Bureau Veritas Launches an Independent AI Assessment Offering for European Enterprises, Developed in Partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS)

 COURBEVOIE, France 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Bureau Veritas, a global leader in Testing, Inspection, and Certification services (TIC), announces the launch of an AI systems audit to help European enterprises assess and demonstrate their compliance with the European Union's "AI Act" regulatory requirements. This offering combines on-site audits, document analysis, and direct testing to deliver an independent maturity report.

Since the EU's AI regulation came into force in 2024, companies have faced major implementation challenges. According to a recent report*, 68% of them struggle to interpret the provisions of the text, while 60% have yet to put in place the governance needed to comply. Non-compliance can cost them up to 7% of annual revenue. Bureau Veritas has developed this new audit offering to help companies identify their compliance gaps and remedy them.

Bureau Veritas's new audit offering comprises a pre-audit, document review, on-site audit, and direct testing, resulting in an independent report on the client's AI maturity. This assessment is built on eight standardized pillars covering the full spectrum of risks: security, robustness, data privacy, governance, fairness, explainability, controllability, and transparency.

To develop this offering, Bureau Veritas relies on AWS AI Risk Intelligence (AIRI), the automated governance solution developed by the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, a global team of AWS experts who help companies design, develop, and deploy AI solutions. AIRI enables automation of document review and direct testing, thus reducing audit cycles from several weeks to just a few days.

Bureau Veritas has adapted this tool to its audit processes to meet the specific needs of its auditors. With this new offering, they have clear indicators enabling them to quickly and precisely identify vulnerabilities in AI systems, transform abstract governance concepts into measurable and actionable information, and formulate remediation recommendations to help companies achieve compliance.

"With this unique offering on the market, we combine Bureau Veritas's expertise in compliance with AWS's expertise in artificial intelligence. We enable companies to better navigate the European regulatory environment and work more broadly towards the emergence of more responsible AI by managing the risks associated with its use," says Marc Roussel, Executive Vice President of Urbanization and Assurance at Bureau Veritas.

The offering targets large enterprises and mid-sized companies in Europe. Deployment will begin in the second quarter of 2026 in several key markets: France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Nordic countries. In the United Kingdom, the offering relies on international standards, notably ISO, applicable independently of the European regulatory framework.

Bureau Veritas plans to deploy this offering beyond Europe and adapt AIRI to integrate other regulatory frameworks and international standards related to AI.

* AWS survey, Unlocking France's AI Potential 2025.

About Bureau Veritas:

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in inspection, certification, and laboratory testing services with a powerful purpose: to shape a world of trust by ensuring responsible progress. With a vision to be the preferred partner for customers’ excellence and sustainability, the company innovates to help them navigate change.

Created in 1828, Bureau Veritas’ 82,000 employees deliver services in 140 countries. The company’s technical experts support customers to address challenges in quality, health and safety, environmental protection, and sustainability.

Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, SBF 120 indices and is part of the CAC SBT 1.5° index. Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI.

For more information, visit http://www.bureauveritas.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.

Our information is certified with blockchain technology.

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Contacts

ANALYST/INVESTOR CONTACTS

Laurent Brunelle

+33 (0)7 79 52 69 21

laurent.brunelle@bureauveritas.com

Colin Verbrugghe

+33 (0)6 80 53 26 72

colin.verbrugghe@bureauveritas.com

Romain Gorge

romain.gorge@bureauveritas.com

Inès Lagoutte

ines.lagoutte@bureauveritas.com

MEDIA CONTACTS

Karine Havas

+33 (0)6 68 63 83 18

karine.havas@bureauveritas.com

Frédéric Vallois

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frederic.vallois@bureauveritas.com

 

Rimini Street Announces Debt Reduction and Amendment to its Credit Agreement

 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), the Software Support and Agentic AI ERP Company™, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced first quarter debt reduction activities and a recent amendment to its credit agreement.

Debt reduction activities during the first quarter of 2026 totaled $10.9 million, reducing the Company’s outstanding term loan to $58.4 million as of March 31, 2026.

The Company’s credit agreement was amended effective as of March 27, 2026 to increase to $20.0 million the value of Company common stock that could be repurchased per annum, beginning with the Company’s 2026 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, with a revised total of $50.0 million in permitted stock repurchases from the period beginning January 1, 2026 through the maturity of the facility on April 30, 2029. The Company’s Board previously authorized common stock repurchases of up to $50.0 million, of which $36.7 million remains available until April 2029.

“These actions support our disciplined deployment of resources to drive shareholder value through investments in the business, debt reduction and common share repurchases,” said Seth Ravin, president and CEO, Rimini Street.

About Rimini Street, Inc.

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a proven, trusted global provider of end-to-end, mission-critical enterprise software support, managed services and innovative Agentic AI ERP solutions, and is the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company has signed thousands of IT service contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who have leveraged the Rimini Smart Path™ methodology to achieve better operational outcomes, billions of US dollars in savings and fund AI and other innovation.

