EMGA secures US$ 50M debt finance for Kazakhstan’s MFO KMF

LONDON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) announces they have secured a US$50M facility senior debt facility from JICA, The Japan International Cooperation Agency.

KMF Chairman of the Board Shalkar Zhusupov: “This is the first time that KMF has entered into a partnership with JICA, whose goals and mission are close to our own. We are grateful to EMGA and JICA for their trust and support. The funds from JICA will be used to implement projects to support micro and small enterprises, including rural entrepreneurs, which will create new opportunities and contribute to their economic growth.”

EMGA’s Head of Investment Banking and Managing Director Sajeev Chakkalakal said, “We are delighted to have arranged this new landmark debt facility for our long-standing client KMF. It has been a real pleasure to work with them again, as they continue to solidify their position as the largest MFI in the country, and further strengthen their financial position in spite of turbulent times.�

EMGA’s Managing Director Jeremy Dobson added, “This new financing will help KMF deliver on their stated mission; to continue to help entrepreneurs throughout Kazakhstan, and to develop their business with a greater focus on female owned businesses and in rural areas.�

MFO KMF is one of the leaders in Central Asian microfinance sector. The company aims to establish long-term partnership relations with clients based on mutual trust, understanding and respect. MFO “KMF� disburses clients individual and group loans for the following types of activity: business, trade, crop farming and cattle-breeding, production and services and consumer lending.

JICA: The Japan International Cooperation Agency is a governmental agency that delivers the bulk of Official Development Assistance for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.

Emerging Markets Global Advisory Limited (EMGA), with offices in London and New York, helps financial institutions and corporates seeking new debt or equity capital. EMGA’s multi-national team combine the decades of experience necessary to complete transactions on behalf of their clients within the world’s emerging markets and frontier economies, including Kazakhstan which remains a key market. With a proven track record in capital formation and strategic advisory throughout diverse economic cycles, EMGA continues expanding its geographic reach and service offering, solidifying its place in the market as one of the industries pre-eminent emerging markets focused niche investment banks.

Contact details
info@emergingmarketsglobaladvisory.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000933917

ASICS Global Study Shows Link Between Regular Exercise in Teenage Years and Positive Mental Wellbeing in Adulthood

ASICS State of Mind Study
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
  • Global ASICS study of 26,000 people reaffirms the connection between movement and the mind and uncovers a direct link between teenage physical activity and adult mental wellbeing
  • Each additional year a teenager remains engaged in exercise is associated with improved State of Mind scores in adulthood, with the ages of 15-17 identified as the most critical years for staying active
  • Yet, younger generations are disengaging from exercise earlier and in larger numbers, potentially impacting their mental wellbeing now and for years to come

LONDON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, ASICS is announcing the results of its second Global State of Mind Study, which reaffirms a positive link between physical exercise and mental wellbeing and uncovers a link between being physically active in teenage years and positive mental wellbeing in adulthood.

The study of over 26,000 respondents across 22 countries found that the more people exercise, the higher their State of Mind scores1. Across the globe, respondents who are regularly active2 have an average State of Mind score of 67/100, while inactive3 people have a much lower State of Mind score of just 54/100.

What’s more, the study uncovered that being physically active in your teenage years directly impacts your mind later in life. Participants who engaged in exercise throughout their adolescence report higher activity levels and State of Mind scores as adults. The findings indicate that remaining active as a teenager is key to establishing good exercise habits that last into adulthood and positively impact adult mental wellbeing.

In fact, the study was able to pinpoint the ages of 15-17 as the most critical years for staying active and when dropping out of exercise significantly affects your mental state for years to come. Those who regularly exercised at 15-17 years old are found to be more likely to remain active later in life and report higher State of Mind scores as adults (64/100 vs 61/100) than those who weren’t active during these years.

In comparison, respondents who dropped out of exercise before the age of 15 displayed the lowest activity levels and lowest State of Mind scores in adulthood. 30% are still inactive as adults and they are shown to be 11% less focused, 10% less confident, 10% less calm and 10% less composed compared to those who were able to exercise throughout adolescence.

In fact, every year a teenager remained engaged in regular exercise is associated with improved State of Mind scores in adulthood. Those who stopped exercising before the age of 15 display an average State of Mind score 15% lower than the global average, while a decline in physical activity at 16-17 and before the age of 22 reduced their average scores by 13% and 6% respectively.

