EBC Financial Group gives traders worldwide two-way access to the largest IPO on record from the opening bell, with transaction fees waived for a limited time.

LONDON, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EBC Financial Group (EBC) announced the availability of SpaceX (SPCX) across all EBC platforms. The instrument went live at 16:31 (UTC+3) on Friday, 12 June 2026, is in line with the US market open and the same session SpaceX made its debut on the Nasdaq. The listing followed the largest initial public offering in financial market history: a US$75 billion raise at an issue price of US$135 per share, implying a valuation of about US$1.75 trillion. Shares rose around 19% in their first session to close near US$161, lifting SpaceX's market value above US$2 trillion. The instrument is available to all EBC clients globally, across both Standard (STD) and Professional (PRO) accounts.

The debut placed SpaceX among the most valuable listed companies in the world from its first session. For traders, it is the first time public-market access has been available to a business that stayed private for more than two decades while building leading positions in launch services, the Starlink satellite network and, since its February 2026 acquisition of xAI.

Same-Day Access to a Landmark Listing

The newly introduced CFD is seamlessly integrated into existing EBC trading infrastructure, eliminating the requirement for distinct onboarding, capital allocations, or minimum subscription thresholds. Both the Standard and Professional accounts carry the instrument, each with its own pricing and execution profile. Traders at different stages, from lower-capital investors to seasoned professionals, can therefore choose the account that suits how they trade.

Trading on Your Own View

EBC supports two-way trading on SpaceX. Bulls can take a long position if they believe Starlink's recurring revenue, SpaceX's launch-cost advantage and its NASA and defence contract revenue justify the valuation, while traders may take a short position if they view the pricing as stretched against the capital intensity of the aerospace business and the drawdown risk facing new investors.

Limited-Time Zero Commission on US Stocks

Alongside the listing, EBC is running a limited-time zero-commission offer on US stock and ETF trading, valid from 12 June to 11 September 2026. With commission waived and zero-swap fees on the instrument, the trading costs will reduce significantly, potentially reducing trading costs for clients amid tech IPO boom. This promotion is available only to clients who open an account under EBC Financial Group (SVG) LLC.

A Defining Market Event

SpaceX enters public markets as a vertically integrated group spanning rockets, satellites and, through xAI, artificial intelligence. In its IPO filing, the company set out a stated total addressable market of about US$28.5 trillion, most of it tied to AI and enterprise applications, an ambition some analysts have questioned given how early the company is in those areas. For EBC clients, the practical point is simpler: a company at the centre of that debate is now something they can trade directly, and form their own view on, from within their existing account.

SPCX.OQ is live on EBC platforms. For more information, please visit the EBC Financial Group website at www.ebc.com.

Risk Disclaimer

Trading foreign exchange (FX) and contracts for differences (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed deposits. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Please consider your investment objectives and risk tolerance carefully before trading.

About EBC Financial Group

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

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

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

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

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

Media Contact: 

Aldric Tinker Toyad

Global PR Lead

aldric.tinker@ebc.com

Saiful Shamsudin

Public Relations Executive

saiful.shamsudin@ebc.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 17, 2026

Cyril Marie appointed to Wendel's Executive Board

Wendel announces the appointment of Cyril Marie as a member of the Executive Board and Executive Vice-President in charge of Asset Management. He thus joins Wendel's Executive Board alongside Laurent Mignon, its Chairman, and David Darmon, Group Deputy CEO.  

This decision will take effect on July 1, 2026.

This appointment, decided at the Supervisory Board meeting held on June 16, 2026, underscores the importance of the third-party asset management platform within Wendel. After three years of growth, driven by the strategy initiated by the Chairman of the Executive Board, Laurent Mignon, Wendel Investment Managers (WIM)-the private third-party asset management platform-had ?50 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026.

Since joining Wendel in July 2023, Cyril Marie has played a key role in developing the Wendel Group's WIM platform, which now comprises IK Partners, Monroe Capital, and Committed Advisors. By joining Wendel's Executive Board, Cyril Marie will continue to advance the strategy in line with the company's stated ambitions.

Cyril Marie, 52, has more than 25 years of experience in asset management, gained notably at Natixis Investment Managers, where he served as Director of Strategy and Corporate Development from 2009 to 2017. Between 2018 and 2023, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategy and Corporate Development, as a member of the Executive Committee. In this capacity, he oversaw all financial and development functions and served on the boards of directors of several entities. He led numerous strategic initiatives and several major acquisitions.

A graduate of Paris-Dauphine University, he began his career as a financial analyst before joining the BPCE Group (formerly CNCE).

Laurent Mignon, Chairman of the Executive Board, commented:

"I would like to congratulate Cyril Marie, who brings to Wendel comprehensive and recognized expertise in the field of asset management, including the establishment and continued development of Wendel Investment Managers. His appointment to the Executive Board demonstrates that this business is now a driver of growth and value creation for Wendel, alongside its long-standing principal investments business."

Agenda

Thursday, July 30, 2026  

 H1 2026 results ? Financial communication as of June 30, 2026, and condensed Half-Year consolidated financial statements (before-market release)

Thursday, October 22, 2026  

 Q3 2026 Trading update ? Financial communication as of September 30, 2026 (before-market release)

Wednesday, December 2, 2026  

Investor Day

About Wendel

Wendel is one of Europe's leading listed investment firms. Regarding its principal investment strategy, the Group invests in companies which are leaders in their field, such as ACAMS, Bureau Veritas, Crisis Prevention Institute, Globeducate, IHS Towers, Scalian, Stahl and Tarkett. In 2023, Wendel initiated a strategic shift into third-party asset management of private assets, alongside its historical principal investment activities. In this context, Wendel completed the acquisitions of a 51% stake in IK Partners in May 2024 and 72% of Monroe Capital in March 2025 and 56% of Committed Advisors in April 2026. As of March 31, 2026, Wendel Investment Managers manages 49.5 billion euros on behalf of third-party investors, pro forma of the acquisition of Committed Advisors, and c.5.5 billion euros invested in its Principal Investments activity.

Wendel is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris.

Standard & Poor's ratings: Long-term: BBB, negative outlook - Short-term: A-2

Wendel is the Founding Sponsor of Centre Pompidou-Metz. In recognition of its long-term patronage of the arts, Wendel received the distinction of "Grand M?c?ne de la Culture" in 2012.

For more information: wendelgroup.com

Follow us on LinkedIn @Wendel

Press contacts Analyst and investor contacts

Christine Anglade: +33 6 14 04 03 87          Olivier Allot: +33 1 42 85 63 73

c.anglade@wendelgroup.com o.allot@wendelgroup.com

   

Caroline Decaux: +33 1 42 85 91 27              Lucile Roch: +33 1 42 85 63 72

c.decaux@wendelgroup.com    l.roch@wendelgroup.com

   

Primatice  

Olivier Labesse: +33 6 79 11 49 71  

olivierlabesse@primatice.com  

Hugues Schmitt: +33 6 71 99 74 58  

huguesschmitt@primatice.com  

Attachment

PR_Appointment_CM_June_2026

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

PARIS, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, today announced its agenda for VivaTech 2026, Europe's largest startup and tech event, where its top executives will take the stage to discuss the new rules of innovation and the energy technology needed to keep pace with the acceleration of AI.

While at the event, Schneider Electric executives will meet with tech leaders to share insights and collaborate on energy intelligence solutions.

A roadmap for energy efficiency technology adoption

The Bloomberg New Economy Energy Technology Coalition launched a case study on Credit Human, illustrating how the Texas-based credit union created a resilient, high-performance headquarters by rethinking both energy demand and long-term value. Backed by Schneider Electric's research and expertise, the case study offers a roadmap for deploying the energy technology needed for the new energy landscape.

"Mindset is one of the biggest barriers to change," said Fr?d?ric Godemel, Executive Vice President of Energy Management at Schneider Electric. "Too often, people assume that the solution to 'not enough energy' is simply to add more. The reality is that we also need to consider demand-side efficiency. Misconceptions around cost, complexity, and payback are holding back progress on resilient AI-powered infrastructure and electrification. Through the Energy Technology Coalition, we're proving that the technologies to build intelligent, resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy systems already exist. Today's challenge is to rethink how we manage energy demand. At VivaTech, we're partnering with tech leaders and startups to scale solutions faster, powering sustainable AI growth and more affordable energy."

Presence on the ground

Schneider Electric executives will take part in a series of sessions and events at VivaTech 2026:

Hungry AI: Fixing the Energy Conundrum

June 17 | 2-2:45 pm CET | Purple Stage

Philippe Rambach, Schneider Electric's Chief AI Officer, joins leaders from the International Energy Agency, Engie, and The Innovator to explore the energy implications of AI and pathways to more sustainable solutions.

Fortune Most Innovative Companies

June 18 | 2:30?3pm CET | Executive Arena

Frederic Godemel, Schneider Electric's EVP of Energy Management, discusses how the rules of innovation are evolving, alongside leaders from Electrolux Group, EY, and SAP.

Sovereignty and Strategic Autonomy

June 18 | 11:30?11:55am CET | Sovereignty Arena

Esther Finidori, Schneider Electric's Chief Sustainability Officer, joins a Roland Berger-led discussion alongside CEOs from La Poste, Safran AI, Open, and Edge to examine how sovereignty considerations are influencing real-world business decisions, from investment priorities to technology deployment.

Investing in Europe's Competitive Future

June 19 | 10:30?11 am CET | Business France Booth

Julien Cristiani, General Partner at SE Ventures, takes part in a conversation with GetFund on cross-border collaboration in energy technology across France and Germany.

SE Ventures, the ?1B global venture fund backed by Schneider Electric, together with Lightrock, Mirova, and World Fund, will host an invitation-only gathering of technology entrepreneurs and investors on June 17 in Paris.

