IGG Inc: Viking Rise and App Business Achieve New Highs in Quarterly Gross Billing ACN Newswire

IGG Inc: Viking Rise and App Business Achieve New Highs in Quarterly Gross Billing

August 29, 2024
2024 Interim Financial Highlights and 2H24 Outlook of IGG Inc:- For the first half of 2024, the Group experienced a 9% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching a total of HK$2.74 billion. This growth was primarily driven by the steady success of two highly-rated strategy games, “Doomsday: Last Survivors” and “Viking Rise”, as well as the strong performance of the APP Business “Doomsday: Last Survivors” and “Viking Rise” contributed approximately HK$500 million and HK$300 million respectively, while the APP Business generated HK$400 million in revenue for the Group. These contributions highlight the Group’s commitment to diversified growth and underscore the significant role played by these key revenue drivers.- “Lords Mobile”, IGG’s flagship title launched eight years ago, contributed HK$1.34 billion.- Following the Group’s successful turnaround from a loss to an annual net profit of HK$73 million in 2023, the Group experienced a significant increase in net profit, reaching HK$330 million in the first half of 2024. The Group’s core business exceeded HK$350 million in net profit, while the investment business recorded a slight loss of approximately HK$25 million due to fair-value changes of investees.- The Board of Directors declared an interim dividend of HK8.5 cents per ordinary share, representing approximately 30% of the net profit for the first half of 2024. The Group spent nearly HK$33 million on share buybacks in the first half. The dividend declared plus the amount spent to repurchase shares make up about 40% of the Group’s net profit for the first half of 2024.- Entering the second half of 2024, “Viking Rise” and the APP Business are expected to achieve new highs, with monthly gross billing at HK$80 million and HK$120 million respectively for the past two months. With consistent growth of the core game business and APP Business, the Group expects to maintain sustained profitability in the long term.HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - IGG Inc (“IGG” or the “Group”, stock code: 799.HK), a leading global developer and publisher of mobile games and applications, announces its unaudited consolidated interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024.Having achieved a remarkable turnaround from a loss to a profit in 2023, the Group is now directing its efforts towards “Profit-driven Growth” in 2024. In terms of revenue, the Group experienced a 9% year-on-year increase, reaching HK$2.74 billion in the first half of 2024. This growth was primarily driven by the consistent contributions from the two highly rated strategy games, “Doomsday: Last Survivors” and “Viking Rise”, along with the outstanding performance of the APP Business. “Lords Mobile”, IGG’s flagship title launched eight years ago, contributed HK$1.34 billion in the first half of 2024. During the period, “Doomsday: Last Survivors” and “Viking Rise” generated approximately HK$500 million and HK$300 million, respectively, replacing “Lords Mobile” to become the new growth drivers. Following its restructuring at the beginning of 2024, the APP Business swiftly regained momentum and achieved record-breaking revenue of HK$400 million in the first half of 2024, accounting for 15% of the Group’s total revenue, and establishing itself as a diversified growth catalyst. During the period, revenue from Asia, Europe and North America accounted for 41%, 34% and 21%, respectively, of the Group’s total revenue.With the contribution of the aforementioned businesses, continuous resource optimization, and extensive utilization of AI technology, the Group achieved a net profit of HK$330 million in the first half of 2024. The Group’s core business exceeded HK$350 million in net profit, while the investment business recorded a slight loss of approximately HK$25 million due to fair-value changes of investees. As at 30 June 2024, the Group’s mobile games were available in 23 different languages worldwide, with approximately 1.45 billion gamers in total and 17 million monthly active users (“MAU”) across more than 200 countries and regions.“Viking Rise”, the Group’s first Viking-themed strategy game, received widespread acclaim when it was launched in late 2022. Throughout the first half of 2024, the Group continued to enhance the game’s content, introducing a variety of in-game features including social play, instances, and guild battles. In a marketing campaign, the Group partnered with Hafþor Julius Björnsson, the “World’s Strongest Man” and renowned actor from the classic American TV show, to be the forefront authority for the new Valhalla Drill game mode. Additionally, the collaboration between the game and the popular TV show “Vikings” from MGM Television and its spinoff series “Vikings: Valhalla” was very well received by the game’s 30 million players. With recent marketing initiatives, the game is projected to achieve a new record in August, with monthly gross billing expected to reach HK$80 million.Expanding on the initial version of “Doomsday: Last Survivors”, the group introduced an exciting blend of MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) and Battle Royale features to its strategy gameplay. To further enhance the experience, the Group has unveiled “Genesis War”, a thrilling large-scale guild battle that adds a new dimension to the game, propelling the average monthly gross billing to HK$86 million. The Group worked with the renowned fighting game, “THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’97”, and held the first International Offline SLG Championship for “Doomsday: Last Survivors” and “Lords Mobile”. This groundbreaking tournament is a first for the games industry.“Lords Mobile”, IGG’s innovative blockbuster title, is the Group’s first cross-platform, multi-language, real-time game designed for global gamers. Launched in 2016, the game has garnered widespread acclaim from gamers, and is recognized for its longevity[1] and ability to generate stable revenue for the Group. As at 30 June 2024, it has amassed 710 million registered users worldwide and has 9.5 million MAU. The Group unveiled an exciting array of new marketing initiatives, including the much-anticipated “Guild Expedition” feature and collaborations with esteemed partners such as iconic Italian sports car manufacturer “PAGANI”, blockbuster movies like “Shrek” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”, and the fighting game “THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV”, to offer players a refreshing gaming experience.Following a strategic restructuring in early 2024, the APP Business swiftly regained its stride and achieved remarkable milestones in gross billing and user acquisitions. During the period, the APP Business experienced a surge in monthly gross billing to an impressive HK$100 million, contributing a substantial HK$400 million in revenue for the period, accounting for 15% of the Group’s total revenue. It solidified the APP Business as a pivotal catalyst for diversified growth within the Group. As at 30 June 2024, it has over 41 million MAU. The Group’s commitment to promoting and diversifying its product portfolio, leveraging its platform-based business model, led the APP Business to achieve a monthly gross billing of HK$120 million in July.Through a combination of share repurchases and dividend payouts, the Group consistently returns value to its shareholders. During the period, the Group repurchased close to 10 million shares for a consideration of nearly HK$33 million, representing approximately 10% of interim profit. The Board of Directors declared an interim dividend of HK8.5 cents per ordinary share, representing approximately 30% of interim profit. The dividend declared plus the amount spent to repurchase shares make up about 40% of the Group’s net profit for the first half of 2024.By adhering to its long-term operational strategy, the Group will drive steady growth in both its core game business and the APP Business. Additionally, the Group will continue to adopt Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (“AIGC”) technology to optimize costs and enhance profitability. Increased marketing initiatives for “Viking Rise” and the continued growth of the APP Business are fuelling the Group’s upward trajectory and positioning it for sustained profitability in the long run. Embracing the corporate spirit of “Innovators at Work, Gamers at Heart”, the Group will continue to strengthen its global R&D and operation capabilities, to relentlessly pursue its strategy of quality, innovation, and excellence in creating innovative yet timeless games.[1] APP Business: the Group’s mobile applications[2] Source: Sensor Tower, a third-party analytics platform– END –About IGG IncEstablished in 2006, IGG Inc is a leading global mobile games and applications developer and operator with headquarters in Singapore and local offices in the United States, China, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Türkiye, Italy and Spain. IGG offers multi-language and multifarious games to users around the world. The Group has established long-term partnerships with over 100 business partners, including global platforms, advertising channels, and vendors such as Apple, Google and Meta. IGG’s most popular games include “Lords Mobile”, “Doomsday: Last Survivors”, “Viking Rise”, “Castle Clash”, and “Time Princess”. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Sunshine Insurance Announces 2024 Interim Results

August 28, 2024
2024 Interim Results Highlights:- GWPs increased by 12.8% YoY to RMB76.46 billion;- Insurance revenue increased by 4.4% to RMB31.49 billion;- Net profit attributable to equity owners of the parent increased by 8.6% to RMB3.14 billion;- Embedded value was RMB112.64 billion, up 8.2% from the end of last year on a comparable basis;- The annualised comprehensive investment yield was 7.2% and the annualised total investment yield was 3.6%;- As of the end of June 2024, the number of active customers was approximately 30.784 million.HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Sunshine Insurance Group Company Limited (“Sunshine Insurance” or the “Company”, and its subsidiaries collectively the “Group”; Stock code: 6963.HK) announces the unaudited interim results of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) for the six months ended 30 June 2024.In the first half of 2024, China’s national economy operated in overall stability, achieving progress amid stability. New growth drivers accelerated, and high-quality development gained new strides. The insurance industry, as an important part of the economic system, exhibited a positive development trend, with supply and demand driving the continuous growth of market size. As the only listed traditional insurance company among the 205 mainland insurance companies established in this century, the Group seized the opportunities arising from economic improvement and the increasing demand for insurance. The Group promoted steady growth across various businesses, continuously enhanced its value creation capability and maintained a good development momentum. During the Reporting Period, the gross written premiums of the Group were RMB76.46 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.8%, and the insurance revenue reached RMB31.49 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.4%. The net profit attributable to equity owners of the parent was RMB3.14 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.6%. The embedded value of the Group was RMB112.64 billion, up 8.2% from the end of the previous year. The annualised total investment yield of 3.6% and annualised comprehensive investment yield of 7.2%. As of the end of June 2024, the Group’s active customers were 30.784 million.The further consolidation of core business realized the leap in its value creation capabilityIn the first half of 2024, the Group firmly adhered to the path of high-quality development and high-value growth, and continued to promote the “New Sunshine Strategy” with “Technological Sunshine”, “Valuable Sunshine” and “Caring Sunshine” as the core. It created the unique core competitiveness of Sunshine through model innovation. As a result, the operating results achieved steady growth, the value creation capability saw a leap, the core competence of the main business of insurance has been further stabilized and enhanced, and the overall market competitiveness of the Group has been effectively improved.In terms of life insurance business, Sunshine Life kept pursuing value-oriented development, steadily implemented the strategy of “New Sunshine”, thereby continuously consolidating the advantage of diversified channel development and achieving initial efforts in the transformation and development of sales-force. Meanwhile, Sunshine Life strengthened the linkage between assets and liabilities, while it also upgraded and optimized product and service system. The operation showed a positive momentum of “steady improvement” and “improving quality while maintaining stability”. During the Reporting Period, GWPs reached RMB51.76 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.9%; the value of new business was RMB3.75 billion, a year-on-year increase of 39.9%; the GWPs from the individual insurance channel amounted to RMB13.69 billion, a year-on-year growth of 25.5%, of which, FYRPs amounted to RMB3.58 billion, a year-on-year growth of 18.5%; In terms of worksite marketing, FYRPs increased by 42.7% year-on-year. The synergistic development of multiple channels has resulted in rapid growth in overall value, a steady recovery in effective manpower and a sustained increase in agent productivity.In terms of property and casualty insurance business, Sunshine P&C adhered to the development concept of “seeking progress amidst quality”, and solidly pushed forward the implementation of the “New Sunshine” strategy, and continuously consolidated a solid foundation for high-quality development. During the Reporting Period, Sunshine P&C achieved the stable growth of business, continued to optimized its business structure and maintained a good quality. The original premium income (OPI) was RMB24.65 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.4%; the proportion of non-automobile insurance premiums was 46.1%, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.8 percentage points; the proportion of personal vehicle premiums to the automobile insurance was 62.4%, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.5 percentage points. The underwriting combined ratio was 99.1% and the underwriting profit was RMB0.2 billion.In terms of asset management, the Group upholds the philosophy of long-term value investment, and continuously optimizes the asset-liability management system. By harnessing the full-range investment qualifications and diversified investment capabilities, the Company maintains a clear strategic focus to develop the strategic asset allocation. Furthermore, it keeps enhancing its investment research capacity and carry out tactical asset allocation scientifically and flexibly under the premise of strictly managing investment risks, to create long-term, stable, and sustainable investment performance for insurance funds. During the Reporting Period, the Group’s investment performance remained stable. And achieved total investment income of RMB8.33 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 8.2%, with annualised total investment yield of 3.6% and annualised comprehensive investment yield of 7.2%.The digital transformation continued to be deepened with customer experience and operational efficiency improved consistentlyTechnology is a key force in promoting the development of the financial industry and an important source of power for economic development. During the Reporting Period, in order to improve customer experience, improve operational efficiency and management, the Company made great efforts on “artificial intelligence+”, achieved breakthroughs in AI applications in key areas, and continued to deepen its digital transformation.In terms of sales support, it optimized and upgraded the property and casualty insurance as well as life insurance sales management platform. The property insurance set up a fully online closed-loop process for main non-automobile products from quotes to issuance, improved the digital closed-loop of marketing activities and empowered the per capita productivity improvement and efficiency. The life insurance “Know Your Insurance ” assisted agents in providing customers with coverage planning and product recommendations. In terms of customer service, the Group continuously improved its online customer service platform. The online rate of property insurance value-added service reached 96.3%. The online rate of life insurance preservation services was 96.4%. In terms of management empowerment, the Group built an intelligent risk control system across the Group, improved “non-automobile data mortality table ” system with regard to property and casualty insurance, and improved non-automobile insurance risk pricing capabilities; with regard to the life insurance, the Group created a total of 354 online risk monitoring indicators, which effectively prevented risks.Furthermore, the Group strengthened the availability of AI data and the construction of the Sunshine Zhengyan big model, which has been further applied in customer service, intelligent claims settlement, smart office and other scenarios. Customer service robots provided customers with services such as policy search, automobile insurance claims reporting, and life insurance follow-ups, achieving a customer satisfaction rate of 90.2% on non-human service. The usage rate of the document classification and visual injury identification functions for smart claims in personal injury assessments within property insurance exceeded 80%, with a document classification accuracy rate of 95.6%. The Sunshine Office GPT has been used a total of 1.02 million times, covering 84% of employees.The “Caring Sunshine” strategy further advanced and customer-centric mindset has been effectively implemented“All for customers” is the business value upheld by Sunshine Insurance, and it is also the starting point of creating the “Caring Sunshine” strategy. In order to further promote the “Caring Sunshine” strategy, in the first half of 2024, Sunshine Life continued to promote the “Matrix Plan” with focus on the “three/five/seven ” product system, and to enrich the connotation of the “three/five/seven ” product system, continuously meeting the needs for insurance products in customers’ different life stages. In terms of health protection, the Group launched the exclusive term critical illness insurance for children, the high-end accident medical insurance for children and the maternal and child medical insurance to meet the health protection needs of specific groups of customers’ families and further expand the coverage of customers. In terms of aged care and wealth inheritance, the Group accelerated the layout of participating insurance products to meet customers’ differentiated savings needs. In terms of products supported by national policy, the Group enriched the supply of products such as tax-advantaged health insurance and personal pension, and promoted the policy-oriented commercial insurance to benefit more customers.Furthermore, Sunshine Life continued to strengthen the construction of “Caring Sunshine” service system. The Group improved the service design capability from the customers’ perspective, and met the core service needs of customers. Meanwhile, in terms of service management, the Group continuously improved the efficiency of customer service, for example, promoting the service mechanism of “listening to customers”, expanded and upgraded the “customer experience officer” team, and continuously improved the capability to provide straight-through services to customers.Sunshine P&C continues to deepen the research on customer needs, and is committed to establishing a convenient customer service system and practicing the service motto of “making services the reason for customers to choose Sunshine”. In terms of individual customers, the Group continued to deepen the customer-segmented differentiated business management system and continuously provided customers with a richer differentiated product portfolio and personalized service experience to further enhance customer stickiness. In the first half of 2024, the renewal rate of personal vehicle insurance customers was 64.2%, representing continuous year-on-year increase. The proportion of non-automobile insurance products purchased by individual auto insurance customers reached 55.5%, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.6 percentage points. In terms of group customers, the Group continued to promote the implementation of the “Partnership Action” risk management service. In the first half of 2024, the Group provided technology-based loss mitigation and professional risk consulting services to 8,595 corporate customers and upgraded and created a full-scale risk management service model of “insurance + technology + service” to assist customers in improving their capabilities of risk management.Actively practiced sustainable development and fully supported real economy and green transformationActively pursuing sustainable development and earnestly fulfilling social responsibilities are the core values of an enterprise and the key to its long-term development. In the first half of 2024, the Group took an active part in serving national strategies, continuously enhanced its support for the real economy in quality and efficiency, provided a total of RMB50.4 trillion of risk protection for the real economy, and offered more than RMB420 billion of financial support. Particularly, the Group provided risk protection of nearly RMB220 billion to approximately 18,000 micro and small enterprises; the Group offered agriculture risk protection of RMB35.3 billion, paid out claims of RMB150 million and benefited approximately 44,000 rural households; the Group provided risk protection of RMB60.2 billion for 331 “Belt and Road” projects, involving 67 countries in “Belt and Road” construction; the Group provided risk protection of approximately RMB32.6 billion for 406 sci-tech enterprises.In the meanwhile, the Group was contributing to the green transformation and the realisation of harmonious coexistence, and continued to enrich its green insurance product and service system. In the first half of 2024, the Group provided nearly RMB8 trillion of green insurance protection for 1.22 million enterprises and individuals and offered claims support of approximately RMB2.3 billion. The Group actively responded to climate change to enhance its climate resistance. At the same time, the Group continuously improved its sustainable investment framework and policies. As of the end of June 2024, the balance of sustainable investments nearly reached RMB55 billion, of which green investment exceeded RMB19 billion.In addition, the Group actively fulfilled its social responsibilities and participated in public the welfare. The Group gave full play to the advantages of the main business of insurance and medical resources, and actively organized and participated in various public the welfare activities in the fields of helping the student and helping the elderly. As of the end of June 2024, Sunshine Insurance built 74 “BoAi” schools in 24 provinces across the country and trained a total of 20,397 rural doctors through the “Plan to Promote Competence of 10,000 Rural Doctors”. The Group sincerely cared for employees and their families, with an accumulated amount of RMB540 million parent-supporting subsidies granted to a total of 44,182 employees.With its strong comprehensive strength and positive development momentum, on 16 August, Hang Seng Indexes Company announced its latest quarterly review results, and the Group was successfully included in the HSMSI. This change will be implemented after the market close on 6 September, 2024, and will take effect on 9 September, 2024. According to a research report by CICC, Sunshine Insurance Group is expected to be included in the Hong Kong Stock Connect due to its adherence to high standards and outstanding operating performance.Being included in the HSCI marks a significant milestone. On one hand, it represents market recognition of Sunshine Insurance’s performance and development potential, helping to enhance the Group’s visibility in the capital markets and insurance sector. On the other hand, based on its solid fundamentals, it will attract more investors to increase their allocation to the Group’s stock, thereby improving trading liquidity.In the second half of 2024, China will further deepen the reform through focusing on promoting a Chinese path to modernization and thoroughly explore domestic demand potential. Therefore, the economy is expected to show a sustained recovery and positive trend. In the long run, the general trend of long-term positive development of China’s economy has not changed, and the insurance industry is ushering in historic opportunities for high-quality development and will play an irreplaceable and important role.Looking ahead, the Group will adhere to its founding aspiration of “establishing a respected century-old enterprise” and maintain its focus on core business areas. The Group steadfastly promote the “New Sunshine Strategy”, align with national policy directions and industry development trends, and actively make efforts on the five aspects including scientific and technological finance, green finance, inclusive finance, elderly care finance and digital finance. By precisely serving national strategies, supporting the real economy, and ensuring social the well-being, the Group will efficiently leverage its professional insurance advantages. It will continuously enhance Sunshine’s core competitiveness, advance high-quality development, and achieve high-value growth, injecting wisdom and vitality into the creation of a grand blueprint for a strong financial nation and the high-quality development of the financial industry.— End —About Sunshine Insurance Group Company LimitedSunshine Insurance Group Company Limited is a fast-growing private insurance service group in China. Since its establishment, the Group has prioritized value creation as its core business, dedicated to providing clients with professional risk protection and comprehensive service solutions. The Group carries out life and health insurance business through Sunshine Life, property and casualty insurance business through Sunshine P&C, and manages insurance funds through Sunshine AMC. As of 30 June 2024, the Group has been ranked among the top 500 Chinese enterprises by the China Enterprise Confederation for 13 consecutive years, entitled as one of the “Top 500 Valuable Brands in China” by the World Brand Lab for 13 consecutive years, and is also one of the five insurance companies in China that have been recognized as the well-known trademark in China and selected by Brand Finance as one of “Top 100 Most Valuable Insurance Brands”. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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SmartHK Nanjing concludes ACN Newswire

