Company Doubles Regional Headcount as Enterprises Across APAC Seek More Control, Reduced Costs, and Greater Flexibility for Mission-Critical ERP Systems
DENVER, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Spinnaker Support, the third-party software support leader trusted by more than 1,000 organizations worldwide, today announced the appointment of Vivek Pruthi as Managing Director – APAC, as the company accelerates its investment and expansion across the region.
Over the past year, Spinnaker has more than doubled its APAC headcount to support growing demand from organizations seeking greater control over their technology roadmaps, reduced costs, and greater flexibility in managing mission-critical SAP, Oracle, and VMware environments. The expansion underscores the increasing demand for independent support solutions, freedom from vendor constraints, and trusted strategic guidance throughout the region.
As Managing Director, Pruthi will lead the company’s regional growth strategy, drive sales and business development initiatives, strengthen customer and partner relationships, and help organizations maximize the value of their technology investments.
“APAC is one of the fastest-growing regions in our business and a critical part of Spinnaker’s global expansion strategy,” said Mark Ritacco, Chief Strategy Officer at Spinnaker Support. “We are investing aggressively in the region because customers are looking for greater control over their technology roadmaps, access to experienced expertise, and alternatives to vendor-driven timelines. Vivek has extensive knowledge of SAP, and combining his experience with our laser focus on garnering new SAP customers will help us drive further success across the Asia-Pacific region.”
The market dynamics driving this growth are significant. A March 2026 Mordor Intelligence report notes that global demand for certified ERP consultants continues to exceed supply, particularly in complex industries, and estimates a 30,000-40,000-person shortfall for SAP consultants alone.
As organizations face rising consulting costs, constrained talent availability, and longer implementation timelines, many are reevaluating how they support and modernize mission-critical ERP systems. These challenges are increasing demand for experienced partners that can help organizations maximize existing ERP investments while planning for future modernization initiatives.
“Enterprises across APAC are asking practical questions about cost, control, and timing,” said Pruthi. “Many organizations are running stable, mission-critical ERP environments, yet they are being pushed toward vendor timelines that may not align with their business priorities. Spinnaker gives customers another path. We help them protect what is already working, reduce unnecessary spend, and create the flexibility to modernize when they are ready.”
About Spinnaker Support
Spinnaker Support delivers independent third-party software support for Oracle, SAP, and VMware, along with managed services and cloud solutions. Trusted by enterprises in highly regulated industries worldwide, Spinnaker helps organizations reduce costs, extend software value, and modernize on their own terms. Spinnaker offers The Ultimate Support Guarantee, an industry-first agreement for customers switching away from vendor support. Follow Spinnaker on LinkedIn and X.
New Frost & Sullivan analysis reveals that future winners will be those that can execute faster, industrialise innovation, and navigate mounting pricing and geopolitical pressures
LONDON, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan’s latest analysis, Growth Opportunities in Global Pharmaceutical Industry, 2026, finds that the pharmaceutical industry is entering a period of profound transformation as affordability mandates, patent expiries, geopolitical fragmentation, and rapid technological advances reshape the foundations of value creation.
According to the study, traditional drivers of success are being replaced by a new set of competitive imperatives centred on execution excellence, supply resilience, AI-enabled operations, and the ability to commercialise increasingly complex therapeutic modalities at scale.
“2026 marks a decisive reset for global biopharma,” said Surbhi Gupta, Industry Principal at Frost & Sullivan. “Commercial success will depend less on historical peak-sales models and more on how quickly companies can generate evidence, secure market access, integrate innovation, and reliably deliver advanced therapies in increasingly complex operating environments.”
The analysis highlights five themes that will define the next phase of industry growth. Policy reforms, accelerating patent expiries, and intensifying pricing pressures are compressing traditional value-capture windows, forcing organisations to generate evidence earlier, strengthen lifecycle management strategies, and accelerate market access efforts. At the same time, deliverability is emerging as a critical source of competitive advantage, with manufacturing readiness, cold-chain integrity, quality assurance, and site-of-care preparedness becoming essential differentiators in an era of increasingly sophisticated therapies.
