section of BeOne’s website, where an archived version will also be accessible.

About BeOne

BeOne Medicines is a global oncology company domiciled in Switzerland that is discovering and developing innovative treatments that are more affordable and accessible to cancer patients worldwide. With a portfolio spanning hematology and solid tumors, BeOne is expediting development of its diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through its internal capabilities and collaborations. With a growing global team of more than 11,000 colleagues spanning six continents, the Company is committed to radically improving access to medicines for far more patients who need them.

To learn more about BeOne, please visit www.beonemedicines.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws, including statements regarding the future success of BeOne’s pipeline assets; BeOne’s ability to bring transformative medicines to patients worldwide with both speed and quality; the productivity of BeOne’s pipeline; the ability of BeOne’s assets to provide a new standard of care; the timing for BGB-43395 to enter registration-enabling studies; and BeOne’s plans, commitments, aspirations, and goals under the heading “About BeOne.” Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including BeOne’s ability to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its drug candidates; the clinical results for its drug candidates, which may not support further development or marketing approval; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing, and progress of clinical trials and marketing approval; BeOne’s ability to achieve commercial success for its marketed medicines and drug candidates, if approved; BeOne’s ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property for its medicines and technology; BeOne’s reliance on third parties to conduct drug development, manufacturing, commercialization, and other services; BeOne’s limited experience in obtaining regulatory approvals and commercializing pharmaceutical products; BeOne’s ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development of its drug candidates and maintain profitability; and those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in BeOne’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in BeOne’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and BeOne undertakes no duty to update such information unless required by law.

To access BeOne media resources, please visit our Newsroom.

 

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Contacts

Investor Contact

Liza Heapes

+1 857-302-5663

ir@beonemed.com

Media Contact

Kyle Blankenship

+1 667-351-5176

media@beonemed.com

VeriSilicon Expands DSP Portfolio with Silicon-Proven ZSP5000 Vision Core Series for Edge Intelligence

 Highly scalable architecture optimized for computer vision and image workloads with extendable instruction set

(BUSINESS WIRE)--VeriSilicon (688521.SH) today released the ZSP5000 Digital Signal Processing (DSP) series IPs, which are based on its fifth-generation silicon-proven DSP architecture. This product line adopts a highly scalable and energy-efficient design, and has been deeply optimized for compute-intensive workloads such as computer vision and embedded AI. Combined with the configurable nature of the architecture, this series of IP can provide excellent solutions with both energy and computing efficiency for various edge devices.

The ZSP5000 series IPs include ZSP5000, ZSP5000UL, ZSP5000L, and ZSP5000H, delivering scalable vector processing performance ranging from 32 to 256 8-bit Multiply-Accumulate (MAC) operations per cycle. For even higher performance, VeriSilicon’s multi-core ZSP5400H can combine multiple ZSP5000H cores in a multi-cluster architecture to further scale computing capability.

The ZSP5000 series features a rich and intuitive instruction set optimized for ease of programming and efficient performance tuning, while its dedicated instructions accelerate common imaging and signal processing tasks such as vector-scalar arithmetic, horizontal reductions, permutations, shifts, table lookups, clamping, and averaging. It integrates the ZTurbo coprocessor interface, allowing customers to easily add custom instructions and hardware accelerators within the same pipeline, and is compatible with the OpenCV Application Programming Interface (API), ensuring seamless integration with the mainstream computer vision frameworks. Additionally, the ZSP5000 series is equipped with a full-featured memory subsystem, a multi-channel 3D DMA engine, and a scalable multicore configuration, supporting flexible deployment for a broad spectrum of applications.

The ZSP5000 series IPs are backward compatible with VeriSilicon’s scalar ZSPNano series, efficiently handling mixed MCU and DSP workloads. VeriSilicon also offers comprehensive ZView development tools, including an Eclipse-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE), cycle-accurate simulator, optimizing compiler, debugger, and profiling tools, streamlining software development and system integration.

