You are here: Home ยป Archives for Machinery and Tools

World Vape Day: South Africa Is Getting Tobacco Policy Wrong

JOHANNESBURG, May 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tomorrow is World Vape Day 2026. On May 31st, the WHO marks World No Tobacco Day by calling for tighter restrictions on vapes and nicotine pouches. South Africa's lawmakers appear to be listening to the wrong side of that debate.

This year's World Vape Day theme is One Switch – Everyone Wins. When a smoker switches, it is not just their own health that changes. Secondhand smoke raises children's risk of asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Maternal smoking causes low birth weight, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Children of smokers are up to four times more likely to become regular smokers themselves. One switch removes almost all of that from the home.

“Restricting or banning less harmful alternatives does not protect South African families. It keeps them exposed to smoke. The countries that gave smokers a real way out are now reaping the results. South Africa can do the same,” said Liza Katsiashvili, Director of Operations, World Vapers' Alliance.

Health Minister Motsoaledi has called harm reduction a flawed premise. The results from countries that tried it tell a different story. Sweden is almost smoke-free. The UK halved its smoking rate. New Zealand cut smoking among under-25s to around 3% by actively promoting vaping and giving smokers honest information about less harmful alternatives.

South Africa also has a serious illicit trade problem. “Pushing consumers away from regulated less harmful alternatives does not make nicotine disappear. It hands the market to cigarettes and unregulated black market products, which helps nobody,” Katsiashvili added.

For media enquiries: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32b4ce27-9762-4ca6-ab6c-6af482310e1d


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9728746)

BitMEX and COLLYBUS Announce Strategic Platform Partnership to Deliver Institutional-Grade Trading Technology

SINGAPORE and SYDNEY, May 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMEX, one of the world’s leading digital asset trading platforms, and COLLYBUS, the regulated execution gateway for institutional digital asset and FX markets, today announced a strategic platform partnership under which COLLYBUS’s execution platform will be deployed across BitMEX, providing professional and active traders with access to institutional-grade trading technology.

The partnership brings together BitMEX’s deep liquidity and established global community with COLLYBUS’s execution infrastructure, delivering a more powerful and seamless trading environment for BitMEX’s professional and active clients, built on direct access to BitMEX liquidity.

What the Partnership Delivers

Through the collaboration, COLLYBUS will deploy its trading platform across BitMEX, providing professional and active traders with access to institutional-grade trading technology designed to meet the evolving and increasingly demanding requirements of today's digital asset markets. The platform is built to deliver the performance, reliability, and depth of functionality that professional traders require, supported directly by BitMEX's liquidity and market infrastructure.

The platform will be made available to BitMEX’s clients through a phased rollout, with both companies working closely to ensure seamless integration and a best-in-class client experience.

“COLLYBUS is the infrastructure that our most active clients have been asking for. The combination of BitMEX’s liquidity and global reach with COLLYBUS’s execution platform creates a genuinely differentiated offering in the market and we are excited to bring it to our trading community.”

— Sam Sandiford, Head of Product and Institutional Business Development, BitMEX

“BitMEX has built one of the most established and trusted trading communities in digital asset markets. Partnering with BitMEX to deploy our platform for their professional and active traders is a significant milestone for COLLYBUS and a strong validation of our execution infrastructure. We look forward to delivering a genuinely superior trading experience together.”

— Greg O’Sullivan, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, COLLYBUS


About BitMEX

BitMEX is the OG crypto derivatives exchange, providing professional crypto traders with a platform that caters to their needs with low latency, deep crypto native liquidity and unmatched reliability.

Since its founding, no cryptocurrency has been lost through intrusion or hacking, allowing BitMEX users to trade with confidence that their funds are secure and that they have access to the products and tools required to be profitable.

BitMEX was also among the first exchanges to publish on chain Proof of Reserves and Proof of Liabilities data. The exchange continues to publish this data twice a week, providing assurance that customer funds are safely stored and segregated.

For more information, users can visit the BitMEX Blog or www.bitmex.com and follow Discord, Telegram and Twitter.

Media Contact

BitMEX Press

[email protected]

About COLLYBUS

COLLYBUS is the regulated infrastructure and interoperability layer connecting institutional capital to digital asset and FX markets. As these markets mature, the defining challenge for institutions is not liquidity, it is access: fragmented venues, siloed collateral, inconsistent execution standards, and the absence of a regulated, neutral framework that meets institutional requirements. COLLYBUS solves that.

A licensed agency brokerage sitting above fragmented markets, aggregating liquidity across venues, and delivering conflict-free institutional access through a single interface spanning spot, derivatives, perpetual futures, FX, and tokenised real-world assets with advanced algorithmic execution, real-time collateral management, pre-trade compliance, and full audit trail built in. Not adapted from retail. Built for institutions from day one.

Founded by capital markets veterans across FX, institutional trading technology, and regulatory infrastructure, COLLYBUS holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL 546742) issued by ASIC and has received In Principle Approval for a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

For more information,

visit www.collybus.co.

[email protected]


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001183975)

BitMEX Launches the Copy and Conquer Campaign Featuring a 50,000 USDT Prize Pool

VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMEX, a leading crypto derivatives exchange, announced today the launch of the Copy and Conquer campaign. Users can copy or reverse copy other leading traders to win their share of a 50,000 USDT prize pool.

Copy Trading was introduced on BitMEX for all traders in 2025, with a unique Reverse Copy feature – an advanced function where traders can take the opposite direction of another trader. Copy trading of top Hyperliquid traders is also available, providing users with advanced profit opportunities in the safety of the BitMEX platform.

