Hermes Reply Partners with Lavazza to Develop a New Digital and Efficient Manufacturing Model
Hermes Reply, the Reply Group company specialising in digital transformation for manufacturing and supply chain, has partnered with Lavazza Group in the design and implementation of a new digital and efficient manufacturing model, aimed at strengthening operational capabilities, ensuring high quality standards and supporting the company’s industrial development strategy.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304639969/en/
The initiative, entitled “A new digital and efficient manufacturing model”, represents a significant evolution of Lavazza’s production ecosystem towards a fully data-driven approach, integrating advanced digital technologies to enable more connected, intelligent and flexible process management.
At the core of the project is the introduction of a centralised digital platform capable of connecting machines, production lines and plant systems, consolidating operational data into a unified environment. This architecture enables real-time performance monitoring, advanced data analytics and continuous process optimisation, ensuring end-to-end visibility across the entire production cycle and facilitating faster, data-driven decision-making. The new model also includes the adoption of advanced digital interfaces to improve interaction between operators and production systems, increasing transparency and streamlining processes.
Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision technologies play a key role in making quality controls and production process analysis along packaging lines more intelligent and flexible. Through advanced image analysis and anomaly detection systems, overall process quality becomes more efficient and adaptable. For example, the solution enables real-time monitoring of the correct composition of finished product pallets, reducing waste and rework while ensuring consistently high quality standards.
The project also involved the implementation of a centralised system ensuring full product traceability, collecting and correlating data from the different production stages. This makes it possible to monitor production flows in real time, strengthening transparency, control and responsiveness across the entire industrial value chain.
The digital platform is currently being further enhanced with cognitive manufacturing solutions based on Agentic Artificial Intelligence, where orchestrated and autonomous networks of AI agents can collaborate in identifying issues and, more generally, support Lavazza in the intelligent optimisation of its production processes.
Through this collaboration with Hermes Reply, Lavazza has continued its journey towards innovation and efficiency objectives, developing a production model in which flexibility, control and quality represent the main goals. A shared path that consolidates the digital evolution of industrial processes and highlights the integration of technological expertise with industrial vision.
Hermes Reply
Hermes Reply specializes in architectural and technological solutions, Application Maintenance services for the Automotive & Manufacturing sector, and management consulting services. By combining an in-depth knowledge of production processes, Industry 4.0 technologies, delivery capabilities, and strategic vision, Hermes Reply supports its clients in the digital transformation journey to facilitate the adoption of digital enablers and achieve short-term and long-term results. www.hermes-reply.com
Reply
Reply [EXM, STAR: REY, ISIN: IT0005282865] specialises in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. As a network of highly specialised companies, Reply supports major industrial groups in the telecom and media; industry and services; banking and insurance and public sectors in defining and developing business models enabled by the new paradigms of AI, cloud computing, digital media and the internet of things. Reply’s services include: consulting, system integration and digital services. www.reply.com
Lavazza
Founded in Turin in 1895, Lavazza is an Italian coffee producer owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Today, the Group is one of the leading players in the global coffee market, with revenues of over €3.3 billion and a portfolio of leading brands in their respective markets, including Lavazza, Carte Noire, Merrild and Kicking Horse.
The company operates across all business segments and is present in 140 markets, with 9 production facilities in 5 countries. Its global presence is the result of a growth journey spanning 130 years, and the over 30 billion cups of Lavazza coffee produced each year stand as proof of a remarkable success story, continuing to deliver the best possible coffee in every form, with attention to every stage of the value chain – from raw material selection to the final cup.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304639969/en/
Contact
Media:
Reply
Fabio Zappelli
f.zappelli@reply.com
Tel. +390117711594
Irene Caia
i.caia@reply.com
Tel. +3902545761
All Seas Capital Backs Sereni to Support Buy-and-Build Growth
All Seas Capital, a pan-European private capital fund that provides transformational capital solutions to leading founder- and entrepreneur-owned companies, is pleased to announce an investment in Sereni, the leading funeral services platform across Belgium, Germany and Poland. The investment will support Sereni’s buy-and-build strategy and further scaling of the platform.
Sereni was founded in 2016 with a dual vision to improve and modernise the client experience, and to change and improve the dynamics for the funeral professional. Sereni has established a network of local entrepreneurs, with a mission to unburden people confronted with a loss, creating an integrated platform operating across multiple European markets. The business has established a strong reputation as a market leading operator with values embedded in quality, empathy and innovation, performing an essential service for their clients.