SmartHK Nanjing concludes

August 28, 2024
- Some 40 leaders of business and academia explored Hong Kong-Jiangsu collaboration in finance, I&T, sustainable development, culture and creativity- Exhibition showcased Hong Kong’s professional services, creative designs and I&T projects. Some 400 business matching meetings were facilitated- Some 30 Hong Kong pitched to Jiangsu investors, while 60+ Hong Kong exhibitors highlighted their diversified services and advanced scientific researchHONG KONG, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Department of Commerce of Jiangsu Province as well as Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, concluded in Nanjing today.Centred around innovative collaboration for high-quality development, some 40 leaders of business and academia explored Hong Kong-Jiangsu collaboration in the areas of financial services, innovation and technology (I&T), sustainable development, culture and creativity.The opening ceremony was officiated by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government Vice Governor Fang Wei and HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam.In his welcome remarks, Dr Lam said Jiangsu’s development positioning of one centre, one base, one hub and Hong Kong’s eight centres lay the foundation for the two places’ complementary growth. Jiangsu enterprises are encouraged to leverage Hong Kong’s professional services for business transformation and international expansion.“The HKTDC has proactively facilitated business and trade collaboration between Jiangsu and Hong Kong, in particular through the Jiangsu-Hong Kong Cooperation Joint Meeting. We have strengthened trade-related cooperation in the areas of manufacturing and supply chains, modern service industries and two-way investment. Our collaboration has now been extended to the areas of I&T, green development, culture and talent exchange. At this year’s SmartHK, we discussed finance, I&T, sustainable development, culture and creativity to showcase Hong Kong’s strengths. By focusing on I&T project matching, we’ve explored new modes of bilateral collaboration.”Mr Paul Chan said in his opening remarks: “Jiangsu and Hong Kong have a long history of cooperation, given strong bilateral economic and trade ties and frequent cultural exchanges. Many Hong Kong entrepreneurs invest and start businesses in Jiangsu. As of last year, they have invested in more than 35,000 projects. Nearly 2,300 Jiangsu businesses have set up in Hong Kong, while more than 100 Jiangsu companies are listed in our city, with a market value of more than HK$660 billion. The trade volume between Jiangsu and Hong Kong exceeded CNY85 billion in 2023, a nearly 35% increase year-on-year. Over the years, cooperation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong in finance, innovation and technology, education, culture and youth exchange, among others, has continued to deepen.”Mr Fang Wei said: “Technological innovation is key to driving high-quality development. Jiangsu’s market and industrial advantages and Hong Kong’s scientific research and financial advantages can accelerate the pace of innovation across industries and enable China to be self-reliant in the area of science and technology. As super connector, Hong Kong can link Jiangsu with global markets. Leveraging our respective strengths, we look forward to deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, work together to explore Belt and Road markets, among others, and accelerate national development.”Henry Tang, Chairman of The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board; Nancy Ip, President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST); Gilbert Lee, Head of Strategy & Planning and Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank Limited, Non-executive Director of Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited, and Chairman of Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited; Roger Chen, Managing Director of China of CLP Holdings Limited; and Chen Shu, President of Jiangsu Soho Holdings Group, discussed the roadmap for Hong Kong-Jiangsu development. They shared their insights about the cultural industry, I&T, cross-border green finance, sustainable energy and success stories from previous collaborations between Hong Kong and Jiangsu.The HKTDC joined hands with InvestHK, HKSAR Innovation and Technology Commission, the Federation of Jiangsu Community Organisations, Jiangsu Development and Reform Commission, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Industry and Information Technology Department of Jiangsu, Department of Ecology and Environment of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Jiangsu Provincial Financial Regulatory Administration, Jiangsu Federation of Industry and Commerce, Jiangsu Youth Federation as well as Jiangsu Sub-council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to host four thematic sessions. Industry experts discussed business opportunities in financial services, I&T, sustainable development, culture and creativity.Green development was a key topic for this year’s SmartHK. The “Green and Sustainable Development” thematic session, exclusively sponsored by Hang Seng Bank Limited, SmartHK’s Diamond Sponsor and Cross-Boundary Green Finance Partner, focused on exploring the green and sustainability development needs and cooperation opportunities between Hong Kong and Jiangsu.Ryan Song, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited, delivered opening remarks for the session. Dr. Shelley Zhou, Head of Corporate Sustainability of Hang Seng Bank Limited, delivered a keynote speech titled on market trends and international standards of green finance and sustainable development”.Chan Pui-cheong, CEO of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency; Arthur Lam, Co-Founder and CEO of Negawatt Utility Limited; Angus Wong, Managing Director for Wholesale Client Coverage of Hang Seng Bank Limited; Christopher Lau, Executive Director of Gold Peak Technology Group Limited; and Liu Changliang, Director of Sustainability of the Nanjing Iron and Steel Company Limited, discussed other topics including “Green and Development Certification Services and the Importance of ESG Information Disclosure in the International Market”; “Achieving Carbon Neutrality with the Help of Green Technologies”; “Business Expansion with the Help of Sustainable Financing”; “Green Transformation of Hong Kong Manufacturing Industry” and “Jiangsu Enterprises’ Green Finance and Green Businesses’ Needs”. The panel speakers also explored Hong Kong-Jiangsu cooperation opportunities in green finance and sustainable development.Some 30 start-ups from HKUST, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and InnoClub, co-created by the HKTDC and Hang Seng Bank Limited, took part in a Smart+ pitching session to present their latest innovative solutions to Jiangsu investors and partners.To foster collaboration opportunities, a hallmark of HKTDC events, some 400 business matching meetings were facilitated to connect Jiangsu and Hong Kong companies.An exhibition of over 60 enterprises and start-ups showcased Hong Kong’s latest I&T products and services.WebsitesSmartHK: https://smarthk.hktdc.com/Photo download: https://bit.ly/3AER6D5SmartHK was held in Nanjing on 28 August.Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government Vice Governor Fang Wei (front, fourth from the right) and HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong (front, fourth from the left) attended the 12th Jiangsu-Hong Kong Cooperation Joint Meeting.Hong Kong SAR Government Financial Secretary Paul Chan (front, sixth from the left), Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government Vice Governor Fang Wei (front, seventh from the left), HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam (front, fifth from the left), and HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong (front, fourth from the left) attended SmartHK.Hong Kong SAR Government Financial Secretary Paul ChanHKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N LamJiangsu Provincial People’s Government Vice Governor Fang WeiChairman of The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board Henry Tang discussed cooperation opportunities between Jiangsu and Hong Kong in the areas of culture and creativity.(Starting second from left) Nancy Ip, President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Gilbert Lee, Head of Strategy & Planning and Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank Limited, Non-executive Director of Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited, and Chairman of Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited; Roger Chen, Managing Director of China of CLP Holdings Limited; and Chen Shu, President of Jiangsu Soho Holdings Group, discussed the roadmap for Hong Kong-Jiangsu development.The Green and Sustainable Development thematic session was exclusively sponsored by Hang Seng Bank Limited, SmartHK’s Diamond Sponsor and Cross-boundary Green Finance Partner, focusing on green and sustainable development needs of and cooperation opportunities between Hong Kong and Jiangsu.Some 30 start-ups from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and InnoClub, co-created by the HKTDC and Hang Seng Bank Limited, took part in a pitching session to present their latest innovative solutions to Jiangsu investors.Media enquiriesPlease contact:Xinhua Daily (PR agency)Li JiaweiTel: (86) 15995295632Email: 1360342750@qq.comYu YanTel: (86) 13584019845Email: 422791094@qq.comThe HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department (Headquarters, Hong Kong):Jane CheungTel: (852) 2584 4137Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.orgSam HoTel: (852) 2584 4537Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.orgThe HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department (Shanghai):Sun PingTel: (86) 21-63528488 Email: p.sun@hktdc.orgMedia Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.comAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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The 9th Belt and Road Summit returns next month ACN Newswire

