Seasoned Executive Brings 25+ Years of Financial and Operational Management to CFO Position
WOOD DALE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 18, 2023 / Optimas Solutions, a global industrial manufacturer/distributor and service provider, announced today the appointment of Phil Battaglia as Chief Financial Officer. Battaglia possesses over 25 years of financial management and reporting expertise, most recently leadership experience at Caterpillar Inc.
Phil Battaglia, CFO of Optimas Solutions
Phil Battaglia comes from Caterpillar to become Optimas Solutions’ new CFO.
“We are delighted to have Phil on board in such an important role for us,” said Daniel Harms and Mike Tuffy, Optimas’ dual CEOs. “As we continue to elevate our business, we needed someone in our CFO position with the financial acumen and customer-oriented thinking that Phil brings to us. We believe Phil will be essential to strengthening Optimas’ solid financial foundation and partner with us to ultimately enhance how we serve our customers.”
“Optimas is well positioned for a successful future driven by our customers’ needs,” Battaglia said. “I think I can bring that customer perspective to Optimas given my experience at Caterpillar. While I was there, I worked with suppliers such as Optimas and understand what OEMs want and need. I’m excited about the long-term impact of the Optimas team, its products and processes, not only for us, but more importantly for our customers.”
Battaglia comes to Optimas from Caterpillar, where he held various positions including Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis, CFO of Caterpillar’s Product Support & Logistics Division, and Assistant Corporate Treasurer. Prior to Caterpillar, he was an investment banker at Citi where he advised customers in the industrials and mining sectors on M&A and financing transactions. Battaglia holds a BA degree in economics from Northwestern University and is certified by The Institute of Management Accountants.
About Optimas Solutions
Optimas is the leading global industrial distributor and service provider specializing in fastening and supply chain solutions for manufacturers seeking to improve efficiency and profitability. We take care of the details so customers can focus on manufacturing cutting-edge products – giving them an unparalleled competitive edge. Visit optimas.com and follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/optimas-solutions/ and Twitter @Optimas_S.
INNIO opens two new Training Centers in China’s Guangdong Province – Training Centers are part of INNIO’s strategy to support China’s aims to increase renewable energy sources – Training at the centers will be dedicated to Jenbacher products
GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / April 18, 2023 / INNIO Group today announced that it opened two new training centers in China’s Guangdong Province. The first center commenced operations on 11 April 2023 in Dongguan City. The second center commenced operations on 14 April 2023 in Zhaoqing. The facilities are INNIO’s first Training Centers in China and are operating under the Jenbacher brand name, localizing technical training that helps INNIO’s distributors and customers to continue delivering high-quality, reliable service in-country for the entire Jenbacher fleet.
Bright Yin General Manager INNIO’s Jenbacher Brand in China
“Providing INNIO’s more than 90-plus years of energy solutions expertise is a key part of helping our customers transition to net zero,” said Bright Yin, General Manager for INNIO’s Jenbacher brand in China. “The Training Centers will complement INNIO’s global customer support capabilities – bringing our existing training capabilities closer to China.”
INNIO is committed to empowering China to achieve its goals. The country seeks to deploy more organic waste treatment centers such as biomass. INNIO is a leader in China’s waste-to-energy industry, with more than 800 Jenbacher units delivered in total across various industries to China. The new Training Centers will meet the growing demand for local training. INNIO’s OEM expertise and experienced trainers will provide tailored training programs as well as classroom and hands-on courses, enabling its students to develop skills and knowledge to optimize the value of their Jenbacher plants for customers.
The Training Centers will enhance distributor field service engineers’ capabilities, and bridge and link end customer satisfaction. Students at the new local Training Centers will receive on-the-ground mechanical & electrical training courses for all series of Jenbacher products – T3/T4/T6/J624 – in China locally.
While both Training Centers are new, the 400 m2 Jenbacher China Training Center in Dongguan City is located at the site of INNIO’s authorized distributor-Camda New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. The 500+ m2 Jenbacher China Training Center in Zhaoqing is located at the site of INNIO’s distributor-Guangzhou Shenfa M&E Industry Development Co., Ltd. These Training Centers underpin INNIO’s commitment to employing skilled talent base in the region and supporting regional customer projects.