To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “reflect,” “results,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” and other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to our ability to attract new clients or retain and/or sell additional products or services to existing clients; our ability to achieve and maintain an adequate rate of revenue growth; cost of revenue, including changes in costs associated with our efforts to grow and the results of any efforts to manage costs to align with current revenue expectations and the expansion of our offerings; the effects of increased intense competition in our industry and our ability to compete effectively; our ability to successfully educate the market regarding the advantages of our support and managed services for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and to sell the products and services comprising our “Rimini Smart Path™” solutions portfolio, including but not limited to our Agentic AI ERP solutions; our intentions with respect to our pricing model and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; the evolution of the ERP software management and support landscape facing our clients and prospects; estimates of our total addressable market; the effects of seasonal trends on our results of operations, including the contract renewal cycles for vendor-supplied software support and managed services; the effects of the efforts of enterprise software vendors to sell upgrades or migrations to cloud-based versions of their enterprise software on our results of operations; our ability to scale our operations quickly enough to meet our clients’ changing needs or decrease our costs adequately in response to changing client demand; risks arising from incorporating artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies into our products or services or any deficiencies associated with AI technologies used by us or by our third-party vendors and service providers; our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand; the continuing impact of and our ability to comply with the terms of our July 2025 settlement agreement with Oracle; our wind down of support services for Oracle PeopleSoft software products and the impact on future period revenue and costs incurred related to these efforts; the loss of one or more members of our management team and our ability to attract and retain additional qualified technical, sales and marketing personnel; our ability to expand our marketing and sales capabilities; our ability to avoid interruptions to, or degraded performance of, our services and the impact of any such interruptions or performance problems on our operations; our ability to defend against cybersecurity threats and to comply with data protection and privacy regulations; our expectations regarding new product offerings, innovation solutions, partnerships and alliance programs and our ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships; our ability to expand internationally and the risks associated with global operations; the impact of macro-economic trends, including inflation and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; our ability to generate significant capital through our operations or to raise additional capital necessary to fund and expand our operations and invest in new services and products; our business plan and our ability to effectively secure and manage our growth and associated investments; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately forecast retention rates; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; changes in laws or regulations, including tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take; tariff costs, including those imposed by the United States government and the potential for retaliatory trade measures by affected countries; our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; any negative impact of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters on our reputation or business and the exposure of our business to additional costs or risks from our reporting on such matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the volatility of our stock price; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; our ability to maintain our good standing with the United States government and international governments and capture new contracts with governmental entities/agencies; the occurrence of catastrophic events that may disrupt our business or that of our current and prospective clients; future acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary companies, products, subscriptions or technologies; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 19, 2026, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

© 2026 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.

 

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Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:

Dean Pohl

Rimini Street, Inc.

+1 925 523-7636

dpohl@riministreet.com

Media Relations Contact:

Janet Ravin

Rimini Street, Inc.

+1 702 285-3532

pr@riministreet.com

Danube Properties Unveils AED 3.5M+ ‘Greenz’ Master Community in Dubai’s High-Growth Academic City

 Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, 01. April 2026

Danube Properties has unveiled Greenz By Danube, its first large-scale integrated community featuring premium townhouses and villas - marking a major milestone in its expansion into master-planned developments.

Strategically located in Dubai International Academic City, near Dubai Silicon Oasis, Greenz sits within one of Dubai’s most promising future growth corridors. The area is home to over 100,000 residents and will benefit from the upcoming District IO, a major technology hub aligned with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Featuring villas and townhouses with exclusive sky gardens, Greenz By Danube’s completion is expected in 36 to 40 months with handover scheduled for Q4 2029.

Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman of Danube Group, said: “Greenz by Danube sets new benchmark for premium master communities - a first-of-its-kind living experience in Dubai. Designed with low-density planning, it ensures prime location and high appreciation guarantee. With 50+ luxury amenities and fully furnished, designer-curated interiors with Dolce Vita, every detail reflects elegance and distinction. Greenz is not just a community - it is a luxury lifestyle experience of a lifetime.”

The development offers 3- and 4-bedroom townhouses, 5-bedroom semi-detached villas, and 5-bedroom twin villas, catering to both families and investors.

Connectivity is a key highlight, with Emirates Road just 2 minutes away, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road within 6 minutes, Downtown Dubai and Burj Khalifa 20 minutes away, and Dubai International Airport reachable in 17 minutes. The upcoming Blue Line Metro is expected to further enhance accessibility and long-term value.

Focused on lifestyle and wellness, Greenz will feature 50+ amenities across five hubs, including beach-inspired spaces, sports courts, fitness and recovery zones, green areas, and family spaces.

With prices starting from AED 3.5 million and a flexible 1% monthly payment plan, Greenz presents a strong investment opportunity in a high-growth location.

About Danube Properties

Danube Properties, a subsidiary of the Danube Group founded in 1993 by Rizwan Sajan, is among the UAE’s leading private real estate developers. Known for pioneering the 1% payment plan, the company delivers fully furnished apartments complemented by over 40 lifestyle amenities, with a strong track record of quality construction and timely delivery.

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Contacts

Avinash Lohana

enquiry@danubeproperties.ae

+9718005757

Huawei, LG Electronics and Nokia Named as Founder Licensors of New Sisvel POS Pool

 LUXEMBOURG - Wednesday, 01. April 2026 AETOSWire Print 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Three world-class innovators are the founder licensors of the new Point of Sale (POS) patent pool, covering 2G to 5G technology, which Sisvel has launched today.

Huawei, LG Electronics and Nokia have made their standard essential patents (SEPs) reading on cellularly connected POS devices available through the programme, so simplifying access to the increasingly ubiquitous technology.

Early participation incentives for licensors to join the pool are available until mid-May. Other cellular patent owners not currently in discussions with Sisvel are encouraged to get in touch.

Ranging from handheld card machines to tablet-based registers, POS devices have transformed customer payment processing. Increasingly, they also offer enhanced capabilities such as inventory management, real-time tracking, advanced analytics and automatic re-ordering.

Standardised cellular technology is the critical feature that enables POS terminals to function wherever customers are located. The Sisvel POS programme offers an efficient and transparent way for implementers to access the relevant SEPs of the participating patent owners under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.

“Cellular technology has revolutionised the payments experience for both purchasers and vendors, and the new Sisvel POS pool will make accessing it more efficient and transparent,” says programme manager Sven Törringer. “As new licensors are expected to join soon, the programme is set to become even more compelling. This is an exciting day for Sisvel and the POS market. We thank Huawei, LG Electronics and Nokia for their leadership.”