The Copy and Conquer campaign will run from 14 May 2026 at 12:00 PM (UTC) to 14 June 2026 at 11:59 AM (UTC). Users can participate at any time during the campaign period.

Rewards will be distributed across 2 categories:

  • For New Users: First-time copy traders can claim up to $50 in loss protection when they copy their first Copy Leader. Additionally, first-time reverse copy traders can also enjoy up to $50 in bonus profits if their first reverse copy trade returns a profit.
  • For All Users: By achieving copy trading volume tiers, all participants can claim up to $500 in trading credits.

To participate in the Copy and Conquer campaign, traders must be fully verified on BitMEX. Competition details and registration can be found here. For more details on BitMEX Copy Trading, visit this page.

About BitMEX

BitMEX is the OG crypto derivatives exchange, providing professional crypto traders with a platform that caters to their needs with low latency, deep crypto native liquidity and unmatched reliability.

Since its founding, no cryptocurrency has been lost through intrusion or hacking, allowing BitMEX users to trade with confidence that their funds are secure and that they have access to the products and tools required to be profitable.

BitMEX was also among the first exchanges to publish on chain Proof of Reserves and Proof of Liabilities data. The exchange continues to publish this data twice a week, providing assurance that customer funds are safely stored and segregated.

For more information on BitMEX, please visit the BitMEX Blog or www.bitmex.com, and follow Telegram, Twitter, Discord, and its online communities. For further inquiries, please contact [email protected].

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d2a1b7b6-5233-4c68-91bf-6c0ea33554bb


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001181989)

BitMEX Expands TradFi Perpetual Swaps with FX for 24/7 Crypto Trading

VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMEX today announced the launch of six FX Perpetual Swap contracts, enabling traders to access global currency markets using cryptocurrency as collateral on a 24/7 basis.

The new offering includes EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CHF, and USD/CAD, providing exposure to some of the most traded currency pairs without relying on traditional brokers or fiat funding. The contracts remain open continuously, including weekends when conventional forex markets are closed.

The launch builds on BitMEX’s experience in crypto derivatives and marks a renewed expansion into forex-linked perpetual products, designed to meet evolving trader demand with a more focused and scalable offering.

“Forex is the largest and most liquid market globally, yet access still depends on fragmented and time-bound systems,” said Stephan Lutz, CEO at BitMEX. “With FX Perpetual Swaps, traders can access major currency pairs at any time using crypto as margin, without the operational friction of traditional brokerage models. This reflects a broader shift toward always-on, borderless trading.”

FX Perpetual Swaps allow traders to post crypto as margin, removing the need for fiat deposits, bank transfers, or broker onboarding. The contracts offer up to 100x leverage and operate with a 0% base interest rate, eliminating overnight swap fees commonly charged by traditional forex providers.

The selected pairs represent a significant share of global forex activity. EUR/USD alone accounts for roughly 23% of daily trading volume, while USD/JPY and GBP/USD are widely used to express views on interest rates, monetary policy, and global risk sentiment.

Unlike traditional forex markets, which close for approximately 48 hours over the weekend, BitMEX’s perpetual product offering enables continuous trading and real-time response to macroeconomic events. Pricing is derived from aggregated external data during market hours and transitions to internal order book activity during off-hours to maintain uninterrupted access.

BitMEX plans to expand its range of TradFi perpetual products based on user demand, building on its existing offerings across equities and commodities—including products such as WTI crude oil and silver (XAG). This broader expansion reflects BitMEX’s strategy to bridge crypto-native infrastructure with traditional financial markets through a unified derivatives platform.

More details about BitMEX’s FX Perpetual Swaps can be found on their blog.

About BitMEX

BitMEX is the OG crypto derivatives exchange, providing professional crypto traders with a platform that caters to their needs with low latency, deep crypto native and especially BTC liquidity and unmatched reliability.

Since its founding, no cryptocurrency has been lost through intrusion or hacking, allowing BitMEX users to trade with confidence that their funds are secure and that they have access to the products and tools required to be profitable.

BitMEX was also among the first exchanges to publish on chain Proof of Reserves and Proof of Liabilities data. The exchange continues to publish this data twice a week, providing assurance that customer funds are safely stored and segregated.

For more information, users can visit the BitMEX Blog or www.bitmex.com and follow Discord, Telegram and Twitter.

Media Contact

BitMEX Press

[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/63338553-9734-4da7-86f7-34d7116340f6


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001178730)

Anaqua Adquire Patrix para Expandir Sua Liderança em Gerenciamento de PI

BOSTON, April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, a principal fornecedora de tecnologia e serviços de gerenciamento de inovação e propriedade intelectual (PI), anunciou hoje a aquisição da Patrix®, fornecedora de longa data de software e serviços de gerenciamento de PI, cuja plataforma Patricia® tem atendido com orgulho sua base de clientes concentrada em escritórios de advocacia nos últimos trinta anos.

As aquisições estratégicas há muito tempo têm sido fundamentais para o plano de crescimento da Anaqua, acelerando agora sob a propriedade da Nordic Capital. Esta aquisição amplia ainda mais a presença da Anaqua junto aos escritórios de advocacia e Europa, após a aquisição da RightHub em 2025. A Anaqua atende profissionais de PI em corporações e escritórios de advocacia por meio de inovação contínua, ofertas de serviços ampliadas e escala global. Para a Anaqua, o software de gerenciamento de PI é o núcleo da prática de PI eficiente e essa aquisição aprofunda essa base.

