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Director-General of Investment Promotion visits ASEAN to promote Hong Kong's role in Guangdong Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

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HONG KONG, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (August 13) embarked on visits in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand, in the latest promotion activity to update Association of Southeast Asian Nations investors on the business opportunities Hong Kong has to offer in the context of the Guangdong Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Phillips will participate in a roundtable discussion on business opportunities in Hong Kong relating to the Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, jointly organised by Invest Hong Kong and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session will highlight to a group of targeted Vietnamese companies the latest economic trends and developments in Hong Kong and the ease of setting up a business in the city. It will also shed light on cross-boundary initiatives that Hong Kong has undertaken to propel its economy and create greater opportunities for businesses. While in Vietnam, Mr Phillips will also meet with major companies in various industries.

Mr Phillips said, "Hong Kong is seeing unprecedented business opportunities lying ahead in the context of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development strategy. This is the most opportune time for foreign investors to come and leverage Hong Kong's advantages to drive business growth arising from these huge opportunities."

The roundtable event is supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Its Director, Mr Bruno Luk, said, "In view of the immense opportunities presented to businesses by the Belt and Road and the Bay Area initiatives, I am sure the Vietnamese companies participating at the event will benefit from learning about Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages as their ideal investment destination."

In Bangkok, Mr Philips will meet leaders in the real estate, retail and textiles sectors, as well as restaurant operators and service providers. He will also talk to major local media on the benefits of entering the Hong Kong market for Thai businesses and promote the upcoming StartmeupHK Festival and other trade exhibitions in Hong Kong.

The Belt and Road Initiative is offering a long-term prospect of transnational and intercontinental connectivity and will give rise to rewarding business prospects including new air, sea and land routes; additional ports; railways and roads connecting different regions; economic and trade pacts; and increased investment flow.

The Bay Area will serve as a powerful connection point for the Belt and Road. A cluster of nine flourishing cities in Guangdong Province together with the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, the Bay Area has a collective population of over 68 million and a combined GDP of some US$1.5 trillion.

The "one country, two systems" arrangement ensures that Hong Kong retains its enduring advantages including the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, the free market mechanism, a low-tax regime and free flow of capital and information. "This makes Hong Kong an international city in China that can help connect the country with the rest of the world," Mr Phillips said.

He added that the city can also help in the country's drive to become a technology leader in the context of the Bay Area. Hong Kong has very strong research and development capacity, which combined with Shenzhen's advanced manufacturing will turn the Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub.

About Invest Hong Kong

Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to attract foreign direct investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies enrolled as its clients. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Hong Kong Investment Promotion chief visits ASEAN to promote Hong Kong's role in Guangdong Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

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HONG KONG, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region today (August 13) embarked on visits in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand, in the latest promotion activity to update Association of Southeast Asian Nations investors on the business opportunities Hong Kong has to offer in the context of the Guangdong Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Phillips will participate in a roundtable discussion on business opportunities in Hong Kong relating to the Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, jointly organised by Invest Hong Kong and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session will highlight to a group of targeted Vietnamese companies the latest economic trends and developments in Hong Kong and the ease of setting up a business in the city. It will also shed light on cross-boundary initiatives that Hong Kong has undertaken to propel its economy and create greater opportunities for businesses. While in Vietnam, Mr Phillips will also meet with major companies in various industries.

Mr Phillips said, "Hong Kong is seeing unprecedented business opportunities lying ahead in the context of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development strategy. This is the most opportune time for foreign investors to come and leverage Hong Kong's advantages to drive business growth arising from these huge opportunities."

The roundtable event is supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Its Director, Mr Bruno Luk, said, "In view of the immense opportunities presented to businesses by the Belt and Road and the Bay Area initiatives, I am sure the Vietnamese companies participating at the event will benefit from learning about Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages as their ideal investment destination."

In Bangkok, Mr Philips will meet leaders in the real estate, retail and textiles sectors, as well as restaurant operators and service providers. He will also talk to major local media on the benefits of entering the Hong Kong market for Thai businesses and promote the upcoming StartmeupHK Festival and other trade exhibitions in Hong Kong.

The Belt and Road Initiative is offering a long-term prospect of transnational and intercontinental connectivity and will give rise to rewarding business prospects including new air, sea and land routes; additional ports; railways and roads connecting different regions; economic and trade pacts; and increased investment flow.

The Bay Area will serve as a powerful connection point for the Belt and Road. A cluster of nine flourishing cities in Guangdong Province together with the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, the Bay Area has a collective population of over 68 million and a combined GDP of some US$1.5 trillion.

The "one country, two systems" arrangement ensures that Hong Kong retains its enduring advantages including the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, the free market mechanism, a low-tax regime and free flow of capital and information. "This makes Hong Kong an international city in China that can help connect the country with the rest of the world," Mr Phillips said.

He added that the city can also help in the country's drive to become a technology leader in the context of the Bay Area. Hong Kong has very strong research and development capacity, which combined with Shenzhen's advanced manufacturing will turn the Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub.

About Invest Hong Kong

Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to attract foreign direct investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies enrolled as its clients. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

Note to editors:

The "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" refers to the PRC government's scheme to link the cities of Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing into an integrated economic and business hub.

Media contacts:

Vietnam:
Melvin Lee
Head, Investment Promotion
Tel: +65 6330 9338
Email: Melvin_Lee@hketosin.gov.hk

Thailand:
Yada Saraneeyatham
Principal Consultant
Tel: +66 2 260 8200
Email: ysaraneeyatham@investhk.com.hk

Hong Kong:
Antoine So
Head of Public Relations
Tel: +852 3107 1035
ASo@investhk.gov.hk

Eva Chan
Manager of Public Relations
Tel: +852 3107 1071
EChan@investhk.gov.hk

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

IOTW Ports Micro-Mining Firmware to Espressif Chipset, Plans More High-volume Deployments

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HONG KONG, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - AnApp Blockchain Technologies Limited ("AnApp"), the IoT blockchain developer behind IOTW (a new cryptocurrency for IoT applications), announces the porting of their micro-mining software to the ESP32 chipset developed by Espressif, a multinational designer of high-performance Wi-Fi + Bluetooth chips and modules.

The micro-mining IoT chipset is running at 0.5W and supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, powered by a dual-core processing unit. The IOTW development team previously demonstrated 200 fully-functional micro-mining IoT devices in Shenzen, on June 12, 2018, and is now aiming to develop a demo network with one thousand devices.

Espressif is a prominent fabless semiconductor company based in Shanghai, with offices in Greater China, Europe, and India. AnApp used Espressif's Open SDK for firmware porting, and according to AnApp CEO Fred Leung, this is just the beginning for IOTW.

"We are porting our firmware into a semiconductor chipset which has tens of millions of deployments. ESP32 porting is just the beginning, and all manufacturers or brand owner of IoT devices can easily adopt our technologies. As a result, their end-users can start earning blockchain rewards and use cryptocurrency to experience the benefits of decentralization. We believe such high-volume deployment measures are the only way to make crypto accessible to the masses," commented AnApp CEO Fred Leung.


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Open Influence and Icicle Joining Forces to Offer Superior Influencer Marketing Technology in the Greater China Region

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HONG KONG, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Hong Kong's leading marketing solutions provider, Icicle Group Holdings Limited (the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, "Icicle" or the "Group"; stock code: 8429), today announced a Preferred Regional Technology Partnership with Open Influence, the world's leading data-driven global influencer marketing company. The engagement builds on a highly successful pilot program in the Asia Pacific Region, where Open Influence worked with Icicle to implement campaigns that reached over 20,000,000 viewers in 2018.

"We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Open Influence," said Ms. Bonnie Chan Woo, Chairperson, CEO and Executive Director of Icicle Group. "In the past year, we have seen how Open Influence's superior technology leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to deliver high-performing KOL marketing campaigns across the world. Open Influence's data-driven, measurable approach is what our sophisticated brand clients are looking for. With innovative and disruptive brands increasingly looking beyond their domestic markets, we see a fast-growing demand in the Asian market for leading-edge data-driven global KOL marketing solutions. As such, we are excited to announce that Honma Golf, one of the most prestigious and iconic Asian brands in the golf industry, is expected to be the first brand in Asia to leverage Icicle's expertise in global market expansion propelled by Open Influence's proprietary technology stack."

