Wednesday, April 1, 2026

CORRECTING and REPLACING Lenovo Announces Global Partnership With David Beckham


 MORRISVILLE, N.C. - 

CORRECTION...by Lenovo


MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Last paragraph before boilerplate should read: “David is not only a global figure across football, business, and culture, but is someone who understands the power of innovation to transform the world. That makes him the perfect partner to help us demonstrate how Smarter AI can drive better life and more efficient work for all."


This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260330443523/en/


The updated release reads:


LENOVO ANNOUNCES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH DAVID BECKHAM


Lenovo today announced a global partnership with David Beckham, bringing together one of the world’s most recognized cultural figures and one of the world’s leading technology companies.


The collaboration builds on Lenovo’s expanding role in global football, including its position as the Official Technology Partner of FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™. This first of its kind Lenovo partnership will see David Beckham participating in Lenovo’s work on sports-focused AI-driven solutions that are transforming the game for clubs, players, officials, and fans, specifically related to improving performance for teams, creating better experiences for fans, enabling more efficient operations, and driving new revenue streams through AI-driven innovation.


As someone who runs his own businesses, David Beckham brings a perspective that resonates well beyond the pitch. Whether it's the professional managing their day from a single device, the small business owner trying to do more with less, or the enterprise rethinking how entire teams work, David Beckham will help bring to life the idea at the heart of the collaboration: that the right technology, powered by AI, can help anyone operate at their best.


David Beckham will also feature in Lenovo’s upcoming global marketing campaign, due to go live in May, one month before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.


Commenting on the partnership, David Beckham said:


"Lenovo is a global leader with a proven track record on the world’s biggest stages. I am proud to partner with Lenovo for the FIFA World Cup and beyond. Football will always be defined by talent, instinct, hard work and the unforgettable moments that make the game special. Now AI and data are helping us to understand the sport more deeply - shaping how players and coaches prepare and how fans connect with the game. I look forward to learning more about Lenovo’s cutting-edge work which is opening up new ideas and expanding access to the game."


Lenovo CEO & Chairman Yuanqing Yang added:


“David is not only a global figure across football, business, and culture, but is someone who understands the power of innovation to transform the world. That makes him the perfect partner to help us demonstrate how Smarter AI can drive better life and more efficient work for all.” 


About Lenovo


Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260330443523/en/



Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/54472479


Contacts

Stuart Gill

sgill@lenovo.com


 

Global Beauty Market Grows 10% as AI and E-commerce Reshape Consumer Buying


 CHICAGO - 

Online sales outpace in-store by 6x as digital-first and AI-influenced commerce accelerates globally


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- NielsenIQ (NYSE:NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, today released its State of Beauty 2026 report, showing the global beauty market grew 10% year-on-year, with E-commerce expanding six times faster than in-store sales. The findings highlight a rapid shift to digital-first, AI-influenced commerce across key global markets.


As consumer expectations evolve toward convenience, personalization, and seamless digital experiences, beauty brands are under increasing pressure to adapt. From AI-powered product discovery to social commerce and livestream shopping, the path to purchase is becoming more dynamic—requiring brands to move faster and engage consumers across an increasingly complex ecosystem.


Key findings from the State of Beauty 2026 report:


Global beauty sales grew 10% year-over-year, driven by strong digital acceleration


E-commerce is growing 6x faster than in-store sales, reshaping channel strategies


49% of consumers are willing to pay more for locally made products, reflecting rising demand for authenticity and trust


52% will pay a premium for convenience, as time-saving solutions drive purchase decisions


63% of consumers prioritize mental wellness, signaling continued expansion of holistic beauty


“Beauty is entering a new phase of growth defined by both resilience and rising complexity,” Tara James Taylor, SVP, Beauty Vertical, NIQ. “Consumers are more intentional in how they spend, seeking products that deliver real value, simplicity, and wellbeing. At the same time, AI and digital commerce is transforming how consumers discover and evaluate products, shifting advantage to brands that show up clearly and consistently across digital ecosystems.”


Digital behaviors are accelerating this transformation. More than half of consumers are now exploring AI-enabled shopping tools, with 49% already receiving beauty recommendations from generative AI. Social commerce continues to gain momentum, with 53% of consumers purchasing through social platforms and 22% buying directly via TikTok Shop. In China, Livestreaming accounts for 70% of beauty sales on platforms like Douyin, underscoring the growing importance of content-driven commerce.