“A Patrix vem conquistando a confiança dos profissionais de PI ao longo de décadas. e há muito admiramos a empresa e sua equipe. Essa união traz para a Anaqua uma base de clientes bem servida e leal, juntamente com uma profunda tecnologia de PI e experiência com escritórios de advocacia”, disse Justin Crotty, CEO da Anaqua. “Além disso, os clientes da Patrix agora terão a oportunidade de acessar os amplos recursos da Anaqua, incluindo infraestrutura global de hospedagem e segurança, serviços de registro no exterior, renovação de patentes e marcas registradas, e serviços de docketing, além das ferramentas avançadas de fluxo de trabalho e análises baseadas em IA.”

A plataforma Patricia é usada ativamente por quase 400 clientes, incluindo alguns dos maiores escritórios de advocacia de PI do mundo. A Anaqua continuará a apoiar e avançar o roteiro do produto Patricia, e garantir que os melhores recursos que diferenciaram a plataforma Patricia sejam cuidadosamente incorporados à plataforma mais ampla da Anaqua. A Anaqua também está fornecendo aos clientes da Patrix flexibilidade pronta para o futuro, apoiando seus requisitos atuais e oferecendo acesso opcional à plataforma nativa de IA da Anaqua à medida que suas necessidades evoluem. Além disso, os clientes que usam o serviço de renovações da Patrix continuarão sem interrupção. 

“Nosso papel é encontrar os clientes onde eles estão hoje, além de oferecer suporte e opções para o futuro”, disse Crotty. “Com os clientes navegando pelo papel cada vez mais acelerado da IA na prática de PI, pelas mudanças no cenário regulatório e pela volatilidade econômica, queremos estar ao seu lado como um parceiro de confiança. Quando nossos clientes ganham, nós ganhamos.”

“Tenho muito prazer em confiar na Anaqua para o atendimento dos nossos clientes durante esta próxima fase da sua jornada do cliente”, disse Carina Roth Schramm, fundadora e acionista maioritária da Patrix. “Nossas duas empresas compartilham um forte alinhamento cultural, sustentado por uma herança orientada a software e por uma filosofia centrada no cliente, por isso estou confiante de que as necessidades em constante mudança dos nossos clientes serão atendidas no futuro.”

Marks Baughan Securities LLC atuou como consultor financeiro exclusivo da Patrix.

Sobre a Patrix
A Patrix é uma fornecedora de longa data de software e serviços de gerenciamento de propriedade intelectual (PI), mais conhecida por sua solução principal, Patricia®, um dos sistemas de gerenciamento de PI mais estabelecidos e amplamente utilizados do mercado. Durante décadas, a Patrix tem apoiado departamentos corporativos e escritórios de advocacia de PI em todo o mundo, com sua tecnologia projetada especificamente para atender às demandas da prática de PI. Com profunda experiência em domínio de PI e uma forte reputação de confiabilidade e parceria com clientes, a Patrix estabeleceu relacionamentos duradouros com empresas que gerenciam portfólios globais complexos de PI. Para mais informações, visite: www.patrix.com.

Sobre a Anaqua
A Anaqua, Inc. é fornecedora líder de soluções e serviços de tecnologia de gerenciamento de propriedade intelectual integrada (IP) para corporações e escritórios de advocacia. Suas soluções de software de gerenciamento de PI, AQX®  e PATTSY WAVE®, oferecem fluxos de trabalho das melhores práticas com análise de big data e serviços habilitados para tecnologia, para a criação de um ambiente inteligente projetado para informar a estratégia de PI, viabilizar a tomada de decisões de PI e simplificar as operações de PI, adaptadas às necessidades de cada segmento. Atualmente quase metade dos 100 principais candidatos a patentes e marcas globais dos EUA, bem como um número crescente de escritórios de advocacia em todo o mundo, usam as soluções da Anaqua. Mais de dois milhões de executivos de PI, advogados, assistentes jurídicos, administradores e inovadores usam a plataforma para suas necessidades de gerenciamento de PI. As operações globais da empresa estão localizadas na sede em Boston, além dos escritórios nos EUA, Europa, Ásia e Austrália. Para mais informações, visite Anaqua.com, ou o LinkedIn da Anaqua.

CONTATO COM A MÍDIA:

Jean Kondo
Anaqua
+1-617-375-5808
[email protected]


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9708439)

Anaqua acquiert Patrix en vue de renforcer son leadership dans la gestion de la propriété intellectuelle

BOSTON, 28 avr. 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, leader des technologies et services de gestion de l’innovation et de la propriété intellectuelle (PI), a annoncé aujourd’hui l’acquisition de Patrix®, fournisseur historique de logiciels et services de gestion de la PI, dont la plateforme Patricia® accompagne avec succès sa clientèle composée principalement de cabinets d’avocats depuis trente ans.

Les acquisitions stratégiques constituent depuis longtemps un pilier de la stratégie de croissance d’Anaqua, qui s’accélère désormais sous l’égide de Nordic Capital. Dans la continuité du rachat de RightHub en 2025, cette nouvelle acquisition vient renforcer la présence d’Anaqua auprès des cabinets d’avocats et en Europe. Grâce à une innovation constante, une offre de services élargie et une envergure mondiale, Anaqua accompagne les professionnels de la PI, tant en entreprise qu’en cabinet d’avocats. Anaqua considère que le logiciel de gestion de la PI est le pivot de toute stratégie de PI performante, et cette nouvelle acquisition consolide davantage encore cette position.