Today's agreement names Icicle Group as Open Influence's Preferred Regional Technology Partner for the Greater China Region. "When entering the Chinese market, we wanted a partner that understood the needs of the world's most discerning brands to help us further refine our solution and technology stack for the Chinese market - we are proud to announce that Icicle is that partner." said Mr. Eric Dahan, CEO and Co-founder of Open Influence.

Proprietary AI enabled technology drives predictable and consistent return on investment
"The combined power of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and strategic creativity has proven to deliver outstanding measurable performance for leading brands across the industry," said Ms. Bonnie Chan Woo. "We have done much research and find that Open Influence's proprietary technology stack, recognized by Amazon as being on the forefront of AI application, is the best in the market for effective campaign execution and optimizing return on investment."

About Icicle Group Holdings Limited (stock code: 8429)
Commencing business in the late 1990s, the Group is a marketing production company headquartered in Hong Kong. The Group's business covers overall project management and marketing production services, focusing on physical media production and management, digital media production, and cross media development, helping clients to implement their branding and marketing strategies in a diversified, flexible, consistent and cost-effective way. It has an extensive and diversified client base comprising global financial institutions, luxury brand retailers, local retail chain stores and multinational corporations from different business sectors. For more information about Icicle, please visit the Group's website: https://www.iciclegroup.com/

About Open Influence
Open Influence is a data-driven global influencer marketing company that helps brands and advertisers engage and grow their desired audiences through social media. Open Influence is both platform and talent agnostic, and works with the entire spectrum of influencers; from social celebrities to micro-influencers. The company's proprietary platform boasts the industry's largest collection of influencer data, and leverages machine learning and image recognition to analyze more than 100 million pieces of content from over 465,000 influencers and counting. Open Influence provides customized end-to-end influencer marketing solutions for brands on both an entirely outsourced and a-la-carte basis. Its team collaborates closely with every client to develop award-winning creative strategies, and its advanced audience analytics allow brands to target based on location, education, age, gender, consumer preferences and more. Headquartered in Los Angeles with satellite offices across the globe, Open Influence offers support in virtually all languages and has managed campaigns for top brands from a variety of industries including Bose, Coca-Cola, Disney, Nestle, Puma, Toyota and Verizon. For more information about Open Influence, please visit its website: https://openinfluence.com/

Media Enquiries:
Strategic Financial Relations Limited
Veron Ng +852 2864 4831 veron.ng@sprg.com.hk
Cecilia Shum +852 2864 4890 cecilia.shum@sprg.com.hk
Rachel Ko +852 2114 2370 rachel.ko@sprg.com.hk
Website: www.sprg.com.hk


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Viva Industrial Trust Reports Q2 Net Property Income of S$21M and DPS of $1.902

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- Gross Revenue, Net Property Income grew 3.9% & 3.3%, New high for overall portfolio occupancy at 92%
- IRAS accorded tax transparency treatment on all rental support income received and receivable by VI-REIT
- Recognized net income tax credit of S$4.96M, which in turn gave rise to S$4.46M of distributable income

SINGAPORE, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Viva Industrial Trust ("VIT", SGX:T8B), a Singapore-focused business park and industrial property trust, today announced a 3.9% and 3.3% increase in Gross Revenue and Net Property Income to S$28.7 million and S$20.9 million respectively.

Financial Highlights
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Year-on-Year              Quarter-on-Quarter 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
               2Q2018   2Q2017   Variance       1Q2018    Variance 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross Revenue (S$'000)
               28,681   27,606     (3.9%)       28,692      (0.0%) 
Net Property Income (S$'000) 
               20,878   20,211     (3.3%)       21,051      (0.8%) 
Distributable Income (S$'000)
               20,790   20,971     (0.9%)       16,170     (28.6%) 
Distribution Declared (S$'000) 
               18,559   18,005     (3.1%)       17,949      (3.4%) 
Stapled securities for calculation of DPS ('000) 
              975,759  967,473     (0.9%)      975,759        0.0% 
DPS (SG cents)  1.902    1.861     (2.2%)        1.838      (3.5%) 
Annualised Distribution Yield
                 8.7%     8.0%         --         8.4%          -- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution declared at S$18.6 million was 3.1% higher than the corresponding period a year ago, translating to a DPS of 1.902 cents. All management fees payable to the REIT manager and Property manager for 2Q2018 were paid in cash.

IRAS has accorded tax transparency treatment to the rental support received/receivable by VI-REIT under the UE BizHub EAST rental arrangement and the Jackson Square rental support arrangement retrospectively with effect from 1 January 2014. VI-REIT recognized a net income tax credit of S$4.96 million in 2Q2018, which in turn gave rise to S$4.46 million of distributable income, of which 50% has been included in the distribution for 2Q2018 while the remaining 50% has been retained and will be included in the next distribution.

Operational Performance

In 2Q2018, the REIT manager successfully signed a 5+5 year master lease agreement with Mauser Singapore for 81 Tuas Bay Drive before the existing lease expires on 31 May 2019. This mitigates master lease expiry risk in the portfolio with no near-term master lease expiry until FY2021.

Furthermore, over 44.6% of leases due for renewal in FY2018 have been renewed in 1H2018 with an overall positive rental reversion of 2.3%. This quarter also saw the introduction of Teledirect Pte Ltd to VIT's Top 10 Tenants list. Teledirect Pte Ltd operates as a call centre in Viva Business Park ("VBP") and occupies 67,000 sqft of space. VBP's occupancy as at the end of 2Q2018 was at its highest to date at 81%. VIT also recorded a new high of 92% for its overall portfolio occupancy, testament to VIT's capabilities in asset rejuvenation and effective leasing and marketing strategies.

Outlook

Based on advance estimates, the Singapore economy grew by 3.8% on a year-on-year basis in 2Q2018, moderating from the 4.3% growth in the previous quarter. On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally-adjusted annualised basis, the economy expanded at a slower pace of 1.0% compared to the 1.5% growth in the preceding quarter. The manufacturing sector grew by 8.6% on a year-on-year basis in the second quarter, slower than the 9.7% growth in the previous quarter. All clusters within the sector expanded during the quarter, with the electronics and biomedical manufacturing clusters contributing the most to the sector's growth.

Rentals of industrial space remained relatively stable for most market segments. In 2Q2018, the rental index fell marginally by 0.1% to 91.0 as compared to the previous quarter and by 1.4% on a year-on-year basis even as the total supply of industrial space rose by 1.2 million sqm compared to a year ago. The rental index of multi-user factory, single-user factory and warehouse have receded 0.7%, 4.2% and 3.8% year-on-year respectively, whilst business park rentals bucked the trend and expanded 5.3% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the overall vacancy rate, on a quarter-on-quarter basis, posted a mild decline of 0.3% points whilst on a year-on-year basis, the occupancy rate remained largely flat.

Mr Wilson Ang, CEO of the REIT manager said, "Our milestone portfolio occupancy places us on firm footing to meet new challenges and strengthen our value proposition in an increasingly competitive industrial sector."

VIT will hold its extraordinary general meeting and scheme meeting on 31 August 2018 at 2.30pm and 4.00pm respectively to seek approval of the Stapled Securityholders for the Proposed Merger and the Scheme. If all the requisite approvals for the Proposed Merger and the Scheme are obtained and thereafter, the Scheme becomes effective, the next distribution that Stapled Securityholders will be entitled to receive will be in respect of the period from 1 July 2018 to the effective date of the Scheme.

For further enquiry, please contact:
Ms. Lyn Ong
Investor Relations Manager
DID: +65 6229 5564
Email: lyn.ong@vivaitrust.com

ABOUT VIVA INDUSTRIAL TRUST

Viva Industrial Trust ("VIT", SGX:T8B) is a Singapore-focused business park and industrial property trust listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange, which comprises Viva Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust ("VI-REIT") and Viva Industrial Business Trust ("VI-BT"). VIT focuses on building a diversified portfolio of income-producing real estate which is used predominantly for business park and other industrial purposes in Singapore and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, while VI-BT is presently inactive. VIT's portfolio comprises nine properties located in Singapore, namely (i) UE BizHub EAST, (ii) Viva Business Park, (iii) Mauser Singapore, (iv) Jackson Square, (v) Jackson Design Hub, (vi) Home-Fix Building, (vii) 11 Ubi Road 1, (viii) 30 Pioneer Road, and (ix) 6 Chin Bee Avenue, with an aggregate gross floor area of 3.90 million sq ft. For more information on VIT, please visit http://www.vivaitrust.com.