This event closely follows two major announcements from Schneider Electric around accelerating the next generation of AI data centers. The company recently announced its role as a strategic technology and industrial partner in SoftBank's investment to accelerate AI infrastructure in France. It also announced a collaboration with Foxconn to deliver integrated, ready-to-deploy solutions that enable customers to build and operate AI infrastructure with greater speed, efficiency, and predictability across regions.

Press contact: mediarelations@se.com

Related resources:

Bloomberg New Economy Energy Technology Coalition

Schneider Electric, strategic technology and industrial partner of SoftBank's investment project to accelerate artificial intelligence infrastructure in France

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries, businesses, and homes. Its technologies enable buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience, and sustainability. The portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory.

With 160,000 employees and one million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric is consistently ranked among the world's most sustainable companies.

www.se.com

Follow us on:

https://twitter.com/SchneiderElec

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/schneider-electric

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Discover the newest perspectives on Advancing Energy Tech on Schneider Electric Insights.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*Para Pemimpin di Sektor Kesehatan Indonesia Berkumpul dalam Forum Eksekutif Eksklusif tentang AI, Keamanan Siber, dan Masa Depan Komunikasi Layanan Kesehatan yang Aman

Forum yang diselenggarakan oleh NetSfere, Mayapada Healthcare, dan Qualitas ini akan menyajikan wawasan praktis tentang upaya melindungi data pasien, mendukung kolaborasi klinis yang aman, memperkuat ketahanan siber, serta mempersiapkan diri dalam menghadapi era pascakuantum

JAKARTA, Indonesia, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Para pemimpin di sektor kesehatan dari seluruh Indonesia akan berkumpul pada tanggal 17 Juni di Mayapada Hospital Jakarta untuk mengikuti sebuah forum eksekutif eksklusif yang berfokus pada salah satu tantangan paling mendesak di sektor ini: mengamankan komunikasi layanan kesehatan di era yang ditandai oleh kecerdasan buatan, meningkatnya ancaman siber, serta munculnya risiko komputasi kuantum.

Acara yang diselenggarakan oleh NetSfere, melalui kemitraan dengan PT. Kualitas Tekhnologi Asia dan Mayapada Healthcare ini akan mempertemukan para pemimpin di sektor kesehatan dan teknologi untuk membahas berbagai strategi dalam melindungi data pasien, mendukung kolaborasi klinis yang aman, memperkuat ketahanan siber, serta mempersiapkan diri menghadapi masa depan pascakuantum.

Dengan semakin luasnya adopsi alur kerja berteknologi AI dan model layanan kesehatan digital oleh organisasi di sektor kesehatan, keamanan komunikasi kini menjadi prioritas strategis. Forum ini akan membahas bagaimana penyedia layanan kesehatan dapat membangun sistem komunikasi yang siap menghadapi ancaman masa depan yang terus berkembang, termasuk serangan 'Harvest Now, Decrypt Later', ketika data terenkripsi yang disadap saat ini dapat didekripsi oleh komputer kuantum di masa depan. Para peserta akan mendapatkan wawasan mengenai kolaborasi berteknologi AI, komunikasi yang tahan terhadap ancaman kuantum, ketahanan siber, serta peran komunikasi yang aman dalam melindungi data pasien dan mempertahankan kelangsungan operasional.

"Organisasi di sektor kesehatan kian cepat dalam mengadopsi AI dan teknologi digital. Namun, ada satu risiko penting yang kerap luput dari perhatian: lapisan komunikasi, tempat informasi sensitif pasien dan keputusan klinis dibagikan setiap hari," ujar Anurag Lal, Presiden & CEO NetSfere. "Kemajuan komputasi kuantum membuat para pemimpin sektor kesehatan perlu bersiap menghadapi ancaman 'Harvest Now, Decrypt Later', yang berpotensi membuat enkripsi pada komunikasi saat ini dapat dipecahkan di masa depan. Tujuan kami adalah membantu organisasi mengamankan komunikasi, sekaligus memungkinkan AI, kepatuhan, dan keamanan berjalan berdampingan."

Acara ini juga akan menghadirkan wawasan dan praktik terbaik dari perjalanan transformasi digital Mayapada Healthcare.

Dr. Dini Handayani, MD, MARS, FISQua, FIPC, Chief Medical Officer Mayapada Healthcare, menegaskan bahwa komunikasi yang aman dan tepercaya merupakan komponen penting dalam mendukung keselamatan pasien serta penyediaan layanan kesehatan yang berkualitas. "Keselamatan pasien tidak hanya ditentukan oleh prosedur klinis, tetapi juga oleh cara tim layanan kesehatan dalam berkomunikasi, berkolaborasi, dan melindungi informasi pasien yang penting. Di tengah sektor kesehatan yang semakin terkoneksi dan berkemampuan AI, keamanan komunikasi perlu diperkuat melalui tata kelola yang andal, keamanan siber, serta kesiapan menghadapi ancaman digital yang terus berkembang. Hal ini menjadi sangat penting untuk memastikan layanan kesehatan yang aman, terkoordinasi, dan berkualitas tinggi. Hal ini sejalan dengan komitmen Mayapada Healthcare dalam mengutamakan keselamatan pasien, memajukan layanan yang berpusat pada pasien, serta menghadirkan keunggulan di setiap titik interaksi dengan pasien," ujar Dr. Dini.

Julius Kurniawan, Associate Director of Technology Mayapada Healthcare, juga menyoroti banyaknya komunikasi klinis yang dilakukan melalui kanal yang belum sepenuhnya aman sehingga meningkatkan risiko miskomunikasi serta potensi kebocoran data pasien. "Kami memahami bahwa data pasien dilindungi berdasarkan Undang-Undang Perlindungan Data Pribadi. Di tengah transformasi sektor kesehatan melalui AI, digitalisasi, dan konektivitas yang semakin luas, pertukaran pesan yang aman menjadi semakin penting. Hal ini menuntut adanya platform komunikasi yang aman, tangguh, siap menghadapi tantangan masa depan, serta memenuhi standar internasional. Di Mayapada Healthcare, kami meyakini bahwa investasi pada kemampuan digital yang siap menghadapi tantangan masa depan menjadi kunci dalam membangun ekosistem kesehatan yang terintegrasi, tangguh, dan benar-benar berpusat pada pasien," ujarnya.

Seiring ekspansi NetSfere di kawasan Asia Pasifik, acara ini menegaskan komitmennya untuk membantu organisasi di sektor kesehatan dalam mengadopsi komunikasi berteknologi AI yang memenuhi standar dan tangguh terhadap ancaman kuantum. Tujuannya adalah memperkuat keamanan siber, meningkatkan kolaborasi klinis, serta mempersiapkan diri dalam menghadapi tantangan di era pascakuantum.

Tentang NetSfere

NetSfere adalah platform komunikasi generasi berikutnya yang aman untuk tingkat perusahaan, yang menghadirkan alat pengiriman pesan tahan kuantum yang berteknologi AI untuk melindungi komunikasi penting di era ancaman siber yang terus berkembang. Sebagai produk dari Infinite Convergence Solutions, Inc., NetSfere menyediakan layanan pesan terenkripsi menyeluruh, kolaborasi real time, keamanan yang berfokus pada kepatuhan, serta administrasi IT yang terpusat.

Didukung oleh kemitraan strategis dengan Deutsche Telekom dan NTT Ltd., NetSfere membantu organisasi menerapkan komunikasi yang aman dan memenuhi standar di seluruh dunia. Platform ini mendukung lebih dari 500 juta pelanggan serta memproses lebih dari satu triliun pesan setiap tahunnya.

NetSfere memenuhi berbagai standar global utama, termasuk FedRAMP, GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, dan ISO 27001. Infinite Convergence Solutions memiliki kantor yang tersebar di Amerika Serikat, Inggris, Jerman, India, dan Singapura. Pelajari lebih lanjut di www.netsfere.com

Tentang Mayapada Healthcare:

Mayapada Healthcare (PT Sejahteraraya Anugrahjaya Tbk.) ("SRAJ") adalah pilar bisnis penting dalam Mayapada Group (didirikan oleh Dato' Sri Prof. DR. Tahir pada tahun 1986) di sektor layanan kesehatan, yang mengoperasikan tujuh rumah sakit dengan lebih dari 1.200 ranjang dan lebih dari 1.500 tim medis profesional. Mayapada Hospital telah menerima berbagai akreditasi dan penghargaan, serta 11 'Center of Excellence'. Tujuh rumah sakit yang berada di bawah grup Mayapada Healthcare adalah Mayapada Hospital Tangerang, Mayapada Hospital Jakarta Selatan, Mayapada Hospital Bogor, Mayapada Hospital Kuningan, Mayapada Hospital Surabaya, Mayapada Hospital Bandung, dan Mayapada Hospital Nusantara. Sebanyak 11 'Center of Excellence' di Mayapada Hospital mencakup: Tahir Neuroscience Center, Tahir Uronephrology Center, Cardiovascular Center, Gastrohepatology Center, Oncology Center, Orthopedic Center, Obstetrics & Gynecology Center, Pediatric Center, Internal Medicine and Pulmonology Center, Allergy-Immunology Center, dan Mayapada Autoimmune Center Indonesia, pusat layanan autoimun pertama dan satu-satunya di Indonesia.

Tentang PT. Kualitas Tekhnologi Asia (Qualitas)

PT Kualitas Tekhnologi Asia didirikan pada tahun 2012 untuk membantu perusahaan dalam memaksimalkan nilai teknologi informasi. Qualitas berkembang dari tim kecil melalui keberhasilan pelaksanaan proyek dan kepercayaan pelanggan. Perusahaan ini bermitra dengan penyedia terkemuka di bidang solusi ERP, Business Intelligence, Pengoptimalan Rantai Pasokan, dan Pendidikan, sekaligus juga mengembangkan aplikasi seluler miliknya sendiri. Dalam upaya mewujudkan visinya untuk menjadi penyedia solusi IT dan bisnis paling inovatif di Asia Tenggara, Qualitas memiliki kantor operasional di Indonesia (Jakarta dan Surabaya), Singapura, dan Malaysia.