Sereni operates a proven growth strategy, acquiring and integrating high-quality local operators before scaling them within a structured and institutionalised platform in a resilient, predictable, and growing market. The company has demonstrated a strong integration track record and a repeatable approach to value creation, with opportunities to continue consolidating fragmented markets and expand into additional geographies over time, alongside continuing to grow organically.
Sereni is led by an experienced management team, supported by a strong board, with a proven track record of executing complex acquisitions and integrations at scale. All Seas Capital will work closely with the team, providing capital and board-level expertise to accelerate its next phase of growth. Cristobal Cuart, Co-Managing Partner, and Charlie Budenberg, Managing Director at All Seas Capital, will join the Sereni board of directors.
Caspar Berendsen, Chairman of Sereni, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome All Seas Capital into our shareholder base and look forward to continuing our growth trajectory together. Their focus on providing capital to leading European family- and entrepreneur-owned businesses, with a particular focus on buy-and-build strategies, makes them an exceptionally good fit for Sereni. We’ve been very impressed with the All Seas team and believe they can add significant value going forward.”
Charlie Budenberg, Managing Director of All Seas Capital, added:
“Sereni stands out for the essential social service it provides, the strength of its platform, and the quality of its team. The business operates in an attractive and resilient market, with significant opportunities to continue expanding across Europe. We have experience supporting similar growth strategies through minority investments and believe Sereni is exceptionally well positioned for its next phase of development.”
Cristobal Cuart, Co-Managing Partner of All Seas Capital, commented:
“As an established business of scale with a clear and successful growth strategy, Sereni is an ideal partner for All Seas Capital. Our flexible, non-control capital aligns closely with the shareholder’s and management’s ambitions, and we are delighted to be supporting the team as they execute the next stage of their buy-and-build strategy. We have already begun working closely with Jörg, Caspar and their team to accelerate Sereni’s continued growth.”
About All Seas Capital
All Seas Capital is a pan-European private capital firm. We partner with mid-market businesses, constructing flexible, structured capital solutions – investing a combination of debt and equity – to empower transformational growth.
The team is led by Marc Ciancimino and Cristobal Cuart who co-founded and led KKR’s European mezzanine and preferred equity business.
We back growing businesses with strong management teams and help them accelerate their growth plans, supporting entrepreneur and family-owned businesses who have already reached profitability but need strategic capital to realise their ambitions. These businesses have underlying resilience, typically generating EBITDA of €5-50m, with our investment ranging from €30-100m.
About Sereni
Sereni is a leading European funeral services platform operating across Belgium, Germany and Poland. Founded in 2019, the business has grown through more than 180 acquisitions, building a highly scalable and integrated platform with a strong focus on quality, operational excellence and local presence. The Sereni network always acts in the best interests of families, entrepreneurs, and shareholders.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304856613/en/
Contact
For further information, please contact:
All Seas Capital
Charlotte Balbirnie
+44 7989 528421
CBalbirnie@keplercomms.com
Abstract
All Seas Capital is pleased to announce an investment in Sereni, the leading funeral services platform across Belgium, Germany and Poland.
Harrison.ai Continues to Grow Open Platform Ecosystem, Welcomes Four New AI Partners
Following the launch of its Open Platform last year, Harrison.ai today announced that four additional AI companies — AIRAmed, Koios Medical, Lunit and Nanox AI — would join the Harrison.ai Open Platform.
This expansion reflects the platform’s ongoing mission to give healthcare organisations flexible access to high-quality AI solutions that meet their clinical and operational needs without traditional marketplace mark-ups and fees.
The Open Platform was created to provide greater choice and transparency in medical imaging AI adoption. With these new partners, the platform now offers a wide spectrum of AI solutions for X-rays, CTs, MRIs, mammography and ultrasound for customers to choose from, in addition to Harrison.ai’s native solutions.
Each partner brings expertise across different imaging domains, helping healthcare organisations evaluate AI tools that align with their specific workflows, priorities, and patient populations.
