A Strategic Move to Strengthen Sapiens’ Position in the APAC Market and Strengthen our Life Position Globally

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sapiens International Corporation (NASDAQ: SPNS) (TASE: SPNS), a global leader in intelligent insurance software solutions today announced the acquisition of Candela, a leading intelligent automation company servicing blue-chip, APAC-based insurance clients. This strategic move aims to enhance Sapiens’ life product portfolio and expand its presence in the APAC region. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to close during the second quarter of 2025.

Candela offers an end-to-end insurance automation platform along with digital services and solutions. Candela has 23 customers, primarily in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and South Africa. The Candela team of over 100 employees is mainly in Bangalore, India. Candela is currently part of Azentio, a Singapore-based company.

With nearly 30 years of deep industry expertise, Candela is well-positioned to support Sapiens’ vision and strategy for growth in the APAC market in addition to providing innovative new capabilities to Sapiens global customers. Candela’s solutions are complementary to Sapiens Insurance Platform and Policy Administration Systems for Life. By leveraging Candela’s Business Process Modelling (BPM) and Case Management capabilities, Sapiens aims to enhance its Insurance Platform for life offerings.

This acquisition also enables the implementation of standardized processes over external legacy solutions, ensuring a consistent and enhanced experience for agents, customers, and administrators.

“I am pleased to welcome the Candela team and customers as part of our strategy to continue to expand our presence in the APAC region and enhance our sophisticated life insurance platform” said Roni Al-Dor, CEO and President at Sapiens. “We will continue to support Candela’s customers and products, increasing value across the entire insurance lifecycle and supporting insurers’ digital transformations with a comprehensive product proposition and a diverse range of service capabilities.”

“Joining the Sapiens organization opens up a wealth of resources and a global network of relationships for the Candela team and our clients,” said Amitabh Poddar, Business Head, Candela. “Integrating our intelligent automation solutions into Sapiens’ leading insurance software platform will enhance our capabilities and provide even greater value to our customers. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining uninterrupted service for all our clients.”

The acquisition of Candela is structured as a cash transaction. Candela non-GAAP full year 2024 revenues were $8 million USD. Sapiens will pay an aggregate cash consideration of $22 Million dollar. The acquisition will be accretive to profit starting from the fourth quarter of 2025.   The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2025. Upon completion, Candela will become wholly owned by Sapiens.

About Sapiens

Sapiens International Corporation (NASDAQ and TASE: SPNS) is a global leader in intelligent insurance SaaS software solutions. With Sapiens’ robust platform, customer-driven partnerships, and rich ecosystem, insurers are empowered to future-proof their organizations with operational excellence in a rapidly changing marketplace. Our SaaS based solutions help insurers harness the power of AI and advanced automation to support core solutions for property and casualty, workers’ compensation, and life insurance, including reinsurance, financial & compliance, data & analytics, digital, and decision management. Sapiens boasts a longtime global presence, serving over 600 customers in more than 30 countries with its innovative offerings. Recognized by industry experts and selected for the Microsoft Top 100 Partner program, Sapiens is committed to partnering with our customers for their entire transformation journey and is continuously innovating to ensure their success.   For more information visit https://sapiens.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Candela

Candela Labs is an IP-led technology focused on smart automation and digital solutions for insurers. We work on the cutting edge of InsureTech/FinTech, creating products and point solutions in our IP Labs that enable our clients to truly transform themselves for enriched digital adoption, enhanced customer & channel experience and exceptional operational efficiency.

