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Shaquille O'Neal's DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly - the World's First Professional Dunk League - Continues Tomorrow Night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT & HBO Max
NEW YORK, July 27 [Category: BizMedia] -- Warner Bros. Discovery, a media and entertainment company, posted the following news release:
* * *
Shaquille O'Neal's DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly - the World's First Professional Dunk League - Continues Tomorrow Night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT & HBO Max
*
Coming off an electrifying opening night, Shaquille O'Neal, Authentic Brands Group and TNT Sports' DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly, in partnership with Credit One Bank, will continue tomorrow night with live coverage of Week 2 on TNT and HBO Max starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Providing commentary tomorrow night will ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 27 [Category: BizMedia] -- Warner Bros. Discovery, a media and entertainment company, posted the following news release: * * * Shaquille O'Neal's DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly - the World's First Professional Dunk League - Continues Tomorrow Night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT & HBO Max * Coming off an electrifying opening night, Shaquille O'Neal, Authentic Brands Group and TNT Sports' DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly, in partnership with Credit One Bank, will continue tomorrow night with live coverage of Week 2 on TNT and HBO Max starting at 8 p.m. ET. Providing commentary tomorrow night willbe 2008 NBA Slam Dunk winner and Naismith Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, NBA champion Draymond Green, popular hoops multiplatform creator CashNasty, who will provide the voice of the fan, and host Adam Lefkoe.
The league's elite roster of 24 dunkers includes three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner Mac McClung, Dengxing Chen, Tyler Currie and Isaiah Rivera. This week's show - the second of four hour-long group stage events airing on Tuesdays throughout the summer - will feature six of the top dunkers from around the world, including Currie:
Mason Baker (Salt Lake City)
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Baker has established himself as one of the sport's rising stars through explosive athleticism, a relentless work ethic, and a signature style built on power, finish, and showmanship. Standing 6-foot-4 with a reported 44-inch vertical leap, the Salt Lake City All-Star Dunk Champion and sixth Black Band dunker in the world is known for high-flying creations like his signature Butterfly Effect dunk and his ambitious one-hand reverse windmill honey dip. Driven by continuous preparation and meticulous execution over luck, Baker enters DUNKMAN focused on competing against top global talent, building his legacy, and proving that unwavering persistence defines elite performance.
Jonathan Clark (Los Angeles)
Born in Los Angeles and based in Fresno, Clark-known globally as "JClarktheJUMPER"-has spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of vertical athleticism through unmatched creativity, versatility, and showmanship. Standing 6-foot-3 with a reported 48-inch vertical leap and a 41-inch standing vertical, the three-time Celebrity Crunch Classic Dunk Champion, FIBA 3x3 Romania Champion, and track and field coach is renowned for pioneering signature creations like Jonathan's Wall and his iconic backflip dunk, alongside holding unofficial world records for an 11-foot vertical dunk and an 11-foot-8-inch outdoor dunk. Driven by his motto to "Do the impossible," Clark enters DUNKMAN as a respected veteran and pioneer, focused on providing for his family, helping elevate the sport to unprecedented heights, and inspiring the next generation of athletes to maximize their potential.
Tyler Currie (Hawthorne, CA)
Born and raised in Hawthorne, California, Currie has risen through the global dunk scene over the past five years, built on smooth, effortless style, elite body control, and exceptional creativity. Standing 5-foot-11 with a reported 48-inch max vertical leap, the multiple-time Quai 54 champion and international performer is renowned for signature creations like the 360 Windmill, Fake Eastbay, and Ghost dunk. Driven by high determination and a focus on originality and first-attempt execution, Currie enters DUNKMAN determined to compete on the sport's biggest stage, win the Dunkman World Championship, and establish himself as the best dunker in the world.
Dillan McCarthy (Lockport, NY)
Born in Sayre, Pennsylvania, and now residing in Lockport, New York, 5-foot-10 McCarthy-known as "Alien"-is one of professional dunking's most explosive young athletes, boasting a jaw-dropping 52-inch vertical leap. Inspired by Jordan Kilganon, the rising phenom has built his rep on power, technical precision, and high-altitude signature creations like his signature Elbow Dunk and pursuit of the Eastbay Elbow. Driven by a belief in manifestation and a desire to prove that age is no barrier to world-class performance, McCarthy enters DUNKMAN determined to entertain fans, showcase his elite elevation, and prove he belongs alongside the sport's greatest competitors.
Avante Nichols (Atlanta, GA)
Born and raised in Atlanta, 6-foot-2 Nichols-known as "The Joker"-is one of the sport's most explosive young talents, boasting a reported 52-inch vertical leap. Throwing down his first dunk at just age 13, Nichols has built a style defined by raw power, confidence, and high-difficulty creations like the Side Glass Windmill 360, Toe Touch, and 360 Windmill. Driven by family and a belief in prioritizing style, difficulty, and effortless execution over gimmicks, Nichols enters DUNKMAN determined to bring maximum energy, push the sport forward, and prove that "The Joker" is an unforgettable force above the rim.
Gustavo Haakin
Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 6-foot-3 Gustavo Haakin Oliveira da Costa is one of South America's premier dunk athletes, boasting a 46-inch vertical leap and a smooth, effortless cuff style. Inspired by Jordan Kilganon, Ronaldinho, and Michael Jordan, the two-time Reto Tour 3x3 champion and four-time FIBA World Tour runner-up is renowned for fluid, explosive creations like the Zianimill Eastbay and One-Hand Cuff Tetris. Driven by a desire to elevate dunk culture across South America and motivated by the motto "It's me against the world," Haakin enters DUNKMAN determined to prove he belongs among the global elite, reach the finals, and establish his legacy as "The Brazilian GOAT."
Last week, Cam Hazzard, a 21-year-old triple major from Abilene Christian, swept opening night of DUNKMAN, walking away with $25,000 for the title and $10,000 for the night's best dunk, which combined a 360 with a double-double to deliver the "Hazzard 360." He will also return later this season to compete for the title of DUNKMAN World Champion and a grand prize of $500,000.
Overall, DUNKMAN includes four hour-long group stage events - airing on Tuesdays throughout the summer - followed by the DUNKMAN World Championship on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The five weekly live telecasts feature 24 of the best dunkers competing in a brand-new league format for the title of DUNKMAN World Champion and a grand prize of $500,000.
The new global league, which builds on the success of last year's DUNKMAN television series, has transformed dunk competitions into a fully realized professional sport, providing top dunkers from around the world the platform to showcase their talent.
A panel of expert judges evaluate each dunk attempt to determine which dunkers advance through the group stages and who is ultimately crowned DUNKMAN World Champion. Additionally, O'Neal serves as founder and commissioner.
Additional content is available across DUNKMAN social channels, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights.
Fans can follow the inaugural season at www.dunkman.com and across DUNKMAN social channels @dunkmanofficial.
***
Original text here: https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/shaquille-oneals-dunkman-presented-lilly-worlds-first-professional-dunk-league?language_content_entity=en
* * *
Shaquille O'Neal's DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly - the World's First Professional Dunk League - Continues Tomorrow Night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT & HBO Max
*
Coming off an electrifying opening night, Shaquille O'Neal, Authentic Brands Group and TNT Sports' DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly, in partnership with Credit One Bank, will continue tomorrow night with live coverage of Week 2 on TNT and HBO Max starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Providing commentary tomorrow night will ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 27 [Category: BizMedia] -- Warner Bros. Discovery, a media and entertainment company, posted the following news release: * * * Shaquille O'Neal's DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly - the World's First Professional Dunk League - Continues Tomorrow Night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT & HBO Max * Coming off an electrifying opening night, Shaquille O'Neal, Authentic Brands Group and TNT Sports' DUNKMAN Presented by Lilly, in partnership with Credit One Bank, will continue tomorrow night with live coverage of Week 2 on TNT and HBO Max starting at 8 p.m. ET. Providing commentary tomorrow night willbe 2008 NBA Slam Dunk winner and Naismith Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, NBA champion Draymond Green, popular hoops multiplatform creator CashNasty, who will provide the voice of the fan, and host Adam Lefkoe.
The league's elite roster of 24 dunkers includes three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner Mac McClung, Dengxing Chen, Tyler Currie and Isaiah Rivera. This week's show - the second of four hour-long group stage events airing on Tuesdays throughout the summer - will feature six of the top dunkers from around the world, including Currie:
Mason Baker (Salt Lake City)
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Baker has established himself as one of the sport's rising stars through explosive athleticism, a relentless work ethic, and a signature style built on power, finish, and showmanship. Standing 6-foot-4 with a reported 44-inch vertical leap, the Salt Lake City All-Star Dunk Champion and sixth Black Band dunker in the world is known for high-flying creations like his signature Butterfly Effect dunk and his ambitious one-hand reverse windmill honey dip. Driven by continuous preparation and meticulous execution over luck, Baker enters DUNKMAN focused on competing against top global talent, building his legacy, and proving that unwavering persistence defines elite performance.
Jonathan Clark (Los Angeles)
Born in Los Angeles and based in Fresno, Clark-known globally as "JClarktheJUMPER"-has spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of vertical athleticism through unmatched creativity, versatility, and showmanship. Standing 6-foot-3 with a reported 48-inch vertical leap and a 41-inch standing vertical, the three-time Celebrity Crunch Classic Dunk Champion, FIBA 3x3 Romania Champion, and track and field coach is renowned for pioneering signature creations like Jonathan's Wall and his iconic backflip dunk, alongside holding unofficial world records for an 11-foot vertical dunk and an 11-foot-8-inch outdoor dunk. Driven by his motto to "Do the impossible," Clark enters DUNKMAN as a respected veteran and pioneer, focused on providing for his family, helping elevate the sport to unprecedented heights, and inspiring the next generation of athletes to maximize their potential.
Tyler Currie (Hawthorne, CA)
Born and raised in Hawthorne, California, Currie has risen through the global dunk scene over the past five years, built on smooth, effortless style, elite body control, and exceptional creativity. Standing 5-foot-11 with a reported 48-inch max vertical leap, the multiple-time Quai 54 champion and international performer is renowned for signature creations like the 360 Windmill, Fake Eastbay, and Ghost dunk. Driven by high determination and a focus on originality and first-attempt execution, Currie enters DUNKMAN determined to compete on the sport's biggest stage, win the Dunkman World Championship, and establish himself as the best dunker in the world.
Dillan McCarthy (Lockport, NY)
Born in Sayre, Pennsylvania, and now residing in Lockport, New York, 5-foot-10 McCarthy-known as "Alien"-is one of professional dunking's most explosive young athletes, boasting a jaw-dropping 52-inch vertical leap. Inspired by Jordan Kilganon, the rising phenom has built his rep on power, technical precision, and high-altitude signature creations like his signature Elbow Dunk and pursuit of the Eastbay Elbow. Driven by a belief in manifestation and a desire to prove that age is no barrier to world-class performance, McCarthy enters DUNKMAN determined to entertain fans, showcase his elite elevation, and prove he belongs alongside the sport's greatest competitors.
Avante Nichols (Atlanta, GA)
Born and raised in Atlanta, 6-foot-2 Nichols-known as "The Joker"-is one of the sport's most explosive young talents, boasting a reported 52-inch vertical leap. Throwing down his first dunk at just age 13, Nichols has built a style defined by raw power, confidence, and high-difficulty creations like the Side Glass Windmill 360, Toe Touch, and 360 Windmill. Driven by family and a belief in prioritizing style, difficulty, and effortless execution over gimmicks, Nichols enters DUNKMAN determined to bring maximum energy, push the sport forward, and prove that "The Joker" is an unforgettable force above the rim.
Gustavo Haakin
Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 6-foot-3 Gustavo Haakin Oliveira da Costa is one of South America's premier dunk athletes, boasting a 46-inch vertical leap and a smooth, effortless cuff style. Inspired by Jordan Kilganon, Ronaldinho, and Michael Jordan, the two-time Reto Tour 3x3 champion and four-time FIBA World Tour runner-up is renowned for fluid, explosive creations like the Zianimill Eastbay and One-Hand Cuff Tetris. Driven by a desire to elevate dunk culture across South America and motivated by the motto "It's me against the world," Haakin enters DUNKMAN determined to prove he belongs among the global elite, reach the finals, and establish his legacy as "The Brazilian GOAT."
Last week, Cam Hazzard, a 21-year-old triple major from Abilene Christian, swept opening night of DUNKMAN, walking away with $25,000 for the title and $10,000 for the night's best dunk, which combined a 360 with a double-double to deliver the "Hazzard 360." He will also return later this season to compete for the title of DUNKMAN World Champion and a grand prize of $500,000.
Overall, DUNKMAN includes four hour-long group stage events - airing on Tuesdays throughout the summer - followed by the DUNKMAN World Championship on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The five weekly live telecasts feature 24 of the best dunkers competing in a brand-new league format for the title of DUNKMAN World Champion and a grand prize of $500,000.
The new global league, which builds on the success of last year's DUNKMAN television series, has transformed dunk competitions into a fully realized professional sport, providing top dunkers from around the world the platform to showcase their talent.
A panel of expert judges evaluate each dunk attempt to determine which dunkers advance through the group stages and who is ultimately crowned DUNKMAN World Champion. Additionally, O'Neal serves as founder and commissioner.
Additional content is available across DUNKMAN social channels, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights.
Fans can follow the inaugural season at www.dunkman.com and across DUNKMAN social channels @dunkmanofficial.
***
Original text here: https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/shaquille-oneals-dunkman-presented-lilly-worlds-first-professional-dunk-league?language_content_entity=en
Proposed Rule Would End EEOC Employer Demographic Reporting Requirements
BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Foley Hoag, a law firm, posted the following news:
* * *
Proposed Rule Would End EEOC Employer Demographic Reporting Requirements
*
Key Takeaways:
* The EEOC has voted to rescind several of its rules mandating that employers report workplace demographic information, including the rule requiring the submission of EEO-1 reports.
* The EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register for public comment, and members of the public will have 30 days from publication to submit comments.
* If the rule becomes ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Foley Hoag, a law firm, posted the following news: * * * Proposed Rule Would End EEOC Employer Demographic Reporting Requirements * Key Takeaways: * The EEOC has voted to rescind several of its rules mandating that employers report workplace demographic information, including the rule requiring the submission of EEO-1 reports. * The EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register for public comment, and members of the public will have 30 days from publication to submit comments. * If the rule becomesfinal, covered employers will be relieved of obligation to file EEO-1 reports.
On July 21, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") voted 2-1 to issue a proposed rule that would rescind the agency's long-standing annual workforce demographic reporting requirements, including the EEO-1 report required of many private employers. If finalized, the proposal would also eliminate similar reporting requirements for certain unions, state and local government entities, public schools, and other covered organizations.
For decades, the EEOC has required covered employers and other entities to submit annual reports summarizing aggregate workforce data by race and sex. The EEO-1 report, in particular, has applied to private employers with at least 100 employees and certain federal contractors with at least 50 employees. In announcing the proposal, the Commission stated that the reports are not required by Title VII, impose substantial costs, and are not sufficiently tailored to the agency's enforcement needs.
The proposal is not final. The EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register for public comment, and members of the public will have 30 days from publication to submit comments. The agency has also scheduled a public hearing for August 11, 2026, with requests to testify due by August 7, 2026.
If the rule becomes final, employers will be relieved from many reporting requirements mandated by the EEOC. However, employers should not assume that the proposal eliminates all demographic-data obligations. The EEOC has stated that its authority to request specific records in connection with charge investigations would remain unchanged. Employers should continue to monitor the rulemaking process, consider whether to submit comments, and maintain employment records needed to respond to discrimination charges, audits, or litigation.
***
Original text here: https://foleyhoag.com/news-and-insights/publications/alerts-and-updates/2026/july/proposed-rule-would-end-eeoc-employer-demographic-reporting-requirements/
* * *
Proposed Rule Would End EEOC Employer Demographic Reporting Requirements
*
Key Takeaways:
* The EEOC has voted to rescind several of its rules mandating that employers report workplace demographic information, including the rule requiring the submission of EEO-1 reports.
* The EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register for public comment, and members of the public will have 30 days from publication to submit comments.
* If the rule becomes ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Foley Hoag, a law firm, posted the following news: * * * Proposed Rule Would End EEOC Employer Demographic Reporting Requirements * Key Takeaways: * The EEOC has voted to rescind several of its rules mandating that employers report workplace demographic information, including the rule requiring the submission of EEO-1 reports. * The EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register for public comment, and members of the public will have 30 days from publication to submit comments. * If the rule becomesfinal, covered employers will be relieved of obligation to file EEO-1 reports.
On July 21, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") voted 2-1 to issue a proposed rule that would rescind the agency's long-standing annual workforce demographic reporting requirements, including the EEO-1 report required of many private employers. If finalized, the proposal would also eliminate similar reporting requirements for certain unions, state and local government entities, public schools, and other covered organizations.