Dr. Tobias Lindig CEO, Neurologist & Neuroradiologist, AIRAmed said, “Open ecosystems are essential for the scalable and responsible adoption of medical AI. Healthcare providers should have the flexibility to select best-in-class solutions without commercial barriers or mark-ups. With the emergence of disease-modifying Alzheimer’s therapies, quantitative MR volumetry of the brain is becoming an increasingly important component of patient stratification and treatment planning. Early detection and reliable differential diagnosis are critical, as subtle neurodegenerative changes are often not visible through visual assessment alone. Through our partnership with Harrison.ai, we are expanding access to objective, reproducible brain imaging biomarkers that integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows and support informed, data-driven treatment decisions.”
“On behalf of Team Koios, we could not be happier to be working closely and aligned with our friends and colleagues at Harrison AI. Having known and watched Dr. Aengus and Dimitry Tran since the early years, there is no doubt we are like-minded in terms of our commitment to patient care, provider access to proven solutions and delivering excellent patient and customer experiences,” said Chad McClennan, President & CEO, Koios Medical.
“We are delighted to establish this partnership with Harrison.ai, which reflects our shared ambition to advance the adoption of AI in healthcare,” said Brandon Suh, Chief Executive Officer of Lunit. “The Harrison Open Platform offers an exceptional foundation for Lunit’s solutions to be surfaced to customers in key markets, and we look forward to collaborating closely — including on joint enterprise opportunities — as we continue to expand our global presence.”
“Through our collaboration with Harrison.ai, we are expanding Nanox’s commercial footprint by bringing AI solutions with demonstrated real‑world value to healthcare providers at scale, supported by Harrison.ai’s deployment across more than 1,000 healthcare sites worldwide,” said Erez Meltzer, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chairman of Nanox.
The Open Platform operates on an open architecture model with a customer ROI-first approach and zero mark-ups to the vendors. Harrison.ai provides the infrastructure that enables healthcare providers to build an AI ecosystem tailored to their needs, with clarity around pricing and value. The platform does not block competing applications that meet industry-standard containerization specifications, even those that compete directly with Harrison.ai’s own solutions. Healthcare organizations integrate once through vendor-neutral interfaces to their PACS, RIS, and EHR systems, then have the option to access a full catalog of AI applications.
As global adoption of medical imaging AI continues to grow, the Harrison.ai Open Platform is designed to evolve alongside customer requirements, supporting collaboration across the ecosystem and helping healthcare organisations select the algorithms that best fit their needs.
About Harrison.ai
Harrison.ai is a global healthcare technology company that enhances clinician capacity and patient care through AI automation. Clinician-led and patient-first, our suite of solutions supports earlier, more accurate diagnoses and seamlessly integrates into clinical workflows.
Harrison.ai solutions are available in 40+ countries and to half of all Australian radiologists. They are clinically deployed at 1,000+ customer sites globally, including 40+ NHS Trusts and all public emergency departments in Hong Kong. With 3,400+ clinicians using our tools, Harrison.ai has impacted more than 7 million patients’ lives to date.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303839130/en/
Contact
Media Contact: Reena Rajan; reena.rajan@harrison.ai
Abstract
Harrison.ai today announced that four additional AI companies — AIRAmed, Koios Medical, Lunit and Nanox AI — would join the Harrison.ai Open Platform.
Kao’s Laurier Launches New Brand Communication Initiative across Asia: Strengthening Global Integration as a Core Brand in Kao’s Asian Business
Starting on International Women’s Day, March 8, Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452) will launch new brand communication campaign in nine Asian countries and regions for its feminine sanitary product brand, Laurier, which is the core of its Asian business.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303996141/en/
Laurier aims to help create more supportive and understanding environments around menstruation, so that women can feel more at ease, both physically and emotionally, under the key message “Comfort, Made Together,” which will be implemented simultaneously across Asia. Kao aims to further develop Laurier as a global brand.
Laurier, one of the core brands supporting Kao’s consumer care business in Asia, has been promoting globally integrated operations since 2023. Across all nine Asian countries and regions including Japan, Laurier has been working to unify product specifications and consolidate production sites to improve asset turnover ratio. Moreover, Laurier has promoted discussions to unify interpretations of the brand purpose and worldview, which varied across regions, and has renewed the global guidelines.
Through these efforts, in order to simultaneously communicate its value throughout Asia, Laurier is currently initiating a new brand communication initiative. By returning to Kao’s founding principle of a consumer perspective, Laurier will further strengthen brand equity by offering products designed for long-term use and advancing empathy-driven marketing through consistent communication across regions.