The 9th Belt and Road Summit returns next month

August 28, 2024
- The 9th Belt and Road Summit, co-organised by the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC, will return on 11 and 12 September (Wednesday to Thursday)- This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. As part of celebration activities, the Summit is themed Building a Connected, Innovative and Green Belt and Road. It will gather over 80 key officials and business leaders from Belt and Road countries and regions to explore cooperation opportunities- A brand-new Green Chapter is added this year, aligning with the Summit theme to feature a variety of thematic sessions on green development and innovationHONG KONG, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Belt and Road Summit, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will take place on 11 and 12 September.Themed Building a Connected, Innovative and Green Belt and Road, the Summit will bring together over 80 key officials and business leaders from Belt and Road countries and regions, they will be engaged in discussions on leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages to jointly explore Belt and Road markets and uncover cooperation opportunities.The Summit is a key platform for Hong Kong to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), closely aligned with the eight major steps announced by President Xi Jinping last year to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.The Opening Session will feature welcome remarks by Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC and opening remarks by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR. Nurlan Baibazarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, will give a keynote address.Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, said: "As our country's Belt and Road Initiative enters its next golden decade and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has proposed improving the mechanism for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Hong Kong, with the solid support of the nation, will continue to capitalise on our unique advantages under one country, two systems to play a more active role by leveraging its strengths as a two-way global investment and trade hub, a hub for technological innovation and green development and an international cultural exchange centre. The Belt and Road Summit will deepen international business cooperation and consolidate Hong Kong's position as the preferred business platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, fully demonstrating Hong Kong's important functions and positioning in global finance, business cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, innovation and technology development, guiding enterprises to explore new business opportunities."Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: "With the support of its global network of 50 offices, the HKTDC organises business delegations and outreach activities to Belt and Road countries and regions, promoting tripartite cooperation among Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong professional service providers, investors and Belt and Road project owners. The HKTDC also enables businesses to leverage their own strengths to help Hong Kong play the role of superconnector, linking China with the world. We will continue to seize the opportunities at this year's Belt and Road Summit to strengthen connections with ASEAN and Belt and Road countries. We will also set up new consultant offices in Dhaka of Bangladesh and Phnom Penh of Cambodia, further expanding our network along the Belt and Road."Seizing opportunities and deepening networks in emerging marketsThe ASEAN region is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner and the world's fifth-largest economy. Last year, the bilateral trade value reached US$144.6 billion, accounting for nearly 13% of Hong Kong's total foreign trade. The development potential is enormous. Last month, John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, led a HKTDC delegation to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the three ASEAN countries. The visit was highly fruitful, with 55 cooperation MoUs signed, further expanding Hong Kong's network in the region. Seven of these MoUs were signed between the HKTDC and relevant chambers of commerce, governments, and organisations in the three countries, further strengthening Hong Kong's ties with the regions for future Belt and Road development.Following the recent fruitful ASEAN mission to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam led by Mr Lee, the Summit will focus on ASEAN and emerging markets in the Policy Dialogue and Business Plenary on day one, with the participation of ministerial-level officials and business heavyweights. The second day's Business Plenary will cover the Middle East and adjacent regions.In May this year, a Mainland-Hong Kong business delegation led by the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and the Belt and Road Office of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government, co-organised by the HKTDC and the China International Contractors Association, visited Hungary and Kazakhstan to explore Belt and Road business opportunities. Senior officials and business leaders from these two countries will attend the Summit, to strengthen their ties with Hong Kong. Among the speakers, Nurlan Baibazarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, will deliver a keynote address, while Peter Fekete, Group CEO of 4iG, will participate in the second day's Business Plenary.Debut Green Chapter to showcase Hong Kong advantages in greentech and financeHong Kong's green finance development has been thriving, with the scale of green financing continuing to expand. In 2023, the total amount of green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong surpassed US$50 billion. Among this, the total amount of green and sustainable bonds arranged for issuance in Hong Kong ranked first in the Asian market, accounting for 37% of the total. This has attracted a wealth of green capital and financial products, giving Hong Kong a significant advantage in developing into an international green technology and finance centre. Additionally, the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035 covered six major areas – green transport, liveable environment, comprehensive emissions reduction, clean energy, scientific management, and regional collaboration – reflecting Hong Kong's determination to proactively address the challenges of climate change.In view of the growing global focus on green development and the tremendous strides Hong Kong continues to make in that regard, the Summit will debut the Green Chapter, featuring thematic sessions on green construction, innovation, finance and more, enabling participants to explore how to leverage the Hong Kong platform to make their business greener. The co-organising institutions include the China International Contractors Association, HSBC and HKMA Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office.As the BRI continues to drive regional development, the Business Plenary on the first day of the Summit, themed Capturing Belt and Road Business Opportunities, will explore promising prospects from rapidly rising ASEAN, building on concrete achievements in the past years. The focus will be on Hong Kong’s role in facilitating multilateral business cooperation as well as the strategies global enterprises are adopting under the latest global landscape.The session will be moderated by K C Chan, Chairman of WeLab Bank. Speakers will include Clara Chan, CEO of Lee Kee Group; Dato’ Seri Cheah Cheng Hye, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Value Partners Group; Ding Yanzhang, Chairman of Power Construction Corporation of China; and Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, CEO of Sintesa Group.The Business Plenary on the second day will be themed Tapping the Markets of New Opportunities. The session will be moderated by Ronnie C. Chan, Honorary Chair of Hang Lung Properties Limited. H.E. Mohamed Abduljabbar Alkoheji, Second Vice Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Bonnie Y Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Peter Fekete, Group CEO of 4iG; Eric Ip, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Port Holdings Limited; and Iqbal Khan, CEO of Fajr Capital, will explore arising opportunities in the Middle East and other markets along the Belt and Road.This year, the Summit will feature two new thematic sessions: Multi-dimensional Connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative and People-to-People Exchanges through Business and Cultural Collaboration. In the former session, experts from industries such as shipping, ports, airports, logistics and trade will jointly discuss and delve into the progress and development potential of connectivity among transportation networks. The latter session, co-organised by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, aims to explore ways to enhance interconnectivity, mutual understanding and friendly relations among countries within the Belt and Road Initiative through economic and trade cooperation, as well as cultural exchanges.Other thematic breakout sessions include Mainland-Hong Kong Trade In Services Symposium co-organised with the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China as well as a session on legal cooperation co-organised with the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government.As part of the Finance Chapter, co-organised with the Insurance Authority, Financial Services Development Council, Bank of China (Hong Kong), HKMA Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, four sessions will analyse opportunities of leveraging Hong Kong's financial services. For the Youth Chapter, young business leaders will share how they seize opportunities under the BRI.Connecting global enterprises to facilitate business matchingThis year’s Summit will continue to offer investment and business matching. Business matching meetings will provide a full range of services in both physical - 11 and 12 September - and online - 16 and 17 September - forms.More than 280 investment projects are expected to me matched, with more than 800 one-to-one project matching meetings taking place. The deal-making service includes one-to-one business matching meetings and project investment sessions. Business matching meetings connect participants based on investment preferences and business expertise to facilitate collaboration opportunities.Project investment sessions enable project owners from different countries to present projects, giving investors and service intermediaries a comprehensive understanding of the investment opportunities in different sectors. Project investment sessions will focus on four main areas: energy, natural resources and public utilities; innovation and technology; urban development; and transport and logistics infrastructure.The Summit’s exhibition area will gather over 100 exhibitors across the Hong Kong Zone, Global Investment Zone and InnoTech Zone. The Hong Kong Zone will showcase the services and business advantages of Hong Kong service providers, while the Global Investment Zone will present large-scale investment projects, cultural and technological developments as well as global investment opportunities. The InnoTech Zone will feature cutting-edge innovations, AI, technologies and solutions from exhibitors around the globe.The 9th Belt and Road SummitDate11 to 12 September 2024VenueHall 5B-E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition CentreRemarksVideo and audio recordings at the Forum should be used only in the context of media reportingMedia RegistrationPlease contact awong@yuantung.com.hk or lsong@yuantung.com.hk for media registrationWebsitesBelt and Road Summit: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/enProgramme:https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en/programmeSpeaker list: https://www.beltandroadsummit.com/conference/bnr/en/speakerMedia representatives who would like to conduct interviews with the speakers, please submit interview requests to awong@yuantung.com.hk or lsong@yuantung.com.hk by 6 September.Photo download: https://bit.ly/4g2t70HThe 9th Belt and Road Summit will be held on 11-12 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Summit will bring together over 80 government officials and business leaders from around the world to share their insights and expertiseMedia enquiriesYuan Tung Financial Relations:Anson WongTel: (852) 3428 3413Email: awong@yuantung.com.hkLouise SongTel: (852) 3428 5691Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hkHKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Clayton LauwTel: (852) 2584 4472Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.orgAgnes WatTel: (852) 2584 4554Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.orgHKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.comAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Transforming CX: Discover What’s Next at the World CX Summit and Awards ACN Newswire

Transforming CX: Discover What’s Next at the World CX Summit and Awards

August 28, 2024
BENGALURU, INDIA, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - As India rises as a leading hub for technological innovation, the 12th Global Edition of the World CX Summit and Awards, hosted by Trescon, will examine the evolving customer experience (CX) landscape. Scheduled for 19 September at JW Marriott Hotel, UB city, Bengaluru, this summit will gather over 200+ top-notch CX Leaders & Marketing enthusiasts will be sharing actionable insights and discuss successful use cases that are shaping the future of CX.In light of the recent technological disruptions, including a significant outage that impacted millions of users, and the challenges faced across different industrial verticals, the importance of resilience, effective crisis management, and clear customer communication has become increasingly evident. The summit will address these issues by offering valuable insights into managing crisis effectively and enhancing customer trust through strategic innovations and best practices.Attendees will participate in high-impact sessions, including keynotes, panel discussions and conference, all aimed at advancing the CX landscape through a blend of emerging customer experience solutions and best practices designed to address current challenges and foster future progress.#WorldCXSummit features a dynamic agenda covering essential topics, from implementing strategic generative AI to integrating data analysis, enhancing human-like interactions through Conversational AI, interpreting customer feedback, and more.Among the notable speakers at the event are:Gurpreet Jolly, Head - Customer Experience and Service Delivery, AJIO (Reliance Retail Ltd.)Shruthi Bopaiah, Executive Vice President & Head - Customer Obsession, Axis BankSatish Patil, Director CX, Samsung ElectronicsVishal Bhatia, Chief Digital Officer, Canara BankDeepak Maloo, AVP, Food Strategy, Customer Experience & Restaurant Experience, SwiggyAvijit Mohapatra, Head of Flipkart Customer Experience Transformation, FlipkartVindhya Shanmugam, Senior Director - CX Growth, MyntraPriya Chakravarthy, Vice President - Experience, BluSmartNikhil Godbole, Group Head of Customer Service, JupiterRahul Poddar, Country Head Martech, Narayana HealthRahul Garg, Head – CX, Games 24x7Deepak Nayak, Sr Vice President – Customer Experience, Gameskraft“Customer experience is no longer just a touchpoint but a strategic pillar that drives competitive advantage. The World CX Summit offers a platform where thought leaders and innovators will gather to discuss and demonstrate how superior customer service can be achieved and sustained,” stated Mithun Shetty, Vice Chairman, Trescon. He further added, “By examining real-world use cases and emerging technologies, we will collectively advance our understanding of how to create memorable and impactful customer experiences that foster long-term loyalty,”Sharing the importance of the summit, Aalok R Pradhan, Head - Customer Delight, CX, COE - Digital & AI at TVS said, “World CX Summit in my opinion is a platform which can be leveraged by major CX professionals. This summit aims at new edge CX practices as well as the best-in-class products for CX professional to assess and up their game.”The event will also showcase the much awaited World CX Awards, spotlighting and celebrating the pioneering achievements of the nation’s foremost CX professionals. This segment will honour outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions across various sectors, marking a prominent celebration for the ‘Top 100 CX Leaders Awards’ and ‘Top Marketing Leaders’. Register to attend and to submit your nominations to celebrate with those setting new benchmarks in customer experience and marketing innovation. Secure your place and contribute to the advancement of CX today!About TresconTrescon is a pioneering force in the global business events and services sector, driving the adoption of emerging technologies while promoting sustainability and inclusive leadership. With a deep understanding of the realities and requirements of the growth markets we operate in – we strive to deliver innovative and high-quality business platforms for our clients. For more information about Trescon, visit: www.tresconglobal.comFor media inquiries and further information, please contact:Vishal S STeam Leader – Media and CommunicationsTresconEmail: vishals@tresconglobal.comMobile: +91-7358680951 Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Nissin Foods Announces 2024 Interim Results ACN Newswire