Full press release (PDF): https://bit.ly/2Oyr2fM

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

New Century Healthcare Completed the Acquisition of Chengdu New Century's Equity Interest and Strategically Invested in the Equity of Chiron Healthcare

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HONG KONG, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - A leading mid-to high-end pediatric medical service provider in China - New Century Healthcare Holding Co. Limited ("New Century Healthcare" or the "Company"; Stock Code: 1518.HK) and its subsidiaries ("the Group") are pleased to announce, 1) the acquisition of equity interest of Chengdu New Century Women's and Children's Hospital Co., Ltd. ("Chengdu New Century") has been completed ; 2) the Company strategically invested in the equity of Chiron Healthcare Holdings Limited in Hong Kong ("Chiron Healthcare", together with its subsidiaries, collectively "Chiron Healthcare Group").

The board of directors of the Company announces that the acquisition of 85.0% equity interest of Chengdu New Century for a cash consideration of RMB200.0 million has been completed, and Chengdu New Century also completed the alteration registration with the relevant administration of industry and commerce and obtained the new business license on August 10, 2018.

In addition, on August 4, 2018, NCH Marvel Investment (BVI) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the share subscription agreement and other investment documents with Chiron Healthcare to subscribe the shares of Chiron Healthcare (the "Investment"). The Investment has been recently completed. Upon completion, the Group held 10.1% equity interests in Chiron Healthcare.

Chiron Healthcare Group is one of the major private specialized healthcare groups in Hong Kong, focusing on provision of holistic medium to high-end specialty healthcare services covering many departments including oncology, cardiology, general surgery, ear, nose & throat (otorhinolaryngology), orthopaedics and traumatology, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics, paediatrics, ophthalmology, urology and subfertility. Chiron Healthcare Group has a strong healthcare network made up of well-known specialist doctors, and operates a number of clinics in Hong Kong, including its large flagship clinics in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. Chiron Healthcare Group has established in-depth cooperation with many famous private hospitals, major insurance companies and healthcare service platforms in Hong Kong. Apart from specialty outpatient and surgical services, Chiron Healthcare Group also provides healthcare management services including physical examination, physiotherapy and rehabilitation as well as vaccination for adults and children.

Mr. Jason Zhou, Chairman of New Century Healthcare commented, "Leveraging on our respective strengths in medical resources, network and management capability, the Group and Chiron Healthcare Group will carry out in-depth cooperation in many aspects, including but not limited to cross-border healthcare services (including oncology/specialty consultation, vaccination and medical services for women and children as well as assisted reproductive services, etc.), two-way referral services between Mainland China and Hong Kong, knowledge sharing in medical technology and trainings and medical institution management. We look forward to achieving synergies by complementing each other's advantages and improving the quality of our healthcare services. Moreover, the strategic investment in and cooperation with Chiron Healthcare Group are in line with the business development strategy and plan of the Group, that is to enhance the healthcare network presence of the Group in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, expand the coverage of specialty healthcare services for women and children, and further expand and extend the New Century brand in the Greater China Region."


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

ACT invites the world to participate in helping Lombok's earthquake victims

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JAKARTA, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Two devastating earthquakes struck Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The first quake, which struck on Sunday, July 29 and reported at a magnitude of 6.4, was followed by an even stronger quake at 7.0 on the following Sunday, August 5. Unlike its predecessor, the second quake created intensity VIII on the MMI.

At the time of writing, West Nusa Tenggara was still suffering aftershocks from the major quakes; about 652 aftershocks, with 24 of them recorded as powerful tremors, struck the island and the surrounding islets, causing destructions particularly in the Regency of North Lombok. The earthquakes also debilitated the economy and the lives of the inhabitants.

Kusmayadi, the Coordinator for Aksi Cepat Tanggap's (Fast Response Action) Emergency Response Team that had been in Lombok since the first earthquake, on Wednesday, August 8, reported that the number of casualties was more than 381 due to the second destructive earthquake. "The highest number of casualties is in North Lombok and is feared to keep hiking, considering that all roads and bridges are damaged and isolated many areas," Kusmayadi said.

Kusmayadi also said that the tense situation was immensely felt especially in North Lombok as many were killed and injured from being crushed by collapsing buildings - such as the Muslim worshippers who were observing the evening prayer on Sunday, August 5, when the mosque they were praying in collapsed on top of them.

Prior to the incident, ACT's Emergency Response Team had been on a high alert to aid the earthquake victims. "We have been helping in the post-earthquake evacuation process, and our medical team has also been treating those who are injured and wounded," Kusmayadi continued.

The President of Aksi Cepat Tanggap, Ahyudin, explained that as a humanitarian organization ACT had to quickly respond to any disaster. The Lombok earthquake disaster prompted ACT to form a strategic agenda; in conjunction with saving lives in the emergency phase, ACT also focused to rebuild the lives of the survivors.

As its endeavor, ACT is aiming to build 500 shelters for the victims who have lost their homes in the earthquakes. ACT is also preparing Lombok Humanitarian Ship to alleviate the lives of those who are affected. Working hand in hand with the Indonesian National Armed Forces, corporate, and its partners, ACT is targeting to distribute one thousand tons of aid to West Nusa Tenggara as well as encouraging non-money donations worldwide.

"ACT has been on Indonesia's side ever since the nation is more and more widely known as a generous nation that lends a hand in helping and rebuilding lives. Keeping this spirit up is a part of ACT's endeavor. The nation's zeal is an effort that needs to be consistent and fought for," Ahyudin said.

Lombok Humanitarian Ship is scheduled to depart on Indonesia's Independence Day on August 17. Starting its journey from the Military Sea Lanes Command Dock at Tanjung Priok Port and will moor at North Lombok Port, it is estimated that the trip will take up to three days.

The devastating earthquakes caused West Nusa Tenggara residents to suffer from immense losses and adversities. In order to alleviate their pain, ACT is inviting not only Indonesians but also the world to give a helping hand to the victims.

Mohamad Faisol Amrullah from ACT's Global Partnership Network said that the global citizens could participate in helping the Lombok's earthquake victims through the Emergency Response for West Nusa Tenggara Earthquake campaign supported by ACT on launchgood.com.

Beginning in Ramadan 2018, ACT and Launchgood have been working together to aid disaster victims all over the globe. Readers are encouraged to donate for the humanitarian cause through Launchgood. --Antara.

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Paradise Entertainment Initiates Strategic Cooperation with Interblock; Granting Intellectual Property Rights for Non-Live Licensed Gaming Machines in Macau

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HONG KONG, Aug 13, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Paradise Entertainment Limited ("Paradise" or together with its subsidiaries as the "Group", SEHK: 1180), a leading provider of casino management services and electronic gaming equipment and systems in Macau, and INTERBLOCK d.d. (together with its subsidiaries as "Interblock"), a worldwide leading developer and supplier of luxury electronic table gaming products, through their respective subsidiaries, have entered into a license agreement whereby Paradise licensed Interblock the rights of certain intellectual property of non-live multi-game (the "IP") in Macau.

Pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, Paradise, the inventor, patent-owner and sole supplier of live multi-game system in Macau, granted Interblock the non-exclusive rights of certain IP in Macau.

Mr. Jay Chun, Chairman and Managing Director of the Group said, "Interblock is a leading developer and supplier of multi-player gaming devices in the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Leveraging Interblock's extensive sales and distribution network, proven track record and commercialization expertise, we are confident that our cooperation will significantly boost the sales of licensed gaming machines and accelerate the penetration of non-live multi-game in Macau. We look forward to deepening collaboration with Interblock by exploring our other gaming products such as slot machines and other upcoming products with an aim to further enlarge our market share in the electronic gaming equipment market."

Mr. Michael Hu, Vice President Asia of Interblock said, "We are excited to join hands with Paradise. Obtaining the intellectual property rights of non-live licensed gaming machines in Macau not only cements our leading market position but also paves our way to access to the Macau market. As always, we strive to improve the entertainment experience for the goal of achieving strategic breakthroughs in development."

Paradise Entertainment Limited
Paradise Entertainment Limited (SEHK: 1180) was incorporated in Bermuda with its shares listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. The Group is principally engaged in the provision of casino management services, and the development, sale and leasing of electronic gaming equipment and systems.

For more information about Paradise Entertainment Limited, please visit our company's website: http://www.hk1180.com.

