KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- Japan’s life insurers have increasingly relied on reinsurance in recent years, with the overall cession rate as a percentage of total gross premium written for the segment rising to more than 24 per cent in 2023 and 2024 from just under 10 per cent in 2020, according to a new AM Best report.
According to Best’s Special Report, “Japan Life Insurers Increase Use of Reinsurance,” the implementation of the Japan Insurance Capital Standard, or J-ICS, at the end of March 2026 has prompted insurers to increase their use of reinsurance as solvency ratios become more sensitive to interest-rate movements, asset-liability mismatches, policy lapses, and longevity and mortality risks.
“Japanese life insurers have been increasingly using asset-intensive reinsurance to transfer investment, longevity, and insurance risks from capital-intensive annuity and long-term life insurance blocks to third-party reinsurers ahead of the implementation of J-ICS.
“The maturity and size of Japan’s life/annuity insurance market make it an attractive opportunity for reinsurers providing asset-intensive reinsurance solutions,” said AM Best senior industry research analyst, Cynthia Ang in a statement.
According to the report, the heightened activity has led to a sharp increase in reinsurance leverage, with the industry aggregate rising to 14.8 per cent at the end of 2024 from 4.8 per cent in 2020. The metric measures reinsurance ceded as a percentage of capital and surplus.
AM Best's analysis showed that Dai-ichi Frontier Life Insurance Co, Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance, and MetLife Insurance K.K. each recorded reinsurance leverage ratios exceeding 500 per cent in 2024.
While only an estimated one to two per cent of total in-force individual life insurance and annuity business was ceded to reinsurers in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, cessions are expected to increase as asset-intensive and offshore reinsurance become more widely used by Japanese life insurers.
Japan’s Financial Services Agency is tightening oversight of such transactions due to concerns over private equity involvement, asset liquidity, and complex cross-border collateral arrangements, the report said.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
CGTN HIGHLIGHTS PEOPLE-CENTRED GOVERNANCE IN CHINA
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- China Global Television Network (CGTN) in an article has highlighted how China’s people-centred governance approach has significantly improved living standards and is expected to bring further tangible improvements to people’s lives in the future.
The emphasis on putting people first comes as China enters the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), with more than one-third of the national economic and social development plan focused on livelihoods, including employment, income, education, healthcare, elderly care and childcare.
Marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that people represent the nation and the nation is made up of people.
He also stressed that the survival of a party depends on the support of its people, adding that with public confidence and support, the CPC is invincible in the face of any obstacles.
Ahead of this year’s Spring Festival, President Xi visited a community canteen at an apartment complex for seniors to learn about local efforts to improve public services and elderly care, while also speaking with delivery workers about their daily lives and working conditions.
According to CGTN in a statement, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, nearly 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty; China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society; and it has established the world’s largest systems for education, social security, healthcare and urban housing support.
It added that access to education at all levels has reached or surpassed the average for middle- and high-income countries, while basic medical insurance coverage has remained above 95 per cent, life expectancy has risen above 79 years, and the middle-income group now exceeds 400 million people.
CGTN also noted that food delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and e-commerce workers, known as the "new forms of employment", represent a fast-growing segment of China’s labour market driven by the internet and digital economy.
CGTN further explained that the 15th Five-Year Plan emphasises support for flexible employment, including participation in employee insurance schemes and improved portability of social security accounts.
A researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under China's National Development and Reform Commission, Zhang Linshan said the plan sends a strong signal that China remains committed to a people-centred approach focused on improving quality of life.
-- BERNAMA
The emphasis on putting people first comes as China enters the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), with more than one-third of the national economic and social development plan focused on livelihoods, including employment, income, education, healthcare, elderly care and childcare.
Marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that people represent the nation and the nation is made up of people.
He also stressed that the survival of a party depends on the support of its people, adding that with public confidence and support, the CPC is invincible in the face of any obstacles.
Ahead of this year’s Spring Festival, President Xi visited a community canteen at an apartment complex for seniors to learn about local efforts to improve public services and elderly care, while also speaking with delivery workers about their daily lives and working conditions.
According to CGTN in a statement, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, nearly 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty; China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society; and it has established the world’s largest systems for education, social security, healthcare and urban housing support.