“With the growing adoption of OpenCV and the increasing demand for computer vision workloads alongside NPUs in edge intelligence computing, we are introducing the ZSP5000—our next-generation DSP IP series. It supports the industry-standard OpenCV API, enables streamlined interfacing with NPUs via our FLEXA interface, and integrates built-in audio processing capabilities for multi-modal applications,” said Weijin Dai, Chief Strategy Officer, Executive Vice President, and General Manager of the IP Division at VeriSilicon. “Energy efficiency is key at the edge, and the ZSP5000 series IPs feature an optimized memory access architecture to minimize processor power consumption. It also features ZTurbo, a custom instruction extension mechanism designed for targeted applications, which enables further power and performance optimization through seamless integration of hardware accelerators. Our leading customers are already leveraging these capabilities to achieve significant advancements in power and performance.”

About VeriSilicon

VeriSilicon is committed to providing customers with platform-based, all-around, one-stop custom silicon services and semiconductor IP licensing services leveraging its in-house semiconductor IP. For more information, please visit: www.verisilicon.com.

 

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Media Contact: press@verisilicon.com

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, 26. June 2025

The emirate’s leading private developer is hosting a special sales event in New York, USA, with new and previously unseen buildings being released exclusively for attending investors

 

Azizi Developments, the United Arab Emirates’ leading private real estate developer, is inviting investors in in New York, USA to a one-of-a-kind exhibition where it will unveil previously unseen units and buildings – some of Dubai’s best performing and highest return yielding property assets – exclusive to investors attending the event. New York-based buyers will be able to secure these special deals at the dedicated sales event only, hosted at New York Marriott Marquis - Marquis Ballroom, Salon C, New York, on Saturday, the 28th of June, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The showcase will include a rare preview of new launches in Azizi Milan, the developer’s fashion-forward, sustainability-focused master planned community, inspired by the timeless charm of the Milanese lifestyle, as well as Azizi Venice, built entirely on a swimmable crystal blue water lagoon that is one of the largest in the world, alongside a refined and extensive portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality opportunities across Dubai – also including Burj Azizi, the world’s second tallest tower.

Azizi Milan, a landmark community guided by sustainability, nature, and the aesthetic refinement of Italian fashion, brings the essence of Milan to Dubai. Valued at over AED 75 billion, it spans 40,000,000 sq. ft. in GFA, making it one of the largest mixed-use communities in the UAE. The master plan will house 144,000 residents and include 800 hotel keys. Located on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road – one of the UAE’s key arterial routes – Azizi Milan offers unmatched accessibility and is a short walk from the future Blue Line metro station.

Azizi Venice features over 36,000 homes, 109 ultra-luxury mansions, and a vast turquoise lagoon surrounded by beaches, other leisurely amenities, retail, and greenery. It will house a Cultural District, including a 2,500-seat opera house by Zaha Hadid Architects, a theatre, an exhibition hall, and an arts academy. With hotels, a climate-controlled boulevard, schools, healthcare facilities, and family-focused spaces, Azizi Venice blends luxury living with cultural vitality - set to welcome 30,000 visitors daily as one of Dubai’s most dynamic destinations. Situated adjacent to the Al Maktoum International Airport, which will be the largest airport in the world, but unaffected by flight traffic routes, it is one of most strategically located residential, commercial and tourist destinations in the entire emirate.

Mr. Farhad Azizi, Group CEO of the Azizi group of companies, said: “Azizi Milan is truly unique in how it merges Milanese refinement with the unparalleled vision and rapid advancement of the United Arab Emirates. We are confident that our American hosts see the exclusive deals we are granting them as a gesture of collaboration and an invitation to invest in a city that shares their appreciation for design, culture, and legacy.”

As global interest in Dubai’s thriving property sector reaches new heights, Azizi extends its international reach by partnering with regional sales specialists to deliver tailored experiences.