For decades, the EEOC has required covered employers and other entities to submit annual reports summarizing aggregate workforce data by race and sex. The EEO-1 report, in particular, has applied to private employers with at least 100 employees and certain federal contractors with at least 50 employees. In announcing the proposal, the Commission stated that the reports are not required by Title VII, impose substantial costs, and are not sufficiently tailored to the agency's enforcement needs.
The proposal is not final. The EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register for public comment, and members of the public will have 30 days from publication to submit comments. The agency has also scheduled a public hearing for August 11, 2026, with requests to testify due by August 7, 2026.
If the rule becomes final, employers will be relieved from many reporting requirements mandated by the EEOC. However, employers should not assume that the proposal eliminates all demographic-data obligations. The EEOC has stated that its authority to request specific records in connection with charge investigations would remain unchanged. Employers should continue to monitor the rulemaking process, consider whether to submit comments, and maintain employment records needed to respond to discrimination charges, audits, or litigation.
***
Original text here: https://foleyhoag.com/news-and-insights/publications/alerts-and-updates/2026/july/proposed-rule-would-end-eeoc-employer-demographic-reporting-requirements/
NICE Actimize Positioned as a Luminary in Celent's 2026 "Know Your Customer Systems: Adverse Media Screening" Report
HOBOKEN, New Jersey, July 27 [Category: BizComputer Technology] -- NICE, an enterprise software solutions provider, issued the following news release:
* * *
NICE Actimize Positioned as a Luminary in Celent's 2026 "Know Your Customer Systems: Adverse Media Screening" Report
*
#NICE Actimize's solution applies Agentic AI to produce article-level summaries, sentiment and relevancy to surface key risk indicators and context quickly
Hoboken, N.J., July 27, 2026 - NICE Actimize, a NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, has been recognized by Celent, a global research and advisory firm for the financial services ... Show Full Article HOBOKEN, New Jersey, July 27 [Category: BizComputer Technology] -- NICE, an enterprise software solutions provider, issued the following news release: * * * NICE Actimize Positioned as a Luminary in Celent's 2026 "Know Your Customer Systems: Adverse Media Screening" Report * #NICE Actimize's solution applies Agentic AI to produce article-level summaries, sentiment and relevancy to surface key risk indicators and context quickly Hoboken, N.J., July 27, 2026 - NICE Actimize, a NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, has been recognized by Celent, a global research and advisory firm for the financial servicesindustry, as a Luminary in its recently released report, "Know Your Customer Systems: Adverse Media Screening Technology Capabilities Matrix." The report provided in-depth profiles and evaluations of the functionality and technology of 25 KYC/Adverse Media providers. Celent defines those placed in the Luminary category as excelling in both advanced technology and breadth of functionality and having a leading market presence.
The Celent report summarized, "NICE Actimize's adverse media offering automates negative-news monitoring, replacing manual review with consolidated ingestion, scoring, and entity-level summarization of articles. The solution aggregates content from multiple third-party sources."
According to the report, NICE Actimize's solution strengths and differentiators include, "the application of generative-AI to produce article-level summaries and commentary intended to surface key risk indicators and context quickly." Another strength highlighted is its "real-time sentiment analysis to rank coverage by tone and severity, using factors such as mentioned frequency and prominence, the subject's role in the article, the strength of linkage to negative events (direct or indirect), and the depth of information."
"Organizations are looking for adverse media solutions that reduce investigative burden while improving risk visibility. NICE Actimize combines advanced AI capabilities with comprehensive adverse media screening, using generative AI for contextual summarization alongside sophisticated risk scoring and sentiment analysis to help financial institutions prioritize relevant information and strengthen KYC and AML decision-making," said Neil Katkov, PhD, Risk Director at Celent and author of the report.
"Adverse media monitoring is a critical component of modern AML and KYC programs," said Craig Costigan, CEO, NICE Actimize. "By combining AI-driven intelligence with continuous monitoring and contextual risk analysis, financial institutions can move beyond manual reviews to make faster, more informed decisions. Our solutions help institutions onboard new clients quickly, strengthen compliance, and reduce financial crime risk."
NICE Actimize's KYC solutions provide adverse media screening within customer onboarding, customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), and ongoing watchlist and transaction monitoring. With X-Sight DataIQ Adverse Media embedded in the platform, organizations analyze global news and public sources for negative information, using AI, multilingual processing, and entity resolution to identify relevant risks while reducing false positives. AI-generated summaries provide investigators with concise context to support faster, more informed risk decisions.
The Celent report noted that among NICE Actimize's planned enhancements are additional pre-integrated data sources, NLP-based search, LLM-based search and analysis, and LLM-driven alert generation.
To learn more about NICE Actimize's KYC solutions, which realize effective KYC across business lines and geographies, please click here. To download a complimentary copy of this report, please click here.
About NICE Actimize
As a global leader in artificial intelligence, platform services, and cloud solutions, NICE Actimize excels in preventing fraud, detecting financial crime, and supporting regulatory compliance. Over 1,000 organizations across more than 70 countries trust NICE Actimize to protect their institutions and safeguard assets throughout the entire customer lifecycle. With NICE Actimize, customers gain deeper insights and mitigate risks. Learn more at www.niceactimize.com.
About NiCE
NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) is transforming the world with AI that puts people first. Our purpose-built AI-powered platforms automate engagements into proactive, safe, intelligent actions, empowering individuals and organizations to innovate and act, from interaction to resolution. Trusted by organizations throughout 150+ countries worldwide, NiCE's platforms are widely adopted across industries connecting people, systems, and workflows to work smarter at scale, elevating performance across the organization, delivering proven measurable outcomes.
Corporate Media Contact
Cindy Morgan-Olson, +1 646 408 5896, media@nice.com, ET
Investors
Ryan Gilligan, +1-551-417-2531, ir@nice.com, ET
Omri Arens, +972 3 763-0127, ir@nice.com, CET
Trademark Note: NiCE and the NiCE logo are trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE's marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Costigan, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the "Company"). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believe," "expect," "seek," "may," "will," "intend," "should," "project," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in general economic and business conditions; competition; successful execution of the Company's growth strategy; success and growth of the Company's cloud Software-as-a-Service business; rapid changes in technology and market requirements; the implementation of AI capabilities in certain products and services, decline in demand for the Company's products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties in making additional acquisitions or difficulties or effectively integrating acquired operations; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company's dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners; cyber security attacks or other security incidents; privacy concerns; changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, the effects of additional tax liabilities resulting from our global operations, the effect of unexpected events or geo-political conditions, including those arising from political instability or armed conflict that may disrupt our business and the global economy; our ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.
***
Original text here: https://www.nice.com/press-releases/nice-actimize-positioned-as-a-luminary-in-celents-2026-know-your-customer-systems-adverse-media-screening-report
* * *
NICE Actimize Positioned as a Luminary in Celent's 2026 "Know Your Customer Systems: Adverse Media Screening" Report
*
#NICE Actimize's solution applies Agentic AI to produce article-level summaries, sentiment and relevancy to surface key risk indicators and context quickly
Hoboken, N.J., July 27, 2026 - NICE Actimize, a NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, has been recognized by Celent, a global research and advisory firm for the financial services ... Show Full Article HOBOKEN, New Jersey, July 27 [Category: BizComputer Technology] -- NICE, an enterprise software solutions provider, issued the following news release: * * * NICE Actimize Positioned as a Luminary in Celent's 2026 "Know Your Customer Systems: Adverse Media Screening" Report * #NICE Actimize's solution applies Agentic AI to produce article-level summaries, sentiment and relevancy to surface key risk indicators and context quickly Hoboken, N.J., July 27, 2026 - NICE Actimize, a NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, has been recognized by Celent, a global research and advisory firm for the financial servicesindustry, as a Luminary in its recently released report, "Know Your Customer Systems: Adverse Media Screening Technology Capabilities Matrix." The report provided in-depth profiles and evaluations of the functionality and technology of 25 KYC/Adverse Media providers. Celent defines those placed in the Luminary category as excelling in both advanced technology and breadth of functionality and having a leading market presence.
The Celent report summarized, "NICE Actimize's adverse media offering automates negative-news monitoring, replacing manual review with consolidated ingestion, scoring, and entity-level summarization of articles. The solution aggregates content from multiple third-party sources."
According to the report, NICE Actimize's solution strengths and differentiators include, "the application of generative-AI to produce article-level summaries and commentary intended to surface key risk indicators and context quickly." Another strength highlighted is its "real-time sentiment analysis to rank coverage by tone and severity, using factors such as mentioned frequency and prominence, the subject's role in the article, the strength of linkage to negative events (direct or indirect), and the depth of information."
"Organizations are looking for adverse media solutions that reduce investigative burden while improving risk visibility. NICE Actimize combines advanced AI capabilities with comprehensive adverse media screening, using generative AI for contextual summarization alongside sophisticated risk scoring and sentiment analysis to help financial institutions prioritize relevant information and strengthen KYC and AML decision-making," said Neil Katkov, PhD, Risk Director at Celent and author of the report.
"Adverse media monitoring is a critical component of modern AML and KYC programs," said Craig Costigan, CEO, NICE Actimize. "By combining AI-driven intelligence with continuous monitoring and contextual risk analysis, financial institutions can move beyond manual reviews to make faster, more informed decisions. Our solutions help institutions onboard new clients quickly, strengthen compliance, and reduce financial crime risk."
NICE Actimize's KYC solutions provide adverse media screening within customer onboarding, customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), and ongoing watchlist and transaction monitoring. With X-Sight DataIQ Adverse Media embedded in the platform, organizations analyze global news and public sources for negative information, using AI, multilingual processing, and entity resolution to identify relevant risks while reducing false positives. AI-generated summaries provide investigators with concise context to support faster, more informed risk decisions.
The Celent report noted that among NICE Actimize's planned enhancements are additional pre-integrated data sources, NLP-based search, LLM-based search and analysis, and LLM-driven alert generation.
To learn more about NICE Actimize's KYC solutions, which realize effective KYC across business lines and geographies, please click here. To download a complimentary copy of this report, please click here.
About NICE Actimize
As a global leader in artificial intelligence, platform services, and cloud solutions, NICE Actimize excels in preventing fraud, detecting financial crime, and supporting regulatory compliance. Over 1,000 organizations across more than 70 countries trust NICE Actimize to protect their institutions and safeguard assets throughout the entire customer lifecycle. With NICE Actimize, customers gain deeper insights and mitigate risks. Learn more at www.niceactimize.com.
About NiCE
NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) is transforming the world with AI that puts people first. Our purpose-built AI-powered platforms automate engagements into proactive, safe, intelligent actions, empowering individuals and organizations to innovate and act, from interaction to resolution. Trusted by organizations throughout 150+ countries worldwide, NiCE's platforms are widely adopted across industries connecting people, systems, and workflows to work smarter at scale, elevating performance across the organization, delivering proven measurable outcomes.
Corporate Media Contact
Cindy Morgan-Olson, +1 646 408 5896, media@nice.com, ET
Investors
Ryan Gilligan, +1-551-417-2531, ir@nice.com, ET
Omri Arens, +972 3 763-0127, ir@nice.com, CET
Trademark Note: NiCE and the NiCE logo are trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE's marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Costigan, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the "Company"). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believe," "expect," "seek," "may," "will," "intend," "should," "project," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in general economic and business conditions; competition; successful execution of the Company's growth strategy; success and growth of the Company's cloud Software-as-a-Service business; rapid changes in technology and market requirements; the implementation of AI capabilities in certain products and services, decline in demand for the Company's products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties in making additional acquisitions or difficulties or effectively integrating acquired operations; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company's dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners; cyber security attacks or other security incidents; privacy concerns; changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, the effects of additional tax liabilities resulting from our global operations, the effect of unexpected events or geo-political conditions, including those arising from political instability or armed conflict that may disrupt our business and the global economy; our ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.
***
Original text here: https://www.nice.com/press-releases/nice-actimize-positioned-as-a-luminary-in-celents-2026-know-your-customer-systems-adverse-media-screening-report
NBCUniversal and YouTube Announce Global Strategic Partnership, Expanding Reach of Peacock and NBCUn...
NEW YORK, July 27 [Category: BizMedia] -- NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast, posted the following news:
* * *
NBCUniversal and YouTube Announce Global Strategic Partnership, Expanding Reach of Peacock and NBCUn...
*
Multi-Year Agreement Brings Peacock to Millions of Existing and Future YouTube Premium Subscribers in the U.S.; Expands Reach of Universal+ and Hayu Internationally; Extends NBCUniversal's Multi-Year Distribution on YouTube TV; and Deepens Strategic Collaboration Across Distribution, Advertising, Technology and Sports Production
July 27, 2026
NBCUniversal and YouTube today ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 27 [Category: BizMedia] -- NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast, posted the following news: * * * NBCUniversal and YouTube Announce Global Strategic Partnership, Expanding Reach of Peacock and NBCUn... * Multi-Year Agreement Brings Peacock to Millions of Existing and Future YouTube Premium Subscribers in the U.S.; Expands Reach of Universal+ and Hayu Internationally; Extends NBCUniversal's Multi-Year Distribution on YouTube TV; and Deepens Strategic Collaboration Across Distribution, Advertising, Technology and Sports Production July 27, 2026 NBCUniversal and YouTube todayannounced a multi-year global strategic partnership that brings Peacock to millions of YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S. and expands the international reach of Universal+ and Hayu, pairing YouTube's global scale, creator ecosystem and diverse content with NBCUniversal's premium entertainment, blockbuster films, live sports and iconic franchises. The agreement marks Peacock's largest wholesale distribution partnership to date and creates new opportunities for both companies to grow audiences, deepen fan engagement and deliver more value to consumers, creators, advertisers and affiliate partners.
The partnership also extends NBCUniversal's multi-year distribution partnership with YouTube TV and Comcast's distribution partnership with various YouTube products; deepens the companies' longstanding advertising and technology relationship; expands NBCUniversal's international streaming footprint through Universal+ and Hayu in select markets; and creates new opportunities across sports production and live sports on YouTube.
The multi-faceted agreement includes:
* Beginning in early 2027, Peacock Premium will be included in a bundle with YouTube Premium, making it immediately available to millions of existing YouTube Premium subscribers, substantially expanding Peacock's reach and making it one of the most broadly distributed premium streaming services in the U.S. Subscribers will receive seamless access to Peacock within the YouTube experience, featuring marquee live sports including the NFL, Olympics, NBA, MLB, Big Ten and Notre Dame Football, Big 12, Big East and Big Ten College Basketball, Premier League, WNBA, Kentucky Derby, golf and more, hit series such as Love Island USA, The Real Housewives franchise, Law & Order: SVU, Saturday Night Live, The Traitors, All Her Fault and The Office; and award-winning and blockbuster films.
* This deal also extends NBCUniversal's multi-year distribution agreement with YouTube TV, the largest and fastest-growing pay TV provider in the U.S., ensuring continued broad linear distribution of NBCUniversal's industry-leading portfolio of entertainment, sports and news programming.
* The companies will deepen their longstanding advertising technology collaboration, including through FreeWheel, to enhance advertising capabilities and drive greater monetization at scale.
* The agreement will also expand the global reach of NBCUniversal's international streaming services, Universal+ and Hayu, through YouTube Premium in select markets.
* NBC Sports will be the production partner for select premier live sporting events on YouTube.
* A selection of live sporting events from NBCUniversal will stream on NBC Sports' YouTube channel, bringing a sample of world-class games to millions of users on YouTube.
* The deal extends and expands the distribution and offerings of YouTube, YouTube TV and YouTube Premium on Comcast's Xfinity and Xumo platforms.
"This partnership brings NBCUniversal's world-class content and iconic franchises to YouTube's unmatched scale and global platforms," said Mike Cavanagh, Co-CEO of Comcast Corporation. "We're excited to deepen our relationship with YouTube through a collaboration that reflects our strategy of partnering with industry leaders to drive sustained growth for NBCUniversal."
"We're incredibly excited to expand our partnership with NBCUniversal to redefine what a modern entertainment subscription can be for consumers," said Neal Mohan, Chief Executive Officer, YouTube. "YouTube Premium brings your favorite creators, artists and cultural moments together uninterrupted, and now, we're pairing that ultimate viewing experience with Peacock's expansive lineup of live sports like Sunday Night Football and the NBA, blockbuster Universal movies, and original series. This makes it easier than ever for our members to find and watch all the premium content they love, all in one place."
"With this agreement, Peacock accelerates its next phase of growth by bringing the service to millions of YouTube Premium subscribers, driving long-term value for our business," said Matt Strauss, Chairman, Media Group, NBCUniversal. "Combined with our YouTube TV extension, this agreement opens the door to new ways for audiences to discover, access and deepen engagement with NBCUniversal's industry-leading content wherever and however they choose to watch."
"This partnership with NBCUniversal is a great example of how we can grow YouTube's subscription business alongside our key partners," said Mary Ellen Coe, Chief Business Officer, YouTube. "By bringing Peacock to YouTube Premium, we're giving our members an incredible lineup of content while also connecting them to the creator ecosystem and cultural moments that fans can only find on YouTube. Together, we are expanding NBCU's content presence on YouTube, building a sustainable growth engine for both of our companies, and collaborating across streaming distribution, advertising and live sports production."