About INTERBLOCK d.d.
Interblock is a worldwide leading developer and supplier of luxury electronic table gaming products. Interblock's multi-player gaming devices set industry standards and provide the ultimate in luxury interactive entertainment experiences. The INTERBLOCK brand is globally recognized for diamond quality gaming solutions and technical support in more than 200 jurisdictions. Interblock's collection of fully and semi-automated electronic gaming tables and video gaming solutions provide casinos, arcades and gambling halls with superior product performance and their guests with an unforgettable gaming experience.

For more information, please visit www.interblockgaming.com.

For inquiries
Paradise Entertainment Limited
Bob Shen
Investor Relations Manager
852-2916 0831
bobshen@hk1180.com

Anli Financial Communications Limited
Phoebe Li 852-3956 1640 phoebe.li@anli.com.hk
Angel Cheung 852-3956 1638 angel.cheung@anli.com.hk


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

AIR Worldwide Expands Commitment to Wildfire Risk Management with Wildfire Model for the United States

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BOSTON, Aug 14, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide (AIR) announced that it has released an updated Wildfire Model for the United States. The model is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the risk of wildfire to property within the 13 westernmost conterminous states. The event-based modeling approach accounts for the variability in weather in the current climate regime and its impact on fire behavior, enabling the model to simulate correlated countrywide wildfire activity. AIR Worldwide is a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business.

"AIR is committed to offering the most advanced tools for assessing potential insured losses from wildfire throughout the insurance and risk transfer value chain," said Dr. Jayanta Guin, executive vice president, AIR Worldwide. "With the updates introduced in this model, AIR is building on our experience in modeling wildfires by introducing a fresh approach to estimating the hazard on both local and national levels and accounting for the full range of vulnerabilities in residential, commercial, and industrial lines of business."

The model features a catalog of fire clusters and a historical event set that features 17 events, including the 2017 Tubbs/Atlas and Thomas fires in California. Each cluster consists of fires ignited within 150 miles of one another over a period of seven days. AIR uses historical fire data to characterize fire behavior in different ecological regions of North America, known as ecoprovinces, and uses unique spread models based on recent scientific approaches to create stochastic fires for each of these regions.

"With residential and commercial development continuing to increase in areas prone to wildfire risk, the model explicitly accounts for this increased penetration into the WUI [wildland-urban interface]," said Tammy Viggato, senior scientist, AIR Worldwide. "Approximately one-third of the U.S. population currently lives in the WUI in the United States, where most wildfire-related losses occur, and this figure continues to grow rapidly. To address the increasing risk, the model realistically captures fire behavior as it moves from rural areas to the suburbs and, under extreme conditions, into more urban areas."

This enhanced wildfire model probabilistically simulates how fires spread into areas based on wind speed and direction, availability of fuels, terrain, and likelihood of suppression. It explicitly accounts for the different ways fires spread, including fire branding and spotting. The model calculates flame length at each time step, which is directly correlated with the intensity of the fire and thus is used to estimate the severity of its damage. Based on these criteria, in conjunction with constantly evolving wind conditions and suppression efforts, the model can determine how and where the fire may progress across the landscape.

The wildfire model also accounts for risk characteristics specific to wildfire-defensible space and NFPA's Firewise USA(R) communities.

The Wildfire Model for the United States is currently available in the Touchstone(R), Touchstone Re(TM), and CATRADER(R) catastrophe risk management systems.

About AIR Worldwide
AIR Worldwide (AIR) provides risk modeling solutions that make individuals, businesses, and society more resilient to extreme events. In 1987, AIR Worldwide founded the catastrophe modeling industry and today models the risk from natural catastrophes, terrorism, pandemics, casualty catastrophes, and cyber incidents. Insurance, reinsurance, financial, corporate, and government clients rely on AIR's advanced science, software, and consulting services for catastrophe risk management, insurance-linked securities, longevity modeling, site-specific engineering analyses, and agricultural risk management. AIR Worldwide, a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business, is headquartered in Boston, with additional offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.air-worldwide.com.

For more information, contact:
Kevin Long
AIR Worldwide
+1-617-267-6645
klong@air-worldwide.com

###

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: AIR Worldwide via Globenewswire

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Le Mans Winners TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Back in Action

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WEC 2018-19 Round 3 Preview
Toyota City, Japan, Aug 14, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing returns to action two months after an emotional Le Mans 24 Hours victory with the third round of the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the 6 Hours of Silverstone, in Great Britain this weekend.

Silverstone marks TOYOTA's 51st WEC race since it returned to top-level endurance racing in 2012. The previous 50 races included 18 victories, 16 pole and 45 podium positions, with a first-ever Le Mans triumph on 17 June a fitting way to reach the half century.

Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Fernando Alonso won the race from pole position in the #8 TS050 HYBRID following a race-long battle with the #7 car of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez which finished second.

The victorious #8 chassis has been retired from service and preserved in its end-of-race condition. It appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed while TOYOTA Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda viewed the car during a visit to the team's Cologne base on 23 July, during which he met team members and gave them his personal congratulations.

Inspired by the reaction to Le Mans victory, the team targets another positive weekend at Silverstone as it looks to maintain its 100% start to the season and earn another one-two finish from pole position for its sixth consecutive WEC victory.

TOYOTA has finished on the podium at every visit to Silverstone since returning to the WEC in 2012, including two victories, but the team will have to re-learn some aspects of the British circuit, which has been completely resurfaced since the 2017 race.

The weekend sees a return for the high-downforce specification TS050 HYBRID, which delivers more grip in corners at the expense of top speed on the straights, for its first race of the season. That configuration is better suited to the specific demands of Silverstone, which includes sweeping high-speed corners.

TOYOTA will face a renewed challenge from six non-hybrid LMP1 cars following updates to the Equivalence of Technology (EoT) regulations designed to deliver more performance to its rivals. The non-hybrid cars will benefit from increased fuel flow, now 43.75% more than the TS050 HYBRID, and some will benefit from minimum weight reductions.

Hisatake Murata, Team President
"We are looking forward to getting back to racing again this weekend after the summer break. We all had time to enjoy the Le Mans victory and I want to say thank you to the many fans, partners and colleagues who sent their congratulations; we are really grateful for your support. But in motorsport, our focus always switches to the next race and the next target. So we have worked strongly to be ready for Silverstone, particularly because we will use our high-downforce car for the first time this season. Our target is to again take the top step of the podium but we expect an increased challenge from our competitors so we must perform to the top of our game, like we did at Le Mans and Spa."

Mike Conway (TS050 HYBRID #7)
"I can't wait to get back racing to be honest. It was a nice break after Le Mans but I'm ready to go now. It's a bit different racing at home because I have some friends and family coming to watch me race which is nice as there are not many chances for them. Also the fans at Silverstone are great so it's a good atmosphere. The target for Silverstone is of course another one-two victory, and I hope the #7 will be on top. Competition will be tougher after the EoT adjustments but hopefully we still have an edge."

Kamui Kobayashi (TS050 HYBRID #7)
"I enjoy racing at Silverstone, which is a fast, fun circuit, so I am looking forward to this weekend. Our car is very strong, as we have seen at Spa and Le Mans, so we should have a good chance. I hope the #7 car can win its first race of the season and our whole car crew will be pushing for that. But the most important thing is that we get a strong result for the team and I'm confident we can do that."

Jose Maria Lopez (TS050 HYBRID #7)
"I am really looking forward to going to Silverstone again, especially because I already know this circuit with our TS050 HYBRID, unlike last season. I hope to achieve a good result and it would be ideal to finally get a win with Mike and Kamui. We have been so close since the beginning of last season, including Silverstone last year when we were leading, but I know if we keep working hard we will have the chance. The main target is to have a good weekend for the team."

Sebastien Buemi (TS050 HYBRID #8)
"It has been a long break so I can't wait to be back in the car with Kazuki and Fernando. It's going to be a challenge; we know Silverstone is never an easy track for the hybrid systems because we don't have a lot of heavy braking, plus there has been an EoT adjustment. It's going to be a challenge and I'm looking forward to the fight. It will also be a pleasure to be there in August after years of visiting in April when it's pretty cold, so I have high hopes for the weather."

Kazuki Nakajima (TS050 HYBRID #8)
"It's been an amazing few weeks since winning Le Mans. Thanks so much to everyone who has sent congratulations and nice messages. Of course, we're all still on a high but now we switch our focus to Silverstone and delivering another strong performance. It will be interesting to see how the track character has changed after the resurfacing, plus we have our high-downforce package again. So we will have some busy practice sessions to get prepared."