Globally, each year Jenbacher Training Centers deliver more than 10,000 classroom days. To date, INNIO’s global Training Centers documented more than 140,000 field tasks (on-the-job trainings), and more than 155,000 e-trainings have been completed over the years. INNIO’s Jenbacher trainers work with students that range from beginners to the highly experienced, using theoretical and practical training, onsite coaching, and digital training.
About INNIO
INNIO is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With our product brands Jenbacher and Waukesha and our digital platform myPlant, we offer innovative solutions for the power generation and compression segments that help industries and communities generate and manage energy sustainably while navigating the fast-changing landscape of traditional and green energy sources. INNIO is individual in scope, but global in scale. With our flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, we enable our customers to manage the energy transition along the energy value chain wherever they are in their transition journey.
INNIO is headquartered in Jenbach (Austria), with other primary operations in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and Welland (Ontario, Canada). A team of more than 4,000 experts provides life-cycle support to the more than 55,000 delivered engines globally through a service network in more than 100 countries.
INNIO’s improved ESG Risk Rating again secures the number one position across more than 500 companies globally in the machinery industry assessed by Sustainalytics.
Clinical data validate pioneering MeMed BV technology improves diagnosisof pediatric patients with fever in the Emergency Department
Bacterial and viral infections are often clinically indistinguishable,leading to inappropriate patient management and antibiotic misuse
MeMed BV® is the first FDA-cleared host-immune response assay to accurately distinguish between the two in just 15 minutes
PETAHTIKVA, Israel and HAIFA, Israel;April 18,2023 – MeMed, a leader in the emerging field of advanced host-response technologies, and Schneider Children’s Medical Center, the only comprehensive, tertiary care hospital of its kind in Israel, today announce that clinical data from the independent, prospective Rosetta study, recently published in PLOS One, showed that the MeMed BV test provides an accurate diagnosis of bacterial versus viral infection and reduces Emergency Department (ED) physician error.
Fever is a common symptom in children presenting to the ED and owing to limitations of real-time decision-making, attending physicians often make presumptive diagnoses. This diagnostic uncertainty can result in sub-optimal patient management, including the precautionary use of antibiotics [1,2]. There is an urgent need for a rapid and accurate test that can assist physicians in distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections, enabling improved diagnosis and reducing the incidence of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.
To address the unmet need, MeMed developed the world’s first US FDA-cleared advanced host-response technology that differentiates between bacterial and viral infection in 15 minutes – the MeMed BV test.
The Rosetta study assessed the potential of MeMed BV to impact decision making and antibiotic stewardship in the ED by comparing its performance to physician’s etiological suspicion at patient presentation. The study enrolled 287 participants aged 3 months to 18 years, with respiratory tract infection or fever without source, in a tertiary care pediatric ED.
MeMed BV showed high diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 96%, sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 92%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. Furthermore, comparing physician suspicion to MeMed BV and to the reference standard, and assuming full adoption, the study found that MeMed BV has the potential to improve physician diagnosis and reduce errors by around two-fold, from 16% to 8%.
Meirav Mor MD, Head of Hospital Infection Control and Senior ED Physician at Schneider Children’s Medical Center, commented: “At Schneider, we’re dedicated to providing world-class pediatric care. In the Rosetta study, we assessed the impact of incorporating MeMed BV alongside our standard of care for children and discovered its significant potential for enhancing patient outcomes while also addressing the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.”
Dr. Eran Eden, MeMed’s CEO and co-founder, added: “We’re delighted to present the latest findings from the Rosetta study, focused on pediatric patients that present to the emergency room with fever without a source or respiratory tract infections. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that underscores MeMed BV’s reliability across diverse populations. This outcome serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment – to delivering tremendous clinical results, and we eagerly anticipate publishing additional in due course, exploring the use of MeMed BV in different patient populations.”
About MeMed
At MeMed, our mission is to translate the immune system’s complex signals into simple insights that transform the way diseases are diagnosed and treated, profoundly benefiting patients and society.
Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel is the only comprehensive, tertiary care hospital of its kind in the country and in the Middle East, offering the full range of pediatric disciplines under one roof to all children from 0-18. Since its establishment in 1991, Schneider Children’s has revolutionized the practice of pediatric medicine in the country and been recognized as one of the leading pediatric institutions in the world.