Kontak Media

NetSfere

Somya Shrivastava

Email: somya.shrivastava@infinite.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Rise vGPU + ModelHub Power China's AI into the Heterogeneous Orchestration Era

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 17 June 2026 - Frost & Sullivan, a globally renowned growth consulting firm, has released its "2026 AI Infrastructure Orchestration Platform White Paper".

The report recognizes Phancy Group's Rise vGPU as a Tier 1 Leading Platform, the highest maturity tier in heterogeneous GPU orchestration. Phancy's ModelHub also achieved the highest Overall Score in the enterprise-grade model management platform evaluation. This marks a significant endorsement of Phancy's technological capability in heterogeneous AI infrastructure.

According to the white paper, as large model applications scale rapidly, China's AI industry is facing structural challenges stemming from multi-chip coexistence. These include hardware heterogeneity, fragmented software stacks, persistently low GPU utilization (generally below 30%), and rising model adaptation complexity - all of which have become major bottlenecks for enterprise-scale AI deployment.

The report highlights a fundamental shift in AI infrastructure competitiveness - moving away from "single-chip performance" toward "cluster-scale system coordination." At this critical juncture, Phancy has positioned itself as a leader in advanced orchestration through its full-stack AI infrastructure platform, offering a proven solution to heterogeneous compute challenges and helping drive China's AI industry from "compute accumulation" into a new era of "compute orchestration."

Phancy Rise vGPU: Tier 1 Leading Platform

In its assessment of mainstream AI infrastructure platforms, Frost & Sullivan defined Tier 1 criteria across three core dimensions: heterogeneous support, fine-grained control, and production-grade execution. Phancy Rise vGPU meets all three standards and has been recognized as a Tier 1 Leading Platform.

Rise vGPU transforms AI infrastructure from fragmented, low-efficiency device-level management to a unified software-defined control plane. Its key technology breakthroughs include:

Comprehensive Heterogeneous Management: Unified onboarding and management across more than 10 mainstream GPU/NPU vendors, including NVIDIA, Ascend, Cambricon, Hygon, and others.

Ultra-Fine Resource Partitioning: Industry-leading sub-GPU level compute and MB-level memory granularity slicing.

Significant Utilization Improvement: Through safe oversubscription and time/space multiplexing, GPU utilization is increased from industry averages below 30% to 70%-90%.

Intelligent Precision Scheduling: Multi-dimensional scheduling algorithms based on priority, topology, load, and resource awareness to achieve optimal compute allocation.

Production-Grade SLA Assurance: The Deterministic Execution Layer delivers committed and auditable SLA guarantees for critical inference workloads.

Full Lifecycle Operability: Comprehensive monitoring, metering, and cost allocation capabilities that turn GPU resources into truly operable digital assets.

Model Hub: Highest Overall Score in Model Management Platform Evaluation

Beyond compute orchestration, the report underscores the strategic importance of enterprise-grade model management platforms. As a powerful complement to Rise vGPU, Phancy ModelHub enables enterprises to build a complete full-stack AI infrastructure - from compute to models and from resource scheduling to business delivery.

The white paper notes that Phancy ModelHub delivers leading performance in key areas such as Model & Chip Compatibility, Execution Stability & Performance, and Model-GPU Coordination & Scheduling, achieving the highest Overall Score. Through its unified model management and execution platform, ModelHub creates a seamless closed-loop process covering model onboarding, deployment optimization, inference services, and version governance - significantly lowering the barrier to model deployment and accelerating AI innovation.

Dr. Dai Wenyuan, Founder & CEO of Phancy, said: "The Frost & Sullivan white paper accurately captures the inflection point in AI infrastructure development. The recognition of Rise vGPU as a Tier 1 Leading Platform and ModelHub's top Overall Score provide important authoritative validation of Phancy's technology strategy and product strength. As a full-stack AI cloud service platform, Phancy believes the next wave of competitiveness in the AI industry will come from systematic improvements in compute orchestration efficiency. We will continue to focus on heterogeneous compute unified scheduling and model ecosystem operations, working closely with customers and industry partners to advance China's AI industry from 'compute accumulation' to a true 'compute orchestration' era."

About Phancy Group

Phancy Group (6682.HK) is a leading full-stack AI cloud services platform, providing comprehensive solutions for the AI 2.0 era. Our offerings include Rise vGPU, ModelHub and SageAIOS, delivering efficient and scalable AI infrastructure with end-to-end capabilities. We provide a complete solution from heterogeneous compute resource management and optimization to the deployment of intelligent agent models. These solutions empower digital transformation across a wide range of industries, supporting our vision of building a large-scale and efficient "Token Factory."

Guided by the mission of "AI for Everyone" and positioned as the "Navigator of AI," Phancy Group is committed to becoming a global leader in Artificial General Intelligence.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Hashtags: #PhancyGroup

Salah satu tokoh paling senior di industri manajemen kekayaan Eropa bergabung dengan dewan grup Titanbay sebagai Direktur Non-Eksekutif

LONDON, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hari ini Titanbay mengumumkan penunjukan Marcel Rohner, Wakil Ketua UBP SA, Ketua Swiss Bankers Association, sekaligus mantan Group Chief Executive UBS AG, sebagai Direktur Non-Eksekutif pada dewan grupnya.

Hanya sedikit tokoh yang berada begitu dekat dengan pusat industri manajemen kekayaan Eropa. Rohner memimpin UBS melewati krisis keuangan global sebagai Group CEO pada periode 2007 hingga 2009. Dia telah menjadi anggota Dewan Union Bancaire Priv?e sejak 2016. Sejak 2021, dia menjabat sebagai Ketua Swiss Bankers Association, lembaga yang menetapkan kebijakan dan standar bagi industri perbankan Swiss, salah satu industri manajemen kekayaan terbesar di dunia.

Keputusannya bergabung dengan Titanbay merupakan sinyal paling jelas sejauh ini mengenai ke mana arah pusat gravitasi pasar privat (private markets) tengah bergeser. Para manajer kekayaan Eropa sedang berlomba memperluas akses klien terhadap berbagai investasi alternatif. Di sisi lain, para manajer aset berupaya menemukan cara yang lebih efisien untuk menjangkau segmen klien dengan kekayaan besar. Titanbay berada di antara keduanya, di atas teknologi yang dibangun khusus untuk dana pasar privat. Semua hal yang selama ini dikerjakan industri secara manual atau disatukan dari berbagai penyedia layanan kini ditangani Titanbay di satu tempat melalui infrastruktur yang dibangunnya sendiri.

"Marcel adalah salah satu tokoh paling dihormati di industri manajemen kekayaan Eropa, dan hanya sedikit orang di industri kami yang penilaiannya lebih berbobot daripada dia," ujar Michael Gruener, salah satu CEO Titanbay. "Kepemimpinannya di UBS, masa tugasnya yang panjang di dewan UBP, serta lima tahun perannya membentuk industri perbankan Swiss melalui Swiss Bankers Association memberinya sudut pandang atas industri ini yang nyaris tidak dimiliki siapa pun. Bergabungnya dia di dewan kami untuk ikut menentukan arah ke depan adalah momen yang luar biasa bagi perusahaan. Kami beruntung memilikinya."

Marcel Rohner mengatakan: "Pasar privat semakin menjadi alokasi inti bagi klien dengan kekayaan besar di Eropa, tetapi infrastruktur industrinya belum mampu mengimbangi. Titanbay telah membangun sesuatu yang berbeda, yaitu teknologi dan operasional yang dirancang khusus untuk kelas aset ini. Keduanya kini bener-benar digunakan oleh para manajer kekayaan dan manajer aset terkemuka. Saya sudah tidak sabar untuk bekerja sama dengan dewan seiring dengan langkah perusahaan untuk beralih ke babak berikutnya."

Tentang Marcel Rohner

Marcel Rohner adalah Wakil Ketua Dewan Union Bancaire Priv?e, Ketua Swiss Bankers Association, dan mantan Group Chief Executive UBS AG. Pada periode 2007 hingga 2009, dia memimpin bank tersebut melewati krisis keuangan global. Sejak 2021, dia menjabat Ketua Swiss Bankers Association setelah lima tahun berperan membentuk kebijakan perbankan Swiss. Dia akan menyerahkan posisi tersebut kepada Giorgio Pradelli di acara Bankers Day pada bulan September 2026. Dia meraih gelar PhD di bidang Ekonomi dari University of Zurich.

Tentang Titanbay

Titanbay adalah satu-satunya perusahaan yang menstrukturkan, meluncurkan, mengelola, dan memperdagangkan dana pasar privat di satu tempat. Semuanya ditopang oleh teknologi rancangan sendiri yang sebelumnya tidak pernah ada.

Para manajer aset menggunakan Titanbay untuk membawa dana pasar privat ke pasar dan menjalankannya dalam skala besar. Para manajer kekayaan mengakses dana tersebut dan memperdagangkannya melalui sistem yang telah mereka miliki. Infrastruktur teknologi dan regulasi Titanbay menghubungkan kedua sisi, mengotomatiskan kompleksitas operasional yang selama ini membuat industri terfragmentasi.

Untuk informasi selengkapnya, kunjungi titanbay.com

Kontak media

Danielle Wilde

Kepala Pemasaran, Titanbay

danielle.wilde@titanbay.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

MONACO, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Under the aegis of 'Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting', Yacht Club de Monaco's La Belle Classe Academy training centre caters for yachting professionals with a 360o programme covering all aspects of the sector, structured around Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Navigation, the art of hospitality, etiquette and onboard protocol are taught to internationally recognised standards.

Its Yachting Masterclass programme is accredited by the International Association of Maritime Institutions (IAMI), while several technical courses are certified by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), a global reference for boating and water sports training. This recognition by two highly reputable bodies underpins the excellence and relevance of the instruction provided by the YCM.