Nissin Foods Announces 2024 Interim Results

August 28, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Nissin Foods Company Limited (“Nissin Foods” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) has announced its interim results today for the year ended 30 June 2024.The Group recorded revenue at HK$1,822.5 million. Gross profit was HK$637.5 million, with gross profit margin increased by 0.9 percentage points to 35.0% in 2024 from 34.1% in 2023. The increase in gross profit margin was mainly attributable to the easing of key raw material costs.Profit attributable to owners of the Company recorded HK$169.5 million, representing the net profit margin from 8.9% to 9.3%. The Group’s basic earnings per share for the reporting period recorded 16.24 HK cents. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 1.5% to HK$300.3 million compared with HK$295.9 million for the corresponding period of 2023, representing an increase of adjusted EBITDA margin to 16.5% from 15.3%. The above increase in adjusted EBITDA indicated an improvement in underlying profitability and operating businesses of the Group.Review & Prospects of Instant Noodles and Non-Noodles BusinessesDuring the reporting period, revenue from the Hong Kong and other Asia operations for the year was HK$705.9 million. The segment results was at HK$36.9 million due to an increase in depreciation expenses for the new automated and labour-saving smart production lines and a decrease in product sales of the non-noodle business. For the Mainland China operations, revenue of HK$1,116.6 million was recorded for the reporting period, and its segment results increased by 8.0% to HK$173.5 million, mainly attributable to the easing of raw material costs and the implementation of cost-efficient marketing activities.The Group adhered to its premiumisation strategy during the reporting period and launched new products to expand its portfolio to drive the growth of its instant noodles business. The Group continued to promote its signature brands “Cup Noodles” and “Demae Iccho” through the provision of exclusive products to certain key accounts and collaboration with Japanese anime such as “BLUE LOCK”. The Group launched various new flavours under the “Nissin Raoh”, “Nissin U.F.O”, “Fuku” and “Doll” brands to further enrich the instant noodle portfolio, and collaborated with a Japanese anime named “Cyberpunk” for a crossover involving Cup Noodles and Nissin U.F.O in Mainland China. In addition, Nissin Vietnam achieved a good performance during the reporting period.The Group has continued to diversify its product portfolio into non-noodle business to enhance the Company’s overall competitiveness. During the reporting period, the Group extended its focus on its premium frozen food products, offering a wider product range of premium products and further expanded its exposure via various sales channels to drive sales volume. The distribution business in Hong Kong continued to record growth as a result of the revival of inbound tourism during the first half of 2024.The Group also continued to expand the sales channels of the “KAGOME” business in different regions. Meanwhile, “Nissin Granola” continued to gain traction with customer’s support due to their advocacy of health and wellness. Also, the Group has enriched the product range by launching new flavours in the low-fat “Nissin Yogurt” series. “Nissin Koikeya Potato Chips” achieved an outstanding performance as the distribution channels continued to expand. “Nissin Crisp Choco”, the baked corn flakes chocolate snack, continued to receive a positive response from the market. The Company’s green juices series successfully attracted the attention of health-conscious customers with vending machines availability further increasing product exposure.Mr. Kiyotaka ANDO, Executive Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nissin Foods, said, “The global economic landscape improved in the first half of 2024, but persistent challenges remained and reshaped global supply chains and consumer consumption patterns in the regions that we were operating.”“We believe that premiumisation and diversification strategies are the keys to achieving growth amid a turbulent and volatile market. Our premiumisation strategy is driving momentum in the Vietnam market. Meanwhile in mainland China, more flexibility is needed in arranging promotion campaigns for our premium products in order to reach out to more target consumers, given the uncertain economic situation. To stay agile in different markets, we strived to enhance and refine our product quality, food safety and innovation capabilities for delivering greater taste experiences to consumers.”“Looking ahead, we remain cautiously optimistic about the long-term development of our businesses and continue to control costs and improve operational efficiency. We will pursue further diversification on our non-noodles business, enriching our product lines to broaden the income base, while entering new markets such as Vietnam, Taiwan and Korea. We will continue to build on our solid foundation to deliver continuous revenue and earnings growth for our customers and shareholders.”- End -About Nissin Foods Company LimitedNissin Foods Company Limited ("Nissin Foods”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) is a renowned food company in Hong Kong and Mainland China, with a diversified portfolio of well-known and highly popular brands, primarily focusing on the premium instant noodle segment. The Group officially established its presence in Hong Kong in 1984 and is the largest instant noodle company in Hong Kong. The Group primarily manufactures and sells instant noodles, high-quality frozen food products, including frozen dim sum and frozen noodles, and also sells and distributes other food and beverage products, including retort pouches, snacks, mineral water, sauce and vegetable products under its two core corporate brands, namely “NISSIN” and “DOLL” together with a diversified portfolio of iconic household premium brands. The Group’s five flagship product brands, namely “Cup Noodles”, “Demae Iccho”, “Doll Instant Noodle”, “Doll Dim Sum” and “Fuku” are also among the most popular choices in their respective food product categories in Hong Kong. In the Mainland China market, the Group has introduced technology innovation through the “ECO Cup” concept and primarily focuses its sales efforts in first-and second-tier cities. In addition, Nissin Foods operates business in other Asian regions including Vietnam, Taiwan and Korea markets.Nissin Foods is a constituent of five Hang Seng Indexes, namely: Hang Seng Composite Index, Hang Seng Composite SmallCap Index, Hang Seng Composite Industry Index - Consumer Staples, Hang Seng SCHK Consumption Index and Hang Seng SCHK Consumer Staples Index. Nissin Foods is eligible for trading under Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect. For more information, please visit www.nissingroup.com.hk. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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IBA of San Marino Partners with crwdunit for Advanced Quantum Ledger and Commodity Solutions ACN Newswire

IBA of San Marino Partners with crwdunit for Advanced Quantum Ledger and Commodity Solutions

August 28, 2024
SAN MARINO, ITALY , Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - IBA of San Marino, (https://www.iba.sm) an innovation leader in custodial agency and proof of transit technologies for commodities and a subsidiary of Spectral Capital Corporation (OTCQB:FCCN), today announced a strategic licensing agreement with crwdunit, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CrowdPoint Technologies, Inc. This partnership aims to transform IBA’s approach by creating a quantum bridge from Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to traditional commodity custodianship using crwdunit’s cutting-edge quantization technology on a decentralized cloud infrastructure.Revolutionizing Asset Management with Quantum TechnologyIBA will utilize crwdunit’s precise asset valuation technology to enhance its operations, offering unprecedented accuracy and scalability in commodity asset management through the use of Quantum Value Units (QVUs). This integration ensures precise and reliable asset management and valuation during transit.Under this agreement, crwdunit technology will help IBA measure the quantization process when data is placed on a decentralized cloud infrastructure using CrowdPoint’s Distributed and Decentralized Quantum Ledger Database (Vogon Cloud). Vogon Cloud, formerly Node Nexus Network (NNN) which was acquired by Spectral Capital last week, combines quantum computing with a high-performance Zaph virtual machine, offering real-time analytics, secure data storage, and superior scalability.Vladimir Lakin, GM of IBA of San Marino, stated, “Our collaboration with crwdunit marks a significant advancement in our use of decentralized technologies and commodity custodianship services. The real-time quantization capabilities will redefine our asset valuation processes, enhancing transparency and security of traditional DLTs.”Nadab U. Akhtar, Co-Founder, President, and COO of CrowdPoint Technologies, added, “This partnership highlights the impact and versatility of our ecosystem in transforming traditional asset management and DLT with cutting-edge quantum technologies.”About IBA of San MarinoIBA of San Marino, a subsidiary of Spectral Capital Corporation (OTCQB:FCCN), specializes in creating custodianship, immutability, transparency, and a quantum bridge to DLT. Focused on leveraging innovation to deliver high-quality custodianship, IBA helps commodity owners worldwide quantize their contribution to a multi-billion-dollar daily commodity-in-transit market, accelerating its annual growth rate and contributing to positive economic impact in developing nations by creating a new kind of financial alpha.About crwdunit, Inc.A wholly owned subsidiary of CrowdPoint Technologies, Inc., crwdunit develops advanced data architecture and quantization solutions for decentralized systems and asset management, driving growth and operational excellence.About Crowdpoint Technologies inc.CrowdPoint is a pioneer in quantum cloud technology, developing Vogon™, a Distributed and Decentralized Quantum Ledger Database (D2/QLDB™). CrowdPoint’s solutions enhance real-time intelligence, data optimization, and edge-computing, benefiting sectors such as energy management and e-commerce.About Spectral Capital CorporationAbout Spectral Capital Corporation: Founded in 2000 and based in Seattle, Washington, Spectral Capital (OTCQB:FCCN) is a technology startup accelerator and quantum incubator. We specialize in Quantum as a Service (QaaS), leveraging our proprietary Distributed Quantum Ledger Database technology (DQ-LDB) to offer secure, advanced storage and computing solutions.Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and FCCN's growth and business strategy. Words such as "expects," "will," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations on such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although FCCN believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of FCCN. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in FCCN's business; competitive factors in the market(s) in which FCCN operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in FCCN's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. FCCN expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in FCCN's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.SOURCE: Spectral Capital CorporationFor Media Inquiries:Andrew BardRubenstein Public Relationsabard@rubensteinpr.com Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Solar District Cooling Group Berhad Aims to Raise RM45.09 Million from ACE Market IPO ACN Newswire

Solar District Cooling Group Berhad Aims to Raise RM45.09 Million from ACE Market IPO

August 28, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Solar District Cooling Group Berhad ("SDCG") is pleased to announce the launch of its prospectus for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities"). The IPO represents a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory, allowing SDCG to expand its operations and strengthen its market position in building management system (“BMS”) and solar thermal systems and energy saving services.Mr. Chris Lai Ther Wei, Head of Capital Markets, Mercury Securities Sdn. Bhd.Mr. Chew Sing Guan, Managing Director, Mercury Securities Sdn. Bhd.Mr. Edison Kong, Managing Director, Solar District Cooling Group BerhadMdm. Eileen Liuk, Executive Director, Solar District Cooling Group Berhad[L-R]SDCG and its subsidiaries (“Group”) are principally involved in the provision and maintenance of BMS, solar thermal systems and energy saving services. The Group has a proven track record of enhancing energy efficiency across healthcare, hospitality and industrial sectors. SDCG Group is involved in providing energy performance services to the concession companies that are providing hospital support services for public hospitals. The concessionaires engaged SDCG Group as a subcontractor to carry out energy efficiency work related to the installation of hybrid solar thermal hot water systems, and for some contracts, retrofitting of fluorescent lighting of LED lighting.Mr. Wong Kei Fai, Independent Non-Executive Director, Solar District Cooling Group BerhadMs. Wong Poh May, Independent Non-Executive Director, Solar District Cooling Group BerhadMr. Chris Lai Ther Wei, Head of Capital Markets, Mercury Securities Sdn. Bhd.Mr. Chew Sing Guan, Managing Director, Mercury Securities Sdn. Bhd.Mr. Edison Kong, Managing Director, Solar District Cooling Group BerhadMdm. Eileen Liuk, Executive Director, Solar District Cooling Group BerhadIr. Dr. Khairul Azmy Bin Kamaluddin, Independent Non-Executive Chairman, Solar District Cooling Group BerhadYM Raja Nor Azlina Binti Raja Azhar, Independent Non-Executive Director, Solar District Cooling Group BerhadFollowing the IPO exercise, SDCG is expected to raise RM45.09 million via the issuance of 118.67 million shares at the issue price of RM0.38 per share. The proceeds will be allocated in the following manner:RM1.90 million for the expansion of headquarters in Kajang, Selangor; RM5.00 million for tender bonds and/or performance bonds for future projects;RM18.70 million for the purchase of materials for BMS segment, and solar thermal systems and energy-saving services segment;RM12.67 million for general working capital; RM2.52 million for capital expenditure, including new equipment for BMS, installation and maintenance of solar thermal hot water systems, and purchasing ICT software and services; andRM4.30 million for estimated listing expenses.Applications for the IPO will open at 10:00 a.m. today, following the prospectus launch, and will close on 6 September 2024. SDCG is scheduled to list on the ACE Market on 19 September 2024. At the IPO price of RM0.38 per share, the market capitalisation of the company upon listing will be RM161.05 million.Managing Director of SDCG, Mr. Edison Kong commented, "This IPO represents a significant milestone in Solar District Cooling Group Berhad’s journey. Since 2008, we have been driven by a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Our focus on delivering Building Management Systems and solar thermal technologies has helped us enhance energy efficiency and promote environmental stewardship. With this listing, we look forward to embracing new opportunities and setting new standards in our business. I am deeply grateful to our team, clients, and partners for their continued trust and support.”Head of Capital Markets of Mercury Securities Sdn Bhd, Mr. Chris Lai Ther Wei stated, “We would like to congratulate the Board and the entire team of Solar District Cooling Group Berhad on the successful launch of your IPO prospectus. Well done for reaching another milestone in your corporate journey.”Mercury Securities Sdn. Bhd. is the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Sole Underwriter, and Sole Placement Agent for SDCG. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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HKIoD Recommends Board Readiness Training for First-time Directors Before Appointment ACN Newswire

HKIoD Recommends Board Readiness Training for First-time Directors Before Appointment

August 28, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Hong Kong Institute of Directors (“HKIoD”) welcomes(1) The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited ("the Exchange")'s proposal to mandate directorship training for first-time directors and require all directors to undergo continuing professional development (“CPD”) training. To further uphold corporate governance standards and director professionalism, HKIoD thinks the Exchange can go further.Dr Christopher To, Chairman of HKIoD, said, “HKIoD welcomes the Exchange’s latest regular exercise to review and update the Corporate Governance Code and related Listing Rules. Although we do not agree with every element of the Exchange’s proposals, we certainly support the notion of making continuing professional development mandatory for all directors.”According to HKIoD, to make true the purpose and effect of continuing training, a board should have a suitable professional development policy for its directors. Continuing training is important for directors to keep up, but it must be distinguished from initial training. For those who do not have directorship training nor experience whatsoever, undergoing initial training on effective directorship and corporate governance is prudent. First-time directorship training should be a prerequisite prior to the director coming on board, however. “The Exchange should go further by encouraging individuals to have become ready for a board seat prior to appointment, rather than to start acquainting themselves with the demands of directorship post-appointment.” Dr To commented.Dr Carlye Tsui, CEO of HKIoD, supplemented, “We believe all company directors, when they first assume their posts, should have a firm grounding of the skills, knowledge and qualities required to meet the corporate governance demands of today. HKIoD long advocates the importance of corporate governance training, and we want to emphasise that proper initial training for first-time directors is one key aspect of the total quality of corporate governance training.”The Institute believes that attaining HKIoD Diploma level credential (or higher) should qualify as initial training now proposed for First-time Directors by the Exchange. The Institute also recommends transition course(s) for credentialed/experienced directors from other markets to help them become familiar with the Hong Kong market. HKIoD will gladly work with the Exchange to design and offer such programmes, and an accreditation regime for directorship training in Hong Kong.On proposals around time commitment and tenure of Independent Non-Executive Director (“INED”), Mr Henry Lai, Past Chairman of HKIoD and current Chairman of the Institute’s Corporate Governance Policies Committee, said, “The emphasis should be on whether the INED and the issuers involved have made an honest assessment as to the ability to devote sufficient time, not a broad-brush requirement on the director to limit the number of INED positions one may hold. Particularly, we do not agree with the Exchange’s proposal which only seeks to limit INED positions one may hold among Hong Kong issuers.” As to the question of how long is too long for an INED, Mr Lai added, “the answer ought to be ‘it depends’. It is the independence of mind that matters, not tenure.”The Exchange would also want issuers without an independent board chair to designate a Lead INED. Due to the many constraints and practical realities now exist in the Hong Kong market, HKIoD believes there are alternatives that can be more effective. “We do not tend to have majority INED in our market. The Lead INED will be chosen from a small group anyway. We should rather empower and encourage all INEDs to collectively perform, to bring the results that are sought under the Lead INED concept. Meetings with shareholders and stakeholders can be set up for all INEDs to take part. There can be an INED report section in the annual report,” Mr Lai commented. “Maybe we should encourage more issuers to have an independent board chair. An independent board chair working together with all the other INEDs can be more helpful,” Mr Lai continued.HKIoD has early on advocated the benefit of moving towards a majority INED, which can make INEDs collectively better able to perform their director roles. With INEDs comprising the majority, their active involvement in board matters becomes more necessary and their time commitment more valued. It should also allow much more room for meaningful rotation and refreshment through careful succession planning.Apart from the above, the Institute expressed support for many changes proposed by the Exchange including mandating board performance review, maintaining a board skills matrix, mandating the annual reviews of the effectiveness of the issuer’s risk management and internal control systems, disclosure of the issuer’s policy on payment of dividends and the board’s dividend decisions, and disclosures in respect of issuers’ modified auditors’ opinion. (1)The full response: HKIoD Response to HKEX ConsultationAbout The Hong Kong Institute of Directors (“HKIoD”)The Hong Kong Institute of Directors (“HKIoD”) is Hong Kong’s premier body representing directors working together to advance corporate sustainability in creating long-term value for companies, their owners, stakeholders, humankind and Planet Earth through advocacy and standards-setting in corporate governance and director professionalism. Led by Founder Chairman Dr The Hon Moses Cheng, HKIoD was founded in 1997. Throughout the years, HKIoD is honoured to have the Chief Executive of HKSAR as the Institute’s Patron. Membership of HKIoD comprises of directors from diverse industries and corporate types and includes Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors and Independent Non-Executive Directors. With multi-culturalism and international perspectives, HKIoD organises activities that cover director training, seminars and forums, collective director voice, guideline establishment, public education, Award Series for Director Excellence, assessment of Corporate Governance Scorecard for listed companies etc. As a member body of the Global Network of Director Institutes (“GNDI”), HKIoD is committed to global collaboration in promoting good corporate governance and director professionalism. HKIoD is the appointed Host of the Hong Kong Chapter of Climate Governance Initiative, a global network that collaborates with the World Economic Forum in actively promoting directors’ address of the risks and opportunities of climate change.For details please visit: http://www.hkiod.com | http://www.gndi.org | https://climate-governance.org/Media Enquiries: Strategic Public Relations GroupBrenda Chan+852 2114 4396 / brenda.chan@sprg.com.hkThe Hong Kong Institute of DirectorsWing Wong+852 2889 1414 / wing.wong@hkiod.com– End – Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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TRST01 Signs Landmark Memorandum of Understanding Agreement with Rubber Board of India for Centralised Compliance Solution for EUDR ACN Newswire