About Azizi Developments

Azizi Developments is a leading developer based in Dubai, UAE, with more than 45,000 homes successfully delivered to local and international investors and end users of over 100 nationalities, and around 150,000 units under construction worth several tens of billions of USD.

www.azizidevelopments.com

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Contacts

For further information about Azizi Developments, please contact:

Tizian H. G. Raab

Head of PR & Communications and Advisor to the Group CEO

Azizi Developments

M: +971 55 867 3606 

Email: tizian@azizidevelopments.com

Murata Pushes Capacitor Design with World’s First 10µF/50Vdc MLCC in 0805-inch Size for Automotive Applications

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6981) (ISIN: JP3914400001) has announced the new GCM21BE71H106KE02 multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) has entered mass production. The device is the world's first 0805-inch size (2.0 x 1.25 mm) MLCC to offer a capacitance of 10µF with a 50Vdc rating and is specifically engineered for automotive applications*. This cutting-edge product marks a significant advancement in MLCC design, delivering a smaller 0805-inch package while maintaining capacitance, voltage rating, and MLCC reliability.

Advancements in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) technologies necessitate deploying an increased number of integrated circuits (ICs) within vehicle systems. This surge in ICs simultaneously leads to a greater demand for supporting high-capacitance passive components while imposing tighter spatial constraints – as a greater number of capacitors must be accommodated on increasingly crowded automotive printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Designed for 12V automotive power lines, the GCM21BE71H106KE02 capacitor leverages Murata’s proprietary ceramic material and thinning technologies to help engineers to save PCB space and reduce the overall capacitor count, resulting in smaller, more efficient, and reliable automotive systems. As the first automotive-specific MLCC to achieve a 10µF capacitance with a 50Vdc rating in the compact 0805-inch size the GCM21BE71H106KE02 represents a significant advancement in capacitance efficiency. It offers roughly 2.1 times the capacitance of Murata’s previous 4.7µF/50Vdc product, despite sharing the same physical size. Furthermore, compared to the previous 10µF/50Vdc MLCC in the larger 1206-inch size (3.2 x 1.6 mm), the new MLCC occupies approximately 53% less space, providing substantial space savings for automotive applications.

Murata will continue to pursue further miniaturization and increased capacitance of MLCCs, while expanding its product lineup to meet the evolving needs of the automotive market. These efforts will support the industry as they look to develop higher-performance and more multifunctional vehicles. In addition, by downsizing electronic components, Murata aims to reduce material usage and improve production efficiency per unit, helping to lower electricity consumption at its manufacturing sites and reduce overall environmental impact.

For more details on this product, please contact your local Murata representative or click here.

Notes:

* Based on Murata internal research as of June 25, 2025.

About Murata

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.

 

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Contacts

For more information, please contact:

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Takeru Arayama, prsec_mmc@murata.com

Corporate Communications Department

NetApp Report Highlights Fierce Competition in Global AI Leadership

 SAN JOSE, Calif. - Wednesday, 25. June 2025 AETOSWire 

More than four out of five of CEOs and IT executives surveyed are driving AI growth for their companies

(BUSINESS WIRE)--NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the intelligent data infrastructure company, today released its new report, The AI Space Race, examining which countries are leading the fierce global competition to become the world leader in AI innovation. While some countries are further ahead than others, this survey of CEOs and IT executives in the U.S., China, the U.K., and India found that every player has the potential to thrive in the global race for AI dominance.

AI is no longer optional for business, and the region that leads the world in AI innovation will be well-positioned to be a technological superpower, and drive potential benefits like economic growth, improved quality of life, and global political influence in the years to come. Successfully fueling AI innovation requires organizations to prepare their data to make it accessible, secure, and scalable—wherever it lives—to produce trusted and valuable outcomes.

“In the ‘Space Race’ of the 1960’s, world powers rushed to accelerate scientific innovation for the sake of national pride. The outcomes of the ‘AI Space Race’ will shape the world for decades to come,” said Gabie Boko, CMO at NetApp. “The companies and regions that can get their data ready for AI will be able to generate differentiating business insights and unlock operational efficiencies that launch them ahead of their rivals. Intelligent, scalable, secure data infrastructure is a decisive factor as the global competition drives businesses to solidify their AI ambitions and understand how they translate into a true, lasting advantage.”

The AI Space Race is Still Anyone’s Game

When asked what region is best positioned to lead AI innovation in the long term, respondents from every country overwhelmingly pointed to the U.S. (43 percent).