About Sisvel

Sisvel is driven by a belief in the importance of collaboration, ingenuity and efficiency to bridge the needs of patent owners and those who wish to access their technologies. In a complex and constantly evolving marketplace, our guiding principle is to create a level playing field through the development and implementation of flexible, accessible, commercialisation solutions.

Sisvel | We Power Innovation

 

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Media

Giulia Dini   

Executive Head of Brand 

Tel: +34 93 131 5570   

giulia.dini@sisvel.com

VDYNE Receives FDA Approval to Initiate the TRIVITA1 IDE Pivotal Trial of Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement System

 MAPLE GROVE, Minn. - Wednesday, 01. April 2026 AETOSWire 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- VDYNE, Inc. (“VDYNE” or “the Company”), a privately held medical device company developing next generation transcatheter valve replacement technologies, today announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an investigational device exemption (IDE) for the company’s pivotal clinical trial evaluating its Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR) system.

The IDE approval enables initiation of a U.S. pivotal study at leading clinical centers to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the VDYNE system in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

“This is a defining milestone for VDYNE and an important step toward bringing a much-needed therapy to patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation,” said Mike Buck, Chief Executive Officer. “Our focus now is on disciplined clinical execution and partnering with leading investigators to generate high-quality data that advances the field and improves patient care.”

Significant unmet clinical needs exist in the treatment of TR with 1.5 million people in the US suffering from TR with a small percentage of those patients eligible to receive surgical treatment.2 Severe TR is linked to poor prognosis and high mortality (10% at one year), yet current treatment options remain extremely limited3.

VDYNE’s TTVR system is designed as a patient-tailored, minimally invasive solution to address the complexities of tricuspid valve anatomy and disease. Since first-in-human use in November 2023, the system has been used globally through clinical studies and compassionate use, providing important insights into procedural performance and clinical outcomes.

About VDYNE, Inc.

VDYNE, Inc. is a privately held medical device company focused on developing innovative transcatheter valve replacement technologies for the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation. Headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, VDYNE is dedicated to transforming care for patients suffering from right heart valve disease.

The VDYNE Tricuspid Valve Replacement System is currently under clinical investigation and not commercially available in the United States or any other country.

About Tricuspid Regurgitation

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) occurs when the tricuspid valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the right atrium. This condition can lead to fatigue, fluid retention, and reduced quality of life and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity.

[1] TRIVITA Trial: VDyne Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement Study to Evaluate Safety and Clinical Efficacy in Patients with Symptomatic Severe Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation

[2] Demir OM, Regazzoli D, Mangieri A, Ancona MB, Mitomo S, Weisz G, Colombo A, Latib A. Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement: Principles and Design. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2018 Sep 19;5:129. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2018.00129. PMID: 30283790; PMCID: PMC6156134.

[3] Kolte D, Elmariah S. Current state of transcatheter tricuspid valve repair. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2020 Feb;10(1):89-97. doi: 10.21037/cdt.2019.09.11. PMID: 32175231; PMCID: PMC7044094.

 

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Investor Relations

VDYNE, Inc.

investor@vdyne.com

www.vdyne.com

Visa Unveils New Services to Modernize Dispute Resolution Process

 Fraudulent disputes and administrative inefficiencies drive billions in avoidable economic costs

Six new and enhanced dispute resolution tools utilize AI and proprietary technology to help provide issuers, acquirers and merchants with increased visibility into costly fraud expenses

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, today announced six new dispute resolution tools designed to reduce the billions of dollars lost annually to inefficient, outdated dispute processes. The expanded suite of dispute resolution services is being designed to help merchants and financial institutions cut administrative costs, reduce fraud-related losses and redirect those resources toward growth, innovation and customer experience.

Disputes remain one of the most persistent friction points in commerce, driving rising costs for merchants and financial institutions while simultaneously leaving consumers frustrated and confused. In 2025, Visa processed 106 million disputes globally, a 35% increase since 20191.

"Dispute management is moving from a back-office function to a strategic priority, driven by rising volumes, regulatory scrutiny, and growing pressure to protect customer experience," says Sam Abadir, Research Director, Risk, Compliance & Financial Crime, IDC Financial Insights. "Institutions that continue to manage disputes through fragmented, manual processes are leaving recoverable revenue on the table and absorbing costs that modern workflows could eliminate."

New & Enhanced Dispute Resolution Tools for Merchants

Efficient Dispute Resolution: Visa Dispute Resolution Network streamlines pre-dispute handling so merchants can resolve potential disputes before they escalate, accelerating resolution, reducing operational burden. Pilot available now with general availability planned for late 2026.

AI-Driven Revenue Recovery: Visa Dispute Recovery Manager automates representment for merchants – managing disputes with GenAI responses and providing win prediction scoring to maximize recovery. Pilot expansion planned for late 2026.

Proactive Dispute Prevention: Order Insight helps prevent unnecessary disputes by surfacing transaction details to clear up confusion over legitimate charges. An April 2026 update means merchants can use Compelling Evidence 3.0 within Order Insight to share evidence with banks regarding suspicious transactions, further reducing friendly fraud instances.

New & Enhanced Dispute Resolution Tools for Issuers & Acquirers

Empowering Agents: Dispute Intelligence is powered by predictive AI models, aiding case‑by‑case analysis with network‑wide foresight to empower agents to make more informed decisions using Visa’s global transaction and dispute data. Generally available now.