Innovation models are also evolving as pharmaceutical companies become more selective in their investments, prioritising scalable assets, high-conviction opportunities, and their ability to rapidly integrate and operationalise external innovation. Meanwhile, supply resilience has shifted from an operational concern to a strategic imperative, as governments and regulators place greater emphasis on localisation, continuity, and security of supply amid geopolitical uncertainty. Finally, artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation into governed, audit-ready workflows embedded across discovery, clinical operations, quality, manufacturing, and commercial functions, creating the foundations for more efficient and data-driven operating models.
Frost & Sullivan notes that growth opportunities are increasingly concentrated around biologics and next-generation modalities, including GLP-1 therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), radioligand therapies, and cell and gene therapies, while surrounding ecosystems such as obesity care operating systems, specialised manufacturing capabilities, and confirmatory-ready clinical trial models offer significant whitespace opportunities.
The study also forecasts a divergence in growth trajectories between traditional small molecules and large molecules. While small molecules will remain the industry’s cash-flow backbone, biologics are expected to continue expanding their share of the market as companies invest in advanced therapeutic platforms and industrial-scale execution capabilities.
“Pharma companies can no longer treat these pressures as a series of incremental challenges,” Gupta concludes. “The organisations that thrive will be those willing to rebuild their operating models around resilience, speed, disciplined innovation, and scalable execution.”
To claim your complimentary extract from this Growth Opportunity Analysis, click here: https://shorturl.at/QABlD
Frost & Sullivan, the Transformational Growth Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company’s Growth Pipeline as a Service provides the CEO’s Growth Team with transformational strategies and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth opportunities. For over 60 years, Frost & Sullivan has partnered with investors, corporate leaders, and governments to identify, prioritise, and execute transformational growth strategies.
NEW YORK, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ridgewood Infrastructure LLC (“Ridgewood”), a leading infrastructure investor in the U.S. lower middle market, today announced the acquisition of Dauntless Air (“Dauntless” or the “Company”), a market-leading aerial firefighting company that provides emergency management infrastructure for wildfire response.
Dauntless owns and operates the nation’s largest and most technologically advanced fleet of Fire Boss aircraft. These specialized water-scooping air tankers, also known as Single Engine Scoopers (SES), are purpose-built to rapidly attack and contain wildfires that threaten people, land and property. Dauntless deploys these aircraft, highly trained personnel and support equipment under long-term government contracts for wildfire suppression services.
“Dauntless is a highly differentiated emergency management infrastructure platform operating at the center of an increasingly important public safety mission,” said Ryan Stewart, Partner at Ridgewood Infrastructure. “The Company has established a leadership position through its scale, operational capabilities and long-standing relationships, and we look forward to partnering with Dauntless leadership and the entire team to continue growing the platform.”
Wildfire response has become a heightened public infrastructure priority as fire seasons continue to grow longer and more severe in many regions of the United States. Dauntless’ contracted, availability-based operating model provides government agencies with dedicated aerial firefighting capacity that can be positioned when and where it is needed most. This includes pre-positioning aircraft before fire season, in anticipation of increased fire activity, as well as re-positioning throughout the season based on changing conditions. This tactical flexibility and Dauntless’ operational effectiveness are essential in protecting communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources from evolving wildfire threats.
Brett L’Esperance, Chief Executive Officer of Dauntless, said: “Our team is known for delivering operational excellence, reliability, safety and innovation in some of the most challenging wildfire environments in North America. We are looking forward to building on that reputation in partnership with Ridgewood, which shares our commitment to continuously improving our capabilities, investing in our people and providing our customers the highest level of service.”
Dauntless has decades of performance history with federal and state government customers. The Company’s market position is further supported by significant barriers to entry, including specialized aircraft, rigorous operational requirements, regulatory certifications and highly trained personnel.