Keen to engage the next generation, La Belle Classe Academy also offers a Summer Yachting Camp, an immersive programme organised by YCM every year. Open to 16 to 22 year-olds, with no prerequisites, this camp provides an excellent introduction to yachting. Over one or two weeks, participants learn how to drive motorboats and jet-skis, first aid, meteorology, nautical knots, safety at sea, and a wide range of nautical and educational activities.

Supervised by professionals, they acquire practical skills and recognised certifications such as the RYA Powerboat Level 2 and Personal Watercraft. It is a formative experience in which to learn invaluable skills, gain confidence on the water and discover yachting-related professions.

These modules are designed to help train tomorrow's sailors and support boating enthusiasts and yachting professionals, in addition to the YCM Yachting Student Fair dedicated to discovering yachting and maritime professions, and further reinforce the Principality's international profile.

For more information:

Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c5e09bab-1e55-434b-b970-130f321e4c8c

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*The global superstar brings the cozy vibes to the farm with a new spin on the mobile farming game's iconic theme song.

*"The Cozy Anthem" kicks off a virtual music festival, inviting millions to create a shared summer soundtrack in Hay Day, running June 16 through June 30, and across social media.

HD Fest Joe Jonas

HELSINKI, Finland, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This summer, mobile farming game Hay Day has teamed up with singer, songwriter, and actor Joe Jonas to debut "The Cozy Anthem," an original track inspired by the game's iconic theme song. Jonas transformed the beloved melody into a full lyrical track, marking the start of a community-forward music experience that invites players to slow down and embrace the cozy.

"The Cozy Anthem" marks the kick-off of a two-week virtual music festival across in-game experiences in Hay Day and on social media, inviting fans to remix their own Cozy Anthem in-game. Headlined by Jonas, the festival also spotlights a wide range of emerging, digital-first artists as supporting acts.

"With everything I've got going on, it's not always easy to find a moment to disconnect. Hay Day has become one of those little escapes where I can relax, have fun, and recharge. There's something strangely satisfying about checking on your farm before checking your emails," said Joe Jonas. "I loved getting to put my own twist on the Hay Day theme song, and I'm excited for everyone to hear 'The Cozy Anthem,' make it their own, and hopefully join me on the farm."

Starting June 16th, Jonas' "The Cozy Anthem" will play across every farm in Hay Day, turning the entire game world into a shared summer soundtrack. Clickable music notes will float around players' farms as they tend to them, tied to global community milestones that unlock 13 playable note-inspired decorations to keep forever. Players will also be the first to unlock exclusive access to 'Cozy Covers' of the anthem directly in their community inbox.

From June 18 through June 30, fans can join in directly by creating their own versions of "The Cozy Anthem" in a custom web experience and share their renditions on TikTok. Players can also purchase an exclusive in-game Cozy Jukebox decoration in-game, which plays "The Cozy Anthem," a collectible keepsake that lets the anthem live on long after the festival ends.

"Hay Day has always been a feel-good place to recharge, unwind, and Joe Jonas has brought this energy to life through song with 'The Cozy Anthem,'" said Maya Hofree, Hay Day General Manager. "We're excited to bring the Hay Day community and new players together to take part in this music festival and cannot wait to hear all the unique covers of this cozy song."

Hay Day is free-to-play and can be downloaded on any iOS or Android device.

For more information, please contact supercellus@wearetheromans.com.

About Supercell

Supercell is a game company based in Helsinki, Finland, with offices in San Francisco, London, Seoul, and Shanghai. Since its founding in 2010, the company has brought six games to the global market: Hay Day, Clash of Clans, Boom Beach, Clash Royale, Brawl Stars and Squad Busters. Supercell's dream is to create games that as many people as possible play for years and that are remembered forever.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange, today announced a strategic partnership with Paydify, a payment layer for seamless stablecoin transactions between users and merchants, to expand stablecoin payment acceptance for merchants worldwide.

The collaboration enables merchants connected to Paydify to access Bitget's global user base through a single payment integration, simplifying how businesses accept stablecoin payments across the growing Web3 ecosystem.

Stablecoins have become one of crypto's most practical payment use cases, offering faster settlement, borderless transactions, 24/7 availability, and reduced payment friction. According to a16z's data, consumer-to-business stablecoin transaction volume grew 128% year-over-year, more than doubling over the period, indicating the increasing role of stablecoins in everyday payments.

However, merchant adoption has remained limited by fragmented liquidity and disconnected payment networks. The Bitget and Paydify partnership addresses this gap by improving connectivity between exchanges, merchants, wallets, and end users. Paydify's infrastructure provides a unified gateway for stablecoin payments, helping businesses reduce technical complexity while maintaining a seamless checkout experience.

"Bitget's UEX is built around making digital assets more accessible, usable, and connected across real-world scenarios," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "Our partnership with Paydify extends that vision into stablecoin payments by helping merchants connect with Bitget's 125 million global users through simpler, more efficient infrastructure."

Paydify supports stablecoin payment acceptance across leading wallets and blockchain networks, enabling merchants to process on-chain payments with minimal integration requirements while maintaining control over their funds.

"The future of payments is not about moving money between wallets. It is about enabling millions of crypto users to seamlessly spend digital assets anywhere. Together with Bitget, we are turning stablecoins from an investment asset into a payment method," said Sean Dong, Senior Director of Business Operations, Paydify.

The collaboration reinforces Bitget's UEX model by consolidating trading, holding, and spending into a single environment. As these services converge, it positions digital assets as everyday money and pushes the ecosystem past traditional trading into practical, everyday payment solutions.

About Paydify

Paydify is a payments technology layer that facilitates seamless stablecoin transactions directly between users and merchants. Designed for Web3 and digitally native businesses, Paydify supports fast, on-chain payments across leading wallets and blockchains, allowing merchants to instantly receive stablecoins from millions of crypto users with minimal integration and full control, without intermediaries or custody of funds.

Learn more about Paydify at paydify.com.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP?. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

MIAMI, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance ETFs today announced the launch of the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SpaceX ETF (Cboe: SPCU). SPCU begins trading today at 4am ET and seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, equal to 200% of the daily performance of SpaceX Class A common stock (NASDAQ: SPCX).

SpaceX priced its initial public offering at $135 per share and began trading on the Nasdaq on Friday, June 12, under the ticker SPCX. At that price, the company was valued at approximately $1.77 trillion, which according to reports ranks as the largest U.S. IPO in history by debut market value.

SPCU is purpose-built for active traders seeking magnified, short-term exposure to SpaceX. The Fund obtains its exposure primarily through swap agreements and/or listed options contracts rather than by holding SpaceX shares directly, allowing traders to express a high-conviction, tactical view on SpaceX in a single exchange-listed ticker, without a margin account and without managing options positions.

SPCU joins the Defiance Daily 2X Space ETF (Cboe: SPCL), which established 2X daily leveraged exposure to SpaceX on SpaceX's IPO date. On that date, SPCL's leveraged exposure was tied exclusively to SpaceX, although the Fund will hold other investments in accordance with its investment strategy and prospectus disclosures. SPCU further expands Defiance's lineup of leveraged products linked to SpaceX.

For full fund details, the prospectus, holdings, and performance current to the most recent month-end, visit defianceetfs.com/spcu or call 833.333.9383.

The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged (2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios.

The Fund pursues daily leveraged investment objectives, which means it is riskier than alternatives that do not use leverage. The Fund magnifies the performance of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (the "Underlying Security") and is designed strictly for short-term use. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund's performance will be the result of compounded daily returns, which is very likely to differ from 200% of the return of SpaceX over the same period. It is possible that investors could lose their entire principal within a single trading day.

An investment in the Fund is not a direct investment in SpaceX.

Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The inaugural Global Lean IT Day will be observed annually on June 16 and recognizes lean IT professionals managing growing cybersecurity complexity with limited resources

CHICAGO, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coro, the leading cybersecurity platform purpose-built for organizations with lean IT teams, today announced the launch of Global Lean IT Day, an annual observance dedicated to recognizing IT professionals managing enterprise-level cybersecurity challenges, often with significantly leaner teams, budgets, and operational resources than their enterprise counterparts.

Recognizing One of Cybersecurity's Most Critical Groups

Lean IT teams represent one of the most operationally critical (and historically underserved) groups in cybersecurity today. According to ISC2's 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 59% of organizations reported critical or significant cybersecurity skills shortages, underscoring the growing operational pressure placed on lean IT and security teams.

Defined not simply by headcount, but by the widening gap between operational responsibility and available resources, these professionals manage endpoints, email threats, cloud environments, and compliance obligations while simultaneously supporting users and maintaining infrastructure. Yet the tools available to them have historically been built for organizations structured around specialization, creating a growing disconnect between how cybersecurity platforms are traditionally built and how lean IT teams actually operate today.

"Lean IT teams are the unsung heroes of cybersecurity," said Joe Sykora, CEO of Coro. "For years, the industry has framed lean IT as 'doing more with less.' That language undersells the operational reality these teams navigate every day. Lean IT professionals are managing enterprise-level responsibility through increasingly lean operating models, and they are doing it with remarkable precision and agility. Global Lean IT Day is about changing that narrative and ensuring the industry builds technology that actually reflects how these teams work."

Building a Larger Industry Conversation

Global Lean IT Day will feature partner and MSP activations across multiple regions, along with social media campaigns encouraging the broader industry to recognize lean IT professionals. Channel partners, MSPs, security vendors, and IT professionals are invited to participate using #GlobalLeanITDay.

Join the Global Lean IT Day Conversation

To mark the inaugural Global Lean IT Day, Coro is hosting a special webinar experience focused on the realities of lean IT operations today. The event will feature a pre-recorded discussion with Joe Sykora and Coro Vice President of Security Strategy Benjamin Morrell, along with a live Q&A session with Coro Director of Sales Engineering Vincent Delbar, where they'll discuss operational efficiency, AI-native security, and the future of lean IT environments.

