LevelBlue Completes Acquisition of Aon’s Cybersecurity and IP Litigation Consulting Groups

 DALLAS & DUBLIN - Friday, 01. August 2025 AETOSWire 

Strategic deal enhances LevelBlue's cybersecurity offerings, solidifying its position as the world’s largest leading independent, pure-play MSSP

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--LevelBlue, a global leader in cloud-based, AI-driven managed security services, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Aon’s (NYSE: AON) Cybersecurity and Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation consulting groups, including the renowned cybersecurity firm, Stroz Friedberg, and Elysium Digital. With this completion the consulting group will operate as Stroz Friedberg, a LevelBlue company.

This strategic acquisition adds elite cyber and high-tech IP litigation consulting expertise to the LevelBlue portfolio, which includes a globally recognized platform of approximately 300 technology professionals with deep relationships across Fortune 500 companies, 80 percent of the Am Law 100, and most of the UK’s top 20 law firms. As a result, LevelBlue will significantly fortify its incident response and advisory capabilities, while expanding its footprint within the legal sector.

LevelBlue is also redefining cybersecurity by integrating Stroz Friedberg’s expert consulting with its 24/7 managed detection and response (MDR) services. LevelBlue's MDR offerings will benefit from real-time threat data coming from incident response team engagements, using machine learning to continuously feed new threat indicators, while helping auto-detect and auto-respond to threats. This unified, AI-driven approach enhances the company’s ability to protect against digital threats and quickly manage incidents. These integrated capabilities position LevelBlue as the largest global independent pure-play Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP).

“The close of this acquisition enables LevelBlue to deliver an unmatched breadth of cybersecurity services and expertise to customers on a global scale,” said Robert McCullen, Chairman and CEO of LevelBlue. “Capitalizing on the Stroz Friedberg consulting expertise along with our AI-driven managed security services, we are empowering organizations to proactively manage digital risk and respond to incidents with greater speed and precision. Our combined strengths will set a new standard for cyber resilience in the industry.”

With the close of this transaction, Aon and LevelBlue will work collaboratively to deliver comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to clients.

“Cybersecurity challenges are becoming increasingly complex and urgent for our clients, demanding more integrated and adaptive solutions,” said Christian Hoffman, Global Specialty & Financial Products Leader at Aon. “Aon will continue to deliver leading cyber brokerage capabilities through our Cyber Solutions group, CyQu platform and Cyber Risk Analyzer, while deepening our collaboration with providers like LevelBlue to enhance our clients’ protection and resilience in an evolving threat landscape.”

Santander served as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to LevelBlue. Lazard served as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor to Aon.

In addition to this deal, LevelBlue recently announced an agreement to acquire Trustwave, a global provider of cybersecurity and MDR services from the MC2 Security Fund (MC2). Together, these acquisitions further solidify LevelBlue’s position as the largest, independent pure-play MSSP in the industry.

For more information on LevelBlue and its managed security, consulting, and threat intelligence services, please visit www.levelblue.com.

About LevelBlue

We simplify cybersecurity through award-winning managed services, experienced strategic consulting, threat intelligence, and renowned research. Our team is a seamless extension of yours, providing transparency and visibility into security posture and continuously working to strengthen it.

We harness security data from numerous sources and enrich it with artificial intelligence to deliver real-time threat intelligence; this enables more accurate and precise decision making. With a large, always-on global presence, LevelBlue sets the standard for cybersecurity today and tomorrow. We easily and effectively manage risk, so you can focus on your business.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon’s newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

 

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Contacts

Media Contact

LevelBlue Media Contact

Jessica Bettencourt

Inkhouse for LevelBlue

levelblue@inkhouse.com

(774) 451-5142

Aon Media Contact

Will Dunn

mediainquiries@aon.com

(312) 381-3024

Interactive Brokers Launches Version 1.0 of IBKR Desktop, Delivering a Comprehensive Trading Experience in One Platform

 GREENWICH, Conn. 

