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BV Investment Partners Announces Investment in Thomas & Company

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Partnership Positions Workforce Compliance Solutions Platform for Accelerated Growth and Expansion Across the Human Resources Ecosystem

BOSTON and NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BV Investment Partners (“BV”), a middle-market private equity firm focused on tech-enabled business services and solutions, today announced it has made an investment in Thomas & Company, a leading workforce compliance platform. BV is partnering with CEO Nate Kenney and the broader Thomas & Company leadership team to support the company’s next phase of growth.

Founded in 1994, Thomas & Company is a leading provider of workforce compliance solutions for large employers across the United States. The company specializes in unemployment cost management, tax exposure management and verification services that help organizations reduce risk, improve efficiency and support workforce compliance. Powered by a proprietary records database, a purpose-built technology platform and a white-glove service model, Thomas & Company delivers mission-critical solutions to some of the nation’s most recognized employers. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, the company employs more than 200 professionals nationwide.

Thomas & Company’s growth is rooted in a commitment to innovation, operational excellence and client success. As workforce compliance requirements become increasingly complex, the company continues to invest in technology, service enhancements and strategic solutions that help employers stay ahead of change. Guided by a culture of integrity, accountability, and service, Thomas & Company maintains close partnerships with its clients and incorporates their feedback into every stage of product and service development. This collaborative approach drives meaningful outcomes for employers while strengthening the broader HR ecosystem.

Nate Kenney, Chief Executive Officer of Thomas & Company, said, “This investment is a huge milestone for Thomas & Company and a very exciting day for our customers, employees, and partners. With BV’s partnership, we are positioned to expand our client base, deepen our suite of services and continue investing in technology that simplifies complex employment-related processes. We are excited about the opportunity ahead.”

Jason Kustka, Partner at BV, said, “Thomas & Company is a leading provider that delivers meaningful value and ROI for its clients, representing the type of tech-enabled services platform we look to back.” Patrick Fabrizio, Vice President at BV, added, “We’re excited to help the existing team continue to drive growth organically and via acquisitions within the workforce compliance ecosystem.”

BV was advised by Ropes & Gray LLP, which served as legal counsel. Thomas & Company was advised by McDermott Will & Schulte, which served as legal counsel, and Houlihan Lokey, which served as financial advisor.

About Thomas & Company
Thomas & Company is a leading provider of innovative workforce compliance solutions that support employee relations programs. The company is an industry leader in unemployment cost management, employment & wage verifications, and tax credit solutions, serving clients with unmatched expertise and dedication for over 30 years. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Thomas & Company empowers organizations to navigate complex regulatory environments and achieve their business objectives.

For more information about Thomas & Company, visit http://www.thomas-and-company.com or follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/thomas-and-company-inc/.

About BV Investment Partners
BV Investment Partners is an established sector-focused private equity firm in North America with over $7.8 billion of assets under management. Founded in 1983 and relaunched under new management and strategy in 2012, the firm targets the tech-enabled business services and solutions sectors and leverages more than four decades of experience partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams. To date, it has completed 51 investments and realized or substantially exited 23 companies under new management. For four consecutive years, BV has been named to Inc. magazine’s list of Founder-Friendly Investors and recognized by HEC Paris-Dow Jones rankings as one of the top 10 best-performing buyout firms in the mid-market segment in its first year and in the lower mid-market segment in its second year, following the introduction of this new category. For more information, visit www.bvlp.com.

Disclaimer: Industry recognitions or awards should not be construed as an endorsement or a recommendation to retain the Adviser by the ranking entity or any regulatory authority. Any rankings or awards cited were provided by independent third parties based on their predetermined evaluation criteria. Although BV provided compensation to Inc.com to be included in the survey, it did not exercise any influence or control over the criteria used or the results generated and did not pay any compensation in connection with receiving the award. BV also did not provide any compensation to HEC Paris-Dow Jones to be considered for any of these rankings.

Media Contacts

For Thomas & Company: Michele Heckmann
mheckmann@thomas-and-company.com

For BV Investment Partners: Chris Tofalli
Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC
914-834-4334

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SOURCE BV Investment Partners

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China Xplained | The China Squeeze, or the China Opportunity?

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

Is China’s manufacturing rise squeezing out or creating opportunities for other economies?

Ahead of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China this November, journalists and experts from around the world gathered in Guangdong for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026.

The forum opened in Shenzhen on September 5, bringing together more than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from international organizations.

Before the opening of the forum, participants travelled across Guangdong to see China’s industries and development first-hand.

In this episode of China Xplained, we look at the numbers, supply chains, investment and voices from across the developing world—to ask a bigger question: Is China squeezing out room for other economies?

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SOURCE South

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

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SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum held in China’s Guangdong

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Xinhuanet: 

The Asia-Pacific Media Forum opened on Saturday in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, with the theme of “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.”

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

Participating guests noted that this year marks 2026 APEC “China Year,” during which China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. They expressed their belief that with support from all sides, the summit will yield fruitful outcomes and elevate Asia-Pacific cooperation to new heights.

Participating guests emphasized that development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region depend on the active participation of media. The media are expected to share stories of openness and integration, provide comprehensive coverage of the region’s progress and achievements across various fields, and help foster a favorable public opinion environment for the region’s open development.

Participating guests noted that the media should actively promote outcomes of the series of APEC activities, interpret policies and measures of various economies to support scientific and technological innovation, and build regional consensus for innovative development.

They also called for deepening results-oriented cooperation in joint reporting, technological innovation and personnel training, and leveraging media exchanges to carry forward civilizations, spread culture and convey goodwill, so as to enhance mutual understanding and closer bonds among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific.

The forum was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency and the Guangdong provincial government, and organized by the Shenzhen municipal government.

More than 400 representatives from over 40 countries and regions, as well as UN agencies and international organizations, attended the event. At the opening ceremony, 16 founding organizations from China and abroad jointly formed the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/asia-pacific-media-forum-held-in-chinas-guangdong-302870809.html

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