TRST01 Signs Landmark Memorandum of Understanding Agreement with Rubber Board of India for Centralised Compliance Solution for EUDR

August 28, 2024
SINGAPORE, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TRST01, a sustainable tech company that helps businesses meet global sustainability rules while making their supply chains more transparent, trustworthy, and ethical, announces a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with the Rubber Board of India to develop and implement a centralised compliance solution for the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Through this strategic partnership, TRST01 becomes the first private entity in the world to enter into an MoU with a public entity for a one-stop compliance solution, setting a new standard in public-private partnerships.The MoU underscores the trust and confidence that the Rubber Board of India has in TRST01 as a key player in the sustainable technology space. While other entites have entered into contract-based agreements, this MoU represents a deeper, more integrated collaboration that is poised to revolutionise compliance processes for the Indian rubber industry.TRST01 and the Rubber Board of India will collaborate on geo-mapping rubber-growing land plots to ensure deforestation-free sourcing and responsible practices. This partnership will also develop a Centralized Database to enhance traceability, risk assessment, and compliance with European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) in the rubber industry, with TRST01 as the technology partner. Ultimately, the MoU will help strengthen India's regulatory framework and position India as a global leader in sustainable rubber production.Speaking on the strategic agreement with TRST01, Mr. M. Vasanthagesan IRS, CEO and Executive Director of The Rubber Board, said, "This collaboration with TRST01 is a testament to our dedication to supporting the rubber sector. The initiatives outlined in this MoU will facilitate the exporters to comply with EUDR and make Indian rubber growers globally competitive and get wider opportunities for their produce.""This joint venture is a testament to our commitment to driving sustainability and compliance in the rubber industry," remarked Prabir Mishra, CEO and founder of TRST01. "It is a great honour to partner with the Rubber Board of India as this initiative can serve as a model for other industries and regions.For TRST01, the MoU will demonstrate how public-private partnerships can drive innovation in sustainability. The collaboration represents a shared vision for a sustainable future. It will significantly benefit Indian rubber producers, highlighting how TRST01 can help producers achieve global compliance standards in sustainability.About TRST01TRST01 provides cutting-edge technology solutions that ensure supply chain traceability, accurate ESG reporting, digital measurement of sustainability impacts, and the secure management of carbon credits. TRST01 stands out for its simplicity, adaptability, and focus on creating tangible impacts on sustainability, making it accessible and effective for many users, from smallholder farmers to multinational corporations. It is also at the forefront of the regenerative finance movement, creating financial tools that promote practices that restore rather than deplete the earth's resources.TRST01's approach fundamentally transforms how businesses view sustainability by creating a direct and tangible impact on People, Planet, and Profitability. Our innovations are not just about compliance; they make a sustainable ecosystem where every participant benefits. Visit trst01.com to learn more.About Rubber Board IndiaThe Rubber Board of India, headquartered in Kottayam, Kerala, is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Established in 1947, it plays a pivotal role in the development of the rubber industry in India. The Board's responsibilities encompass research, development, and extension activities related to natural rubber cultivation, production, and processing. It also regulates the marketing of rubber and ensures fair prices for both growers and consumers. Through its various initiatives, the Rubber Board strives to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the rubber industry in India, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the country.Media Contact:Sheree TanSenior AssociatePINPOINT PR Pte. Ltd.sheree@pinpointpr.sg | pinpointpr.sgSG: +65 8313 9472Hakim IshakAssociatePINPOINT PR Pte. Ltd.hakim@pinpointpr.global | pinpointpr.sgSG: +65 8949 3040 Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Cisgenics Brings Next-Generation Irrigation Technology to Australia ACN Newswire

Cisgenics Brings Next-Generation Irrigation Technology to Australia

August 28, 2024
SYDNEY, AU, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Cisgenics, a pioneer of world-class sustainable irrigation solutions, has entered the Australian market, introducing their next-generation irrigation solutions which hold the potential to shape the future of water management in Australia. The company is opening its first office in Adelaide and undertaken a number of significant projects including a world-class sporting venue and various projects for the City of West Torrens in South Australia. These projects address urban green space management and water optimisation to maintain lush, inviting landscapes while adhering to strict water conservation mandates.Australia faces pressing challenges such as water overconsumption, frequent droughts, and the resulting heightened risk of fires, all of which threaten the sustainability of agricultural practices, urban green spaces, and notable landmarks. Cisgenic’s flagship solution, CisgenX, derived from over 45 years of experience in irrigation experience across more than 1,000 projects, can help overcome some of these issues. A proven solution, CisgenX will be deployed at some of the world’s most recognisable and photographed locations including, Bay East Gardens, and the Founders Memorial at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay, along with the Nad Al Sheba Road in the UAE."We see a significant market for CisgenX in Australia, where water conservation and droughts are critical concerns,” says Sam Rebera, Managing Director of Cisgenics. "To help local businesses and communities meet their sustainability goals, we are striving to earn the Smart Approved Watermark, which we believe will establish CisgenX as Australia’s leading sustainable irrigation solution. To support this goal and manage the projects we've secured, we are in the process of opening an office in Adelaide."Cisgenics designs solutions to meet the unique needs of various industries, from golf courses and landscapes to agribusiness. Their precision irrigation systems enhance turf health, create water-efficient green spaces in both urban and rural areas, and boost crop yields. CisgenX, utilises advanced IoT (Internet of Things) technology and machine learning algorithms to optimise water, fertiliser, and energy use. This state-of-the-art solution helps optimise water usage and manage plant health.The integration of technologies in the CisgenX solution enables precision irrigation, where machine learning algorithms will work alongside weather data to predict water needs with pinpoint accuracy, significantly reducing water waste. The platform’s advanced sensors and real-time monitoring optimise resource use, saving money, conserving water, and ensuring plant health. Internal studies have shown that CisgenX can cut water consumption by up to 40%, and in some cases, by as much as 70% on traditional methods of irrigation. These significant reductions help clients meet their ESG goals while providing real-time data through IoT sensors that monitor soil moisture and other critical factors."Through our advanced irrigation solutions, we are not only addressing immediate concerns like water scarcity and fire risk but also contributing to a sustainable future for Australia," added Rebera. "Our goal is to support the country’s efforts to manage its natural resources responsibly while ensuring that essential green spaces thrive.”Cisgenics will be showcasing these products and more at the upcoming Irrigation Conference 2024 in Sydney from 2-4 September. Attendees are invited to visit Booth 88 to learn how their solutions can transform irrigation practices in Australia and beyond.About CisgenicsCisgenics is dedicated to revolutionising the irrigation industry through innovative, AI-powered solutions that optimise water and energy use, promote sustainability, and ensure the health and longevity of green assets worldwide. With more than 45 years of experience, Cisgenics combines deep industry knowledge with the latest technological advancements to offer precision, efficiency, and sustainability in water management. Visit cisgenics.com for more information.For more information, please contact:Illka GobiusManaging DirectorPINPOINT PR Pte. Ltd.Email: illka@pinpointpr.globalPhone: (AU) 0429 396 275 or (SG) +65 9769 8370 Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Black Spade Acquisition II Co Announces Pricing Of $150 Million Initial Public Offering ACN Newswire

Black Spade Acquisition II Co Announces Pricing Of $150 Million Initial Public Offering

August 28, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Black Spade Acquisition II Co (the “Company”), a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) sponsored by an affiliate of Black Spade Capital Limited, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 15,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to be listed for trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker symbol “BSIIU” on August 28, 2024.Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to certain adjustments. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “BSII” and “BSIIW”, respectively. The offering is expected to close on August 29, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.The Company’s management team is led by Dennis Tam, Executive Chairman & Co-CEO, Kester Ng, Co-CEO & CFO and Richard Taylor, Co-CEO & COO, each of who served as executive director of or advisor to Black Spade Acquisition Co (“BSAQ”), a SPAC also sponsored by an affiliate of Black Spade Capital Limited. BSAQ completed its $169 million initial public offering in August 2021. In August 2023, BSAQ completed a $23 billion business combination with VinFast, a leading Vietnamese automaker and the first Vietnamese business to list in the U.S. by way of a business combination. Clear Street and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, are acting as joint book-running managers. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Company. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as legal counsel to the underwriters.The public offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained from Clear Street, Attn: Syndicate Department, 150 Greenwich Street, 45th floor, New York, NY 10007, by email at ecm@clearstreet.io, or from the SEC website at www.sec.gov.A registration statement relating to the securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and became effective on August 23, 2024. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.(from the left) Kester Ng, Co-CEO and CFO, Dennis Tam, Chairman and Co-CEO,Richard Taylor, Co-CEO and COO– End –About Black Spade Acquisition II CoBlack Spade Acquisition II Co is the second SPAC of its founder, Black Spade Capital and its management team incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or assets. While the Company may pursue an acquisition or a business combination with a target in any business or industry, it believes that the entertainment, lifestyle and technology industries, particularly those that are major beneficiaries of artificial intelligence (“AI”), provide ample business combination opportunities.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed initial public offering, the anticipated use of the net proceeds, and the search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated.Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies of these documents are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.Investor Contact:IR@blackspadeacquisitionii.comMedia Enquiries:Strategic Financial Relations Limited Vicky LeeTel: +852 2864 4834Email: vicky.lee@sprg.com.hkLilia YangTel: +852 2864 4833Email: lilia.yang@sprg.com.hkWebsite: www.sprg.com.hk Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Bahrain Gears Up to Host the 2nd Edition of Fintech Forward in October ACN Newswire

Bahrain Gears Up to Host the 2nd Edition of Fintech Forward in October

August 28, 2024
MANAMA, Bahrain, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Bahrain is gearing up for its second edition of Fintech Forward, which will be programmed by Economist Impact, hosted by Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB). The flagship installment of 2024's Transformation Agenda series will take place on October 2nd and October 3rd, 2024, at Exhibition World Bahrain.Featuring a series of panel discussions, the two-day event will unite global fintech experts with financial institutions, governments, and regulators to tackle trending topics across generative AI, blockchain technologies, cybercrime, open banking, evolving consumer behaviour, the impact of new regulations, as well as best practices in prioritising sustainable financial initiatives. Against a backdrop of these insightful discussions that will deliberate on the evolving advancements and imminent challenges facing the global financial services industry, Fintech Forward will serve as a platform for both strategic collaboration and networking with leading players across the region and beyond.As a singular financial regulator, the CBB has consistently enhanced the competitiveness of Bahrain's financial services sector, supporting the national transition to a digital economy by pioneering new regulatory frameworks and legislation, all while introducing innovative platforms in the likes of the Regulatory Sandbox. Year after year, Bahrain EDB has continued to attract investments into focused sectors in line with national priorities, fostering ongoing discussions with the private and public sectors to create a business-friendly environment backed by progressive legislation. Further driven by a thriving financial services ecosystem that comprises a balanced portfolio of leading international conventional banking institutions alongside new financial players, including crypto asset service providers, digital payment providers, and highly-specialised firms; Bahrain has earned a reputation as a leading hub of fintech in the Middle East and North Africa region.Following the successful inaugural event last year, which secured attendees from across the world, Fintech Forward has cemented itself as a platform for innovative leaders to share experiences, collaborate on learnings, and connect with their peers. Showcasing Bahrain's phenomenal progress in digital transformation, expanding its fintech space, and success in developing a highly skilled talent pool to further fuel the growth of a booming industry, this year's flagship event is expected to be yet another resounding achievement.More information on Fintech Forward 2024, which will be programmed by Economist Impact and hosted by Bahrain EDB, can be found on https://events.economist.com/fintechforward/.For more information, please contact:Abdulelah AbdullaCommunications DepartmentEconomic Development BoardPhone: +973-39798919E-mail: internationalmedia@bahrainedb.comAbout Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB)The Bahrain EDB is an investment promotion agency with the overall responsibility of attracting investment into the Kingdom and supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate.The Bahrain EDB works with the government and both current and prospective investors, to ensure that Bahrain's investment climate is attractive, to communicate the key strengths, and to identify where opportunities exist for further economic growth through investment.The Bahrain EDB focuses on several economic sectors that capitalise on Bahrain's competitive advantages and provide significant investment opportunities. These sectors include financial services, manufacturing, logistics, ICT, and tourism.For more information on the Bahrain EDB visit www.bahrainedb.comBahrain FinTech BayBahrain FinTech Bay (BFB) provides a physical hub to incubate insightful, scalable and impactful FinTech initiatives through innovation labs, acceleration programs, curated activities, educational opportunities and collaborative platforms. BFB partners with governmental bodies, financial institutions, corporates, consultancy firms, universities, associations, media agencies, venture capital and FinTech startups to bring the full spectrum of financial market participants and stakeholders together.SOURCE: Bahrain Economic Development Board Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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MClean Technologies Reports Strong 177% Growth in Profit Before Tax for Q2 FY2024 ACN Newswire

