Core Insights - The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) by Verizon Business highlights a significant increase in system intrusions in the Asia-Pacific region, with 80% of data breaches attributed to such attacks, up from 38% the previous year [1][2][3] Key APAC Findings - Malware incidents rose dramatically from 58% to 83% year-over-year in the Asia-Pacific region, with ransomware now accounting for 51% of breaches [2][9] - The report indicates a concerning trend of espionage-motivated attacks particularly affecting the Manufacturing and Healthcare sectors, while the Education, Financial, and Retail industries continue to face persistent threats [6] - The involvement of third parties in breaches has doubled, emphasizing the risks associated with supply chains and partner ecosystems [9] Key Global Findings - The report analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 confirmed data breaches across 139 countries, underscoring the global nature of the cybersecurity threat landscape [2] - The median ransom payment to cybercriminals was reported at US$115,000, which poses a significant financial burden for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) [7] - A notable increase in breaches due to exploitation of vulnerabilities was observed, with a 34% rise, particularly focusing on zero-day exploits targeting perimeter devices and VPNs [9]

Group 1: Qualcomm's AI Initiative - Qualcomm has launched the Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence Program for Innovators (QAIPI) 2025 in the Asia-Pacific region, aimed at empowering developers and startups in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea to create on-device AI solutions across mobile, compute, and IoT sectors [7][15] - Applications for QAIPI 2025 are open until April 15, 2025, with the program divided into two phases: Phase 1 focuses on edge-AI model development, while Phase 2 supports shortlisted startups with end-to-end use case development on Qualcomm hardware [8][14] - Participants in QAIPI will receive various incentives, including online training, digital badges, mentorship, Qualcomm hardware access, a $5,000 participation stipend, and up to $5,000 for patent filing [2][14] Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Position - For Q1 fiscal 2025, Qualcomm expects GAAP revenues between $10.5 billion and $11.3 billion, driven by market stabilization and recovery in demand [4] - Qualcomm's shares have increased by 9.3% over the past year, compared to the industry's growth of 27.3% [11] - The company is well-positioned to meet long-term revenue targets, with a focus on transitioning from a mobile communications firm to a connected processor company, potentially expanding its total addressable market to approximately $900 billion by 2030 [16] Group 3: 5G Technology and Market Leadership - Qualcomm is committed to retaining its leadership in the 5G chipset market, with technological achievements that support broad and fast 5G adoption [10] - The company is the only chipset vendor with 5G system-level solutions across both sub-6 and millimeter wave bands, and it is one of the largest RF front-end suppliers [10] - Qualcomm's investments in building a licensing program in mobile are benefiting from the accelerated rollout of 5G technology [16]

Group 1 - Ping An Insurance has been upgraded to an AA ESG rating by MSCI, marking the third consecutive year it leads the Multi-Line Insurance & Brokerage Industry in the Asia-Pacific region [1][2] - The company outperforms industry averages in five key indicators: human capital development, privacy & data security, financing environmental impact, responsible investment, and climate change vulnerability [2] - Ping An is committed to sustainable development as a long-term strategic priority, integrating sustainability into its corporate strategy with a scientific management system and transparent governance structure [3] Group 2 - The company maintains a customer-centric approach and is advancing a technology-driven "integrated finance + healthcare and senior care" strategy [4] - Ping An aims to enhance corporate governance and risk management while promoting green finance initiatives to create sustainable long-term value for stakeholders [4] - As of September 2024, Ping An had over RMB 12 trillion in total assets and ranked 29th in the Forbes Global 2000 list and 53rd in the Fortune Global 500 list [5]

Company Overview - Globavend Holdings Limited is an emerging e-commerce logistics provider offering end-to-end logistics solutions in Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand [4] - The company primarily serves enterprise customers, including e-commerce merchants and operators of e-commerce platforms, facilitating business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions [4] - Globavend provides integrated cross-border logistics services, including pre-carriage parcel drop-off, parcel consolidation, air-freight forwarding, customs clearance, on-carriage parcel transportation, and final delivery [4] Webinar Announcement - Globavend will present a live webinar on "Going Public in the US – an APAC Experience" on November 28, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. AEDT [1] - The webinar will feature insights from Nasdaq and industry experts regarding the benefits and strategies of going public in the US, particularly for APAC companies [2] - Key presenters include Neil Waldron from Nasdaq, Frank Yau (Chairman and CEO of Globavend), and partners from leading international law firms [3] Strategic Importance - Frank Yau, Chairman and CEO of Globavend, emphasized the importance of Nasdaq as a platform to boost company growth and expressed satisfaction with the collaboration for the webinar [3]

Company Expansion - Apollo has opened a new office in Seoul, South Korea, and appointed Jay Hyun Lee as Partner and Head of Korea to support its growth plans in the market [1][4] - The firm has a successful track record in the Asia Pacific region, having established its presence in major cities such as Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Singapore since 2006 [2] Leadership and Strategy - As Head of Korea, Lee will focus on driving Apollo's capital formation strategy, building institutional relationships, and expanding the team in South Korea [3] - Lee brings 25 years of financial services experience, previously serving as Senior Executive Vice President at Samsung Securities and holding key roles at Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, J.P. Morgan, and KPMG Korea [5] Market Opportunity - Apollo views South Korea as a leading financial hub with significant opportunities to serve investors and retirees, addressing the growing demand for flexible and creative capital solutions [4] - The firm aims to collaborate with pensions, insurers, and other institutions to provide yield-oriented solutions for individuals and savers seeking duration-matched income products [4] Academic Collaboration - Apollo has appointed Dr. Sam Young Chung, a professor at Yonsei University, as an Academic Advisor in Asia Pacific to leverage his expertise in retirement solutions and alternative assets [6] Company Overview - Apollo is a high-growth global alternative asset manager with approximately $733 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2024 [7]

