Business Wire

Usercentrics, the global leader in Privacy-Led Marketing solutions, announced today it has acquired MCP Manager, a next-generation governance platform for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), built by a team with deep expertise in AI infrastructure. The acquisition makes Usercentrics the first major global market leader in data privacy solutions to extend consent and data guardrails into AI-driven workflows. The combined platform will deliver a unified Privacy-Led Marketing Suite that manages consent, preferences, and data governance across websites, apps, internal systems, and consumer-facing AI agents. Because these agents increasingly shape personalization and customer engagement, extending consent into real-time, model-driven interactions applies the same rigor that exists at data collection. This keeps experiences transparent, trusted, and aligned with user choices, and turns compliance into a strategic differentiator and competitive edge. “With this acquisition, we are defining how

Arthur D. Little’s Blue Shift institute has published its latest report, AI’s Hidden Dependencies. This in-depth report, involving more than 50 experts, explores AI’s resource dependencies and the consequent direct systemic vulnerabilities for businesses and lays out strategic actions in response. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114966898/en/ Arthur D. Little’s Blue Shift Institute has published its latest report, AI’s Hidden Dependencies With AI’s adoption and usage expected to remain on its growth trajectory, so is its strain on resources. The report notably identifies three main areas of dependency: Environmental impacts, including emissions due to AI’s heavy energy usage and the manufacture of related hardware Energy supply, including increased electricity demand and strain on the grid Compute infrastructure, including supply chain choke points and dependencies on dominant providers As AI is now becomin

Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) today announced that it has retained and expanded its mandate with AMF Tjänstepension AB (AMF), a leading Swedish pension provider. Under the renewed agreement, Northern Trust, which has serviced AMF for more than 20 years, will continue to serve as custodian for AMF’s global pension assets and add investment operations for trade services across AMF’s total portfolio, for both pension and fund company assets. AMF is one of Sweden’s leading pension companies, managing occupational pensions for millions of individuals. With a strong focus on delivering secure and sustainable retirement outcomes, AMF combines cost efficiency with long-term investment strategies to benefit its members. Petra Sjögerås, head of Nordic Region, Northern Trust said: “As a long-standing partner to institutions in the Nordic region, Northern Trust brings extensive experience and a solutions-oriented mindset to proactively support our clients to achieve their goals now and in the futu

Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, has launched instant peer-to-peer payments in 13 European countries, marking the next step in its evolution as a digital bank. The new feature enables Klarna customers to send money to friends and family, whether splitting bills or gifting cash, directly from the Klarna app: as simple as handing someone cash, with the protection of a regulated bank. This launch takes Klarna deeper into everyday banking, turning Klarna into a central hub for day-to-day spending and money management. It comes on the back of the Klarna Balance accounts and the rapid adoption of Klarna Card, with over 4 million sign-ups just four months after launch. Sebastian Siemiatkowski, co-founder and CEO of Klarna commented: “Customers are sick of the friction and fees of traditional banking, which is why millions signed up to Klarna Card within a few months of launch. With peer-to-peer payments we’re making it even easier to manage all of your payments

H.U. Group Holdings, Inc. (the Company) today announced that it has resolved, at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on January 14, 2026, to change the Company’s Representative Executive Officer as described below. 1. Name and job titles of newly appointed Representative Executive Officer Name New title Current title Goki Ishikawa Representative Executive Officer, President and Group CEO Managing Executive Officer 2. Name and job titles of retiring Representative Executive Officer Name New title Current title Shigekazu Takeuchi Director and Executive Officer Director, Representative Executive Officer, Chairman, President and Group CEO 3. Reason for change In May 2025, toward realizing its Vision for 2035, the Company announced its Medium-Term Management Plan “H.U. 2030” (MMP) as well as its CEO succession plan including the timing for the selection of the next CEO. As the succession plan progressed, the Company has recognized that Mr. Goki Ishikawa is the best to lead the executio