It added that access to education at all levels has reached or surpassed the average for middle- and high-income countries, while basic medical insurance coverage has remained above 95 per cent, life expectancy has risen above 79 years, and the middle-income group now exceeds 400 million people.
CGTN also noted that food delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and e-commerce workers, known as the "new forms of employment", represent a fast-growing segment of China’s labour market driven by the internet and digital economy.
CGTN further explained that the 15th Five-Year Plan emphasises support for flexible employment, including participation in employee insurance schemes and improved portability of social security accounts.
A researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under China's National Development and Reform Commission, Zhang Linshan said the plan sends a strong signal that China remains committed to a people-centred approach focused on improving quality of life.
-- BERNAMA
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Gradiant Announces Series E Financing at $2 Billion Valuation to Accelerate Expansion in AI, Semiconductors, and Industrial Water Infrastructure
Gradiant Announces Series E Financing at $2 Billion Valuation to Accelerate Expansion in AI, Semiconductors, and Industrial Water Infrastructure
New investment supports strategic M&A, next-generation R&D, and IPO readiness as Gradiant experiences record growth driven by AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing
BOSTON, May 19 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gradiant today announced the close of Series E financing, valuing the company at $2 billion. The financing was led by Safar Partners and Hostplus Superannuation Fund, with participation from ClearVision Ventures and other global investors.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/
The financing will support Gradiant’s continued global expansion, including strategic acquisitions, accelerated research and development, and investments in operational scale and IPO readiness. The announcement comes amid unprecedented commercial momentum for Gradiant, fueled by rapid growth in AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and other mission-critical industries that require advanced water solutions.
BOSTON, May 19 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gradiant today announced the close of Series E financing, valuing the company at $2 billion. The financing was led by Safar Partners and Hostplus Superannuation Fund, with participation from ClearVision Ventures and other global investors.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/
The financing will support Gradiant’s continued global expansion, including strategic acquisitions, accelerated research and development, and investments in operational scale and IPO readiness. The announcement comes amid unprecedented commercial momentum for Gradiant, fueled by rapid growth in AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and other mission-critical industries that require advanced water solutions.
Gradiant is experiencing its largest backlog and strongest pipeline in company history, with significant growth across data centers, semiconductor fabs, and power, while the company’s business across food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, mining, and energy remains strong. As AI infrastructure scales at record speed, water has emerged as one of the critical constraints to its growth, reliability, and sustainability.
Gradiant’s proprietary technologies, powered by its digital AI platform, enable customers in the world’s essential industries to secure water sourcing, maximize water reuse, minimize wastewater discharge, and reduce energy consumption across some of world’s most water-intensive operations. Over the last few years, Gradiant has emerged as one of the fastest-growing companies in the history of the water industry, driven by its differentiated technology stack, vertically integrated execution model, and unconventional leadership.
“AI is re-making the global economy, but behind every chip and every data center lies massive and growing water demand,” said Anurag Bajpayee, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Gradiant. “Gradiant sits at the center of this transformation. We solve the world’s most important water challenges and enable essential industries to grow reliably and sustainably. This new financing gives us more firepower to expand faster, double down on our R&D, and continue building the defining water company of the AI era.”
“The convergence of AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing growth, industrial sustainability, and water scarcity is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said David Elia, CEO of Hostplus Superannuation Fund. “We are excited to support Gradiant through its next phase of growth, building upon its deep technological leadership, proven execution capability, and strong market momentum.”
“Gradiant is the only water company with truly differentiated technology, operating profitably and at scale, serving some of the world’s largest and most essential companies,” said Nader Motamedy, Managing Partner at Safar Partners. “We are proud to partner with Gradiant as it emerges as one of the world’s most important industrial technology companies.”
About Gradiant
Gradiant is a different kind of water company. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end water and wastewater solutions powered by top minds in water, the company serves the world’s essential industries, including semiconductors, datacenters, renewable energy, food & beverage, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining and critical minerals. Founded at MIT and headquartered in Boston, Gradiant has developed one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of differentiated technologies which reduce water usage and wastewater discharge, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. Learn more at www.gradiant.com.
