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Laserfiche Global Headquarters Achieves LEED Silver Certification

July 24, 2024,Long Beach, Calif., United States : Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation — announced today that its Long Beach-based global headquarters has been awarded LEED Silver certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Laserfiche achieved LEED Silver certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The Laserfiche headquarters project integrated sustainability and environmental practices into the construction and overall design from its inception. The site, located on a corner block of Long Beach Boulevard near the 405 freeway, was once the location of eight formerly active oil wells and widely considered undevelopable. A full remediation restored the soil and groundwater environment in preparation for construction.

Reinforcing sustainable practices beyond site remediation, Laserfiche selected low-carbon and chemically transparent building materials. During construction, Laserfiche achieved an 85% construction waste diversion rate, translating to 80 tons of CO2 saved from emissions — equivalent to an energy offset of 10 single family houses for a full year.

Design and construction followed principles of biophilic design, which focuses on incorporating elements of the natural world that contribute to human health, wellness and productivity. The office optimizes energy efficiency and thermal comfort while maximizing daylight throughout, providing well-lit workspaces and access to outdoor areas, including communal patios.

“Achieving LEED status with our global headquarters demonstrates Laserfiche’s deep commitment to our employees and the wider Laserfiche community,” says Karl Chan, chief executive officer at Laserfiche. “As one of the first global technology companies to establish a headquarters in Long Beach, we’re excited to deepen our connection to the city and region. We look forward to continuing to model innovation in our product development as well as our workplace.”

“Achieving LEED certification is more than just implementing sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role buildings play in that effort, Laserfiche’s Global Headquarters is creating a path forward through their LEED certification.”

SLB to Accelerate Co-Development of AI-Driven Digital Platform for Aker BP

July 24, 2024,Houston, United States : SLB and Aker BP today announced they have agreed a long-term partnership to co-develop an AI-driven digital platform for Aker BP to accelerate innovation and deliver substantial efficiency improvements across the company’s E&P operations. The new platform will leverage the Delfi™ digital platform to enable new digital solutions in the cloud for Aker BP.

“By co-developing AI-powered digital technologies, we will transform Aker BP’s subsurface workflows, accelerating planning cycles, increasing production, and reducing costs across their entire E&P life cycle,” said Rakesh Jaggi, President, Digital & Integration, SLB. “We have made a long-term commitment with Aker BP to continuously improve the subsurface part of their platform, driving constant efficiency optimization and more sustainable energy production.”

The partners will transition Aker BP’s current application portfolio to the cloud and create one integrated platform for subsurface workflows. The high-performance computing speed of the cloud will enable the platform to leverage advanced AI and domain expertise from SLB and Aker BP to reveal new insights from previously untapped data, driving substantial efficiency and performance improvements.

“The platform we develop in partnership with SLB is a key step in realizing our strategy to build the E&P company of the future and cement our position as a digital leader,” said Per Øyvind Seljebotn, SVP Exploration & Reservoir Development, Aker BP. “Leveraging the cloud for data-driven subsurface workflows will increase efficiency and value creation, while helping to lower the environmental impact from our fields and discoveries.”

An essential part of enabling AI-driven workflows is establishing a unified data environment. The new platform builds on SLB’s commitment to the Open Group’s OSDU® Technical Standard and close integration with Microsoft’s Azure Data Manager for Energy.

“Moving to the Delfi platform is a big step forward on our data-driven journey. The use of Azure Data Manager for Energy, a strong and open collaboration with our digital ecosystem, and a high ambition to leverage GenAI are key benefits in this partnership with SLB,” said Paula Doyle, Chief Digital Officer, Aker BP.

The Estee Lauder Companies Names Akhil Shrivastava as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Effective November 1, 2024

July 24, 2024,New York, United States : The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) (“ELC” or “the Company”) today announced that Akhil Shrivastava has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Tracey T. Travis, whose intention to retire was announced on July 11, 2024. Akhil will report to William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, and Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, consistent with the reporting structure for Tracey.

Akhil will assume his new role effective November 1, 2024. Tracey will remain at the Company until her retirement on June 30, 2025 to support a seamless transition.

