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mpathic Receives SBIR Award to Address Racial Bias in Healthcare AI

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Care providers’ cultural attunement deficiency is a historic mental health care barrier for racial and ethnic minority communities, while bias remains a top pain point for healthcare AI

Conversational AI visionary mpathic is building culturally competent AI models for more equitable mental healthcare delivery, rooted in part in Wave’s inclusive provider-patient transcripts

NIH SBIR’s mission is to cultivate diverse ideas and strive to empower scientists and entrepreneurs to bring their discoveries to patients

BELLEVUE, Wash., July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — mpathic, a leader in AI-powered actionable conversation analytics specializing in healthcare, life sciences, and client services, today announced it has received a highly competitive National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award for its transformative project “Empathy for Everyone: Generative AI that Improves Patient-Provider Cultural Attunement in Real Time.”

NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, offers SBIR grants to innovative small healthcare and life sciences businesses to perform research and development to make medical breakthroughs that can be deployed to the masses. This grant will fund the expansion of mpathic’s generative AI tools to facilitate cultural attunement between mental health providers and patients, bridge the gap in mental healthcare for underserved racial and ethnic populations, and potentially improve therapeutic outcomes and patient satisfaction.

America’s mental healthcare system is failing people of color. Racial and ethnic minority communities report higher rates of mental illness compared to white and privileged communities. Marginalized communities are also less likely to seek treatment, less likely to find or access high-quality care, and less likely to finish treatment, with 30-57% of patients prematurely leaving. These same communities often feel that mental health clinicians lack cultural attunement – where a clinician is understanding and responsive to the intersection of societal context, culture, and power of the patient’s lived experience, and are ill-equipped to respond to their mental health needs in an empathetic and affirming manner. Cultural attunement has been shown to be the driving factor that retains racial and ethnic minorities in mental healthcare.

Many digital health innovations are intended to improve patient-clinician relationships and the overall patient experience, including AI-powered technologies such as chatbots and ambient AI assistants. Unfortunately, many fall far short in closing care gaps. Male-dominant hetero-white language is the internet’s most prevalent language and is the foundation for widely used health technology AI models. This has led to a proliferation of AI innovations that are racist, sexist, and genderist when interacting with patients. 

mpathic realizes that all mental health providers must be equipped with tools that address cultural attunement and health disparities, and it’s course-correcting the racial and ethnic bias prevalent in mental health AI models. mpathic is the first company of its kind to build a conversational analytics platform to detect and correct for cultural attunement in real time with natural language processing (NLP) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. mpathic is utilizing Wave’s provider-patient appointment transcripts to build its AI model.

“For too long, mental health care has not adequately considered the cultural context of patients,” shared Dr. Grin Lord, CEO and founder of mpathic. “With AI assistance that brings the best expertise in cultural attunement to any provider, we can create more meaningful and effective interventions that respect cultural nuances.”

mpathic will employ AI and NLP processing on conversational data from 300 30-minute health coaching sessions from Wave to improve cultural attunement in real-time provider-patient interactions. Wave delivers personalized virtual mental health care through a combination of an app-based digital experience and certified mental health coaches. Wave’s inclusive design processes and equitable hiring practices have supported an 85% non-white, non-male and non-straight team of therapists, coaches and care navigators, lending itself to an equally diverse user population and coaching session transcript data.

“Our collaboration with mpathic on this project is not just about technological innovation; it’s a step towards true access to mental health care that recognizes and adapts to the diversity of human culture,” said Dr. Sarah Adler, founder & CEO of Wave. “It’s about creating tools that enable us to see each patient more fully and meet them where they are, with respect, humility, and understanding.”

The SBIR Phase I project is headed by a team of experts in psychology and technology, including Alison Cerezo, Ph.D., Grin Lord, Psy.D., Amber Jolley-Paige, Ph.D., Jay Palat, M.S., and Tad Hirsch, Ph.D., at mpathic, alongside collaborators Sarah Adler, Ph.D., and Alison Pickover, Ph.D., from Wave.

“This SBIR award is a significant milestone for mpathic and speaks to our team’s innovative spirit and dedication,” said Dr. Alison Cerezo, SVP of Research & Health Equity at mpathic. “Through the research, we aim not only to improve mental health outcomes but to ensure that our mental health systems are equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities.”

About mpathic
mpathic is a trusted leader in actionable conversation analytics, empowering healthcare, life sciences, and client services leaders to deliver exceptional care and engagement. Using proprietary ML models developed and trained on over a decade of scientific validation, with up to seven times the accuracy of human doctors, mpathic objectively detects, corrects and improves 200 plus behaviors, establishing an unrivaled level of assurance. To learn more, visit www.mpathic.ai.

About Wave
Wave delivers personalized, virtual mental health care to help members navigate the highs and lows of daily life, with evidence-based solutions and science-backed care plans. Combining an app-based digital experience with mental health coaches certified by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching and trained in its proprietary, evidence-based mental health model, Wave has demonstrated significant reductions in acute depression, anxiety and stress. The company’s stepped care model, which delivers and monitors mental health treatment so that the most effective, yet least resource intensive treatment, is delivered first, also includes access to licensed therapists when clinically appropriate. To learn more, visit www.wavelife.io.