« Au fil des décennies, Patrix a su gagner la confiance des professionnels de la PI ; c’est une structure et une équipe que nous tenons en haute estime depuis longtemps. Ce rapprochement apporte à Anaqua une clientèle fidèle et bien établie, ainsi qu’une expertise étendue en matière de technologies de la PI et de cabinets d’avocats », a déclaré Justin Crotty, PDG d’Anaqua. « Parallèlement, les clients de Patrix auront désormais accès aux larges capacités d’Anaqua, notamment son infrastructure mondiale d’hébergement et de sécurité, ses services de pointe en matière de dépôt à l’étranger, de renouvellement de brevets et de marques, de gestion des dossiers, ainsi que ses outils avancés de gestion des flux de travail et d’analyse basés sur l’IA. »

Les services de Patrix sont utilisés par près de 400 clients, dont certains des plus grands cabinets d’avocats spécialisés en PI au monde. Anaqua continuera de soutenir et de faire évoluer la feuille de route produit de la plateforme Patricia, tout en assurant une intégration réfléchie de ses caractéristiques phares – véritables éléments de différenciation – au sein de l’écosystème global d’Anaqua. Dans le même temps, Anaqua garantit aux clients de Patrix une souplesse d’évolution stratégique : tout en assurant la continuité de leurs processus actuels, elle leur ouvre l’accès optionnel à sa plateforme d’IA native pour répondre à leurs futurs besoins. De plus, les clients qui utilisent le service de renouvellement de Patrix continueront de bénéficier de ce service sans interruption. 

« Notre rôle est d’accompagner nos clients selon leurs besoins actuels, tout en leur apportant soutien et flexibilité pour l’avenir », a ajouté M. Crotty. « Face à l’essor de l’IA dans le domaine de la PI, aux évolutions réglementaires et à la volatilité économique, nous souhaitons être un partenaire de confiance pour nos clients. Leur succès est aussi le nôtre. »

« Je suis ravie de confier à Anaqua l’accompagnement de nos clients dans cette nouvelle étape de leur parcours », a souligné Carina Roth Schramm, fondatrice et actionnaire majoritaire de Patrix. « Nos deux organisations partagent une forte convergence culturelle, portée par une expertise historique du logiciel et une approche résolument tournée vers le client. Je suis donc convaincue que nous saurons répondre aux besoins évolutifs de nos clients sur le long terme. »

Le cabinet Marks Baughan Securities LLC est intervenu en tant que conseiller financier exclusif auprès de Patrix.

À propos de Patrix
 : surtout connu pour sa solution phare, Patricia®, l’un des systèmes de gestion de la PI les plus établis et les plus utilisés du marché, Patrix est un fournisseur de longue date de logiciels et de services de gestion de la PI. Depuis des décennies, Patrix accompagne dans le monde entier les services de PI des entreprises et les cabinets d’avocats spécialisés dans ce domaine grâce à des technologies conçues spécifiquement afin de répondre aux exigences de la pratique en la matière. Forte d’une expertise étendue en PI et d’une solide réputation de fiabilité et de partenariat avec ses clients, Patrix a tissé des relations durables avec les organisations qui gèrent des portefeuilles internationaux de PI d’une grande complexité. Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site : www.patrix.com.

À propos d’Anaqua
Anaqua, Inc. est un fournisseur de premier ordre en matière de solutions et de services technologiques intégrés dédiés à la gestion de la propriété intellectuelle (PI), destinés aux entreprises et aux cabinets d’avocats. Ses plateformes logicielles de gestion de la propriété industrielle, AQX®, PATTSY WAVE®, et RightHub® proposent des flux de travail basés sur les meilleures pratiques, avec des analyses de mégadonnées et des services technologiques, afin de créer un environnement de travail intelligent conçu pour éclairer la stratégie en matière de propriété intellectuelle, faciliter la prise de décisions dans ce domaine et rationaliser les opérations liées à la PI, en fonction des besoins de chaque segment. Aujourd’hui, près de la moitié des 100 principaux déposants de brevets américains et des grandes marques mondiales, ainsi qu’un nombre croissant de cabinets d’avocats à travers le monde utilisent les solutions d’Anaqua. Plus de deux millions de professionnels de la propriété intellectuelle, d’avocats, d’assistants juridiques, d’administrateurs et d’innovateurs se reposent sur la plateforme pour répondre à la gestion de leurs besoins en la matière. La société est domiciliée à Boston, et exploite un réseau de bureaux implantés aux États-Unis, en Europe, en Asie et en Australie. Pour obtenir de plus amples informations, veuillez consulter le site Anaqua.com ou la page LinkedIn d’Anaqua.

CONTACT AUPRÈS DES MÉDIAS :

Jean Kondo
Anaqua
+1-617-375-5808
[email protected]


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9708439)

Anaqua übernimmt Patrix, um seine Führungsposition im Bereich IP-Management auszubauen

BOSTON, April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, der führende Anbieter von Technologien und Dienstleistungen für das Innovations- und IP-Management, gab heute die Übernahme von Patrix® bekannt, einem langjährigen Anbieter von IP-Management-Software und -Dienstleistungen, dessen Plattform Patricia® seit dreißig Jahren erfolgreich einen vorwiegend aus Anwaltskanzleien bestehenden Kundenstamm bedient.

Strategische Übernahmen sind seit Langem ein Eckpfeiler des Wachstumsplans von Anaqua und gewinnen unter der Führung von Nordic Capital nun weiter an Dynamik. Diese Übernahme baut die Präsenz von Anaqua im Bereich der Anwaltskanzleien sowie in Europa weiter aus und knüpft an die Übernahme von RightHub im Jahr 2025 an. Anaqua unterstützt Fachleute im Bereich des geistigen Eigentums sowohl in Unternehmen als auch in Anwaltskanzleien durch kontinuierliche Innovation, ein erweitertes Dienstleistungsangebot und globale Präsenz. Anaqua betrachtet IP-Management-Software als Kern einer effektiven IP-Praxis, und diese Übernahme festigt dieses Fundament.