Worryingly, the study also uncovered an exercise generation gap, with younger generations being increasingly less active. 57% of the Silent Generation (aged 78+) said they were active daily in their childhoods compared to just 19% of Gen Z (aged 18-27), showing a concerning trend of younger generations dropping out of physical activity earlier and in larger numbers than the generations before them.

Globally, members of Gen Z have the lowest State of Mind scores with an average of 62/100 compared to the Baby Boomers’ 68/100 and the Silent Generation’s 70/100.

Professor Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in exercise and mental health from King’s College London, said: “It is worrying to see this decline in activity levels from younger respondents at such a critical age, particularly as the study uncovered an association with lower wellbeing in adulthood�.

Gen Zs across the world are already exhibiting the lowest State of Mind scores (62/100) in comparison to the Silent Generation (70/100), so this could be hugely impactful for future mental wellbeing across the world.�

Tomoko Koda, Managing Executive Officer for ASICS, said: “ASICS was founded on the belief that sport and exercise benefit not only the body, but also the mind. It’s why we’re called ASICS: ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ or ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’. The results of our second global State of Mind Study show how important it is that young people stay active and the impact this can have on their minds for years to come. At ASICS, we’re committed to supporting and inspiring people to move for positive mental wellbeing throughout their lifetime.�

To find out more visit:
https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/mk/stateofmindstudy2024

NOTES FOR EDITOR

About the ASICS 2024 State of Mind Study
The 2024 State of Mind Study was conducted between 17 November – 21 December 2023 and explored the relationship between exercise and State of Mind across the world.

Over 26,000 people were surveyed across 22 markets including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, UAE, the UK and the US. Each market sample was nationally representative by age and gender.


1The ASICS State of Mind score is out of 100, calculated based on the accumulative mean scores across ten cognitive and emotional traits – positive, content, relaxed, focused, composed, resilient, confident, alert, calm, energized.

2150 minutes or more of physical activity per week (as defined by Sport England).

3Less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week (as defined by Sport England).


Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body,� is an old Latin phrase from which ASICS is derived and the fundamental platform on which the brand still stands. The company was founded more than 60 years ago by Kihachiro Onitsuka and is now a leading designer and manufacturer of running shoes as well as other athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.asics.com.

The stripe design featured on the sides of the ASICS® shoes is a registered trademark of ASICS Corporation.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25d28040-7b04-44cb-a421-97418e91c297

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For further information or to organise interviews, please contact asics.somi@golin.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000933726

AI-Media Unveils Enhanced Lexi Tool Kit at NAB 2024

World Leader in AI-Powered Captioning Solutions Introduces the new LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded

AI-Media Launches LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) Captioning Solution

World Leader in AI-Powered Captioning Solutions Introduces the new LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded at NAB Show 2024

NEW YORK, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  AI-Media, the global leader in AI-powered captioning, is set to unveil two new products at the prestigious NAB Show 2024, scheduled from 14-17 April in Las Vegas USA. Renowned for its cutting-edge innovations serving the broadcast industry, AI-Media’s latest offerings; LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded are poised to revolutionize the captioning market.

In addition to showcasing numerous updates on products such as LEXI and our IP and SDI range of encoders, AI-Media is most excited to showcase the new LEXI DR product, a groundbreaking solution that ensures uninterrupted captioning delivery even in the face of cloud and connectivity disruptions. With LEXI DR, broadcasters can rest assured that their captions will always remain on air with minimal interruption, thanks to seamless caption workflow integration, on-premises redundant servers and flexible setup options via virtual machines or hardware. This solution offers 99.99% caption uptime, scalability with up to 10 instances available per LEXI DR unit plus the confidence that data is secure with robust encryption and security measures. LEXI DR exemplifies AI-Media’s commitment to providing reliable, resilient, and secure captioning solutions for the broadcast industry.

AI-Media will also introduce LEXI Recorded, designed to streamline the captioning process for recorded content. The solution offers unprecedented turnaround speed and cost efficiencies making it perfect for time-sensitive news clips, highlights, and promos. LEXI Recorded boasts features such as bulk processing, accuracy above 98%, flexible file output types, multilingual options, plus can be integrated into the caption workflow so files can be captioned without leaving the media management system. With LEXI Recorded, broadcasters can ensure fast, cost-effective captioning of their recorded content with unmatched precision and ease.