Galderma (SIX: GALD) will present data on its innovative and industry-leading neuromodulator portfolio at the TOXINS 2026 International Conference in Madrid, Spain from January 14-17, 2026. The company will share data from five abstracts on two neuromodulators from its portfolio, Relfydess – the first and only ready-to-use liquid neuromodulator designed with PEARL Technology – and Dysport. Additionally, Galderma will be hosting a Relfydess Masterclass in which expert speakers will delve into the science and clinical data behind Relfydess. “At TOXINS 2026, we will demonstrate our continued leadership in neuromodulation through updates on our leading portfolio, and an educational session on Relfydess, an innovative, science-backed neuromodulator that delivers advanced performance. As the only company with a portfolio of neuromodulators, we’re building on our heritage in the space by developing next-generation solutions that address the evolving expectations of both patients and practitio

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering award for innovative solutions to global challenges, today announced the cohort of 2026 winners, celebrating 18 years of empowering communities and driving inclusive, sustainable progress around the world. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113958706/en/ The 2026 winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize were recognised by the President of the UAE in Abu Dhabi on 13 January 2026 (Photo: AETOSWire) In a ceremony held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) and attended by Heads of State, Ministers, and business leaders, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, awarded the winners for their outstanding contributions to advancing sustainable development worldwide. H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “The UAE remains firmly committed to supporting efforts that enhance people’s well-being and strengthen the foundations of stabili

Alta Semper Capital LLP (“Alta Semper”), a London-based private equity firm focused on healthcare and consumer investments in high-growth markets, today announced that it has secured USD 57.5 million in commitments to Alta Semper Growth Fund II. These commitments come from a consortium of investors including the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This landmark partnership was signified earlier today with a momentous signing ceremony held at a Government Ministry in Cairo. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113837616/en/ Andrew McDowell (EIB), Cheick Oumar Sylla (IFC), Gelsomina Vigliotti (EIB), Rania Al-Mashat (Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation of Egypt), Bassel Rahmy (MSMEDA), Afsane Jetha (CEO, Alta Semper) and Mark Bryson-Richardson MBE (British Ambassador to Egypt) at the signing ceremony in Cairo. (Photo: AETOSWire)

500 Global, one of the world’s most active Silicon Valley-based venture capital firms1, and Creators HQ, the first content creator hub in the UAE and the Middle East enabling the creator ecosystem globally, announced the Creators Ventures Accelerator program is building and supporting creator-led startups collectively valued at over US$130 million.2 The Creators Ventures Accelerator received over 1,100 applications from content creators and technology startup founders across more than 70 countries. Following a competitive selection process, 21 creators and founders were chosen for the program. This cohort serves a community of 20M+ followers, subscribers, and users across platforms. “Creators represent a growing class of bona fide entrepreneurs, with 50 million creators globally, projected to grow at 10-20% annually over the next 5 years. The first iteration of this industry was built on visibility and virality to monetize. With consumers getting savvier and more discerning, we believe

Nexo, the digital assets wealth platform, has been named the U.S. ATP 500 Dallas Open’s first-ever Title Partner under a multi-year agreement beginning in 2026, as the company advances its long-term brand strategy through leading global sports properties. The partnership was unveiled in Dallas alongside the debut of the Nexo Dallas Open brand and the resurfacing of two public tennis courts in North Texas. As one of only two ATP 500 tournaments in the U.S. and the country’s sole indoor ATP Tour championship, the Dallas Open places Nexo among a limited group of ATP 500 title partners. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113901822/en/ The Nexo Dallas Open “This partnership with Nexo represents a transformative milestone for the Dallas Open,” said Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs. “Securing a title sponsor of this caliber as we launch into year two as an ATP 500 event continues to elevate our tournament on the gl