Schneider derives its name from its founders and major benefactors, the late Irving and Helen Schneider from New York, who also promoted its legacy to serve as a Bridge to Peace between nations. Through this open-door policy, where all children irrespective of race, religion or nationality are treated, Schneider Children’s receives patients from neighboring countries including the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, and from as far away as Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
Schneider Children’s comprises 250 beds, 43% of which are assigned to critical care (Intensive Care Units, Neonatology, Burns, etc.). The medical center serves as the national referral center for Hematology-Oncology, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Cardiology, and organ and bone marrow transplantation.
Just for Children
Schneider Children’s is all about children. It utilizes a unique approach to pediatric medicine where children are treated as children and not as small adults. Since they have different emotional and physical resources for healing, Schneider Children’s utilizes a “whole-child-care” multidisciplinary approach, whereby treatment is integrated with emotional, psychological, educational and developmental care.
Medical Excellence
Schneider Children’s has led many firsts in Israel and the world: multi-organ transplantation, cardiac surgery in a 780gm preemie, heart valve replacement through catheterization, discovery of new genes for mental retardation, artificial pancreas trials, and innovative surgical and therapeutic techniques. Two physicians are recipients of Israel’s highest award: the Israel Prize for Medical Research.
Academic Excellence
Schneider Children’s is a member of Clalit Health Services – the largest HMO in Israel – and its only pediatric center of 14 hospitals. Through its affiliation with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, every department conducts the teaching and training of doctors, medical students, nurses and paramedical personnel. Over half its physicians serve on Sackler’s medical faculty, while some 14% hold the title of professor.
Poole NM, Shapiro DJ, Fleming-Dutra KE, Hicks LA, Hersh AL, Kronman MP. Antibiotic Prescribing for Children in United States Emergency Departments: 2009–2014. Pediatrics. 2019;143. pmid:30622156
Leigh S, Grant A, Murray N, Faragher B, Desai H, Dolan S, et al. The Cost of Diagnostic Uncertainty: A Prospective Economic Analysis of Febrile Children Attending an NHS Emergency Department. BMC Med. 2019;17: 48. pmid:30836976
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach – 18 April 2023 – Bybit, the world’s third most visited crypto exchange with 15 million users worldwide, announced the grand opening of its global headquarters in Dubai today. The second largest crypto exchange in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)1 also revealed future plans to elevate its global presence with a stronger foothold in the region.
Occupying a full floor at One Central, Dubai World Trade Center, Bybit’s corporate headquarters boasts an open space of 16,000 square feet overlooking Dubai’s iconic landmarks such as Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future.
One of the first exchange services to obtain the in-principle approval to operate in Dubai, Bybit has seized the momentum on a meteoric rise to the No.2 spot among the over 400 crypto and blockchain businesses in MENA in the past year. In 2023, the exchange is on track to double its trading volume in the region2.
Building on its ambition to become the world’s Crypto Ark and to facilitate the mass adoption of digital assets, Bybit is looking to power up global expansions from its new home base through new partnership, talent cultivation and product innovation programs.
The headquarters will be dedicated to community and trust building, offering a physical space for the global Bybit community to connect and explore a plethora of opportunities at the heart of the city of gold.
Community: Bybit welcomes partners and affiliates from around the world to exchange ideas and diversify the community at the new home. From professional meet-ups to livestreaming facilities, members of the Bybit network will have access to exclusive spaces and the support they need to grow the community.
Listen, Care, Improve: Bybit plans to bring the product building experience closer to the ground at the new headquarters. In the pipelines are workshops to gather user feedback and shed light on the product design and commercialization processes, as well as sharing sessions about the latest market insights and trends.
Talent: Bybit is committed to building a diverse and dynamic workforce in Dubai and globally. It also recognizes the importance of connection to the local community and will be working with local institutions to organize hackathons and other educational and entrepreneurial programs to foster local talent.