Streamlined Review: Dispute Doc Analyzer uses AI to enable faster, more confident dispute resolution outcomes. For issuers, this tool will provide summaries of merchant documents including key data elements in a structured format to help analysts with time consuming manual review and dispute decisions (available in late April 2026). For acquirers, Doc Analyzer facilitates the ability to auto-populate response questionnaires on behalf of their merchants (generally available now).

AI-Powered Dispute Platform: Visa Dispute Case Manager incorporates AI functionality to unify workflows into a centralized platform for managing disputes across a variety of card networks, from intake to resolution. General availability in North America in 2026.

"Disputes put strain on every part of the payments ecosystem, frustrating consumers, while driving cost and complexity for merchants and financial institutions,” said Andrew Torre, President of Value-Added Services, Visa. "When outdated technology cannot keep pace, fraud goes undetected. Our expanded suite of dispute services gives clients the visibility they need to focus on what matters most: serving customers, launching new products and growing their businesses.”

For more information on these products, please visit Visa’s Value-Added Services website here: https://corporate.visa.com/en/solutions/value-added-services.html

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

1 VisaNet transaction data 2019-2025

 

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Media Contact

press@visa.com

 

Moniepoint Inc. Enters Kenyan Market With Acquisition of Sumac Microfinance Bank

 Strategic acquisition brings Moniepoint’s all-in-one digital financial services to Kenya's underserved MSME segment

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Moniepoint Inc. ("Moniepoint"), Africa's leading financial platform, today announces the completion of its acquisition of Sumac Microfinance Bank Limited ("Sumac"). The transaction, approved by the Central Bank of Kenya and Competition Authority of Kenya, marks Moniepoint’s first major acquisition on the continent and its formal entry into the East African market.

Moniepoint now holds a 78% majority stake in Sumac. The move allows Moniepoint to deploy its comprehensive suite of banking, payments, credit, and business management tools to Kenya's 7.4 million MSMEs - a sector contributing 40% of the nation’s GDP.

However, Kenya's MSMEs remain underserved when it comes to seamlessly integrated financial tools - business payments, banking, and credit - delivered within a single, cohesive platform. This gap represents a clear and urgent opportunity. Moniepoint's entry is designed precisely to address this underserved segment, equipping Kenyan entrepreneurs with the full suite of tools they need to succeed and grow.

Sumac customers will experience a seamless transition to a digital-first platform underpinned by Moniepoint’s world-class engineering, while benefitting from a strengthened capital base and expanded lending capacity.

Tosin Eniolorunda, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc., said:

“We are delighted to welcome Sumac to the Moniepoint family. Kenya’s vibrant MSME sector and sophisticated mobile money ecosystem make it a natural fit for our next phase of growth. This acquisition ensures Kenyan entrepreneurs gain access to integrated tools that drive scale, and we look forward to working with the Sumac team to build a bigger, more impactful organization together.”

John Kibatha Njoroge, Founder and Chairman of Sumac Microfinance Bank, added:

“This partnership combines Sumac’s local expertise and customer trust with Moniepoint’s cutting-edge technology. We are poised to deliver transformative value and strengthen financial inclusion across Kenya, ensuring Sumac becomes the ideal partner for every business in the country.”

The Sumac acquisition builds on Moniepoint's recent momentum, following its acquisition of Orda Africa, a cloud-based restaurant management platform, and Bancom Europe, an FCA-licensed e-money institution, both reinforcing its commitment to Africa's financial infrastructure and a borderless strategy serving the global African diaspora.

Founded in 2015, Moniepoint continues to lead the charge for financial inclusion, providing essential services to businesses operating in both formal and informal economies across the continent.

Notes to Editors

About Moniepoint

Moniepoint Inc. is Africa’s all-in-one financial platform, helping 20 million businesses and individuals access seamless payments, banking, credit, cross border, and business management tools each month. As Nigeria’s largest merchant acquirer, it powers most of the country’s Point of Sale (POS) transactions. Through its subsidiaries, Moniepoint Inc. processes over $250 billion in digital payments transaction value annually.

For more information, please visit https://moniepoint.com

 

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Eleanor Higgins

moniepoint@thoburns.com

+44 7564 585 627

 

Agenus Announces First Patient Enrolled in Global Phase 3 BATTMAN Trial of BOT+BAL Immunotherapy Combination in MSS or pMMR Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

 

• A Landmark Registrational Study Aiming to Redefine Outcomes in MSS mCRC Which Represents Approximately 95% of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Cases
• Colorectal Cancer Has Become the Leading Cause of Cancer-related Death in Adults Under Age 50

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in immuno-oncology innovation, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the landmark global phase 3 BATTMAN (CO.33) trial (NCT07152821). This study is evaluating Agenus’ immunotherapy combination of botensilimab (BOT) plus balstilimab (BAL) versus best supportive care in patients with refractory, unresectable microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), a population long considered resistant to immunotherapy.

This study is being conducted as a cooperative group trial led by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) from Canada and run across Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand. More than 100 sites will participate across the academic cooperative networks of CCTG, GI Cancer Trials in Australia and France’s Partenariat de Recherche en Oncologie Digestive (PRODIGE) consortium (including Unicancer, GERCOR and FFCD). The BATTMAN (CO.33) trial serves as the registrational-enabling study for BOT+BAL enrolling approximately 830 patients and is expected to complete global enrollment quickly, reflecting the unprecedented investigator and patient enthusiasm worldwide, including strong interest from sites and physicians engaged through Agenus’ paid named patient and French AAC access programs.

“Enrollment of the first patient in the BATTMAN study marks a key milestone for Agenus and the BOT+BAL program,” said Dr. Steven O’Day, Chief Medical Officer, Agenus. “This study advances our goal of developing effective immunotherapies for patients who currently have few options. We’re grateful to our partners at CCTG, GI Cancer Trials in Australia, and PRODIGE and to the dedicated investigators, site staff, and patients driving this global effort.”