Laurier conducted a survey on attitudes toward menstruation among 4,500 women across nine Asian countries and regions.* The findings revealed that across Asia, many women feel that menstrual symptoms, concerns, and the limitations associated with menstruation have an impact on their overall sense of comfort in daily life.
*An online survey on attitudes toward menstruation was conducted by Kao among women aged 15–44 in nine Asian countries and regions, including Japan, in November–December 2023 and October–November 2024 (valid responses: 4,500).
Through this initiative, Laurier will further its efforts toward creating an inclusive environment where women can live lives full of possibilities without feeling restricted by their periods.
As a global brand, Laurier not only provides products but also supports women throughout their lives by providing information and educational support, contributing to the creation of a society where each woman can continue to live in a way that feels true to herself.
About the Brand Communication Initiative
– Key Message
Comfort, Made Together ―Laurier is here to listen.
It’s natural to find it difficult to be your normal self while you’re on your period. A woman shouldn’t have to find menstrual comfort on her own. We may not be able to completely eliminate physical discomfort or pain. But by encouraging understanding from those around us and shaping more supportive environments, we believe periods can feel a little more comfortable.
– Overview
This campaign will unify the brand’s worldview across nine Asian countries and regions, and will implement the following initiatives:
- Development of a common key visual and message across Asia
- Release of anthem films (9 country/regional versions) conveying Laurier’s message of menstrual support
- Launch of a special campaign website
– Countries/Regions: Kao Corporation / Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Hong Kong) Ltd. / Kao (Taiwan) Corporation / Kao Vietnam Co., Ltd. / Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. / Kao (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. / Kao Singapore Pte. Ltd. / PT Kao Indonesia
– Start Date: March 4, 2026
Ongoing Social Initiatives
As a brand that supports women, Laurier is continuously engaged in the following activities in each country and region.
- Japan: “Laurier in Workplace” and “Laurier in School,” making sanitary napkins available as standard supplies at workplaces and schools
- Indonesia: “Dr. Laurier,” providing expert knowledge on menstrual concerns that are hard to discuss with others
In addition to the above, Laurier provides menarche education to deliver accurate knowledge to individual in all nine countries and regions. Through these activities, Laurier will continue to be more than just a feminine sanitary product brand; it will continue to be a presence that supports women at all stages of their lives and in their social environments.
Comment from Kazuya Miyashita, President of the Sanitary Business, Kao Corporation
Laurier has been striving to strengthen its globally integrated operations. The launch of this new brand communication across nine Asian countries and regions marks the next stage in building a consistent global brand―one that transcends borders, listens to the voices of individual, and shares Laurier’s vision and values across Asia. While menstrual concerns and feelings vary from person to person, there are many aspects of menstruation that have been discussed as something to be endured or a personal issue. Through this communication campaign, Laurier aims to elevate menstrual concerns beyond a personal issue, encourage understanding from others, and foster an environment in which women can live with greater peace of mind. As a core brand in Kao’s Asian business, Laurier will continue to contribute to sustainable growth and the realization of a society where women can live their lives with comfort, confidence, and fewer limitations—no matter the day.
About Kao
Kao, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its brands such as Attack laundry detergent, Bioré and Jergens skin care products, Laurier sanitary products, Curél, SENSAI, and MOLTON BROWN cosmetics, and Oribe hair care products, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,630 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 32,600 people worldwide and has more than 130 years of history in innovation. As an enterprise that provides products people use on a daily basis, the Kao Group takes responsibility to actively reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the product lifecycle. This is laid out in Kao’s ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which launched in 2019.
Please visit the Kao Group website for additional information.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303996141/en/
Contact
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Public Relations
Kao Corporation
corporate_pr@kao.com
Abstract
Kao launches new brand communication in 9 Asian countries & regions for its feminine sanitary brand, Laurier, which is the core of its Asian business.
Venue & Hospitality Giant Levy Buys Global Agency, The iLUKA Collective
The iLUKA Collective:
- Strategic Acquisition: Levy acquires The iLUKA Collective to create a powerhouse of strategy, design, and live event execution.
- Brand Integration: The partnership enables the world’s greatest brands to live at the heart of the world’s greatest sporting events through end-to-end sponsorship and hospitality services.