Peacock Premium (currently $10.99/month) will also be available as a separate add-on subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels starting later this summer. Peacock Premium Plus has been available via YouTube Primetime Channels since late June.
***
Original text here: https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/nbcuniversal-and-youtube-announce-global-strategic-partnership-expanding-reach-peacock-and
* * *
NBCUniversal and YouTube Announce Global Strategic Partnership, Expanding Reach of Peacock and NBCUn...
*
Multi-Year Agreement Brings Peacock to Millions of Existing and Future YouTube Premium Subscribers in the U.S.; Expands Reach of Universal+ and Hayu Internationally; Extends NBCUniversal's Multi-Year Distribution on YouTube TV; and Deepens Strategic Collaboration Across Distribution, Advertising, Technology and Sports Production
July 27, 2026
NBCUniversal and YouTube today ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 27 [Category: BizMedia] -- NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast, posted the following news: * * * NBCUniversal and YouTube Announce Global Strategic Partnership, Expanding Reach of Peacock and NBCUn... * Multi-Year Agreement Brings Peacock to Millions of Existing and Future YouTube Premium Subscribers in the U.S.; Expands Reach of Universal+ and Hayu Internationally; Extends NBCUniversal's Multi-Year Distribution on YouTube TV; and Deepens Strategic Collaboration Across Distribution, Advertising, Technology and Sports Production July 27, 2026 NBCUniversal and YouTube todayannounced a multi-year global strategic partnership that brings Peacock to millions of YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S. and expands the international reach of Universal+ and Hayu, pairing YouTube's global scale, creator ecosystem and diverse content with NBCUniversal's premium entertainment, blockbuster films, live sports and iconic franchises. The agreement marks Peacock's largest wholesale distribution partnership to date and creates new opportunities for both companies to grow audiences, deepen fan engagement and deliver more value to consumers, creators, advertisers and affiliate partners.
The partnership also extends NBCUniversal's multi-year distribution partnership with YouTube TV and Comcast's distribution partnership with various YouTube products; deepens the companies' longstanding advertising and technology relationship; expands NBCUniversal's international streaming footprint through Universal+ and Hayu in select markets; and creates new opportunities across sports production and live sports on YouTube.
The multi-faceted agreement includes:
* Beginning in early 2027, Peacock Premium will be included in a bundle with YouTube Premium, making it immediately available to millions of existing YouTube Premium subscribers, substantially expanding Peacock's reach and making it one of the most broadly distributed premium streaming services in the U.S. Subscribers will receive seamless access to Peacock within the YouTube experience, featuring marquee live sports including the NFL, Olympics, NBA, MLB, Big Ten and Notre Dame Football, Big 12, Big East and Big Ten College Basketball, Premier League, WNBA, Kentucky Derby, golf and more, hit series such as Love Island USA, The Real Housewives franchise, Law & Order: SVU, Saturday Night Live, The Traitors, All Her Fault and The Office; and award-winning and blockbuster films.
* This deal also extends NBCUniversal's multi-year distribution agreement with YouTube TV, the largest and fastest-growing pay TV provider in the U.S., ensuring continued broad linear distribution of NBCUniversal's industry-leading portfolio of entertainment, sports and news programming.
* The companies will deepen their longstanding advertising technology collaboration, including through FreeWheel, to enhance advertising capabilities and drive greater monetization at scale.
* The agreement will also expand the global reach of NBCUniversal's international streaming services, Universal+ and Hayu, through YouTube Premium in select markets.
* NBC Sports will be the production partner for select premier live sporting events on YouTube.
* A selection of live sporting events from NBCUniversal will stream on NBC Sports' YouTube channel, bringing a sample of world-class games to millions of users on YouTube.
* The deal extends and expands the distribution and offerings of YouTube, YouTube TV and YouTube Premium on Comcast's Xfinity and Xumo platforms.
"This partnership brings NBCUniversal's world-class content and iconic franchises to YouTube's unmatched scale and global platforms," said Mike Cavanagh, Co-CEO of Comcast Corporation. "We're excited to deepen our relationship with YouTube through a collaboration that reflects our strategy of partnering with industry leaders to drive sustained growth for NBCUniversal."
"We're incredibly excited to expand our partnership with NBCUniversal to redefine what a modern entertainment subscription can be for consumers," said Neal Mohan, Chief Executive Officer, YouTube. "YouTube Premium brings your favorite creators, artists and cultural moments together uninterrupted, and now, we're pairing that ultimate viewing experience with Peacock's expansive lineup of live sports like Sunday Night Football and the NBA, blockbuster Universal movies, and original series. This makes it easier than ever for our members to find and watch all the premium content they love, all in one place."
"With this agreement, Peacock accelerates its next phase of growth by bringing the service to millions of YouTube Premium subscribers, driving long-term value for our business," said Matt Strauss, Chairman, Media Group, NBCUniversal. "Combined with our YouTube TV extension, this agreement opens the door to new ways for audiences to discover, access and deepen engagement with NBCUniversal's industry-leading content wherever and however they choose to watch."
"This partnership with NBCUniversal is a great example of how we can grow YouTube's subscription business alongside our key partners," said Mary Ellen Coe, Chief Business Officer, YouTube. "By bringing Peacock to YouTube Premium, we're giving our members an incredible lineup of content while also connecting them to the creator ecosystem and cultural moments that fans can only find on YouTube. Together, we are expanding NBCU's content presence on YouTube, building a sustainable growth engine for both of our companies, and collaborating across streaming distribution, advertising and live sports production."
Peacock Premium (currently $10.99/month) will also be available as a separate add-on subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels starting later this summer. Peacock Premium Plus has been available via YouTube Primetime Channels since late June.
***
Original text here: https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/nbcuniversal-and-youtube-announce-global-strategic-partnership-expanding-reach-peacock-and
London Tops BCG's First Intelligent Cities Index
BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 [Category: BizConsulting] -- Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting firm, presented the following news release:
* * *
London Tops BCG's First Intelligent Cities Index
*
* Dubai, New York City, Washington, DC, and Amsterdam Follow London in Overall Rankings
* Residents in Cities in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Are Among the World's Most Active and Enthusiastic Users of GenAI
* Five Domains of Intelligent City Performance Each Led by Different Cities, Highlighting Multiple Pathways to Success
* Cities Can Start Improving Resident Outcomes with ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 [Category: BizConsulting] -- Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting firm, presented the following news release: * * * London Tops BCG's First Intelligent Cities Index * * Dubai, New York City, Washington, DC, and Amsterdam Follow London in Overall Rankings * Residents in Cities in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Are Among the World's Most Active and Enthusiastic Users of GenAI * Five Domains of Intelligent City Performance Each Led by Different Cities, Highlighting Multiple Pathways to Success * Cities Can Start Improving Resident Outcomes withIntelligent AI-Enabled Services Even Before Ramping Up World-Class Infrastructure and Funding
BOSTON-London, Dubai, New York City, Washington, DC, and Amsterdam top the rankings of the world's most intelligent cities according to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Yet even these pioneering cities excel in different areas and none of them leads across every domain, underscoring that no city has mastered every relevant dimension. Intelligent city leadership is defined by different combinations of strengths rather than a single model. Further, even leading intelligent cities have room to grow in maturity across specific dimensions, as residents' expectations increase with fast-evolving technology, including AI.
The report, BCG's Intelligent Cities Index 2026: How AI Shapes Urban Living, is the firm's inaugural assessment of how 61 of the world's biggest cities across 39 countries use technology to serve their residents and businesses. The Index evaluates cities across five domains of intelligent city maturity: outcomes, strategy, adoption, ways of working, and enablers. A city's overall maturity level reflects its combined maturity across domains: leading, accelerating, emerging, or developing.
The report also finds that cities do not need to begin with, or focus solely on world-class infrastructure or deep funding ecosystems to improve resident outcomes. Expanding intelligent AI-enabled city services can strengthen quality of life and overall intelligent city maturity regardless of a city's starting point, demonstrating that multiple pathways exist to becoming a smarter city, aligned with each city's current maturity across domains.
The Virtuous Circle of AI Value
The report uncovers a clear alignment between how frequently residents use GenAI tools and how positively they view AI's future impact. Residents who use AI most often are also the most optimistic about the technology's potential to improve opportunity, productivity, and quality of life.
This creates a virtuous circle. Positive experiences with AI increase resident confidence, giving city leaders a further opening to enable AI more fully and provide more value to beneficiaries through new and improved intelligent city services. This value feeds yet more optimism, which drives more engagement, innovation, and scaling as the cycle repeats.
Cities in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East are particularly prominent in this pattern, showing the strongest GenAI momentum, pairing high usage with high optimism about its future impact.
Younger, fast-growing urban populations also show especially high enthusiasm, leading disproportionately in usage and satisfaction, indicating that demographics are an important factor in helping to shape the next phase of adoption, as cities cater to current and future generations.
"AI is a key foundation of the intelligent city, and AI adoption and optimism are not confined to the 'usual suspects' technology hubs," said Akram Awad, managing director and partner at BCG and coauthor of the report. "Cities around the world are creating value for residents in different ways and from different starting points. We built the Intelligent Cities Index to provide an objective, holistic view of how cities shape and enable their AI ambitions and how effectively those ambitions translate into meaningful improvements in people's lives."
Different Leaders and Different Pathways to Success
While London tops the overall rankings, the five domains are topped as follows:
* London leads in resident outcomes
* Madrid leads in intelligent city strategy
* Dubai leads in adoption
* New York City leads in ways of working
* Amsterdam leads in enablers
Every city in the Index has a different starting point. Several pathways forward are available, with strong outcomes and maturity stemming from either "balanced builders" diversifying strengths across domains or "focused specialists" targeting excellence in specific areas.
The report identifies several characteristics associated with stronger performance:
* AI deployment leads to better resident outcomes. Cities that are embedding AI into core intelligent services are delivering faster, stronger results.
* Smart city app use and satisfaction rise together. This creates another virtuous cycle, with younger cities leading disproportionately in both usage and satisfaction.
* Technology alone is insufficient. The most mature cities in the Index combine both hard enablers such as data, tech, and infrastructure with soft enablers like talent and funding.
* Smart city funding and startup ecosystems drive economic activity. Focus is needed on entrepreneurship and innovation to ultimately fulfill resident expectations.
The authors conclude by detailing a roadmap that lays out the important steps toward stronger outcomes, no matter if a city is leading or lower in maturity. These include establishing clear long-term strategic priorities, strengthening governance and public-private partnerships, scaling proven AI-enabled services, and investing in data and technology platforms, infrastructure, talent, and innovation ecosystems needed to sustain intelligent city progress and transformation.
"Given today's rapid pace of change and evolving resident expectations, building a city's intelligent foundation, paired with focused improvement across enablers requires urgency. But city leaders and business partners don't need to try to do everything all at once," said Rami Mourtada, a partner and director at BCG and coauthor of the report. "It's a longer-term horizon and there is no single pathway forward. Intelligent city momentum comes from making intentional, and sometimes incremental, choices now and building for a smarter tomorrow with a clear, comprehensive roadmap."
Media Contact:
Eric Gregoire
gregoire.eric@bcg.com
***
Original text here: https://www.bcg.com/press/27july2026-london-tops-intelligent-cities-index
* * *
London Tops BCG's First Intelligent Cities Index
*
* Dubai, New York City, Washington, DC, and Amsterdam Follow London in Overall Rankings
* Residents in Cities in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Are Among the World's Most Active and Enthusiastic Users of GenAI
* Five Domains of Intelligent City Performance Each Led by Different Cities, Highlighting Multiple Pathways to Success
* Cities Can Start Improving Resident Outcomes with ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 [Category: BizConsulting] -- Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting firm, presented the following news release: * * * London Tops BCG's First Intelligent Cities Index * * Dubai, New York City, Washington, DC, and Amsterdam Follow London in Overall Rankings * Residents in Cities in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Are Among the World's Most Active and Enthusiastic Users of GenAI * Five Domains of Intelligent City Performance Each Led by Different Cities, Highlighting Multiple Pathways to Success * Cities Can Start Improving Resident Outcomes withIntelligent AI-Enabled Services Even Before Ramping Up World-Class Infrastructure and Funding
BOSTON-London, Dubai, New York City, Washington, DC, and Amsterdam top the rankings of the world's most intelligent cities according to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Yet even these pioneering cities excel in different areas and none of them leads across every domain, underscoring that no city has mastered every relevant dimension. Intelligent city leadership is defined by different combinations of strengths rather than a single model. Further, even leading intelligent cities have room to grow in maturity across specific dimensions, as residents' expectations increase with fast-evolving technology, including AI.
The report, BCG's Intelligent Cities Index 2026: How AI Shapes Urban Living, is the firm's inaugural assessment of how 61 of the world's biggest cities across 39 countries use technology to serve their residents and businesses. The Index evaluates cities across five domains of intelligent city maturity: outcomes, strategy, adoption, ways of working, and enablers. A city's overall maturity level reflects its combined maturity across domains: leading, accelerating, emerging, or developing.
The report also finds that cities do not need to begin with, or focus solely on world-class infrastructure or deep funding ecosystems to improve resident outcomes. Expanding intelligent AI-enabled city services can strengthen quality of life and overall intelligent city maturity regardless of a city's starting point, demonstrating that multiple pathways exist to becoming a smarter city, aligned with each city's current maturity across domains.
The Virtuous Circle of AI Value
The report uncovers a clear alignment between how frequently residents use GenAI tools and how positively they view AI's future impact. Residents who use AI most often are also the most optimistic about the technology's potential to improve opportunity, productivity, and quality of life.
This creates a virtuous circle. Positive experiences with AI increase resident confidence, giving city leaders a further opening to enable AI more fully and provide more value to beneficiaries through new and improved intelligent city services. This value feeds yet more optimism, which drives more engagement, innovation, and scaling as the cycle repeats.
Cities in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East are particularly prominent in this pattern, showing the strongest GenAI momentum, pairing high usage with high optimism about its future impact.
Younger, fast-growing urban populations also show especially high enthusiasm, leading disproportionately in usage and satisfaction, indicating that demographics are an important factor in helping to shape the next phase of adoption, as cities cater to current and future generations.
"AI is a key foundation of the intelligent city, and AI adoption and optimism are not confined to the 'usual suspects' technology hubs," said Akram Awad, managing director and partner at BCG and coauthor of the report. "Cities around the world are creating value for residents in different ways and from different starting points. We built the Intelligent Cities Index to provide an objective, holistic view of how cities shape and enable their AI ambitions and how effectively those ambitions translate into meaningful improvements in people's lives."
Different Leaders and Different Pathways to Success
While London tops the overall rankings, the five domains are topped as follows:
* London leads in resident outcomes
* Madrid leads in intelligent city strategy
* Dubai leads in adoption
* New York City leads in ways of working
* Amsterdam leads in enablers
Every city in the Index has a different starting point. Several pathways forward are available, with strong outcomes and maturity stemming from either "balanced builders" diversifying strengths across domains or "focused specialists" targeting excellence in specific areas.
The report identifies several characteristics associated with stronger performance:
* AI deployment leads to better resident outcomes. Cities that are embedding AI into core intelligent services are delivering faster, stronger results.
* Smart city app use and satisfaction rise together. This creates another virtuous cycle, with younger cities leading disproportionately in both usage and satisfaction.
* Technology alone is insufficient. The most mature cities in the Index combine both hard enablers such as data, tech, and infrastructure with soft enablers like talent and funding.
* Smart city funding and startup ecosystems drive economic activity. Focus is needed on entrepreneurship and innovation to ultimately fulfill resident expectations.
The authors conclude by detailing a roadmap that lays out the important steps toward stronger outcomes, no matter if a city is leading or lower in maturity. These include establishing clear long-term strategic priorities, strengthening governance and public-private partnerships, scaling proven AI-enabled services, and investing in data and technology platforms, infrastructure, talent, and innovation ecosystems needed to sustain intelligent city progress and transformation.
"Given today's rapid pace of change and evolving resident expectations, building a city's intelligent foundation, paired with focused improvement across enablers requires urgency. But city leaders and business partners don't need to try to do everything all at once," said Rami Mourtada, a partner and director at BCG and coauthor of the report. "It's a longer-term horizon and there is no single pathway forward. Intelligent city momentum comes from making intentional, and sometimes incremental, choices now and building for a smarter tomorrow with a clear, comprehensive roadmap."
