Wednesday, February 4, 2026

MEX UNVEILS MAJOR CMMS PLATFORM UPGRADE FOR MODERN OPERATIONS



KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- MEX Maintenance Software, Australia’s leading maintenance management software provider, announced the release of MEX v16, a major upgrade to its flagship computerised maintenance management system (CMMS), delivering a refreshed user experience, streamlined workflows and enhanced mobile capabilities.

Designed for asset-intensive organisations across manufacturing, energy, utilities, facilities management and services, MEX v16 focuses on improving everyday usability for maintenance teams operating in complex, multi-site environments across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

“Our focus was on the people using the system every day. Teams are under more pressure, managing more complexity and working with fewer resources.

“MEX v16 is designed to meet that reality, giving them a more practical, usable platform that supports the way their work is actually done,” said MEX Australia Managing Director, Matt Ward in a statement.

The new release introduces a simplified and more intuitive interface to help teams identify priorities faster and complete tasks more efficiently, while enhanced mobile functionality and reporting improve coordination between field technicians and planners.

Built-in artificial intelligence features support more effective planning and scheduling, alongside platform upgrades that strengthen reliability and performance across large, distributed operations.

MEX v16 also integrates with ProCalX, a cloud-based calibration management platform, enabling organisations to align maintenance and field calibration activities and connect calibration data from leading tools, including Fluke instrumentation, directly into maintenance workflows.

Founded in Australia, MEX has supported asset-intensive organisations across APAC for more than 30 years and continues to expand its local presence, reinforcing its long-term commitment to customers in the region.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

EF OPENS TITLE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR PRO CYCLING TEAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Education First (EF) has opened a unique opportunity for a new title partner to join EF Pro Cycling while remaining the team’s long-term owner and anchor investor.

According to a statement, the move aims to strengthen the team’s resources and help it compete with the largest budgets in professional cycling.

The team’s goals include winning the Tour de France Femmes within three years, building a leading development pathway in professional cycling, and securing both men’s and women’s Tours de France within the next decade using riders developed through the EF Pro Cycling system.

“This is a unique opportunity for an organisation to partner with a global team and organisation such as EF. Together, we can build a team that extends far beyond traditional sponsorship, creating lasting value and impact for years to come,” said EF Education First Global Chief of Staff and EF Pro Cycling President, Maria Norrman.

The team will continue building around key riders such as Ben Healy, Magdeleine Vallieres, Kristen Faulkner, Richard Carapaz, and Neilson Powless, who have all signed long-term extensions.

EF Pro Cycling has consistently ranked among the top teams for social media engagement since 2017 and offers one of the strongest returns on investment for title partners in professional sports, according to Nielsen Analytics.

The team is backed by long-standing partners including EasyPost, Cannondale, Wahoo, and POC, reflecting shared values and a commitment to the sport’s long-term growth.

-- BERNAMA

Details on the timetable of the simplified tender offer on North Atlantic Energies shares


Paris, Feb 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NORTH ATLANTIC ENERGIES

Details on the timetable of the simplified tender offer on North Atlantic Energies shares

Paris, FRANCE – January 30, 2026 – North Atlantic France SAS (“North Atlantic France”) refers to its acquisition from ExxonMobil France Holding SAS (“ExxonMobil”) of ExxonMobil’s entire stake in North Atlantic Energies (formerly, Esso Société Anonyme Française SA) (“North Atlantic Energies”), representing 82.89% of North Atlantic Energies’ share capital and voting rights.

In accordance with French securities law, North Atlantic France announced on November 28, 2025 that it would file a simplified tender offer (the “Offer”) for the remaining North Atlantic Energies shares not already held by North Atlantic France, at a price of €28.93 per share, as well as its intention to implement a squeeze-out procedure if the conditions required are met.

It is reminded that the board of directors of North Atlantic Energies has appointed Ledouble SAS, represented by Ms. Agnès Piniot and Mr. Romain Delafont, as an independent expert to issue a fairness opinion on the financial terms of the Offer.

North Atlantic France indicates that it will file the Offer with the Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”) once the independent expert's work has been finalised, after the publication of the 2025 annual results. North Atlantic Energies indicates that this publication is scheduled for March 26, 2026. The filing is therefore expected to take place during the second quarter of 2026. The offer documentation will be submitted to the AMF for review, and the Offer will only open once the AMF has issued its compliance decision.

MEDIA CONTACTS
France: Brunswick Group – northatlantic@brunswickgroup.com
Hugues Boëton: +33 6 79 99 27 15
Paul Priam: +33 6 84 39 09 89

Canada: Mark Duggan – markduggan@northatlantic.ca
+1-709-687-3136

ABOUT NORTH ATLANTIC

For nearly four decades, North Atlantic has been a market leader in the retail gas and convenience sector, as well as the residential, commercial, and wholesale fuel industries in Newfoundland and Labrador. Recently, through a joint venture with Suncor Energy, North Atlantic expanded its retail division into Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, through North Sun Energy. As managing partner, North Atlantic operates 110 fuel retail sites across all three provinces. North Atlantic has ambitious plans for future growth and development in strategic locations across the region.