Blue Matter is pleased to announce that it has established a practice area dedicated to serving clients in biopharmaceutical Research & Development (R&D). The practice is led by Tara Austraat-Churik, a Partner who joined the firm in September 2025. Tara Austraat-Churik has been serving life science clients for more than 20 years. Her areas of expertise include strategy development and implementation, operating model and organizational design, and process optimization in R&D and Medical Affairs. Prior to joining Blue Matter, she served as Managing Director in R&D, Health, Science, and Wellness at EY. She has a robust background in consulting, which also includes roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, Navitas, WPP, and IBM. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Notre Dame and an MSc in Translational Medicine from the University of Edinburgh. The R&D practice, according to Austraat-Churik, exists to help biopharma companies simplify and accelerate the pathway to market. She adds, “R&D organ

Wasabi Technologies, the Hot Cloud Storage company, today announced a $70 million equity funding round led by L2 Point Management with participation from Pure Storage and existing investors including Fidelity Management & Research Company. The new round values Wasabi at $1.8 billion and brings the company’s total funding to over $600 million. The capital will be used to accelerate Wasabi’s expansion into AI infrastructure, broaden its global footprint, and enhance its product portfolio to meet the growing data demands of enterprises and AI developers worldwide. “We’re ushering in the next generation of cloud storage, powering data-intensive workloads like generative AI and autonomous systems,” said David Friend, co-founder and CEO of Wasabi Technologies. “This funding underscores Wasabi’s strong market position and continued growth as enterprises and AI developers alike seek a better, more predictable alternative to the hyperscalers.” Wasabi disrupted the cloud storage model in 2017 wi

HumanX, the global AI summit for executives and innovators, today unveiled its first 100 speakers and opened registration for HumanX Amsterdam, taking place 22–24 September 2026 at The RAI. Built by the team behind Money20/20, Shoptalk, and HLTH, HumanX Amsterdam brings the proven formula of its #1 U.S. flagship event and ecosystem gathering to Europe. The event convenes over 2,500 senior leaders focused on moving beyond the hype to drive practical, responsible AI implementation across industries. Speakers Leading the Conversation The first 100 speakers include AI company founders such as Anton Osika (Lovable), Jan Oberhauser (n8n), May Habib (Writer), Arvind Jain (Glean), and Jarek Kutylowski (DeepL), alongside executives scaling AI in the enterprise, including Clay Bavor (Sierra), Des Traynor (Intercom), and Eléonore Crespo (Pigment), and senior leaders from global brands like Diageo, Disney, and Replit. Additional speakers represent over 20 AI unicorns, including Quantexa, Owkin, an

Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), a global leader in silicon carbide technology, today announced a significant industry milestone with the successful production of a single crystal 300mm (12-inch) silicon carbide wafer. Backed by one of the industry’s largest and foundational silicon carbide IP portfolios, comprising more than 2,300 issued and pending patents worldwide, Wolfspeed is pioneering the transition to 300mm technology, establishing a clear path to future volume commercialization. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113487095/en/ Wolfspeed produces 300mm silicon carbide wafer. This technology advancement represents a major step forward for next-generation computing platforms, immersive AR/VR systems, and high-efficiency, advanced power devices. By expanding silicon carbide to 300mm, Wolfspeed is unlocking new performance thresholds and manufacturing scalability for some of the world’s most demanding semico

ExaGrid®, the industry’s only Tiered Backup Storage solution with AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock (RTL) that includes a non-network-facing tier (tiered air gap), Auto Detect & Guard, delayed deletes and immutability for ransomware recovery, today announced that it had record bookings and record revenue in the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2025, and had a record-year for bookings and revenue for 2025. ExaGrid broke many records in the quarter (Q4 2025), including: Record overall revenue and bookings Record revenue and bookings for new customers Record revenue and bookings for existing customer repeat orders Record 202 new logo customers in the quarter Record 88 six-figure new logo customers 3 seven-figure new logo customer deals In addition, ExaGrid had a record bookings and revenue year in 2025 and remained P&L, EBITDA, and free cash flow positive for the 20th consecutive quarter. The company is 100% debt-free, demonstrating strong financial health as a company. ExaGrid added 202 n