“We are excited to be part of Dubai’s futuristic skyline and most importantly, to be able to officially call Dubai home,” said Ben Zhou, CEO and co-founder of Bybit. “The digital economy is advancing at incredible speed and crypto and blockchain technology will be the mainstay and the connective tissues. As one of the most progressive digital assets hubs in MENA and the world, Dubai is optimally positioned to capture the opportunities in the sector by bringing together state-of-the-art tech and infrastructure, international talent and vision.”
Zhou said the space was designed to encapsulate Bybit’s commitment to openness, creativity and transparency. “The new office will be an innovative hub for dreamers and creators to exchange ideas and unlock next level opportunities of Web3. Our door will be open to friends and members of the Bybit family,” he said.
Bybit recorded $33.5b in trading volume in MENA in 2022.
#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #NextLevelExploration
About Bybit
Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, esports teams NAVI, Astralis, Alliance, Made in Brazil (MIBR), and Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports, and association football (soccer) team Borussia Dortmund.
LUXEMBOURG / ACCESSWIRE / April 17, 2023 / Moolec Science SA (NASDAQ:MLEC) (“Company”; “Moolec”), a science-based food ingredient company focused on producing animal proteins in plants through Molecular Farming, announced today it has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (“Nomura”).The Agreement provides for a committed equity financing facility under which the Company has the option, but not the obligation, to sell up to the equivalent of $50 million in aggregate gross purchase price of its ordinary shares to Nomura over a 36-month period, subject to the terms of the Agreement. The Company intends to use the proceeds from any future sales of securities under the financing facility, if it is utilized, for general corporate purposes.
“We are pleased to partner with Nomura and secure this financing facility,” said José López Lecube, Moolec Science’s Chief Financial Officer. “This new understanding provides Moolec with enhanced financial flexibility to continue driving forward our Molecular Farming Platform and portfolio of products,” he concluded.
Further details are contained in a Current Report on Form 6-K that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.
About Moolec Science SA
Moolec is a science-based food ingredient company focused on producing animal proteins in plants through Molecular Farming, a disruptive technology in the alternative protein landscape. Its purpose is to upgrade the taste, nutrition, and affordability of alternative protein products while building a more sustainable and equitable food system. The Company’s technological approach aims to have the cost structure of plant-based solutions with the organoleptic properties and functionality of animal-based ones. Moolec’s technology has been under development for more than a decade and is known for pioneering the production of a bovine protein in a crop for the food industry. The Company’s product portfolio and pipeline leverages the agronomic efficiency of broadly used target crops, like safflower, soybean, and pea. Moolec has a growing international patent portfolio (23, both granted and pending) for its Molecular Farming technology. The Company is run by a diverse team of Ph.Ds and Food Insiders, and operates in the United States, Europe, and South America. For more information, visit www.moolecscience.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “forecast,” “intend,” “seek,” “target,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” “outlook,” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements with respect to performance, prospects, revenues, and other aspects of the business of Moolec Science S.A. (“Moolec”) are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors, about which we cannot be certain. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results, including, among others, changes in applicable laws or regulations, the possibility that Moolec may be adversely affected by economic, business and/or other competitive factors, costs related to the scaling up of Moolec’s business and other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the header “Risk Factors” in the Form F-1 Registration Statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as Moolec’s other filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on these statements.
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., April 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global sweetness and flavor innovator, Sweegen announced today the launch of Sweetensify Flavors, its newest flavor tool for food and beverage producers, to create better-for-everyone products. Powered by Sweegen’s novel sweet protein technology that includes brazzein, thaumatin II, and other unique proteins, Sweetensify Flavors improve and modulate sweet flavor, creating a sugar-like experience, thereby pushing the boundaries of healthier product innovation.
“Sweetensify Flavors will change how product developers think about reducing or eliminating sugar in beverages and foods,” said Casey McCormick, vice president of global innovation at Sweegen. “The flavor expression enabled by Sweetensify Flavors optimizes the sensory experience and enables a more sugar-like taste. It is substantially better than any previous technology. We target taste receptors on a biochemistry level that others simply cannot.”
Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors debuts brazzein, the company’s highly sought-after sweet protein, as well as thaumatin II. At the time of the Sweetensify announcement, Sweegen’s thaumatin II received the Flavor Extract Manufacturer’s Association (FEMA) GRAS status.
