Archives April 2026

• Part of the Visa Intelligent Commerce portfolio, Intelligent Commerce Connect will enable more ways for agents to pay and merchants to accept agentic transactions in a single integration
• Currently in pilot with select partners including Aldar, AWS, Diddo, Highnote, Mesh, Payabli, Sumvin, and rolling out to more partners this year

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) today unveiled Intelligent Commerce Connect, a new solution that makes it easier for businesses to connect to and participate in AI-powered commerce. Intelligent Commerce Connect acts as a network, protocol, and token vault-agnostic ‘on ramp’ to agentic commerce for agent builders, merchants, and enablers.

As consumers increasingly rely on AI agents to make purchases, businesses – whether they are building agents, selling to them, or processing transactions – need a simple way to get started. Intelligent Commerce Connect, part of the Visa Intelligent Commerce portfolio, meets that need.

Through a single integration via the Visa Acceptance Platform, Intelligent Commerce Connect enables secure payment initiation, tokenization, spend controls, and authentication. The solution integrates both Visa Intelligent Commerce APIs, which are used to process agent purchases using Visa cards, and other networks’ APIs, allowing agents to pay with both Visa and non-Visa cards*. This provides more choice in how agents can pay, making it easier for the entire ecosystem to adopt agentic payments experiences.

“From small businesses to the world’s biggest retailers, Visa powers how people pay every day, millions of times over,” said Andrew Torre, President of Value-Added Services at Visa. “Intelligent Commerce Connect brings that same, trusted payment acceptance infrastructure into the emerging world of AI-driven commerce, so businesses can let AI agents buy on behalf of consumers, securely and at scale.”

Key benefits of Intelligent Commerce Connect:

• Works with major token vault providers: Agent platforms can plug into existing credential infrastructure and avoid being locked into a single token vault/vendor.
• Seamless acceptance of agent-initiated payments: Enables merchants to accept payments initiated via major agent protocols including: Trusted Agent Protocol, Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), and Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP).
• Makes merchant catalogs discoverable on AI platforms: Helps merchants make their product inventories and product details (e.g., descriptions, specifications, prices, etc.) accessible so consumers can discover, select, and check out within the AI platform experience.
• Supports enablers processing agentic transactions on merchants’ behalf: Visa can handle orchestration and PCI compliance for enablers supporting merchant transactions.
• One integration via Visa Acceptance Platform: Available through a single trusted integration on the Visa Acceptance Platform, a modular suite of payments tools that power millions of places where consumers pay – like online or in-app checkouts and marketplaces.

To find out more information about Intelligent Commerce Connect, please visit: https://corporate.visa.com/en/products/intelligent-commerce-connect.html

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement.

*Subject to availability.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408772335/en/

Sitetracker, the leading Asset Lifecycle Management platform for critical infrastructure, today announced the launch of Scout, its new Agentic AI platform designed to help infrastructure owners, operators, and contractors gain deep insights and drive automation within their operations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408923336/en/

Scout, ready for real work

As your AI analyst and agent, Scout is ready to work on day 1. Scout provides clarity when decisions are forming and momentum when action is required. It surfaces risk, synthesizes information, and helps accelerate execution by connecting data and driving action. Scout creates operational intelligence and turns it into action all in a secure environment that protects data sovereignty.

“Our customers are looking to create compounding competitive advantages,” said Giuseppe Incitti, Chief Executive Officer of Sitetracker. “Scout delivers by providing easy to deploy agentic workflows that drive automation, compress timelines and ultimately expand margins.”

Scout automates common workflows including

• Document processing – summarize and extract data from permits, leases, invoices and other document types.
• Photo intelligence – perform quality control checks on photos to automate close out reviews, inspections and field work.
• Risk analysis – identify hidden risks within your deployment and maintenance programs, and receive mitigation recommendations.

Scout, in action

Connecting data from a variety of sources, Scout is ready to execute agent-assembled work packages that drive productivity to new levels through the entire asset-lifecycle from planning, development, construction and maintenance phases.

Examples of work packages that can be automated by Scout’s AI platform include

• Lease comparison
• Invoice processing
• Deficiency reporting
• Contractor performance assessments
• Plan-of-the-day preparation with recommendations

Scout not only provides out of the box agentic work packages, but also allows customers to build their own agents to align directly with their way of working, opening new opportunities for enhancing productivity within their organization.

Scout, available this Spring

Scout is now in limited release, with strong customer demand and a growing waitlist. Learn more and request access at sitetracker.com/scout.