“At AI-Media, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said James Ward, Chief Sales Officer at AI-Media. “We are thrilled to unveil LEXI Recorded and LEXI DR at NAB Show 2024, showcasing our relentless pursuit of excellence in captioning technology. LEXI DR represents the ultimate component in achieving full captioning automation. LEXI DR completes the automation of the captioning process. Previously, human intervention served as a backup, but LEXI DR revolutionizes this by eliminating the need for manual oversight.â€�

In addition to the product launches, AI-Media will feature an “Innovation Station” at their NAB booth, where attendees can explore exciting new technologies that are part of the company’s product roadmaps. Previews will showcase advancements in generative AI and its application in crafting topic models, also referred to as custom dictionaries. These topic models enhance accuracy by offering contextually relevant word suggestions and pronunciations based on themes, topics, and subject matter. Additionally, previews will feature innovations such as speaking subtitles or dubbing, as well as automated audio description. AI-Media is able to leverage decades of broadcast experience to ensure their captioning solutions are interoperable across different workflows, video standards and regions. As a leading innovator in the captioning industry, AI-Media remains committed to driving progress and shaping the future of accessible media worldwide.

For more information about AI-Media and its groundbreaking captioning solutions, visit:

AI-Media: AI-Media.tv

LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery): https://hubs.ly/Q02rWtMD0

LEXI Recorded: https://hubs.ly/Q02rWtLS0

About AI-Media:

Founded in Australia in 2003, AI-Media is a pioneering technology company specializing in innovative captioning workflow solutions. As a global leader, AI-Media provides high-quality AI-powered live and recorded captioning and translation technology and solutions to a diverse range of customers and markets worldwide. For the first time in February 2024, AI-Media was able to unveil groundbreaking data showcasing the superiority of its AI captioning product, LEXI, over traditional human workflows. This milestone further solidifies AI-Media’s position as the foremost AI technology leader in live and recorded captioning workflow solutions. With a commitment to utilising our deep industry experience and sophisticated AI technology to create solutions which streamline and simplify processes, AI-Media empowers leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies globally to ensure seamless accessibility and inclusivity in their content. Ai-Media (ASX: AIM) commenced trading on the ASX on 15 September 2020.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0fde5af3-8765-4882-abaa-03746dcde8af

Media Contact: Fiona Habben – Fiona.habben@ai-media.tv

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9086266

ThreatLocker® Unveils New Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Service with the World

Global cybersecurity leader extends platform utility beyond default deny with new MDR services

Orlando, FL, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ThreatLocker®, a pioneer in least privilege endpoint protection technologies, announced the launch of their MDR service with the Cyber Hero Team at Zero Trust World 2024.

“I’m elated about the ThreatLocker® Cyber Hero managed detection and response service,” said Danny Jenkins, CEO & Co-Founder of ThreatLocker®.

“Not only will this provide customers with a faster response when they don’t have 24-hour operation centers, but it also means that we are improving our product in a way that allows us to be responsible for so many customers and the management of their environments.”

ThreatLocker® understands the importance of preemptively blocking cybersecurity threats with a default deny baseline. Adding detection and response capabilities allows customers to stay secure while alerting them of suspicious or potentially malicious activity happening in their environment.

Products including Allowlisting, Ringfencing™, and Network Control in the ThreatLocker® Endpoint Protection Platform block attempted bad actions on a device, and ThreatLocker® Detect (formerly known as ThreatLocker® Ops) will alert organizations of said attempts. The MDR service is made possible by the near-instant response of the ThreatLocker® Cyber Hero Team when they directly notify a customer of a malicious attempt and ensure the security of their infrastructure.

In addition to providing a prompt notification via the Cyber Hero Support Team, ThreatLocker® Detect policies can be curated to completely isolate a machine from the rest of the environment or go as far as implementing an advanced lockdown to stop all software and network traffic from running.

In a live demonstration at Zero Trust World 2024, ThreatLocker® showcased the response speed of the Cyber Hero Team in locking down a machine after an attacker connected to a remote server, tried to run IP Scanning tools, and attempted to disable security tools.

The attacker was challenged with a QR code. When they didn’t respond and continued taking additional bad actions, such as attempting to disable ThreatLocker® service, the attacker’s attempts were thwarted with ThreatLocker® default deny, and the machine was locked down. The Cyber Heroes responded within a minute during the live presentation.

The new additions by ThreatLocker® satisfy cyber insurance regulations on implementing Zero Trust MDR strategies to prevent modern-day attacks.

ThreatLocker® will roll out its new products to new and existing partners. It currently protects over one million endpoints globally.