“Our collaboration with Agenus builds on years of cooperative-group research aimed at bringing immunotherapy benefits to patients with microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer—those historically left without effective options,” said Dr. Chris O’Callaghan, DVM, PhD, Senior Investigator, Canadian Cancer Trials Group. “Earlier CCTG studies suggested that doublet immunotherapy could extend survival even in cold tumors, and the magnitude and durability of responses seen with botensilimab and balstilimab in earlier studies warrant their investigation in a phase 3 trial.”

“The enthusiasm among investigators has been remarkable—within days of Health Canada submission, leading centers across Canada moved to open the study. We’re eager to advance this global effort and potentially transform outcomes for patients who have exhausted all other treatments,” said Dr. Jonathan Loree, MD, MSc, FRCPC, CO.33 Study Chair.

About the BATTMAN (CO.33) Trial

The BATTMAN (CCTG CO.33) (NCT07152821) trial is a global Phase 3, randomized, controlled study evaluating botensilimab (BOT) plus balstilimab (BAL) versus best supportive care in patients with refractory, unresectable microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) colorectal cancer. Conducted as an international cooperative group study led by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), the trial will enroll approximately 830 patients across more than 100 sites in Canada, France, Australia, and New Zealand. Participating academic networks include CCTG, the GI Cancer Trials, and France’s Partenariat de Recherche en Oncologie Digestive (PRODIGE), sponsored by UNICANCER. This registrational-enabling study is designed to support potential regulatory submissions for BOT+BAL in this difficult-to-treat patient population. Patients interested in learning more about the study, including eligibility and enrollment information, can visit: https://www.ctg.queensu.ca/patients/colorectal-cancer-clinical-trial-co33.

About Agenus

Agenus is a leading immuno-oncology company targeting cancer with a comprehensive pipeline of immunological agents. The company was founded in 1994 with a mission to expand patient populations benefiting from cancer immunotherapy through combination approaches, using a broad repertoire of antibody therapeutics, adoptive cell therapies (through MiNK Therapeutics) and adjuvants. Agenus has robust end-to-end development capabilities, across commercial and clinical cGMP manufacturing facilities, research and discovery, and a global clinical operations footprint. Agenus is headquartered in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit www.agenusbio.com or @agenus_bio. Information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted on our website and social media channels.

About Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG)

The Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) is a cancer clinical trials research cooperative that runs phase I–III trials to test anti-cancer and supportive therapies across Canada, and internationally. Headquartered at Queen’s University, CCTG has supported more than 700 trials enrolling 100,000 patients from 40 countries on 6 continents through a global network of 20,000 investigators and clinical trial staff. CCTG is the Canadian Coordinating Clinical Trial Network for the US NCTN and is a national program of the Canadian Cancer Society. CCTG’s aim is to improve survival and quality of life for all people with cancer. Learn more at cctg.ca.

About Botensilimab (BOT)

Botensilimab (BOT) is a human Fc enhanced multifunctional anti-CTLA-4 antibody designed to boost both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. Its novel design leverages mechanisms of action to extend immunotherapy benefits to “cold” tumors which generally respond poorly to standard of care or are refractory to conventional PD-1/CTLA-4 therapies and investigational therapies. Botensilimab augments immune responses across a wide range of tumor types by priming and activating T cells, downregulating intratumoral regulatory T cells, activating myeloid cells and inducing long-term memory responses.

Approximately 1,200 patients have been treated with botensilimab and/or balstilimab in phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. Botensilimab alone, or in combination with Agenus’ investigational PD-1 antibody, balstilimab, has shown clinical responses across nine metastatic, late-line cancers. For more information about botensilimab trials, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About Balstilimab (BAL)

Balstilimab is a novel, fully human monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) designed to block PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) from interacting with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. It has been evaluated in more than 900 patients to date and has demonstrated clinical activity and a favorable tolerability profile in several tumor types.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding its botensilimab and balstilimab programs, expected regulatory timelines and filings, and any other statements containing the words "may," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "hopes," "intends," "plans," "forecasts," "estimates," "will," “establish,” “potential,” “superiority,” “best in class,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the factors described under the Risk Factors section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Agenus cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Agenus undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements, other than to the extent required by law. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

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Investors

917-362-1370 | investor@agenusbio.com

Media

781-674-4422 | communications@agenusbio.com

Convera Joins Forces with Ripple to Empower Stablecoin-Enabled Cross-Border Payments

 SEATTLE - 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Convera, a global leader in commercial payments, today announced a new strategic collaboration with Ripple, a leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions across traditional and digital finance, to offer crypto-enabled payment and treasury solutions for businesses.

“With the growing presence and use of digital currencies such as crypto and stablecoins, Convera has maintained a thoughtful approach by listening to what our customers want while watching this space continue to mature. We knew we needed a trusted, visionary partner that can help us meet our customers where they are in their journey,” said Patrick Gauthier, CEO, Convera. “Ripple is a clear leader in the crypto space and a natural fit for Convera. We look forward to continued success and growth as we roll out these capabilities to customers near and far.”

Convera’s partnership with Ripple brings together two industry leaders to enhance global payments through stablecoin and blockchain infrastructure. By combining Convera’s trusted global network, FX expertise, and customer experience with Ripple’s liquidity, settlement, and digital asset capabilities, the collaboration enables faster, more reliable cross‑border payments – particularly in corridors where traditional options are limited.

This partnership builds on the “stablecoin sandwich” settlement model, where payments begin and end in fiat while leveraging regulated stablecoins for settlement in between. Convera orchestrates the end-to-end payment experience, while Ripple provides the underlying infrastructure for liquidity, on/off-ramping, and cross-border settlement.