About Azentio

Azentio Software incorporated in 2020 at Singapore, has been carved out of 3i Infotech, Candela Labs, Beyontec Technologies and Path Solutions. Azentio Software provides mission critical, vertical-specific software products for customers in banking, financial services and insurance verticals. Azentio has over 800 customers in more than 60 countries, with a team of over 2,300 employees across offices in 12 countries (and growing) globally and is wholly owned by Funds advised by Apax Partners. Visit: https://www.azentio.com/

Investor and Media Contact 
Yaffa Cohen-Ifrah 
Sapiens Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Investor Relations
Email: Yaffa.cohen-ifrah@sapiens.com 

Forward Looking Statements 

Certain matters discussed in this press release that are incorporated herein and therein by reference are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations, as well as information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “plan” and similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the degree of our success in our plans to leverage our global footprint to grow our sales; the degree of our success in integrating the companies that we have acquired through the implementation of our M&A growth strategy; the lengthy development cycles for our solutions, which may frustrate our ability to realize revenues and/or profits from our potential new solutions; our lengthy and complex sales cycles, which do not always result in the realization of revenues; the degree of our success in retaining our existing customers or competing effectively for greater market share; the global macroeconomic environment, including headwinds caused by inflation, relatively high interest rates, potentially unfavorable currency exchange rate movements, and uncertain economic conditions, and their impact on our revenues, profitability and cash flows; difficulties in successfully planning and managing changes in the size of our operations; the frequency of the long-term, large, complex projects that we perform that involve complex estimates of project costs and profit margins, which sometimes change mid-stream; the challenges and potential liability that heightened privacy laws and regulations pose to our business; occasional disputes with clients, which may adversely impact our results of operations and our reputation; various intellectual property issues related to our business; potential unanticipated product vulnerabilities or cybersecurity breaches of our or our customers’ systems; risks related to the insurance industry in which our clients operate; risks associated with our global sales and operations, such as changes in regulatory requirements, wide-spread viruses and epidemics like the coronavirus epidemic, and fluctuations in currency exchange rates; and risks related to our principal location in Israel and our status as a Cayman Islands company.

While we believe such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, should one or more of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, or these risks or uncertainties materialize, our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Please read the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, to be filed in the near future, in order to review conditions that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

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SOURCE Sapiens International Corporation

HANOI, Vietnam, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FPT Corporation announced a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Corporation and SBI Holdings – Japan’s leading conglomerates in the finance and industrial sectors to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption through the FPT AI Factory ecosystem, contributing to the advancement of sovereign AI in Japan.

Under this partnership, Sumitomo and SBI Holdings will each invest 20% and 20% in FPT Smart Cloud Japan, a subsidiary of FPT Corporation. This partnership lays a critical foundation for delivering cutting-edge AI solutions to organizations and enterprises in Japan, expediting AI integration across all aspects of society and supporting the nation’s ambition to become a global AI leader.

Combining FPT’s technological capabilities with the extensive networks and expertise of Sumitomo and SBI Holdings across various industries, the three parties are committed to scaling AI and Cloud business in Japan. Together, they aim to build a diversified product and service ecosystem that meets the unique and increasingly complex demands of the Japanese market.

Mr. Truong Gia Binh, Founder and Chairman of FPT Corporation, emphasized: “Sharing a common vision for the transformative potential of AI, we are working closely with our strategic partners to expand the global application of AI technologies. This partnership also contributes to fostering innovation, strengthening organizational competitiveness, and maintaining technology autonomy, supporting Japan’s goal of becoming an AI nation.”

With the core philosophy of “Build Your Own AI,” FPT AI Factory aims to make AI more accessible and easily deployable for every business, organization, and individual. Leveraging FPT’s robust AI infrastructure—powered by thousands of the latest-generation GPUs, pre-packaged models, and deployment frameworks, alongside a comprehensive service ecosystem as well as proven experience in the Japanese market of FPT and its investors, FPT AI Factory enables organizations to harness their proprietary data, knowledge, and identity. This empowers them to rapidly develop tailored AI applications, unlock breakthrough performance, and create sustainable competitive advantages.

About SBI Group

Established in 1999, SBI Group is one of Japan’s pioneers in online financial services. The Group operates a wide range of financial businesses, offering user-friendly products and services via the Internet, primarily in the areas of securities, banking, and insurance. In addition to its core operations, SBI is also active in asset management and various global investment ventures.