Media Contact
Kristina Kroot
Director of Marketing
mpathic
kristina@mpathic.ai

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Loomis enters Peru through the intended acquisition of Hermes Transportes Blindados via a public tender offer

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STOCKHOLM, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —  Loomis has entered a Tender Offer Agreement (“TOA”) with CVC Capital Partners and other minority shareholders representing 99.49 percent of the outstanding shares in the Peru-based cash and valuables management company Hemes Transportes Blindados S.A. (“Hermes”), publicly listed on the Lima Stock Exchange. Under the TOA, Loomis will launch a public tender offer (“Oferta Pública de Adquisición”) for up to 100 percent of the shares of Hermes, at an enterprise value of approximately SEK 4 billion on a cash and debt free basis. The public tender offer is expected to be launched during the second or third quarter, with closing anticipated in the third quarter of 2026. 

Hermes was founded in 1985 and is today a leading provider of cash management and secure logistics services in Peru. Hermes provides services that include transport, processing, storage and security custody of valuables such as cash, precious metals and high value minerals, as well as ATM management and collection services. Hermes serves around 1,000 clients across financial, retail, governmental, industrial and mining sectors. The company is publicly listed on the Lima Stock Exchange and is headquartered in Lima with 19 branches across the country. The company employs approximately 3,200 people nationwide and in 2025, Hermes reported revenues of PEN 432 million (approximately SEK 1.2 billion).

“Today we have reached a strategic milestone. Through our most significant acquisition to date, we are entering the Peruvian market. As the leading player in the industry, Hermes has a proven track record of growth, profitability and innovation. Peru has one the fastest growing economies in Latin America, supported by a solid macroeconomic environment and increasing cash usage. I am delighted to welcome more than 3,200 new colleagues to Loomis,” comments Aritz Larrea, President and CEO of Loomis.  

“We are excited to become part of Loomis. Joining a global group with deep expertise in operations like ours strengthens our ability to continue growing with confidence and responsibility. This next chapter strongly supports our purpose of empowering the development of a safer society by protecting resources, building trust, and contributing to stability within the financial system,” comments Mirella Velásquez Castro, CEO of Hermes.  

 Strategic rationale 

Strengthens Loomis’ position in Latin America  
As communicated at the 2024 Capital Markets Day, expanding in emerging Latin American markets is a strategic priority. Peru is an attractive market given its high cash usage, strong economic growth, a solid macro environment, and a stable, independent central bank. Strong potential for growth within the SME customer segment and Automated Solutions  

Hermes’ strong position in the SME segment and its relationship with Loomis’ cash-handling automation solutions under the CIMA brand provide a solid platform to expand Loomis’ Automated Solutions offering in Peru, creating clear growth and synergy opportunities.

Expanding the mining offer with Loomis International 
The acquisition presents strong potential to complement Hermes’ established valuables logistics within the mining sector with Loomis International’s service offering, supporting cross-border expansion and strengthening the combined position in the mining segment. Supports Loomis strategic targets 
The acquisition supports Loomis’ financial targets, contributing to both revenue growth and margin accretion. Hermes also demonstrates strong governance and is at the forefront of sustainability in its market, aligning well with Loomis’ sustainability priorities and targets. 

Overview of the transaction  

Loomis has entered into a Tender Offer Agreement (“TOA”) with CVC Capital Partners and other minority shareholders representing 99.49 percent of the outstanding shares of Hermes (the “Majority Shareholders”), a publicly listed company on the Lima Stock Exchange. Under the TOA, Loomis will, subject to customary terms and conditions, conduct a public tender offer (“Oferta Pública de Adquisición” or “OPA”) to acquire up to 100 percent of Hermes’ outstanding shares. The Majority Shareholders have pursuant to the terms of the TOA undertaken to support the OPA process and confirmed their intention to sell their shares and accept the tender offer once launched. The transaction values Hermes at an enterprise value of SEK 4 billion (PEN 1,450 million) on a cash and debt free basis, representing a 6.6x adjusted EBITDA multiple based on the 2025 financial year. 

The commencement of the OPA is expected during the second or third quarter of 2026. Further details of the transaction, including the offer price and offer conditions, will be provided in the tender offer documentation in accordance with applicable regulations. 

Following completion of the OPA, the business will be reported within Segment Europe and Latin America and consolidated into Loomis as of the transaction closing. Closing is expected to take place during the third quarter of 2026. Following a successful tender offer process, no regulatory approvals are required to complete the acquisition.  

The transaction will be financed entirely through debt with an already committed bridge facility.  

The acquisition is expected to be instantly accretive to the Group’s operating profit (EBITA) as well as earnings per share.  

Conference call 

Loomis invites shareholders, investors, analysts and financial media to a webcast presentation on May 5 at 9.00 a.m. CEST, during which the intended acquisition will be presented, and a Q&A session will be held. 

To follow the webcast, please follow this link.  