“With over 25 years of extensive financial and leadership experience, Akhil is an exceptional and capable leader whose financial and strategic expertise and insights have been important in supporting the Company over the past several years, and he will be instrumental in driving forward our strategic direction and decisions,” said Fabrizio Freda. “I look forward to partnering with Akhil as we continue to rebuild stronger, more sustainable profitability and sales growth acceleration across the business.”

In his new role as Chief Financial Officer, Akhil will be responsible for the Company’s Global Finance, Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations and New Business Development organizations. He will lead ELC’s Global Finance & Strategy (F&S) organization and will continue to cultivate and strengthen the tremendously talented Finance & Strategy Team, continuing to imbue agility and consumer-focus across the organization to drive sustainable value creation, governance, and strategic business objectives and priorities for the long-term.

Since joining ELC in 2015, Akhil has held several senior finance roles within the Company. He was recently named ELC’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, a role that oversees Corporate Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis, the International and Online Finance organizations, Pricing and Value Chain Finance, serving on both the Finance & Strategy Leadership Team and Executive Leadership Team. He also oversees the Operational Excellence pillar as part of the Profit Recovery and Growth Plan focused on driving strong inventory, cash, and cost improvements for the Company. Prior to his current role, he was Senior Vice President, Treasurer, where he was responsible for core Treasury functions, the Enterprise Risk Program, Real Estate, and oversight of the Company’s retirement funds.

Akhil will serve as a member of several of ELC’s senior management leadership groups including the Executive Leadership Team, Investment Development Committee, Fiduciary Investment Committee, and Corporate Risk Management Committee. In some cases, his membership will continue, and, in others, he will be a new member.

“Akhil has demonstrated his capabilities as a transformational, visionary, and collaborative leader who combines finance and strategy with an appreciation for the creativity within our business and our brands with consumers at the heart,” said William P. Lauder. “He also has a keen ability to cultivate high-performing teams and organizations and will continue to strengthen the tremendously talented Finance & Strategy organization, which will be instrumental in continuing to drive our strategic business objectives and priorities for the long-term.”

Akhil first joined ELC in 2015 as Vice President, Global Finance & Strategy for the Estée Lauder brand and was then appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Global Finance & Strategy for Jane Hertzmark Hudis’ Brand Cluster in January 2019, where he provided strategic leadership and financial guidance while maximizing business and transformational opportunities across the brand cluster. Specifically, he helped allocate resources to support and promote the best growth opportunities from a consumer, sub-category, geography, and channel perspective.

He has also served as a valued member of many key enterprise initiatives at the Company, providing strategic financial direction for projects which include transforming ELC’s planning processes and capabilities to support the end-to-end business from consumer demand to delivery.

“With its leading portfolio of iconic brands, extensive global reach, and impressively talented people, I am honored to lead the Global Finance team,” said Akhil Shrivastava. “I look forward to helping to advance the Company’s multiple engines of growth to rebuild stronger, more sustainable profitability and support sales growth acceleration across brands, product categories, and regions while evolving the business for the future.”

Before joining The Estée Lauder Companies, Akhil spent eighteen years at Procter & Gamble, where he served in several finance and leadership roles across Asia, North America, and the global businesses, including Finance Director for Gillette, North America.

Akhil is a graduate of Engineering College in Rewa, India and has a Master’s Degree in Finance and Control from Delhi University.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include the various quotations related to rebuilding profitability and sales growth and the future of the finance and strategy function. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include the ability to successfully implement the Company’s profit recovery and growth plan and those described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise.

Corpay Cross-Border Named the Official B2B FX Partner for AEG Presents UK in Europe

July 24, 2024,Toronto, Canada : Corpay, Inc.*, (NYSE: CPAY) a global leader in corporate payments, is pleased to announce that Corpay’s Cross-Border business has entered into an agreement with AEG Presents UK, a global leader in live music and events, to become the Official B2B Foreign Exchange (FX) Partner of AEG Presents in Europe.