Global Lean IT Day is not just about recognition. It is about creating a larger industry conversation around how cybersecurity operations are evolving.

The webinar will take place today, June 16 at 11 a.m. Central Time and can be accessed here: Register for the Global Lean IT Day Webinar

Access the Global Lean IT Day Media Kit

Looking for additional resources to help spread the word? Coro has created a Global Lean IT Day media kit featuring social graphics to help partners, MSPs, IT professionals, and members of the cybersecurity community participate in the conversation.

Access the media kit here: Media Kit

Whether you're sharing on social media, engaging your customers, or simply celebrating the teams behind modern cybersecurity operations, the media kit makes it easy to join the movement.

And the Conversation Doesn't End Here

Global Lean IT Day marks the beginning of a broader conversation around the future of cybersecurity operations.

To continue that conversation, Coro has launched a new industry survey exploring how lean IT teams are navigating today's increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape. The findings, which will be unveiled ahead of Black Hat USA 2026, will provide fresh insights into operational efficiency, AI adoption, and the challenges facing modern IT organizations.

Professionals can participate in the survey here: Help Define the State of Cybersecurity

And for those attending Black Hat USA 2026, Coro will be sharing the findings and continuing the conversation around the future of lean IT with cybersecurity leaders from across the industry.

Lean IT Is Becoming the Operational Standard

The launch of Global Lean IT Day reflects a broader shift happening across modern cybersecurity operations. As organizations consolidate resources, expand digital infrastructure, and navigate increasingly distributed environments, lean IT is increasingly becoming the operational standard across modern business environments.

Global Lean IT Day was created to recognize that reality, build community among professionals who often operate in isolation, and ensure the professionals at the center of this shift are recognized, supported, and equipped for the future.

Global Lean IT Day will be observed annually on June 16 moving forward.

About Coro

Coro is a leading global cybersecurity platform purpose-built for organizations with Lean IT teams. Coro delivers comprehensive security through a unified, integrated platform that consolidates endpoint, email, network, and cloud security. Its solution replaces fragmented security tools with unified, automated protection that simplifies operations, closes coverage gaps, and reduces cost and operational burden without expanding IT headcount. By automatically detecting and remediating security threats, Coro enables organizations and their channel partners to scale security efficiently and sustainably. The company has been recognized on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and named one of North America's fastest-growing companies for three consecutive years. For more information, please visit Coro or follow us via LinkedIn.

Contacts

Shifali Erasmus

Coro@crackle.com

510.565.5655

Jonelle Hester

Jonelle.hester@coro.net

408.813.7762

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The study warns of falling customer satisfaction across global regulated industries, with consumers reporting they are ready to switch providers when communications fall short

NEW YORK, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smart Communications, a leading customer engagement technology provider for regulated industries, today released its 2026 Customer Experience Benchmark research findings, the most comprehensive edition of the annual study to date.

This year's findings leave no room for doubt: how brands communicate can make or break your business. Two in every three consumers (63%) say they would switch providers if communications failed to meet their expectations, rising to 72% among Millennials and 70% among Gen Z.

Drawing on responses from 4,000 consumers worldwide across the financial services, insurance, healthcare, and government sectors, the research exposes the brutal cost of getting customer communications wrong.

Expectations for engagement hit an all-time high, but satisfaction is dipping

Eight in ten (85%) of consumers say communications directly impact how they feel about their favorite brand, an all-time high since the study's inception. The stakes are equally high across every sector surveyed: financial services (85%), insurance (86%), healthcare (86%), and government (87%) customers say communications directly shape their experience.

But importance and satisfaction are moving in opposite directions. Only 52% rate their current communications as good or excellent, a 10-point decrease year-on-year, with the sharpest decline in insurance, where satisfaction has fallen to just 50%. Roughly two in five customers across all industries and markets do not consider the communications they receive to be good, an early sign of what's to come.

The culprits are consistent across all markets and generations: poorly written communications, broken form processes, and AI deployed without the transparency or human oversight that customers now demand.

AI confidence falls while expectations for governance and human oversight rise

The initial wave of AI optimism is flattening and, in some areas, reversing. Consumer confidence in AI's ability to improve the customer experience has dropped to 56%, down 5 points from last year. Trust in AI to manage personal data securely has fallen 6 points in just twelve months. At the same time, concern about the lack of human control has increased by 4% globally, with Baby Boomers registering a 10% surge in concern in a single year.

The value consumers see in AI for real-life use cases is on a year-on-year decline:

AI-powered financial advice: valued by 44% - a 2% decrease YoY

AI-suggested insurance plan changes: valued by 45% - a 6% decrease YoY

AI health recommendations: valued by 46% - an 8% decrease YoY

Meanwhile, demand for transparency has intensified. Most consumers (82%) worldwide say it's important for companies to disclose when AI is used in their interactions. This share rises to 88% among Baby Boomers and reaches 90% in countries like Australia. While 44% trust companies to use AI responsibly in ways that benefit them, that figure drops to just 30% among Boomers and trails significantly in the Benelux region (31%) and New Zealand (38%), where trust is at its lowest.

The generational divide offers valuable insight too. Among Gen Z and Millennials, over half (56-57%) trust companies to use AI responsibly, compared with just 3 in 10 Boomers (30%). Similarly, confidence that AI will improve customer experience is highest with Millennials (67%) and Gen Z (65%), but falls to 42% among Boomers. As the demographic with the greatest financial assets today, older consumers represent a segment organizations cannot afford to alienate.

Benchmark 2026 - AI Comfort

The message to organizations is clear: AI deployment without transparency, human monitoring, and genuine value-add risks eroding the trust you've painstakingly built over the years.

The findings carry particular weight for regulated industries, where communication often occurs during critical moments that shape trust and outcomes. In these moments, clarity, trust, and compliance are not separate considerations ? they are the customer experience.

Every form failure and data breakdown puts customer trust and loyalty at risk

Data collection and form processes are one of the most consequential yet overlooked battlegrounds in customer experience. Nearly two-thirds of consumers (61%) say they would end a relationship with a company if the data collection process was too difficult. That figure rises to 69% among Millennials and 66% among Gen Z, indicating a lower tolerance for friction and a tendency to quickly abandon brands that get it wrong among younger demographics.

The Triggers For Abandoning a Form Are Well-Defined

Disconnected systems are at the core of these failures. Half of consumers (48%) say they sometimes or always need to repeat information when switching between channels and representatives, even though 86% say that seamless information carry over across channels is at least somewhat important to them. This gap between expectation and reality is one of the clearest signals of how businesses have been falling short over the past year.

And when these journeys break down, people escalate them to a human most often. The most common reason consumers abandon digital channels and turn to customer service is 'unclear communication', cited by 43% of consumers across all age groups, industries, and geographies. For organizations running large contact center operations, this is a measurable and avoidable cost.

But the upside of fixing these issues is equally compelling and marks the largest year-over-year shift across the entire study.

When Forms and Data Collection Processes Exceed Expectations

The findings expose a systems problem masquerading as a customer satisfaction problem. The biggest drivers of customer churn aren't complex; they're operational, fixable, and often overlooked. Organizations that solve this will not only address the symptomatic downfalls their competitors are ignoring, but they will also see measurable returns.

"This research indicates that organizations are reaching a tipping point," said Leigh Segall, CEO, Smart Communications. "Customer expectations continue to rise, but many businesses are struggling to keep pace. Consumers are telling us they will switch providers when communications fall short or break down across channels, and they are becoming more selective about how and where they trust AI. For regulated industries, where interactions often involve healthcare decisions, insurance claims, financial guidance, or government services, the stakes couldn't be higher. The organizations that succeed will be those that simplify complex interactions, apply AI responsibly and transparently, and create experiences that built trust at every step."

According to Amy Machado, Research Director at IDC, the findings reflect a broader shift in how customers evaluate companies in an increasingly digital environment: "What we're seeing here is a transition from digital adoption to digital expectation. Customers are no longer impressed by the presence of AI, they're judging how well it works for them." She concludes: "The challenge is that many organizations are still trying to meet modern expectations with legacy systems and fragmented processes. The winners will be those that unify customer experiences, apply AI responsibly, and build trust through every interaction."

Additional findings are available through the company's new interactive web experience, which includes downloadable charts, detailed industry, regional and demographic analyses, and industry-specific versions of the 2026 Customer Experience Benchmark reports.

Notes for editors 

For additional insights, high-res imagery, or to arrange interviews with Smart Communications executives and research leads, please contact the Lorries PR team - SmartCommunications@rlyl.com

Research methodology

The survey was conducted by Toluna on behalf of Smart Communications in June 2026, gathering insights from 4,000 consumers aged 18-55+ across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and APAC, spanning the financial services, insurance, healthcare, and government sectors.

About Smart Communications

Smart Communications is a leading customer engagement technology provider for regulated industries. The company helps organizations simplify the complex interactions that shape people's lives by enabling more connected, personalized, and trusted customer engagement. Its Customer Engagement Platform brings together data collection, customer communications, journey orchestration, trusted AI, and information management to help organizations create seamless experiences across the customer lifecycle. By connecting the systems, processes, and interactions that drive critical business outcomes, Smart Communications enables organizations to improve customer experience, increase operational efficiency, strengthen compliance, and build trust at every touchpoint. More than 700 enterprises worldwide, including Zurich Insurance, Priority Health, The Pacific Financial Group, and The Bancorp, rely on Smart Communications to power engagement in regulated environments. With more than 30 pre-built integrations to leading enterprise platforms including Salesforce, AWS, Guidewire, Duck Creek, OneSpan, and Pega, Smart Communications powers more than 60 billion mission-critical customer interactions each year.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The premium light beer expands its golf presence with U.S. Open and American Century Championship sponsorships, a national sweepstakes offering five trips to a destination on the Corona Premier "Golf Tour" and a partnership with GolfNow

Key News

Corona Premier returns as the Official Beer of the U.S. Open and Official Light Cerveza of the American Century Championship (ACC), bringing exclusive fan experiences and branded on-course activations.