Known for its expertise in acquiring and delivering exceptional products, North Atlantic caters to both domestic and industrial sectors while also serving global clients through their marine bunkering distribution channels.

North Atlantic is committed to strategic growth to deliver innovative and green energy solutions aligned with evolving global needs. By driving industry progress, North Atlantic is supporting new skills and new jobs for this dynamic landscape. North Atlantic remains committed to providing exceptional energy, fuel and convenience retail initiatives that enhance customer experience while fostering economic growth in the communities they serve in Canada and beyond.

ABOUT NORTH ATLANTIC ENERGIES

North Atlantic Energies is a key player in France’s energy landscape, supporting the country’s security of supply while contributing to the ongoing transformation of the sector.

Representing 20% of France’s refining capacity, the company plays a vital role in the economy and in its regions.

North Atlantic Energies supplies the products essential to modern life and places its customers at the center of its priorities.

MEDIA CONTACTS
France: Brunswick Group – northatlantic@brunswickgroup.com
Hugues Boëton: +33 6 79 99 27 15
Paul Priam: +33 6 84 39 09 89

Canada: Mark Duggan – markduggan@northatlantic.ca
+1-709-687-3136 

SOURCE: North Atlantic

Friday, January 30, 2026

AI-Media to Showcase Real-Time Translation and Accessibility Workflows at ISE 2026 as Multilingual AV Demand Accelerates


BARCELONA, Spain, Jan 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AI-Media, a global leader in AI-powered subtitling and language solutions, will be at ISE 2026 to demonstrate how real-time translation, captioning, and audio description are becoming essential capabilities across professional AV environments - from live events and corporate communications to venues and public installations.

As audiences become increasingly multilingual and expectations for inclusive communication continue to rise, AV teams are being challenged to deliver experiences that are accessible, understandable, and consistent across both in-room and remote viewing. At ISE 2026, AI-Media will share how its broadcast-grade AI technology is being applied to integrated AV workflows, enabling scalable, real-time language and accessibility support with low latency.

At Booth 4L700, AI-Media will showcase LEXI Voice, an AI-driven solution delivering real-time voice translation into any language with natural-sounding output and minimal delay. Designed for live and broadcast environments, LEXI Voice supports event producers, content owners, and AV integrators looking to deliver multilingual communication without adding complexity to production workflows.

Alongside LEXI Voice, AI-Media will also demonstrate LEXI Text, its real-time AI subtitling solution, and LEXI AD, which provides automated audio description to support inclusive viewing experiences. Together, the LEXI suite helps organisations deliver multilingual and accessible experiences across professional AV and broadcast environments - supporting a broader industry shift toward inclusive communication as a standard expectation, not an add-on.

“Professional AV is moving quickly toward the same expectations broadcasters have operated under for years - reliability, low latency, and experiences that work across languages and accessibility needs,” said Mark Lovatt, VP Strategic Accounts and VP Sales - EMEA at AI-Media. “At ISE, we’re demonstrating how real-time voice translation, subtitling, and audio description can be delivered as part of the live workflow, helping organisations design more inclusive experiences from the start.”

All LEXI solutions integrate seamlessly with SDI and IP infrastructures, supporting deployments across conferences, corporate communications, live events, sports venues, houses of worship, and public installations.

AI-Media looks forward to engaging with industry professionals throughout ISE 2026 in Barcelona to discuss how language and accessibility technology can be applied across live, broadcast, and integrated AV environments. Visit Booth 4L700 to explore AI-Media’s real-time voice translation, subtitling, and audio description workflows in action. Further information about AI-Media’s solutions, including the option to book meetings with AI-Media representatives at ISE, is available here: https://landing.ai-media.tv/ise-2026

About AI-Media:

AI-Media (ASX: AIM) is a global leader in AI-powered voice translation, captioning, and language orchestration. The LEXI Suite and global encoder network deliver real-time multilingual intelligence - trusted worldwide to modernize workflows, enhance communication, and scale the shift from text to spoken AI.

For more information visit the AI-Media website

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9de967d8-191a-4c7d-9504-da62857c28ae 

SOURCE: Ai-Media Technologies LLC

Polyplastics Develops New DURAFIDE(R) PPS Grades with Mechanically Recycled Content

TOKYO, Jan. 28, 2026 /Kyodo JBN/--

Polyplastics Co., Ltd., a global leader in engineering thermoplastics, has developed two new DURAFIDE(R) polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) grades made of mechanically recycled content. The 40% glass fiber-reinforced grades, DURAFIDE(R) rG-PPS 1140A1R00 and 1140A1R30 (with 100% and 30% recycled glass fiber-reinforced PPS content, respectively), are set for launch in the next few months.