MClean Technologies Reports Strong 177% Growth in Profit Before Tax for Q2 FY2024

August 28, 2024
MALAYSIA, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - MClean Technologies Berhad ("MClean Technologies" or the "Company"), an established provider of precision cleaning and surface treatment solutions, is pleased to announce its financial results for the second quarter ended 30 June 2024 (“Q2 FY2024”). The Company has recorded its second consecutive profitable quarter in the financial year ending 31 December 2024 (“FY2024”), marking a significant turnaround in its financial performance.Datuk Dr. Terence Tea Yeok Kian, the Executive Chairman and Managing Director of MClean Technologies BerhadFor Q2 FY2024, MClean Technologies reported revenue of RM15.5 million, a 30% increase compared to RM12.0 million in the same quarter last year (“Q2 FY2023”). This increase in revenue is largely attributed to stronger demand for the Company’s precision cleaning and surface treatment services. Notably, the Company achieved a profit before tax (“PBT”) of RM1.0 million, a substantial improvement from the loss before tax of RM1.1 million in Q2 FY2023, due to higher revenue in the current quarter and the successful implementation of cost management initiatives.Comparing to the immediate preceding quarter (“Q1 FY2024”), MClean Technologies recorded an 18% growth in revenue from RM13.1 million to RM15.5 million, driven primarily by increased demand for its precision cleaning services. In tandem with this revenue growth, the PBT of the Company surged by 177% in Q2 FY2024, compared to RM0.4 million PBT in Q1 FY2024.For the first six months of FY2024 (“6M FY2024”), MClean Technologies reported revenue of RM28.7 million, a 19% increase compared to RM24.0 million in the same period last year (“6M FY2023”), primarily due to stronger demand for precision cleaning and surface treatment services. The Company’s PBT for 6M FY2024 stood at RM1.3 million, marking a remarkable turnaround from the loss before tax of RM2.2 million in the corresponding period of FY2023. This growth underscores the consistent demand for MClean’s services, particularly in the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and consumer electronics sectors.With the entry of the new substantial shareholder, Accrelist Crowdfunding Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Accrelist Ltd. (“Accrelist”), on 2 July 2024, which currently holds 28.5% stake in MClean Technologies, MClean Technologies aims to leverage on the strategic partnership opportunity that is presented by Accrelist’s extensive expertise in business transformation and growth.Accrelist, listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange, is a diversified group with interests in medical aesthetics and injection moulding services, held through its subsidiary, Jubilee Industries Holdings Ltd, which is also listed on the Catalist. With the entry of this new shareholder, MClean Technologies is exploring various synergistic strategies to increase market share, expand customer and sector opportunities, and deepen cost-efficiency efforts through enhanced expertise and talent resource utilisation.Datuk Dr. Terence Tea Yeok Kian, Executive Chairman and Executive Director of MClean Technologies said, “We are very pleased with our performance in the second quarter of 2024, which marks our second consecutive profitable quarter in the current financial year. The strong financial results reflect the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the strategic decisions we have made to enhance operational efficiency. The successful turnaround of the company demonstrates our commitment to building sustainable growth and profitability. Our focus remains on sustaining this positive momentum and achieving long-term profitability. We are particularly encouraged by the growth in demand for our HDD solutions in Malaysia and Thailand, and we will continue to leverage our strengths to deliver value to our shareholders.”Looking ahead, MClean is dedicated to maintaining its positive momentum and focusing on long-term profitability. The management team is confident that the Company's strategic initiatives, combined with ongoing cost management efforts, will position MClean for continued success in the quarters to come.As of 27 August 2024, the share price of MClean Technologies had closed at RM0.29 as at 5:00 P.M., representing a market capitalisation of RM57.2 million.This press release should be read in conjunction with the full text of the announcement released by MClean Technologies on 27 August 2024 in relation to its interim financial statements for the quarter and six months ended 30 June 2024 which is available on the Bursa website.ABOUT MCLEAN TECHNOLOGIES BERHADMClean Technologies Berhad, is a leading provider of surface treatment, precision cleaning, and packaging services. The Company serves a diverse range of industries, including Hard Disk Drive, Consumer Electronics, and Oil & Gas. With operations in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, MClean is committed to delivering high-quality and reliable services to its clients. For more information, visit http://www.mclean.com.sg/.For more information, please contact:Jazzmin WanTel: +60 17-289 4110Email: j.wan@swanconsultancy.bizStephanie ChowTel: +60 18-314 3933Email: s.chow@swanconsultancy.biz Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Everbright Grand China Announces 2024 Interim Results

August 28, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Everbright Grand China Assets Limited ("Everbright Grand China" or the "Group"; HKEX stock code: 03699.HK), a subsidiary of China Everbright Group, principally engaged in the businesses of property leasing, property management and the sales of properties held for sale, announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024 ("Reporting Period").During the Reporting Period, the Group's revenue amounted to approximately RMB23.9 million, representing an increase of approximately RMB1.8 million as compared to the same period of last year (2023: RMB22.1 million). The increase in revenue was mainly attributable to the increase in revenue from management services. Profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company amounted to approximately RMB11.4 million (2023: RMB13.3 million), representing a decrease of approximately RMB1.9 million as compared to the same period of last year, which was attributable to the decrease in valuation gains on investment properties. Basic earnings per share was approximately RMB0.03 (2023: RMB0.03). Considering that the current operating environment remains relatively challenging, the Board declared an interim dividend of RMB0.78 cents (equivalent to HK$0.85 cents) (2023: RMB1.06 cents (equivalent to HK$1.16 cents)) per ordinary share for the six months ended 30 June 2024 as a token of appreciation to shareholders for their continuous support. In the second half of the year, the Company will decide on dividend distribution taking into account factors such as business development needs, financial performance and capital position, as well as performance growth, in order to bring the best return to the Company's shareholders and investors.In 2024, following two consecutive years of slowdown, the global economy is in the process of returning to a "normal" state, although growth remains relatively subdued with weakening momentum. Challenges such as interest rate hikes in Europe and the United States, decreasing inflation, and geopolitical risks have added uncertainties to the outlook for recovery. Despite this, the Chinese economy began the year positively in the first half of 2024. While growth momentum has softened, economic operations have remained relatively stable, showing signs of gradual improvement. The Group primarily manages commercial properties and has been attentively monitoring market developments and actively deploying strategies to carefully assess market conditions, adjust rental rates reasonably and seize opportunities to develop new tenants.Property LeasingThe continued recovery in consumer spending is set to become the core driver of economic growth in China in 2024, boosting demand for leasing in the commercial property sector. During the Reporting Period, rental income amounted to approximately RMB16.3 million (2023: RMB16.2 million), representing an increase of approximately RMB0.1 million as compared to the same period of last year. During the period, the average occupancy rate of the properties was approximately 77% (2023: 73%).Property Management ServiceFollowing unprecedented economic challenges, the development strategy of property management enterprises has undergone a significant transformation. Their strategic direction has become more prudent, shifting away from blind pursuit of scale expansion. The Group emphasizes the refinement and enhancement of service quality while adopting a "stabilize before expand" approach, aiming to maintain stable cash flow and business growth. During the Reporting Period, revenue from property management services amounted to approximately RMB7.6 million (2023: RMB5.9 million), representing an increase of approximately RMB1.7 million as compared to the same period of last year, which was mainly attributable to the increase in revenue from value-added management services.Investment PropertiesAs at 30 June 2024, the fair value of investment properties amounted to RMB962.3 million (31 December 2023: RMB959.5 million). The valuation gain on investment properties for the six months ended 30 June 2024 amounted to RMB1.0 million (2023: RMB5.4 million), representing a decrease of approximately RMB4.4 million as compared to the same period of last year.As at 30 June 2024, the Group held cash and bank balances of approximately RMB223.3 million (31 December 2023: RMB222.2 million). The Group's gearing ratio (measured as the Group's total liabilities divided by total assets) was 18.1% (31 December 2023: 18.6%) with a solid liquidity position.In the first half of 2024, the Group's tenant and leasing contracts and occupancy rates continued to remain stable. Meanwhile, the Group maintained a healthy financial position with zero debt and strong cash flow during the period under review. In light of the promising domestic and international environment, the Group will continue to focus on property investment in the future, and prudently identify suitable new investment projects with potential for long-term returns.ProspectsAs innovation in the digital economy continues to progress, China is actively driving its digital transformation. Property management companies are undergoing hardware upgrades and software enhancements to leverage intelligent technologies for operations simulation, optimized staffing, and the proactive advancement of industrial transformation. These enterprises have successfully implemented digital operations across various scenarios. With the ongoing evolution of technologies like artificial intelligence, it is anticipated that property management companies will soon experience the practical application of these advanced technologies, potentially elevating their service quality and management capabilities to new levels.Looking forward, the Group intends to uphold a prudent business strategy, emphasizing quality and steady progress. In additon, it will actively align with national policies, carry out effective initiatives to maintain market value, prioritize risk management and internal controls, and strive to generate long-term and sustainable value for shareholders. By actively adapting to national policies and industry shifts, the Group aims to expand its brand influence within the property management sector, ultimately creating greater societal value.- End - Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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AAC Technologies’s CFO Guo Dan: Expects 15% Growth in Revenue of Main Business ACN Newswire

AAC Technologies’s CFO Guo Dan: Expects 15% Growth in Revenue of Main Business

August 28, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - On August 22, AAC Technologies (02018.HK) held its 2024 interim results presentation in Hong Kong, delivering remarkably impressive performance.According to the Interim Report, in the first half of 2024, AAC Technologies achieved a revenue of RMB 11.25 billion, hitting a new high since its listing, with a year-on-year revenue growth of 22.0% and a gross profit margin of 21.5%, up by 7.4 percentage points year-on-year. The net profit amounted to RMB 537 million, representing a significant increase of 257.3% year-on-year. Notably, PSS, which was announced to acquire last year, contributed a consolidated revenue of approximately RMB 1.5 billion in the first half of the year, with a gross profit margin of approximately 25.0%.During the interview, Ms. Guo Dan, the CFO of AAC Technologies stated that in the first half of 2024, all business segments of AAC Technologies made positive progress, significantly enhancing profitability and maintaining a continuous growth in gross profit margin. More importantly, the performance of the interim results indicated the potential growth value brought by the Company’s strategic transformation. It is expected that the operating revenue of the Group (excluding PSS) for the year will increase by 15% compared to last year. Additionally, the consolidation of PSS is expected to contribute approximately RMB 3 billion. Overall, the total revenue of the Group for 2024 is projected to grow by over 30% year-on-year, with a gross profit margin in the range of 22% to 25%.Benefitting from the surge in AI smartphone upgrades in the next 1-2 yearsAt the interim results presentation, AI smartphones took center stage as a key topic. Guo Dan believes that AI smartphones are still in the early stages, with software-driven enhancements propelling hardware upgrades. There has already been a trend of increased shipments and overall improvement in ASP for product categories such as acoustics, mechanics and microphones. Looking ahead, with the further development of AI smartphones and functionalities, hardware component is expected to continue to advance in the coming years.“AI smartphones have great potential for innovation. In the next 1-2 years, we will see some changes, with an acceleration of changes in the 3-5 year period, bringing us many opportunities and driving multiple product lines,” Guo Dan stated. She cited examples such as new trends in hardware like foldable and ultra-thin form factors, and the Company's unique innovative speakers, and Combo (two-in-one product, which integrates a speaker and an actuator) can better meet market demands.Moreover, AI smartphones have higher power consumption and require better heat dissipation solutions. AAC Technologies has industry-leading advantages from material sourcing to lean manufacturing processes and simulation design. Additionally, as the demand for human-machine interaction in AI smartphones increases, requiring more precise voice commands and functionalities, this will further drive the Company’s MEMS microphone upgrades, boosting prices and profit margins.The Group’s overall gross profit margin is expected to increase to 22%-25% for FY2024Guo Dan revealed that with the seasonal impact of more new product releases in the second half of the year, performance is expected to be stronger than the first half. It is anticipated that the full-year business performance (excluding PSS) will achieve a growth of over 15% compared to last year. With PSS contributing approximately RMB 3 billion, the Group’s revenue in 2024 is projected to grow by over 30% year-on-year, with the comprehensive gross profit margin increasing from 21.5% in the first half of the year to a range of 22%-25%.“Since the second half of last year, the entire industry has entered a healthy trend of increasing specifications and configurations. The Company has seen improvements in ASP and overall profit margins in areas such as acoustics, optics, and mechanics,” Guo Dan stated. Particularly in the automotive sector, there will be a steady growth trend in the medium to long term. "It can be said that AAC is now a company with multiple growth drivers and solutions across various platforms. As we forecast the overall growth for the next few years, we maintain a positive outlook.”The acoustics business is expected to exceed a scale of RMB 10 billion and build a comprehensive user experience across all scenariosGuo Dan mentioned that the gross profit margin of AAC Technologies’ acoustics business has resumed to a healthy growth trajectory. The gross profit margin in the first half of the year was 29.9%, and it is expected to rise to over 30% for the full year.“At the interim results presentation, the Company’s management also discussed how AAC Technologies, originally a micro-acoustic supplier for consumer electronics, has further established industry standards for a comprehensive user experience across all scenarios through the acquisition of PSS. Acoustic solutions will be a key driver for the next phase of growth in the acoustics business. In terms of scale, the acoustics business is the Company’s first to exceed a revenue scale of over RMB 10 billion, and in the next five years, we can expect this important business line with a revenue scale of RMB 20 billion and a sustainable gross profit margin of over 30%.”Definite progress in the WLG projects of multiple key customersIn terms of the optics business, Guo Dan believes that the optics market has transitioned from a relatively competitive state a few years ago to a period of healthy development.The gross profit margin for optics in the first half of the year was approximately 5%, with plastic lens gross profit margin at 16-17%. Shipments of 6P and higher specification lenses accounted for 15%-16% of total shipments, with expectations of reaching 15-20% in the second half of the year. “In terms of value, it has already surpassed 30% or even 35%, which reflects our technical capabilities, customer coverage, and recognition.”Guo Dan disclosed that AAC Technologies’ gross profit for optics will further improve in the second half of the year. “It is foreseeable that the profit for a single quarter will turn positive, with a high probability of occurring in the fourth quarter. Overall profitability will see significant improvement compared to last year, with continued steady growth in the future.”“Especially with G+P glass-plastic hybrid lenses and WLG lens products, there have been definite advancements in major projects with several key customers,” Guo Dan stated. The industry now widely acknowledges that G+P glass-plastic hybrid lenses are indeed a superior solution. The Company’s unique WLG technology finds applications in areas such as smartphones and automotive, creating value across multiple domains. “Next year, G+P glass-plastic lenses and WLG single lenses will gradually become one of the most crucial technologies and value supports in the entire optics business, with many deliveries to customers aligning with our expectations for WLG technology investments.”The interim results performance reflects the Company’s long-term growth value“Looking at the first half of this year, the electromagnetic actuators and haptic business have already reached a gross profit margin of approximately 30% with the optimization and upgrade of product portfolios on the Android side, and this healthy level is expected to be sustained in the future,” Guo Dan stated. With the boost from the development of new products like actuators and drives, this sector is poised to return to a high-growth trajectory.“At the interim results presentation, the Company's management also mentioned that in the heat dissipation segment, AAC Technologies achieved a business scale of RMB 150 million in the first half of the year, with a gross profit margin of over 30%. With the development of AI-enabled applications, the scale is expected to exceed RMB 1 billion in the future. When combined with precision mechanics, the overall scale could reach RMB 5 billion and potentially even surpass RMB 10 billion in the long term.”“Additionally, the overall gross profit for the sensor and semiconductor business will continue to increase in the second half of the year,” Guo Dan mentioned. Over the next two to three years, driven by factors such as the value enhancement brought by AI smartphones, the advantages brought by the Company’s resource platform, and the increase in self-developed product penetration rates, the sensor and semiconductor business is expected to experience rapid development.Guo Dan concluded, “At the interim results presentation, the management also pointed out that this performance has shown investors that AAC has achieved revenue growth, as well as gross and net profit improvements through strategic transformation at the current stage. However, more importantly, the interim results implied the long-term growth value of each major business line, and we encourage everyone to focus on the certainty of sustained long-term growth.” Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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VCREDIT 2024 Interim Results ACN Newswire

