Category: Africa

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Madison Realty Capital Raises More Than $2 Billion For Madison Realty Capital Debt Fund V

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Madison Realty Capital (“Madison”) today announced the final close of Madison Realty Capital Debt Fund V LP (“Fund V”), raising $2.08 billion in equity commitments, exceeding the fund’s $1.75 billion target.

Fund V received significant support from existing investors as approximately 70% of the institutional LPs in Madison’s prior fund re-upped into Fund V.  Additionally, 52% of the capital committed for Fund V came from new limited partners, both domestically and abroad.

Madison’s global, institutional investor base has historically included public and corporate pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, insurance companies, family offices and high net worth individuals located in the United States, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Madison has now expanded its investor presence to include Australia, Latin America and Canada, as well as new regions within the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Fund V expands on Madison’s investment strategy to serve as a single source of customized flexible financing solutions for borrowers’ unique needs providing them with speed and certainty of execution.  Fund V originates and acquires loans across asset classes including multifamily, mixed use, retail, office, industrial, land and hotel. Madison invests in transitional and special situation loans as well as provides financing for ground-up development and construction.

In 2021, Madison completed 72 transactions with a gross transaction volume of approximately $6.4 billion across all of its debt investment strategies.

Adam Tantleff, Managing Principal of Madison Realty Capital, said, “Our extensive experience through multiple cycles over the past 17 years is what led both existing and new investors to place their confidence in Madison during this unprecedented time.  We are grateful for the trust they have placed in our team, and look forward to continue executing on our investors’ behalf.”

Madison Realty Capital Debt Fund IV LP held its final close in 2019 and raised $1.14 billion in equity commitments. Since inception, Madison has completed approximately $20 billion in debt and equity transactions.

About Madison Realty Capital 

Madison Realty Capital is a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm that, as of December 31, 2021, manages approximately $8 billion in total assets on behalf of a global institutional investor base. Since 2004, Madison Realty Capital has completed approximately $20 billion in transactions providing reputable borrowers with flexible and highly customized financing solutions, strong underwriting capabilities, and certainty of execution. Headquartered in New York City, with an office in Los Angeles, the firm has approximately 70 employees across all real estate investment, development, and property management disciplines. Madison Realty Capital has been frequently named to the Commercial Observer’s prestigious “Power 100” list of New York City real estate players and is consistently cited as a top construction lender, among other industry recognitions. To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn and visit www.madisonrealtycapital.com.

Nathaniel Garnick/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
+1 (212) 257-4170
madisonrealty@gasthalter.com
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Following EFSA Ban of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Blue California Launches Clean-label Food Grade Whitening Agents as Alternatives

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following food authority EFSA’s ban of food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2), Blue California, the producer of natural science-based ingredients, launched novel food-grade whitening agents as a clean-label alternative to replacing potential health risk white colorant titanium dioxide.

“Brands that seek to replace the titanium dioxide white colorant will find many benefits to Blue California’s patent-pending food-grade whitening agents,” said Cuie Yan, Ph.D., vice president of encapsulation. “Our alternative to titanium dioxide is industry-changing with opacifying or whitening effects and excellent sensory benefits with a delicious creamy/rich mouthfeel, and contains proprietary ingredients that may have additional benefits such as supporting cognitive health.”

One of the most widely used food pigments is titanium dioxide (E171), an odorless powder that enhances foods’ white color or opacity. The most common titanium dioxide products are chewing gum, candies, pastries, chocolates, coffee creamers, and cake decorations. Titanium dioxide is also used as a pigment in paints and medicines.

In recent decades, concerns about the risks of titanium dioxide consumption have grown. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes titanium dioxide as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) at a maximum of 1% weight, but other organizations have issued warnings.

New governing rules in Europe are in action for producers to reformulate their products during a six-month window of phasing out titanium dioxide (E171). This follows the food authority European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decision deeming titanium dioxide (E171) as “not safe” in 2021, and now a complete ban in 2022. France suspended the use of titanium dioxide in January 2020.

“Our clean-label, food-grade, and effective whitening agents are heat and pH stable for a variety of applications that match the performance of titanium dioxide yet overcome its safety concerns,” said Yan. “We’ve innovated these solutions as safe alternatives for brands that need to reformulate products rapidly due to government authorities concerns, bans, and phasing out titanium dioxide.”

Blue California’s patent-pending food-grade whitening powders have a similar size in diameter to the traditional titanium dioxide with higher L values (whiter), as shown in Table 1 below:

Table 1. Color and particle size comparison between Blue California’s novel food-grade whitening agents versus titanium dioxide whitening powder.