Group 1 - Disney's content investment in EMEA and APAC has "slowed down" due to technology challenges and strong performance of Hollywood movies in local markets [1] - The CEO indicated a mixed outlook for international spending, highlighting "opportunities" for selective investments outside the U.S., but cautioning that these should not be seen as "enormous" [2] - Local success of billion-dollar movies like Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2 suggests less need for locally-produced content compared to other regions [2][3] Group 2 - Disney is being cautious with international investments until technology issues are resolved, though specifics on these issues were not disclosed [4] - In India, Disney has formed a new $8.5 billion joint venture with Reliance Industries, where Reliance will own two-thirds of the shares and manage the business [5] - The deal merges Disney's Star India TV and Disney+ Hotstar with Reliance's JioCinema and Viacom18, with Disney retaining an ownership stake in the high thirties [6]

Company Overview - Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. is a leading global provider of satellite-based broadband communications with over 35 years of experience [2] - The company offers a diverse portfolio that includes high-value solutions for multiple orbit constellations, very high throughput satellites (VHTS), and software-defined satellites (SDS) [3] Recent Developments - Gilat has secured a multimillion contract extension to provide services for a leading satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region for an additional 12 months [1] - This contract extension emphasizes Gilat's ongoing support in managing and maintaining the operator's satellite communications infrastructure, ensuring enhanced network performance and reliability [1] Product and Service Offerings - The company's offerings include a cloud-based platform, high-performance satellite terminals, Satellite On-the-Move (SOTM) antennas, Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA), Block Upconverters (BUC), and integrated ground systems [3] - Gilat's solutions cater to various applications such as broadband access, mobility, cellular backhaul, enterprise, defense, aerospace, broadcast, government, and critical infrastructure [3] Strategic Importance - The contract extension reflects the trust that partners place in Gilat's technology and underscores the company's strategic role in the satellite communications sector [1]

IPO Activity - Two small IPOs and two SPACs debuted this past week, with eight IPOs submitting initial filings [2] - Pheton Holdings (PTHL) priced its US IPO at the low end to raise $9 million at a $57 million market cap, focusing on cancer treatment planning systems [3] - Powell Max (PMAX) priced its US IPO at the low end to raise $6 million at a $58 million market cap, providing financial communication services in Hong Kong [3] - Vine Hill Capital (VCICU) and Andretti Acquisition II (POLEU) each raised $200 million as SPACs [3] - Eight IPOs submitted initial filings, including StandardAero (SARO) aiming to raise $1 billion and KinderCare (KLC) aiming for $500 million [3] Upcoming IPOs - Bicara Therapeutics (BCAX) plans to raise $200 million at an $865 million market cap, focusing on a bifunctional antibody for solid tumors [4][5] - Zenas BioPharma (ZBIO) is set to raise $200 million at a $685 million market cap, developing therapies for autoimmune diseases [4][5] Market Performance - The Renaissance IPO Index was up 8.1% year-to-date as of 9/5/2024, while the S&P 500 was up 16.5% [4] - The Renaissance International IPO Index was down 5.3% year-to-date [4]

Core Points - WonderFi Technologies Inc. has officially launched its subsidiary Bitbuy APAC in the Asia-Pacific region, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy [1][2] - The company has partnered with Kogan.com, a leading Australian e-commerce platform, to enhance its market presence in Australia [1][4] Company Overview - WonderFi is recognized as the largest regulated crypto trading platform in Canada, with over $1.35 billion in assets under custody, positioning it to serve global crypto participants [5] - The company focuses on both centralized and decentralized financial services and products, including trading, payments, and blockchain technology [5][6] Strategic Developments - Bitbuy has completed its first international crypto trade following the acquisition of FX Institutions Pty. Ltd. in March 2024, and has established a local team in Melbourne, Australia [2] - The company is working towards obtaining an Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) license to offer derivatives and other financial products in the region [2] Partnership Details - The partnership with Kogan.com includes exclusive promotions for Kogan FIRST members and marketing support from Kogan to promote Bitbuy [4] - Kogan made the first purchase of Bitcoin through Bitbuy APAC, which will be held in their corporate treasury, symbolizing the start of their collaboration [4]

Group 1 - WOOFi is strategically targeting the Asia Pacific region for its next hypergrowth phase, sponsoring the Web3 Builders Breakfast at GM Vietnam 2024 to connect with Web3 builders and innovators [1] - The approval of spot BTC ETFs in Asia and anticipated ETH ETFs are expected to attract a broader range of investors, enhancing digital asset payments in the APAC region [1] - WOOFi has over $14 billion in cumulative trading volume and more than 250,000 monthly active users, supporting 11 blockchains and offering various products including earn vaults and perpetual futures [3] Group 2 - WOOFi has ventured into AI by integrating Kvants, a leading AI and machine learning platform, to improve trading efficiency and provide advanced analytical tools [2] - WOOFi Pro is an omnichain gasless Central Limit Order Book (CLOB) protocol offering up to 20x leverage, designed to provide a seamless user experience while maintaining self-custody of funds [4] - The integration of WOOFi Pro with the CryptoCurrency eXchange Trading (CCXT) Library enhances trading efficiency and market engagement for users [2]