These shifts are redefining how products are discovered, validated, and purchased, turning online engagement into immediate conversion and driving sustained category growth.


As AI, social commerce, and digital ecosystems reshape the consumer journey, brands that invest in intuitive, transparent, and data-driven experiences will be best positioned to build trust and capture growth in the next era of beauty.


About the Report


NIQ’s State of Beauty Report 2026 is based on retail point-of-sale data across 9 categories in 52 markets, complemented by consumer panels and advanced data collection methods including web scraping to capture a comprehensive view of global beauty purchasing behavior.


To download the full review, visit: click here.


FAQ: State of Beauty 2026


What is driving growth in the global beauty market?


The global beauty market grew 10% year-over-year, driven primarily by rapid e-commerce expansion, which is growing six times faster than in-store sales. Digital channels, social commerce, and AI-enabled discovery are accelerating consumer engagement and conversion.


How is AI influencing beauty purchasing decisions?


AI is increasingly shaping how consumers discover and evaluate products. More than half of consumers are exploring AI-enabled shopping tools, and 49% already receive beauty recommendations from generative AI—helping streamline decision-making and personalize the shopping experience.


What role does social commerce play in beauty growth?


Social commerce is a major driver of category expansion. Over half of consumers (53%) now purchase through social platforms, and 22% buy directly via TikTok Shop. In markets like China, livestreaming dominates, with the majority of beauty sales on platforms like Douyin driven by live content.


What do today’s beauty consumers prioritize most?


Consumers are becoming more intentional and value-driven. Key priorities include convenience, authenticity, and wellbeing—52% are willing to pay more for convenience, 49% for locally made products, and 63% consider mental wellness essential in their beauty choices.


How should brands respond to these shifts?


Brands need to adopt digital-first, data-driven strategies that align with evolving consumer expectations. This includes investing in AI-enabled experiences, strengthening presence across social and E-commerce platforms, and delivering transparent, intuitive, and value-driven product offerings.


What makes NIQ’s data and insights unique?


NIQ combines one of the world’s most comprehensive consumer and retail datasets with advanced AI and analytics to help companies understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next. This enables brands to move from insight to action with greater speed and confidence.


About NIQ


NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.


With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.


For more information, please visit www.niq.com.


Forward Looking Statement:


This press release on State Of Beauty 2026 report, may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “plan,” “look ahead,” “indicates”, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.


© 2026 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.


Disclaimer: All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.


NIQ-GENERAL


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331204757/en/



Permalink

https://aetoswire.com/en/news/0104202654149


Contacts

Media Contact:

NIQ: media.relations@niq.com

ExaGrid Named a Finalist for the Network Computing Awards 2026

 ExaGrid nominated in 11 Categories for annual industry awards


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- ExaGrid®, the world’s largest independent backup storage vendor providing Tiered Backup Storage with the most Comprehensive Security and AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery, today announced that it has been nominated in 11 categories for the annual Network Computing Awards.


ExaGrid has become a finalist in the following categories:


Data Protection Product of the Year


The Return On Investment Award


Air Gapped Ransomware Recovery Product of the Year


Storage Product of the Year


Hardware Product of the Year


The Customer Service Award


Enterprise Product of the Year


New Product of the Year


Product of the Year


Company of the Year


Additionally, ExaGrid is nominated for the “Bench Tested Product of the Year” award determined by judges after an independent product review of the ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage SSD and HDD appliances with AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery.


Voting to determine the winner in each category is underway now and closes on May 14, 2026. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on May 21, 2026.


“ExaGrid is the largest independent backup storage company in the industry and is committed to offering the best backup storage product that meets all the requirements that midmarket to large enterprise organizations need for their backup storage. ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage offers the fastest backup and restore performance to keep users productive, a scale-out architecture that keeps backup windows fixed-length as data grows, and the most comprehensive security with ransomware recovery,” said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid. “We are honored to be nominated for the Network Computing Awards 2026, and we look forward to the awards ceremony in May.”


About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, scale-out architecture, and comprehensive security features, including AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock to recover from a ransomware attack. ExaGrid’s Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid’s scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and forced product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier (tiered air gap), delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.


ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.


Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!


ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331887370/en/



Permalink

https://aetoswire.com/en/news/3103202654131


Contacts

Media Contact:

Mary Domenichelli

ExaGrid

mdomenichelli@exagrid.com

Esri and RoboGarden Sign Strategic MOU to Advance Geospatial and Geomatics Education

 Agreement Explores New Models for Digital Learning, Academic Collaboration, and Global Workforce Readiness


Esri and RoboGarden have signed an MOU to explore strategic collaboration that broadens access to modern GIS and geomatics education.


RoboGarden, a Canadian EdTech company, offers gamified and scalable digital learning solutions for academic institutions, governments, and industry.


The MOU outlines joint exploration of academic pathways, improved regional coordination, and potential creation of a Geospatial & Geomatics Virtual Academy.


The agreement focuses on enhancing digital learning delivery, expanding localized e-learning opportunities, and supporting global workforce development in high-demand technology fields.


To stay informed about Esri’s education initiatives and resources, visit esri.com/en-us/industries/education/overview.


 


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Esri, the global leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RoboGarden Inc. The MOU is aimed at expanding geospatial and geomatics education, improving academic collaboration, and strengthening global workforce readiness.


Specifically, this new agreement establishes a framework for Esri and RoboGarden to evaluate new approaches for scalable digital learning, regional responsiveness, and curriculum-aligned academic pathways. The MOU’s four strategic objectives include: creation of a geospatial and geomatics virtual academy, stronger regional execution and responsiveness, academic partnership pathways, and localized esri e-learning opportunities. Organizations across industries will benefit from this initiative, such as business, government agencies, academia, as well as individual learners seeking job-ready skills in GIS.


“Esri’s MOU with RoboGarden creates an important opportunity to explore new models for academic collaboration, digital learning delivery, and regional access that can help prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals,” said Esri President, Jack Dangermond.


“This MOU represents a strategic step toward reimagining how hands on and practical geospatial/geomatics skills are developed and delivered at scale,” said Mohamed Elhabiby, Co-Founder and President of RoboGarden Inc. “By exploring a virtual academy on the RoboGarden platform, deeper academic collaboration, and localized digital learning pathways, we are laying the foundation for accessible, practical, and globally relevant GIS education that better serves institutions, industries, and learners worldwide.”


To learn more about Esri’s education solutions and geospatial learning resources, visit esri.com/en-us/industries/education/overview.


About Esri


Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world's most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com.


Copyright © 2026 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri Globe logo, The Science of Where, ArcGIS, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Union, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331901628/en/



Permalink

https://aetoswire.com/en/news/3103202654133


Contacts

Jo Ann Pruchniewski

Public Relations, Esri


Mobile: 301-693-2643 | Email: jpruchniewski@esri.com


 

Digital Trust Index 2026: AI Skepticism and Identity Access Friction Are Costing Revenue

 93% of IT leaders are deploying GenAI, but only 23% of consumers trust companies that use AI to handle their data.

Friction at sign-up, login, and onboarding is causing customer abandonment and revenue loss, with 68% of consumers switching due to website issues.

69% of consumers trust companies more when MFA (multi factor authentication) is used, 68% say the same about passkeys.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thales today released the 2026 Digital Trust Index, one of the most comprehensive global studies of digital trust. Surveying more than 15,000 consumers, business partners, and IT decision makers across 13 industries, the research reveals that digital trust is won or lost during sign-up, login, and throughout the lifecycle of personal data handling.


This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331668723/en/


Consumer Trust is Won or Lost at Login

For consumers, digital trust often begins at login. Yet, 57% reported problems accessing a website in the past year, and 68% abandoned or switched providers due to slow performance or complicated sign-up processes. When access feels too slow or intrusive, 33% switch to a competitor or abandon the attempt, while 36% delay engagement or look for alternative channels.


Consumers are not demanding speed at the expense of security. Forty-five percent say they prefer stronger security checks, even if sign-ups take longer, compared to 22% who favor faster access with lighter protections. Familiar safeguards help build confidence, with 69% saying multifactor authentication increases trust and 68% saying the same about passkeys. Still, only 16% say they clearly understand how companies collect and use their personal data.