„Patrix hat sich über Jahrzehnte hinweg das Vertrauen von Fachleuten im Bereich des geistigen Eigentums erarbeitet, und wir schätzen das Unternehmen und das Team seit Langem sehr. Diese Fusion verschafft Anaqua einen gut betreuten, treuen Kundenstamm sowie fundiertes Fachwissen in den Bereichen IP-Technologie und Anwaltskanzleien“, so Justin Crotty, CEO von Anaqua. „Gleichzeitig erhalten Patrix-Kunden nun Zugang zum breiten Leistungsspektrum von Anaqua, darunter eine globale Hosting- und Sicherheitsinfrastruktur, branchenführende Dienstleistungen in den Bereichen Auslandsanmeldungen, Patent- und Markenverlängerungen sowie Fristenmanagement und darüber hinaus fortschrittliche, KI-gestützte Workflow-Tools und Analysen.“

Patrix wird von fast 400 Kunden aktiv genutzt, darunter einige der weltweit größten Kanzleien für geistiges Eigentum. Anaqua wird die Produkt-Roadmap von Patricia weiterhin unterstützen und vorantreiben und zugleich sicherstellen, dass die herausragenden Funktionen, durch die sich Patricia auszeichnet, sorgfältig in die umfassendere Plattform von Anaqua integriert werden. Gleichzeitig bietet Anaqua den Kunden von Patrix zukunftsfähige Flexibilität: Das Unternehmen unterstützt ihre aktuellen Anforderungen und ermöglicht ihnen bei sich wandelnden Bedürfnissen optional den Zugang zur KI-nativen Plattform von Anaqua. Darüber hinaus können Kunden, die den Verlängerungsservice von Patrix nutzen, diesen ohne Unterbrechung weiter in Anspruch nehmen. 

„Unsere Aufgabe ist es, unsere Kunden dort abzuholen, wo sie heute stehen, und ihnen gleichzeitig Unterstützung und Wahlmöglichkeiten für die Zukunft zu bieten“, ergänzte Crotty. „Da unsere Mandanten mit der zunehmenden Bedeutung der KI im Bereich des geistigen Eigentums, den Veränderungen im regulatorischen Umfeld und wirtschaftlicher Volatilität konfrontiert sind, möchten wir ihnen als vertrauenswürdiger Partner zur Seite stehen. Wenn unsere Kunden gewinnen, gewinnen auch wir.“

„Ich freue mich, Anaqua damit zu betrauen, unsere Kunden in dieser nächsten Phase ihrer Customer Journey zu betreuen“, sagt Carina Roth Schramm, Gründerin und Mehrheitseigentümerin von Patrix. „Unsere beiden Unternehmen zeichnen sich durch eine starke kulturelle Übereinstimmung aus, die auf einer Tradition der Softwareentwicklung und einer kundenorientierten Philosophie beruht. Daher bin ich zuversichtlich, dass wir den sich wandelnden Bedürfnissen unserer Kunden auch langfristig gerecht werden.“

Marks Baughan Securities LLC fungierte als exklusiver Finanzberater von Patrix.

Über Patrix
Patrix ist ein langjähriger Anbieter von Software und Dienstleistungen für das Management geistigen Eigentums (IP) und vor allem für seine Flaggschiff-Lösung Patricia® bekannt, eines der etabliertesten und am weitesten verbreiteten IP-Managementsysteme auf dem Markt. Seit Jahrzehnten unterstützt Patrix IP-Abteilungen in Unternehmen und IP-Kanzleien weltweit mit Technologien, die speziell auf die Anforderungen der IP-Praxis zugeschnitten sind. Dank fundierter Fachkompetenz im Bereich des geistigen Eigentums und eines ausgezeichneten Rufs für Zuverlässigkeit und partnerschaftliche Zusammenarbeit hat Patrix dauerhafte Beziehungen zu Unternehmen aufgebaut, die komplexe globale IP-Portfolios verwalten. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.patrix.com.

Über Anaqua
Anaqua, Inc. ist ein führender Anbieter von integrierten Technologielösungen und Dienstleistungen für das Management von geistigem Eigentum (IP) für Unternehmen und Anwaltskanzleien. Die IP-Management-Softwareplattformen AQX®, PATTSY WAVE® und RightHub® bieten Best-Practice-Workflows mit Big-Data-Analysen und technologiegestützten Dienstleistungen. Ziel ist es, eine intelligente Umgebung zu schaffen, die IP-Strategien aufzeigt, IP-Entscheidungen ermöglicht und IP-Abläufe optimiert – zugeschnitten auf die Bedürfnisse jedes einzelnen Segments. Inzwischen nutzen fast die Hälfte der 100 größten US-Patentanmelder und globalen Marken sowie eine wachsende Zahl von Anwaltskanzleien weltweit die Lösungen von Anaqua. Über zwei Millionen IP-Führungskräfte, Anwälte, Rechtsanwaltsfachangestellte, Administratoren und Innovatoren nutzen die Plattform für ihre Anforderungen im IP-Management. Das Unternehmen hat seinen Hauptsitz in Boston und unterhält Niederlassungen in den USA, Europa, Asien und Australien. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter Anaqua.com oder auf dem LinkedIn-Profil von Anaqua.

MEDIENKONTAKT:

Jean Kondo
Anaqua
+1-617-375-5808
[email protected]


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9708439)

Anaqua Acquires Patrix to Expand Its IP Management Leadership

BOSTON, April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology and services, today announced the acquisition of Patrix®, a long-standing provider of IP management software and services, whose Patricia® platform has proudly served its law firm-centric customer base for the last thirty years.