About Sitetracker + Scout

Sitetracker empowers owners, operators, contractors, and other stakeholders to streamline and optimize the end-to-end asset lifecycle of critical infrastructure. As the leading global complete Asset Lifecycle Management platform, Sitetracker helps innovative companies like Vodafone, Ericsson, ENGIE, Telefonica, Cypress Creek Renewables, Cox, Iberdrola, EVgo, Vantage Towers, Southern Company, Zayo, Tilson, Nextera, EDOTCO, E.On, Axione, and TEP efficiently plan, build, operate, and maintain millions of projects, sites, and assets. Scout, Sitetracker’s agentic AI platform, enables organizations across digital infrastructure and clean energy to move from operational insight to autonomous execution, without replacing the systems their teams already depend on. Sitetracker delivers operational excellence and creates full transparency across industries such as digital infrastructure, renewables, EV charging, utilities, and real estate by driving safe, efficient teams, ensuring healthy projects, and enabling organizations to manage scale, growth, and complexity. Trusted by hundreds of industry leaders, Sitetracker advances a more connected and sustainable future across the world. Manage What’s Critical, with Sitetracker.

For more information, please request a demo.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408923336/en/

• For the third consecutive year, Barilla is confirmed as the world’s leading food company in the Global RepTrak® 100 and enters the overall Top 10 of global companies.
• The Group ranks 9th overall, up 16 positions compared to 2025.

For the third year in a row, Barilla is confirmed as the world’s leading company in the food sector for reputation in the Global RepTrak® 100 ranking conducted by RepTrak, which since 1999 has annually analyzed the companies with the strongest reputations worldwide.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260407912080/en/

In the 2026 ranking, the Group reaches 9th place overall, moving up 16 spots compared to 2025 (ranked at 25th) and entering the global Top 10, confirming the company’s steady reputation‑building journey developed over the years. This result reflects Barilla’s ability to combine product quality, industrial vision and social responsibility – factors that are increasingly central to the assessment of corporate reputation. The study evaluates key elements including performance, innovation, governance, sustainability and the ability to generate long‑term trust.

“In today’s turbulent macroeconomic environment, maintaining stable performance is already a positive signal,” states Sara Fargion, Vice President RepTrak, EMEA. “However, the ability to grow in this context becomes a true differentiator. The Food sector, in particular, is facing significant pressure, as ongoing waves of inflation continue to drive intense media scrutiny and shape public perception consistently across all 14 countries where we measure reputation.”

Present in over 100 countries, with 30 production sites and an annual output exceeding 2 million tons across pasta, ready‑made sauces and bakery products, Barilla continues to invest in innovation and the continuous improvement of its product offering.

This commitment is reflected in the inauguration in November, in Parma, of BITE (Barilla Innovation & Technology Experience), the new research and development center where 200 professionals – including food technologists, researchers, engineers and food designers – develop new products and improve recipes, production processes and packaging. BITE is a state‑of‑the‑art hub that integrates scientific expertise, food culture and technology to design the future of food, supported by an open‑innovation ecosystem involving universities and research centers worldwide, accelerating the development of increasingly sustainable, safe solutions aligned with evolving consumer needs.

Further confirming its ability to respond to consumer expectations, the Group has been recognized in recent years with two awards from the Product of the Year program in Italy: in 2025, Barilla Al Bronzo was awarded in the Pasta category, while in 2026 the recognition went to Barilla Protein+, both selected by more than 12,000 consumers as part of research conducted by Circana.

Barilla Group’s growth and its ability to engage with new food trends and cultures are also supported by its partnership with Formula 1®, which has brought Barilla’s core value of togetherness into the world’s premier motorsport competition. Globally, high‑impact social initiatives with organizations – such as The Food Bank and Doctors Without Borders – have mobilized thousands of volunteers and citizens, supporting social and humanitarian projects through tangible acts of participation and sharing.

At the same time, Barilla continues to advance its social and environmental commitments, integrating sustainability and energy and water efficiency at the core of its growth model. As part of this ongoing effort, in 2024, the total volume of water recycled and reused increased by 45% compared to 2022, with an even more significant improvement in water‑stressed areas, where the increase reached 164%. This commitment also extends to Barilla’s nearly 9,000 people – the true driving force behind the Group’s performance – and includes, among other initiatives, a global gender‑neutral parental leave policy guaranteeing 12 fully paid weeks for both parents, as well as the achievement, since 2020, of global gender pay equity in line with the principle of “equal pay for equal work” for all Barilla employees worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260407912080/en/

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) (“Ares”), a leading global alternative investment manager, announced today that E.G. Morse will join Ares as Partner and Head of Asia Credit. Mr. Morse most recently served as Co-Head of China and Head of China Global Markets for Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“Goldman Sachs”). Ares is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dinesh Goel and Gabriel Fong as Co-Heads of the Asia Special Situations strategy, effective immediately. After a distinguished tenure, Edwin Wong has decided to retire from his role as Head of Asia Credit, effective June 30, 2026.