VCREDIT 2024 Interim Results

August 28, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - VCREDIT Holdings Limited ("VCREDIT" or the "Group"; stock code: 2003.HK), a leading independent online consumer finance provider in China, announced its unaudited interim results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024 (the "Period").In the first half of 2024, faced with a continuously sluggish macroeconomic condition and weakened consumption and credit demand, the Group promptly adjusted its operating strategies by tightening risk control to mitigate borrower credit risk and asset quality depreciation, while also implemented cost control measures to improve operational efficiency. Loan origination volume in the Period recorded RMB 27.02 billion.During the Period, to enhance risk control, the Group utilised new data sources to upgrade through iterations its risk model, and also adjusted its credit line policies to lower the average risk exposure at the customer level. By applying a more comprehensive dimensions for assessing borrower characteristics, the Group improved the quality of its approval process. These updates have enabled the Group’s ongoing targeting of higher-quality borrowers in terms of assets, achieving a balance between short-term risk and long-term returns.Launching the ‘Sunbird AI Hub’ AI large model, investing in technology to enhance operational efficiencyArtificial intelligence (AI) technology is developing rapidly, and the Group is actively investing in research and development in this area, and thus applied AI in its business technology to improve operational efficiency. In the first half of 2024, the Group officially has launched the its AI large model ‘Sunbird AI Hub’, and deployed it across several aspects of business. ‘Sunbird AI Hub’ can summarise large amounts of dialogue texts, and significantly improve the quality of customer service statistics and quality control through its application to intelligent credit. It is also aiding in code generation by helping R&D staff to focus on the design and improvement of data structure and system architecture.In the office setting, AI is being utilized with VQuickMind 2.0 which was put into service during the Period. VQuickMind 2.0 enables employees to create content in addition to the original question-and-answer interaction function, thus improving office efficiency. Other AI initiatives during the Period include an iterative upgrade of our core risk control system Hummingbird with the help of AI technology in the field of specialised modeling, thereby improving the operational efficiency of our risk control and reducing operational risks by revamping the rules engine.Diversify customer acquisition channels to acquire high-quality new customers, optimise user experience to maintain customer loyaltyThe Group actively expanded the network of high-quality customer acquisition channels and enhanced customer acquisition efficiency. During the Period, the Group reached cooperation agreements with leading food delivery platforms and other high-quality channels which better enable us to enhance customer interaction and to acquire new high-quality customers. As of June 2024, our cumulative number of registered users reached 149.1 million, an increase of 9.8% over the first half of 2023.Apart from acquiring new high-quality customers, the Group continued to optimise its existing user operation strategy. The Group has upgraded services at various points in the business process to shorten the time taken to issue and disburse loans and reduce the operation path for users, to provide users with a safer and more convenient and caring user experience. In the first half of 2024, repeat customers accounted for 89.5% of total loan volume.Continuously strengthen cooperation with external funding sources, implement multiple measures to reduce financing costsAs of June 2024, the Group have established long-term relationships with 109 external funding partners, including national joint-stock commercial banks, consumer finance companies and trust funds, etc., thus growing a rich and diversified funding pool. In addition, the Group also improved capital management with the construction of the VCREDIT fund management platform system, which continuously improves the efficiency of its funding operation, and steadily reduces the cost of funds.Develop new business beyond mainland China, CreFIT partners with China Mobile Hong KongApart from developing the existing consumer finance business, the Group also consolidated new business initiatives outside of Mainland China. In May 2024, its Hong Kong-based online consumer finance brand ‘CreFIT’ became the first money lender in Hong Kong to cooperate with China Mobile Hong Kong to provide consumer finance products to their customers. CreFIT will look for opportunities to align with additional quality customer acquisition channels and develop mutually beneficial cooperation across cross-industry online platforms and widen access to users with a tailored instalment experience that can truly match real consumer finance scenarios.OutlookIn order to contribute to further growth in consumer finance business and fulfil the financial needs of high-quality customers, the Group will continue to hone business strategies and upscale technology. In addition to growing the existing consumer finance business in China, the Group will also look to expand and diversify its business strategies by investing or collaborating in or acquiring similar, related, or complementary businesses and industries in other jurisdictions including Hong Kong, South-East Asia and Europe. The Group will continue to review potential investment opportunities and business prospects on a constant basis and make suitable investments and acquisitions as opportunities occur.In addition, the Group intends to continue to execute these strategies to maintain its growth in the industry, including streamline and extend its credit solutions to better serve its customers to improve brand recognition and loyalty and creditworthiness of its customer base; enhance risk management capability through deployment of evolving technology and artificial intelligence; strengthen long-term collaborations with licensed financial institutional partners and other business partners; ensure its business is conducted within applicable regulatory parameters to achieve regulation-centric sustainability; review and assess potential business prospects and invest or collaborate in or acquire similar, related or complementary businesses and industries in China and other jurisdictions; cultivate a dynamic enterprise value and culture and grow its in-house talents.About VCREDIT Holdings LimitedVCREDIT Holdings Limited (VCREDIT) is a leading independent online consumer finance service provider in China. With 18 years of experience in consumer finance innovation, the Group has established a cutting-edge position in credit risk quantification and intelligent risk management, which are core to financial services. VCREDIT's proprietary "Hummingbird" risk management system and smart lending robot provide state-of-the-art integrated solutions to licensed financial institutions, allowing them to offer customized, accessible financial services to underserved borrowers across China. VCREDIT made its debut on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 21, 2018, with the ticker symbol 2003.HK. Website: https://en.vcredit.com/en-us Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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GTJAI Announced 2024 Interim Results ACN Newswire

GTJAI Announced 2024 Interim Results

August 27, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - GTJAI announced its interim results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024. Although the global uncertainties continuously impacted the capital market in Hong Kong, the Group maintained stringent control over risks, vigorously enhanced its comprehensive financial service capabilities and product diversification driven by client demand, achieved an outstanding performance with revenue and profit achieved an overall increase, revenue increased significantly by 41% YOY to HK$2,171m, profit attributable to ordinary equity holders increased significantly by 63% YOY to HK$195m. To reward investors for their long-term recognition and support, the Company maintained a high payout ratio and declared an interim dividend of HK$0.012 per share, payout ratio reached 59%.Dr. YIM Fung, Chairman and Executive Director, stated, " Despite the presence of market uncertainties, the Group adhered to the development principles of “pursuing progress while ensuring stability, promoting stability through progress, advancing through pragmatic implementation”, vigorously enhanced comprehensive financial service capabilities and product diversification. The revenue (by income nature and by business segment) achieved an overall growth, demonstrating the success of diversified and integrated development. In the future, the Group will continuously develop wealth management and institutional business, adhere to the development direction based on customer demands, provide customers with more diverse products and services, build a leading comprehensive financial service platform, and achieve steady and sustainable growth."Keep up with market trends and client demand, and continuously strengthen wealth management service capabilities Facing the ever-changing market, the Group offers a variety of financial products and services to help clients preserve and generate their wealth. Through digital transformation, the Group continuously enhances the trading and wealth management experience, with the one-stop global investment application "Junhong Global" constantly updating new features, and introduced a new wealth management channel. In the first half of 2024, the Group pioneered the launch of virtual asset spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)-linked structured notes in the Hong Kong market, adding new features to its diversified products and services. At the same time, the Group responded to Hong Kong's CIES program by providing solutions for investment immigration, with three of its public funds have been included in the eligible collective investment schemes of CIES and registered in Macao, expanding the customer base.Corporate finance business deploys in key industries, and debt underwriting business maintains its leading position in the industryIn the first half of 2024, the Group achieved significant growth in bond underwriting business, participating in 113 bond issuances, marking 82% YOY increase, with the total issuance size reaching HK$187.7b, 170% YOY increase, and ranked second among Chinese securities firms in terms of the underwriting scale of offshore bonds. In equity business, leveraging synergies with the parent company, the Group focused on key industries such as new energy, robotic, and intelligent driving, so as to optimize its business structure. During the period, the Group successfully assisted SenseTime Group in completing over HK$2b new Class B share placement, marking its first equity refinancing since its IPO.Accelerate the development of green finance service capabilities, actively promote green and low-carbon developmentThe Group has always adhered to the belief of “finance for the country, finance for the people, finance for the good”, by integrating and deepening the ESG concepts into daily business operations and management, and striving to build a responsible integrated financial service platform. In the first half of 2024, the Group achieved 438% YOY significant surge in the scale of ESG bond issuance business, reaching nearly HK$70b. Additionally, on the basis of the decline in total greenhouse gas emissions for four consecutive years, the Company has successfully offset the carbon emissions for the year 2023 by purchasing carbon credit assets of the verified carbon standard (VCS) forestry projects, achieving “carbon neutrality” at operational-level for the second consecutive year. Moreover, the Group has completed the Hong Kong and Mainland China’s first multi-currency sustainability-linked loan in the securities industry, and the first green deposit of the Group, actively promoting sustainable development for itself and the industry from multiple perspectives.OutlookIn the second half of the year, the Group will continue to maintain a stable and pragmatic development strategy, actively seize market opportunities, enhance its core business capabilities, optimize its revenue structure, and ensure high-quality and sustainable development of the Company. The Group will adhere to a client-demand-driven business development approach, and vigorously develop wealth management business. On one hand, it will accelerate the digital intelligent transformation, continuously optimize the functions of the investment application, “Junhong Global”, so as to create a convenient and efficient one-stop trading and wealth management platform for clients. On the other hand, it will actively enrich the variety of products to assist high-net-worth clients in transforming their high-end asset allocation. The corporate finance business will continuously deepen the synergistic effect with the parent company, deepen its advantages and professional capabilities in key industries, and serve the overseas financing needs of high-quality enterprises. Meanwhile, the Group will fully capitalize on regional synergies and provide institutions, corporations and individual clients with comprehensive and integrated financial services by giving play to the distinctive advantages of its subsidiaries in Singapore, Vietnam and Macao.- END – Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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2024 Interim Report of Wuling Motors (0305.HK) ACN Newswire