Sample ID Color Measurement Redispersion Diameter
L a b nm
Titanium Dioxide (reference) 96.06 -0.26 1.54 310.5
Novel Food Grade Whitening 1 97.42 -0.09 1.45 266.4
Novel Food Grade Whitening 2 97.43 -0.09 1.95 278.2
Novel Food Grade Whitening 3 97.48 -0.11 1.43 305.0

Note: The a and b ‘Color Measurement’ values are color depth markers of red, green, blue, and yellow. The ‘Redispersion Diameter’ measures the particle size.

The food-grade whitening agents have been tested in chewing gum compared to titanium dioxide. The whitening effect results of Blue California’s whitening agents are as remarkable as titanium dioxide. The whiteness increases as the dosage increases.

“We’re ready to collaborate with product developers to replace titanium dioxide with a clean-label, delicious, and safer whitening agents in their product lines,” said Yan.

About Blue California

Blue California is an entrepreneurial, science-based solutions provider and manufacturer of clean, natural, and sustainable ingredients used in food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, dietary supplements, personal care, and cosmetic products. For more than 25 years, Blue California has built a strong reputation for creating value in these diverse natural products and nature-inspired industries.

Attachment

Ana Arakelian
Blue California
+1-949-635-1991
ana@bluecal-ingredients.com
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MGI Aims to Boost its Market Share through Participation at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Guangdong Week

Global life science innovator will showcase its latest technology at the China Pavilion from January 11–13 

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Global life science innovator MGI Tech Co. Ltd. (MGI) is aiming to boost its market share in the Middle East and Asia through participation at Guangdong Week, a dedicated event taking place at the world exhibition’s China Pavilion from January 11-13.

The biotech company, which is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, will be demonstrating its sequencing platform DNBSEQ-T7* and its automation system MGISP-NE384 at the event – the technologies that form part of MGI’s inventory have played a prominent role in helping the Middle East and Gulf region to combat Covid-19.

“MGI’s technology has been pivotal in fighting the spread of the coronavirus through enabling its rapid detection and continued monitoring its changes. This has allowed primary health care providers and authorities to accurately track its movement and spread and take corresponding safety and security measures to protect their populations,” said Dr. Roy Tan, General Manager of MGI Asia Pacific.

“The omicron variant has shown that the global community is far from being out of the woods yet and that new forms of the virus – including highly transmissible variants – are likely to be a feature of the Covid-19 picture moving forwards. Prompt detection and identification of such variants is essential in tackling their spread early on and is one of the key factors that influences humanity’s ability to ultimately bring the pandemic to an end. Covid-19 will invariably be a permanent feature of all our lives in the new normal, but effective gene sequencing can help to ensure that we minimize its impact by genomic surveillance of its mutation,” he added.

As well as being main tools in the armory of health care providers and authorities combating the coronavirus, MGI products are also playing a key role in supporting scientific research and applications in other areas in key regions, including the Middle East. The company says that Guangdong Week at Expo 2020 Dubai is the ideal forum to highlight its gene sequencing platforms* and automation systems to a wider global audience.

“Guangdong Week at Expo 2020 Dubai is the perfect platform to showcase MGI’s DNBSEQ™ sequencing technology that has been instrumental in helping countries fight the coronavirus as well as supporting their other biotechnology initiatives. With 200 nations participating at the world exhibition, and with Guangdong Week attracting officials and policymakers from an array of countries, we see this as the perfect opportunity to heighten awareness of the difference that our technology can make,” he continued.

MGI’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai forms part of its overall expansion strategy in the region. The company increased its footprint in the Middle East since February 2019 with a new office opening in Dubai to better serve partners and clients in this part of the world. MGI’s expansion in the gulf region includes the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with the company serving universities, hospitals and healthcare institutions.

In addition to its participation at the Guangdong Week at Expo 2020 Dubai, MGI is taking part in the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress (Arab Health) online from January 5 to February 28. The company will be demonstrating its MGIUS-R3 robotic ultrasound system at the event, which is the largest healthcare conference in the Middle East.

MGI will also be participating at Medlab Middle East from January 24-27 at the booth of Z4G30, held on the sidelines of Arab Health. There, it will be showcasing their DNBSEQ-G400* and DNBSEQ-G50* gene sequencing platforms, MGISTP-3000 automated sample transfer processing system, mobile platform for automated and integrated nucleic acid testing, and MGISP-Smart8 automation sample preparation system which will be launched and revealed to an international audience for the first time.

About MGI

MGI Tech Co. Ltd. (MGI), headquartered in Shenzhen, is committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science through intelligent innovation. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI focuses on research & development, production and sales of sequencing instruments, reagents, and related products to support life science research, agriculture, precision medicine and healthcare. MGI is a leading producer of clinical high-throughput gene sequencers*, and its multi-omics platforms include genetic sequencing*, medical imaging, and laboratory automation. MGI’s mission is to develop and promote advanced life science tools for future healthcare. For more information, please visit the MGI website or connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube.