Mr. Morse will be based in Hong Kong. He will be responsible for driving the long-term growth objectives of the Asia Credit business and developing key relationships in the region in close partnership with Ares leadership. As Co-Heads of the Asia Special Situations strategy, Mr. Goel and Mr. Fong will continue to lead the team and partner closely with Ares Credit leadership to further the strategy’s growth and expansion throughout the APAC region. Peter Graf will continue to lead Ares’ direct lending strategy in Asia.

Ares’ leading Asia Credit business has approximately $11.5 billion in assets under management, as of December 31, 2025, across credit-focused special situations, sponsored and non-sponsored direct lending and asset backed finance.

“We are excited to welcome E.G., a proven leader and longstanding friend of the firm, to Ares and to elevate Dinesh and Gabriel to co-lead the Asia Special Situations strategy,” said Mitch Goldstein, Co-Head of Ares Credit. “We are grateful for Edwin’s leadership, partnership and contributions over the years, and we wish him well in his retirement.”

“I’m honored to join a firm of Ares’ global stature and to work alongside a high-caliber team as we continue to build and scale the platform across Asia,” said Mr. Morse.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to co-lead the Asia Special Situations strategy and to build on the strong foundation that has been established,” said Mr. Goel and Mr. Fong. “Together with our team, we remain deeply focused on delivering differentiated solutions for our limited partners and continuing to scale our offering thoughtfully across the region.”

“I am incredibly proud to have led the Asia Credit team’s growth journey over the years,” said Mr. Wong. “As I step into this next chapter, I look forward to working closely with E.G. and the Asia Credit leadership team to ensure a seamless transition. I’m confident in the exciting trajectory of the Asia Credit business under his guidance and in partnership with the exceptional leadership team in place.”

Mr. Morse has held a range of global senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and has been based in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai over his 16‑year tenure at the firm. Most recently, he served as Co‑Head of China and Head of China Global Markets, Co-Chair of the China Leadership Group and Head of the Asia Strategic Client Coverage Group. Previously, Mr. Morse was CEO of Goldman Sachs Singapore and Head of Southeast Asia and also served as Head of Asia Fixed Income Distribution. Earlier in his career, he was Head of U.S. Leveraged Finance Sales.

Mr. Goel joined Ares in 2020 as part of Ares’ acquisition of SSG Capital, where he was a Managing Director and instrumental in growing the firm’s India business. He began his career at Lehman Brothers in Tokyo. Mr. Fong joined Ares in 2026 from CapitaLand Investment, where he was Managing Director and Head of the Special Opportunities Group overseeing special situation investment activities and strategy. Previously, he served in several roles including at the Vega Capital Family Office, Vaw Eurasian Capital Investment Management, Sculptor Capital (formerly Och Ziff), and Morgan Stanley, among others.

About Ares Management Corporation

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to advance our stakeholders’ long-term goals by providing flexible capital that supports businesses and creates value for our investors and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of December 31, 2025, Ares Management Corporation’s global platform had nearly $623 billion of assets under management, with operations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

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LegitScript, the leader in merchant and product certification and monitoring in the advertising, e-commerce, and payment sectors, today announced an expanded partnership with Google to certify pharmacies in India and telemedicine providers in New Zealand. The policy update allows eligible businesses to advertise on Google Ads using LegitScript Healthcare Certification, and LegitScript-certified organizations will be able to apply for Google certification once the platform’s policy updates in April.

The expansion comes at a timely moment for providers and patients as telehealth and online pharmacy adoption accelerate across both regions:

• In India, the online pharmacy market is projected to reach over $14 billion by 2034, driven by rising smartphone adoption, improved internet access, and growing demand for convenient, at-home care.
• In New Zealand, approximately 1.2 million Kiwis now utilize telehealth services, a 30% increase over the past five years (Ministry of Health).
• This surge is further supported by New Zealand’s Medicines Amendment Act 2025, which introduced a streamlined “verification pathway” for medicine approvals and expanded the prescribing rights of nurse practitioners and pharmacists.