New platform combines market intelligence, product discovery, and execution tools in a modern, scalable interface

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), an automated global electronic broker, today announced the official launch of Version 1.0 of IBKR Desktop, a next-generation trading platform that balances simplicity with advanced functionality. This release follows two years of iterative beta development and introduces a fully featured desktop trading experience for investors worldwide.

IBKR Desktop is designed to serve as a primary trading platform for both retail and professional clients. It combines all key trading workflow components, including discovery, analysis, execution, and portfolio management, in a powerful and intuitive interface.

“We built IBKR Desktop to meet the needs of all investors, from experienced traders to those just getting started,” said Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers. “With this release, we are delivering a platform that is easy to use yet rich in features, allowing users to start their trading journey with this platform and easily move to more advanced tools as their trading needs evolve.”

Key features and updates in Version 1.0 include:

A full suite of core trading tools such as Portfolio, Watchlist, Advanced Charts, Options Chains, Level 2 Market Depth, and Time & Sales

Enhanced Global Search for faster access to securities, tools, and platform functions

New Investment Themes discovery feature

Improved translations and language support for IBKR's global clients

White-branded services making IBKR Desktop available for Introducing Brokers and other institutional clients

Launching Version 1.0 marks a significant milestone in the platform's evolution. IBKR Desktop now delivers the core functionality of IBKR's flagship desktop platform, Trader Workstation, and is equipped to support every phase of the trading lifecycle, from idea generation and market research to execution and post-trade analysis.

IBKR Desktop is part of Interactive Brokers' broader platform suite, including IBKR Mobile for trading on the go, Client Portal for streamlined web-based access, Trader Workstation (TWS) for advanced users and IBKR ForecastTrader for trading predictions on topics including economic, government, financial or climate indicators. Each platform is built on the same robust infrastructure, giving clients the flexibility to trade how, when, and where they choose.

To learn more or start using Version 1.0 of IBKR Desktop, visit:

US and countries served by IB LLC - IBKR Desktop

Canada - IBKR Desktop

United Kingdom - IBKR Desktop

Europe - IBKR Desktop

Hong Kong - IBKR Desktop

Singapore - IBKR Desktop

Australia - IBKR Desktop

India - IBKR Desktop

Japan - IBKR Desktop

The best-informed investors choose Interactive Brokers

About Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.:

Interactive Brokers Group affiliates provide automated trade execution and custody of securities, commodities, foreign exchange, and forecast contracts around the clock on over 160 markets in numerous countries and currencies from a single unified platform to clients worldwide. We serve individual investors, hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, financial advisors and introducing brokers. Our four decades of focus on technology and automation have enabled us to equip our clients with a uniquely sophisticated platform to manage their investment portfolios. We strive to provide our clients with advantageous execution prices and trading, risk and portfolio management tools, research facilities and investment products, all at low or no cost, positioning them to achieve superior returns on investments. Interactive Brokers has consistently earned recognition as a top broker, garnering multiple awards and accolades from respected industry sources such as Barron's, Investopedia, Stockbrokers.com, and many others.

Follow Interactive Brokers on social media:

US and World (except Europe): Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, TikTok

UK and Europe: Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok

 

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Contacts

For Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. Media: Katherine Ewert, media@ibkr.com

Visa Expands Stablecoin Settlement Support

 SAN FRANCISCO

Visa plans to support more stablecoins, more chains and more use cases within its settlement platform.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The stablecoin ecosystem is expanding, and Visa is at the forefront of its development. As global interest in stablecoins takes center stage, Visa is building on its leadership in the space and enabling support for more stablecoins and more blockchains to facilitate settlement transactions for issuers and acquirers.

Visa’s settlement platform is adding support for two additional USD-backed stablecoins, two blockchains and the euro-backed EURC.

What’s new

More stablecoins: Through a new partnership with Paxos, Visa will be able to support two additional dollar-backed stablecoins, Global Dollar (USDG) and PayPal USD (PYUSD), bringing the transformative power of two more trusted stablecoins to our partners

More chains: Visa has added support for two blockchains, Stellar and Avalanche, in addition to already supported chains, Ethereum and Solana

More currencies: Visa has integrated Circle’s euro-backed stablecoin, EURC

“Visa is building a multi-coin and multi-chain foundation to help meet the needs of our partners worldwide,” said Rubail Birwadker, Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships, Visa. “We believe that when stablecoins are trusted, scalable and interoperable, they can fundamentally transform how money moves around the world.”