*Unless otherwise stated, all sequencers and sequencing reagents are not available inGermany, USA, Spain, UK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Sweden, Belgium, and Italy.
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Zoom Becomes the First Video Communications Client to Attain Common Criteria Certification

Issued by the German Federal Office for Information Security, the Certification Reinforces Zoom’s Commitment to Security

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) today announced that Zoom Meeting Client version 5.6.6 has become the first video communications client to attain certification for Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 2 (v3.1 rev. 5), issued by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

Common Criteria is an international standard for objectively evaluating that an IT product satisfies a defined set of security requirements. The evaluation involves analyzing a specific set of security targets, including guidance documentation, architectural design, life cycle aspects, testing and vulnerability assessment. The Zoom Meeting Client v5.6.6 has been evaluated by the BSI against the Common Criteria standard and found to exhibit a clear chain of evidence that the process of specification, implementation, and evaluation has been conducted in a rigorous and standard manner.

Mutually recognized in more than 25 countries including the UK, US, Canada, and Germany, Common Criteria is regarded as a leading benchmark for IT product security certification. A growing number of users expect IT vendors to produce trusted and reliable evidence for the cybersecurity capabilities of their products.

“This Common Criteria certification represents a major milestone for Zoom,” said Jason Lee, Chief Information Security Officer at Zoom. “We’re the first video communications client to receive this important certification, reinforcing our commitment to our customers. Security and privacy are the cornerstones of everything we do, and we are continually innovating secure solutions for all users of our platform.”

At present, the BSI has certified Zoom version 5.6.6 for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. While version 5.6.6 was the version of Zoom client available at the time of the certification, we always recommend customers utilize the newest version of the client to take advantage of Zoom’s latest security updates and features.

“The Common Criteria certification is a global benchmark in cybersecurity,” said Sandro Amendola, Head of Standardization/Certification/Telecommunications Networks Security Department, BSI. “The Zoom client demonstrated a high security standard across its product, successfully completing one of the most demanding evaluation procedures a company can undertake.”

To learn more about Zoom’s Common Criteria certification, please visit the BSI website and the Zoom Trust Center.

About Zoom
Zoom is for you. We help you express ideas, connect to others, and build toward a future limited only by your imagination. Our frictionless communications platform is the only one that started with video as its foundation, and we have set the standard for innovation ever since. That is why we are an intuitive, scalable, and secure choice for individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises alike. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ: ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom.

Zoom Public Relations
Matt Nagel
press@zoom.us

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Zoom devient le premier client de communications vidéo à obtenir la certification Critères communs

Délivrée par l’Office fédéral allemand pour la sécurité en matière de technologies de l’information, la certification renforce l’engagement de Zoom en matière de sécurité

SAN JOSÉ, Californie, 10 janv. 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ : ZM) a annoncé aujourd’hui que Zoom Meeting Client version 5.6.6 est devenu le premier client de communications vidéo à obtenir la certification Critères communs de l’évaluation d’assurance niveau 2 (v3.1 rév. 5), publié par l’Office fédéral de la sécurité des technologies de l’information (BSI).

Les Critères communs sont une norme internationale permettant d’évaluer objectivement qu’un produit informatique satisfait à un ensemble défini d’exigences de sécurité. L’évaluation implique l’analyse d’un ensemble spécifique d’objectifs de sécurité, y compris la documentation d’orientation, la conception architecturale, les aspects du cycle de vie, les tests et l’évaluation de la vulnérabilité. Zoom Meeting Client v5.6.6 a été évaluée par le BSI en fonction de la norme Critères communs, qui a conclu qu’elle présente une chaîne de preuves claires selon laquelle le processus de spécification, de mise en œuvre et d’évaluation a été mené de manière rigoureuse et normalisée.

Mutuellement reconnus dans plus de 25 pays, dont le Royaume-Uni, les États-Unis, le Canada et l’Allemagne, les Critères communs sont considérés comme une référence de premier plan pour la certification de la sécurité des produits informatiques. De plus en plus d’utilisateurs s’attendent à ce que les fournisseurs informatiques produisent des preuves dignes de confiance et fiables étayant les capacités de cybersécurité de leurs produits.

« Cette certification Critères communs représente une étape majeure pour Zoom », a déclaré Jason Lee, directeur de la sécurité de l’information chez Zoom. « Nous sommes le premier client de communications vidéo à recevoir cette certification importante, renforçant ainsi notre engagement envers nos clients. La sécurité et la confidentialité sont les pierres angulaires de tout ce que nous faisons, et nous imaginons continuellement de nouvelles solutions sécurisées pour tous les utilisateurs de notre plateforme. »

À l’heure actuelle, le BSI a certifié la version 5.6.6 de Zoom pour Windows, macOS, iOS et Android. Bien que la version 5.6.6 était la version de Zoom client disponible au moment de la certification, nous recommandons toujours aux clients d’utiliser la dernière version du client afin de profiter des dernières mises à jour et fonctionnalités de sécurité de Zoom.