“Dauntless embodies many of the characteristics we seek in an infrastructure investment: essential services, mission-critical operations, strong barriers to entry and avenues for operational growth,” said Ross Posner, Managing Partner of Ridgewood Infrastructure. “We are excited to support management as they continue expanding the platform’s capabilities.”
Following the acquisition, Dauntless will continue to be led by Brett L’Esperance and the existing management team. Ridgewood intends to support continued investment in the Company’s operational capabilities, customer partnerships and strategic growth initiatives. The Company will also pursue opportunities to expand its emergency management infrastructure platform through fleet growth, adjacent service offerings and selective acquisitions.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Ridgewood Infrastructure
Ridgewood Infrastructure is a leading infrastructure investor focused on essential services in the U.S. lower middle market. Ridgewood partners with management teams to build, scale and professionalize infrastructure platforms that provide critical services to customers and communities.
About Dauntless Air
Dauntless Air is an aerial firefighting company deeply dedicated to protecting people, land and property from the devastation of wildfires. Armed with North America’s largest and most technologically advanced Fire Boss fleet, Dauntless supports rapid initial attack operations and wildfire suppression efforts that enable wildland firefighters and government agencies to put out fires faster and at a substantially lower cost than traditional tanker methods. To learn more, visit https://dauntlessair.com and follow Dauntless Air on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
Contact Information:
Ridgewood Infrastructure 527 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212) 867-0050
More than twice the capacitance of conventional multilayer ceramic capacitors—achieving large capacitance for automotive applications
TOKYO, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD., has commercialized the “MAASA32MAD7227MP1D71” (3.2 × 2.5 × 2.8 mm, maximum height), a multilayer ceramic capacitor (hereinafter “MLCC”), which complies with “AEC-Q200” certification reliability test standard for passive automotive components.
This MLCC more than doubles capacitance when compared to TAIYO YUDEN’s conventional MLCC, the MAASP32MAD7107MPCA01 (3.2 × 2.5 × 2.8 mm, maximum height; capacitance of 100 μF).
This MLCC is designed for output smoothing and decoupling applications in automotive systems, including control systems such as engine ECUs, safety systems including ABS and ADAS, and information processing systems such as instrument clusters.
Mass production of this product began in May 2026 at TAIYO YUDEN’s Tamamura Plant (Sawa-gun, Gunma Prefecture).
Technology Background Modern vehicles are becoming increasingly multifunctional and high performance, driven by advancements in electronic controls due to the evolution of ADAS and functional upgrades through software updates in software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Achieving these capabilities demands advanced automotive electronics including internal and external vehicle networking and the implementation of scalable designs. As vehicle complexity grows, the processing capacity of ICs increases, which necessitates that the onboard MLCCs simultaneously achieve both high reliability and large capacitance.
In response to this demand, TAIYO YUDEN has commercialized the MAASA32MAD7227MP1D71, achieving large capacitance in a compact 3225-size package for automotive applications. This MLCC offers more than twice the capacitance of TAIYO YUDEN’s conventional MLCCs, and will contribute to enhancing the overall performance of advanced vehicles.
TAIYO YUDEN will continue to focus on developing products that meet market needs and further expand its lineup of MLCCs.
Application For output smoothing and decoupling applications in automotive systems including control systems such as engine ECUs, safety systems such as ABS and ADAS, and information processing systems such as instrument clusters.
* The names of series noted in the text are excerpted from part numbers that indicate the types and characteristics of the products, and therefore are neither product names nor trademarks.
Note: Products are tested based on the test conditions and methods defined in AEC-Q200. Please consult with TAIYO YUDEN for details of the product specifications and AEC-Q200 test results, etc., and please review and approve TAIYO YUDEN’s product specifications before ordering.
Findings show Zero payout denials and 98.35% of withdrawals processed within one hour
NEW YORK, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hola Prime, the rapidly growing prop trading firm known for its industry-first 1-Hour Payout model, today announced the completion of an independent payout performance review conducted by Deloitte. The review found that 98.35% of withdrawal requests were processed within one hour, with Zero payout denials recorded across all evaluation programs, setting a new benchmark for transparency in the prop trading industry.