AI Adoption Outpaces Trust

As organizations accelerate their use of generative AI, 93% of IT leaders say they are already using, deploying or planning AI initiatives. Yet consumer confidence has not kept pace: only 23% say they trust companies to use AI responsibly with their data, while 77% remain concerned about AI agents acting on their behalf online.


Trust Gaps Widen as Banking Pulls Ahead

The 2026 Digital Trust Index shows the gap between the most trusted sectors and the rest widening sharply. Banking stands out as the clear trusted sector at 57% (up from 44% in 2025), making it the only industry where more than two in five consumers feel comfortable sharing personal information online. Most other sectors continue to operate in a trust deficit, where the disconnect between what organizations believe they deliver and what users actually experience drives abandonment, time-consuming workarounds, and increased risk.


Beyond banking’s clear lead, the rest of the sectors fall well behind in consumer confidence. Government services rank second at 40%, followed by healthcare at 35%. Trust declines sharply beyond these top sectors, with insurance (23%) and education (15%) forming a distant second tier. Consumer-facing industries score much lower, including retail (10%), social media (9%), entertainment (7%), and hospitality (6%), while news media (5%), logistics (4%), and automotive (3%) rank at the bottom. Overall, consumers place the greatest online trust in sectors responsible for managing sensitive personal data and essential services, while entertainment, media, and platform companies face lower confidence.


Friction Fuels Delays and Risk for Partners

For business partner users, access reliability directly affects project delivery and revenue. Onboarding remains inconsistent as only 22% receive login credentials immediately, and just 30% get full permissions on first access, creating delays that ripple across sales cycles and customer commitments. When official processes lag, risky workarounds emerge. Sixty-six percent admit to sharing or borrowing credentials, often because of slow provisioning, creating hidden security debt and increased breach risk.


IT Leaders See the Risk but Struggle to Close the Gap

The 2026 Digital Trust Index shows IT leaders recognize the importance of modern authentication. Eighty-seven percent say offering passkeys is important, yet only 49% currently do so. This gap represents both risk and opportunity as consumers expect stronger, seamless security.


“The 2026 Digital Trust Index shows that as AI adoption is accelerating, trust is struggling to keep pace,” said Danny DeVreeze, Vice President of Identity and Access Management at Thales. “When AI simply helps people work faster, confidence is high. But when AI starts acting autonomously and making decisions or interacting with systems on a user’s behalf, people begin asking harder questions about security, control, and accountability.”


Architecting Access as Business Strategy

The Digital Trust Index 2026 shows that identity and access management are commercial levers, not back-office functions. Trust improves when authentication and permissions are reliable, adaptive, and clearly explained. When they are slow or opaque, abandonment rises, credential sharing spreads, and revenue leaks. Organizations that modernize authentication, limit unnecessary data collection, provide permission visibility, and deploy AI transparently will be best positioned to compete in an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy.


Methodology

The research was conducted by Vanson Bourne in January–February 2026, surveying 14,300 consumers, 1,300 partner users and 200 IT decision makers across the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, the UAE, South Africa, Singapore, Japan and Australia.


About Thales


Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.


The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies.


Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331668723/en/



Permalink

https://aetoswire.com/en/news/54472581


Contacts

 

Press

Thales, Media Relations

Security & Cybersecurity

Marion Bonnet

+33 (0)6 60 38 48 92

marion.bonnet@thalesgroup.com

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

IFF Secures First Heart Health Claim for Soy Protein in Australia and New Zealand


 ST. LOUIS - 

Regulatory milestone opens heart health growth opportunities for food and beverage manufacturers


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--IFF (NYSE: IFF), a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences announced today that a new heart health claim for isolated soy protein has been accepted by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). The approval enables food and beverage manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand to link soy protein consumption with healthy blood cholesterol levels.


“For decades, IFF has invested in the science behind soy protein and its role in supporting cardiovascular health,” said Tony Andrew, vice president of protein solutions for IFF Food Ingredients. “This approved claim validates years of rigorous research and collaboration. With our deep expertise in ingredient science, application and scale, we are well-positioned to help our customers translate this milestone into differentiated products that deliver on health, taste and sustainability.”