Strategic acquisitions have long been a cornerstone of Anaqua’s growth plan, now accelerating under Nordic Capital’s ownership. This acquisition further expands Anaqua’s law firm and European presence, building off its 2025 purchase of RightHub. Anaqua serves IP professionals across both corporations and law firms through continued innovation, expanded service offerings, and global scale. Anaqua views IP management software as the nucleus of effective IP practice and this acquisition deepens that foundation.

“Patrix has earned the trust of IP professionals over decades, and we have long admired the business and the team. This combination brings to Anaqua a well-served, loyal customer base along with deep IP technology and law firm expertise,” said Justin Crotty, CEO, Anaqua. “Concurrently, Patrix customers will now have the opportunity to access Anaqua’s broad capabilities, including global hosting and security infrastructure, industry-leading foreign filing, patent & trademark renewals and docketing services, and advanced AI-driven workflow tools, and analytics.”

Patricia is actively used by nearly 400 customers, including some of the largest IP law firms in the world. Anaqua will continue to support and advance the Patricia product roadmap, while also ensuring that the best-in-class features that have differentiated Patricia are thoughtfully incorporated into Anaqua’s broader platform. At the same time, Anaqua is providing Patrix clients with future-ready flexibility, supporting their current requirements while offering optional access to Anaqua’s AI-native platform as their needs evolve. In addition, customers using Patrix’s renewals service will continue without interruption. 

“Our role is to meet clients where they are today, while giving them support and optionality for the future,” Crotty added. “As clients navigate the accelerating role of AI in the practice of IP, changes in the regulatory landscape and economic volatility, we want to be there as a trusted partner. When our clients win, we win.”

“I am pleased to entrust Anaqua to serve our clients during this next phase of their customer journey,” said Carina Roth Schramm, founder and majority owner of Patrix. “Our two organizations share a strong cultural alignment that is underpinned by a software-led heritage and a client-centric philosophy so I am confident that our customers’ evolving needs will be met well into the future.”

Marks Baughan Securities LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Patrix.

About Patrix
Patrix is a long-standing provider of intellectual property (IP) management software and services, best known for its flagship solution, Patricia®, one of the most established and widely used IP management systems in the market. For decades, Patrix has supported corporate IP departments and IP law firms worldwide with technology designed specifically to meet the demands of IP practice. With deep IP domain expertise and a strong reputation for reliability and client partnership, Patrix has built enduring relationships with organizations managing complex global IP portfolios. For more information, visit: www.patrix.com.

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

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jean Kondo
Anaqua
+1-617-375-5808
[email protected]


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9707467)

Directed Technologies Expands Global Connected Vehicle Platform into Africa through Strategic Partnership with 3Gen Products

MELBOURNE, Australia and JOHANNESBURG, April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Directed Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with 3Gen Products to extend its global, OEM-aligned connected vehicle platform into Africa, unlocking a scalable, standardised approach to connected transport across one of the world’s fastest-growing mobility markets.

This expansion marks a significant step in Directed’s global platform strategy, enabling automotive OEMs and enterprise fleets to deploy a consistent, integrated connected vehicle ecosystem across regions, spanning in-vehicle systems, connectivity, and cloud-based intelligence.

Headquartered in South Africa, 3Gen will serve as Directed’s regional execution partner, leading deployment, integration, and lifecycle support across the continent. The partnership combines Directed’s global technology platform with 3Gen’s deep local expertise, enabling customers to scale with confidence in complex and diverse operating environments.

Across Africa, OEMs and fleet operators face a common challenge: fragmented systems, inconsistent infrastructure, and limited visibility across vehicles, regions, and operations. These constraints make it difficult to standardise deployments, integrate data, and unlock the full value of connected vehicle technology.

Directed Technologies addresses this challenge through a unified platform approach bringing together embedded in-vehicle systems, advanced telematics and IoT hardware, regional connectivity orchestration, and the e.things data platform into a single operating environment.

This enables customers to standardise connected vehicle deployments across multiple countries, seamlessly integrate vehicle, driver, and operational data into their core business systems, reduce complexity across hardware, connectivity and software layers, and scale both OEM and fleet programs with a consistent, future-ready architecture.

“This is not just about entering a new market, it’s about extending a global standard for connected vehicle technology,” said Mark Whitmore, Senior Vice President Sales and Customer Growth at Directed Technologies. “Together with 3Gen, we are enabling OEMs and enterprise fleets to deploy a single, OEM-aligned platform across Africa, removing fragmentation and unlocking real-time operational intelligence at scale.”

“We see enormous opportunity to transform how fleets and OEMs operate across Africa,” said Lesego Modingoane, Director at 3Gen Products. “By combining Directed’s global platform with our local market expertise, we can deliver a connected vehicle solution that is both globally consistent and locally optimised.”

The partnership reinforces Directed Technologies’ strategy of expanding through high-capability regional partners, while maintaining a consistent platform architecture across all markets.

With deployments spanning Asia-Pacific, Europe, and now Africa, Directed continues to establish itself as a global provider of connected vehicle, IoT, and data-driven transport solutions, enabling customers to move from fragmented systems to a unified, scalable digital ecosystem.

About Directed Technologies

Directed Technologies is a global connected vehicle and IoT technology company, delivering OEM-grade solutions that integrate hardware, software, and data into a single platform.

Its e.things platform acts as the control layer for connected mobility—powering embedded OEM programs (e.things Auto), fleet operations (e.things Fleet), and an open ecosystem of API-driven applications (e.things Marketplace).