“Enterprises are increasingly looking for faster, more flexible ways to move money globally without taking on the complexity of digital assets directly,” said Aaron Slettehaugh, SVP of Product at Ripple. “By partnering with Convera, we’re combining a trusted global payment infrastructure with stablecoin-powered settlement to give businesses more control over how and when they move value across borders.”

Attend Convera’s speaking session at Fintech Meetup titled, “How Do You Move Fast with New Payments Rails Without Breaking Things -- Or Compliance?”, held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, on Wednesday, April 1st, at 1:05 pm PT.

Sign up to receive Convera’s upcoming Payments 2026+: Liquidity in Motion Report, which outlines how accelerating regulatory deadlines, real-time payment innovation, and the emergence of multi rail ecosystems are redefining global currency management.

To learn more about Ripple’s payments, custody and stablecoin solutions, visit https://ripple.com.

Additional Resources

Learn how Convera makes smart money moves

Follow Convera on LinkedIn and Instagram

Sign up to attend a Convera Live roadshows

Tune in to the Converge Podcast as we shape the future of finance

Read Convera’s blog for the latest market insights and FX news

Look out for Convera at other upcoming industry shows

About Convera

Convera is a global leader in commercial payments. With an unrivaled regulatory footprint and a financial network spanning more than 140 currencies and 200 countries and territories, Convera is reimagining the future of business payments. We combine tech-led payment solutions with deep expertise in foreign exchange, risk management, and compliance. From small businesses to CFOs and treasurers, we’re helping our customers grow with confidence. Convera makes business payments simple, smart, and secure.

 

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pr@convera.com

 

CORRECTING and REPLACING Lenovo Announces Global Partnership With David Beckham

 MORRISVILLE, N.C. - 

CORRECTION...by Lenovo

MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Last paragraph before boilerplate should read: “David is not only a global figure across football, business, and culture, but is someone who understands the power of innovation to transform the world. That makes him the perfect partner to help us demonstrate how Smarter AI can drive better life and more efficient work for all."

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260330443523/en/

The updated release reads:

LENOVO ANNOUNCES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH DAVID BECKHAM

Lenovo today announced a global partnership with David Beckham, bringing together one of the world’s most recognized cultural figures and one of the world’s leading technology companies.

The collaboration builds on Lenovo’s expanding role in global football, including its position as the Official Technology Partner of FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™. This first of its kind Lenovo partnership will see David Beckham participating in Lenovo’s work on sports-focused AI-driven solutions that are transforming the game for clubs, players, officials, and fans, specifically related to improving performance for teams, creating better experiences for fans, enabling more efficient operations, and driving new revenue streams through AI-driven innovation.

As someone who runs his own businesses, David Beckham brings a perspective that resonates well beyond the pitch. Whether it's the professional managing their day from a single device, the small business owner trying to do more with less, or the enterprise rethinking how entire teams work, David Beckham will help bring to life the idea at the heart of the collaboration: that the right technology, powered by AI, can help anyone operate at their best.

David Beckham will also feature in Lenovo’s upcoming global marketing campaign, due to go live in May, one month before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Commenting on the partnership, David Beckham said:

"Lenovo is a global leader with a proven track record on the world’s biggest stages. I am proud to partner with Lenovo for the FIFA World Cup and beyond. Football will always be defined by talent, instinct, hard work and the unforgettable moments that make the game special. Now AI and data are helping us to understand the sport more deeply - shaping how players and coaches prepare and how fans connect with the game. I look forward to learning more about Lenovo’s cutting-edge work which is opening up new ideas and expanding access to the game."

Lenovo CEO & Chairman Yuanqing Yang added:

“David is not only a global figure across football, business, and culture, but is someone who understands the power of innovation to transform the world. That makes him the perfect partner to help us demonstrate how Smarter AI can drive better life and more efficient work for all.” 

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

 

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Stuart Gill

sgill@lenovo.com

 

Global Beauty Market Grows 10% as AI and E-commerce Reshape Consumer Buying

 

CHICAGO - 

Online sales outpace in-store by 6x as digital-first and AI-influenced commerce accelerates globally

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- NielsenIQ (NYSE:NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, today released its State of Beauty 2026 report, showing the global beauty market grew 10% year-on-year, with E-commerce expanding six times faster than in-store sales. The findings highlight a rapid shift to digital-first, AI-influenced commerce across key global markets.

As consumer expectations evolve toward convenience, personalization, and seamless digital experiences, beauty brands are under increasing pressure to adapt. From AI-powered product discovery to social commerce and livestream shopping, the path to purchase is becoming more dynamic—requiring brands to move faster and engage consumers across an increasingly complex ecosystem.

Key findings from the State of Beauty 2026 report:

Global beauty sales grew 10% year-over-year, driven by strong digital acceleration

E-commerce is growing 6x faster than in-store sales, reshaping channel strategies

49% of consumers are willing to pay more for locally made products, reflecting rising demand for authenticity and trust

52% will pay a premium for convenience, as time-saving solutions drive purchase decisions

63% of consumers prioritize mental wellness, signaling continued expansion of holistic beauty

“Beauty is entering a new phase of growth defined by both resilience and rising complexity,” Tara James Taylor, SVP, Beauty Vertical, NIQ. “Consumers are more intentional in how they spend, seeking products that deliver real value, simplicity, and wellbeing. At the same time, AI and digital commerce is transforming how consumers discover and evaluate products, shifting advantage to brands that show up clearly and consistently across digital ecosystems.”

Digital behaviors are accelerating this transformation. More than half of consumers are now exploring AI-enabled shopping tools, with 49% already receiving beauty recommendations from generative AI. Social commerce continues to gain momentum, with 53% of consumers purchasing through social platforms and 22% buying directly via TikTok Shop. In China, Livestreaming accounts for 70% of beauty sales on platforms like Douyin, underscoring the growing importance of content-driven commerce.