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518135237/en/
Contact
Corporate Contact
Felix Wang
Gradiant, Global Head of Marketing
fwang@gradiant.com
Source : Gradiant
--BERNAMA
Thursday, May 21, 2026
AUDIENCERATE APPOINTS RICCARDO FABBRI AS CTO
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| Riccardo Fabbri, Chief Technology Officer of Audiencerate Ltd. Co-founder and former managing partner of Nohup, recognized by the Financial Times among Europe's leading firms in the sector (2021 and 2022) and acquired by the Havas Group in August 2021. Leads the AI-driven phase of Audiencerate's independent Customer Match infrastructure. |
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Audiencerate Ltd, a data activation specialist, has appointed Riccardo Fabbri as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the company’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven expansion initiatives.
The appointment marks a dual expansion phase for the Audiencerate–Postel–Microsoft platform serving Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as the data platform integrated with Google DV360 for agencies and data providers.
Audiencerate President, Gianluca Leotta said Fabbri brings extensive experience in digital transformation, cloud-native development and media technology.
According to the company in a statement, Fabbri will oversee the development of AI infrastructure integrating first-party and third-party data for its platform developed with Postel and Microsoft for Italian SMEs, alongside Google DV360-integrated solutions for global media agencies.
Co-founder of digital consultancy Nohup in 2004, Fabbri has more than two decades of experience in software development and cloud architectures. He later led the company through its acquisition by Havas Group in 2021.
Under Fabbri’s leadership, Audiencerate plans to accelerate AI and machine learning capabilities for predictive modelling and automated budget and bid management.
The company said its agency-focused platform will also expand the use of advertisers’ first-party data combined with third-party signals to support privacy-compliant audience modelling.
-- BERNAMA
MARQUEE BRANDS TO ACQUIRE MAJORITY STAKE IN ROBERTO CAVALLI
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| Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2026 |
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Marquee Brands, the premier global brand management company, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Roberto Cavalli through a strategic partnership with Dubai-based DAMAC Group.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, after which DAMAC Group will remain a significant shareholder, according to Marquee Brands in a statement.
The acquisition further strengthens Marquee Brands’ position in the luxury and lifestyle sectors, bringing total portfolio-wide retail sales to approximately US$5 billion. (US$1=RM3.96)
“Roberto Cavalli stands as one of luxury’s defining Italian houses, with a bold creative identity and enduring brand ethos. In partnership with DAMAC, a leader in luxury real estate, we will continue to elevate the Roberto Cavalli experience worldwide,” said Marquee Brands Chief Executive Officer, Heath Golden.
Owned by funds managed by global investment firm Neuberger, Marquee Brands continues to expand its platform through the acquisition of heritage brands, with Roberto Cavalli becoming the 22nd brand in its portfolio.
The partnership is expected to expand Roberto Cavalli’s global reach across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America through new categories, services and experiential offerings.
DAMAC will continue to expand Roberto Cavalli-branded residences and hospitality projects across key global markets, reinforcing the luxury brand’s international presence.
As part of the transaction, Marquee Brands appointed Milan-based The Level Group as its core operating partner to oversee the development, manufacturing and distribution of the label’s women’s and men’s collections, as well as retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific Selects Top 20 Startups for 2026 APAC Accelerator Program from 680+ Applicants
Selected companies represent the top 3% of applicants and will join the eighth annual APAC Accelerator Program, gaining access to mentorship, industry partners, investors, and market access support across the region and globally.
LOS ANGELES & SINGAPORE, May 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- MedTech Innovator, the world’s largest accelerator of medical technology companies, today announced that 20 high-potential medtech companies have been selected to participate in the 2026 Asia Pacific Accelerator Program.
Now in its eighth year, the MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific Accelerator supports promising medical technology startups from across the region by connecting them with leading corporate partners, investors, mentors, clinicians, and industry stakeholders to help advance commercialization and market access.
The 2026 cohort was selected from more than 680 applicants, with the final 20 companies representing the top 3% of applicants to this year’s program. As part of the selection process, 67 startups were invited to pitch across MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific’s 2026 Pitch Event RoadTour, which included four pitch events across virtual and in-person formats. The RoadTour brought together 112 unique judges and featured companies from 14 countries.