The claim is supported by a multi-year, cross-continental research collaboration backed by IFF, the Soy Nutrition Institute Global and the U.S. Soybean Export Council, involving researchers from Australia and the University of Toronto. Under the new permission, foods formulated to help consumers achieve a daily intake of 20-25 grams of isolated soy protein, consumed as part of a healthy, balanced diet, may carry the heart health claim.


Isolated soy protein is a 90% plant-based, high-quality, complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids. Its functional versatility makes it widely used in beverages, dairy alternatives, nutrition bars, snacks and plant-based foods — categories where consumers increasingly seek products that combine taste with clinically supported health benefits. This approval marks a significant milestone for plant-based nutrition, offering brands new opportunities to develop products positioned to support heart health.


“The clinical evidence supports a causal relationship between isolated soy protein consumption and improved blood lipids,” said Dr. Alan Barclay, Ph.D., lead author of the FSANZ submission. “With dyslipidemia affecting around 60 percent of Australian adults1 and many New Zealanders, daily consumption of soy protein offers a practical food-based nutrition strategy to help manage cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk.”


Australia and New Zealand join 11 other countries, including the United States, Canada and Japan, that recognize the link between soy protein consumption and heart health. Backed by decades of research and innovation on the SOLAE® SUPRO® soy protein portfolio, IFF is working with food and beverage manufacturers across the region to develop next-generation products that combine nutrition science, functionality and consumer appeal.


For more information, visit https://www.iff.com/food-beverage/food-ingredients/protein-solutions/soy-protein-and-fiber/


1 https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/national-health-measures-survey/latest-release


Welcome to IFF

At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in taste, scent, food ingredients, health and biosciences, we’re innovating for the future. Every day, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable solutions that elevate products people love — advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. Learn more at iff.com, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.


© 2026 by International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. IFF is a Registered Trademark. All Rights Reserved.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260330523416/en/



Permalink

https://aetoswire.com/en/news/3103202654140


Contacts

Jasmine Chia

Global Communications Director, Food Ingredients

+65 98273808

Jasmine.Chia@iff.com

Lotte Rental Speeds Growth and Innovation with Multiyear Partnership with Rimini Street

  LAS VEGAS - Tuesday, 31. March 2026 AETOSWire 




South Korea’s top car rental company cuts IT costs, boosts flexibility and powers digital transformation with long-term savings and robust services powered by Rimini Support™ for SAP and Oracle


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), the Software Support and Agentic AI ERP Company™, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced that Lotte Rental, South Korea’s leading car rental company, has selected Rimini Street to provide support for its Oracle and SAP systems.


A leader in the rental industry for over 40 years, Lotte Rental operates 300 branches across Korea and subsidiaries in Thailand and Vietnam and offers car sharing and used car sales. To drive its vision of accelerating growth and staying ahead in the mobility industry, the company has restructured its IT systems and invested in next-generation technology to power innovation and support its strategic expansion plans.


Cost Savings and System Stability Fuel Innovation


Lotte Rental is leading a company-wide cost-optimization initiative to identify and eliminate factors impacting profitability. By selecting Rimini Support™ for its mission-critical SAP and Oracle systems, Lotte Rental benefits from savings of over 50% total annual support fees and expert support from a dedicated Primary Support Engineer backed by a global team of highly experienced ERP experts and engineers. The efficiencies and savings realized by partnering with Rimini Street enable Lotte Rental to reinvest in strategic priorities and advance both top and bottom-line growth.


“Ensuring that our foundational enterprise systems are secure, flexible and primed for innovation is essential to achieving our vision to lead the mobility industry,” said Changgeun Park, head of IT, Lotte Rental. “Our partnership with Rimini Street provides us with a level of savings and quality of service unmatched in the industry.”


With the support of Rimini Street, Lotte Rental no longer experiences gaps in support needs or feels vendor pressure to take on costly, disruptive upgrades just to remain fully supported. Its systems are now stable, secure and ready for immediate innovation leveraging a composable ERP strategy.


Initially signed for a one-year Rimini Support™ for Oracle contract in 2024, Lotte Rental extended the partnership for an additional 3 years and signed a 3-year support contract for its SAP systems – a testament to the service Rimini Street provided.