Media Contact:
Eric Gregoire
gregoire.eric@bcg.com
***
Original text here: https://www.bcg.com/press/27july2026-london-tops-intelligent-cities-index
Banner Health a national leader in robotic procedure innovations across specialties
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 27 [Category: Health Care] -- Banner Health posted the following news release:
* * *
Banner Health a national leader in robotic procedure innovations across specialties
*
PHOENIX (July 27, 2026) - Banner Health has secured its position among an elite group of health systems nationally trained in transformative leaps in robotic surgical techniques. These advanced, minimally invasive procedures eliminate the need for multiple incision points, delivering faster recovery and reduced post-operative pain for patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the ... Show Full Article PHOENIX, Arizona, July 27 [Category: Health Care] -- Banner Health posted the following news release: * * * Banner Health a national leader in robotic procedure innovations across specialties * PHOENIX (July 27, 2026) - Banner Health has secured its position among an elite group of health systems nationally trained in transformative leaps in robotic surgical techniques. These advanced, minimally invasive procedures eliminate the need for multiple incision points, delivering faster recovery and reduced post-operative pain for patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved thesingle incision robotic technique for general surgery and breast procedures in 2025, representing a meaningful advancement in minimally invasive surgery that positions Banner at the forefront of patient-centered surgical care.
Banner Health's national recognition stems from having two surgeons trained on the newly approved robotic options of less than 35 in the entire United States. As the only two breast and general surgeons in Arizona selected for the advanced training in these innovative techniques, Banner demonstrates its commitment to bringing world-class surgical innovation directly to the communities it serves.
Revolutionizing breast surgery with enhanced recovery and cosmetic outcomes
The advanced single port robotic assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy, now being performed at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, provides patients with more discreet incisions and superior cosmetic preservation compared to traditional mastectomy. These precisely placed, minimal incisions, often lateral or hidden within the axillary fold, deliver measurably better outcomes: reduced scarring, faster healing and greater confidence in life after cancer.
The robotic surgery is performed by Brittany Murphy, MD, a surgical oncologist at Banner MD Anderson, who is one of just 13 breast oncologists trained nationally to perform this advanced procedure.
"I am honored to bring this groundbreaking surgical advancement to Arizona and to play a role in giving our breast cancer patients a greater quality of life," said Dr. Murphy. "From the significant advantages of improved scar concealment to superior nerve preservation, this minimally invasive option delivers select patients faster recovery times, reduced pain, and improved breast reconstructive outcomes. Bringing Arizona patients the same caliber of care available at only the nation's most advanced centers is incredibly rewarding."
Transforming general surgery: fewer incisions, superior results
Banner's surgical innovation extends beyond oncology. Jennifer Preston, MD, general surgery residency program director at Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, is the only general surgeon in Arizona, and one of 20 nationally, trained in inguinal herniaCaptipon and cholecystectomy procedures using the single incision robotic technique. These innovative procedures allow surgeries that traditionally require three to four incisions to be completed through a single incision. This approach gives surgeons greater flexibility in incision placement, including discreet locations low on the abdomen or within the belly button, resulting in minimal visible scarring. For gallbladder removal procedures, Dr. Preston can now remove the gallbladder without needing to enlarge the incision. The technique also expands access to minimally invasive robotic surgery to more patients by providing additional surgical approaches.
"What excites me most about this technology is how it expands what I can offer patients through minimally invasive surgery," said Dr. Preston. "Historically, hernia repairs and gallbladder removals required either multiple small incisions or a single larger incision. With this advanced approach, I can now perform many of these procedures through a single small incision, while maintaining flexibility in incision placement to minimize visible scarring. The result is less pain, a smoother recovery, and a faster return to normal daily activities. I strongly believe this technique represents the future of minimally invasive surgery, and Banner Health is leading the way."
Banner Health: a national leader in multi-specialty surgical innovation
Both procedures were approved by the FDA in 2025. Prior to that, the use of a single port system was only approved for certain ENT, urology, thoracic and colorectal-related procedures. With Dr. Murphy and Dr. Preston's training, Banner Health solidifies its position as a national leader in advanced robotic procedures across multiple specialties, distinguishing it from the vast majority of health systems nationwide.
"Innovation in surgical care is about much more than just technology. It's about giving patients hope, confidence, and the best possible outcomes," said Nirav Patel, MD, medical director for surgical and procedural service for Banner Health. "Dr. Murphy and Dr. Preston represent the exceptional caliber of surgical expertise that defines Banner Health. Their training in these newly approved procedures ensures Arizonans have access to elite-level care, right here at home."
About Banner Health
As one of the nation's largest fully integrated nonprofit health systems, we are pioneering a sustainable care model that prioritizes prevention, manages chronic disease, and reduces health spending - succeeding when patients stay healthy, not when they get sick. We operate 33 hospitals and more than 400 sites across six states, delivering seamless care from primary to quaternary medicine, including health insurance, physician networks, world-renowned specialty services, and behavioral health. Accountable to the communities we serve, we reinvest every dollar into advancing care, research, and facilities, providing more than $1 billion each year in community benefit. Through our partnership with the University of Arizona, we drive clinical discoveries across more than 800 trials and train more than 1,300 residents and fellows annually. Headquartered in Arizona, we serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. Our hospitals are consistently ranked among Arizona's top-performing by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/about.
Captions:
Robotic 4, from left to right: Elizabeth Bickle, PA-C; Chynna Liu, PA-C; Kaylee Krupp, RN; Brittany Murphy, MD; Christin Arevalo, surgical technologist
DaVinci 1: Aimee Gough, MD, learning about the da Vinci 5 system at Banner Wyoming Medical Center
DaVinci 2: Aimee Gough, MD, sits at the surgeon's console of the da Vinci 5 robotic surgery system at Banner Wyoming Medical Center
Robotic 3: Dr. Murphy at machine
Robotic team: Dr. Preston and team
***
Original text here: https://www.bannerhealth.com/newsroom/press-releases/banner-a-leader-in-robotic-procedure-innovations
* * *
Banner Health a national leader in robotic procedure innovations across specialties
*
PHOENIX (July 27, 2026) - Banner Health has secured its position among an elite group of health systems nationally trained in transformative leaps in robotic surgical techniques. These advanced, minimally invasive procedures eliminate the need for multiple incision points, delivering faster recovery and reduced post-operative pain for patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the ... Show Full Article PHOENIX, Arizona, July 27 [Category: Health Care] -- Banner Health posted the following news release: * * * Banner Health a national leader in robotic procedure innovations across specialties * PHOENIX (July 27, 2026) - Banner Health has secured its position among an elite group of health systems nationally trained in transformative leaps in robotic surgical techniques. These advanced, minimally invasive procedures eliminate the need for multiple incision points, delivering faster recovery and reduced post-operative pain for patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved thesingle incision robotic technique for general surgery and breast procedures in 2025, representing a meaningful advancement in minimally invasive surgery that positions Banner at the forefront of patient-centered surgical care.
Banner Health's national recognition stems from having two surgeons trained on the newly approved robotic options of less than 35 in the entire United States. As the only two breast and general surgeons in Arizona selected for the advanced training in these innovative techniques, Banner demonstrates its commitment to bringing world-class surgical innovation directly to the communities it serves.
Revolutionizing breast surgery with enhanced recovery and cosmetic outcomes
The advanced single port robotic assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy, now being performed at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, provides patients with more discreet incisions and superior cosmetic preservation compared to traditional mastectomy. These precisely placed, minimal incisions, often lateral or hidden within the axillary fold, deliver measurably better outcomes: reduced scarring, faster healing and greater confidence in life after cancer.
The robotic surgery is performed by Brittany Murphy, MD, a surgical oncologist at Banner MD Anderson, who is one of just 13 breast oncologists trained nationally to perform this advanced procedure.
"I am honored to bring this groundbreaking surgical advancement to Arizona and to play a role in giving our breast cancer patients a greater quality of life," said Dr. Murphy. "From the significant advantages of improved scar concealment to superior nerve preservation, this minimally invasive option delivers select patients faster recovery times, reduced pain, and improved breast reconstructive outcomes. Bringing Arizona patients the same caliber of care available at only the nation's most advanced centers is incredibly rewarding."
Transforming general surgery: fewer incisions, superior results
Banner's surgical innovation extends beyond oncology. Jennifer Preston, MD, general surgery residency program director at Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, is the only general surgeon in Arizona, and one of 20 nationally, trained in inguinal herniaCaptipon and cholecystectomy procedures using the single incision robotic technique. These innovative procedures allow surgeries that traditionally require three to four incisions to be completed through a single incision. This approach gives surgeons greater flexibility in incision placement, including discreet locations low on the abdomen or within the belly button, resulting in minimal visible scarring. For gallbladder removal procedures, Dr. Preston can now remove the gallbladder without needing to enlarge the incision. The technique also expands access to minimally invasive robotic surgery to more patients by providing additional surgical approaches.
"What excites me most about this technology is how it expands what I can offer patients through minimally invasive surgery," said Dr. Preston. "Historically, hernia repairs and gallbladder removals required either multiple small incisions or a single larger incision. With this advanced approach, I can now perform many of these procedures through a single small incision, while maintaining flexibility in incision placement to minimize visible scarring. The result is less pain, a smoother recovery, and a faster return to normal daily activities. I strongly believe this technique represents the future of minimally invasive surgery, and Banner Health is leading the way."
Banner Health: a national leader in multi-specialty surgical innovation
Both procedures were approved by the FDA in 2025. Prior to that, the use of a single port system was only approved for certain ENT, urology, thoracic and colorectal-related procedures. With Dr. Murphy and Dr. Preston's training, Banner Health solidifies its position as a national leader in advanced robotic procedures across multiple specialties, distinguishing it from the vast majority of health systems nationwide.
"Innovation in surgical care is about much more than just technology. It's about giving patients hope, confidence, and the best possible outcomes," said Nirav Patel, MD, medical director for surgical and procedural service for Banner Health. "Dr. Murphy and Dr. Preston represent the exceptional caliber of surgical expertise that defines Banner Health. Their training in these newly approved procedures ensures Arizonans have access to elite-level care, right here at home."
About Banner Health
As one of the nation's largest fully integrated nonprofit health systems, we are pioneering a sustainable care model that prioritizes prevention, manages chronic disease, and reduces health spending - succeeding when patients stay healthy, not when they get sick. We operate 33 hospitals and more than 400 sites across six states, delivering seamless care from primary to quaternary medicine, including health insurance, physician networks, world-renowned specialty services, and behavioral health. Accountable to the communities we serve, we reinvest every dollar into advancing care, research, and facilities, providing more than $1 billion each year in community benefit. Through our partnership with the University of Arizona, we drive clinical discoveries across more than 800 trials and train more than 1,300 residents and fellows annually. Headquartered in Arizona, we serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. Our hospitals are consistently ranked among Arizona's top-performing by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/about.
Captions:
Robotic 4, from left to right: Elizabeth Bickle, PA-C; Chynna Liu, PA-C; Kaylee Krupp, RN; Brittany Murphy, MD; Christin Arevalo, surgical technologist
DaVinci 1: Aimee Gough, MD, learning about the da Vinci 5 system at Banner Wyoming Medical Center
DaVinci 2: Aimee Gough, MD, sits at the surgeon's console of the da Vinci 5 robotic surgery system at Banner Wyoming Medical Center
Robotic 3: Dr. Murphy at machine
Robotic team: Dr. Preston and team
***
Original text here: https://www.bannerhealth.com/newsroom/press-releases/banner-a-leader-in-robotic-procedure-innovations
Siemens advances self-verifying agentic AI workflows for semiconductor and PCB design
WASHINGTON, July 26 [Category: BizIndustrial Materials] -- Siemens USA, a technology company that say it focuses on industry, infrastructure, transport and healthcare, posted the following news release:
* * *
Siemens advances self-verifying agentic AI workflows for semiconductor and PCB design
*
* Combines Siemens' EDA expertise and software with NVIDIA AI infrastructure and software to improve result quality, time-to-results, tool-calling reliability and token efficiency for long-running engineering workloads
* Enables agentic AI workflows that help engineers improve productivity and design ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 26 [Category: BizIndustrial Materials] -- Siemens USA, a technology company that say it focuses on industry, infrastructure, transport and healthcare, posted the following news release: * * * Siemens advances self-verifying agentic AI workflows for semiconductor and PCB design * * Combines Siemens' EDA expertise and software with NVIDIA AI infrastructure and software to improve result quality, time-to-results, tool-calling reliability and token efficiency for long-running engineering workloads * Enables agentic AI workflows that help engineers improve productivity and designquality across the electronic design automation (EDA) lifecycle
* Delivers more predictable, trusted outcomes through physics-based EDA software validation
* Integrates with Siemens' Intelligence Center X, supporting agent creation and orchestration, and intelligence into broader enterprise reasoning across design, manufacturing and supply chain operations
Siemens today announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with NVIDIA to deliver self-verifying agentic AI workflows to EDA, helping semiconductor and printed circuit board (PCB) engineering teams move from autonomous task orchestration toward more trusted, continuously validated engineering outcomes. The new capabilities build on Siemens' recently introduced Fuse(tm) EDA AI Agent system and add new NVIDIA AI technology to help long-running, domain scoped, AI agents reason, act and continuously validate decisions against deterministic, physics-based EDA engines.
The updates to Siemens' Fuse EDA AI Agent are designed to help the semiconductor and PCB industry move beyond simple automation and deliver trusted and verifiable outcomes that improve result quality, time-to-results, tool-calling reliability and token efficiency across long-running engineering workloads. The Fuse EDA AI Agent system is now integrated into Siemens' recently launched Intelligence Center X, supporting agent creation and orchestration in Siemens' enterprise industrial AI environment. Intelligence Center X delivers AI-driven, coordinated processes across design, manufacturing and supply chain - enhancing the comprehensive Digital Twin to support smarter execution and more trusted outcomes.
"Our expanded collaboration with NVIDIA enhances our domain-specific industrial AI, physics-based EDA engines and accelerated computing to create trusted, self-verifying AI workflows," said Amit Gupta, senior vice president and chief AI strategy officer, Siemens EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software. "By enabling autonomous and long-running EDA AI agents to continuously validate their decisions against proven engineering tools accurately and efficiently, we help customers accelerate development, improve design quality and increase confidence in trusted engineering outcomes."
"Semiconductor and PCB design are among the most complex engineering challenges in the world, and AI agents need trusted tools to reason, act and verify their work," said Timothy Costa, vice president and general manager of computational engineering at NVIDIA. "Siemens is combining its EDA software with NVIDIA accelerated computing, AI software and Nemotron open models to create self-verifying agentic workflows that improve design quality, speed up results and give engineering teams greater confidence in every step of the process."
Enabling trusted self-verifying AI agents for semiconductor and PCB design
The Fuse EDA AI Agent solution now combines Siemens engineering intelligence and trusted verification capabilities with NVIDIA AI infrastructure technologies to execute complex semiconductor design tasks with enhanced speed and precision:
* Optimized EDA agents built with NVIDIA NeMo Gym open library for agentic environments improve result quality, speed and token efficiency for semiconductor and PCB design. This empowers customers with EDA design flows that get smarter over time with self-verifying agents which learn from every project to automatically improve execution strategies, optimize workflows and make better use of accumulated context.
* The NVIDIA OpenShell secure runtime enables enterprise scale design teams to run autonomous agents across their entire EDA environment with enterprise-grade security, access controls and audit trails within governed runtime environments.
* Advanced reasoning with the latest NVIDIA Nemotron models and Switchyard accelerates design with AI agents that understand complex engineering trade-offs at the speed of AI reasoning and supports complex engineering workflows with improved performance and token efficiency.
* NVIDIA accelerated computing and CUDA-X libraries helps design teams achieve signoff-quality results in hours instead of days, powering both AI reasoning and EDA engines for dramatic speedups without sacrificing accuracy.
Together, these capabilities enable secure and token-efficient multi-agent coordination, real-time feedback and improved convergence across semiconductor and PCB design and verification flows, helping customers achieve trusted engineering outcomes.
Comprehensive end-to-end design automation
Building on these capabilities, Siemens' Fuse EDA AI Agent orchestrates workflows across the semiconductor and PCB lifecycle. Domain-specific agents collaborate across synthesis, verification, implementation and validation processes to optimize outcomes holistically.
The new offering spans Siemens' EDA technologies across the full semiconductor and electronics lifecycles, from high-level synthesis with Catapult, verification with Questa One and Veloce, and custom IC design and verification with Solido, through to physical implementation with Aprisa, signoff verification with Calibre and design-for-test with Tessent. It also supports advanced 3D IC integration using Innovator3D IC and PCB design with Xpedition.
Accelerating custom integrated circuit (IC) design with agentic AI
The expanded collaboration enhances Siemens' Solido Characterization Suite with agentic AI capabilities. These agentic workflows automate library characterization by automatically generating and verifying Liberty files by running Solido Characterizer with Solido LibSPICE, Solido Generator and Solido Analytics. The solution delivers production-proven results for advanced-node standard cell, memory and custom IP libraries while reducing characterization turnaround times by more than 10X and achieving over a 5X to 10X reduction in token costs.
These agentic capabilities extend further into the custom IC design flow with the new Solido Layout Analyzer, an AI-powered measurement-aware solution for visualizing, exploring and analyzing parasitic and layout-dependent effects in post-layout designs. Integrated with Fuse EDA AI Agent, Solido Layout Analyzer dramatically boosts design quality and engineering productivity by enabling natural language prompting with results analysis, fixing recommendations, and report generation.