Visa continues to build on years of real-world pilots and live stablecoin settlement activity. With these additions, the Visa network is enabled to support four stablecoins and four unique blockchains.

Enabling EURC settlement

With EURC integrated into the Visa Network, select pilot participating Visa partners can now access settlement in both USD- and EUR-backed stablecoins. This extends Visa’s crypto and treasury infrastructure capabilities which already facilitates settlement in more than 25 fiat currencies worldwide.

A leading network for stablecoin acceptance

Earlier this year, Visa announced the expansion of its stablecoin-linked card partners. For stablecoin-linked cards to scale, they require a network that:

Meets stablecoin wallets where they are – enabling interoperability across multiple blockchains

Enables flexible settlement options by directly accepting for settlement stablecoins in connection with cards operating across multiple blockchains

Addresses growing market demand, meeting interest from banks, merchants, developers, and fintechs while helping to reduce friction and increase speed for cross- border and onchain transactions

As new stablecoins and blockchains continue to emerge and show promise of true utility, Visa’s mission remains clear: build the interoperable layer designed to make stablecoin payments work at scale just as our traditional payments have worked – securely, reliably and globally.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

 

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Contacts

 

Media Contact - Jackie Dresch - jdresch@visa.com

Visa Cardholders Get First Shot at Applying for FIFA World Cup 26™ Tickets

 Visa cardholders will score exclusive first access for a chance to purchase tickets to the world’s biggest tournament

Visa plans to help local businesses in Canada, Mexico and the United States get ready to maximize economic opportunity

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--It's official: the road to the FIFA World Cup 26™ starts with Visa. As the Official Payment Technology Partner of FIFA and a global leader in digital payments, Visa cardholders with a Visa Debit, Credit or reloadable Visa prepaid cards globally will receive exclusive early access to apply for tickets to the most anticipated sporting event in the world. The first-ever Visa Presale Draw was announced at the Visa Payments Vault in Washington, D.C., where government officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States gathered to celebrate trilateral collaboration and the unifying power of sport at the Visa FIFA World Cup 26™ Reception.

“The Visa Presale Draw offers Visa cardholders exclusive early access to enter the draw for tickets, creating an incredible opportunity for some lucky fans to secure their place at this historic event,” said Kim Lawrence, Regional President of North America at Visa. “As we get closer to the tournament, Visa also plans to help communities and businesses across the continent get ready for the influx of travelers, ensuring the tournament's economic impact lasts far beyond the final whistle.”

“This is an unprecedented moment for Visa — not only are we redefining how fans experience the game, but we are also bringing them closer than ever with the opportunity to apply for exclusive ticket access through the first-ever Visa Presale Draw,” said Eduardo Coello, Regional President for Visa in Latin America and the Caribbean. “As we set new standards for safe and secure payment experiences for fans, there’s no better time to deliver on our promise than at the largest FIFA World Cup in history, right here in our region—with Mexico as a proud host.”

Empowering Fans

From September 10-19, fans with a Visa card, including Visa Credit, Visa Debit and reloadable Visa prepaid cards, can apply to enter the Visa Presale Draw – a randomized selection process that gives selected entrants the chance to purchase tickets before general ticket sales open. Interested cardholders will need a FIFA ID to participate in the Visa Presale Draw and are encouraged to visit FIFA.com/tickets today to create their ID, if they don’t already have one. Those chosen to purchase tickets through the Visa Presale Draw will be notified by email starting no earlier than September 30 and given a dedicated time slot in October to purchase available tickets on a first come, first served basis. As the official payment method for FIFA ticketing, Visa will be the exclusive payment method accepted during the presale purchase window. Learn more about the Visa Presale Draw here.