Fans 21 or older have the chance to win one of five Grand Prize trips to a destination on the Corona Premier "Golf Tour," with the Corona Golf 2026 Sweepstakes.*

Corona Premier builds upon its golf integration through a partnership with GolfNow, the world's largest online tee time marketplace, and the return of its "Premier Side of Light" national TV campaign, meeting golf fans across digital booking platforms, sports networks and high-impact golf broadcasts.

CHICAGO, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corona Premier, the premium light beer from the No. 1 most loved beer brand in America, is back on the course and bringing the lighter side of golf with it. As the Official Beer of the U.S. Open and Official Light Cerveza of the ACC, Corona Premier is expanding its integration in golf this year with more ways for fans to enjoy the "Premier Side of Light," including the chance to win one of five trips to a coveted destination on the Corona Premier "Golf Tour."

With a crisp, smooth finish and 2.6 grams of carbs and 90 calories per 12-ounce serving1, Corona Premier has always believed that the best round of golf is a lighter one. From weekend warriors at their local course to dedicated fans tuning in from home, Corona Premier is inviting everyone to experience what it means to play on the Premier Side of Light.

"Corona Premier is all about enjoying an active lifestyle, spending time with friends and savoring the moment, and golf is a place where all those things naturally occur," said Rob Nelson, VP of Marketing, Corona. "This year, we're showing even more fans how Corona Premier is the perfect complement to golf, through once-in-a-lifetime experiences and partnerships that help them embrace all aspects of the game they enjoy - from booking weekend tee times to the biggest tournaments in the sport."

Inside the Ropes: U.S. Open and ACC Fan Experiences

As the Official Beer of the U.S. Open and Official Light Cerveza of the ACC, Corona Premier will bring the Premier Side of Light inside the ropes at this year's championships from Southampton to Stateline. Fan experiences include:

U.S. Open On-Course: Fans on the course can snap a picture at an on-course Corona Premier photo opportunity.

ACC 7th Hole Brand Activation: At the 7th hole tee box, fans will have the opportunity for an up-close experience with celebrity participants, while also enjoying a Corona Premier customization station and an exclusive merchandise capsule available for purchase.

Win a Dream Golf Round

Earlier this year, Corona Premier launched the Corona Golf 2026 Sweepstakes, giving fans the chance to win one of five grand prize trips to a destination on the Corona Premier "Golf Tour." Each grand prize also includes a Corona Premier Golf Bundle with premium golf balls and apparel, plus a $1,200 GolfNow credit which can be used to book tee times at participating courses across the country. Winners can bring three guests for the ultimate foursome and their lightest round yet. Fans who don't land a grand prize can still win an exclusive golf bundle and a $200 GolfNow promo code.

Connecting with Golf Fans on and off the Course

To meet golfers where they are, the Corona Premier "Premier Side of Light" campaign returns to TV from June through Labor Day, with targeted placements on sports networks during golf's biggest moments. Four distinct spots are designed to capture the active lifestyle that Corona Premier was built for, reminding fans that whatever the activity, there's always a lighter way to enjoy it.

To enter the Corona Golf 2026 Sweepstakes, fans 21 or older can visit coronausa.com/pages/golf-2026 by 12/31/26. For more information on Corona Premier, visit coronausa.com and follow @CoronaUSA on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., 21 or older. Starts 10:00 AM ET on 3/2/26 and ends 11:59 PM ET on 12/31/26. The Corona Golf 2026 Sweepstakes is sponsored by Crown Imports LLC. No alcohol awarded with prizes. Void where prohibited. This promotion may be advertised in different creative presentations. For complete details, see Official Rules at CoronaUSA.com.

1Per 12 fl. oz. serving average analysis: Calories: 90, Carbohydrates: 2.6 grams, Protein: 0.7 grams, Fat: 0.0 grams as compared to Corona Extra per 12 fl. oz. serving average analysis: Calories: 149, Carbs: 14.0 grams, Protein: 1.2 grams, Fat: 0.0 grams.

About the Corona Brand Family

The Corona brand family is home to Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Familiar, Corona Premier, Corona Non-Alcoholic and Corona Sunbrew Citrus Cerveza. The entire Corona portfolio is brewed in Mexico by Constellation Brands and imported and marketed exclusively to the U.S. by the company. Corona Extra, the flagship brand of the Corona brand family, is a pilsner-style lager with a golden hue that was first brewed in Mexico in 1925. Corona embraces every moment with "La Playa Awaits" and encourages consumers to live life more presently no matter where they are. The refreshing flavor and carefree attitude of Corona Extra holds a respected place in U.S. culture as the #1 most loved beer brand.

About the USGA

The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game's best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf's future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. The USGA also manages day-to-day operations for the U.S. National Development Program, the country's first unified pathway for American talent, and the World Golf Hall of Fame, preserving and celebrating the legacies of the game's greatest figures. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. For more, visit usga.org

Contact: Stephanie McGuane stephanie.mcguane@cbrands.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

One of European wealth management's most senior figures joins Titanbay's group board as Non-Executive Director

LONDON, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Titanbay today announced the appointment of Marcel Rohner, Vice-Chairman of UBP SA, Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association and former Group Chief Executive of UBS AG, as a Non-Executive Director on its group board.

Few figures sit closer to the centre of European wealth management. Rohner led UBS through the global financial crisis as Group CEO from 2007 to 2009. He has served on the Board of Union Bancaire Priv?e since 2016. Since 2021 he is chairing the Swiss Bankers Association, the body that sets policy and standards for Swiss banking, one of the world's largest wealth management industries.

His decision to join Titanbay is the clearest signal yet of where the centre of gravity in private markets is moving. European wealth managers are racing to widen client access to alternatives. Asset managers are looking for more efficient routes to the wealth channel. Titanbay sits between the two, on technology built specifically for private markets funds. Everything the industry still does manually or stitches together from service providers, Titanbay runs in one place, on infrastructure it built in-house.

"Marcel is one of the most respected figures in European wealth management, and there are very few people in our industry whose judgement carries more weight," said Michael Gruener, Co-CEO of Titanbay. "His leadership at UBS, his long tenure on the board of UBP and his five years shaping Swiss banking through the Swiss Bankers Association, give him a vantage point on this industry that almost nobody else has. To have him on our board, helping shape what comes next, is an extraordinary moment for the business. We are fortunate to have him."

Marcel Rohner said: "Private markets are becoming a core allocation for European wealth clients, but the industry's infrastructure has not kept up. Titanbay has built something different, technology and operations purpose-made for this asset class, used by serious wealth managers and serious asset managers. I look forward to working with the board as the business moves into its next chapter."

About Marcel Rohner

Marcel Rohner is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Union Bancaire Priv?e, Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association and former Group Chief Executive of UBS AG (2007 to 2009), where he led the bank through the global financial crisis. He is serving as Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association since 2021, having spent five years shaping policy across Swiss banking, and hands over the role to Giorgio Pradelli at Bankers Day in September 2026. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Zurich.

About Titanbay

Titanbay is the only firm that structures, launches, runs, and trades private markets funds in one place, on purpose-built technology that didn't exist until Titanbay built it.

Asset managers use Titanbay to bring private markets funds to market and run them at scale. Wealth managers access those funds and trade them through the systems they already have. Titanbay's tech and regulatory infrastructure connects both sides, automating the operational complexity that traditionally fragments the industry.

For more information, visit titanbay.com

Media contact

Danielle Wilde

Head of Marketing, Titanbay

danielle.wilde@titanbay.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

ZHONGWEI, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 June 2026 - Lush plantations glitter across the sun-drenched Yellow River alluvial plain at an elevation of 1,100 meters on the eastern flank of the Helan Mountains. This is Zhongning County in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, located in northwestern China. As the opening ceremony of the 9th Goji Berry Industry Expo officially kicks off on June 14th here, farmers are busy harvesting the first goji berries of 2026.

While goji berries are widely cultivated across China, Ningxia goji berries stand out for their exceptional quality and have become the region's most iconic specialty. As the core producing area of authentic Ningxia goji berries, also known as wolfberries, Zhongning enjoys over 3,000 hours of annual sunlight. The weakly alkaline soil, formed by the convergence of the Yellow River and Qingshui River, is rich in essential minerals and trace elements. These unique natural conditions have given birth to this distinctive "Magic Fruit."

"Every single goji berry is hand-picked," said Pan Tai'an, chairman of Ningxia Wolfberry Goji Industry Co., Ltd., a leading regional goji producer. "The goji trees blossom and bear fruit simultaneously, which means all berries must be harvested manually."

"Thanks to Ningxia's cool climate, pests and diseases are rare here. Still, we never use chemical fertilizers or pesticides. We only apply organic compost to guarantee the pure, natural quality of our goji berries," he added.

From a Local Specialty to a Health and Lifestyle Trend

In China, Ningxia goji berries have been treasured as a medicinal and edible delicacy. It is the only goji variety officially listed for medicinal use in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. The ancient Chinese medical masterpiece, the Shennong Ben Cao Jing (Classic of Materia Medica), documents their anti-aging properties. This profound cultural heritage has laid a solid foundation for Ningxia goji berries to enter international markets.

Today, this ancient red berry has gained unprecedented global popularity. Boasting powerful anti-aging benefits, high vitamin C content, and abundant antioxidants, Ningxia goji berries have become a trending "superfood" on international social media. Overseas consumers are willing to pay a premium for authentic Ningxia products, freeing the berry from its former identity as a niche, rustic specialty.

"Western researchers have long been studying the health benefits of goji berries, including immune enhancement, anti-tumor effects, and anti-aging properties. They call it a 'superfood' and extract its active ingredients for use in health supplements and cosmetics," Pan Tai'an explains. "This inspired me to focus on deep processing, because that's where the real value lies."