« La certification Critères communs est une référence mondiale en matière de cybersécurité », a commenté Sandro Amendola, responsable du département normalisation/certification/sécurité des réseaux de télécommunications chez BSI. « Le client Zoom a démontré une norme de sécurité élevée sur l’ensemble de son produit, complétant avec succès l’une des procédures d’évaluation les plus exigeantes qu’une entreprise puisse entreprendre. »

Pour en savoir plus sur la certification Critères communs de Zoom, veuillez consulter le site Web du BSI et le Trust Center de Zoom.

À propos de Zoom
Zoom est pour vous. Nous vous aidons à exprimer vos idées, à communiquer avec les autres et à bâtir un avenir limité uniquement par votre imagination. Notre plateforme de communications sans friction est la seule à avoir commencé par la vidéo comme fondement, et nous avons établi la norme en matière d’innovation depuis lors. C’est pourquoi nous sommes un choix intuitif, évolutif et sécurisé aussi bien pour les particuliers que les petites et grandes entreprises. Fondée en 2011, Zoom est cotée en bourse (NASDAQ : ZM) et a son siège social à San José, en Californie. Rendez-vous sur zoom.com et suivez@zoom.

Relations publiques de Zoom
Matt Nagel
press@zoom.us

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Zoom Torna-se o Primeiro Cliente de Comunicação por Vídeo a Obter Certificação de Common Criteria

Emitida pelo Federal Office for Information Security, a Certificação Enfatiza o Compromisso do Zoom com a Segurança

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) anunciou hoje que o Zoom Meeting Client versão 5.6.6 se tornou o primeiro cliente de comunicação por vídeo a obter certificação de Certificação de Avaliação de Common Criteria Nível 2 (v3.1 rev. 5), emitida pelo Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

O Common Criteria é um padrão internacional que avalia objetivamente se um produto de TI satisfaz um conjunto definido de requisitos de segurança. A avaliação envolve a análise de um conjunto específico de metas de segurança, incluindo documentação de orientação, projeto arquitetônico, aspectos do ciclo de vida, testes e avaliação de vulnerabilidade. O Zoom Meeting Client v5.6.6 foi avaliado pelo BSI pelo padrão Common Criteria e apresentou uma cadeia clara de evidências de que o processo de especificação, implementação e avaliação foi conduzido de maneira rigorosa e padrão.

Reconhecido mutuamente em mais de 25 países, inclusive no Reino Unido, EUA, Canadá e Alemanha, o Common Criteria é considerado uma referência líder em certificação de segurança de produtos de TI. Um número crescente de usuários espera que os fornecedores de TI produzam evidências confiáveis dos recursos de segurança cibernética dos seus produtos.

“Esta certificação do Common Criteria é um marco importante para o Zoom”, disse Jason Lee, Diretor de Segurança da Informação do Zoom. “Somos o primeiro cliente de comunicação por vídeo a receber essa importante certificação, reforçando nosso compromisso com nossos clientes. A segurança e a privacidade são os pilares de tudo o que fazemos, e estamos continuamente oferecendo soluções inovadoras seguras para todos os usuários da nossa plataforma.”

No momento, o BSI certificou a versão 5.6.6 do Zoom para Windows, macOS, iOS e Android. Embora a versão 5.6.6 fosse a versão do cliente Zoom disponível no momento da certificação, recomendamos que os clientes utilizem a versão mais recente do cliente para aproveitar as atualizações e os recursos de segurança mais recentes do Zoom.

“A certificação Common Criteria é uma referência global em cibersegurança”, disse Sandro Amendola, Chefe do Departamento de Segurança de Redes de Normalização/Certificação/Telecomunicações, BSI. “O cliente Zoom demonstrou um alto padrão de segurança em todo o seu produto, concluindo com sucesso um dos procedimentos de avaliação mais exigentes que uma empresa pode realizar.”

Para mais informações sobre a certificação Common Criteria do Zoom, visite o website do BSI e o Zoom Trust Center.

Sobre o Zoom
O Zoom é para você. Ajudamos você a expressar ideias, se conectar a outras pessoas e se preparar para um futuro limitado apenas pela sua imaginação. Nossa plataforma de comunicações sem atrito é a única que teve início com o vídeo como base, e que nos permitiu o padrão da inovação. É por isso que somos uma escolha intuitiva, escalonável e segura para pessoas e pequenas e grandes empresas. Fundado em 2011, as ações do Zoom são negociadas publicamente (NASDAQ: ZM) e a empresa está localizada em San Jose, Califórnia. Visite zoom.com e siga @zoom.

Zoom Public Relations
Matt Nagel
press@zoom.us