"For STMicroelectronics' non-volatile memory team, the ability to relate layout insight directly to electrical behavior is critical. Rather than discovering layout dependent effects late in the process, Solido Layout Analyzer brings this analysis earlier into the flow, improving design confidence and helping cut down the time we spend debugging complex design blocks by weeks. We are planning to test and validate the advantages in our on-going design activity," said Gianbattista Lo Giudice, Non-Volatile Memory Design manager, STMicroelectronics.
Accelerating digital verification with agentic AI
With verification consuming up to 70 percent of design time and complexity, the industry faces an unprecedented productivity crisis. Building on the recently announced Questa One Agentic Toolkit, Siemens is extending these domain-scoped agentic AI workflows with NVIDIA's Nemotron 3 Ultra reasoning model, designed for complex, long-running agents. In agentic RTL benchmarking with the ACE-RTL agent, Nemotron 3 Ultra leads among open models. Its reasoning and efficiency help autonomous agents evaluate engineering trade-offs while continuously validating designs against golden test harness. This enables teams to identify issues earlier, accelerate verification closure, and deliver trusted outcomes faster.
"We're at an inflection point where the complexity of AI chips, chiplets, and 3D ICs has outpaced traditional verification methodologies," said Abhi Kolpekwar, senior vice president and general manager Digital Verification Technologies, Siemens EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software, "agentic AI is the natural path forward that scales with this complexity-agents that can orchestrate multi-domain verification, reason across billions of test scenarios, and deliver production-quality results in timeframes that were impossible just two years ago."
Availability
Siemens' expanded AI-driven EDA capabilities will be available in forthcoming releases of Siemens' AI-native EDA portfolio. To learn more about how Siemens is bringing the power of Agentic AI to the EDA industry, visit https://www.siemens.com/en-us/products/fuse-eda-ai-system/agent/
Siemens Digital Industries Software helps organizations of all sizes digitally transform using software, hardware and services from the Siemens Xcelerator business platform. Siemens' software and the comprehensive digital twin enable companies to optimize their design, engineering and manufacturing processes to turn today's ideas into the sustainable products of the future. From chips to entire systems, from product to process, across all industries. Siemens Digital Industries Software - Accelerating transformation.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company's purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more livable, and transportation more sustainable. A leader in industrial AI, Siemens leverages its deep domain know-how to apply AI - including generative AI - to real-world applications, making AI accessible and impactful for customers across diverse industries. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a leading global medical technology provider pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.
In fiscal 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, the Siemens Group generated revenue of EUR78.9 billion and net income of EUR10.4 billion. As of September 30, 2025, the company employed around 318,000 people worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
Siemens Digital Industries (DI) empowers companies of all sizes within the process and discrete manufacturing industries to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformation across the entire value chain. Siemens' cutting-edge automation and software portfolio revolutionizes the design, realization and optimization of products and production. And with Siemens Xcelerator - the open digital business platform - this process is made even easier, faster, and scalable. Together with our partners and ecosystem, Siemens Digital Industries enables customers to become a sustainable Digital Enterprise. Siemens Digital Industries has a workforce of around 70,000 people worldwide.
Note: A list of relevant Siemens trademarks can be found here. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
***
Original text here: https://news.siemens.com/en-us/siemens-nvidia-dac-2026/
* * *
Siemens advances self-verifying agentic AI workflows for semiconductor and PCB design
*
* Combines Siemens' EDA expertise and software with NVIDIA AI infrastructure and software to improve result quality, time-to-results, tool-calling reliability and token efficiency for long-running engineering workloads
* Enables agentic AI workflows that help engineers improve productivity and design ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 26 [Category: BizIndustrial Materials] -- Siemens USA, a technology company that say it focuses on industry, infrastructure, transport and healthcare, posted the following news release: * * * Siemens advances self-verifying agentic AI workflows for semiconductor and PCB design * * Combines Siemens' EDA expertise and software with NVIDIA AI infrastructure and software to improve result quality, time-to-results, tool-calling reliability and token efficiency for long-running engineering workloads * Enables agentic AI workflows that help engineers improve productivity and designquality across the electronic design automation (EDA) lifecycle
* Delivers more predictable, trusted outcomes through physics-based EDA software validation
* Integrates with Siemens' Intelligence Center X, supporting agent creation and orchestration, and intelligence into broader enterprise reasoning across design, manufacturing and supply chain operations
Siemens today announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with NVIDIA to deliver self-verifying agentic AI workflows to EDA, helping semiconductor and printed circuit board (PCB) engineering teams move from autonomous task orchestration toward more trusted, continuously validated engineering outcomes. The new capabilities build on Siemens' recently introduced Fuse(tm) EDA AI Agent system and add new NVIDIA AI technology to help long-running, domain scoped, AI agents reason, act and continuously validate decisions against deterministic, physics-based EDA engines.
The updates to Siemens' Fuse EDA AI Agent are designed to help the semiconductor and PCB industry move beyond simple automation and deliver trusted and verifiable outcomes that improve result quality, time-to-results, tool-calling reliability and token efficiency across long-running engineering workloads. The Fuse EDA AI Agent system is now integrated into Siemens' recently launched Intelligence Center X, supporting agent creation and orchestration in Siemens' enterprise industrial AI environment. Intelligence Center X delivers AI-driven, coordinated processes across design, manufacturing and supply chain - enhancing the comprehensive Digital Twin to support smarter execution and more trusted outcomes.
"Our expanded collaboration with NVIDIA enhances our domain-specific industrial AI, physics-based EDA engines and accelerated computing to create trusted, self-verifying AI workflows," said Amit Gupta, senior vice president and chief AI strategy officer, Siemens EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software. "By enabling autonomous and long-running EDA AI agents to continuously validate their decisions against proven engineering tools accurately and efficiently, we help customers accelerate development, improve design quality and increase confidence in trusted engineering outcomes."
"Semiconductor and PCB design are among the most complex engineering challenges in the world, and AI agents need trusted tools to reason, act and verify their work," said Timothy Costa, vice president and general manager of computational engineering at NVIDIA. "Siemens is combining its EDA software with NVIDIA accelerated computing, AI software and Nemotron open models to create self-verifying agentic workflows that improve design quality, speed up results and give engineering teams greater confidence in every step of the process."
Enabling trusted self-verifying AI agents for semiconductor and PCB design
The Fuse EDA AI Agent solution now combines Siemens engineering intelligence and trusted verification capabilities with NVIDIA AI infrastructure technologies to execute complex semiconductor design tasks with enhanced speed and precision:
* Optimized EDA agents built with NVIDIA NeMo Gym open library for agentic environments improve result quality, speed and token efficiency for semiconductor and PCB design. This empowers customers with EDA design flows that get smarter over time with self-verifying agents which learn from every project to automatically improve execution strategies, optimize workflows and make better use of accumulated context.
* The NVIDIA OpenShell secure runtime enables enterprise scale design teams to run autonomous agents across their entire EDA environment with enterprise-grade security, access controls and audit trails within governed runtime environments.
* Advanced reasoning with the latest NVIDIA Nemotron models and Switchyard accelerates design with AI agents that understand complex engineering trade-offs at the speed of AI reasoning and supports complex engineering workflows with improved performance and token efficiency.
* NVIDIA accelerated computing and CUDA-X libraries helps design teams achieve signoff-quality results in hours instead of days, powering both AI reasoning and EDA engines for dramatic speedups without sacrificing accuracy.
Together, these capabilities enable secure and token-efficient multi-agent coordination, real-time feedback and improved convergence across semiconductor and PCB design and verification flows, helping customers achieve trusted engineering outcomes.
Comprehensive end-to-end design automation
Building on these capabilities, Siemens' Fuse EDA AI Agent orchestrates workflows across the semiconductor and PCB lifecycle. Domain-specific agents collaborate across synthesis, verification, implementation and validation processes to optimize outcomes holistically.
The new offering spans Siemens' EDA technologies across the full semiconductor and electronics lifecycles, from high-level synthesis with Catapult, verification with Questa One and Veloce, and custom IC design and verification with Solido, through to physical implementation with Aprisa, signoff verification with Calibre and design-for-test with Tessent. It also supports advanced 3D IC integration using Innovator3D IC and PCB design with Xpedition.
Accelerating custom integrated circuit (IC) design with agentic AI
The expanded collaboration enhances Siemens' Solido Characterization Suite with agentic AI capabilities. These agentic workflows automate library characterization by automatically generating and verifying Liberty files by running Solido Characterizer with Solido LibSPICE, Solido Generator and Solido Analytics. The solution delivers production-proven results for advanced-node standard cell, memory and custom IP libraries while reducing characterization turnaround times by more than 10X and achieving over a 5X to 10X reduction in token costs.
These agentic capabilities extend further into the custom IC design flow with the new Solido Layout Analyzer, an AI-powered measurement-aware solution for visualizing, exploring and analyzing parasitic and layout-dependent effects in post-layout designs. Integrated with Fuse EDA AI Agent, Solido Layout Analyzer dramatically boosts design quality and engineering productivity by enabling natural language prompting with results analysis, fixing recommendations, and report generation.
"For STMicroelectronics' non-volatile memory team, the ability to relate layout insight directly to electrical behavior is critical. Rather than discovering layout dependent effects late in the process, Solido Layout Analyzer brings this analysis earlier into the flow, improving design confidence and helping cut down the time we spend debugging complex design blocks by weeks. We are planning to test and validate the advantages in our on-going design activity," said Gianbattista Lo Giudice, Non-Volatile Memory Design manager, STMicroelectronics.
Accelerating digital verification with agentic AI
With verification consuming up to 70 percent of design time and complexity, the industry faces an unprecedented productivity crisis. Building on the recently announced Questa One Agentic Toolkit, Siemens is extending these domain-scoped agentic AI workflows with NVIDIA's Nemotron 3 Ultra reasoning model, designed for complex, long-running agents. In agentic RTL benchmarking with the ACE-RTL agent, Nemotron 3 Ultra leads among open models. Its reasoning and efficiency help autonomous agents evaluate engineering trade-offs while continuously validating designs against golden test harness. This enables teams to identify issues earlier, accelerate verification closure, and deliver trusted outcomes faster.
"We're at an inflection point where the complexity of AI chips, chiplets, and 3D ICs has outpaced traditional verification methodologies," said Abhi Kolpekwar, senior vice president and general manager Digital Verification Technologies, Siemens EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software, "agentic AI is the natural path forward that scales with this complexity-agents that can orchestrate multi-domain verification, reason across billions of test scenarios, and deliver production-quality results in timeframes that were impossible just two years ago."
Availability
Siemens' expanded AI-driven EDA capabilities will be available in forthcoming releases of Siemens' AI-native EDA portfolio. To learn more about how Siemens is bringing the power of Agentic AI to the EDA industry, visit https://www.siemens.com/en-us/products/fuse-eda-ai-system/agent/
Siemens Digital Industries Software helps organizations of all sizes digitally transform using software, hardware and services from the Siemens Xcelerator business platform. Siemens' software and the comprehensive digital twin enable companies to optimize their design, engineering and manufacturing processes to turn today's ideas into the sustainable products of the future. From chips to entire systems, from product to process, across all industries. Siemens Digital Industries Software - Accelerating transformation.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company's purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more livable, and transportation more sustainable. A leader in industrial AI, Siemens leverages its deep domain know-how to apply AI - including generative AI - to real-world applications, making AI accessible and impactful for customers across diverse industries. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a leading global medical technology provider pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.
In fiscal 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, the Siemens Group generated revenue of EUR78.9 billion and net income of EUR10.4 billion. As of September 30, 2025, the company employed around 318,000 people worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
Siemens Digital Industries (DI) empowers companies of all sizes within the process and discrete manufacturing industries to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformation across the entire value chain. Siemens' cutting-edge automation and software portfolio revolutionizes the design, realization and optimization of products and production. And with Siemens Xcelerator - the open digital business platform - this process is made even easier, faster, and scalable. Together with our partners and ecosystem, Siemens Digital Industries enables customers to become a sustainable Digital Enterprise. Siemens Digital Industries has a workforce of around 70,000 people worldwide.
Note: A list of relevant Siemens trademarks can be found here. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
***
Original text here: https://news.siemens.com/en-us/siemens-nvidia-dac-2026/
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce $500,000 Commitment to West Virginia Flood Relief
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, July 25 -- Walmart issued the following news:
* * *
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce $500,000 Commitment to West Virginia Flood Relief
Supporting associates, customers and communities impacted by severe flooding
-
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are supporting communities across West Virginia following the severe flooding that has devastated neighborhoods, damaged homes and businesses, and disrupted the lives of families across the region. The response includes a $500,000 commitment from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, along with on-the-ground relief ... Show Full Article BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, July 25 -- Walmart issued the following news: * * * Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce $500,000 Commitment to West Virginia Flood Relief Supporting associates, customers and communities impacted by severe flooding - Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are supporting communities across West Virginia following the severe flooding that has devastated neighborhoods, damaged homes and businesses, and disrupted the lives of families across the region. The response includes a $500,000 commitment from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, along with on-the-ground reliefefforts helping communities address immediate needs, cleanup efforts and relief.
A Coordinated Response
As relief efforts continue, Walmart is working alongside nonprofit organizations and local leaders to help ensure resources reach the communities that need them most. To date, the company's response includes:
* A $500,000 commitment from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation to support immediate needs, cleanup efforts and relief across impacted West Virginia communities.
* Our response also includes grants, gift cards and truckloads of donated food, water and other essential items supporting impacted communities through the Mountaineer Food Bank, Buckhannon Fire Department and other local organizations.
* Walmart Supercenter #2809 (Buckhannon): Walmart Disaster Relief is serving hot meals and bottled water alongside Operation BBQ Relief, providing bottled water, donated cleaning supplies and offering laundry services.
* Weston Donation Center (284 Market Place Mall, Weston, WV 26452): Hot meals, bottled water, mobile shower and drop-off laundry services, Wi-Fi, hotspot access and charging stations are available for impacted community members.
* These relief efforts are made possible with support from Operation BBQ Relief and ITDRC, as well as a collaboration between Matthew 25: Ministries, Tide Loads of Hope, Walmart and Procter & Gamble.
* Continued coordination with nonprofit organizations, emergency management officials and local leaders to assess evolving needs and provide additional support where it can make the greatest impact.
Standing with West Virginia Communities
Relief takes more than financial support--it takes neighbors, local organizations and community leaders working together. Walmart is committed to supporting that work by working alongside trusted organizations that know these communities best. Through this response, we hope these resources help meet immediate needs while supporting communities through the days ahead.
Across West Virginia, we've already seen the resilience of communities coming together in the face of unimaginable challenges. Associates, customers, first responders and neighbors are supporting one another with compassion and determination, demonstrating the strength that defines these communities. Walmart is proud to stand alongside them during these relief efforts.
"Flash flooding like we've seen in West Virginia can change lives in an instant, creating overwhelming challenges for families and communities. We are proud of the way our associates have already shown up for their neighbors, and we're committed to supporting those efforts with resources that help meet immediate needs--including funding for local organizations and essentials like food, water and mobile laundry and shower services in our parking lots. We're honored to stand alongside our West Virginia communities as they begin the road to recovery," said Kyle Kinnard, EVP and chief operations officer, Walmart U.S.
Our Ongoing Commitment
For decades, Walmart has worked alongside communities before, during and after disasters because our associates and customers call these places home. Through trusted nonprofit organizations and the strength of our dedicated associates, stores, and supply chain, Walmart helps deliver the resources communities need when they need them most.
* * *
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
* * *
Original text here: https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/07/24/walmarts-commitment-to-west-virginia-flood-relief
[Category: BizConsumer Services]
* * *
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce $500,000 Commitment to West Virginia Flood Relief
Supporting associates, customers and communities impacted by severe flooding
-
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are supporting communities across West Virginia following the severe flooding that has devastated neighborhoods, damaged homes and businesses, and disrupted the lives of families across the region. The response includes a $500,000 commitment from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, along with on-the-ground relief ... Show Full Article BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, July 25 -- Walmart issued the following news: * * * Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce $500,000 Commitment to West Virginia Flood Relief Supporting associates, customers and communities impacted by severe flooding - Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are supporting communities across West Virginia following the severe flooding that has devastated neighborhoods, damaged homes and businesses, and disrupted the lives of families across the region. The response includes a $500,000 commitment from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, along with on-the-ground reliefefforts helping communities address immediate needs, cleanup efforts and relief.
A Coordinated Response
As relief efforts continue, Walmart is working alongside nonprofit organizations and local leaders to help ensure resources reach the communities that need them most. To date, the company's response includes:
* A $500,000 commitment from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation to support immediate needs, cleanup efforts and relief across impacted West Virginia communities.
* Our response also includes grants, gift cards and truckloads of donated food, water and other essential items supporting impacted communities through the Mountaineer Food Bank, Buckhannon Fire Department and other local organizations.
* Walmart Supercenter #2809 (Buckhannon): Walmart Disaster Relief is serving hot meals and bottled water alongside Operation BBQ Relief, providing bottled water, donated cleaning supplies and offering laundry services.