Image:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100475/202601202736/_prw_PI1fl_5M5BC94J.jpg

The new offering is part of Polyplastics' DURACIRCLE(R) initiative, which strives to achieve 100% circularity for engineering plastics. These new grades are offered through the company's re-compounding service, which utilizes process scrap collected from customers as raw material under its "Open PIR Mechanical Recycling Scheme."

High-quality product manufacturing is achieved by collecting glass fiber-reinforced PPS process scrap from partner companies meeting high standards. After rigorous inspection, sorting, and reformulation, the materials are compounded under optimal conditions and undergo the same quality assurance as virgin materials. Polyplastics will sell these materials through its global sales network. Currently, collection targets are limited to specific grades of glass-filled DURAFIDE(R) PPS materials.

For the re-compounding business and the establishment of the "Open PIR Mechanical Recycling Scheme," developing new applications and securing collection routes are essential. The company is targeting initiatives that envision collaboration not only with existing customers but also with companies in various waste-to-value industries.

Polyplastics is exploring adding new mechanically recycled PPS grades to its lineup in response to market needs. The goal is to build self-contained "local production for local consumption" recycling chains within each country and region worldwide. Simultaneously, by expanding the range of constituent materials to include PCR materials, Polyplastics will enhance its supply capacity for high-quality, reliable recycled materials. This will further reduce environmental impact and enhance the ability to meet customers' diverse needs.

For more information, visit:
https://www.polyplastics.com/global/s/ourapproach/a5nRB000001nik7YAA/225?language=en_US

About Polyplastics
Polyplastics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in the development and production of engineering thermoplastics. The company's product portfolio includes POM, PBT, PPS, LCP, PET, COC, and LFT, with global-leading market share for POM, LCP, and COC. With more than 60 years of experience, the company is backed by a strong global network of R&D, production, and sales resources capable of creating advanced solutions for an ever-changing global marketplace.

DURAFIDE(R) and DURACIRCLE(R) are registered trademarks of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries. 

Source: Polyplastics Co., Ltd.

--BERNAMA

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Insurance and Takaful Industry Supports Government’s Base MHIT Plan Under the RESET Strategy


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian insurance and takaful industry, represented by the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM), Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) and the Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM) welcomes and fully supports the Joint Ministerial Committee on Private Healthcare Costs (JBMKKS) introduction of the base Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) plan under the RESET Strategy. This is an important initiative which will expand financial protection for essential healthcare needs, channel private spending more efficiently and strengthen conditions for broader health system reforms in line with value-based care that improves health outcomes with disciplined cost management.

The insurance and takaful industry stands ready to play its part in delivering the base MHIT plan to Malaysians across the country. As outlined in BNM’s published White Paper on Base MHIT Plan, it is intended to expand coverage among the uninsured, while also offering more cost-effective alternatives for existing policyholders/certificate holders, particularly retirees and middle-income families seeking long-term affordability. To ensure premiums/contribution remain stable while delivering meaningful protection, the base MHIT plan design incorporates features such as deductibles, co-payments and defined annual limits. These mechanisms are applied with fairness and transparency, supporting responsible utilisation of healthcare services while safeguarding the sustainability of coverage over time. The insurance and takaful industry will work closely with BNM to finalise implementation details and operations which will be launch in early 2027.

Our members are committed to ensuring timely claims payouts, clear communication with hospitals, and efficient claims processing, so Malaysians can access care without delay. The base MHIT plan is designed to complement existing medical plans, which will continue to be available. The industry supports offering the base MHIT plan at scale, as standardisation provides a strong foundation for broader participation, consistent understanding of coverage, and greater public confidence.

Transparency remains a priority in our work, and under the RESET strategy we have recently published Reference Price Ranges for Common Private Healthcare Services on the websites of LIAM, MTA and PIAM using actual claims data:

https://www.liam.org.my/about/healthcare/index.html

https://takaful4all.org/ms/inforesources/mhit/

https://piam.org.my/news-media/explore-connect/knowledge-zone/
publicationof-common-healthcare-services/


This publicly available guide empowers Malaysians with better cost visibility, helps them plan for potential out-of-pocket expenses, and supports more informed discussions with healthcare providers. It is one of several initiatives the industry has undertaken to promote awareness, manage healthcare costs responsibly, and protect the sustainability of insurance and takaful protection for the long term.