These shifts are redefining how products are discovered, validated, and purchased, turning online engagement into immediate conversion and driving sustained category growth.

As AI, social commerce, and digital ecosystems reshape the consumer journey, brands that invest in intuitive, transparent, and data-driven experiences will be best positioned to build trust and capture growth in the next era of beauty.

About the Report

NIQ’s State of Beauty Report 2026 is based on retail point-of-sale data across 9 categories in 52 markets, complemented by consumer panels and advanced data collection methods including web scraping to capture a comprehensive view of global beauty purchasing behavior.

To download the full review, visit: click here.

FAQ: State of Beauty 2026

What is driving growth in the global beauty market?

The global beauty market grew 10% year-over-year, driven primarily by rapid e-commerce expansion, which is growing six times faster than in-store sales. Digital channels, social commerce, and AI-enabled discovery are accelerating consumer engagement and conversion.

How is AI influencing beauty purchasing decisions?

AI is increasingly shaping how consumers discover and evaluate products. More than half of consumers are exploring AI-enabled shopping tools, and 49% already receive beauty recommendations from generative AI—helping streamline decision-making and personalize the shopping experience.

What role does social commerce play in beauty growth?

Social commerce is a major driver of category expansion. Over half of consumers (53%) now purchase through social platforms, and 22% buy directly via TikTok Shop. In markets like China, livestreaming dominates, with the majority of beauty sales on platforms like Douyin driven by live content.

What do today’s beauty consumers prioritize most?

Consumers are becoming more intentional and value-driven. Key priorities include convenience, authenticity, and wellbeing—52% are willing to pay more for convenience, 49% for locally made products, and 63% consider mental wellness essential in their beauty choices.

How should brands respond to these shifts?

Brands need to adopt digital-first, data-driven strategies that align with evolving consumer expectations. This includes investing in AI-enabled experiences, strengthening presence across social and E-commerce platforms, and delivering transparent, intuitive, and value-driven product offerings.

What makes NIQ’s data and insights unique?

NIQ combines one of the world’s most comprehensive consumer and retail datasets with advanced AI and analytics to help companies understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next. This enables brands to move from insight to action with greater speed and confidence.

About NIQ

NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.

With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.

For more information, please visit www.niq.com.

Forward Looking Statement:

This press release on State Of Beauty 2026 report, may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “plan,” “look ahead,” “indicates”, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.

© 2026 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer: All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

NIQ-GENERAL

 

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Media Contact:

NIQ: media.relations@niq.com

ExaGrid Named a Finalist for the Network Computing Awards 2026

 ExaGrid nominated in 11 Categories for annual industry awards

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- ExaGrid®, the world’s largest independent backup storage vendor providing Tiered Backup Storage with the most Comprehensive Security and AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery, today announced that it has been nominated in 11 categories for the annual Network Computing Awards.

ExaGrid has become a finalist in the following categories:

Data Protection Product of the Year

The Return On Investment Award

Air Gapped Ransomware Recovery Product of the Year

Storage Product of the Year

Hardware Product of the Year

The Customer Service Award

Enterprise Product of the Year

New Product of the Year

Product of the Year

Company of the Year

Additionally, ExaGrid is nominated for the “Bench Tested Product of the Year” award determined by judges after an independent product review of the ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage SSD and HDD appliances with AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery.

Voting to determine the winner in each category is underway now and closes on May 14, 2026. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on May 21, 2026.

“ExaGrid is the largest independent backup storage company in the industry and is committed to offering the best backup storage product that meets all the requirements that midmarket to large enterprise organizations need for their backup storage. ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage offers the fastest backup and restore performance to keep users productive, a scale-out architecture that keeps backup windows fixed-length as data grows, and the most comprehensive security with ransomware recovery,” said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid. “We are honored to be nominated for the Network Computing Awards 2026, and we look forward to the awards ceremony in May.”

About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, scale-out architecture, and comprehensive security features, including AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock to recover from a ransomware attack. ExaGrid’s Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid’s scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and forced product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier (tiered air gap), delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.

ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.

Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

 

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Media Contact:

Mary Domenichelli

ExaGrid

mdomenichelli@exagrid.com

Esri and RoboGarden Sign Strategic MOU to Advance Geospatial and Geomatics Education

 Agreement Explores New Models for Digital Learning, Academic Collaboration, and Global Workforce Readiness

Esri and RoboGarden have signed an MOU to explore strategic collaboration that broadens access to modern GIS and geomatics education.

RoboGarden, a Canadian EdTech company, offers gamified and scalable digital learning solutions for academic institutions, governments, and industry.

The MOU outlines joint exploration of academic pathways, improved regional coordination, and potential creation of a Geospatial & Geomatics Virtual Academy.

The agreement focuses on enhancing digital learning delivery, expanding localized e-learning opportunities, and supporting global workforce development in high-demand technology fields.

To stay informed about Esri’s education initiatives and resources, visit esri.com/en-us/industries/education/overview.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Esri, the global leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RoboGarden Inc. The MOU is aimed at expanding geospatial and geomatics education, improving academic collaboration, and strengthening global workforce readiness.

Specifically, this new agreement establishes a framework for Esri and RoboGarden to evaluate new approaches for scalable digital learning, regional responsiveness, and curriculum-aligned academic pathways. The MOU’s four strategic objectives include: creation of a geospatial and geomatics virtual academy, stronger regional execution and responsiveness, academic partnership pathways, and localized esri e-learning opportunities. Organizations across industries will benefit from this initiative, such as business, government agencies, academia, as well as individual learners seeking job-ready skills in GIS.