“This year’s applicants showcase the increasing depth, diversity, and ambition driving medtech innovation across the region,” said Fredrik Nyberg, Managing Director, MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific. “The companies selected for the 2026 APAC Accelerator Program stand out not only through the strength of their technologies, but also through their potential to tackle significant healthcare challenges. Through the program, we will connect them with our global network of corporate partners, investors, mentors, and industry leaders to help accelerate their path toward commercialization and patient impact.”
The 20 companies selected for the 2026 MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific Accelerator are:
1. Ardens Lifescience, Busan, South Korea
2. BaiYiHealthcare Technology, Shanghai, China
3. Bioniks, Karachi, Pakistan
4. BrainCapture, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
5. CosmoInnovations, Melbourne, Australia
6. DermR Health Solutions, Sydney, Australia
7. Eyerising International, Melbourne, Australia
8. Eyes of AI, Sydney, Australia
9. Ferronova, Adelaide, Australia
10. ImpriMed, Palo Alto, United States
11. Janitri Innovations, Bengaluru, India
12. Lumino Medison, Seoul, South Korea
13. Manentia AI, Bengaluru, India
14. mediVR, Inc., Osaka, Japan
15. Meracle, Singapore
16. Physiologas Technologies, Sagamihara, Japan
17. Prevenotics, Seoul, South Korea
18. Prudentia Surgibot, Waterloo, Canada
19. Rebee Health, Singapore
20. U2MedTek, Ulsan, South Korea
The 2026 cohort will participate in the APAC Accelerator Program from June to October 2026. The companies will begin their journey at the Innovator Summit, taking place from June 3-4 in San Francisco, followed by the Wilson Sonsini Medical Device Conference on June 5. The program will culminate at the 2026 APAC Grand Finals on October 26 in Singapore, where selected companies will compete for up to USD 275,000 in cash prizes.
The 2026 APAC Accelerator Program is supported by leading industry and government partners including Johnson & Johnson MedTech, B. Braun Medical Industries, Siemens Healthineers, Blue Goat Cyber, FormlyAI, KHIDI (Korea Health Industry Development Institute), Enterprise Singapore, Cambridge Consultants, and The Mullings Group.
For partnership inquiries, please contact Jermaine Lok, Partnerships Manager at jermaine@medtechinnovator.org.
About MedTech Innovator
MedTech Innovator is the world’s largest accelerator of medical technology companies. Its mission is to improve human health by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming care. Since its founding, MedTech Innovator has reviewed more than 14,000 applications and supported 838 portfolio companies that have collectively raised more than USD 11.4 billion in follow-on funding, transforming the lives of millions
Since launching in 2019, MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific has supported medtech startups across 20 countries in the region, with 154 APAC alumni collectively raising more than USD 335 million in funding.
For more information about MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific, visit www.medtechinnovator.asia, follow MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific on LinkedIn, or subscribe to the organization’s newsletter.
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260519577679/en/
Contact
Media Contact
Bernice Tan
Program and Marketing Manager
MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific
bernice@medtechinnovator.org
Source : MedTech Innovator
LOS ANGELES & SINGAPORE, May 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- MedTech Innovator, the world’s largest accelerator of medical technology companies, today announced that 20 high-potential medtech companies have been selected to participate in the 2026 Asia Pacific Accelerator Program.
Now in its eighth year, the MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific Accelerator supports promising medical technology startups from across the region by connecting them with leading corporate partners, investors, mentors, clinicians, and industry stakeholders to help advance commercialization and market access.
The 2026 cohort was selected from more than 680 applicants, with the final 20 companies representing the top 3% of applicants to this year’s program. As part of the selection process, 67 startups were invited to pitch across MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific’s 2026 Pitch Event RoadTour, which included four pitch events across virtual and in-person formats. The RoadTour brought together 112 unique judges and featured companies from 14 countries.
“This year’s applicants showcase the increasing depth, diversity, and ambition driving medtech innovation across the region,” said Fredrik Nyberg, Managing Director, MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific. “The companies selected for the 2026 APAC Accelerator Program stand out not only through the strength of their technologies, but also through their potential to tackle significant healthcare challenges. Through the program, we will connect them with our global network of corporate partners, investors, mentors, and industry leaders to help accelerate their path toward commercialization and patient impact.”