Together, these shifts increase care access and the need for safeguards that help ensure patients are engaging with compliant providers online. LegitScript Certification provides a verified pathway for providers to differentiate themselves on Google’s advertising platforms by conducting a rigorous, independent review of their licensure, prescribing practices, patient privacy protections, and advertising transparency, reinforcing patient trust and ensuring alignment with current regulatory standards before reaching patients online.

“Healthcare is a complex, rapidly evolving field, and providers need clear frameworks to demonstrate compliance, build credibility, and grow responsibly,” said Angela Salter, VP of Enterprise Certification Sales at LegitScript. “Our continued collaboration with Google helps ensure that certified providers in India and New Zealand can reach patients through trusted advertising platforms while maintaining transparency and good practices.”

LegitScript’s Healthcare Certification provides a trusted pathway for healthcare businesses to help demonstrate compliance and transparency with regulators, the public, and third-party partners. LegitScript Certification is recognized within the approval process for conducting card-not-present transactions with Visa and Mastercard, and it is a requirement for many online platforms. Google’s policy update now makes it possible for India-based pharmacies and New Zealand-based telemedicine providers to expand their reach by advertising on the world’s most popular online ad platform.

“For nearly 20 years, we’ve seen the demand for trusted healthcare certification grow as telehealth expands globally, building our deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments,” said Jaylene Kunze, Chief Operating & Financial Officer at LegitScript. “In the past year alone, LegitScript has seen a 103% increase in certified healthcare organizations. Our advanced technology, proprietary data, and human expertise combine to help platforms and providers from around the world navigate the latest healthcare regulations.”

To learn more about LegitScript’s Healthcare Certification program and begin the application process, download the application checklist for India here and New Zealand here and visit: https://www.legitscript.com/certification/healthcare-certification/

For more details on Google’s advertising policies and to stay up to date with changes, visit the Google Ad Policy Change Log homepage.

About LegitScript

LegitScript, the global leader in Enterprise Risk Management and Certification solutions, is trusted by the world’s largest search engines, e-commerce marketplaces, payment service providers, and social media platforms. By combining advanced, AI-driven technology with deep domain expertise and curated market intelligence, LegitScript empowers businesses to stay ahead of emerging threats and seize new growth opportunities with precision and speed. Our global team of regulatory experts and analysts is skilled at understanding global regulatory changes and assessing risk across products, websites, merchants, and platforms, providing clients with unmatched accuracy, actionable insights, and exceptional support.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408837286/en/

SIAL Network continues to strengthen its position as a global leader dedicated to B2B agri-food trade and food innovation. For over 60 years, SIAL has been shaping the global food ecosystem by connecting industry leaders, driving innovation, and facilitating trade across continents.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408129659/en/

Today, SIAL Network brings together more than 17,000 exhibitors and over 700,000 professionals worldwide across 12 major events spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

The launch of SIAL Vietnam in 2026 marks a new milestone in SIAL Network’s development. Vietnam represents one of the most dynamic and fast-growing food markets in Southeast Asia, driven by strong domestic demand, rapid urbanization and increasing international trade flows. This event will be co-located with Food Expo, a well-established exhibition with more than 10 years of presence.

This strategic move reinforces SIAL’s positioning in Southeast Asia, a key region responding to increasing global demand for diversification and new growth markets.

This expansion is further supported by the continued success of SIAL’s major events worldwide. In Asia, SIAL Shanghai stands as a key pillar of the network and ranks as the fourth largest food exhibition in the world.

In North America, SIAL Canada is expected to reach record-breaking levels, reinforcing its role as a strategic gateway to the region.

Meanwhile, SIAL Paris, the flagship event of the network, continues to set a global benchmark for the industry. This year’s edition is expected to be even larger, with over 8,000 exhibitors and 295,000 industry professionals, once again demonstrating SIAL’s unparalleled ability to bring together the entire global food value chain under one roof.

Across all its markets, SIAL Network provides companies with direct access to strategic buyers and concrete business opportunities. Acting as a true global business accelerator, it supports companies in identifying new growth markets, navigating evolving supply chains and responding to increasing demand for diversification.

About SIAL Network: SIAL Network is the world’s leading network of food and beverage exhibitions organizing SIAL Paris, SIAL Canada (Montreal and Toronto), SIAL in China (Shanghai and Guangzhou), SIAL Interfood (Jakarta), SIAL India (Mumbai), Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL (Kuala Lumpur), Gourmet Selection by SIAL, the Cheese and Dairy Products Show (Paris), and Djazagro (Algiers).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408129659/en/