Thursday, May 21, 2026

AUDIENCERATE APPOINTS RICCARDO FABBRI AS CTO

 

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

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

Friday, May 15, 2026

Mobix Labs to Acquire U.S. Rare Earth and Critical Minerals Company Powering Defense and National Security

 

Table

U.S.A F-35 Lightning II 


Proposed Acquisition Would Position Mobix Labs Inside Strategic U.S. Supply Chains Powering Defense, National Security, and AI Infrastructure


IRVINE, Calif., May 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Mobix Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOBX) today announced it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to acquire Special Project Delivery LLC ("SPD"), a strategic infrastructure platform building sovereign U.S. supply chains for rare earth elements, critical minerals, and energy storage.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260514342224/en/ 

The proposed acquisition would expand Mobix Labs — already a supplier to advanced U.S. and allied defense and aerospace systems — directly into one of the world's most strategically important industrial sectors.

Key Facts at a Glance
  • ~418 kilograms of rare earth materials are estimated to be used in each F-35 Lightning II.
  • ~4,500 kilograms of rare earth materials are estimated to be used in each Virginia-class nuclear submarine.
  • Tens of billions of dollars are already being deployed globally toward strategic critical-minerals infrastructure, with potential to reach hundreds of billions over the coming decade.
  • China dominates significant portions of global rare earth mining and refining, according to widely cited industry and government sources.
  • NATO, AUKUS, and Five Eyes nations have publicly identified rare earth independence as a defining geopolitical priority of the coming decade.
  • Beginning in 2027, new U.S. Department of Defense restrictions on certain Chinese-origin rare earth magnet materials are expected to accelerate allied demand.
Why This Moment Matters

"In my decades leading Microsemi, I watched our defense and aerospace customers grow increasingly dependent on a narrow set of strategic materials they could not always source securely," said James Peterson, Chairman of the Board of Mobix Labs and former Chief Executive Officer of Microsemi. "Today, rare earths and critical minerals have become one of the defining competitive battlegrounds of the next decade. SPD is the right platform at exactly the right moment — federally aligned, technically validated, and assembled by an exceptional team. We believe the combination with SPD provides Mobix Labs and its shareholders substantial long-term opportunity."

A Platform Built for America's Critical Minerals Push

Founded in 2019, SPD has assembled a U.S. critical-minerals and energy platform aligned with the major federal initiatives reshaping the Western industrial base — including Project Vault, the recently announced $12 billion U.S. Export-Import Bank public-private partnership for critical-resource resilience, the Defense Production Act, and the DOE Loan Programs Office.

SPD's work includes recovery of rare earth elements from underutilized domestic feedstock — including legacy U.S. coal ash — using extraction technologies validated by U.S. defense-research partners. SPD is publicly aligned with the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, two of the largest U.S. utility participants, and three institutional financial partners.

SPD is led by Co-Founder and CEO Paul Singarella, a former Latham & Watkins partner trained at MIT, and Co-Founder and CFO John Dewey, who brings over $2 billion of cumulative infrastructure-development responsibility.

No F-35. No Submarine. No Missile. Without Rare Earths.

There is no F-35 Lightning II without rare earth materials. No F-22 Raptor. No F/A-18. No Virginia-class submarine. No Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. No Patriot or THAAD interceptor. No Tomahawk. No Javelin. No advanced radar. No defense satellite. No AI data center.

Rare earths and critical minerals are increasingly viewed as the oil of the modern defense, aerospace, AI, and advanced-industrial economy — and the same platforms that depend on them already incorporate Mobix Labs technologies today.

An American-Led Supply Chain Backed by Washington and Our Allies

From the United States and United Kingdom to Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and India, allied nations are racing to build independent, non-China supply chains for strategic materials. The proposed Mobix–SPD combination would sit directly inside that transformation.