“Excitement for the FIFA World Cup 26 is building fast, and 10 September is a date every football fan should have marked in their calendar,” said FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai. “We’re delighted to once again partner with Visa to give fans the very first opportunity to apply for a place at the greatest show on earth. A ticket to the FIFA World Cup™ isn’t just a ticket—it’s a gateway to the most inclusive and spectacular tournament in our history. Everyone will want to be part of this moment, so make sure you’ve created your FIFA ID and have your Visa card ready.”

Uplifting Communities and Small Businesses

As Visa cardholders from around the world apply to secure exclusive ticket access for the FIFA World Cup 2026TM, Visa also wants to help businesses get ready to make the most of the moment. By sharing trends and expertise, Visa will help empower local businesses, especially in host cities – from street vendors in Mexico City to boutiques in Kansas City, or a local bakery in Vancouver– so they can capitalize on World Cup tourism and turn tournament fanfare into lasting economic growth. More details on these programs will be shared as the match draw approaches.

A Tournament Like No Other

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ promises to be record-breaking: 48 teams, 104 matches over 39 days in 16 iconic host cities and will be the first ever tri-country hosted games across North America. With nearly 20 years of partnership with FIFA, Visa and FIFA continue to innovate and expand access for fans, business owners and communities alike.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250731190789/en/

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Contacts

Media Contact

Allee McDermott

amcdermo@visa.com

Andersen Consulting Enhances Organizational Development Capabilities with Omni HR Consulting

 SAN FRANCISCO - Thursday, 31. July 2025

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Andersen Consulting adds to its human capital capabilities through a Collaboration Agreement with Omni HR Consulting, a South African consulting firm specializing in business and people development solutions.

Omni HR Consulting provides a full suite of services that include organizational development, performance consulting, accredited training, skills development, and leadership programs through its Business and Leadership Academy. The firm works with clients to design and implement solutions that address workforce capability, performance gaps, and strategic alignment, supported by a rigorous approach to project management and compliance within South African quality frameworks.

“At Omni, we believe impactful development starts with contextual understanding,” said Managing Director Lize Moldenhauer. “We collaborate closely with our clients to co-create tailored solutions that drive measurable progress—whether through leadership programs, skills training, or business performance strategies. Our collaboration with Andersen Consulting positions us to offer these solutions on a broader scale while continuing to meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

“Omni HR Consulting adds a valuable layer of insight to our platform with its expertise in leadership development, skills training, and organizational effectiveness,” said Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen. “This collaboration enhances our ability to deliver strategic talent solutions that integrate leadership development with operational success.”

Andersen Consulting is a global consulting practice providing a comprehensive suite of services spanning corporate strategy, business, technology, and AI transformation, as well as human capital solutions. Andersen Consulting integrates with the multidimensional service model of Andersen Global, delivering world-class consulting, tax, legal, valuation, global mobility, and advisory expertise on a global platform with more than 20,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership and provides consulting solutions through its member firms and collaborating firms around the world.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250731763573/en/

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Contacts

mediainquiries@Andersen.com

KAGA FEI Expands Wireless Module Lineup with Bluetooth 6 Support

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Thursday, 31. July 2025

(BUSINESS WIRE)--KAGA FEI Co., Ltd., a global provider of leading short-distance wireless modules, today announced the expansion of its Bluetooth Low Energy module lineup with the introduction of the EC4L10BA1 and EC4L05BA1. These new modules offer varying memory capacities and complement the existing EC4L15BA1 model. All three modules feature built-in antenna and support Bluetooth 6.

These modules leverage a chip with PSA*1 certification, enabling secure IoT development. Mass production is set to begin in January 2026, as we remain dedicated to expanding our product offerings based on market demand.

Product Features

1. Multiple Memory Options

Our modules offer diverse memory options: the EC4L15BA1 (1.5MB NVM/256KB RAM) for advanced use, the EC4L10BA1 (1.0MB NVM/192KB RAM), and the EC4L05BA1 (0.5MB NVM/96KB RAM). This range caters to applications from industrial IoT and healthcare to smart home devices and cost-sensitive, high-volume production.