- Unrivalled Portfolio: The acquisition unites Levy’s iconic venue partnerships—including Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Edgbaston Stadium, The All England Lawn Tennis Club, and The O2—with iLUKA’s proven expertise at global events such as the recent Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games 2026 and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
- See more information about the announcement on Levy’s website here.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Executive interviews are available upon request. Book through Sam at Levy or Jen at iLUKA. Contact information is below.
* Charlie Buck, Chief Commercial Officer, Levy
* Felicity Shankar, CEO of The iLUKA Collective
* Jonny Hillman, Chairman of The ILUKA Collective
About iLUKA
For more than 30 years, The iLUKA Collective has been placing the world’s greatest brands at the heart of the world’s greatest sporting events, making the human experience the focal point of everything they do. Renowned for curating bespoke events and programs, iLUKA offers meaningful connections and unforgettable moments for clients – including marketing partners, broadcasters, rights-holders, NOCs, federations, and the governing bodies of the most prestigious global sporting events. Over the years, iLUKA has partnered with high-profile global brands and organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, Deloitte, McDonald’s, The Coca-Cola Company, adidas, Intel, Lloyds Bank, BP, and Dow Chemical Company.
About Levy
Levy is about elevating experiences across the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond. A leading international hospitality partner, designing and delivering unforgettable guest experiences that prioritise people and the planet. Trusted by some of the world’s most iconic stadia, entertainment venues, and marquee events to bring their spaces to life, Levy is driven by a mission to succeed in the right way. From pioneering tech to seamless operations, show-stopping menus to exceptional service, Levy uses data and insights to understand guest behaviour and the customer journey while minimising environmental impact and supporting local communities.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303134410/en/
Contact
Sam Rooke | Head of PR, Media + Comms
+44 (0)7778 955 656
sam.rooke@levy.co.uk
Jen Walsh | Communications Manager
+1 703 772 2473
jen@ilukacollective.com
Abstract
Venue & Hospitality Giant Levy Buys Global Agency, The iLUKA Collective
Xsolla Expands Global Payment Coverage Across 18 Markets With 6 Trusted Local Payment Methods to Help Developers Reach New Players Worldwide
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced a major expansion of its global payments portfolio across 18 markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. As developers continue to expand into high-growth and emerging markets, this expansion enables developers to reach new paying users, improve conversion rates, and deliver payment experiences tailored to local player preferences.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303816373/en/
The newly supported payment methods include:
- Local Amazon Pay in Japan, with over 100 million registered Amazon Japan accounts, provides fully localized checkout experiences in Japanese Yen
- Zain Cash in Iraq is expanding access to mobile-first payment options in a rapidly growing economy, where mobile numbers serve as primary digital identities and mobile adoption is broad across a population of 40+ million
- Tamara operates in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, offering flexible buy now, pay later (BNPL) options that serve more than 15 million users in two of the Middle East’s highest-spending markets, where BNPL adoption rates reach 31–42% among consumers, making it a preferred online payment method
- M-Pesa in Tanzania, unlocking access to the country’s leading mobile money ecosystems with over 26 million accounts – representing about 40% of the market
- Zamtel in Zambia supports mobile money transactions in an increasingly connected market, reaching over 4.3 million subscribers and accounting for a 20.5%+ market share, helping bring digital payment access to broader parts of the population
- The Aircash app and vouchers are available across 12 European countries, including Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Austria, offering localized digital wallet and voucher options. With a leading ~12.6% market share in Croatia and a network of 200,000+ cash-loading points across Europe, Aircash is expanding across CEE and key European markets to reach new users in digital finance
These integrations provide a localized, frictionless checkout experience, enabling players to pay in familiar currencies and with trusted local methods, thereby increasing confidence and improving conversion rates for in-game purchases. For game developers, this translates into expanded global reach across emerging and high-growth markets while simplifying operations and removing the need for local infrastructure or custom payment integrations.
“Localized payments are one of the most powerful drivers of conversion and growth for video game developers,” said Chris Hewish, President at Xsolla. “By expanding our payment coverage across 18 markets, we’re giving developers all the things they need to reach players with the payment methods they already trust without adding complexity to their operations.”
For more information about Xsolla Payments, please visit: xsolla.pro/rn26payments
About Xsolla
Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.
