A.M. BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF BNZ LIFE INSURANCE LIMITED

SINGAPORE, March 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a" of BNZ Life Insurance Limited (BNZ Life) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect BNZ Life's very strong risk-adjusted capitalization and operating performance. In addition, the company has a good profile with competitive advantages in its distribution channel. As an affiliated company of Bank of New Zealand Limited, BNZ Life has low distribution costs and benefits from a banking network with branches nationwide.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=28613

EPAM AWARDED ISAE 3402 TYPE 2 CERTIFICATION FOR ALL MAJOR DEVELOPMENT CENTERS WORLDWIDE

Company's 10th Consecutive Year of Leading the Region with Effective Compliance and Control Strategy

NEWTOWN, Pa., March 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE:EPAM), a leading global provider of product development and software engineering solutions, today announced that its development centers in Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine have been successfully reassessed for the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3402 Type 2 certification. This certification demonstrates proof of a sustained, effective global control mechanism. The assurance report, issued by Deloitte Auditing and Consulting Ltd, was the result of a comprehensive, four-month audit and included controls over information security, resource strategy and planning, information systems operations, database and application systems implementation and maintenance, and software and hardware support.

The ISAE 3402 Type 2 (formerly SAS 70 Type II) was designed specifically to address customer's requirements that service organizations demonstrate that they have adequate internal control systems to protect data and sensitive information belonging to the customers.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=28602

A.M. BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF THE EDUCATION BENEVOLENT SOCIETY INCORPORATED

SINGAPORE, March 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” of The Education Benevolent Society Incorporated (EBS) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect EBS’ very strong risk-adjusted capitalization and low product risk profile.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=28612

XAXIS NAMES BOB WALCZAK EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL PRODUCTS

Previously Global CEO of Xaxis Performance Advertising Business Light Reaction, Walczak to Lead New Global Products Unit

NEW YORK, March 3 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Xaxis, the world’s largest programmatic media and technology platform, announced today it has named Bob Walczak as executive vice president, global products. Walczak previously served as global CEO of Light Reaction, a performance advertising business that is part of Xaxis. In this role, he grew and refined Light Reaction’s proprietary pay-for-performance product and technology offerings and successfully launched them into 31 markets across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=28601

Karyaneka Sets Sales Target Of RM1 Mln During National Craft Day 2017

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- Syarikat Pemasaran Karyaneka Sdn Bhd (Karyaneka) has set a sales target of more than RM1 million in conjunction with the National Craft Day (HKK) 2017.

Karyaneka Business Development manager Mohamed Alias Mohd Ariffin said despite the uncertain economic situation, the purchasing power among the people was still high.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=1334667

MATTHIAS LEUBE APPOINTED CEO OF COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL - GERMANY

TORONTO, March 2 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colliers International Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CIGI) (TSX:CIGI) announced today that Matthias Leube has been appointed CEO of Colliers International Deutschland GmbH. Leube succeeds Achim Degen who has led the Colliers operations in Germany and will now return to his role as the Market Leader for our important Munich office.

Leube joins from AXA Asset Managers where he was the Head of its German real estate business for the past six years and prior to that he served for eight years at Deutsche Bank as Managing Director responsible for Corporate Real Estate of the EMEA region. Mr. Leube began his career at another major commercial real estate firm where he held several senior positions over a period of 11 years. Leube will report to Chris McLernon, CEO Colliers International | EMEA.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=28533

A.M. BEST BRIEFING: JAPAN NON-LIFE INSURERS' IMPROVED OPERATING RESULTS SUPPORT INCREASED LEVELS OF FINANCIAL LEVERAGE

HONG KONG, March 2 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Japan's non-life insurance groups have reported moderate increases in their financial leverage, to an average 6.1% at year-end 2016 from 4.5% in March 2016, and interest rate coverage has remained stable, due to improvements in their operating results, according to a new A.M. Best briefing.

The Best's Briefing, titled, "Improved Operating Results for Japanese Non-Life Insurers Support Increased Level of Financial Leverage," states that the three major non-life insurance groups - MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc., Sompo Holdings, and Tokio Marine Holdings - saw their profitability improve over the nine months ending December 2016, mainly due to the absence of large-scale catastrophe losses in the domestic market. In addition, improved underwriting results and growing contributions from overseas insurance businesses offset the decrease in interest and dividend incomes. These major non-life insurance groups have reported premium income and earnings growth from their overseas businesses and the consolidations of recently acquired operations.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=28529