Through this partnership, AEG Presents UK will gain access to and utilise Corpay Cross Border’s innovative solutions to help mitigate foreign exchange exposure from their day-to-day business needs. Additionally, Corpay Cross-Border’s award-winning platform will enable them to manage their global payments from a single point of access.

“The Corpay Cross-Border team is thrilled to become the Official B2B FX Partner of AEG Presents UK in Europe,” said Brad Loder, Chief Marketing Officer, Corpay Cross-Border Solutions. “This is a significant milestone for Corpay’s global partnership program evolution, as it further expands our footprint within the world of live music, events, and entertainment. With our strong focus on growing the Corpay brand, as well as our currency risk management business globally, we are elated to partner with AEG Presents, a global leader in live music and events.”

Stephen Van Dyk, Vice President & Finance Director, AEG Presents UK said: “We are looking forward to working with Corpay and utilising their platform and services.”

FPT Software and Project Management Institute Forge Strategic Partnership, Driving Talent Development and Innovation

July 24, 2024,Hanoi, Vietnam : Global leading IT company FPT Software recently signed a large-scale Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the world’s leading organization for project management, the Project Management Institute (PMI). This partnership aims to bridge skill gaps within the technology industry and foster innovation worldwide.

Under this agreement, PMI commits to supporting FPT Software in creating and implementing a comprehensive career-long learning and development framework for its employees. PMI will also share the most up-to-date project management principles and standards so that FPT Software can ensure quality control of its in-house training programs.

In 2024, FPT Software aims to achieve 555 certifications for its project managers, including 500 Project Management Professional (PMP) certificates, 50 Program Management Professional (PgMP) certificates, and 5 Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) certificates. In three years, FPT Software plans to obtain a total of 2,600 PMI certifications. These project management certifications are the gold standard in project management, recognized by organizations worldwide. This not only validates the expertise of FPT Software’s workforce but also enhances their professional recognition globally, boosting FPT Software’s credibility when engaging with potential customers, leading to improved operational efficiency and client satisfaction.

“FPT Software has over 2,300 project managers, and we always prioritize the continuous development and enhancement of skills and knowledge for our project management professionals. The partnership with PMI sets the premise for us to standardize delivery between offshore, nearshore, and onshore operations, and strengthen our service consistency and reliability across different geographies. By aligning our processes with PMI’s internationally recognized standards, we can better meet the diverse needs of our global clientele and further solidify our position as a trusted partner in digital transformation,” said Vu Tien Dat, FPT Software’s Chief Delivery Officer.

SoHyun Kang, Regional Managing Director – Asia Pacific, PMI said, “It gives us great pleasure to collaborate with FPT Software to nurture talent and bridge the skill gap to meet the industry demands of supporting technology and innovation development in Vietnam and globally. PMI is committed to empowering project professionals with globally recognized certifications, standards, online courses, thought leadership and tools that can help them in their career journey of learning and development. We welcome FPT Software to our vibrant and growing project professionals’ community which is at the core of what we do at PMI. We harness the power of our community to consistently add value to the profession.”

Veet Unveils Its Revolutionary Veet Pure Range with Brand Ambassador Sara Ali Khan

July 24, 2024,New Delhi, Delhi, India : Veet®, the leader~ in depilatory products, announces the launch of its groundbreaking new range, Veet Pure, at an exclusive event held in Mumbai today. The event was graced by Bollywood sensation and Veet brand ambassador, Sara Ali Khan, who unveiled the product to an enthusiastic audience of influencers and beauty enthusiasts. This innovative product line marks a significant milestone for Veet, promising a salon-smooth finish in just 5 minutes^ and offering consumers a no-compromise solution for hair removal.

Veet is set to enhance the hair removal process with the new range of Veet Pure made with natural extracts such as organic aloe vera, rose extracts, and mint extracts. Veet Pure is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern women who seek effective and gentle hair removal solutions. The new product stands out with its gentle yet effective formula, addressing common concerns associated with hair removal creams, such as foul smell.

Actress and Brand Ambassador Sara Ali Khan expressed her excitement at the launch, “I have always been an integral part of the Veet family and have witnessed how it has always catered to the needs of modern women. Hair removal can be such a task, we don’t necessarily have the time to indulge in time-consuming salon appointments every time. Veet Pure is a game-changer for women who want an easy and effective hair removal solution that’s also gentle on the skin.”