* Weston Donation Center (284 Market Place Mall, Weston, WV 26452): Hot meals, bottled water, mobile shower and drop-off laundry services, Wi-Fi, hotspot access and charging stations are available for impacted community members.
* These relief efforts are made possible with support from Operation BBQ Relief and ITDRC, as well as a collaboration between Matthew 25: Ministries, Tide Loads of Hope, Walmart and Procter & Gamble.
* Continued coordination with nonprofit organizations, emergency management officials and local leaders to assess evolving needs and provide additional support where it can make the greatest impact.
Standing with West Virginia Communities
Relief takes more than financial support--it takes neighbors, local organizations and community leaders working together. Walmart is committed to supporting that work by working alongside trusted organizations that know these communities best. Through this response, we hope these resources help meet immediate needs while supporting communities through the days ahead.
Across West Virginia, we've already seen the resilience of communities coming together in the face of unimaginable challenges. Associates, customers, first responders and neighbors are supporting one another with compassion and determination, demonstrating the strength that defines these communities. Walmart is proud to stand alongside them during these relief efforts.
"Flash flooding like we've seen in West Virginia can change lives in an instant, creating overwhelming challenges for families and communities. We are proud of the way our associates have already shown up for their neighbors, and we're committed to supporting those efforts with resources that help meet immediate needs--including funding for local organizations and essentials like food, water and mobile laundry and shower services in our parking lots. We're honored to stand alongside our West Virginia communities as they begin the road to recovery," said Kyle Kinnard, EVP and chief operations officer, Walmart U.S.
Our Ongoing Commitment
For decades, Walmart has worked alongside communities before, during and after disasters because our associates and customers call these places home. Through trusted nonprofit organizations and the strength of our dedicated associates, stores, and supply chain, Walmart helps deliver the resources communities need when they need them most.
* * *
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
* * *
Original text here: https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/07/24/walmarts-commitment-to-west-virginia-flood-relief
[Category: BizConsumer Services]
Marcus & Millichap Brokers Grocery-Anchored Retail Center Sale in Northeastern Florida
ENCINO, California, July 25 -- Marcus and Millichap issued the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Marcus & Millichap Brokers Grocery-Anchored Retail Center Sale in Northeastern Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, financing, research and advisory services, announced today the sale of The Plaza at Normandy, a 58,691-square-foot Publix Super Market-anchored retail center in Jacksonville, Florida. The center sold for $20,685,000.
"The property is a rare, newly built, well-located ... Show Full Article ENCINO, California, July 25 -- Marcus and Millichap issued the following news release on July 24, 2026: * * * Marcus & Millichap Brokers Grocery-Anchored Retail Center Sale in Northeastern Florida JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, financing, research and advisory services, announced today the sale of The Plaza at Normandy, a 58,691-square-foot Publix Super Market-anchored retail center in Jacksonville, Florida. The center sold for $20,685,000. "The property is a rare, newly built, well-locatedPublix-anchored shopping center in a high- growth submarket of Jacksonville," said Laurie Ann (LA) Drinkwater, CCIM, senior managing director investments with Marcus & Millichap. "Our client recognized the superior blend of credit, age, and growth fundamentals that fit well into their larger multi-property 1031 exchange. This was part of the overall strategy for the client after having divested several properties in the Greater Boston area in order to branch out into Florida and other East Coast markets. They are very excited to be adding two Publix-anchored shopping centers to their portfolio."
Drinkwater, in association with Ryan Nee, Marcus & Millichap's broker of record in Florida, represented the buyer, Bruce Percelay, chairman of The Mount Vernon Company.
Built in 2024 near the intersection of Normandy Boulevard/Florida State Route 228 and Chaffee Road South on over 16 acres, The Plaza at Normandy is accessible from Interstate 10, Interstate 295, and the First Coast Expressway.
The Cecil Commerce Center and the Chimney Lakes, Normandy Village, and Normandy Estates neighborhoods are nearby. The Publix Super Market has a drive- thru pharmacy, and a Publix Liquors is adjacent. Additional tenants include UPS, AT&T, Hair Cuttery, Xtreme Wings, and Nail Art Studio & Spa.
* * *
About Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (NYSE: MMI)
Marcus & Millichap, Inc. is a leading brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services with offices throughout the United States and Canada. As of December 31, 2025, the company had 1,808 investment sales and financing professionals in over 80 offices who provide investment brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. The company also offers market research, consulting and advisory services to clients. Marcus & Millichap closed 8,818 transactions in 2025, with a sales volume of approximately $50.9 billion. For additional information, please visit www.MarcusMillichap.com.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.marcusmillichap.com/news-events/press/2026/07/marcus-millichap-brokers-grocery-anchored-retail-center-sale-in-northeastern-florida
[Category: BizRealEstate]
* * *
Marcus & Millichap Brokers Grocery-Anchored Retail Center Sale in Northeastern Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, financing, research and advisory services, announced today the sale of The Plaza at Normandy, a 58,691-square-foot Publix Super Market-anchored retail center in Jacksonville, Florida. The center sold for $20,685,000.
"The property is a rare, newly built, well-located ... Show Full Article ENCINO, California, July 25 -- Marcus and Millichap issued the following news release on July 24, 2026: * * * Marcus & Millichap Brokers Grocery-Anchored Retail Center Sale in Northeastern Florida JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, financing, research and advisory services, announced today the sale of The Plaza at Normandy, a 58,691-square-foot Publix Super Market-anchored retail center in Jacksonville, Florida. The center sold for $20,685,000. "The property is a rare, newly built, well-locatedPublix-anchored shopping center in a high- growth submarket of Jacksonville," said Laurie Ann (LA) Drinkwater, CCIM, senior managing director investments with Marcus & Millichap. "Our client recognized the superior blend of credit, age, and growth fundamentals that fit well into their larger multi-property 1031 exchange. This was part of the overall strategy for the client after having divested several properties in the Greater Boston area in order to branch out into Florida and other East Coast markets. They are very excited to be adding two Publix-anchored shopping centers to their portfolio."
Drinkwater, in association with Ryan Nee, Marcus & Millichap's broker of record in Florida, represented the buyer, Bruce Percelay, chairman of The Mount Vernon Company.
Built in 2024 near the intersection of Normandy Boulevard/Florida State Route 228 and Chaffee Road South on over 16 acres, The Plaza at Normandy is accessible from Interstate 10, Interstate 295, and the First Coast Expressway.
The Cecil Commerce Center and the Chimney Lakes, Normandy Village, and Normandy Estates neighborhoods are nearby. The Publix Super Market has a drive- thru pharmacy, and a Publix Liquors is adjacent. Additional tenants include UPS, AT&T, Hair Cuttery, Xtreme Wings, and Nail Art Studio & Spa.
* * *
About Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (NYSE: MMI)
Marcus & Millichap, Inc. is a leading brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services with offices throughout the United States and Canada. As of December 31, 2025, the company had 1,808 investment sales and financing professionals in over 80 offices who provide investment brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. The company also offers market research, consulting and advisory services to clients. Marcus & Millichap closed 8,818 transactions in 2025, with a sales volume of approximately $50.9 billion. For additional information, please visit www.MarcusMillichap.com.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.marcusmillichap.com/news-events/press/2026/07/marcus-millichap-brokers-grocery-anchored-retail-center-sale-in-northeastern-florida
[Category: BizRealEstate]
Littler Issues Commentary: Netherlands' More Security for Flex Workers Bill Has Been Enacted - What Does This Mean for Employers?
SAN FRANCISCO, California, July 25 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on July 24, 2026, by counsel Tanya van Nieuwstadt:
* * *
The Netherlands' More Security for Flex Workers Bill Has Been Enacted: What Does This Mean for Employers?
On July 7, 2026, the Senate of the Dutch Parliament approved the More Security for Flex Workers Act ("the Act"). Under the Act, which takes effect on January 1, 2028, employees with flexible employment contracts will have greater security regarding their income and working hours.
In the Netherlands, 3 out of 10 employees currently have what ... Show Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, California, July 25 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on July 24, 2026, by counsel Tanya van Nieuwstadt: * * * The Netherlands' More Security for Flex Workers Bill Has Been Enacted: What Does This Mean for Employers? On July 7, 2026, the Senate of the Dutch Parliament approved the More Security for Flex Workers Act ("the Act"). Under the Act, which takes effect on January 1, 2028, employees with flexible employment contracts will have greater security regarding their income and working hours. In the Netherlands, 3 out of 10 employees currently have whatis known as a flexible contract, where the scope and/or duration of the contract is not clearly defined or guaranteed. Nowhere else in Europe is that percentage so high.
The Act is part of a broader reform of the labor market and introduces a number of significant changes for employers that use temporary employment contracts, on-call workers, and/or temporary agency workers--also known as the "flexible workforce."
What is changing?
The most important changes are:
* Less leeway for successive temporary contracts. It is still possible to enter into three consecutive, fixed-term contracts for a maximum of 36 months, but in order to break the chain, the Act requires an interruption of more than 36 months (this currently stands at more than 6 months). This change is expected to prevent nearly 100% of the so-called revolving-door situations.
* The zero-hours contract will no longer be allowed. Instead, the Act introduces a bandwidth contract. A minimum and a maximum number of hours are agreed, whereby the difference between the two may not exceed 30%. This means that if the minimum is 10 hours, the maximum is 13 hours. Employees may refuse calls to work that exceed the maximum limit. And if an employee works more hours on a regular basis, they must be offered a contract with a higher number of hours. However, the Act does provide an exception for side jobs held by people who have another primary occupation, such as those eligible for the old age pension, high school students, and college students.
* More protection for temporary workers. Under the Act, temporary workers must be provided with terms of employment that are at least equivalent to those of regular employees. As far as remuneration is concerned, this had already been established by a ruling of the European Court of Justice, but this now therefore applies to all terms of employment as well. In addition, the most vulnerable phases for temporary workers will be shortened, and the Minister will be given the authority to intervene in cases of systemic underpayment in the temporary employment sector. This provision will take effect earlier, specifically on December 31, 2026.
The purpose of the Act is clear: regular work should, as far as possible, be carried out on the basis of a permanent employment relationship, i.e., on the basis of an employment contract for an indefinite period.
What does this mean for employers?
Companies that regularly rely on on-call workers, temporary contracts, or temporary agency workers would be wise to assess, over the coming months, whether their staffing strategy--and specifically, how they utilize a flexible workforce--remains future-proof.
Considerations could include:
* the use of on-call staff and the scheduling of shifts;
* the use of successive temporary contracts/temporary seasonal contracts;
* the use of temporary workers for ongoing tasks;
* the development of a long-term staff planning strategy;
* how many and which (groups of) employees will be subject to the new rules;
* how many and which types of contracts will need to be amended;
* what is the financial and organizational impact of the changes?
Now that the Act has actually been enacted, this is the perfect time for employers to prepare for these changes, take a critical look at their work organization and their flexible workforce in particular, and ensure that it complies with the new rules.
* * *
Authors
Tanya van Nieuwstadt
Counsel
Amsterdam
tvannieuwstadt@littler.nl
* * *
Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/netherlands-more-security-flex-workers-bill-has-been-enacted-what-does-mean
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
* * *
The Netherlands' More Security for Flex Workers Bill Has Been Enacted: What Does This Mean for Employers?
On July 7, 2026, the Senate of the Dutch Parliament approved the More Security for Flex Workers Act ("the Act"). Under the Act, which takes effect on January 1, 2028, employees with flexible employment contracts will have greater security regarding their income and working hours.
In the Netherlands, 3 out of 10 employees currently have what ... Show Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, California, July 25 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on July 24, 2026, by counsel Tanya van Nieuwstadt: * * * The Netherlands' More Security for Flex Workers Bill Has Been Enacted: What Does This Mean for Employers? On July 7, 2026, the Senate of the Dutch Parliament approved the More Security for Flex Workers Act ("the Act"). Under the Act, which takes effect on January 1, 2028, employees with flexible employment contracts will have greater security regarding their income and working hours. In the Netherlands, 3 out of 10 employees currently have whatis known as a flexible contract, where the scope and/or duration of the contract is not clearly defined or guaranteed. Nowhere else in Europe is that percentage so high.
The Act is part of a broader reform of the labor market and introduces a number of significant changes for employers that use temporary employment contracts, on-call workers, and/or temporary agency workers--also known as the "flexible workforce."
What is changing?
The most important changes are:
* Less leeway for successive temporary contracts. It is still possible to enter into three consecutive, fixed-term contracts for a maximum of 36 months, but in order to break the chain, the Act requires an interruption of more than 36 months (this currently stands at more than 6 months). This change is expected to prevent nearly 100% of the so-called revolving-door situations.
* The zero-hours contract will no longer be allowed. Instead, the Act introduces a bandwidth contract. A minimum and a maximum number of hours are agreed, whereby the difference between the two may not exceed 30%. This means that if the minimum is 10 hours, the maximum is 13 hours. Employees may refuse calls to work that exceed the maximum limit. And if an employee works more hours on a regular basis, they must be offered a contract with a higher number of hours. However, the Act does provide an exception for side jobs held by people who have another primary occupation, such as those eligible for the old age pension, high school students, and college students.
* More protection for temporary workers. Under the Act, temporary workers must be provided with terms of employment that are at least equivalent to those of regular employees. As far as remuneration is concerned, this had already been established by a ruling of the European Court of Justice, but this now therefore applies to all terms of employment as well. In addition, the most vulnerable phases for temporary workers will be shortened, and the Minister will be given the authority to intervene in cases of systemic underpayment in the temporary employment sector. This provision will take effect earlier, specifically on December 31, 2026.
The purpose of the Act is clear: regular work should, as far as possible, be carried out on the basis of a permanent employment relationship, i.e., on the basis of an employment contract for an indefinite period.
What does this mean for employers?
Companies that regularly rely on on-call workers, temporary contracts, or temporary agency workers would be wise to assess, over the coming months, whether their staffing strategy--and specifically, how they utilize a flexible workforce--remains future-proof.
Considerations could include:
* the use of on-call staff and the scheduling of shifts;
* the use of successive temporary contracts/temporary seasonal contracts;
* the use of temporary workers for ongoing tasks;
* the development of a long-term staff planning strategy;
* how many and which (groups of) employees will be subject to the new rules;
* how many and which types of contracts will need to be amended;
* what is the financial and organizational impact of the changes?
Now that the Act has actually been enacted, this is the perfect time for employers to prepare for these changes, take a critical look at their work organization and their flexible workforce in particular, and ensure that it complies with the new rules.
* * *
Authors
Tanya van Nieuwstadt
Counsel
Amsterdam
tvannieuwstadt@littler.nl
* * *
Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/netherlands-more-security-flex-workers-bill-has-been-enacted-what-does-mean
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Littler Issues Commentary: German Employment Law in Transition - Coalition Committee Agrees on Noteworthy Reforms
SAN FRANCISCO, California, July 25 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on July 24, 2026, by counsel Ulrike Schulke:
* * *
German Employment Law in Transition: Coalition Committee Agrees on Noteworthy Reforms
At a Glance
* The German Coalition Committee has agreed to a draft package of political resolutions, including several that would impact employment law.
* Proposed changes would amend the separation process for highly compensated employees, revise the law governing fixed-term employment, create preferential tax treatment for certain severance payments, abolish sick ... Show Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, California, July 25 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on July 24, 2026, by counsel Ulrike Schulke: * * * German Employment Law in Transition: Coalition Committee Agrees on Noteworthy Reforms At a Glance * The German Coalition Committee has agreed to a draft package of political resolutions, including several that would impact employment law. * Proposed changes would amend the separation process for highly compensated employees, revise the law governing fixed-term employment, create preferential tax treatment for certain severance payments, abolish sicknotes issued by telephone, and require the provision of a certificate of incapacity for work from the first day of illness, among others.
-
The German Federal Government, formed by the CDU/CSU (conservative political party union) and SPD (social democratic political party), has agreed in the Coalition Committee on a comprehensive "Program for Growth and Employment." The package of measures includes a number of employment-law initiatives that employers should monitor closely over the coming months. Of particular relevance are new options for terminating employment relationships with high earners, the planned expansion of fixed-term employment without objective grounds, and changes relating to the certificate of incapacity for work.
Below is an initial overview of the key employment-law proposals and assessment of their practical significance for companies, should the program be enacted in this form:
1. Easier Separation from Top Earners: From Protection against Dismissal to Protection by Severance
The planned introduction of a "dissolution of the employment relationship with a severance option" for top earners would be of considerable practical relevance. The provision is intended to apply from January 1, 2027, to employees whose annual income exceeds 1.75 times the contribution assessment ceiling for the German statutory pension insurance (currently approximately EUR 178,000).
In this respect, the coalition expressly draws on the rules familiar from the financial sector for so-called risk takers. Although details of the specific legislative design are not yet available, adopting the risk-taker regime from the financial sector (Section 25a(5a) of the German Banking Act (KWG)) would mean that employers would no longer face a reinstatement risk. In practical terms, employees falling within the scope of the provision could be dismissed even where the dismissal is ultimately held to be invalid, with the separation then being enforced by way of a request for judicial dissolution against payment of severance. Because the amount of severance to be determined by the court is capped (currently, under Section 10 of the German Dismissal Protection Act (KSchG), at a maximum of 18 gross monthly salaries where the employee is 55 years old and has 20 years of service), the separation risk for employers would finally become calculable.