"SPD was built to onshore the materials, technologies, and infrastructure defining national sovereignty in the 21st century — rare earths, critical minerals, and the energy systems powering the AI Industrial Revolution," said Paul Singarella, Co-Founder and CEO of SPD. "A combination with Mobix Labs would pair our platform directly with a publicly traded defense and dual-use technology company already operating inside the defense and aerospace ecosystems our materials are built to supply."

Mobix Labs intends to help build the sovereign industrial infrastructure powering that future.

Transaction Status

The Letter of Intent with SPD is non-binding and establishes a framework for due diligence and negotiation of definitive agreements. No assurance can be given that a definitive agreement will be executed or that the proposed transaction will be completed.

About Mobix Labs

Mobix Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOBX) is a defense and dual-use technology company headquartered in Irvine, California, supplying advanced components and wireless technologies to aerospace, defense, homeland security, and other high-reliability applications.

About Special Project Delivery LLC

Special Project Delivery LLC ("SPD") is a privately held U.S. infrastructure development platform with positions across critical minerals, energy storage, and Western U.S. water infrastructure. SPD was formed in 2019 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and is intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as well as similar provisions under applicable non-U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the proposed acquisition of Special Project Delivery LLC ("SPD"); the anticipated benefits, strategic significance, scope, structure, and timing of the proposed acquisition; the negotiation, execution, and consummation of definitive agreements; SPD's pipeline, capital architecture, federal-program alignment, technology validation, leadership, and operational milestones; SPD's positions across critical minerals, energy storage, and Western U.S. water infrastructure; the size, growth, and trajectory of the global rare earth and critical-minerals market; the expected impact of U.S. Department of Defense sourcing restrictions, Project Vault, the Defense Production Act, the DOE Loan Programs Office, and other federal industrial-policy initiatives; geopolitical, regulatory, and trade developments; estimates of rare earth and critical-mineral consumption per defense platform; allied-nation industrial and procurement priorities; and Mobix Labs' broader business strategy, growth, prospects, and outlook in defense, aerospace, critical minerals, and adjacent markets. These statements are typically identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "project," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are based on Mobix Labs' current expectations and assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of the parties to negotiate and execute definitive agreements within the contemplated timeframe or at all; the satisfaction of customary closing conditions; the results and findings of due diligence; the ability to complete the proposed transaction on the anticipated terms or at all; the ability to realize the anticipated strategic, commercial, or financial benefits of the proposed transaction; the ability to integrate any acquired business and retain key personnel; SPD's ability to advance its pipeline, secure federal-program participation, and achieve operational milestones; the actual size, timing, and growth of the rare earth and critical-minerals market; the development and commercialization of rare earth extraction technologies, including those involving legacy coal ash feedstock; geopolitical, regulatory, trade, export-control, and tariff developments, including Chinese export policies and U.S. defense sourcing restrictions; capital markets conditions and the availability of financing; competition; the ability of the combined business to participate in federal industrial-policy programs; macroeconomic conditions; and the other risks described in Mobix Labs' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, which are available at www.sec.gov.

The Letter of Intent with SPD is non-binding, and there can be no assurance that the parties will execute a definitive agreement, that the proposed transaction will be completed, or that the anticipated strategic, commercial, or financial benefits will ultimately be realized. Estimates of rare earth and critical-mineral consumption per defense platform reflect publicly available industry and government sources and are subject to variance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by applicable law, Mobix Labs undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Follow us on X: @MobixLabs_MOBX
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View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260514342224/en/

Contact

MOBX Investor Relations Contacts
Chris Eddy or David Collins
Catalyst IR
mobx@catalyst-ir.com or 212-924-9800

Source : Mobix Labs, Inc.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

HUAYAN ROBOTICS TO SHOWCASE AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS IN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Bernama) -- Huayan Robotics, an intelligent collaborative robotics specialist, will showcase its latest automation solutions at METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2026 from May 20 to 23 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

The company in a statement said it will present a portfolio of flexible, efficient, and intelligent robotic systems, reflecting its commitment to the Malaysian and broader Southeast Asian market.