Directed’s solutions are deployed across more than 5,000 fleets globally and support leading automotive manufacturers and transport operators. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, the company operates across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Learn more at: www.directedtechnologies.com.au

About 3Gen Products

3Gen Products is a South Africa-based technology partner specialising in connected vehicle deployment, integration, and support across the African market.

With deep expertise in local automotive and fleet environments, 3Gen enables global platforms to be successfully implemented in complex, multi-country operating conditions.

Learn more at: www.3gensa.co.za


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9696537)

Ittihad Delivers Record Full-Year EBITDA with 22 Per Cent Growth

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ittihad International Investment LLC (“Ittihad” or “the Group”), a leading diversified industrial conglomerate in the UAE, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2025.

Financial and Operational Highlights – FY 2025 vs FY 2024

  • The Group recorded USD 3.5 billion in revenue, up 4.3% year-on-year, and USD 179 million in adjusted EBITDA¹, up 22.0% year-on-year — representing growth on top of 6.0% growth in the prior year — with the adjusted EBITDA² margin expanding from 12.4% to 13.5%.
  • All three principal operating segments delivered year-on-year EBITDA growth, reflecting the breadth and resilience of the Group's diversified portfolio:
    • Consumer Goods Manufacturing (CGM): EBITDA grew 3.5% year-on-year, supported by the stabilization of chemicals earnings, despite pulp-related headwind in paper and a modest decline in tissue contribution.
    • Infrastructure and Building Materials Manufacturing (IBMM): EBITDA increased 48.4% year-on-year, the third consecutive year of strong growth, driven by copper, steel, and cement demand, and a full year of contribution from the copper recycling plant.
    • Business Services (BS): EBITDA increased 18.4% year-on-year, the third consecutive year of strong growth, driven by geographic expansion in utility services.
  • Gross leverage improved to 4.4x, maintaining the Group's multi-year deleveraging trajectory from 6.0x in 2022, through 5.3x in 2023 and 4.7x in 2024. Net Debt to Adj. EBITDA3 stood at 3.1x
  • In a landmark year for the Group's credit story, S&P and Fitch both upgraded Ittihad's long-term issuer credit rating to BB- from B+, reflecting years of financial discipline and growing earnings power.
  • The Group executed two transformative bank financing and capital markets transactions: a USD 450 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility closed in February 2025, and a USD 550 million 5-year 144A/Reg S Sukuk priced in November 2025, over four times oversubscribed, with 65% of allocation placed with international investors.
  • Free cash flow of USD 55.4 million was generated during FY 2025, after total capex spending of USD 90.3 million, including USD 80.1 million in growth capex, primarily for the new tissue mill in Saudi Arabia — on track to commence operations in Q2 2026.
  • Net cash and cash equivalents stood at USD 215.4 million as of December 31, 2025, with readily marketable copper inventories (RMI) of USD 236.5 million.

These results reflect the strength and maturity of Ittihad's operating model, delivering record Group EBITDA through broad-based segment growth while simultaneously executing some of the most significant capital structure transactions in the Group's history.

¹ Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net profit (loss) for the year / period from continuing operations plus finance costs, tax, depreciation, amortisation, changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments, and gain on sale of assets.

² Adjusted EBITDA margin excluding the effect of hedged copper is defined as the mathematical result of dividing Adjusted EBITDA by the result of subtracting the LME copper price impact on revenue from total revenues.

3 Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA comprises of total debt less cash divided by adjusted EBITDA.

CEO Amer Kakish said: “2025 marked another year of strong progress for Ittihad. We delivered a record Group EBITDA — with double-digit growth year-on-year — while simultaneously strengthening our balance sheet, extending our maturity profile, and earning a credit rating upgrade to BB- from both S&P and Fitch. What makes this result particularly meaningful is the context in which it was achieved: our largest segment, Consumer Goods Manufacturing, performed below its original budget expectations, yet the strength of Infrastructure and Building Materials and Business Services surged and more than offset that shortfall. That is another testimony of the portfolio diversification effects which continued to deliver its intended objectives of building a sustainable overall growth trajectory over the years. We closed a USD 450 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility, successfully refinanced our USD 550 million sukuk generating savings on cost of debt by 2.5%. We enter 2026 with strong operational momentum, a materially stronger capital structure, and the financial flexibility to continue pursuing sustainable growth for our stakeholders.”

Segment Highlights

Consumer Goods Manufacturing (CGM)

CGM delivered EBITDA growth of 3.5% year-on-year to USD 60.1 million, with performance across the segment reflecting a mixed but net-positive picture. The Group's chemicals business, which produces inputs used in detergents and household products, was the standout contributor, benefiting from stable raw material prices and strong regional FMCG demand.

In paper, EBITDA remained broadly flat year-on-year, posting modest growth of approximately 2%. Margins in the paper business remain below normalized levels, currently at approximately 14%, against a longer-term normalized range of 17–19%. This reflects the lagged impact of higher-cost pulp inventories that were cycled through production in H1 2025, against a backdrop of sharply declining spot pulp prices — down approximately 28% from April high to Q3 low, driven by new capacity additions in Latin America and cautious purchasing behavior in China.

Tissue EBITDA declined modestly by approximately 4%, reflecting the deliberate discontinuation of PM1, an older machine with annual capacity of approximately 12,000 tons, as part of the Group's ongoing efficiency optimization. The decision, while dilutive to EBITDA in the near term, is expected to improve the segment's operational cost profile on a per-ton basis going forward.

Infrastructure and Building Materials Manufacturing (IBMM)

IBMM was the standout segment of 2025, delivering EBITDA growth of 48.4% year-on-year to USD 72.3 million, the third consecutive year of strong earnings expansion, driven by structural demand tailwinds across copper, steel, and cement.