Fernando Alonso (TS050 HYBRID #8)
"I am looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a TS050 HYBRID again after a few weeks away. Of course, I have been pretty busy and I know the team has too, preparing for the challenge at Silverstone. Unlike Le Mans, this is a track I know really well and I have already experienced the new track surface, so I hope that can help the team to get a head start. So far the WEC season has been perfect so I want to keep that going this weekend."

About Toyota

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.

Contact:
Public Affairs Division Global Communications Department Toyota Motor Corporation Tel: +81-3-3817-9926

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

DreamEast (593.HK) Tourist Resort Projects To Be Completed

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On-site photo of Hengyang DreamEast Resort Experience Centre
On-site photo of Hengyang DreamEast Resort Experience Centre
Hengyang DreamEast Resort Hunan Cuisine Museum design renderings
HONG KONG, Aug 14, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Prioritising the development of tourist resorts and entertainment as its core business, DreamEast Group Limited ("DreamEast" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group," stock code: 593.HK) announced that the Hengyang DreamEast Resort Experience Centre, one of the main buildings of the project, has completed and is opened to public. The Experience Centre, which has been created with ingenuity of DreamEast, is a modern design that incorporates elements of the Hunan style such as horse head walls and stone carvings, allowing visitors to view the entire project planning.

The Hengyang DreamEast Resort is situated in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, China. It is at the south of Mount Heng, facilitating the new tourism landscape dominated by "Mount Heng in the north and DreamEast in the south". The resort is conveniently located and approximately 20 minutes of drive from the city center. By taking High-Speed Rail, it takes around 40 minutes to travel to Changsha by high-speed train and 2.5 hours to Shenzhen. The resort is to be developed into "Four Towns and Five Parks". Comprising the cultural town, the science and technology town, the forest town and the agricultural town as the Four Towns, the resort will specially construct five theme parks, namely the DreamEast Adventure Park, Fantasy Waterpark, Valt the Wonder Deer Animal Kingdom, Agricultural Park and Modern Sports Park, making the Hengyang DreamEast Resort one of the most influential international tourism projects in central China.

At present, the professional trap shooting range in the Hengyang DreamEast Resort with a total land area of approximately 50,000 square meters has also been completed and accepted. The trap shooting athletes are already in training and the trap shooting match of the 13th Hunan Games will commerce in this shooting range.

In addition, Hengyang DreamEast Resort will build the first Hunan Cuisine Museum in the country, with the Sanxiang food culture genre as its core, showcasing the historical evolution and cultural origins of Hunan cuisine, including Wenchuang Snack Street, Zhan Wang Yan, long table banquet, etc., all using Zu'an cuisine as its core highlights, unfolding a splendid picture of Hunan culture. On 20 June, the Global Investment Promotion Conference was held in Hengyang. DreamEast Group, the Hunan Cuisine Industry Association and leaders from the food and beverage industry in Hunan and many well-known brands of food enterprises gathered together to witness the grand event of the Hunan restaurant industry.

The Experience Centre of Dream East Jiashan in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province is also nearing completion. Phase 1 of DreamEast Jiashan is based on the theme of "city guesthouse". It focuses on theme parks, children's theaters, family-friendly hotels, specialty restaurants, etc. Creating a tourist destination that is popular among families in Greater Shanghai, the project is expected to be completed in 2019. Phase 2 of the project will build a water village that incorporates the millennia-old Wuyue culture. The group recently signed a cooperation agreement with Thomas Cook, the world's oldest travel agency, and its branded high-end family hotel, the Sunwing Family Resorts will be in Dream East Jiashan Phase II, becoming the first privately owned hotel in China.

With the construction of its Hengyang DreamEast Resort, Dream East Jiashan, Dream East Suzhou and other resort projects, as well as the acquisition of Future World Aerospace Theme Park operation and DreamEast Galaxy, DreamEast Group's cultural and entertainment business is greatly expanding. According to the management, the project strategy of DreamEast Group is located in the three core areas of Greater Beijing, Greater Shanghai and Greater Shenzhen. Due to the large scale, most projects will be constructed and operated in multiple phases, of which will be completed from 2019 to 2020 and is expected that these projects will bring considerable income to the Group. As projects develop, the cultural and entertainment business will enter the benign development stage of leasing, operation, ticket sales and development of its own IP, and build an ecological system centered on the cultural entertainment industry, eventually forming a huge cultural and entertainment complex.



 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Strong Support to Chong Hing Bank from GZ Metro by Subscription of 70,126,000 New Issued Shares at a Consideration of Approximately HK$1.0 billion

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Bank Also Proposes Rights Issue on the Basis of One Rights Share for Every Two Shares

HONG KONG, Aug 14, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Chong Hing Bank Limited (the "Bank"; stock code: 01111), announced today that the Bank has entered into the Subscription Agreement with Guangzhou Metro Investment Finance (HK) Limited (the "Subscriber"), which is wholly owned by Guangzhou Metro Group Co., Ltd. ("GZ Metro") - a wholly State-owned company under the Guangzhou Municipal Government, pursuant to which the Bank has agreed to allot and issue to the Subscriber 70,126,000 Subscription Shares at the Subscription Price of HK$14.26 per Subscription Share. With the Subscription Price representing only a small discount to the market price, it demonstrates the strong support from GZ Metro who is optimistic about the Bank's prospects and future growth strategies. Moreover, the Bank has also proposed a Rights Issue on the basis of one rights share for every two shares at the subscription price of HK$14.26 per Rights Share. The Bank's parent company - Yue Xiu Enterprises (Holdings) Limited ("Yuexiu Group") has irrevocably undertaken to the Bank that it will subscribe for all of the Rights Shares to be provisionally allotted to them - Yuexiu Group's commitment of at least HK$3.0 billion through the Rights Issues has not only reflected that the controlling shareholder is fully confident in the Bank's prospects, but also reaffirmed its commitment to keep putting resources into the Bank's business development and providing its full support.

Assuming all Rights Shares are fully subscribed for by the qualifying shareholders, at least HK$6.15 billion will be raised in total by both the Subscription and the Rights Issue. DBS Asia Capital Limited and Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited are the Joint Coordinators for the Subscription and Financial Advisers to the Rights Issue.

Strong Support from GZ Metro to Seize Business Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, in line with the Bank's Development Plans
Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, GZ Metro will subscribe 70,126,000 Subscription Shares at a total subscription amount of HK$1.0 billion. The Subscription Shares to be allotted and issued under the Subscriptions represent 10.75% of the total number of issued Shares as at 14 August 2018, and approximately 9.7% of the total number of issued Shares as enlarged by the allotment. The subscription price of HK$14.26 per Subscription Share represents a discount of 2.99% to the closing price of HK$14.7 per Share as quoted on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Stock Exchange") on 13 August 2018 (the "Last Trading Day"). With the Subscription Price representing only a small discount to the market price, it demonstrates GZ Metro's full confidence in the Bank's future prospects and growth potential.

GZ Metro is a wholly State-owned company under the Guangzhou Municipal Government. Established in 1992, it is responsible for the investment, financing, construction, operation, property development and expansion of Guangzhou's urban rail transportation. As at 31 March 2018, GZ Metro had total assets of more than RMB 270 billion. The Bank believes that GZ Metro will bring in significant synergies to the Bank leveraging on their business footprints and experience in Guangdong Province. Complementing the Bank's development plans in the Greater Bay Area, the Bank expects that its business development and operation will benefit from the regional network, customer resources and relationships of GZ Metro, which may facilitate the Bank's business expansion and enable it to better capture cross-border business opportunities. The Bank may also gain from GZ Metro's management experience and deep regional knowledge, which would benefit the Bank's business operation, management and corporate governance.

Proposes Rights Issue on the Basis of One Rights Share for Every Two Shares
In addition, the Bank proposes to raise at least approximately HK$3.0 billion, before expenses, by way of the Rights Issue of 361,313,000 Rights Shares, representing 55.37% of the Bank's issued share capital as at 14 August 2018, at the subscription price of HK$14.26 per Rights Share, same subscription price as GZ Metro's Subscription Agreement. The Bank will provisionally allot one Rights Share in nil-paid form for every two Shares held by each qualifying shareholder at 5 p.m. on 30 August 2018 (the "Record Date"). The latest time for acceptance of and payment for the Rights Shares and application for excess Rights Shares is expected to be at 4 p.m. on 14 September 2018.