Huayan Robotics will highlight solutions for welding applications and high-frequency industrial scenarios, including collaborative welding robot models designed for large and complex workpieces, alongside a lightweight model equipped with a magnetic base for flexible deployment across multiple stations.

Tailored for industries such as shipbuilding, structural steel fabrication and metal fabrication, the systems feature force-controlled drag-to-teach, automatic seam tracking and adaptive path correction, helping reduce programming effort while improving welding precision and consistency.

In addition, Huayan Robotics will also showcase its integrated automation solutions, including CNC loading and unloading robots which deliver high speed, precision, and stable operation, supported by long-term partnerships with leading global machine tool manufacturers.

Its heavy-payload palletising robot solution offers up to 60-kilogramme payload, 2.2-metre reach and eight to 13 cycles per minute, targeting high-throughput industries such as food and beverage, daily chemicals and logistics.

Meanwhile, inspection robots equipped with artificial intelligence-enhanced 2.5D vision systems are designed to provide smarter and more cost-effective quality control by improving inspection accuracy and efficiency.

Backed by over 20 years of expertise and following its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), Huayan Robotics is accelerating its global expansion, with Southeast Asia identified as a key strategic growth market.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

TOMI Details Proposed Acquisition Of Carbonium Core

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- TOMI Environmental Solutions Inc (TOMI) has clarified its previously announced non-binding letter of intent (the LOI) for a merger transaction to acquire 100 per cent of the outstanding equity of Carbonium Core Inc (Carbonium Core).

Under the proposed transaction, TOMI will provide all-stock consideration valued at US$120 million through a combination of newly issued common shares representing up to 19.99 per cent of outstanding shares and newly created Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into TOMI common stock at US$1.00 per share. (US$1 = RM3.91)

The transaction is subject to stockholder approval under Nasdaq Stock Market rules and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending execution of definitive agreements and customary closing conditions.

According to TOMI in a statement, the proposed acquisition is expected to establish a domestic advanced graphite platform targeting a multi-billion-dollar market supported by United States (US) supply-chain reshoring and next-generation nuclear deployment.

In addition, TOMI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Halden Shane, and Carbonium Core CEO, Suren Ajjarapu, presented at Wall Street Reporter’s NEXT SUPER STOCK livestream event on May 7.

TOMI is a global company specialising in disinfection and decontamination solutions across multiple industries, while Carbonium Core is a US-based advanced materials company focused on producing nuclear-grade graphite for fourth-generation reactors.

-- BERNAMA

EMGA Secures US$25 Mln Financing For Vietnam’s EVF From OPEC Fund

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) has completed its first transaction for EVF General Finance Joint Stock Company (EVF) in Vietnam by securing US$25 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). (US$1 = RM3.91)


EMGA Head of Investment Banking and Managing Director, Sajeev Chakkalakal said the deal supports EVF’s continued focus on the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector as well as climate-related initiatives in Vietnam.


“It was also a very positive experience working with our long-term partner OFID as they looked to expand their exposure in the Vietnamese financial sector,” he said in a statement.


Meanwhile, EVF Head of Capital Markets, Dinh Ngoc Bao said the transaction marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to expand access to financing for Vietnam’s SME sector, a key driver of economic growth and innovation.


Established in 2008 and headquartered in Hanoi, EVF is one of Vietnam’s leading non-bank financial institutions. It provides corporate financing, treasury services, capital mobilisation and lending solutions for both institutional and retail clients.


Listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange under the ticker “EVF”, the company has developed partnerships with domestic and international financial institutions while supporting the growth of Vietnam’s private sector and SME economy.


EMGA, with offices in London and New York, advises financial institutions and corporates on debt and equity capital raising, with a track record across emerging and frontier markets, including Vietnam.


-- BERNAMA