Copper EBITDA grew approximately 22% year-on-year, driven by the first full-year contribution of the copper recycling plant commissioned in Q4 2024. The plant has delivered meaningful cost efficiencies within the copper rod mill, improving margins across the segment. Demand for copper products remained robust, underpinned by the global clean energy transition, the expansion of AI data centre infrastructure, and continued GCC infrastructure upgrades and network expansions.

Building materials — steel and cement, delivered sales growth of more than 30% year-on-year, driven by both volume and prices. The UAE construction sector continued to provide a strong demand backdrop, with large-scale residential, commercial, and infrastructure developments driving sustained consumption of core construction materials. Sustained project pipelines, high capacity utilization, and government-led investment in mega projects and real estate development reinforced this trend throughout the year.

Business Services

Business Services delivered EBITDA growth of 18.4% year-on-year to USD 57.5 million, marking the third consecutive year of strong earnings expansion. The segment’s performance was driven principally by approximately 32% growth in utility and waste management EBITDA, reflecting geographic expansion of the Group’s sewage network services across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The increase in demand for sewer manhole construction and maintenance is primarily driven by ongoing urban expansion and the rehabilitation of ageing infrastructure. Rapid development of residential communities, industrial zones, and large-scale masterplans continues to require the extension of sewer networks, where manholes are essential components for system connectivity and access. In parallel, municipalities are accelerating the upgrade and replacement of ageing sewer systems to address capacity constraints. Together, these dynamics are driving both new installations and recurring maintenance-related work, supporting sustained earnings growth within the segment.

Waste management services EBITDA also contributed to the segment’s expansion, with further extension of a key contract generating additional cost efficiencies.

Healthcare and Other

The Healthcare and Other segment posted a decline of USD 2.3 million year-on-year to negative 740.9 thousand, reflecting continued market contraction in medical consumables trading and the deliberate scaling back of certain operations to optimize capital deployment. The Group has retained its strategic distributorship agreements, preserving optionality for future growth opportunities.

Capital Structure and Credit Profile

The Group continued its multi-year deleveraging trajectory in 2025, with Gross Debt/Adjusted EBITDA improving to 4.4x, continuing the steady reduction from 6.0x in 2022, through 5.3x in 2023 and 4.7x in 2024. This consistent improvement reflects both disciplined financial management and the compounding earnings growth delivered across the Group’s operating segments.

A defining milestone of 2025 was the upgrade of Ittihad’s long-term issuer credit rating to BB- from B+ by both S&P and Fitch. This achievement reflects years of consistent financial discipline, deliberate deleveraging, and the growing earnings power of the Group’s diversified portfolio.

2025 was equally active on the bank and debt capital markets front, with the Group executing two landmark transactions that materially strengthened its capital structure and extended its debt maturity profile.

In February 2025, Ittihad successfully closed a USD 450 million senior unsecured sustainability-linked revolving credit facility (RCF), significantly strengthening its liquidity position and optimizing its capital structure. This leverage-neutral transaction marks a strategic milestone, supporting the Group’s long-term growth plans and aligning with its commitment to responsible finance.

In November 2025, Ittihad successfully priced a USD 550 million 5-year (non-call 2) 144A/Reg S Sukuk at a 7.375% coupon — the Group’s return to the international bond markets and a further demonstration of growing global confidence in Ittihad’s credit story. The transaction was over four times oversubscribed, with 65% of the final allocation placed with international investors, and the strength of demand enabled the Group to price 50 basis points tighter than IPTs.

Together, these two transactions position the Group with a stronger, more diversified funding base as it continues to pursue its growth agenda.

Outlook

Looking ahead, and despite the challenges that the closure of Strait of Hurmoz has imposed, the Group still expects to deliver another year of earnings growth in 2026, extending three consecutive years of compounding EBITDA expansion. Across our core segments, the operating environment remains supportive. Consumer Goods is positioned for meaningful growth, driven by favourable tissue pricing dynamics, the incremental contribution from commissioning of the new Saudi Arabia tissue mill in Q2 2026, and an upbeat momentum in chemicals performance. Infrastructure and Building Materials continues to demonstrate strong adaptability post recent geopolitical developments, with copper, steel, and cement all benefiting from supportive regional demand and pricing conditions. Business Services remains anchored by long-term government contracts that provide strong and stable earnings visibility.

Beyond 2026, the Group is advancing its strategic forward integration into B2C consumer markets, with two converting facilities under development in Saudi Arabia, a tissue and hygiene products facility and a printing and writing paper converting operation, all expected to be operational in 2027. These investments mark a further extension of the Group's value chain, leveraging on its robust raw material production capabilities to capture higher-margin products and penetrate the branded consumer space across the MENA region.

The Group enters this next phase from a position of financial strength, supported by an optimized capital structure and a diversified funding base to further pursue its growth agenda with confidence.

About Ittihad

Ittihad is a privately owned business founded in 2008 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with investments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The Group exports products and services to over 50 countries worldwide. It has a talented team of more than 10,800 members from over 50 nationalities with sector-wide expertise and a commitment to operational excellence. Since 2015, Ittihad has pursued a strategy of investing in businesses with leading domestic positions in the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as strong international export potential. The Group focuses on long-term investments, structured for business to business (B2B) exports and is designed to capture the unique value-proposition offered by the UAE and the region. Ittihad is committed to powering wealth creation through assets that balance profitability with sustainability and generate positive outcomes for stakeholders, society, and the planet.

Media Contacts

Wasfi Al Tayara

Corporate Finance and Investor Relations Manager

[email protected]

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9707625)