To ask questions, please join the conference call using the following dial-in details: 

United Kingdom: +44 (0)161 250 8206USA: +1 (0)561 771 1427Sweden: +46 (0)8 505 100 39

This press release is also available on the company’s website, www.loomis.com

For more information, please contact:  

Aritz Larrea 
President and CEO 

Contact via:  

Jenny Boström  
Head of Sustainability and IR
ir@loomis.com
+46 79 006 45 92

Fredrik Hammarbäck

Media Relations and External Communications Manager
media@loomis.com
+46 76 311 56 29

Important information

The public tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Hermes Transportes Blindados S.A. described in this communication has not yet commenced. This communication is for informational purposes only, is not a recommendation and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that Loomis AB and its acquisition subsidiary will file with the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores upon commencement of the tender offer. 

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/loomis-ab/r/loomis-enters-peru-through-the-intended-acquisition-of-hermes-transportes-blindados-via-a-public-ten,c4344257

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/51/4344257/4075002.pdf

Loomis enters Peru through the intended acquisition of Hermes Transportes Blindados via a public tender offer

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Corgi Launches AI Insurance Coverage to Protect Businesses When AI Goes Wrong

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in business operations, a new category of risk is emerging: one that traditional insurance policies were never designed to cover. Corgi has announced the launch of its AI Insurance Coverage, a purpose-built solution designed to protect companies from the real-world consequences of AI failures.

From autonomous agents making financial decisions to models generating customer-facing content, AI systems are no longer experimental—they are operational. But when these systems malfunction, produce biased outputs, or act unpredictably, the financial and legal exposure can be significant.

Corgi’s AI Insurance Coverage is designed to fill those gaps.

“Businesses are moving fast with AI, but their insurance hasn’t kept up,” said Nico Laqua, co-founder and CEOat Corgi. “We built this product for the reality companies are already in, where AI is making decisions, taking actions, and sometimes making mistakes.”

Rather than introducing a standalone policy, Corgi’s solution integrates directly with existing Tech E&O policies and introduces a modular approach, allowing companies to tailor protection based on how they use AI.

The coverage is built to address a wide spectrum of AI-related scenarios, including issues stemming from biased algorithms, inaccurate or harmful generated content, misuse of training data, adversarial attacks on models, synthetic media, and autonomous system failures.

Rather than forcing companies into rigid policies, Corgi allows customers to select only the coverage modules relevant to their risk profile, ensuring they pay only for what they need.

The launch comes at a time when traditional insurers and regulators alike are grappling with how to handle AI-related incidents. In some cases, traditional carriers have begun excluding AI-related risks altogether, leaving businesses exposed.

Corgi’s AI Insurance Coverage is available for technology companies, startups, and enterprises deploying AI in production environments.

About Corgi Insurance
Corgi is an AI-native, full-stack insurance carrier built for startups. As a licensed carrier, Corgi designs and manages insurance end-to-end, using modern infrastructure and AI systems to power underwriting, policy management, and claims.

Media Contact
Erika Lee
Corgi
erika@corgi.com

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ISDN Precision System Obtains CE Certification, Plans Debut at SEMICON SEA

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TAIPEI, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ISDN Precision System announced that its linear motors have obtained CE certification, demonstrating compliance with European Union requirements on safety, health, and environmental protection, and granting the company official access to the European market.

The company stated that achieving CE certification indicates its product design and manufacturing processes meet relevant European regulatory standards, and is expected to support future collaboration with international customers in equipment integration and applications.

ISDN Precision System will participate in SEMICON SEA 2026 in May 2026 under the leadership of its parent company, Singapore-based ISDN Holdings. This marks the company’s first participation in an overseas semiconductor exhibition.

According to ISDN Precision System, the exhibition will feature linear motors and high-precision modules, with applications covering semiconductor equipment, laser processing, and optical inspection. Its linear motors support high-speed motion and precision positioning, and are compatible with leading global drive and controller brands for multi-axis configurations. The company also provides customized mechatronic solutions, developing motion systems based on customer requirements.

According to PwC, global semiconductor equipment spending is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of over 7% through 2030, with more than 70% of investments concentrated in Asia. Against this backdrop, as Asia continues to serve as a major hub for semiconductor manufacturing, and with Singapore and Malaysia playing key roles in packaging, testing, and related supply chains, ISDN Precision System is leveraging its parent company’s regional presence to expand its service capabilities.

The company stated that it will continue to strengthen technical capabilities and application integration based on its existing product portfolio, while expanding collaboration opportunities in overseas markets.

About ISDN Holdings Limited
Operating since 1986, ISDN Holdings Limited (SGX: I07) is a fast-growing multi-industry corporation focused on powering smart operations. We help businesses advance their digital capabilities for the Industry 4.0 era while maintaining a keen focus on clean energy in Asia.

About ISDN Precision System
Based in Taiwan, ISDN Precision System specializes in the local production of linear motors, high-precision gantries, and customized mechatronics solutions for the precision manufacturing sector. From its strategic base in Asia, the company has rapidly built an international network to deliver precise and tailored motion solutions to customers worldwide.

Contact ISDN Precision System at marketing@isdn-precision.com 

 

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SOURCE ISDN Precision System

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