“Our regulatory vision is to open global markets and enable brands to access unique ingredients that will support their food and beverage creativity while delivering on health and wellness,” said Hadi Omrani, senior director of technical and regulatory affairs at Sweegen.
Sweet proteins like brazzein have an affinity for different taste receptors on the tongue, especially the receptor known as T1R3, which is associated with both umami and sweetness perception. Leveraging this unique attribute, Sweetensify Flavors will enable product developers to reduce the amount of sugar they use in products while maintaining the quality of characteristic flavors and sweetness.
Thaumatin II belongs to a family of sweet-tasting proteins called thaumatins. Thaumatin II is a variant of the original thaumatin protein with a similar structure and sweetness profile. Thaumatins are known for their intense sweetness, several times greater than sucrose (table sugar). Brazzein is also several thousand times sweeter than sugar, making it a cost-effective tool for brands on a large scale. Thaumatin II is considered safe for consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The entire collection of Sweetensify Flavors has a wide range of benefits across sweet and savory applications, including enhancing flavor tonalities, blocking bitterness, reducing astringency and sweet linger, eliminating unwanted aftertastes, reducing sugar use, and blocking the burn from alcohol.
“Our product development teams are finding incredible synergies between Sweetensify Flavors and Sweegen’s state-of-the-art stevia systems,” said McCormick. “Ultimately, our solutions challenge the taste and cost of artificial sweeteners currently on the market.” McCormick further states, “Our customers are excited about the cross-application utility of the flavor collection enabled by the great pH and heat stability we see for these flavors along with high solubility.”
Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors are available for use in countries that allow flavors approved by the FEMA GRAS protocol. The company plans to expand its global availability rapidly.
To scale brazzein and thaumatin II sustainably, Sweegen uses a proprietary precision fermentation process, a technology that produces clean and sustainable ingredients. This allows for cost-effective commercial production of highly-sought after ingredients in global sugar reduction solutions. Sweegen’s innovation and strategic partner, Conagen, developed brazzein and thaumatins I and II with its proprietary protein and peptide production platforms and announced the development of the sweet proteins in 2021.
“We are the only company that has successfully scaled brazzein,” said Luca Giannone, senior vice president of global sales at Sweegen. “The launch of Sweetensify Flavors is one more example of how Sweegen brings to market the industry’s very best ingredient platforms and tools for enabling sugar reduction for health and wellness. This is our mission and our promise to our customers.”
Within one year of Sweegen announcing its ability to commercialize brazzein, it has received great interest in its proprietary sweet protein-based solutions. It has collaborated with several large food and beverage companies on sensory reformulations and new product developments.
“We look forward to the sensory results and feedback from our customers in anticipation of brazzein joining thaumatin II’s FEMA GRAS status,” said Giannone. “Sweegen is forging a path for better health and wellness in food and beverages with stellar ingredients. We are preserving Sweegen’s ability to continue perfecting these unique solutions with patents issued or pending worldwide.”
Sweegen provides sweet-taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.
We are on a mission to reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in the global diet. Partnering with customers, we create delicious zero-sugar products that consumers love. With the best modern sweeteners in our portfolio, such as Bestevia® Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N, and sweet proteins brazzein and thaumatin, along with our deep knowledge of flavor modulators and texturants, Sweegen delivers market-leading solutions that customers want, and consumers prefer. Well. Into the Future.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. Sweegen’s actual results may differ from the estimates, assumptions, and other illustrative material contained herein, and consequently, a reader should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, illustrative information regarding Sweegen’s bottom-up assumed market potential, assumed hit rate, and the resulting revenue based on these model inputs. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.
Industry, Market, and Other Data
In this press release, we rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding market participants in the sectors in which Sweegen competes and other data. We obtained this information and statistics from our own internal estimates and third-party sources, including reports by market research firms and company filings. We do not expressly refer to these sources. All of this information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and the sources of such information cannot guarantee accuracy or completeness of such information. The industry in which Sweegen operates is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of important factors, any of which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by Sweegen or third parties.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, among other statements, statements regarding the future prospects for Reb M stevia leaf sweetener, brazzein, and thaumatin. These statements are based on current expectations but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond Sweegen’s control.
Relevant risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements and, therefore, should be carefully considered. Sweegen assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.
Flavors