For more information, visit xsolla.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303816373/en/
Contact
Media Contact
Derrick Stembridge
Vice President of Global Public Relations, Xsolla
d.stembridge@xsolla.com
Macedonian Thrace Brewery: Dutch Court to Award MTB at Least EUR 83 Million in Damages Payable by Heineken for Its Illegal Conduct in Greece
On 18 February the Amsterdam District Court rendered an interim judgment on damages quantification in the proceedings of Macedonian Thrace Brewery (“MTB”), maker of the popular Greek beer Vergina, against Heineken and its subsidiary Athenian Brewery (“AB”).
The case stems from the decision of the Greek competition authority, the Hellenic Competition Commission (“HCC”), published in December 2015, that AB abused its dominant position in the Greek beer market for at least 16 years, excluding competitors like MTB.
AB lost the administrative appeal against the HCC Decision in every instance in Greece. In the private enforcement claim filed in the Netherlands by MTB the district court had already decided that it was bound by the HCC Decision, and that Heineken and AB were jointly and severally liable for the damages resulting from the infringement.
The recent judgment accepts the damages quantification model set out by Oxera as economic expert for MTB, rejecting multiple defences argued by Heineken and its expert CRA. In support of its approach the court quotes extensively from the HCC Decision regarding the nature and scope of the abuse. Based on its current assessment, the court assumes that the principal damages suffered by MTB amount to at least EUR 43 mln. Adding statutory interest in line with the court’s judgment, the full damage award will be in excess of EUR 83 mln. Experts costs will also be awarded, provided that these costs are further substantiated by MTB. Both sides are to submit statements by 18 March.
The district court has announced it will render a final judgment on damages after the Dutch Supreme Court issues its decision on the appeal filed by AB and Heineken in respect of jurisdiction. That decision is expected later this month. The Dutch advocate-general has already advised the Supreme Court that the appeal from Heineken and AB should be rejected in its entirety, in view of the judgment of the European Court of Justice of 13 February 2025 on questions referred by the Supreme Court in this matter.
Demetri Chriss, director at MTB, said: “This judgment sends a strong message to Heineken that the Dutch courts will not shy away from awarding substantial damages in abuse of dominance cases. To determine damages caused by an infringement of 16 years is no easy task, and we are delighted that the court has definitively rejected Heineken’s attempt to avoid being held accountable for its illegal activities in Greece.
“We should also mention that we are currently awaiting the outcome of the Hellenic Competition Commission’s new investigation into ongoing abuses in the Greek beer market in the post-decision era.
“The fact that Heineken’s subsidiaries in Austria, Hungary, the US and elsewhere have recently been found guilty of identical and/or similar abuses points to a highly problematic corporate culture that permeates the organization on a global scale. Heineken does not appear to improve its conduct.
“The decisions of the Amsterdam District Court show that small and medium businesses can fight back and prevail against seemingly invincible multinationals.”
Carlsberg and its subsidiary Olympic have also filed proceedings in Amsterdam against Heineken and AB, holding them liable for their abuse on the Greek beer market.
The aforementioned judgment is available at https://deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id=ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2026:1692
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303330240/en/
Contact
Media enquiries:
Palatine Communications
mtb@palatine-media.com
Abstract
Amsterdam Court imposes heavy damages bill on Heineken over competition breaches, in victory for Greek brewer
TweetText
Demetri Chriss, Vergina Beer: “This shows that small and medium businesses can fight back and prevail against seemingly invincible multinationals.”
Xsolla SDK Now Available for Game Developers Globally
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that has helped developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced the availability of Xsolla SDK, a unified, cross-platform software development kit that consolidates the company’s PC, mobile, and web monetization tools into a single download. Launching at GDC Festival of Games 2026, the Xsolla SDK introduces built-in Payments, Login, Catalog, and Offerwall integration for developers, enabling them to configure their pricing and inventory once and deploy across every supported platform with no reconfiguration required.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303075966/en/
Xsolla is building all the things to help developers monetize cross-platform with the industry’s best-in-class, battle-tested technical foundation built specifically for games. The Xsolla SDK is powered by two decades of building payment and monetization tools exclusively for game developers, more than $10B in total payments processed, and the same payment infrastructure trusted by over 60% of the top 100 highest-grossing games globally. This depth of experience, spanning thousands of titles, regulatory environments, and platform shifts, is now accessible to developers of all sizes through a single integration.
“Game developers need tools to work seamlessly across every platform without adding complexity,” said Chris Hewish, President at Xsolla. “Xsolla has a long history of solving the most challenging problems in game commerce, across platforms, regions, and business models. Game developers can trust the Xsolla SDK because it is built on a proven infrastructure already scaling with some of the world’s biggest games. No matter where developers are building, they now have access to the same powerful monetization tools that streamline revenue and simplify payment integration.”