LIAM, MTA and PIAM — together representing the insurance and takaful community — remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting the smooth rollout of the base MHIT plan and delivering on its promise of affordable, transparent and sustainable healthcare protection. By balancing access with affordability, embedding transparency into product design and cost structures, and leveraging our decades of experience in protecting Malaysian families, the industry is ready to drive meaningful reform and maintain the public’s trust in medical and health insurance as a cornerstone of financial security.

ABOUT LIFE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION MALAYSIA (LIAM)
Formed in 1974, the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) is a trade association registered under the Societies Act 1966. LIAM has a total of 16 members, of which 14 are life insurance companies and 2 life reinsurance companies. LIAM’s objectives are to promote a progressive life insurance industry; to enhance public understanding and appreciation for life insurance; to upgrade the image and professionalism of the life insurance industry and to support the regulatory authorities in developing a strong industry. Visit www.liam.org.my for details.

ABOUT MALAYSIAN TAKAFUL ASSOCIATION (MTA)
Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) was established on November 2002 under the Societies Act 1966. It is a trade association representing all 19 licensed Takaful and Retakaful operators in the country. The objectives and the powers of MTA are to promote the interests of its members and to inculcate the implementation of self-regulation within the Takaful industry. More information on MTA can be obtained from its website: www.takaful4all.org

Facebook: facebook.com/MalaysianTakafulAssociation/
Instagram: instagram.com/malaysiantakafulassociation

ABOUT PERSATUAN INSURANS AM MALAYSIA (PIAM)
The history of PIAM originated from the establishment of various insurance and tariff associations set up in 1885 that played a role as a collective voice of the insurance industry in Malaya and Singapore shortly after the Independence of Malaya in 1957. In June 1961, the Insurance Association of Federation of Malaya was formed to maintain tariff insurance legislations and promote sound insurance practices. For the first time, an Association was established in Kuala Lumpur to safeguard the country's general insurance interest. Subsequently, PIAM was established in May 1979 as a statutory trade association recognised by the Government of Malaysia for all registered insurance business. Currently, PIAM has 23 member companies comprising direct general insurance and reinsurance companies operating in Malaysia.

To learn more about PIAM, visit www.piam.org.my

Facebook: facebook.com/PersatuanInsuransAmMalaysia
Instagram: instagram.com/piam_malaysia/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@piam_malaysia

SOURCE: Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
LIAM:
Puan Norizan Hassan
Head of Corporate Communications
Life Insurance Association of Malaysia
Tel: 603-2691 6168 / 6628 / 8068
Email: liaminfo@liam.org.my
Website: www.liam.org.my
Facebook: LIAM – Life Insurance Association of Malaysia
Instagram: @liamalaysia

MTA:
Puan Siti Nor Kamariah Ishak
Head, Corporate Communications
Tel: 01137475361
Fax: +603-2031 8170
Email: mtasecretariat@malaysiantakaful.com.my

PIAM:
Name: Ms. Susanna G. Simon
Head of Corporate Communications
Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM)
Tel: 03-2274 7399
Fax: 03-2274 5910
Email: susanna.simon@piam.org.my
Website: www.piam.org.my

--BERNAMA

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

RESTRUCTURING: MULTI-COLOR CORPORATION TO REDUCE DEBT, STRENGTHEN BALANCE SHEET



KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), a global leader in prime label solutions, has entered into a restructuring support agreement (RSA) with holders of approximately 70 per cent of its secured first-lien debt and its equity sponsor, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), as part of a comprehensive financial restructuring.

The transactions under the RSA are expected to significantly deleverage MCC’s balance sheet, reducing net debt to about US$2.0 billion from roughly US$5.9 billion, according to a company statement. (US$1=RM3.94)

The company’s annualised cash interest expense is expected to fall to about US$140 million in 2026 from approximately US$475 million, while long-term debt maturities will be extended to 2033 following completion of the restructuring.

MCC President and Chief Executive Officer, Hassan Rmaile said the agreement reflects strong support from the company’s sponsor and lenders and will strengthen MCC’s financial foundation to support sustainable growth.

The RSA provides for an US$889 million new common and preferred equity investment to support long-term growth and investment. Upon emergence, MCC is expected to have more than US$500 million of liquidity.

To implement the restructuring, MCC has launched a solicitation for votes on a prepackaged plan of reorganisation, which is supported by holders of approximately 70 per cent of its secured first-lien debt and CD&R.

The RSA also provides for US$250 million of new money debtor-in-possession financing to capitalise the business throughout the Chapter 11 process, which is expected to allow MCC to continue operating in the ordinary course during the restructuring.

Upon commencement of the prepackaged Chapter 11 proceedings, MCC will file a series of first-day motions that, subject to court approval, will allow the company to continue to operate in the ordinary course of business while it works to deleverage its capital structure.

-- BERNAMA