Hola Prime Independently Reviewed by Deloitte
Deloitte examined all payout transactions processed between October 15, 2025 and March 15, 2026, providing independent validation in a sector where payout claims are often based on internal reporting or unverifiable tracking mechanisms. The findings closely align with Hola Prime’s internally published performance data, including an average payout time of under 34 minutes.
The Deloitte review confirmed that 1.65% of payouts exceeded the one-hour window due to incomplete user information or operational exceptions, rather than systemic delays. Hola Prime’s payout framework is designed to eliminate ambiguity before a withdrawal request is made, combining strict rule enforcement with real-time trader guidance to support its Zero Payout Denial Policy.
For the first time in the prop trading industry, a firm has opened its payout performance to independent review by a Big Four firm, marking a significant step toward verifiable transparency and accountability.
“Most firms talk about payouts. Very few are willing to have their numbers independently examined end-to-end,” said Somesh Kapuria, CEO of Hola Prime. “This review is not a marketing exercise, it is proof of execution. 1-hour payouts and zero payout denials aren’t promises on a website, they are outcomes that have now been independently validated. If a firm is willing to subject itself to this level of scrutiny, it signals a standard of transparency and trust this industry has rarely seen. We’ve built our systems with nothing to hide, operating at a level of integrity traders can rely on.”
The milestone is further reinforced by Hola Prime‘s growing Trustpilot presence, with over 1,000 verified reviews with an Excellent rating of 4.6 out of 5, reflecting consistent trader satisfaction. Feedback across the platform highlights fast payouts, responsive customer support and clear trading conditions as key differentiators.
The prop trading industry has faced ongoing scrutiny around payout reliability, hidden rules and lack of verifiable data. Hola Prime’s approach combining independently reviewed performance metrics with publicly visible customer feedback, aims to set a higher standard for accountability and trust.
As the firm continues to expand its global trader base across LATAM, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, it is positioning itself at the forefront of a shift toward verifiable transparency in prop trading.
About Hola Prime Hola Prime is a global prop trading firm offering funded trading accounts to skilled traders worldwide. Known for its 1-Hour Payout model, Hola Prime provides traders with access to significant capital across major financial instruments including Forex, commodities and indices. The firm has earned industry recognition including the Global Most Transparent Prop Firm 2025 award by Finance Magnates and the Fastest Payout Prop Firm MEA 2026 award by UF Awards. With a Trustpilot rating of 4.6 and a rapidly growing trader base, Hola Prime continues to redefine expectations in prop trading.
The celebration in Turku, Finland, marked the official handover of the ship to the vacation brand ahead of a July 2026 European debut
MIAMI, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Caribbean has officially welcomed Legend of the Seas to the family, continuing the evolution of the Icon Class lineup designed to deliver the best family vacation experiences. After nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the third Icon Class ship is now ready to make its July 2026 European debut.
Legend of the Seas officially joins Royal Caribbean’s revolutionary Icon Class as the next game-changing family vacation. From the first cut of steel in 2024 to the installation of signature innovations like the Pearl and AquaDome, every milestone led to the ship’s official delivery ceremony in June 2026. Now, the countdown begins to Legend’s highly anticipated debut in July 2026, when the newest Icon Class ship sets sail on 7-night Western Mediterranean vacations.
To mark the milestone, more than 1,200 crew members and partners came together for a legendary ceremony led by Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm. During the celebration, the team recognized the hard work of thousands of engineers, designers, architects and crew members who brought Legend to life and marked the transfer of ownership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku.
“Today’s delivery of Legend of the Seas marks another important milestone in our ambition to continuously redefine the vacation experience,” said Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “This new ship reflects the strength of the vacation ecosystem we are building – combining industry-leading ships, innovative technology, and exceptional experiences for our guests. It is an achievement only possible through the extraordinary partnership and expertise of Meyer Turku and the thousands of talented people whose creativity and commitment continue to help us design the future of vacations.”