Xsolla SDK Benefits:
- Launch cross-platform with a single integration: Deploy to iOS, Android, PC, and the web, including support for out-of-store distribution
- Monetize every player: Activate Offerwall to generate incremental revenue from non-paying users through advertiser-funded rewarded tasks with no upfront cost
- Unify your commerce operations: Manage a single catalog and shared inventory across in-app purchases, bundles, subscriptions, Offerwall, and Web Shop without reconfiguring between channels
- Retain full ownership and control: Set pricing, manage offers, and maintain direct relationships with your players
- Connect player identity across platforms: Maintain a unified player profile and inventory across devices to reduce churn from fragmented experiences
- Integrate directly into your engine: Use drop-in SDKs for Unity, Unreal Engine, and Cocos Creator to accelerate your time-to-market
- Scale globally with localized payments: Offer 1,000+ payment methods across 200+ regions and 130+ currencies, with Xsolla managing tax, fraud, and compliance as Merchant of Record
The Xsolla SDK and integrated Offerwall are available now to developers of all sizes. For more information, visit https://xsolla.com/mobile-sdk
About Xsolla
Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.
For more information, visit xsolla.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303075966/en/
Contact
Media Contact
Derrick Stembridge
Vice President of Global Public Relations, Xsolla
d.stembridge@xsolla.com
Morningstar Sustainalytics: Institutional Investors Signal Rising Demand for ESG Data Integration Amid Market Maturity
Morningstar Sustainalytics, part of Morningstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN), a leading global provider of ESG data, research, and ratings, today released findings from its inaugural State of ESG Data Survey, revealing a financial industry increasingly dependent on actionable sustainability information. Morningstar Sustainalytics clients surveyed cited ongoing challenges around data quality and coverage, increased demand for regulatory-aligned insights and a shift toward forward-looking climate and nature-related analytics.
The global quantitative survey collected responses from 145 financial market participants — including asset managers, banks, pension funds, wealth managers and other financial institutions — across EMEA, the Americas, and APAC.
Participants spanned a wide range of size, with 40% managing more than USD 50 billion in assets and 24% managing under USD 1 billion. EMEA accounted for the largest share of respondents (51%), reflecting the region’s strong regulatory momentum and advanced ESG practices.
David Pagliaro, president of Morningstar Sustainalytics, commented: “Our first State of ESG Data Survey shows that standardized ESG disclosures remain critical. However, investors increasingly need forward‑looking insights – particularly on climate risks and nature impacts. Even with shifting political rhetoric in some markets, the underlying demand has not changed: investors want high‑quality, comparable data to understand risks, support meeting regulatory obligations, and to help create long‑term value.”
The survey reveals that institutional investors are embedding ESG and climate information directly into investment processes, risk management tools and regulatory reporting workflows.
Yet consistent obstacles remain:
- 47% cited gaps in ESG data coverage
- 41% suffer from data quality issues
- 40% pointed to inconsistencies across vendors
Forward-Looking Climate Metrics in Demand
Forward-looking information is also gaining prominence. While International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) disclosures (73%) and sustainable bond data (68%) remain must have data sets, transition risk models were the area most frequently identified as uniquely valuable (35%). These findings suggest that investors increasingly need predictive tools to support long-term climate resilience and scenario-based decision making.
Nearly half of respondents ranked fund-level reporting capabilities among their top three needs—underscoring the increasing complexity of regulatory disclosures and the demand for end-to-end data integration.
ESG Data in Private Markets & Alternative Asset Classes
Private markets were identified as one of the most challenging areas for ESG and climate data. As investors pursue a whole portfolio approach to sustainability, many are expanding beyond listed markets into private assets where data availability remains limited.
Alongside private market data needs, respondents highlighted rising demand for:
- Regulation aligned datasets (58%)
- Greenhouse gas emissions data (56%)
- ESG risk ratings (49%)
With investors calling for deeper insights, stronger data foundations and more seamless integration, the State of ESG Data Survey 2025 underscores a market moving decisively toward maturity.
About Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment insights in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The Company offers an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers and owners, retirement plan providers and sponsors, institutional investors in the debt and private capital markets, and alliances and redistributors. Morningstar provides data and research insights on a wide range of investment offerings, including managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with approximately $378 billion in AUMA as of Dec. 31, 2025. The Company operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries in 32 countries. For more information, visit www.morningstar.com/company. Follow Morningstar on LinkedIn @Morningstar.
About Morningstar Sustainalytics
Morningstar Sustainalytics is a leading ESG data, research, and ratings firm that supports investors around the world with the development and implementation of responsible investment strategies. For more than 30 years, the firm has been at the forefront of developing high-quality, innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of global investors. Today, Morningstar Sustainalytics works with hundreds of the world’s leading asset managers and pension funds who incorporate ESG information and assessments into their investment processes. The firm also works with hundreds of companies and their financial intermediaries to help them consider material sustainability factors in policies, practices, and capital projects. Morningstar Sustainalytics has analysts around the world with varied multidisciplinary expertise across more than 40 industry groups. For more information, visit www.sustainalytics.com.
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Contact
Louis Hogan, louis.hogan@morningstar.com, +44 753454 40330, Communications Manager Morningstar Sustainalytics
TNS Strengthens Financial Markets Leadership Across Asia Pacific
Transaction Network Services (TNS), a global provider of connectivity and infrastructure for financial markets, has appointed Levent Mehmet as Managing Director, Asia Pacific, for its Financial Markets business. Based in Singapore, Mehmet will lead strategy, sales, and client engagement across the region.
Mehmet brings more than 25 years of experience in financial market data and infrastructure. Before joining TNS, he spent 17 years with ICE Data Services, where he helped drive the company’s expansion across Asia Pacific, and has also held positions with SIX and Bloomberg in Europe and the Middle East.
“I am delighted to be joining TNS at such an important juncture. Asia is a key center for trading innovation, and TNS is playing an increasingly important role in helping firms connect and grow in these markets,” said Levent Mehmet, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, TNS Financial Markets. “With new market data connectivity, a proven network infrastructure and strong relationships across global exchanges, including additional exchange coverage added recently, we’re helping clients to trade smarter and faster.”
“The expansion of overnight trading in the US illustrates how quickly global markets are evolving. With liquidity spread across multiple venues, access and optionality have become critical. By continually adding these venues to our network, TNS ensures clients can capture opportunities as they emerge, whether that means trading US equities during Asian hours or broadening their market reach. My focus will be on scaling that success across the region.”
Mehmet will lead TNS’ teams based in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as supporting clients more widely across China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
“Levent’s appointment underlines our commitment to long-term growth across key trading hubs,” said Rick Gilbody, Global Head of Sales and Marketing, TNS Financial Markets. “His leadership will strengthen how we deliver locally, aligning our network and exchange relationships with the needs of firms operating across multiple markets. It’s an important step in expanding our footprint and deepening engagement with clients throughout Asia’s financial centers.”
TNS brings together over 5,000 financial community endpoints, supported by a global, 125-strong point-of-presence footprint. Specifically designed and engineered to address the needs of financial market participants worldwide, TNS offers a range of connectivity, colocation, cloud, market data and VPN solutions within its Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) portfolio. This includes TNS Market Data Services, the only vendor agnostic turnkey solution for global market data. TNS’ solutions are monitored 24x7x365 by Network Operations Centers in the US, UK, Australia and Malaysia.
About Transaction Network Services (TNS)
Founded in 1990 and with headquarters in the USA and offices across Europe and Asia, TNS is a leading provider of mission-critical infrastructure, connectivity, market data and analytic services for the Financial Markets community. Delivered as a fully managed Infrastructure-as-a-Service offering, TNS provides an unrivalled, global, mission-critical footprint that can significantly help reduce the burdens, complexities and costs attributed to firms ‘going direct.’ Through its ultra-low latency connectivity, its global market data offerings and its dedicated 24x7x365 local support, TNS remains the trusted solution provider to more than 750 counterparties globally.
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Contact
TNS Media Contacts
Clare Cockroft/Bronte Saulle
TNS +1 703-814-8065
pr@tnsi.com
Abstract
Transaction Network Services has appointed Levent Mehmet as Managing Director, Asia Pacific, for its Financial Markets business.
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“I am delighted to be joining TNS at such an important juncture. Asia is a key center for trading innovation, and TNS is playing an increasingly important role in helping firms connect and grow in these markets” Levent Mehmet Managing Director Asia Pacific