Speaking on the occasion, Kanika Kalra, Regional Marketing Director, Health, Reckitt South Asia said, “At Reckitt, we aim to deliver the best user experience that addresses consumers’ interests, with a sharp focus on constant innovation and excellence. We’re proud to introduce a product that combines effectiveness with gentle care, reflecting our mission to enhance women’s lives. With the new Veet Pure, we aim to deliver the superior choice of hair removal to all the women who want a hassle-free experience with a salon-smooth finish every time. We understand the importance of gentle, effective, and convenient hair removal options, and Veet Pure delivers just that. Our consistent efforts to innovate ensure that we provide the best products to our consumers.”

Veet Pure provides consumers with smooth, moisturized, and visibly glowing skin in just 5 minutes^, setting a new standard in hair removal solutions. Additionally, it helps in exfoliating your skin, providing a comprehensive beauty solution without compromising on quality. The all-new Veet Pure packaging further enhances the appeal of this revolutionary range, emphasizing Veet’s commitment to innovation and quality.

Veet Pure is now available nationwide, inviting consumers to experience the salon smooth finish at home, at a starting price of INR 54 for 15 grams.

KBI Biopharma Extends and Expands Commercial Contract with Leading Global Pharmaceutical Company

July 24, 2024,Durham, N.C., United States : KBI Biopharma, Inc. (KBI), a JSR Life Sciences company and global cGMP contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced that it has extended and expanded its manufacturing contract with a leading global pharmaceutical company. Originally initiated in 2020, the renewed contract extends through 2029 with a notable amendment that outlines a purchase commitment for two therapeutic products representing an incremental value of approximately $250 million through the end of the renewed term.

In addition, KBI, in late June, completed a successful regulatory inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its mammalian operation in Durham, North Carolina. This regulatory inspection enables the company’s North Carolina operations to begin providing a mammalian drug substance commercially to one of its key strategic customers. It also demonstrates KBI’s ability to act as a preferred partner for large volume commercial therapeutic manufacturing.

“As KBI continues fulfilling its commitment to our customers in helping solve their complex manufacturing challenges, this commercial contract extension allows us to demonstrate our approach as a next-generation CDMO,” said J.D. Mowery, President and CEO of KBI Biopharma. “With this agreement as well as our successful FDA regulatory inspection, we’re driving breakthroughs in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing that help bring new therapies to market.”

He concluded, “By establishing these trusted, long-term partnerships with global pharmaceutical leaders, we’re able to positively impact the lives of patients worldwide.”

WNS Recognized as a ‘Leader’ in Wealth and Asset Management Services by NelsonHall

July 24, 2024, London, United Kingdom & New York, United States & Mumbai, Maharashtra, India : WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS), a leading provider of global digital-led Business Process Management (BPM) solutions, today announced that it has been recognized as a ‘Leader’ in NelsonHall’s 2024 NEAT Vendor Evaluation for Wealth and Asset Management Services.

NelsonHall evaluated vendors on their ability to provide immediate benefits and meet future client needs, identifying WNS as a ‘Leader’ in the overall market segment for wealth and asset management services. WNS’ expanding capabilities in hyperautomation, platform-based research and analytics, data consulting, data management, and AI were highlighted as key investments over the past three years.

In addition, the NelsonHall report cites WNS’ proprietary portfolio of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions, mature market presence in wealth management, domain-specific process automation experience, and combined operational and technology service offerings for investment and credit research delivery as core strengths.

“Wealth and asset management firms increasingly see AI and Gen AI as part of their strategic digital investments. Backed by our deep domain knowledge and technology-enabled industry-specific solutions, WNS is well-positioned to partner with these firms to drive their transformation agendas forward and create incremental value,” said Keshav R. Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS.