The GARDP Foundation (known as GARDP) and the privately-owned, global biopharmaceutical company Debiopharm today announced that they have entered into a collaboration and license agreement to pursue the development of Debio1453, a novel, first-in-class antibiotic targeting Neisseria gonorrhoeae. With 82 million new cases each year, and the continued spread of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae strains, gonorrhea represents a global health crisis. This new partnership will help ensure that gonorrhea continues to be a treatable disease and will alleviate the risk of the emergence of future resistance, by ensuring that the antibiotic pipeline continues to be replenished. Gonorrhea caused by N. gonorrhoeae is currently in danger of becoming untreatable because of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Having developed resistance to almost all antibiotics used to treat it, only one last recommended treatment, ceftriaxone, remains effective, and now we are seeing a growing number of cases that are

Opengear, a Digi International company (NASDAQ, DGII), today announced two new additions to its Network Resilience Platform: the CM8000 Series and the OM1300 Series. These next generation devices deliver compact, flexible, and automation-ready out-of-band infrastructure designed for a time when outages are increasing and distributed sites continue to scale. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113807672/en/ Opengear Introduces CM8000 and OM1300: Two New Paths to Network Resilience as Outages Surge According to Opengear research, 84 percent of CIOs and CISOs have experienced a rise in outages over the past two years. The CM8000 Series and OM1300 Series were purpose-built to ensure that IT teams maintain access and control even when the production network is unavailable. The two series provide complementary approaches: CM8000 Series A serial-first recovery platform with integrated power control for core branches,

Armis, the cyber exposure management & security company, today announced that ASL Napoli 1 Centro, Italy’s primary public healthcare provider for the City of Naples, is securing its attack surface using Armis Centrix™, the Armis Cyber Exposure Management Platform. Prior to working with Armis, ASL Napoli 1 Centro did not have the tools or capabilities to monitor physical and virtual assets in real time, which posed a challenge for its security and compliance. Armis Centrix™ was deployed with a clear goal: to provide ASL Napoli 1 Centro with a comprehensive, real-time view of its connected biomedical inventory and the associated risks to the overall environment. “Time-to-value was practically immediate; Armis began delivering valuable information as soon as the system was activated and connected to our internal network,” said Fulvio Paone, Director of the ICT and Digital Transformation Unit at ASL Napoli 1 Centro. “Armis has given us visibility into a critical area. This isn’t just about

Uptime Institute today announced the release of its Five Data Center Predictions for 2026 looking beyond the more obvious trends of 2026 and examining some of the latest developments and challenges shaping the digital infrastructure industry. The 2026 predictions focus on the continued growth of the industry and related challenges, while also recognizing AI as a powerful, transformative accelerant to growth. While AI is the key driver for a wave of investment that will underpin digital infrastructure for decades to come, the speed and ultimate size of the build-outs are unclear at this time. “Critical digital infrastructure continues to expand strongly,” said Andy Lawrence, Executive Director of Research, Uptime Institute. “At the same time, our research shows uncertainty about how AI will reshape demand. This is complicating both capacity planning and resiliency strategies. We are also seeing increasing fragmentation in the design and deployment of data centers and expect investment a

BlueMatrix, the global leader in capital markets content publishing technology, backed by Thoma Bravo, today announced a partnership with Perplexity to bring AI-enabled research and discovery to institutional investors using BlueMatrix’s governed, entitlement-aware framework. The partnership brings entitled broker research to Perplexity Enterprise users, enabling buy-side professionals to query their subscribed research content, alongside Perplexity’s broader capabilities, including real-time financial data, earnings transcripts, and deep research tools. Investment professionals and researchers can use natural language to surface relevant insights without changing existing data ownership, entitlements, or compliance structures. As buy-side teams increasingly turn to AI tools for research synthesis, a formal integration through BlueMatrix replaces unstructured, ungoverned usage with compliant distribution that preserves attribution and entitlements. For research firms, the partnership p