Attachment

Spencer Ford
ThreatLocker Inc.
+1 (689) 217-4246
press@threatlocker.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9084273

Anaqua Enhances AcclaimIP Patent Search with AI-Powered Capabilities

BOSTON, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology, continues to enhance its powerful patent search platform, AcclaimIP, setting a new standard in patent search capabilities. With a focus on empowering patent searchers with unparalleled control and assistance, AcclaimIP Patent Search offers access to a vast global patent database comprising over 100 million patents worldwide.

Designed to cater to the diverse needs of IP professionals, AcclaimIP Patent Search boasts a user-friendly interface that enhances the search experience, facilitating efficient exploration of results and swift discovery of relevant information. Whether users prefer to create their own queries or leverage powerful interfaces for assistance, AcclaimIP ensures a seamless and comprehensive search process.

One of the most significant features of AcclaimIP Patent Search is its cutting-edge AI Patent Summaries tool. Harnessing the power of generative AI, this innovative tool delivers consistent and optimized summaries of patents, enabling patent searchers to better understand search results and interpret patent implications. By leveraging large language models guided by tailored prompts, AcclaimIP’s AI Patent Summaries tool promises substantial time savings and mitigates the risk of overlooking critical intelligence.

“AcclaimIP is a powerful patent search platform that represents our commitment to innovation and excellence in the intellectual property industry,â€� said Bob Romeo, CEO of Anaqua. “By internally developing AI-powered tools that leverage market-leading solutions, we strengthen our position as the leader in IP management solutions, providing fully integrated solutions that empower IP professionals to succeed.”

For more information about Anaqua’s AcclaimIP Patent Search, please visit anaqua.com.

About Anaqua

Anaqua, Inc. is a premier provider of integrated intellectual property (IP) management technology solutions and services for corporations and law firms. Its IP management software solutions, AQX® and PATTSY WAVE®, both offer best practice workflows with big data analytics and tech-enabled services to create an intelligent environment designed to inform IP strategy, enable IP decision-making, and streamline IP operations, tailored to each segment’s need. Today, nearly half of the top 100 U.S. patent filers and global brands, as well as a growing number of law firms worldwide use Anaqua’s solutions. Over one million IP executives, attorneys, paralegals, administrators, and innovators use the platform for their IP management needs. The company’s global operations are headquartered in Boston, with offices across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. For additional information, please visit anaqua.com, or on Anaqua’s LinkedIn.

Company Contact:
Amanda Glagolev
Director, Communications
Anaqua
617-375-5808
aglagolev@anaqua.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9086095

AACSB Announces 2024 Class of Influential Leaders

Ninth annual initiative recognizes 22 impactful business school researchers

2024 Influential Leaders

Photo of AACSB’s 2024 Influential Leaders

TAMPA, Fla., April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AACSB International (AACSB)—the world’s largest business education alliance—announces today its 2024 Class of Influential Leaders, a group of 22 AACSB-accredited business school faculty demonstrating impact through their research.

Now in its ninth year, AACSB’s Influential Leaders member spotlight program highlights the value that business schools bring to business and society—whether through the alumni who have used their business education to improve the industries and communities they serve, or the faculty leading positive impact through their research. All faculty from this year’s class are from one of AACSB’s more than 1,000 accredited business schools worldwide.

The 2024 honorees are advancing research in the areas of AI, healthcare, sustainability, finance, entrepreneurship, and more. The selected leaders exemplify the important role of business school faculty in developing new knowledge that provides timely and relevant solutions for business and societal challenges.

These faculty changemakers are using their expertise to encourage environmental responsibility, improve healthcare outcomes, enable digital innovation, empower marginalized populations, and transform investment practices.

“The 2024 Influential Leaders demonstrate the potential of business school research to address some of today’s most critical challenges,� said Lily Bi, AACSB president and CEO. “The knowledge they’re producing will help inform and create real change in the world.�

Each Influential Leader was nominated by their school, which shared inspiring research examples that demonstrate how the honoree leads in new knowledge creation, engages in timely solutions, and positively impacts business and society. Support for the 2024 Influential Leaders initiative is provided by Academic Partnerships.

The unique stories of each honoree are available at aacsb.edu/influential-leaders.

About AACSB
Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) is the world’s largest business education association, connecting business schools, business, and lifelong learners to create the next generation of great leaders. With members in over 100 countries and territories, AACSB elevates the quality and impact of business schools globally. Learn how AACSB and business schools from around the world are leading boldly in business education at aacsb.edu.

Contact:
Leah (Harms) McBride
Public Relations Manager
AACSB International
MediaRelations@aacsb.edu

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/132ed6d1-5e2e-46a6-938f-3a66eb6e935f

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9083164