Pursuant to the Irrevocable Undertaking, each of Yuexiu Financial Holdings Limited ("Yuexiu Financial Holdings"), which is interested in 489,375,000 Shares representing 75.0% of the total issued share capital of the Bank as at 14 August 2018, and Yuexiu Group, the Bank's parent company which holds 100% of Yuexiu Financial Holdings, has irrevocably undertaken to the Bank that it will (in the case of Yuexiu Financial Holdings) subscribe or (in the case of Yuexiu Group) procure Yuexiu Financial Holdings to subscribe for the Undertaken Shares to be provisionally allotted to Yuexiu Financial Holdings, subject to the terms and conditions of the Rights Issue. The obligation of Yuexiu Financial Holdings and Yuexiu Group is, however, subject to the public float requirement under the Listing Rules. Pursuant to the Irrevocable Undertaking, Yuexiu Group will commit at least HK$3.0 billion through the Rights Issue, which reflects that the controlling shareholder is fully confident in the Bank's prospects and Yuexiu Group will keep putting in resources and providing full support to the Bank's business development.

The estimated net proceeds of the Subscriptions after the deduction of all estimated expenses are approximately HK$990 million. Assuming all Rights Shares are fully subscribed for by the qualifying shareholders, the estimated net proceeds of the Rights Issue are expected to be approximately HK$5.12 billion after the deduction of all estimated expenses; hence, a total of HK$6.11 billion net proceeds are expected to be raised from both the Subscriptions and Rights Issue. The Bank intends to use the net proceeds to strengthen the capital base of the Bank, which will lead to a stronger capital adequacy ratio position to support the ongoing growth of its business.

Looking ahead, the Bank plans to continue to promote its business growth by keeping pace with the finance and technology integration trend by devoting resources to build a dedicated digital transformation team and upgrade its electronic platforms, as well as participating in various digital and innovative projects. Indeed, the Bank is committed to building an intelligent platform to increase the income stream and further enhance the customer experience. To support the Bank's business growth, efforts will be devoted to upgrading the electronic platforms and information infrastructure as well as developing the digital banking services.

Chong Hing Bank is also committed to deepening the regional synergies between Guangdong Province and Hong Kong, as well as expanding its Mainland operations to attract high-quality Mainland customers, thereby establishing its unique role in the Pearl River Delta region. As a core member of the financial sector of the Guangzhou-based Yuexiu Group, the Bank will continue to leverage Yuexiu Group's regional resources and take advantages of the synergies with the group's wide range of businesses to accelerate its business growth in the Mainland and particularly the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Zong Jianxin, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of Chong Hing Bank, said, "The Subscription and Rights Issue will further enhance the Bank's capital base, facilitating the future growth of our business and enabling us to implement our development strategies. Chong Hing Bank has laid down a solid foundation over the years. We will continue to leverage the resources of the Yuexiu Group, seize the opportunities presented by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and establish the Bank as a 'Greater Bay Bank'. We are pleased to have the strong support from GZ Metro which demonstrates by the Subscription their endorsement of Chong Hing Bank's business development and prospects. The Bank will benefit from the synergies with GZ Metro, based on their regional network, customer resources and relationship, as well as their business operations, management experience and rich regional knowledge. Looking forward, we are fully confident of the Bank's prospects as we believe that with the enhanced capital strength, we will achieve long-term sustainable growth and bring satisfactory return to our shareholders."

About Chong Hing Bank
Chong Hing Bank (formerly known as 'Liu Chong Hing Bank Limited') was founded in 1948. The Bank has been listed on the mainboard of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (Stock code: 01111) since 1994 and currently operates a network of 39 branches in Hong Kong. Together with its subsidiaries (Chong Hing Securities Limited and Chong Hing Insurance Company Limited), the Bank offers a wide range of banking services to individual and corporate customers, which include HKD and foreign currency deposits, credit, wealth management, investment, securities, insurance and other commercial banking products. Besides, the Bank joined hands with a number of local financial institutions and is one of the founding members of BCT group which provides a full range of mandatory provident fund services to customers. The Bank has branches in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou and Macau, sub-branches in Guangzhou Tianhe, Foshan, Nansha and Hengqin, and representative offices in Shanghai and San Francisco.

Chong Hing Bank has been a member of Yuexiu Group since 14 February 2014. Yuexiu Group was established in Hong Kong in 1985. As at the end of 2017, Yuexiu Group had total assets of about RMB480 billion, making it one of the leading state-owned enterprise groups in Guangzhou in terms of economic efficiency.

For other information about Chong Hing Bank, please go to the Bank's website www.chbank.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Strategic Financial Relations Limited
Ms. Maggie Au / Mr.Antonio Yu
Tel: (852) 2864 4815 / (852) 2114 4319
Email: maggie.au@sprg.com.hk or antonio.yu@sprg.com.hk

This release is for information purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase, subscribe or dispose of any securities and neither this release nor anything herein forms the basis for any contract or commitment whatsoever.

Neither this release nor any copy thereof may be released, published or distributed in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction where such release might be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There will be no public offering of securities in the United States.


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC) 2018 Announces Finalists & Martine Rose as VIP Judge

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Martine Rose, VIP Judge of 2018 Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC)
Past Participants Celebrated through MINI x YDC Special Collections

HONG KONG, Aug 14, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The 2018 Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC) will see 16 shortlisted young fashion designers compete for five grand prizes as well as prestigious internships, study trips and mentorships with top fashion brands. Assessed by a panel of famed industry professionals, this year's competition welcomes internationally renowned fashion designer Martine Rose as VIP Judge. Past YDC designers will also make an appearance, showcasing new and exclusive collections created in partnership with MINI Hong Kong (MINI). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), YDC 2018 will be held on 8 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will be the finale of CENTRESTAGE, the HKTDC's signature international fashion trade fair.

YDC 2018: Spotlighting Young Local Talent, Offering Development Opportunities

Five YDC winners will be unveiled at a presentation ceremony on 8 Sept 2018, the last day of CENTRESTAGE. Taking their inspiration from sources as diverse as many nations' sub-cultures, global societal issues, modern urban lifestyle and unique life experiences, this year's finalists will also showcase special fabrication techniques such as Persian carpet weaving and natural tea dyeing. In addition to receiving invaluable prizes, the top three winners will be rewarded with internships or study-abroad trips sponsored by Hong Kong's Sun Hing Knitting Factory Ltd and CLOT Company Ltd, as well as British automotive marque MINI. Meanwhile, winners of the Best Footwear Design Award and the New Talent Award will receive mentorships from i.t apparels Ltd and JOYCE to develop capsule collections.

Illustrious Judging Panel

YDC 2018 winners will be selected by an esteemed panel of judges comprising senior industry and media representatives. The panel is led by Chief Judge Lawrence Leung, Chairman of the HKTDC Garment Advisory, and joined by Michael Mok, Head of Merchandising at JOYCE and a passionate supporter of young local designers. Another judge is Kei Chan, Head of Marketing APAC at Net-A-Porter & Mr Porter, who will also provide insightful critiques based on her extensive experience and knowledge in fashion design, brand communications and e-commerce. VIP Judge Martine Rose is a London-based designer and founder of her eponymous brand, which is currently distributed by leading retailers such as Barneys, Dover Street Market, Isetan and JOYCE.

The Martine Rose label draws its inspiration from the experiential tension between individualism and belonging. Taking icons or motifs from the past and reimagining their use in the present, the brand creates collections that invariably feel "offbeat" and yet so "in tune". Martine Rose partners with many global leading retailers and has an ongoing consultancy with Balenciaga's menswear line.

Ms Rose will make an exclusive appearance and unveil a special highlight of her brand at the JOYCE store in Harbour City on 7 Sept.

Other judges include Karen Ling, Fashion Director & Deputy Editor-in-chief of Ming's Magazine; Jimmy Chan, CEO of Semeiotics Inc.; Reeds Yau, Creative & Marketing Communications Director of ImagineX Group; Kevin Poon, co-founder of CLOT and a self-made fashion magnate; and Tony Wong, Head of Footwear at i.t apparels Limited.

Past YDC Designers to Showcase Exclusive MINI Collections

Three former YDC designers will return to the YDC stage to present MINI x YDC Special Collections inspired by features of MINI's new models. Each collection will include a specially designed windbreaker that will be launched alongside the new car models at MINI showrooms on 13 Sept 2018. Sales proceeds will go to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to support outstanding fashion design students. The three designers represent fashion brands YEUNG CHIN, REDEMPTIVE and YLYstudio.