2. Advanced Security Level

These modules simplify the development of IoT devices with high-security demands, thanks to a chip supporting PSA Level 3 certification—the highest level in IoT security standards. This significantly contributes to building a secure and safe network society, well-prepared against cyberattacks.

3. Multi-Protocol Support

The modules support Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, and Matter standard*2. Furthermore, they can communicate using a proprietary 4Mbps mode.

4. Built-in Antenna and Pre-Certified

These modules integrate a built-in antenna, eliminating complex design needs. It's pre-certified with Radio Law MIC (Japan), FCC (USA), and ISED (Canada), significantly cutting development time and costs. Plus, it supports Bluetooth SIG qualification for the latest Bluetooth 6, enabling Channel Sounding for precise distance measurement.

Product Availability

Sample : October 2025

Start of mass production : January 2026

About Trademarks

The product names and other proper nouns mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

*1. PSA: PSA (Platform Security Architecture) is a certification scheme led by Arm. Level 3 is the highest level of certification for protecting IoT devices from physical and software attacks.

*2. Matter standard: A smart home standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) to promote interoperability between smart home devices and IoT platforms from different manufacturers.

KAGA FEI website

https://www.kagafei.com/jp/eng/

Disclaimer

Product specifications, service content, etc. stated in the news release are as of the date of announcement and is subject to change without notice.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250710721262/en/

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Contacts

Americas: info@us.kagafei.com

EMEA: continect@eu.kagafei.com

Korea: kfk-info@kr.kagafei.com

Others: ml-module_contact@jp.kagafei.com

World FZO Brings its 12th World Congress to Panama in 2026

 Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, 31. July 2025 AETOSWire Print 

 

The World Free Zones Organization announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Panama to host the 12th annual World FZO’s World Congress in the country’s capital, Panama City, in July 2026.

The MoU was signed by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed AlZarooni, Chairman of the World FZO, and His Excellency Julio Molto’, Minister of Commerce and Industries at the Government of the Republic of Panama, in the presence of senior officials from both sides.

The announcement was made during an official visit led by Dr. AlZarooni to Panama City, where he met with His Excellency José Raúl Molino Quintero, President of the Republic of Panama. On the sidelines of the visit, the delegation toured key sites in Panama, including the Colón Free Trade Zone, PANAPARK Free Zone, and the Panama Canal.

Under the MoU, both parties will collaborate to deliver a high-caliber edition of the World FZO World Congress, that convenes decision-makers, freezone leaders, and investors from more than 100 countries, in addition to attracting major economic institutions from around the world. The event is expected to strengthen Panama’s global standing as a hub for trade and logistics and enhance its visibility on the international investment map.

H.E. Dr. AlZarooni, said: “World FZO is committed to forging strategic partnerships that enhance the role of freezones as drivers of global growth, based on the importance of developing platforms for international dialogue and cooperation to keep up with the major shifts taking place in the global economy. Our cooperation with the government of Panama represents a key milestone in our efforts to outreach to Latin American markets and strengthen cooperation with governments and economic institutions in this vital region.”

HE Julio Molto’, said: “Hosting the Congress represents a strategic step that highlights Panama's position as a global investment gateway and opens new prospects for regional cooperation, technology, and investment. We are committed to providing all necessary elements to ensure the success of this crucial event, in cooperation with the Organization. We value our partnership with World FZO and look forward to leveraging its extensive experience in the development and administration of freezones internationally, which will enhance the competitiveness of Panama’s business environment and open our economy to global markets.”

This announcement comes as preparations continue for the 11th World FZO Congress, set to take place in Hainan province, China, from 10–12 October 2025, held with the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau. The back-to-back hosting of the Congress in both China and then Panama reflects the growing momentum of the World FZO on the international stage.

The World FZO World Congress is the world's premier gathering of freezone leaders, government officials, investors, and trade experts. It gathers more than 1,500 delegates from over 100 countries, bringing together a select group of decision-makers, and high-level representatives from global industry, trade, and investment sectors.

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Contacts

Mazen Dirany

World-FZO Media

meldirany@diez.ae