“WNS’ BPS and IT services for Wealth and Asset Management enable clients to transform their research, data management, automation, and investment operations efficiently and drive growth in profits,” said Andy Efstathiou, Program Director for Banking at NelsonHall. “WNS’ proprietary tools for automation, AI implementation, and data extraction enable clients to better source, manage, and analyze data to make informed decisions.”

WNS has 15+ years of experience supporting some of the world’s largest asset management, wealth management, and investment banking companies. The company’s solutions cover the entire end-to-end value chain across research services, front office support, and back office operations. WNS has comprehensive industry expertise and best practices frameworks for investment operations including trade execution, settlement, reconciliation, and reporting. WNS’ Research and Analytics CoE comprises of fixed income analysts, equity sector analysts, economists, and data engineers to support investment model development and validation, portfolio analytics, risk management, and reporting.

BeiGene Opens Flagship U.S. Biologics Manufacturing and Clinical R&D Facility

July 24, 2024,Hopewell, N.J., United States : BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, today announced the opening of its flagship U.S. facility in Hopewell, N.J., at the Princeton West Innovation Campus, which houses state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing capabilities and a clinical research and development center that further bolster the Company’s differentiated model as an oncology innovator. BeiGene has more than 30 molecules at clinical or commercial stage, and the 42-acre facility provides flexibility to scale production of its innovative medicines today and in the future to meet the needs of patients with cancer.

“BeiGene has experienced unprecedented global growth, and the addition of our facility at the Princeton West Innovation Campus adds manufacturing and clinical development capabilities that will further strengthen our differentiated strategy which leverages speed, efficiency and technology to advance quality medicines faster for patients,” said John V. Oyler, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of BeiGene. “We are proud to be a part of New Jersey’s biopharmaceutical community that is rich in research and development and manufacturing talent. We look forward to deepening our relationships with key regional research institutions as we advance our robust pipeline of next-generation hematology and solid tumor medicines and continue to emerge as a leading global oncology innovator.”

BeiGene’s $800 million investment is the culmination of a three-year project to expand the Company’s integrated manufacturing and research and development footprint in the U.S. BeiGene will create hundreds of skilled high-tech jobs at the site by the end of 2025. New Jersey is a global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D with nine of the top 10 R&D companies in the world having a presence in the state. New Jersey boasts one of the country’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforces, and its infrastructure and connectivity ensure access to major markets around the world.

“I am thrilled by BeiGene’s contribution to our state’s thriving biopharmaceutical sector,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The opening of BeiGene’s flagship campus underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and creating high-tech jobs in the Garden State. We look forward to the positive impact BeiGene will have on our economy and the advancements they will bring to cancer treatment. This significant investment highlights New Jersey’s role as a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and development. We are proud to support BeiGene’s mission to develop affordable and accessible treatments for cancer patients worldwide.”

The site features approximately 400,000 square feet of dedicated commercial-stage biologic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity with space to expand over time, allowing flexibility as BeiGene’s pipeline continues to mature. The facility adds to BeiGene’s late-stage research and clinical development capabilities, which have enabled the Company’s fast rise to global oncology leadership. BeiGene has built one of the industry’s deepest and most compelling oncology pipelines, addressing 80 percent of the world’s cancers with innovative modalities such as targeted degraders and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), in addition to monoclonal antibodies and traditional small molecules. The new facility builds on BeiGene’s existing capabilities, enabling the Company to produce at scale, thereby reducing costs, ensuring supply chain resiliency, avoiding global disruptions, protecting capacity and rapidly adapting to the latest innovative modalities.

“I am excited to welcome BeiGene to Hopewell Township. BeiGene’s new cutting-edge pharmaceutical facility represents a significant investment in our community’s future. The life-saving medicines made right here in Hopewell will not only enhance global cancer treatment, but will also create good-paying, high-tech jobs and strengthen our local economy,” said Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning. “We look forward to the company’s continued success in Hopewell Township.”

BeiGene recognizes that human health and the health of the planet are intrinsically linked, and the Company is committed to reducing our environmental impact. For this reason, the Company has invested in sustainability measures both in the buildings and surrounding 42 acres, including a heating and cooling system that uses recycled wastewater from the onsite wastewater treatment plant for the cooling towers.