“Our growing partnership with Rimini Street reflects a shared commitment to advancing Lotte Rental’s capabilities and growth, empowering our ability to deliver greater value and innovation in an ever-changing consumer market,” said Park. “In this highly competitive environment, speed to market is critical, and Rimini Street helps us realize our vision to remain South Korea’s number one car rental brand - and beyond.”


A Partnership Built on Results


With the savings achieved, Lotte Rental is investing in AI, ESG mobility services and cloud capabilities. The company has rolled out robotic process automation (RPA), improved SAP ERP interfaces and brought marketing, logistics, finance and HR together on one platform. These initiatives are expected to save over 100,000 work hours in five years and help boost productivity and employee satisfaction.


“Lotte Rental’s vision to advance the mobility industry relies on a strategy rooted in stability, agility and innovation around core systems,” said Kevin Kim, GVP and regional general manager, Rimini Street Korea. “With Rimini Street, Lotte Rental has a roadmap that allows for immediate investment in AI-driven initiatives, digital transformation and operational excellence, strengthening its competitive position in the industry.”


Learn how Rimini Support™ is helping IT leaders achieve their growth and profitability goals.


About Rimini Street, Inc.


Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a proven, trusted global provider of end-to-end, mission-critical enterprise software support, managed services and innovative Agentic AI ERP solutions, and is the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company has signed thousands of IT service contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who have leveraged the Rimini Smart Path™ methodology to achieve better operational outcomes, billions of US dollars in savings and fund AI and other innovation.


To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.


Forward-Looking Statements


Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “reflect,” “results,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” and other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to our ability to attract new clients or retain and/or sell additional products or services to existing clients; our ability to achieve and maintain an adequate rate of revenue growth; cost of revenue, including changes in costs associated with our efforts to grow and the results of any efforts to manage costs to align with current revenue expectations and the expansion of our offerings; the effects of increased intense competition in our industry and our ability to compete effectively; our ability to successfully educate the market regarding the advantages of our support and managed services for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and to sell the products and services comprising our “Rimini Smart Path™” solutions portfolio, including but not limited to our Agentic AI ERP solutions; our intentions with respect to our pricing model and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; the evolution of the ERP software management and support landscape facing our clients and prospects; estimates of our total addressable market; the effects of seasonal trends on our results of operations, including the contract renewal cycles for vendor-supplied software support and managed services; the effects of the efforts of enterprise software vendors to sell upgrades or migrations to cloud-based versions of their enterprise software on our results of operations; our ability to scale our operations quickly enough to meet our clients’ changing needs or decrease our costs adequately in response to changing client demand; risks arising from incorporating artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies into our products or services or any deficiencies associated with AI technologies used by us or by our third-party vendors and service providers; our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand; the continuing impact of and our ability to comply with the terms of our July 2025 settlement agreement with Oracle; our wind down of support services for Oracle PeopleSoft software products and the impact on future period revenue and costs incurred related to these efforts; the loss of one or more members of our management team and our ability to attract and retain additional qualified technical, sales and marketing personnel; our ability to expand our marketing and sales capabilities; our ability to avoid interruptions to, or degraded performance of, our services and the impact of any such interruptions or performance problems on our operations; our ability to defend against cybersecurity threats and to comply with data protection and privacy regulations; our expectations regarding new product offerings, innovation solutions, partnerships and alliance programs and our ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships; our ability to expand internationally and the risks associated with global operations; the impact of macro-economic trends, including inflation and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; our ability to generate significant capital through our operations or to raise additional capital necessary to fund and expand our operations and invest in new services and products; our business plan and our ability to effectively secure and manage our growth and associated investments; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately forecast retention rates; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; changes in laws or regulations, including tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take; tariff costs, including those imposed by the United States government and the potential for retaliatory trade measures by affected countries; our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; any negative impact of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters on our reputation or business and the exposure of our business to additional costs or risks from our reporting on such matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the volatility of our stock price; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; our ability to maintain our good standing with the United States government and international governments and capture new contracts with governmental entities/agencies; the occurrence of catastrophic events that may disrupt our business or that of our current and prospective clients; future acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary companies, products, subscriptions or technologies; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 19, 2026, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.


© 2026 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331863399/en/



Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/3103202654136


Contacts

Janet Ravin

VP, Corporate Marketing

Rimini Street, Inc.

+1 702 285-3532

pr@riministreet.com