The delivery is part of the company’s long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku, securing the Group’s access to shipbuilding capacity through 2036, including the order of Icon 5 to be delivered in 2028, as well as the sixth and seventh Icon Class ships in 2029 and 2030, respectively.
Soon, Legend will journey from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where Royal Caribbean will add finishing touches before vacationers set sail on 7-night Western Mediterranean adventures from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, this summer. In November, the ship will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to deliver6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbeanvacations with every adventure visiting Royal Caribbean’s top-rated Perfect Day CocoCay.
“We’re incredibly proud to introduce Legend of the Seas to vacationers and continue the legacy of the revolutionary Icon Class,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean. “This wouldn’t be possible without the many talented individuals that came together to deliver what is truly the ultimate family vacation, and we look forward to making Legend‘s debut this summer a legendary one.”
Vacationers of all ages on Legend can experience an all-encompassing lineup of standout dining, immersive entertainment, adrenaline-filled activities and accommodations across eight neighborhoods.
Legend will introduce the most dining at sea with 28 options for every occasion. New experiences include Hollywoodland Supper Club, a multi-course elevated dinner inspired by old Hollywood; Royal Railway – Legend Station, a five-course immersive train dining journey through the Silk Routes; and AquaDome Market, an all-inclusive food hall with five concepts, along with a new juice and smoothie bar for wellness-focused guests.
Entertainment will span stage, air, water and ice, with productions designed for families, couples and multigenerational groups. Vacationers can experience Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and America’s Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas, alongside deck-defying performances during the AquaTheater’s “Shockwave” and ice-skating spectacles at Absolute Zero’s show, “Fusion”.
Families can enjoy seven pools and dedicated water experiences for all ages, including Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea; Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay in the Surfside family neighborhood; and adults-only spots at The Hideaway and Swim & Tonic swim-up bar.
Adventurers looking for thrills can take on Crown’s Edge – part skywalk, part zip line experience 154 feet above the ocean. More adrenaline-pumping activities include mini golf at a new Lost Dunes, rock climbing at Adrenaline Peak, Category 6 waterpark, the FlowRider surf simulator and more.
Signature Icon Class favorites on Legend include the Royal Promenade’s floor-to-ceiling ocean views and the Pearl – the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture – and the open-air Central Park, lined with more than 30,500 real plants, restaurants, live music, and convenient pick-up windows for sushi, champagne, sparkling wine and more.
For families of all ages, there are plenty of ways to stay in style from the exclusive Suite Neighborhood to a redesigned three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, featuring a slide, dedicated entertainment spaces and rooms for the whole family.
Legend will be the vacation company’s fourth ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and feature a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs, including applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection. As Legend advances Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035, the vacation brand is also set to deliver their fifth ship powered by LNG with Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class vacation set to debut in 2027.
“Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship built at our shipyard, and constructing the series has enabled us to develop our production processes in a systematic way. We have built on the experience gained from the previous vessels and further improved efficiency with the customer and our extensive partner network,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku. “The ship is an exceptional project in terms of both scale and technical complexity, requiring strong expertise and seamless collaboration across the entire maritime cluster. At the same time, Legend of the Seas moves shipbuilding towards more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions.”
Royal Caribbean’s lineup of vacation experiences combines game-changing ships with one-of-a-kind destinations, including the game-changing Perfect Day CocoCay, the all-inclusive beach day experience at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas and the Ultimate Santorini Day at Royal Beach Club Santorini. The vacation brand continues to grow its portfolio of signature destinations across Mexico and Australia.
Vacations on Legend are open to book on Royal Caribbean’s website.
About Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line’s game-changing ships and exclusive destinations revolutionize vacations with industry-leading innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills and ways to chill, to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 23 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas and Royal Beach Clubs in Paradise Island and Santorini, plus Royal Beach Club Lelepa launching October 2027.