For decades, the industry was held back by two major bottlenecks: the extreme perishability of fresh berries and underdeveloped deep-processing technology. To address these issues, the company invested six years in intensive R&D and successfully developed ambient-temperature preservation technology for goji puree. This pioneering breakthrough fills a technical gap and sets world-leading standards for the global goji industry.

To retain precious nutrients, fresh goji berries go through cleaning, pulping, sterilization and canning within two hours after harvest. This rigorous workflow best preserves key nutrients including goji polysaccharides, betaine and zeaxanthin to the greatest extent possible.

Powered by this core innovation, the company has produced over 100,000 tons of goji puree, with total sales exceeding 2 billion yuan (about 293 million U.S. dollars). More importantly, the technology has driven the construction of 50 high-standard production lines across Ningxia, marking a decisive shift - transforming the regional industry from raw material sales to high-value product manufacturing.

According to the latest data provided by the Goji Industry Development Center of the Ningxia Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ningxia's goji marketing network covers more than 50 countries and regions spanning Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. In 2025, Ningxia's fresh goji berry output reached 200,000 tons, with the full industrial chain output value exceeding 21.3 billion yuan.

From Product Upgrade to a Global Cultural Brand

While technology-driven companies like Ningxia Wolfberry are deepening their presence in international supply chains, emerging players in the goji industry are reshaping the consumer perception of goji berries as "just a traditional medicinal herb." As a leader in e-commerce, Ningxia Qilixiang Goji Co., Ltd. is dedicated to promoting this traditional tonic to the younger generation. Founded in 2009 by three university students with a startup fund of just 700 yuan from their living allowances, the company has now grown into a top-tier brand with annual sales exceeding 1 billion yuan.

To transform traditional wellness into a trendy lifestyle, Qilixiang has developed a variety of blended purees - such as goji-ginseng, red date-goji, and mulberry-goji - all paired with eye-catching packaging. Operating about 200 online stores, the company has consistently ranked first in e-commerce sales for goji products.

These Innovative, high-value-added products derived from goji berries - including goji puree, goji seed oil, and goji juice - are now enjoying immense global demand. Once viewed as a mysterious Chinese herbal remedy, Ningxia goji berries have now become part of daily life for middle-class families from New York to London, a favorite among Hollywood celebrities, and a common ingredient in premium restaurants worldwide.

The international reputation is built on rigorous quality control. To meet the highest global food safety standards for organic products, Ningxia goji companies adhere to the world's most stringent regulations. For instance, Ningxia Wolfberry has held organic certifications from North America, the European Union and Japan for 21 consecutive years, earning a "green pass" to the global market. To date, its products have been exported to 33 countries and regions worldwide.

Today, Ningxia's goji industry is no longer confined to production and sales; it is gradually embracing a diversified development model. With the establishment of goji art galleries, history museums, and experience centers, the industry is shifting from merely "selling products" to "selling scenery" and "selling culture," growing into a multi-faceted and integrated economic driver.

The transformation of Ningxia goji berries reflects the progress and the rise of Chinese products and brands. It has evolved from a little-known northwest specialty and low-end raw material exporter into a global health trend and a modern, diversified industry fueled by technology, creativity, and culture. This journey mirrors the broader transformation of China's traditional agriculture and the innovative drive of its real economy.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 June 2026 - Since 2021, the China Zhi Gong Party has been carrying out a Yangtze River eco-environmental protection project in partnership with east China's Anhui Province.

Faced with the complex challenge of river basin management, the party's central committee has leveraged its intellectual resources, bringing together a think tank of leading experts to launch a five-year "science and technology empowerment" initiative across the Jianghuai region, the area around the lower reaches of the Huaihe River and the Yangtze River.

Among them is Zhang Wei, a member of the China Zhi Gong Party and a professor at Peking University. She has led her team in monitoring biodiversity in Chaohu Lake and the main and branch tributaries of the Wanjiang River in Anhui Province through eDNA technology, which can precisely identify minute traces of life in water and even detect invasive species that are difficult to spot with bare eyes.

"We capture or collect these minute traces of environmental information and then amplify them," said Zhang.

Without the need to fish or disturb aquatic life, this technology allows scientists to assess the biodiversity of a water body simply by analyzing genetic information from water samples. This approach has opened up new pathways for evaluating the effectiveness of the fishing ban on the Yangtze River and conducting biodiversity monitoring.

Over the past five years, Zhang's team has worked closely with Anhui University and local environmental protection authorities to establish multiple sampling sites in Chaohu Lake and the Wanjiang River. She hopes that through targeted oversight, eDNA monitoring technology will be promoted and applied on a more comprehensive scale.

"We hope to set an example so that everyone can do their part to support environmental protection and monitoring in this way," Zhang said.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Hashtags: #eDNA #EnvironmentalProtection

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched the Bitget Community Product Officer Program, a new initiative designed to bring users closer to the product development process and create a direct channel between the community and Bitget's product teams. Built around, "You speak, we build," the program invites users to share feedback, test features, submit ideas, ultimately helping shape future product development across the Bitget ecosystem.

Running from June 15 to June 26, the first phase of the program encourages participants to contribute product suggestions, experience reports, strategy-sharing content, and feature feedback. Contributions will be evaluated based on originality, product value, practical insights, and potential impact on the user experience.

Participants will compete for a range of rewards, including three Star Product Experience Officer awards worth between 1,000 and 3,000 USDT each. Additional prizes include Best Product Ideas awards worth 100 USDT each, Best Product Experience Report awards worth 50 USDT each, and Best Strategy Sharing awards worth 20 USDT each. Community participants will also be eligible for random airdrops, merchandise and contribution rewards throughout the campaign.

"Some of the best product ideas come from the people using the platform every day because they're the ones experiencing the friction firsthand," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "Crypto has always been built on participation, and some of the strongest products in this industry are shaped through open dialogue with the community. The Community Product Officer Program creates a direct channel for users to share ideas, challenge assumptions and be part of building a better platform together."

Beyond cash rewards, the initiative creates a long term pathway for community members to contribute directly to Bitget's product evolution. Through Bitget Fan Club, the company has already seen how engaged users can help strengthen communities, surface valuable feedback and improve the user experience. The Community Product Officer Program builds on that foundation by creating a closer connection between users and product teams, giving contributors greater opportunities to shape the features and tools they want to see on the platform.

The launch reflects Bitget's continued focus on community-led innovation as the platform expands across crypto, tokenized assets, equities, commodities, AI-powered trading tools, and multi-asset services. By opening more of the product development process to users, Bitget aims to strengthen the connection between product builders and the communities they serve.

The Bitget Community Product Officer Program is now open to eligible participants worldwide.

To become a Community Product Officer, visit here, learn more about the program here.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*$62.5M Series B led by Camber Partners, with existing investors participating.

*Respond.io is profitable with $35M ARR, 169% year-over-year growth, and a 30% profit margin.

*New capital will fund expansion into and mergers and acquisitions within North America and Europe.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 June 2026 - Respond.io, a Malaysia-based customer conversation management platform, today announced a $62.5 million Series B round led by Camber Partners, with participation from Endeavor Catalyst and existing investors.

What respond.io does

Respond.io enables mid-market B2C businesses to grow revenue from high volumes of customer chats and calls. It unifies WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, LINE, Telegram, WeChat, voice calls, email, web chat and 16 more integrations into a single platform with AI agents, automation, and CRMs. This turns fragmented customer conversations into a measurable revenue engine, purpose-built for real-world scale and complexity.

The company serves industries where customers initiate conversations before buying, booking, or committing, including education, healthcare, automotive, retail and travel. The platform powers 2 billion messages per quarter for more than 10,000 businesses in over 180 countries, including Toyota, British Airways, Radisson, Hertz, and Decathlon.

Respond.io generates $35M in annual recurring revenue, growing 169% year-over-year, at a 30% profit margin. It is ISO 27001 certified, GDPR compliant, and an official Meta Business and TikTok Marketing Partner.

Why Camber Partners

The funding was led by Camber Partners, a New York City-based growth equity firm that invests in only a handful of capital-efficient software businesses per year, with a pre-fund portfolio that includes Dropbox, PandaDoc, and Pipedrive. Camber brings deep operational engagement to their partnerships, including support in go-to-market, data science, and talent. As a US-based firm with European market experience, the relationship maps directly to respond.io's geographic expansion plans.

"When we started talking to Camber Partners, that conversation felt different," said Gerardo Salandra, CEO and co-founder of respond.io. "We built respond.io over nine years across markets most competitors never entered and did it profitably. Camber Partners and other investors backed us because they understand what that means: real product-market fit, with great unit economics, and a business that raises to accelerate, not to survive."

"Respond.io spent nine years building the infrastructure for high consideration, AI-native customer conversations - and they did it profitably in diverse markets. They have an exceptional team that has leveraged AI to accelerate rapidly. We believe respond.io is positioned to lead this category at a global scale," said Scott Irwin, founder and partner, Camber Partners.

From omnichannel inbox to native AI infrastructure

Respond.io launched in 2017 to solve a straightforward problem: customers were moving to messaging apps, but businesses struggled to respond from separate channel inboxes. The founding team built a platform that consolidated fragmented conversations into a single platform with automation and routing.

As frontier LLMs matured, the team realized this foundation was exactly what autonomous agents needed to operate on to enable rapid revenue acceleration for the high-consideration businesses they serve. Respond.io had spent years assembling the infrastructure - every major messaging channel, voice, email, CRM integrations, compliance controls - and accumulating the kind of operational depth that comes only from years of running high-volume conversations. This enabled it to roll out native AI technologies that meaningfully address real business needs.

This advantage is structural and compounds over time. Processing more conversations than any comparable platform creates a data flywheel - aggregate intelligence about how businesses actually deploy AI in high-volume messaging, the patterns that work, the edge cases that don't - that continuously shapes how respond.io's AI features are built and improved. Newer or lighter platforms building on the same frontier models cannot buy these operational signals or guarantee the same 99.999% uptime at the volumes AI brings. Today, Respond.io's AI Agents engage thousands of leads daily, qualify them and close B2C sales autonomously, handing off to human operators with full context for edge cases.