YEUNG CHIN's versatile and unique windbreaker uses the contrasting colours of Solaris Orange and Piano Black, and incorporates Union Jack elements.

Utilising seamless bonding technology, breathable wool, and waterproof nylon, REDEMPTIVE creates a youthful and innovative windbreaker coloured in Midnight Black and Emerald Grey.

YLYstudio harnesses Emerald Grey-hued plastic materials to present a sophisticated, fashion-forward windbreaker that blends classic and futuristic looks.

Images of MINI x YDC Special Collections can be downloaded here: https://bit.ly/2vHRjB1

CENTRESTAGE website: http://centrestage.com.hk
The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest 2018 (YDC) website: http://www.fashionally.com
YDC 2018 Finalists and Designs Photos Download: https://bit.ly/2MhJJHA

Media Enquiries
For more information or to request interviews, please contact
Sinclair at +852 2915 1234
Nikki McLucas, nikki@sinclaircomms.com, +852 6895 0534
Jessica Man, jessicam@sinclaircomms.com, +852 6083 0157
Wing Ng, wing@sinclaircomms.com, +852 6106 8605
Kelly Chan, kelly@sinclaircomms.com, +852 6825 4496

HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org
Selina Fan, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: selina.mi.fan@hktdc.org

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. Please visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus or follow us on Google+, Twitter@hktdc, LinkedIn.

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Watts Miners Announces State-of-the-Art Cryptocurrency Mining Technology for BTC, ETH, LTC, DASH and XMR

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NEW YORK, NY, Aug 14, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Watts Miners, a company that develops and sells cutting edge cryptocurrency mining rigs equipped with ASIC chip technology, is pleased to announce that it has launched a line of mining rigs for BTC, ETH, LTC, DASH and XMR with unprecedented hash rates as a result of advanced ASIC chip technology.

The rigs are equipped with industrial power for mining farms as well as retail household consumers and are currently priced below market alongside Watts Miners Grand Opening offers which include a buy three, get one free effective until August 24, 2018.

Units include the Watts Mini, Watts Miner and their top tier offering, the Watts Rack, turning out 1000 TH/s for BTC. Current specs for the flagship rigs are as follows:

- Watts Mini: 120 TH/s for Bitcoin, 30 GH/s for Litecoin, 4 GH/s for Ethereum, 1.1 TH/s for Dash, and 200 KH/s for Monero with power consumption of 800W+/-10%
- Watts Miner: 250 TH/s for Bitcoin, 50 GH/s for Litecoin, 7 GH/s for Ethereum, 1.7 TH/s for Dash, and 300 KH/s for Monero with power consumption of 1200W+/-10%
- Watts Rack: 1000 TH/s for Bitcoin, 200 GH/s for Litecoin, 28 GH/s for Ethereum, 6.8 TH/s for Dash, and 1200 KH/s for Monero with a power consumption of only 1200W+/-10% x 4

Each miner has been thoroughly evaluated, prototyped, and pressure tested under extreme conditions, prior to the launch. They are also designed for home use in that they are quiet, equipped with noiseless fans, anti-vibration pads and improved aerodynamic bladeswith effective cooling measures and can withstand over 70,000 hours of use.

Watts guarantees delivery in 3-7 days. Shipping and customs fees are included in the price. The miners are currently in stock and ready to be shipped for both residential use and for mining farms. Rigs have surface mounting support and A farm of 50 miners can be assembled into the mining farm on latches, by two people, in less than an hour.

To learn more about Watts Miners and their advanced range of products, please visit https://wminers.com.

About Watts Miners: Watts Miners is a manufacturer of high-quality cryptocurrency miners that deliver extremely high hash power without consuming a lot of power. Their team is comprised of several top-level professionals from renowned organizations such as Samsung, Microsoft, IBM, and many others. Headquartered in New York, the company currently has manufacturing facilities in USA, Germany, China and Russia.

Company Contact
Watts Miners
1740 Broadway 14th Floor
New York, NY 10019
www.wminers.com
Tel: 929-220-9148
Tel: 929-220-1825
info@wminers.com

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Ausnutria Records New Highs in 1H 2018

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- Revenue and Adjusted Profit Attributable to Equity Owners of The Company Increased by Approximately 51.6% and 73.2 %, Respectively
- Achieves a Diversified Industrial Chain Deployment; Continuous Increase in the Sales of the Own-branded Milk Formula Products

HONG KONG, Aug 15, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd ("Ausnutria" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; stock code: 1717.HK), a company engages in the research and development, production and distribution of all dairy products (including infant formula) and nutrition products with production facilities principally based in the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and the PRC. Today, the Group is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30th June 2018 (the "Period under Review" or the "2018 Interim Period").

For the 2018 Interim Period, despite implementation of the strictest milk powder policy in PRC, and the uncertainty from shortage of raw materials of international milk formula products , dairy industry continued to face challenges, Ausnutria was able to achieve a continuous rapid growth in both revenue and operating results during the Period under Review, mainly driven by the growing market recognition of the Group's own-branded milk formula products as a result of its persistent effort in building distribution channels and delivering quality consumer service; the rising market awareness for the Group's own-branded goat milk formula products "Kabrita" for its quality and high nutrition value. Moreover, the increase in production capacity following the acquisition of a factory in Australia and the commencement of production of two new factories in the Netherlands; and the progressive enhancement of the Group's management and operation efficiency. During the Period under Review, revenue of the Group increased 51.6% to RMB2,582.4 million when compared with the same period last year. Gross profit increased 68.0% to RMB1,197.6 million while the gross profit margin reached 46.4%, representing an increase of 4.5 percentage points over the same period last year, which mainly due to the proportion of sales of the own-branded milk formula products increased to 80.4% (1H 2017: 69.8%). Adjusted profit attributable to equity owners of the Company increased by 73.2% to RMB265.5 million. Basic earnings per share came to RMB25.92 cents.

Mr. Yan Weibin, Chairman of the Group, said - "For the 2018 Interim Period, Ausnutria gradually implements its global strategy from upstream to the sales market, each business segment has made a great progress. As to the core business, five factories in the Netherlands, two factories in Australia, and one factory in New Zealand have been reformed or completed and commenced production. The first factory in Changsha, the PRC, is in operation. Smart Factory in Changsha will be completed soon, and global 'Golden Milk Zone' layout is basically completed. As to the global business development, the Group has completed the acquisition of remaining 15% equity interest in HNC Group, and remaining 50% equity interest in Ozfarm Australia which has the number one maternal women's milk powder brand in Australia. Moreover, the Group will strategically introduce CITIC Agri Fund Management Co., Ltd. After CITIC Agri Fund becomes the single largest shareholder of the Group, this will broaden our shareholding structure, optimize the Group's asset and liability structure and enhance international competitiveness. In addition, the senior management increased stake in June this year fully demonstrates the core management's confidence in business performance and prospects of Ausnutria."

During the Period under Review, sales of Ausnutria's own-branded cow milk infant formula increased by 80.5% to RMB1,168.7 million when compared with the same period last year, with Allnutria, Hyproca, Puredo, Mygood and Eurlate, enjoying remarkable sales growth. Moreover, the Group's goat milk-based brand Kabrita continued to maintain its leading position in the imported goat milk-based infant formula sector in the PRC with outstanding sales performance that increased 77.0% to RMB796.0 million when compared with the same period last year. Kabrita accounted for approximately 30.8% of the Group's total revenues and has become one of the main sources of the Group's overall revenue stream. As such, the Group will continue to launch Kabrita in other major countries with the aim of becoming a global market leader in goat milk infant nutrition products.

In addition to the development of its own-branded business, the Group also produces infant formula for other worldwide customers on an OEM basis (the "Private Label"). For the 2018 Interim Period, sales decline in private label was due to the company shift more capacity to the own-branded products as of the strong demand, sales of the Private Label business decreased by 19.5% to RMB192.0 million, represented 7.4% of the total revenue of the Group.

As to Nutrition business, following the acquisition of the nutrition business from Nutrition Care Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd. in 2016, Ausnutria actively identified the key and potential products to be introduced into overseas markets, especially in the PRC market. The Group has launched Gut Relief, which has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and Soforla, a supplement that resolves lactose intolerance in infants, in 2016 and 2017, respectively. As consumers in the PRC are becoming more health-conscious over time, the Group believes that the Nutrition Business will benefit from the increasing market demand of nutrition products.