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas officially joined the vacation brand’s revolutionary lineup with a delivery celebration at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, alongside Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley; Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty; EVP of Maritime & Newbuilding, Harri Kulovaara, Royal Caribbean Group; Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm and Deputy CEO Ville Saksi. The new vacation is now ready for its July 4 debut with 7-night Western Mediterranean vacations before heading to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2026.
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas officially joined the vacation brand’s revolutionary lineup with a delivery celebration at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. The new vacation is now ready for its July 4 debut with 7-night Western Mediterranean vacations before heading to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2026.
Earned Top 1% rankings in both Global and China editions Distinguished as ‘Industry Mover’ in China edition for second consecutive year Demonstrates the company’s exceptional performance in ESG
MACAO, June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sands China Ltd. has once again been recognised by the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, earning Top 1% rankings in the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) scores of the 2026 yearbook’s Global and China editions. The company also received the ‘Industry Mover’ distinction in the China edition for the second consecutive year, making it the only integrated tourism and leisure enterprise worldwide to earn any of these three accolades this year. These recognitions underscore Sands China’s sustained international acclaim for its outstanding achievements in ESG (environmental, social and governance).
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Sands China Ltd. Grant Chum (centre), Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Company Secretary Dylan Williams (sixth from left), Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance Pranav Jampani (sixth from right), and other team members display the company’s certificates and trophies from the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025.
Fourth consecutive Top 1% CSA score in yearbook’s China edition The S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook is regarded as one of the most prestigious publications for evaluating sustainability efforts in the business world. Assessments are based on a company’s score in the CSA. For this year’s China edition, S&P Global assessed nearly 1,800 companies from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, with 193 companies across 56 industries selected for the yearbook. Sands China is one of only 36 companies to rank in the Top 1% of CSA scores in the China edition, marking its fourth consecutive year to earn this accolade. The company was furthermore named the Industry Mover for its industry category for the second year, another significant recognition of its ESG efforts.
To become an Industry Mover, a company’s CSA score must increase by more than 5 percent from the prior year, while also achieving outstanding results in its industry category. Sands China accomplished both, increasing its CSA score by more than 6 percent.
Third consecutive Top 1% CSA score in yearbook’s Global edition The Global edition of the yearbook assessed more than 9,200 companies worldwide, with 848 companies across 59 industries selected for the yearbook. Sands China is among only 71 companies with a Top 1% CSA score, marking its third straight year in the global leading position.
S&P Global’s CSA is an evaluation of the sustainability practices and achievements of companies from around the world. To be included in the Global Sustainability Yearbook, a company must earn a CSA score that not only ranks within the top 15 percent of its industry by number, but also falls within 30% of the top score in the industry.
Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., said: “Sustainability is the cornerstone of corporate resilience and long-term development. Sands China is very honoured to be once again ranked in the Top 1% in both the Global and China editions of the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook. These recognitions fully affirm our continued investment and achievements in innovation and long-term planning. As the company continues to enhance the guest experience, we have also proactively implemented sustainable operating strategies, striving to reduce environmental impact and generate positive social outcomes. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Macao SAR government for their continuous guidance in leading Macao toward a sustainable future. We are also grateful to our community partners from various sectors and our 28,000 dedicated team members for their collaboration and support. Together, these concerted efforts have enabled us to achieve these remarkable international recognitions.”
Sands China’s commitment to exceptional ESG performance is exemplified in efforts like delivering 1.8 million hours of workforce training in 2025. The company also reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 61% from a 2018 base year, exceeding both the 17.5% Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated and 1.5°C-aligned 30% reduction targets, in alignment with the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the company’s volunteer team has engaged in more than 362,000 hours of community service since 2009, bringing positive impact to the community. Moreover, the company achieved its core ESG targets for the 2021-2025 reporting cycle – a phase that marked Sands China’s evolution and upgrades, and its unwavering commitment to operational excellence and the creation of positive long-term social impact, even amidst market challenges.