If this proposal is adopted, it will materially change the dynamics of separation processes involving highly compensated employees.
2. Fixed-Term Employment without Objective Grounds: A Return to Greater Flexibility
The announcements regarding fixed-term employment law are equally noteworthy. For employees hired on or before December 31, 2030, fixed-term employment without objective grounds--i.e., where the employer does not need to provide a reason for the limited contract--is to be permitted for up to 48 months, with up to six extensions. Particularly far-reaching is the announcement that renewed fixed-term employment without objective grounds with the same employer is also to be made possible.
This would go well beyond the current legal framework and would significantly expand flexibility in workforce planning. To date, Section 14(2) of the German Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG) generally permits fixed-term employment without objective grounds only for up to 24 months and with no more than three extensions.
In addition, the strict written-form requirement for fixed-term agreements is to be abolished as of January 1, 2027; in the future, text form is to suffice in this context as well.
3. Preferential Tax Treatment of Severance Payments
As a complementary measure, the coalition plans to introduce preferential tax treatment for severance payments where the individuals concerned promptly take up new employment or other gainful work. The tax benefit is intended to increase the faster the individual is reintegrated into the labor market. Specific legislative details are not yet available. However, the proposal is clearly aimed at facilitating job transitions and reducing the costs of unemployment benefits.
4. Telephone Sick Notes Set to Be Abolished; Certificate of Incapacity for Work Required from Day One
The coalition intends to abolish sick notes issued by telephone. In addition, employees are to be required to provide a certificate of incapacity for work from the first day of illness. The stated objective is to reduce absenteeism, although it remains open to question whether, in the case of very short illnesses, employees will be certified as unfit for work for several days rather than just one.
The added value for employers is not apparent, as employers have already been able to require a medical certificate from the first day of illness. In any event, employment contracts and internal processes will need to be reviewed and adjusted. It remains unclear whether it will still be possible in the future to agree that a certificate need only be submitted from the third day. In any case, it is doubtful whether the new rule will be adopted in view of the criticism likely to come from an already overburdened medical profession.
5. No Changes to Working Time
By contrast, no consensus was reached on changes to the existing working-time rules. The only agreement reached was to extend Sunday opening hours for bakeries, confectioneries, and libraries.
A possible new Working Time Act will, however, be "discussed later this summer," according to German Chancellor Merz.
Employees are also expected to take home more net pay from tax-privileged bonuses for work on Sundays and public holidays: the thresholds under Section 3b of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) are to be increased as of January 1, 2027, up to an hourly wage of EUR 75; at the same time, the tax-exempt bonus within the scope of a collective bargaining agreement will be made fully exempt from social security contributions.
6. Further Employment-Law-Relevant Initiatives
In addition to the reforms already widely discussed, the package of measures contains further changes with an employment-law nexus:
* The flat-rate tax for mini-jobs is to be increased from two to five percent.
* Employee participation at board level in an SE (Societas Europaea or European Company) is to be strengthened by abolishing the current possibility of using a "shelf SE" with no employees.
* Potential opening clauses in favor of the collective bargaining parties are to be discussed, particularly in the areas of employment law and occupational health and safety.
* An amendment to the German Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) is also to be discussed, with the aim of facilitating and accelerating the introduction of AI systems and technical equipment. The social partners are to develop proposals.
For the time being, these remain political resolutions only. The specific legislative implementation remains to be seen. In particular, the planned changes to fixed-term employment law and the obligation to submit certificates of incapacity for work are likely to give rise to intensive political debate.
Littler will closely monitor the legislative process and report on significant developments.
* * *
Authors
Ulrike Schulke
Counsel
Frankfurt am Main
uschulke@littler.com
* * *
Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/german-employment-law-transition-coalition-committee-agrees-noteworthy-reforms
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
* * *
German Employment Law in Transition: Coalition Committee Agrees on Noteworthy Reforms
At a Glance
* The German Coalition Committee has agreed to a draft package of political resolutions, including several that would impact employment law.
* Proposed changes would amend the separation process for highly compensated employees, revise the law governing fixed-term employment, create preferential tax treatment for certain severance payments, abolish sick ... Show Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, California, July 25 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on July 24, 2026, by counsel Ulrike Schulke: * * * German Employment Law in Transition: Coalition Committee Agrees on Noteworthy Reforms At a Glance * The German Coalition Committee has agreed to a draft package of political resolutions, including several that would impact employment law. * Proposed changes would amend the separation process for highly compensated employees, revise the law governing fixed-term employment, create preferential tax treatment for certain severance payments, abolish sicknotes issued by telephone, and require the provision of a certificate of incapacity for work from the first day of illness, among others.
-
The German Federal Government, formed by the CDU/CSU (conservative political party union) and SPD (social democratic political party), has agreed in the Coalition Committee on a comprehensive "Program for Growth and Employment." The package of measures includes a number of employment-law initiatives that employers should monitor closely over the coming months. Of particular relevance are new options for terminating employment relationships with high earners, the planned expansion of fixed-term employment without objective grounds, and changes relating to the certificate of incapacity for work.
Below is an initial overview of the key employment-law proposals and assessment of their practical significance for companies, should the program be enacted in this form:
1. Easier Separation from Top Earners: From Protection against Dismissal to Protection by Severance
The planned introduction of a "dissolution of the employment relationship with a severance option" for top earners would be of considerable practical relevance. The provision is intended to apply from January 1, 2027, to employees whose annual income exceeds 1.75 times the contribution assessment ceiling for the German statutory pension insurance (currently approximately EUR 178,000).
In this respect, the coalition expressly draws on the rules familiar from the financial sector for so-called risk takers. Although details of the specific legislative design are not yet available, adopting the risk-taker regime from the financial sector (Section 25a(5a) of the German Banking Act (KWG)) would mean that employers would no longer face a reinstatement risk. In practical terms, employees falling within the scope of the provision could be dismissed even where the dismissal is ultimately held to be invalid, with the separation then being enforced by way of a request for judicial dissolution against payment of severance. Because the amount of severance to be determined by the court is capped (currently, under Section 10 of the German Dismissal Protection Act (KSchG), at a maximum of 18 gross monthly salaries where the employee is 55 years old and has 20 years of service), the separation risk for employers would finally become calculable.
If this proposal is adopted, it will materially change the dynamics of separation processes involving highly compensated employees.
2. Fixed-Term Employment without Objective Grounds: A Return to Greater Flexibility
The announcements regarding fixed-term employment law are equally noteworthy. For employees hired on or before December 31, 2030, fixed-term employment without objective grounds--i.e., where the employer does not need to provide a reason for the limited contract--is to be permitted for up to 48 months, with up to six extensions. Particularly far-reaching is the announcement that renewed fixed-term employment without objective grounds with the same employer is also to be made possible.
This would go well beyond the current legal framework and would significantly expand flexibility in workforce planning. To date, Section 14(2) of the German Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG) generally permits fixed-term employment without objective grounds only for up to 24 months and with no more than three extensions.
In addition, the strict written-form requirement for fixed-term agreements is to be abolished as of January 1, 2027; in the future, text form is to suffice in this context as well.
3. Preferential Tax Treatment of Severance Payments
As a complementary measure, the coalition plans to introduce preferential tax treatment for severance payments where the individuals concerned promptly take up new employment or other gainful work. The tax benefit is intended to increase the faster the individual is reintegrated into the labor market. Specific legislative details are not yet available. However, the proposal is clearly aimed at facilitating job transitions and reducing the costs of unemployment benefits.
4. Telephone Sick Notes Set to Be Abolished; Certificate of Incapacity for Work Required from Day One
The coalition intends to abolish sick notes issued by telephone. In addition, employees are to be required to provide a certificate of incapacity for work from the first day of illness. The stated objective is to reduce absenteeism, although it remains open to question whether, in the case of very short illnesses, employees will be certified as unfit for work for several days rather than just one.
The added value for employers is not apparent, as employers have already been able to require a medical certificate from the first day of illness. In any event, employment contracts and internal processes will need to be reviewed and adjusted. It remains unclear whether it will still be possible in the future to agree that a certificate need only be submitted from the third day. In any case, it is doubtful whether the new rule will be adopted in view of the criticism likely to come from an already overburdened medical profession.
5. No Changes to Working Time
By contrast, no consensus was reached on changes to the existing working-time rules. The only agreement reached was to extend Sunday opening hours for bakeries, confectioneries, and libraries.
A possible new Working Time Act will, however, be "discussed later this summer," according to German Chancellor Merz.
Employees are also expected to take home more net pay from tax-privileged bonuses for work on Sundays and public holidays: the thresholds under Section 3b of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) are to be increased as of January 1, 2027, up to an hourly wage of EUR 75; at the same time, the tax-exempt bonus within the scope of a collective bargaining agreement will be made fully exempt from social security contributions.
6. Further Employment-Law-Relevant Initiatives
In addition to the reforms already widely discussed, the package of measures contains further changes with an employment-law nexus:
* The flat-rate tax for mini-jobs is to be increased from two to five percent.
* Employee participation at board level in an SE (Societas Europaea or European Company) is to be strengthened by abolishing the current possibility of using a "shelf SE" with no employees.
* Potential opening clauses in favor of the collective bargaining parties are to be discussed, particularly in the areas of employment law and occupational health and safety.
* An amendment to the German Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) is also to be discussed, with the aim of facilitating and accelerating the introduction of AI systems and technical equipment. The social partners are to develop proposals.
For the time being, these remain political resolutions only. The specific legislative implementation remains to be seen. In particular, the planned changes to fixed-term employment law and the obligation to submit certificates of incapacity for work are likely to give rise to intensive political debate.
Littler will closely monitor the legislative process and report on significant developments.
* * *
Authors
Ulrike Schulke
Counsel
Frankfurt am Main
uschulke@littler.com
* * *
Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/german-employment-law-transition-coalition-committee-agrees-noteworthy-reforms
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Fastly Joins Experian Agent Trust Ecosystem to Advance Trusted AI Commerce
COSTA MESA, California, July 25 -- Experian, an information services company, posted the following news release on July 24, 2026:
* * *
Fastly Joins Experian Agent Trust(TM) Ecosystem to Advance Trusted AI Commerce
New collaboration helps enterprises verify AI agents, authorize transactions in real time, and transform autonomous traffic into a trusted business opportunity
Key Highlights
* Fastly joins the Experian Agent Trust(TM) ecosystem, extending trust decisions to the network edge and helping organizations securely verify and authorize AI driven transactions.
* Experian Human to Agent ... Show Full Article COSTA MESA, California, July 25 -- Experian, an information services company, posted the following news release on July 24, 2026: * * * Fastly Joins Experian Agent Trust(TM) Ecosystem to Advance Trusted AI Commerce New collaboration helps enterprises verify AI agents, authorize transactions in real time, and transform autonomous traffic into a trusted business opportunity Key Highlights * Fastly joins the Experian Agent Trust(TM) ecosystem, extending trust decisions to the network edge and helping organizations securely verify and authorize AI driven transactions. * Experian Human to AgentBinding securely connects verified consumers, devices, and AI agents, creating trusted relationships that enable accountable autonomous commerce.
* Together, Experian and Fastly help organizations verify AI agents, evaluate delegated authority, and authorize transactions before requests reach their applications.
* Fastly works with existing APIs, authentication systems, payment workflows, and security controls so organizations can adopt trusted AI commerce without rebuilding their infrastructure.
-
Experian today announced that Fastly (NASDAQ: FSLY), a leading global edge cloud platform, has joined the growing Experian Agent Trust(TM) ecosystem. Together, the companies will help enterprises verify AI agents, authorize transactions, and make trust decisions in real time as autonomous commerce continues to grow.
"Agentic commerce represents one of the most significant shifts in digital commerce since the rise of mobile," said Kathleen Peters, Chief Innovation Officer at Experian. "As AI agents become active participants in online transactions, businesses need infrastructure that establishes trust without slowing down the customer experience. Experian's Human to Agent Binding is foundational to that trust, creating a persistent connection between verified people and the AI agents acting on their behalf. Fastly extends those trust decisions to the edge, helping organizations authorize transactions in milliseconds while creating secure, seamless experiences for consumers and businesses alike."
AI agents are now capable of discovering, recommending and purchasing items on behalf of shoppers. As that happens, organizations need a reliable way to understand which agents they can trust, who those agents represent, and whether they are authorized to act.
Experian Agent Trust addresses this challenge by establishing trusted identity, delegated authority, and transaction confidence for AI agents. Through Human to Agent Binding, Experian securely connects verified individuals, their devices, and the AI agents acting on their behalf. Fastly joins a growing ecosystem of technology partners working with Experian to build an open framework for trusted AI commerce.
Fastly's programmable edge platform enables organizations to verify AI agent identity, evaluate trust signals, and authorize transactions before requests reach their origin infrastructure. Because the platform integrates with existing APIs, authentication systems, payment workflows, and security controls, businesses can support trusted AI commerce without redesigning their existing applications.
"As AI agents become an increasingly important channel for digital commerce, businesses need a way to distinguish trusted, authorized agents from everything else," said Jeff Alpen, Vice President of Fastly's Partner Ecosystem. "Instead of treating every autonomous agent as something to block, Fastly enables businesses to verify who is behind the request, attach commercial value, and authorize transactions in real time. We help organizations turn trusted AI agents into a competitive advantage without requiring them to rearchitect their existing infrastructure."
Trust Decisions at the Edge
Within the Experian Agent Trust ecosystem, Fastly extends Experian's trust framework to the network edge, enabling organizations to evaluate AI agent identity, delegated authority, intent, and payment credentials before requests reach backend systems.
Fastly also supports integrations with emerging Know Your Agent technologies, including Skyfire, helping businesses validate identity and payment credentials in milliseconds. Organizations can apply identity-based access policies, pricing, rate limiting, and transaction approval while maintaining performance and preserving their existing business logic.
Rather than viewing AI generated traffic solely as a cybersecurity concern, organizations can recognize trusted AI agents as a new channel for digital commerce that is authenticated, accountable, and ready to transact.
A Growing Opportunity for AI Commerce
Agentic commerce is already reshaping digital business. Salesforce reported AI agents influenced $262 billion in holiday sales during 2025. Imperva reports that 53 percent of all web traffic is automated, while McKinsey projects AI agents could drive up to $1 trillion in U.S. commerce by 2030.
As autonomous commerce continues to grow, organizations need infrastructure that combines identity, trust, security, and performance. Together, Experian and Fastly help businesses build that foundation while working with the systems they already have in place.
Built for the Future of Commerce
Experian Agent Trust is designed to work with existing commerce, payment, identity, and security platforms. Supported by the Experian Agent Registry, the framework maintains dynamic trust scores for Human to Agent Bound AI agents, helping organizations establish confidence in autonomous interactions while preserving transparency and accountability.
Building on Experian's leadership in identity verification and fraud prevention, which helps clients prevent an estimated $15 billion to $19 billion in fraud losses each year, Experian continues to expand its Agent Trust ecosystem by bringing together leaders across identity, payments, cybersecurity, and edge infrastructure to establish the trusted foundation for AI driven commerce.
* * *
About Experian
Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and platforms. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money.
We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments.
We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and to innovate. A FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 25,200 people across 33 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.experianplc.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/fastly-joins-experian-agent-trust--ecosystem-to-advance-trusted-
[Category: BizFinancial Services]
* * *
Fastly Joins Experian Agent Trust(TM) Ecosystem to Advance Trusted AI Commerce
New collaboration helps enterprises verify AI agents, authorize transactions in real time, and transform autonomous traffic into a trusted business opportunity
Key Highlights
* Fastly joins the Experian Agent Trust(TM) ecosystem, extending trust decisions to the network edge and helping organizations securely verify and authorize AI driven transactions.
* Experian Human to Agent ... Show Full Article COSTA MESA, California, July 25 -- Experian, an information services company, posted the following news release on July 24, 2026: * * * Fastly Joins Experian Agent Trust(TM) Ecosystem to Advance Trusted AI Commerce New collaboration helps enterprises verify AI agents, authorize transactions in real time, and transform autonomous traffic into a trusted business opportunity Key Highlights * Fastly joins the Experian Agent Trust(TM) ecosystem, extending trust decisions to the network edge and helping organizations securely verify and authorize AI driven transactions. * Experian Human to AgentBinding securely connects verified consumers, devices, and AI agents, creating trusted relationships that enable accountable autonomous commerce.
* Together, Experian and Fastly help organizations verify AI agents, evaluate delegated authority, and authorize transactions before requests reach their applications.
* Fastly works with existing APIs, authentication systems, payment workflows, and security controls so organizations can adopt trusted AI commerce without rebuilding their infrastructure.
-
Experian today announced that Fastly (NASDAQ: FSLY), a leading global edge cloud platform, has joined the growing Experian Agent Trust(TM) ecosystem. Together, the companies will help enterprises verify AI agents, authorize transactions, and make trust decisions in real time as autonomous commerce continues to grow.