The 20 companies selected for the 2026 MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific Accelerator are:
1. Ardens Lifescience, Busan, South Korea
2. BaiYiHealthcare Technology, Shanghai, China
3. Bioniks, Karachi, Pakistan
4. BrainCapture, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
5. CosmoInnovations, Melbourne, Australia
6. DermR Health Solutions, Sydney, Australia
7. Eyerising International, Melbourne, Australia
8. Eyes of AI, Sydney, Australia
9. Ferronova, Adelaide, Australia
10. ImpriMed, Palo Alto, United States
11. Janitri Innovations, Bengaluru, India
12. Lumino Medison, Seoul, South Korea
13. Manentia AI, Bengaluru, India
14. mediVR, Inc., Osaka, Japan
15. Meracle, Singapore
16. Physiologas Technologies, Sagamihara, Japan
17. Prevenotics, Seoul, South Korea
18. Prudentia Surgibot, Waterloo, Canada
19. Rebee Health, Singapore
20. U2MedTek, Ulsan, South Korea
The 2026 cohort will participate in the APAC Accelerator Program from June to October 2026. The companies will begin their journey at the Innovator Summit, taking place from June 3-4 in San Francisco, followed by the Wilson Sonsini Medical Device Conference on June 5. The program will culminate at the 2026 APAC Grand Finals on October 26 in Singapore, where selected companies will compete for up to USD 275,000 in cash prizes.
The 2026 APAC Accelerator Program is supported by leading industry and government partners including Johnson & Johnson MedTech, B. Braun Medical Industries, Siemens Healthineers, Blue Goat Cyber, FormlyAI, KHIDI (Korea Health Industry Development Institute), Enterprise Singapore, Cambridge Consultants, and The Mullings Group.
For partnership inquiries, please contact Jermaine Lok, Partnerships Manager at jermaine@medtechinnovator.org.
About MedTech Innovator
MedTech Innovator is the world’s largest accelerator of medical technology companies. Its mission is to improve human health by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming care. Since its founding, MedTech Innovator has reviewed more than 14,000 applications and supported 838 portfolio companies that have collectively raised more than USD 11.4 billion in follow-on funding, transforming the lives of millions
Since launching in 2019, MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific has supported medtech startups across 20 countries in the region, with 154 APAC alumni collectively raising more than USD 335 million in funding.
For more information about MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific, visit www.medtechinnovator.asia, follow MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific on LinkedIn, or subscribe to the organization’s newsletter.
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260519577679/en/
Contact
Media Contact
Bernice Tan
Program and Marketing Manager
MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific
bernice@medtechinnovator.org
Source : MedTech Innovator
Saturday, May 16, 2026
ExtraHop Takes Agentic Security Tour Across APAC
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- ExtraHop has announced its Co-founder and Chief Scientist Raja Mukerji will headline a series of events across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to help business leaders understand the impact of the agentic era on cybersecurity operations.
The “ExtraHop Reveals the Agentic Shift” tour will focus on challenges surrounding safe artificial intelligence (AI) agent deployment, defending against AI-powered threats, and building operational frameworks for effective agentic security operations centres (SOC).
ExtraHop said the roadshow is designed to translate AI strategies into practical SOC outcomes through technical presentations, live simulations, and networking sessions for cybersecurity executives.
The tour will take place in Singapore on May 20; Kuala Lumpur on May 21; Melbourne on May 27; Sydney on May 28; and Canberra on May 29.
Mukerji said many organisations are rapidly adopting agentic security technologies without ensuring that the underlying data foundation is sufficiently prepared.
“The technology moves fast, the foundation gets skipped, and organisations do not realise the gap until they are in the middle of an incident, when a threat gets missed or a response comes too late,” he said in a statement.
ExtraHop said its network detection and response (NDR) platform provides real-time network telemetry that enables AI agents to reason and act using high-fidelity data and contextual insights.
The company added that the platform enables enterprises to defend against AI-powered cyber threats, monitor and govern AI tools across organisations, detect shadow AI and anomalous behaviour, and support autonomous threat detection and response within agentic SOC environments.
-- BERNAMA
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