Sands China executes its ESG efforts within the context of the People, Community, and Planet pillars of the company’s corporate social responsibility platform. This holistic approach is brought to life through a variety of flagship initiatives such as the Sands ECO360 global sustainability programme, the Sands Cares corporate giving and community engagement programme, and the Sands China Academy team member professional development programme – all designed to carry out the company’s social responsibility work in the community. By intertwining economic success with social responsibility, Sands China remains dedicated to uplifting the Macao community and fostering a thriving environment to live and work.
About Sands China Ltd. Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company’s integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao, The Parisian® Macao and The Londoner® Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company’s portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, The Londoner Theatre and Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).
FranklinWH joins San José Clean Energy’s Peak Rewards for Smart Homes program, offering battery owners upfront incentives and ongoing bill credits for helping stabilize the local grid during peak demand.
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FranklinWH Energy Storage Inc. announced today that its FranklinWH System, a residential energy storage solution, is approved for San José CleanEnergy’s Peak Rewards for Smart Homes, a virtual power plant (VPP) program that pays homeowners to supply stored battery energy to the grid during periods of high electricity demand.
San José Clean Energy customers who enroll a 15 kWh FranklinWH aPower 2 battery receive a $120 upfront enrollment incentive and ongoing payments for every kilowatt-hour discharged during daily peak hours from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Total annual earnings may exceed $500 depending on event participation, with customers earning $0.13 per kWh. When the grid needs emergency support, additional compensation applies: $0.50 per kilowatt-hour during winter demand response events and $1.00 per kilowatt-hour during summer events.
Enrolled FranklinWH Systems respond to dispatch events automatically, requiring no action from the homeowner. A user-defined battery reserve ensures power remains available for household needs at all times. Homeowners can opt out of individual events through the FranklinWH App.
“As a company headquartered in San José, we are proud to help our neighbors participate in the city’s evolving energy future,” said Gary Lam, CEO and co-founder of FranklinWH. “People are looking for practical ways to lower energy costs and improve reliability at home. This program allows homeowners to get more value from their batteries while helping support the grid during periods of high demand.”
The Peak Rewards for Smart Homes program is part of San José Clean Energy’s effort to expand distributed energy resources and reduce pressure on the grid during periods of high demand. The program is supported by Uplight, which manages demand response coordination for participating devices, and Derapi, which provides the application programming interface (API) infrastructure supporting communications between FranklinWH Systems and grid management software.
“We’re excited to help make connected energy assets easier for homeowners to use and easier for utilities to rely on,” said Stina Brock, CEO of Derapi. “Seamless API integration is a critical part of turning distributed devices into flexible grid resources, and Derapi is helping create the secure connectivity needed for these programs to scale. By simplifying how devices enroll, share data, and participate, we can help unlock more value for customers, utilities, and the grid.”
The San José Clean Energy program adds to FranklinWH’s portfolio of more than 25 utility-led VPP and demand response programs across the United States. FranklinWH is headquartered in San José and manufactures its residential energy storage systems at its Santa Clara, California, facility, which is on pace to quadruple production output in 2026.
Enrollment is available to eligible San José Clean Energy customers with qualifying FranklinWH Systems on a first-come, first-served basis.
About FranklinWH
FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH System, a next-generation home energy management and storage solution. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team brings decades of experience across energy system design, manufacturing, sales and installation. The company is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions and continues to empower homeowners to achieve true energy freedom. Learn more at franklinwh.com.
Derapi is an energy enablement company helping unlock the full potential of distributed energy resources. Through one secure, manufacturer-sanctioned integration layer, Derapi makes it easier for OEMs, VPP operators, DERMS providers, and energy platforms to connect devices, authorize customers, access data, and control distributed resources across utility incentives, grid programs, financing platforms, and partner ecosystems. By combining purpose-built APIs with hands-on program support, Derapi helps energy innovators reduce integration complexity, scale participation, and bring distributed energy programs to market faster.