The speed of respond.io's innovation attracted some of the largest partners in the ecosystem. Meta and TikTok chose respond.io for early rollouts of WhatsApp Business Calling API, TikTok Business Messaging, and TikTok Messaging Ads - making it one of the few platforms offering end-to-end integrations for both messaging and calling.

"Most businesses still treat customer conversations as a cost to manage. The ones winning right now treat them as the revenue channel they actually are, and they're automating everything that doesn't require a human so the humans can focus where they add the most value," Salandra said. "We see it in our customers every day - we have case studies showing AI Agents are handling 600% more leads with conversation rates as high as 84%."

Entering North America and Europe

Respond.io built category leadership across APAC, LATAM and EMEA from its base in Malaysia - markets where mobile messaging is the primary commercial channel ? and reached profitability doing so. The capital from this new round will accelerate the company's expansion in North America and Europe, where social commerce on TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp is growing, and mid-market B2C businesses are increasingly running the same types of revenue-critical conversations that respond.io has powered for years.

"The customer conversation management space is at an inflection point," Salandra said. "North America and Western Europe are moving toward leveraging conversations as a competitive advantage to generate revenue, using similar workflows we've already built and tested in markets where this shift happened first. We know how to serve these businesses, and with this funding, we now have the resources to reach them faster."

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and Chairman of Endeavor Catalyst commented: "We are thrilled to be investing in respond.io in this new round. Respond.io is exactly the kind of company we are proud to support - founders building profitable infrastructure in emerging markets and scaling them into the world's largest economies. So proud to have them in the Endeavor Catalyst family!"

About Respond.io

Respond.io is a customer conversation management platform that unifies messaging, calls, email, and CRM to help mid-market B2C businesses drive revenue from customer conversations. The platform powers 2 billion messages per quarter for 10,000+ businesses in over 180 countries and territories with 99.999% platform uptime. Respond.io is ISO 27001 certified, GDPR compliant, and an official Meta Business and TikTok Marketing partner. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it raised US$7 million in Series A funding in 2022. For more information, visit https://respond.io.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Hashtags: #respondio #seriesb

The commitment, up to USD8 million, underscores investor confidence in healthcare growth opportunities across Southeast Asia, the sector's resilience amid global uncertainty, and TVM Capital Healthcare's proven track record achieving superior financial returns and impact outcomes

SINGAPORE, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TVM Capital Healthcare today announced that Australian Development Investments (ADI) has committed up to USD $8 million to the firm's Southeast Asia Fund through its Investing in Women window. The investment supports growth capital for healthcare companies that expand access to affordable, quality care while advancing women's leadership, workforce participation, and patient outcomes in line with the 2X Criteria.

The commitment underscores strong investor confidence in TVM Capital Healthcare's Southeast Asia strategy, its long-standing track record in healthcare, and its ability to identify and scale companies that expand access to high-quality, affordable healthcare across emerging markets. It also highlights the firm's impact in advancing female leadership, creating meaningful employment for men and women, and addressing critical gaps in underserved areas such as women's healthcare.

Healthcare continues to demonstrate resilience as an investment sector amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Demand for healthcare services remains driven by fundamental demographic and societal needs, creating opportunities for sustainable growth while addressing critical healthcare challenges across Southeast Asia.

With nearly four decades of global healthcare investing and operating experience and more than 15 years focused on emerging markets, TVM Capital Healthcare has built a differentiated model that combines investment expertise with hands-on operational support. The firm partners with healthcare companies that expand access to care, improve patient outcomes, strengthen healthcare infrastructure outside of the traditional hospital-setting, and support national healthcare priorities.

"We are pleased to welcome ADI as partners in our Southeast Asia Fund," said Hoda Abou-Jamra, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at TVM Capital Healthcare. "Their commitment reflects a shared conviction that healthcare is currently one of the most compelling sectors for long-term investment in Southeast Asia to achieve both superior financial performance and impact outcomes. Together, we look forward to supporting healthcare companies that expand access to quality care, strengthen healthcare systems, and create sustainable value for patients, communities, and investors."

"At a time when many investors are seeking resilient sectors with strong long-term fundamentals, TVM Capital Healthcare's experience, local and hands-on approach, and established track record in emerging markets position the firm as a strong partner for achieving both commercial and development objectives," said Ralitsa Rizvanolli, Head of Investments from Sarona Asset Management - ADI's investment manager.

ADI is an initiative of the Australian Government, managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and is implemented by its investment manager, Sarona Asset Management, together with technical assistance partners SAGANA and OnePointFive. ADI seeks to play a catalytic role in mobilising private capital into investments that expand access to essential services, drive climate impact, and advance women's economic participation across Southeast Asia.

TVM Capital Healthcare looks forward to working closely with ADI and its implementation partners to further strengthen the Fund's capabilities and support portfolio companies as they scale operations, enhance their gender-lens approach as well as their climate and sustainability practices, and expand access to healthcare across the region. The technical assistance resources available through the ADI, alongside investment capital, are expected to further support value creation at both the fund and portfolio company levels.

TVM Capital Healthcare's Southeast Asia fund focuses on healthcare companies operating in high-growth sectors including specialty care for long-term and chronic conditions, disease prevention, women's healthcare, as well as pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing. The fund seeks to capitalize on growing healthcare demand across the region, driven by rising incomes, aging populations, expanding healthcare coverage, and increasing expectations for world-class care.

ADI's commitment follows the successful first closing of TVM Capital Healthcare's Southeast Asia Fund in September 2025 and builds on the firm's long-standing experience investing and operating healthcare businesses across emerging markets. It also follows the oversubscribed closing of TVM Capital Healthcare's US$254 million Afiyah Fund in the Middle East in 2024.

About TVM Capital Healthcare

TVM Capital Healthcare is a global private equity investor and operator focused exclusively on healthcare growth capital across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. With nearly 40 years of healthcare investing and operating experience globally and more than 15 years in emerging markets, the firm partners with companies that expand access to quality healthcare, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen healthcare systems while delivering attractive returns for investors. For more about TVM Capital Healthcare, visit www.tvmcapitalhealthcare.com.

For inquiries, please contact:

Holly Radel

Head of Sustainability and Strategic Communications

TVM Capital Healthcare

radel@tvmcapitalhealthcare.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Legacy automakers across the United States, Japan, and Europe risk falling further behind new market leaders, finds the fourth annual Global Automaker Rating, published today by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales reached one in four new vehicles sold globally in 2025 - up from one in five in 2024. Yet even as almost all car manufacturers increased their EV sales share year-over-year, the ratings also revealed a deepening divide between automakers doubling down on electrification and those hedging their bets amid short-term market and policy shifts.

As the only all-electric automakers in the rating, Tesla and BYD, once again came out ahead. The margin is shrinking between the two, however, as BYD surpassed Tesla's global battery-electric vehicle sales for the second year in a row.

Several Chinese companies were also among the top performers for the second year in a row, recording EV sales share increases of 5 to 10 percentage points. SAIC and Geely each reached a sales share of at least 50% or above, followed closely by ChangAn. However, Chinese automakers saw plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as the majority of their EV sales, while most other manufacturers sold a larger proportion of battery-electric vehicles.

In contrast, Stellantis, Honda, and GM recorded sharp rating declines in 2025, driven primarily by downward revisions to their 2030 EV sales targets. A continuing trend among global legacy automakers - particularly those based in the U.S. and Japan - shows a pivot towards plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and flexible platforms while also arguing for more flexibilities and relaxed timelines in regulation.

On the other side of the transition, market leaders from China, including Geely and SAIC, have broken from this trend and outperformed their own electrification targets a full year ahead of schedule. Great Wall is the exception amongst China-based automakers as the only company to fall from "transitioner" to "laggard" this year after a sharp pivot to plug-in hybrids.

"The rating shows a growing gap between the frontrunners who are expanding their global EV offerings to reach new markets and those still wavering on their electric commitments," said Irem Kok, senior researcher at the ICCT and co-author of the report. "The window for some legacy automakers to catch up is narrowing, particularly as their long-term investments for electrification are shrinking."

Expansion in class coverage assisted Hyundai-Kia in rising from the "laggard" to "transitioner" status, the only automaker to move into a higher category this year. Stellantis entered the top 5 in the same metric, which was previously occupied entirely by Chinese manufacturers.

"We see from the data that most U.S.- and Japan-based automakers continued to offer electric models in fewer than a third of the vehicle segments analyzed," said Rachel Muncrief, Acting Executive Director and CEO of the ICCT. "Legacy automakers risk ceding their leadership in major markets where they historically dominate if they fail to adapt."

This hesitation by some of the largest global automakers offers an opportunity for new EV-only players to enter the scene, like VinFast, Togg, and Rivian, while slow-moving legacy automakers risk any potential long-term competitive gains that early electrification commitments might have secured.

The ICCT's Global Automaker Rating provides a data-driven analysis of automakers' progress toward a zero-emission future based on their 2025 sales, technology performance, and strategic commitments. The full report and detailed results for all 22 automakers are available on the ICCT website.

Publication details:

Title: The Global Automaker Rating 2025: Who is leading the transition to electric vehicles?

Authors: Chang Shen, Ilma Fadhil, Irem Kok, Dale Hall, Anh Bui, Marta Negri, Stephanie Searle

Download: https://theicct.org/global-automaker-rating-2025

Contact:

Sarina Katz, Senior Communications Specialist, Global Program: communications@theicct.org

Report authors are available for public interview and further comment.

Dale Hall, Program Lead

Irem Kok, Senior Researcher

About the International Council on Clean Transportation:

The ICCT is an independent, nonprofit research organization founded to provide exceptional, objective, timely research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators. Our work empowers policymakers and others worldwide to improve the environmental performance of road, marine, and air transportation to benefit public health and mitigate climate change.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.