About Sumitomo Corporation

Sumitomo Corporation is an integrated trading and business investment company with a strong global network comprising 125 offices in 64 countries and regions. The Sumitomo Corporation Group consists of approximately 900 companies and 80,000 employees on a consolidated basis. The Group’s business activities are spread across the following nine groups: Steel, Automotive, Transportation & Construction Systems, Diverse Urban Development, Media & Digital, Lifestyle Business, Mineral Resources, Chemicals Solutions and Energy Transformation Business. Sumitomo Corporation is committed to creating greater value for society under the corporate message of “Enriching lives and the world,” based on Sumitomo’s business philosophy passed down for over 400 years.

About FPT Corporation

FPT Corporation (FPT) is a global leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam. FPT operates in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. As AI is indeed a key focus, FPT has been integrating AI across its products and solutions to drive innovation and enhance user experiences within its Made by FPT ecosystem. FPT is actively working on expanding its capabilities in AI through investments in human resources, R&D, and partnerships with leading organizations like NVIDIA, Mila, AITOMATIC, and Landing AI. These efforts are aligned with FPT’s ambitious goal to reach 5 billion USD in IT services revenue from global markets by 2030 and solidify its status among the world’s top billion-dollar IT companies.

After nearly two decades in Japan, FPT has become one of the largest foreign-invested technology firms in the country by human resource capacity. The company delivers services and solutions to over 450 clients globally, with over 4,000 employees across 17 local offices and innovation hubs in Japan, and nearly 15,000 professionals supporting this market worldwide. 

With Japan as a strategic focus for the company’s global growth, FPT has been actively expanding its business and engaging in M&A deals, such as the joint venture with Konica Minolta, strategic investment in LTS Inc, and most recently, the acquisition of NAC—its first M&A deal in the market. As digital transformation, particularly legacy system modernization, is viewed as a key growth driver in the Japanese market, the company is committed to providing end-to-end solutions and seamless services, utilizing advanced AI technologies as a primary accelerator. For more information, please visit https://fpt.com/en.

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SOURCE FPT Corporation (FPT)

BEIJING, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of China–Indonesia diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, China-ASEAN Observation sat down with Dr. Dino Patti Djalal—founder and chairman of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), former deputy foreign minister of Indonesia and Inaugural Orchid Award “Friendship Envoy Award” winner. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Djalal, who has been deeply engaged in regional affairs for over two decades, shared his insights on how Asian countries are navigating today’s changing global landscape, the enduring relevance of the Bandung Spirit, and the prospects for South-South cooperation under the BRICS mechanism.

Dr. Djalal has long been committed to fostering friendly relations between ASEAN and China, as well as between Indonesia and China. He has played a key role in organizing and participating in various ASEAN-China exchanges. Each year, he leads the FPCI China Forum, which brings together scholars and experts from ASEAN and China to discuss evolving dynamics, opportunities, and challenges in ASEAN-China and Indonesia–China relations. In September 2023, he was honoured with the Friendship Envoy Award at the Inaugural Orchid Award.

COA: In recent years, China and ASEAN countries have been continuously promoting consultations on the text of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, and has completed its third reading. What do you think is the next step for the negotiation of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea?

Dino Patti Jalal: We have to recognize that we’re living in a more dangerous world now. The value of the COC would be to tell the world that while in other places, war is raging and mistrust is rising, but in the South China Sea, we are working on a code of conduct that would enhance confidence building among the claimants and among countries in the region. And that code of conduct will be, we hope, will be finalized. And that would be a really significant achievement in the relations between ASEAN and China. The target is for next year, 2026. My hope is that they will be able to finalize the code of conduct in time by 2026. But if the positions are still too wide and they cannot reach an agreement, then I guess we need to find more time to conclude the code of conduct.

COA: This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia—a historic milestone in bilateral relations. As a long-time observer and participant in China–Indonesia relations, how do you assess the development of this partnership and its future prospects?