“Esri’s MOU with RoboGarden creates an important opportunity to explore new models for academic collaboration, digital learning delivery, and regional access that can help prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals,” said Esri President, Jack Dangermond.

“This MOU represents a strategic step toward reimagining how hands on and practical geospatial/geomatics skills are developed and delivered at scale,” said Mohamed Elhabiby, Co-Founder and President of RoboGarden Inc. “By exploring a virtual academy on the RoboGarden platform, deeper academic collaboration, and localized digital learning pathways, we are laying the foundation for accessible, practical, and globally relevant GIS education that better serves institutions, industries, and learners worldwide.”

To learn more about Esri’s education solutions and geospatial learning resources, visit esri.com/en-us/industries/education/overview.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world's most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com.

Copyright © 2026 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri Globe logo, The Science of Where, ArcGIS, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Union, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners.

 

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Contacts

Jo Ann Pruchniewski

Public Relations, Esri

Mobile: 301-693-2643 | Email: jpruchniewski@esri.com

 

Digital Trust Index 2026: AI Skepticism and Identity Access Friction Are Costing Revenue

 93% of IT leaders are deploying GenAI, but only 23% of consumers trust companies that use AI to handle their data.

Friction at sign-up, login, and onboarding is causing customer abandonment and revenue loss, with 68% of consumers switching due to website issues.

69% of consumers trust companies more when MFA (multi factor authentication) is used, 68% say the same about passkeys.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thales today released the 2026 Digital Trust Index, one of the most comprehensive global studies of digital trust. Surveying more than 15,000 consumers, business partners, and IT decision makers across 13 industries, the research reveals that digital trust is won or lost during sign-up, login, and throughout the lifecycle of personal data handling.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331668723/en/

Consumer Trust is Won or Lost at Login

For consumers, digital trust often begins at login. Yet, 57% reported problems accessing a website in the past year, and 68% abandoned or switched providers due to slow performance or complicated sign-up processes. When access feels too slow or intrusive, 33% switch to a competitor or abandon the attempt, while 36% delay engagement or look for alternative channels.

Consumers are not demanding speed at the expense of security. Forty-five percent say they prefer stronger security checks, even if sign-ups take longer, compared to 22% who favor faster access with lighter protections. Familiar safeguards help build confidence, with 69% saying multifactor authentication increases trust and 68% saying the same about passkeys. Still, only 16% say they clearly understand how companies collect and use their personal data.

AI Adoption Outpaces Trust

As organizations accelerate their use of generative AI, 93% of IT leaders say they are already using, deploying or planning AI initiatives. Yet consumer confidence has not kept pace: only 23% say they trust companies to use AI responsibly with their data, while 77% remain concerned about AI agents acting on their behalf online.

Trust Gaps Widen as Banking Pulls Ahead

The 2026 Digital Trust Index shows the gap between the most trusted sectors and the rest widening sharply. Banking stands out as the clear trusted sector at 57% (up from 44% in 2025), making it the only industry where more than two in five consumers feel comfortable sharing personal information online. Most other sectors continue to operate in a trust deficit, where the disconnect between what organizations believe they deliver and what users actually experience drives abandonment, time-consuming workarounds, and increased risk.

Beyond banking’s clear lead, the rest of the sectors fall well behind in consumer confidence. Government services rank second at 40%, followed by healthcare at 35%. Trust declines sharply beyond these top sectors, with insurance (23%) and education (15%) forming a distant second tier. Consumer-facing industries score much lower, including retail (10%), social media (9%), entertainment (7%), and hospitality (6%), while news media (5%), logistics (4%), and automotive (3%) rank at the bottom. Overall, consumers place the greatest online trust in sectors responsible for managing sensitive personal data and essential services, while entertainment, media, and platform companies face lower confidence.

Friction Fuels Delays and Risk for Partners

For business partner users, access reliability directly affects project delivery and revenue. Onboarding remains inconsistent as only 22% receive login credentials immediately, and just 30% get full permissions on first access, creating delays that ripple across sales cycles and customer commitments. When official processes lag, risky workarounds emerge. Sixty-six percent admit to sharing or borrowing credentials, often because of slow provisioning, creating hidden security debt and increased breach risk.

IT Leaders See the Risk but Struggle to Close the Gap

The 2026 Digital Trust Index shows IT leaders recognize the importance of modern authentication. Eighty-seven percent say offering passkeys is important, yet only 49% currently do so. This gap represents both risk and opportunity as consumers expect stronger, seamless security.

“The 2026 Digital Trust Index shows that as AI adoption is accelerating, trust is struggling to keep pace,” said Danny DeVreeze, Vice President of Identity and Access Management at Thales. “When AI simply helps people work faster, confidence is high. But when AI starts acting autonomously and making decisions or interacting with systems on a user’s behalf, people begin asking harder questions about security, control, and accountability.”

Architecting Access as Business Strategy

The Digital Trust Index 2026 shows that identity and access management are commercial levers, not back-office functions. Trust improves when authentication and permissions are reliable, adaptive, and clearly explained. When they are slow or opaque, abandonment rises, credential sharing spreads, and revenue leaks. Organizations that modernize authentication, limit unnecessary data collection, provide permission visibility, and deploy AI transparently will be best positioned to compete in an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy.

Methodology

The research was conducted by Vanson Bourne in January–February 2026, surveying 14,300 consumers, 1,300 partner users and 200 IT decision makers across the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, the UAE, South Africa, Singapore, Japan and Australia.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.

 

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Contacts

 

Press

Thales, Media Relations

Security & Cybersecurity

Marion Bonnet

+33 (0)6 60 38 48 92

marion.bonnet@thalesgroup.com