However, everyone sees themselves as AI ready, and every region views themselves as competitive in the global AI innovation race. The report shows that 81 percent of global respondents are currently piloting or scaling AI, while 88 percent view their organization as mostly or completely ready to sustain AI transformation. The massive investment in AI innovation around the globe shows that everyone is working to become the world leader in AI innovation. However, some countries are working harder than others, with respondents from India (29%) and UK (32%) reporting that they feel extra pressure to compete as China and US are seen as clear leaders. With all this fierce rivalry and active investment, the field is wide open for any country to achieve that goal.

Driving the global differences in the state of AI innovation are diverging priorities in how it is implemented. Respondents in China put a much greater focus on scalability with 35 percent ranking it as a top capability—11 percent higher than the global average—suggesting a focus on rapid deployment to make an early impact. By contrast, leaders in the U.S., U.K., and India put a greater emphasis on integration with existing systems. This long-term strategy to enable sustained AI growth may result in greater business value in the future, though the short-term approach may drive more immediate results.

Aligning Business Ambitions and Technology Reality

While organizations are focused on turbocharging AI innovation, CEOs and IT leaders need to be aligned on the state of their technology environments and plans to drive long term success and leadership.

In China, the survey indicates there is a critical misalignment between Chinese CEOs and IT leaders on both AI readiness and actual deployment, which could hinder its long-term leadership potential: 92 percent of Chinese CEOs report active AI projects, compared to just 74 percent of Chinese IT leaders. In the United States, alignment is stronger—77 percent of CEOs and 86 percent of IT leaders say the same. Perceptions of AI readiness are also misaligned. While 68 percent of Chinese CEOs consider their organizations AI-ready (versus 62 percent globally), only 58 percent of their IT counterparts agree (versus 72 percent globally). In the United States, CEO and IT readiness is more closely aligned at 60 percent and 61 percent, respectively. These differences suggest that internal alignment—not just ambition—may shape how AI strategies are executed, depending on region and role.

However, concerns about the quality of results from AI projects have the potential to slow down innovation if they are not addressed. Globally, 79 percent of respondents reported a fear of broken models and biased insights resulting from poor data and cloud strategies. Businesses that want to tap into the opportunity of AI innovation will need strong data governance strategies to serve as the foundation for their digital transformation.

“One of the most significant success factors in the AI Space Race will be data infrastructure and data management, supported by cloud solutions that are agile, secure and scalable,” said Russell Fishman, Senior Director, Product Management at NetApp. “Winning organizations will be those that recognize that they require an intelligent data infrastructure in place to ensure unfettered AI innovation. This is critical no matter the company size, industry or geography. As organizations around the world embrace AI at scale, NetApp is there to help them extract maximum value from their data by creating an AI ready data infrastructure that unifies, manages and harnesses their data for optimal AI outcomes.”

The AI Space Race is just getting started, but the organizations that can move the fastest will lead in AI innovation. The fierce competition highlighted by this report shows that businesses need to find an edge that will help them leverage AI securely and efficiently to stay a step ahead of their peers, no matter how fast the race evolves. Adopting an intelligent data infrastructure offers organizations unparalleled flexibility and agility to move into the cloud when needed, scale AI workloads seamlessly, reduce costs, and quickly adapt to evolving business needs. As AI increasingly moves from generating content to taking action, businesses need security that starts with the data itself. Only an intelligent data infrastructure delivers a full chain of trust, empowering enterprises to move fast, without compromising control.

To learn more, read the report brief and the infographic:

Report brief: https://www.netapp.com/pdf.html?item=/media/136511-na-1180-ai-space-race.pdf

Infographic: https://www.netapp.com/pdf.html?item=/media/136510-na-1179-the-ai-space-race-infographic.pdf

Join NetApp and Steve McDowell of NAND Research for a LinkedIn Live event on Wednesday, June 25 at 11am ET: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7340492842705821697/about/

Methodology

NetApp partnered with Wakefield Research to conduct a quantitative research study during May 2025, among 400 IT Executives and 400 CEOs in 4 countries (US, China, UK and India).