"Agentic commerce represents one of the most significant shifts in digital commerce since the rise of mobile," said Kathleen Peters, Chief Innovation Officer at Experian. "As AI agents become active participants in online transactions, businesses need infrastructure that establishes trust without slowing down the customer experience. Experian's Human to Agent Binding is foundational to that trust, creating a persistent connection between verified people and the AI agents acting on their behalf. Fastly extends those trust decisions to the edge, helping organizations authorize transactions in milliseconds while creating secure, seamless experiences for consumers and businesses alike."
AI agents are now capable of discovering, recommending and purchasing items on behalf of shoppers. As that happens, organizations need a reliable way to understand which agents they can trust, who those agents represent, and whether they are authorized to act.
Experian Agent Trust addresses this challenge by establishing trusted identity, delegated authority, and transaction confidence for AI agents. Through Human to Agent Binding, Experian securely connects verified individuals, their devices, and the AI agents acting on their behalf. Fastly joins a growing ecosystem of technology partners working with Experian to build an open framework for trusted AI commerce.
Fastly's programmable edge platform enables organizations to verify AI agent identity, evaluate trust signals, and authorize transactions before requests reach their origin infrastructure. Because the platform integrates with existing APIs, authentication systems, payment workflows, and security controls, businesses can support trusted AI commerce without redesigning their existing applications.
"As AI agents become an increasingly important channel for digital commerce, businesses need a way to distinguish trusted, authorized agents from everything else," said Jeff Alpen, Vice President of Fastly's Partner Ecosystem. "Instead of treating every autonomous agent as something to block, Fastly enables businesses to verify who is behind the request, attach commercial value, and authorize transactions in real time. We help organizations turn trusted AI agents into a competitive advantage without requiring them to rearchitect their existing infrastructure."
Trust Decisions at the Edge
Within the Experian Agent Trust ecosystem, Fastly extends Experian's trust framework to the network edge, enabling organizations to evaluate AI agent identity, delegated authority, intent, and payment credentials before requests reach backend systems.
Fastly also supports integrations with emerging Know Your Agent technologies, including Skyfire, helping businesses validate identity and payment credentials in milliseconds. Organizations can apply identity-based access policies, pricing, rate limiting, and transaction approval while maintaining performance and preserving their existing business logic.
Rather than viewing AI generated traffic solely as a cybersecurity concern, organizations can recognize trusted AI agents as a new channel for digital commerce that is authenticated, accountable, and ready to transact.
A Growing Opportunity for AI Commerce
Agentic commerce is already reshaping digital business. Salesforce reported AI agents influenced $262 billion in holiday sales during 2025. Imperva reports that 53 percent of all web traffic is automated, while McKinsey projects AI agents could drive up to $1 trillion in U.S. commerce by 2030.
As autonomous commerce continues to grow, organizations need infrastructure that combines identity, trust, security, and performance. Together, Experian and Fastly help businesses build that foundation while working with the systems they already have in place.
Built for the Future of Commerce
Experian Agent Trust is designed to work with existing commerce, payment, identity, and security platforms. Supported by the Experian Agent Registry, the framework maintains dynamic trust scores for Human to Agent Bound AI agents, helping organizations establish confidence in autonomous interactions while preserving transparency and accountability.
Building on Experian's leadership in identity verification and fraud prevention, which helps clients prevent an estimated $15 billion to $19 billion in fraud losses each year, Experian continues to expand its Agent Trust ecosystem by bringing together leaders across identity, payments, cybersecurity, and edge infrastructure to establish the trusted foundation for AI driven commerce.
* * *
About Experian
Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and platforms. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money.
We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments.
We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and to innovate. A FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 25,200 people across 33 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.experianplc.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/fastly-joins-experian-agent-trust--ecosystem-to-advance-trusted-
[Category: BizFinancial Services]
BMJ Group: GLP-1 Diabetes Drugs Linked to Increased Risk of Hair Loss
LONDON, England, July 25 (TNSjou) -- BMJ Group issued the following news release about The BMJ:
* * *
GLP-1 diabetes drugs linked to increased risk of hair loss
Absolute risk low, but findings may help inform treatment decisions, say researchers
-
Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity are associated with an increased risk of hair loss (alopecia) in adults with type 2 diabetes, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
Although the absolute risk is low, awareness of this potential effect may help to inform shared treatment decisions, ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, July 25 (TNSjou) -- BMJ Group issued the following news release about The BMJ: * * * GLP-1 diabetes drugs linked to increased risk of hair loss Absolute risk low, but findings may help inform treatment decisions, say researchers - Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity are associated with an increased risk of hair loss (alopecia) in adults with type 2 diabetes, finds a study published by The BMJ today. Although the absolute risk is low, awareness of this potential effect may help to inform shared treatment decisions,say the researchers.
Alopecia has been reported as a possible side effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide and tirzepatide. However, studies assessing the risk of alopecia associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists compared with other diabetes drugs are lacking.
To address this, researchers used electronic patient data from the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine) to compare rates of alopecia in adults with type 2 diabetes who started using GLP-1 receptor agonists or other types of diabetes drugs known as SGLT-2 inhibitors, or DPP-4 inhibitors.
In total, 12,004 patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists were compared with 15,221 using SGLT-2 inhibitors and a further 11,964 GLP-1 users were compared with 11,233 DPP-4 inhibitor users between January 2019 and September 2024.
Compared with SGLT-2 inhibitor users, GLP-1 receptor agonist users were younger (mean age 58 v 65), had a higher body mass index (36.2 v 32.3), and lower rates of cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases. Similarly, GLP-1 users were younger (mean age 58 v 67) and had a higher body mass index (36.2 v 31.3) than DPP-4 inhibitor users.
After adjusting for potentially influential factors including age, sex, ethnicity, pre-existing conditions, other medication use, and body mass index, use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was associated with a 37% higher risk of alopecia than use of SGLT-2 inhibitors (6.91 v 5.04 per 1,000 person years) and a 68% higher risk than use of DPP-4 inhibitors (6.53 v 3.89 per 1,000 person years).
Further analyses indicated that the association was specific to non-scarring alopecia (where hair follicles remain intact, leaving the potential for regrowth) with an increased risk of 53% and 72% compared with SGLT-2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors, respectively.
The authors point out that rapid weight loss is a well established trigger of hair shedding and can also lead to iron or zinc deficiencies, which disrupt the hair growth cycle. Hormonal changes may also be relevant, they note, although further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
They also acknowledge several study limitations. For example, a lack of clinical information limited their ability to assess details such as severity, extent, duration and reversibility of alopecia after stopping treatment. Nor can they rule out the possibility that other unmeasured factors may have influenced their results.
However, they say this was a rigorous study based on high quality data from a large representative cohort and results were consistent after additional analyses, suggesting they are reliable.
As such, they conclude: "Our findings extend previous anecdotal safety signals and provide more systematic evidence to inform clinical awareness of this potential adverse effect."
* * *
Notes for editors
Research: Risk of hair loss associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in adults with type 2 diabetes: target trial emulation doi: 10.1136/bmj-2026-100077
External funding: National Institutes of Health
Link to Academy of Medical Sciences press release labelling system: http://press.psprings.co.uk/AMSlabels.pdf
Externally peer reviewed? Yes
Evidence type: Observational (target trial emulation study)
Subjects: People
* * *
Original text here: https://bmjgroup.com/glp-1-diabetes-drugs-linked-to-increased-risk-of-hair-loss/
[Category: BizMedia]
* * *
GLP-1 diabetes drugs linked to increased risk of hair loss
Absolute risk low, but findings may help inform treatment decisions, say researchers
-
Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity are associated with an increased risk of hair loss (alopecia) in adults with type 2 diabetes, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
Although the absolute risk is low, awareness of this potential effect may help to inform shared treatment decisions, ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, July 25 (TNSjou) -- BMJ Group issued the following news release about The BMJ: * * * GLP-1 diabetes drugs linked to increased risk of hair loss Absolute risk low, but findings may help inform treatment decisions, say researchers - Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity are associated with an increased risk of hair loss (alopecia) in adults with type 2 diabetes, finds a study published by The BMJ today. Although the absolute risk is low, awareness of this potential effect may help to inform shared treatment decisions,say the researchers.
Alopecia has been reported as a possible side effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide and tirzepatide. However, studies assessing the risk of alopecia associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists compared with other diabetes drugs are lacking.
To address this, researchers used electronic patient data from the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine) to compare rates of alopecia in adults with type 2 diabetes who started using GLP-1 receptor agonists or other types of diabetes drugs known as SGLT-2 inhibitors, or DPP-4 inhibitors.
In total, 12,004 patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists were compared with 15,221 using SGLT-2 inhibitors and a further 11,964 GLP-1 users were compared with 11,233 DPP-4 inhibitor users between January 2019 and September 2024.
Compared with SGLT-2 inhibitor users, GLP-1 receptor agonist users were younger (mean age 58 v 65), had a higher body mass index (36.2 v 32.3), and lower rates of cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases. Similarly, GLP-1 users were younger (mean age 58 v 67) and had a higher body mass index (36.2 v 31.3) than DPP-4 inhibitor users.
After adjusting for potentially influential factors including age, sex, ethnicity, pre-existing conditions, other medication use, and body mass index, use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was associated with a 37% higher risk of alopecia than use of SGLT-2 inhibitors (6.91 v 5.04 per 1,000 person years) and a 68% higher risk than use of DPP-4 inhibitors (6.53 v 3.89 per 1,000 person years).
Further analyses indicated that the association was specific to non-scarring alopecia (where hair follicles remain intact, leaving the potential for regrowth) with an increased risk of 53% and 72% compared with SGLT-2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors, respectively.
The authors point out that rapid weight loss is a well established trigger of hair shedding and can also lead to iron or zinc deficiencies, which disrupt the hair growth cycle. Hormonal changes may also be relevant, they note, although further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
They also acknowledge several study limitations. For example, a lack of clinical information limited their ability to assess details such as severity, extent, duration and reversibility of alopecia after stopping treatment. Nor can they rule out the possibility that other unmeasured factors may have influenced their results.
However, they say this was a rigorous study based on high quality data from a large representative cohort and results were consistent after additional analyses, suggesting they are reliable.
As such, they conclude: "Our findings extend previous anecdotal safety signals and provide more systematic evidence to inform clinical awareness of this potential adverse effect."
* * *
Notes for editors
Research: Risk of hair loss associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in adults with type 2 diabetes: target trial emulation doi: 10.1136/bmj-2026-100077
External funding: National Institutes of Health
Link to Academy of Medical Sciences press release labelling system: http://press.psprings.co.uk/AMSlabels.pdf
Externally peer reviewed? Yes
Evidence type: Observational (target trial emulation study)
Subjects: People
* * *
Original text here: https://bmjgroup.com/glp-1-diabetes-drugs-linked-to-increased-risk-of-hair-loss/
[Category: BizMedia]
A&O Shearman Advises Arrangers on Financing for Bain Capital's Acquisition of Vitabiotics
LONDON, England, July 25 -- A and O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics
A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business.
Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comes ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, July 25 -- A and O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business. Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comesamid accelerating deal activity across supplements and nutraceuticals, as investors seek exposure to continued demand for preventive-health and wellness products.
Matt Del Rosso, A&O Shearman partner in Singapore, commented: "Financings of this scale demand seamless execution across markets and an ability to navigate the evolving terms of sponsor-backed transactions in Asia-Pacific. We are proud to have supported the arrangers in delivering committed financing for the acquisition, drawing on A&O Shearman's cross-border leveraged finance capabilities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and across the wider region."
Gautam Narasimhan, A&O Shearman Regional Managing Partner (ASEAN), added: "Asia-Pacific continues to be a compelling market for sponsor-led investment, with sophisticated financing needs increasingly spanning jurisdictions, sectors and capital pools. Transactions of this nature underscore the importance of advisers who can combine regional depth with global leveraged finance expertise to support clients on their most strategic opportunities."
The A&O Shearman team was led by partners Matt Del Rosso and Gautam Narasimhan in Singapore and Daniel Tan in Hong Kong, with support from associates Glen Tay and Jia Min Lim and trainees Annika Shah and Hannah McGreevy.
* * *
URL: Bain Capital
* * *
Original text here: https://www.aoshearman.com/en/news/ao-shearman-advises-arrangers-on-financing-for-bain-capitals-acquisition-of-vitabiotics
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
* * *
A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics
A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business.
Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comes ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, July 25 -- A and O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business. Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comesamid accelerating deal activity across supplements and nutraceuticals, as investors seek exposure to continued demand for preventive-health and wellness products.
Matt Del Rosso, A&O Shearman partner in Singapore, commented: "Financings of this scale demand seamless execution across markets and an ability to navigate the evolving terms of sponsor-backed transactions in Asia-Pacific. We are proud to have supported the arrangers in delivering committed financing for the acquisition, drawing on A&O Shearman's cross-border leveraged finance capabilities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and across the wider region."
Gautam Narasimhan, A&O Shearman Regional Managing Partner (ASEAN), added: "Asia-Pacific continues to be a compelling market for sponsor-led investment, with sophisticated financing needs increasingly spanning jurisdictions, sectors and capital pools. Transactions of this nature underscore the importance of advisers who can combine regional depth with global leveraged finance expertise to support clients on their most strategic opportunities."
The A&O Shearman team was led by partners Matt Del Rosso and Gautam Narasimhan in Singapore and Daniel Tan in Hong Kong, with support from associates Glen Tay and Jia Min Lim and trainees Annika Shah and Hannah McGreevy.
* * *
URL: Bain Capital
* * *
Original text here: https://www.aoshearman.com/en/news/ao-shearman-advises-arrangers-on-financing-for-bain-capitals-acquisition-of-vitabiotics
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
A&O Shearman Advises Arrangers on Financing for Bain Capital's Acquisition of Vitabiotics
LONDON, England, July 25 -- A and O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics
A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business.
Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comes ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, July 25 -- A and O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business. Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comesamid accelerating deal activity across supplements and nutraceuticals, as investors seek exposure to continued demand for preventive-health and wellness products.
Matt Del Rosso, A&O Shearman partner in Singapore, commented: "Financings of this scale demand seamless execution across markets and an ability to navigate the evolving terms of sponsor-backed transactions in Asia-Pacific. We are proud to have supported the arrangers in delivering committed financing for the acquisition, drawing on A&O Shearman's cross-border leveraged finance capabilities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and across the wider region."
Gautam Narasimhan, A&O Shearman Regional Managing Partner (ASEAN), added: "Asia-Pacific continues to be a compelling market for sponsor-led investment, with sophisticated financing needs increasingly spanning jurisdictions, sectors and capital pools. Transactions of this nature underscore the importance of advisers who can combine regional depth with global leveraged finance expertise to support clients on their most strategic opportunities."
The A&O Shearman team was led by partners Matt Del Rosso and Gautam Narasimhan in Singapore and Daniel Tan in Hong Kong, with support from associates Glen Tay and Jia Min Lim and trainees Annika Shah and Hannah McGreevy.
* * *
URL: Bain Capital
* * *
Original text here: https://www.aoshearman.com/en/news/ao-shearman-advises-arrangers-on-financing-for-bain-capitals-acquisition-of-vitabiotics
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
* * *
A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics
A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business.
Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comes ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, July 25 -- A and O Shearman, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * A&O Shearman advises arrangers on financing for Bain Capital's acquisition of Vitabiotics A&O Shearman has advised the arrangers in relation to the committed financing for Bain Capital's proposed acquisition of Vitabiotics, a leading UK vitamins and supplements business. Vitabiotics, headquartered in London, has built an international portfolio of established consumer-health and nutritional-supplement products and has a significant presence in India through Meyer Organics. The proposed acquisition comesamid accelerating deal activity across supplements and nutraceuticals, as investors seek exposure to continued demand for preventive-health and wellness products.
Matt Del Rosso, A&O Shearman partner in Singapore, commented: "Financings of this scale demand seamless execution across markets and an ability to navigate the evolving terms of sponsor-backed transactions in Asia-Pacific. We are proud to have supported the arrangers in delivering committed financing for the acquisition, drawing on A&O Shearman's cross-border leveraged finance capabilities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and across the wider region."
Gautam Narasimhan, A&O Shearman Regional Managing Partner (ASEAN), added: "Asia-Pacific continues to be a compelling market for sponsor-led investment, with sophisticated financing needs increasingly spanning jurisdictions, sectors and capital pools. Transactions of this nature underscore the importance of advisers who can combine regional depth with global leveraged finance expertise to support clients on their most strategic opportunities."
The A&O Shearman team was led by partners Matt Del Rosso and Gautam Narasimhan in Singapore and Daniel Tan in Hong Kong, with support from associates Glen Tay and Jia Min Lim and trainees Annika Shah and Hannah McGreevy.
* * *
URL: Bain Capital
* * *
Original text here: https://www.aoshearman.com/en/news/ao-shearman-advises-arrangers-on-financing-for-bain-capitals-acquisition-of-vitabiotics
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]