Dr. Dino Patti Djalal: China is one of Indonesia’s best strategic partners now. The two countries now enjoy a comprehensive and strategic partnership. The relationship, as you said, has been around for many decades. And I think we are at a high point in our relationship. The trust is high, China is the biggest trading partner. The people-to-people contact is also very strong. And China’s investment in Indonesia keeps rising.

When we see the future of Indonesia, the future of the region, the future of Asia Pacific, China is a very big part of it. Right? So constructive, positive relationship between Indonesia and China is very important to us. We’ve done many polls at my institution in Jakarta. And in every poll that we ask Indonesians and also ASEAN people, they all recognize that China is the most impactful country to their region. So overall, I think the relationship is in a good place, and I think it’s one of the pillars of peace in Asia.

COA: Seventy years ago, the Bandung Conference was held, marking a historic moment of solidarity and cooperation among Asian and African nations. How can we best carry forward the Bandung Spirit in today’s complex international landscape?

Dr. Dino Patti Djalal: Bandung is very historic. It changed world affairs when it began in 1955. China was there from the start, and we appreciate it. And I think both Indonesia and China have come a long way since the Bandung Conference. We are a lot richer, a lot stronger. We are a lot more confident. We have a lot more roles in international affairs. And at the same time, Asia and Africa have changed as well for the better. So I think we have much to celebrate for the 70th Bandung celebration.

The spirit of Bandung should remain very much alive, especially because today there’s the United States is having a retreat and unilateralism, and confidence in multilateralism is decreasing. I think the countries in the global south, the countries of Asia and Africa, have much to do to uphold multilateralism and to uphold the rules-based world order.

COA: Earlier this year, Indonesia was officially been admitted as a full member of the BRICS. What impact does this have on China–Indonesia cooperation and Indonesia’s role in South-South cooperation?

Dr. Dino Patti Djalal: Indonesia’s accession to BRICS undoubtedly adds value to the cooperation. Even before joining BRICS, Indonesia and China have had a really outstanding, close relationship, very vibrant, very substantive and very high and strategic trust between the two countries.

Now that Indonesia has joined BRICS, we’re still learning how to perform in that association in that grouping. Indonesia is learning how to work with other BRICS countries and also the incoming members to improve the state of the world. Because we want BRICS to be a contributor, a contributor to world peace, and we want to depolarize the world now. We want there to be more cooperation, and we want to be playing a bridge-building role in that regard here.

COA: Given the current evolving political ecology in the United States, what are its potential implications for the peaceful resolution of South China Sea disputes?

Dr. Dino Patti Djalal: The situation remains unpredictable, as American policy can be difficult to forecast. We are still awaiting clarity on President Trump’s approach to Asia, especially in comparison to his policies toward Europe, Canada, Mexico, or Latin America. But we are still waiting for what he wants to do concerning the Asia Pacific.

Importantly, ASEAN has a guiding doctrine known as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which China has endorsed. The AOIP promotes a vision for the Indo-Pacific as a region that is free, open, cooperative, and inclusive. Instead, ASEAN advocates for inclusive regional cooperation characterised by mutual respect and equality among all players.

We hope that the United States will adopt a constructive policy toward the region and support the AOIP, which emphasises cooperation and inclusiveness. China is undoubtedly one of ASEAN’s strongest partners, and the content of our relationship is rich, encompassing both governmental and people-to-people cooperation.

I believe China respects the ASEAN Charter and is a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, being the first country outside ASEAN to do so. As a dialogue partner, China actively participates in various ASEAN initiatives, contributing to a rich relationship that is a cornerstone of stability in Asia. I am optimistic about this partnership; it must be resilient so that when challenges arise—as they undoubtedly will—the relationship remains strong and capable of addressing any issues. For this to happen, both sides must cultivate mutual trust and engage as equals. ASEAN has consistently emphasised its centrality in regional affairs. It plays a central role in managing affairs in this region, and China understands and supports this. Together, we can work towards peace and stability in our region.

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SOURCE China-ASEAN Observation