Additional Resources

NetApp AI Solutions: Data Fuels AI, NetApp Fuels Data

NetApp Intelligence: Thought Leadership Insights for Better Decisions

NetApp’s 2024 Data Complexity Report Reveals AI’s Make or Break Year Ahead

NetApp’s 2024 Cloud Complexity Report Reveals AI Disrupt or Die Era Unfolding Globally

About NetApp

NetApp is the intelligent data infrastructure company, combining unified data storage, integrated data, operational and workload services to turn a world of disruption into opportunity for every customer. NetApp creates silo-free infrastructure, harnessing observability and AI to enable the industry’s best data management. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in the world’s biggest clouds, our data storage delivers seamless flexibility. In addition, our data services create a data advantage through superior cyber resilience, governance, and application agility. Our operational and workload services provide continuous optimization of performance and efficiency for infrastructure and workloads through observability and AI. No matter the data type, workload, or environment, with NetApp you can transform your data infrastructure to realize your business possibilities. Learn more at www.netapp.com or follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 

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Contacts

Media Contact:

Kenya Hayes

NetApp

kenya.hayes@netapp.com

Investor Contact:

Kris Newton

NetApp

kris.newton@netapp.com

 

Mastercard Launches Afrobeat and Amapiano Sonic Anthems to Deepen Cultural Connection across Africa

 

Johannesburg, South Africa, June 23, 2025

 

Mastercard amplifies its iconic sonic brand across Africa with the launch of two localized sonic anthems, “Wami" in the Afrobeat genre and "Amazwe" in the Amapiano genre. Featuring Nigerian star, Mayorkun, and South African sensation, Sho Madjozi, the new tracks blend Mastercard’s global sonic identity with the rhythm, emotion and culture that define the continent’s vibrant music scene.

 

Research by  Kantar on sonic branding has revealed that it is a powerful marketing tool, enabling brands to achieve a 76% increase in brand power, a 138% boost in advertising effectiveness, and a 17% lift in ad recall. It reinforces Mastercard’s positioning from a payments brand to a culturally resonant brand embedded in people’s everyday lives.

 

Mastercard’s Africa anthems are crafted to connect with the continent’s young, music-loving audiences. Reinforcing Mastercard’s commitment to creativity and youth empowerment, the Afrobeat anthem was produced by LeriQ, the acclaimed Nigerian producer who participated in the 2024 season of the Mastercard Artist Accelerator, demonstrating the program’s impact in elevating local voices to global stages. The Accelerator supported emerging artists and creators with mentorship, digital tools, funding and platforms to grow their brands and amplify their impact globally.

 

“We’re excited to bring our sonic brand to life in a way that’s uniquely African. Afrobeats and Amapiano are not just musical genres; they are cultural movements. By collaborating with incredible talent like Mayorkun and Sho Madjozi, we’re creating a sound that connects emotionally with consumers while reinforcing trust and innovation in every transaction,” said Ahmed Abdel-Karim Hussein, Executive Vice President, Integrated Marketing & Communications, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, Mastercard.

 

The Amapiano anthem is produced by South African hitmaker Gemini Major and performed by rap sensation Sho Madjozi alongside popular artists Mthunzi and Sfundo Ndimande, who deliver an uplifting track that radiates optimism. The eclectic performance emulates Mastercard’s progressive approach to digital payments and youth engagement across the continent.

 

The Afrobeat anthem, produced by LeriQ, known for his genre-defining work with Burna Boy, and performed by award-winning singer and songwriter, Mayorkun, captures Mastercard’s passion with energetic rhythms and lyrics. Mayorkun brings his signature blend of Afro-pop and R&B sound to the anthem, creating a dynamic and upbeat soundtrack.

 

“Having been part of the Mastercard Artist Accelerator, it’s exciting to continue the journey by collaborating with Mayorkun on this vibrant track. I am proud to keep representing Africa on the global stage through this Mastercard project,” said LeriQ.

 

Sho Madjozi added, “Collaborating with talented local artists and producers to fuse Mastercard’s sonic identity into a fresh Amapiano anthem was both fun and meaningful. The result is a track full of energy, rooted in the vibrant spirit of South Africa.

 

The Sonic anthems will launch with accompanying music videos and a TikTok dance challenge.

 

Source: AETOSWire

 

Contacts:

 

Kanyi Mwangi

Kanyi.Mwangi@mastercard.com