2024 Interim Report of Wuling Motors (0305.HK)

August 27, 2024
HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - On August 22, Wuling Motors (0305.HK) released its 2024 interim results. For the first half of the year, Wuling Motors reported total revenue of RMB 3.946 billion, with a gross profit margin of 10.8%, up about 270 basis points from 8.1% in the same period of 2023. The profit for the period was RMB 21.125 million, representing a 72.3% year-on-year increase.Despite intensified market competition and pressures from industry transformation, the automobile sector showed an overall upward trend in the first half of the year. From January to June, revenue in China's automotive industry reached RMB 4.767 trillion, reflecting a 5% year-on-year increase. The growth in vehicle production and sales also improved profitability for upstream industry chain companies. Wuling Motors' latest results are notably strong.Steady Profit Growth and Synergistic Development Across Three Major SectorsWuling Motors primarily offers commercial vehicles, automotive power systems, and automotive parts. Benefiting from the robust development of the global automotive industry chain, these three major sectors have advanced in tandem, driving revenue and profit growth for Wuling Motors.Breaking down the performance of each sector:1/ Automotive Power Systems: By focusing on upgrading traditional fuel vehicle engines and developing new energy power systems, Wuling Motors has maintained its established customer base while securing new orders for high-efficiency and cost-effective HEV hybrid assemblies. This approach combines traditional power technology upgrades with new energy power integration. In the first half of the year, revenue reached RMB 902 million, with casting product sales totaling 515,000 units, up 26.2% from the same period in 2023.2/ Automotive Parts: Wuling Motors has continued mass production of key NEV components such as electric drive axles, motors, and electronic controls, achieving breakthroughs in both products and customer acquisition. In the first half of the year, sales to new customers amounted to RMB 1.042 billion, accounting for 38.6% of the total revenue in this segment. The share of revenue from customers outside SGMW increased to 38.6%. Various new energy electric axles have been used in projects for Great Wall Motor, JAC, and BAIC Qingdao. The first commercialized electric drive coaxial axle for the Changan Kaicheng market has already entered mass production. Wuling Motors' parts products are gradually moving toward mid-to-high-end markets, capturing trends in high-end and intelligent products, and expanding its diverse customer base, supporting further performance growth.3/ Sales and Manufacturing of Commercial Vehicles: Following last year's restructuring and strategic adjustments, Wuling Motors' commercial vehicle business has expanded into international markets and promoted new products. Currently, NEVs such as logistics vehicles, sightseeing buses, and patrol vehicles have been exported to countries including Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Australia. In 2024, the company's global expansion continued with its first export to Egypt, delivering 200 vehicles. As Wuling Motors accelerates the development of new energy and intelligent products, it creates new growth opportunities for commercial vehicle revenue, contributing to overall performance growth.Each sector shows varying degrees of success, and Wuling Motors' continued optimization of product structure, commitment to technological innovation, and cost control measures have established stable profitability.Notably, the synergy between the commercial vehicle, automotive power system, and automotive parts sectors has created significant benefits along the industry chain. With factories in Guangxi, Shandong, Chongqing, and Hubei, Wuling Motors now has an annual production capacity of over 2 million sets of automotive parts. The Jingmen Base, dedicated to supporting Great Wall Motor, generated RMB 333 million in revenue in the first half of the year, with promising future potential. The combination of industry chain and technological advantages enables Wuling Motors to maintain leadership in product quality, cost, and scale, providing strong brand competitiveness and resilience through industry cycles.Creating new high quality productive forces and accelerating overseas expansionNew energy, exports, and intelligence are emerging as key drivers of performance for China's automotive industry chain. Strengthening China's new energy vehicle industry chain is closely linked to enhancing productive forces with higher quality.In the context of balancing energy security and achieving "dual carbon" goals, coupled with policies promoting large-scale vehicle trade-ins to stimulate automotive consumption, the new energy vehicle market is showing steady growth and increasingly high-quality development.According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), from January to June 2024, production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 4.929 million and 4.944 million units, respectively, marking a year-on-year increase of 30.1% and 32%. Domestic sales totaled 4.339 million units, up 35.1% year-on-year; exports were 605,000 units, up 13.2%. The total sales of new energy vehicles in China for 2024 are expected to reach 11.5 million units, indicating strong growth momentum.Wuling Motors is continuously strengthening its layout in the new energy sector across its three main business segments. In the long term, this will provide sustained new growth driver for its performance. From the current customer group perspective, Wuling Motors has accumulated a sufficient number of new energy customers. In addition to major client SGMW, there are well-established new energy automotive companies or emerging companies such as Great Wall, Chery, Geely, Foton, and Hozon. Furthermore, Wuling Motors is actively implementing a diversified customer policy and achieving outstanding results. For example, in the first half of the year, its independently developed new energy parts products made significant breakthroughs in securing overseas clients, successfully completing the development and supply of rear drive axle assemblies and driving system assemblies for the first new energy passenger car exported to Vietnam. As automotive enterprises expand their production and sales targets in 2024 compared to last year, this will undoubtedly create growth opportunities and drive comprehensive business growth for Wuling Motors.Furthermore, the new energy vehicle industry will inevitably move towards high-quality development. Recently, the profit margins in the automotive industry have shown a downward trend. However, a positive change this year is that several automotive enterprises have exited the "price war" and are focusing more on the business quality. As the automotive industry enters a phase of healthy development, the whole industry chain is expected to move toward common prosperity, and Wuling Motors' profitability is likely to further improve.In addition, Wuling Motors is actively striving to expand internationally and seize overseas development opportunities. In March of this year, Wuling Motors established an innovation center in Hong Kong. It is understood that the vision of the Wuling Motors Innovation Center is to be based in Hong Kong, leverage resources from the mainland China, and serve a global market. Its business includes forward-looking R&D, parts development, automotive intelligence and digital services, international sales services, and industrial incubation.The establishment of this innovation center will effectively enhance Wuling Motors' technological strength and product competitiveness. As Hong Kong serves as an excellent window for the mainland China to expand its new energy business overseas, Wuling Motors will be able to more efficiently reap the benefits of global market development, drive the growth of related companies' overseas sales of new energy vehicles, and achieve rapid improvement in its own performance.Looking ahead to the prospects of the overseas market, recent research reports indicate that in the passenger car sector, the market share of self-owned brands is gradually increasing, and the product exports is changed to capacity exports, with a high sustainable growth of export. The internationalization of China's commercial vehicles is rapidly advancing. In 2023, the total export volume of China's commercial vehicles reached 770,000 units, tripling compared to 2017.China's automobile exports, particularly commercial vehicles, are experiencing rapid growth. Recent data suggests that by 2024, China's automobile exports could reach 6 million units, representing a 15%-20% increase. Commercial vehicle exports are expected to reach 850,000 units, with a 15% growth rate. This growth indicates a significant acceleration in the internationalization of China's automotive industry, providing Wuling Motors with more opportunities to secure vehicle and core component orders, thereby boosting its performance to a new level.Summary:In summary, Wuling Motors exhibited robust business performance in the first half of this year, and its strategic layout is steadily progressing, which will continue to yield operation outcome.This year marks a significant moment for the development of new energy vehicles in China. In July, the monthly retail sales penetration rate of domestic new energy passenger cars exceeded that of traditional fuel vehicles for the first time, indicating that new energy vehicles have truly become mainstream. Moreover, Wuling Motors has accumulated ample industry experience, a solid customer group, and technological strength. As a result, its new energy layout and future potential will gain market recognition. Transitioning from the era of fuel vehicles to that of new energy vehicles, Wuling Motors is experiencing a leap in its intrinsic value. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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CleverTap’s AI-based Recommendation Engine helps Eatigo achieve 100% growth in reservations ACN Newswire

CleverTap’s AI-based Recommendation Engine helps Eatigo achieve 100% growth in reservations

August 27, 2024
San Francisco, Calif, & Mumbai, India, Aug 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Award-winning online restaurant reservation platform Eatigo, collaborates with CleverTap - the all-in-one engagement platform, to enhance customer engagement and boost reservations. Through CleverTap’s AI-powered recommendations engine, Eatigo was able to offer its users relevant and timely recommendations with precision, ensuring higher conversions. The platform's orchestration and analytics capabilities enabled Eatigo to coordinate complex, multi-channel marketing campaigns at scale and track the performance of its campaigns. Set up in 2013 with a mission to “connect empty tables with empty stomachs”, Eatigo is a leading online reservation platform. The brand has expanded rapidly, seating over 6 million diners, and accumulated over 6000 restaurants across Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.By harnessing CleverTap’s AI/ML-powered capability suite: Clever.AI, Eatigo was able to hyper-personalize its engagement through more than 10 automations and nearly 100 journeys. As a result, Eatigo’s users were 2X more likely to make reservations. Additionally, CleverTap's Liquid tag and journey features enable Eatigo to create omni-channel experiences capturing diner’s attention and driving reservations. Commenting on the collaboration, Surakan Kittiperakorn, Regional Marketing Lead, Eatigo said, “Collaborating with CleverTap has granted us access to their comprehensive and dynamic suite of capabilities, enabling us to achieve our goals and grow our business in the Southeast Asia region. Utilizing CleverTap for local campaigns has helped us craft personalized marketing campaigns and messaging that resonates deeply with our users. The precision and efficiency of their AI-powered recommendations have significantly boosted our engagement metrics, allowing us to connect diners with the perfect dining experiences. We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing to innovate and grow with the support of CleverTap's robust platform.”Sidharth Pisharoti, Chief Revenue Officer, CleverTap, said, “In today’s highly competitive restaurant industry, customer engagement and personalized experiences are crucial for success. At CleverTap, we understand the unique challenges faced by businesses in this sector and are committed to providing innovative solutions that drive growth and customer satisfaction. Our AI-powered platform enables companies like Eatigo to harness the power of data to create tailored marketing strategies that resonate with their audience. We are thrilled to support Eatigo in their mission to enhance the dining experience and are excited to see the impact our collaboration has had on their reservation rates." Eatigo leveraged CleverTap’s AI-based recommendation engine to tackle a few obstacles. When the customer cancels their reservation, the engine comes up with 5 other options to increase conversion rates. If another user scrolls through the options but doesn't make a reservation, the engine offers custom suggestions to convince them. Furthermore, CleverTap’s engine proactively reaches out to customers who made their last reservation a month ago, via a multi-channel approach to increase the chances of their return to the app. About Eatigo Eatigo, founded in 2013, is committed to connecting "empty tables with empty stomachs" by providing a rich selection of dining options through its online reservation platform. With a strong presence in Southeast Asia, Eatigo serves regions such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.By offering time-based discounts of up to 50%, Eatigo enables diners to enjoy high-quality dining experiences at affordable prices. Its unique, time-slot-based yield management solution also helps restaurants increase revenue during off-peak hours. In 2023, Eatigo merged with FunNow, joining the FUNNOW Group and further solidifying its leadership in the lifestyle booking and digital services sector.About CleverTapCleverTap is the leading all-in-one customer engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value. CleverTap is trusted by over 2000 brands like Domino’s, Levis, Jio, Papa John’s, Zomato, Kotak Bank, Air Asia, Carousell, TD Bank, and Tesco to help build personalized experiences for all their customers. The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering speed and cost efficiency at scale.Backed by top-tier investors such as Accel, Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, CDPQ and 360 One, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, with presence across Seattle, London, São Paulo, Bogota, Mexico, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, Vietnam, and Jakarta.For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/ X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap Forward-Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.For more information:SONY SHETTYDirector, Communications, CleverTap+91 9820900036sony@clevertap.com IPSHITA BALUConsultantArchetype+91 9590111798ipshita.balu@archetype.co Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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Verofax secures $3M in Bridge funding to deploy AI & AR experiences to tourists and sports fans ACN Newswire

Verofax secures $3M in Bridge funding to deploy AI & AR experiences to tourists and sports fans

August 27, 2024
ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Verofax Limited, a Web3 services company, today announced closing a $3M bridge round led by international investors Plug & Play Tech Center, Navig8 Group, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, Trove Capital UK follow-on investment, Jawa Brothers Advisory, with Alzamil Pedco CVC and Tracecore CVC completing the list of investors.Verofax applies patented Web3 technologies such as Blockchain, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence to provide 'Elevated tourist, shopper and brand marketing experiences', enabling destinations, retailers and sports stadiums to turn their experiences interactive and drive conversion and social virality. Brands can reach customers directly, thereby increasing consumer intimacy with direct engagement and leveraging gamification for unmatched results from AI & AR experiences. Verofax has won many awards for the application of artificial intelligence for tourism and retail and has achieved sales to date of over $3M for Fortune 100 companies across 50 markets globally.The funds will be used to execute the Company's pipeline of projects in the Middle East and EU, notably AI-powered guides in GCC and Sports fan guides in the EU and North America. Verofax solutions apply to various industries (Retail, Tourism and Sports) and are already used by leading brands such as Anheuser Busch Inc and Emirates Airlines. Verofax is a Microsoft Native partner and has secured a global network of distributors and resellers, co-selling on enterprise solution platforms such as Microsoft Azure Marketplace, Amazon AWS, and other platforms.Wassim Merheby, CEO of Verofax, said, "Our solution helps Tourists elevate their experiences, unlock personalized discounts and Offer gamified 'Explore to win' sponsored games in Augmented reality. This allows enterprises and brands to sponsor and elevate their marketing efficiency, power direct-to-consumer communication and deliver amazing experiences to drive growth and boost loyalty. We are thrilled to be joined by strategic investors that will help us accelerate our AI guide solution and AR gamified experiences and grow through their collective network and with their advice."Abdullah Alakeel, Country Director of Plug & Play Saudi, said: "Our recent investment in Verofax demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting the most promising startups within the Kingdom and the broader region. As one of the world's most active and successful early-stage tech investors, we are fully dedicated to nurturing the Kingdom's entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are thrilled to witness the transformative impact that Verofax will continue to make within the Tourism industry."Mr Ian Campbell, Vice President of the National Transformation Institute (NTI), said, "KAUST is mandated to accelerate the digital economy in the Kingdom as part of the University's forward vision, leveraging KAUST science and innovation to make an impact beyond the walls of the campus itself and to create collaborations and identify opportunities where KAUST can contribute by convening minds and resources together to deliver solutions to benefit the wider Kingdom and beyond. The application of AI in tourism, customer service and beyond are applications that fall within our investment mandate."Jamal Jawa, Managing Partner of Brothers Advisory, said, "Our investment thesis is to support growth startups that leverage the latest technologies such as AI / AR and Web3, setting new service categories. We have been incredibly impressed by Wassim and the whole Verofax team and are thrilled to be making this our first investment in a Pre-Series A startup in the GCC region".About VerofaxVerofax is a Web3 Asset Digitization and mixed-reality experience solution provider with a presence across North America, Europe, Asia and MEA regions. The Verofax solution is available across multiple cloud marketplaces, such as AWS & Microsoft Azure, to power tourism and retail personalized, immersive experiences with ease to boost customer loyalty and repurchase rates. Verofax boasts investment and support from 500 startups, including Sanabil Investments (PIF), and has received government grants to develop its IP globally. For technical matters, visit Verofax at https://www.verofax.com or contact info@verofax.com.About Plug & Play Tech CenterPlug & Play Tech Center is the most significant innovation platform in the world, supercharging innovation of over 500 industry-leading corporations by keeping them at the forefront of industry trends through PnPTC corporate Accelerator programs. Plug & Play runs over 100 industry-focused accelerator programs in over 50 locations globally and invests in over 250 companies a year alongside the world's best VCs. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com.About KAUSTKAUST is an international graduate-level science and technology research university located on the shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Home to world-class faculty, scientists, engineers, and students from around the globe, the campus's 10 research centers focus on solving problems related to water, food, energy, and the environment. Students can access state-of-the-art labs and our eminent faculty while obtaining a diverse graduate study experience. Visit https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/ or #KAUSTPortfolio for more information.About Jawa Brothers AdvisoryJawa Brothers Advisory, Owned and Managed by the Jawa Family, has been an Active Investor in the field of Private Equity for more than three decades. The group invests primarily through interests in limited partnership positions, Leveraged Buyout (MBO and LBO), Growth and Expansion Capital Private Equity Funds and Late Stage Venture Capital Funds. Funds are selected based on a clearly defined set of criteria. The company's disciplined and discerning investment professionals perform exceptional due diligence, studying the industry to identify specific opportunities and trends. Jawa Brothers Advisory is part of Starling Group. Visit https://www.starlinggroup.com/ for more information. Learn more at https://www.verofax.com or contact Verofax at info@verofax.com. Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
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