In order to support the continuous growth in demand for infant formula products and optimize supply chain deployment, Ausnutria established new factories in the Netherlands and New Zealand respectively, and completed construction at the end of 2017. Among which, two new factories in the Netherlands obtained certification from and completed its registration with the CNCA in November. The NZ Factory New Zealand, jointly developed with Westland (the second largest dairy cooperative in New Zealand), was obtained a production permit from the Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand. Together with the acquired factories in Australia, the Group will have 10 factories in the global "Golden Milk Zone" by the end of 2018, and the production capacity will be greatly improved.

Looking forward, Mr. Yan said - "Embracing the huge opportunities brought about by recent national policy changes, Ausnutria has formed global expansion of a diversified industrial chain from formula milk powder to nutritional products, and has become an international company with a sales service network in China, North America, Russia and the Middle East. In the future, the Group will follow the direction of nutrition and comprehensive health, seize the opportunities both in the PRC and overseas market, and enhance its sustainability, heading towards the 'Golden Decade' of Ausnutria. We firmly believe that continuous increase in the sales of the own-branded milk formula products and gradually enhance in operation efficiency will allow us to achieve ever-expanding growth results. We will continue to strive hard to create greater value for our consumers and shareholders."

About Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd
Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd is a leading infant milk formula company with production facilities principally based in the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and the PRC The Company is engaged in the worldwide production, research, and sales of infant formula, adult milk and other dairy and nutrition products. It owns several famous infant formula and milk powder brands, including "Kabrita", "Allnutria" and "Hyproca". Ausnutria's factories in the PRC were among that first batch of factories that had been granted with the National Infant Formula Enterprise Production Permit. The factory in the Netherlands is also one of the first infant milk formula manufacturers to obtain import licenses for overseas products under the new policy in the PRC.


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Golden Energy and Resources Delivers 70.3% YOY Revenue Growth in 1H 2018

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- Revenue jumped 70.3% to US$481.6 million on the back of robust growth in Coal Mining and Trading divisions
- Net profit rose 20.2% to US$58.5 million, offset by higher costs and increase in finance expenses
- On track to surpass 20 million tonnes ("MT") of target production in 2018, with 2P coal reserves exceeding 1 billion tonnes with successful acquisition of BSL in 2H 2018
- High consumption demand and strong coal price environment to drive continued business growth

SINGAPORE, Aug 15, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Golden Energy and Resources Limited ("GEAR", SGX:AUE), an international coal mining and trading company, today announced that it has posted a 70.3% increase in revenue to US$481.6 million in the six-month period ended 30 June 2018 ("1H 2018"), compared to US$282.8 million in the year ago period ("1H 2017"). The Group turned in a net profit of US$58.5 million in 1H 2018, a year-on-year increase of 20.2%.
Financial Highlights: US$'000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
               2Q 2018    2Q 2017   % ch    1H 2018    1H 2017   % ch
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue        208,636    139,640  49.4%    481,635    282,826  70.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross Profit    77,867     65,237  19.4%    194,885    137,371  41.9%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Profit After Tax ("Net Profit")
                14,989     19,103 (21.5%)    58,518     48,690  20.2%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Profit attributable to Owners of GEAR
                 8,047     11,763 (31.6%)    34,831     30,803  13.1%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
EPS (US cents)    0.34       0.50 (32.0%)      1.48       1.31  13.0% 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For the quarter ended 30 June 2018, revenue was US$208.6 million, up 49.4% from US$139.6 million in the three months ending 30 June 2017 ("2Q 2017"), mainly due to increases in revenue across the Group's Coal Mining and Coal Trading Divisions.

The Coal Mining Division reported a revenue of US$188.8 million, an increase of US$64.4 million, or 51.8% from US$124.4 million in 2Q 2017, on the back of higher sales volume. Average selling price remained relatively stable at US$42.17 per metric ton in 2Q 2018, compared to US$42.58 per metric ton in 2Q 2017.

The Coal Trading Division reported a surge in revenue from higher sales volume and higher average selling price. The division posted revenues of US$19.3 million, up 43.2% from US$13.5 million in 2Q 2017.

The Group's Non-coal Business reported a decrease in revenue, to US$0.5 million in 2Q 2018 from US$1.7 million previously, mainly due to the absence of log sales and a decrease in management fee income.

For the latest quarter under review, GEAR registered a net profit of US$15.0 million compared to US$19.1 million in 2Q 2017, mainly due to an increase in mining services and coal freight costs on account of higher stripping ratio, higher overburden distance and fuel cost and an increase in interest expenses compared to the corresponding reporting period.

As at 30 June 2018, the Group's balance sheet remains stable and robust, with cash and cash equivalents of USD153.8 million. The Group also maintains a low gearing of 0.34 times.

Mr. Fuganto Widjaja, Executive Director and Group CEO of GEAR, said, "GEAR has continued to make significant progress in its top and bottom line in the first half of the year, and the Group's strong coal trading and mining divisions are testament to its focus in delivering value and profitability through production growth and price realisation."

"Today, we stand on the cusp of further ramping up production capacity on two fronts - by expanding our processing capacity at our key concession BIB and through the acquisition of a Sumatra-based coal concession BSL. With current coal prices at a six-year high, we intend to play to our strengths in a bid to further entrench our leadership position in the coal mining industry."

Corporate Developments

In line with the Group's strategic plans to expand its business operations and increase its coal reserves and production levels, GEAR's subsidiary, PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk had entered into a conditional sales and purchase agreement with GMR Energy (Netherlands) B.V. and GMR Infrastructure (Overseas) Limited in May 2017 to acquire the entire effective shareholding interest of PT Barasentosa Lestari ("BSL"), which holds a coal concession in South Sumatra, Indonesia, for a consideration of US$65.6 million. The total assets and total liabilities of the target group as at 31 March 2018 is US$98,544,000 and US$97,137,000 respectively.

The BSL concession had estimated coal resources of 393 MT and reserves of 194.6 MT and was valued at US$258.5 million as at 31 December 2017, based on independent reports.

The acquisition of BSL received GEAR's shareholder approval on 13 July 2018. GEAR looks forward to completing this acquisition in 2H 2018 which would ramp up its total 2P coal reserves to more than 1 billion tonnes, making it the fourth largest coal reserve player in Indonesia. The acquisition is also expected to increase GEAR's quantity of higher calorific value coal and provide an opportunity to service domestic demand as BSL mines are in close proximity to the PLN's planned coal power plants in South Sumatra region

The Group also remains well-positioned to focus on profitability at current prices and remains on track to achieve 20 MT of production in 2018. For 2Q FY2018 and 1H FY2018, GEAR achieved a coal production output of 4.4 MT and 9.1 MT, which represents an increase of 47% and 51% year-on-year, respectively.

Outlook

Demand for coal, which accounts for around half of the energy mix in Asia, will continue to be strong in the region. Coal plays a key role in Asia's energy security, and recent developments in the ASEAN region lend support to robust demand and pricing of the fossil fuel.

China's coal demand has remained high despite trade tensions between the US and China dampening investor confidence and the commodities sector.

Beyond China, countries in the ASEAN region are still relying on affordable energy and are expected to increase the share of coal in their energy mix as a result of increased industrialisation, growth and electrification. Domestically, coal consumption is expected to reach 114.51 MT in 2018, up 6% from 2017.

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has set its June coal reference price at USD96.61/t, an increase of 7.9% from May 2018 and an increase of 28% compared to June 2017. Spot prices for FOB Kalimantan 4200 thermal coal averaged US$49/t in June, up 8.9% from US$45/t a month ago.

GEAR remains optimistic on the current supply-demand outlook for coal and believes that demand for the fossil fuel over time will be strongly supported by the energy requirements of developing countries in Asia.

ABOUT GOLDEN ENERGY AND RESOURCES LIMITED

Golden Energy and Resources Limited ("GEAR", SGX:AUE) is a leading coal producer in Indonesia. Since the completion of the Reverse Takeover of SGX Mainboard-listed United Fiber System Limited in 2015, GEAR has principally engaged in the exploration, mining, and marketing of thermal coal sourced from its coal mining concession areas, covering an aggregate of approximately 42,904 hectares in South and Central Kalimantan, Jambi (a province in Sumatra) and South Sumatra Basin, Indonesia.

Backed by the Sinar Mas Group, one of Indonesia's largest conglomerates, GEAR collectively owns the rights to mine more than 2.4 billion tonnes of thermal coal resources, with coal reserves of more than 828 million tonnes, as at 31 December 2017.

GEAR has reserves of primarily thermal coal with an average calorific value range of between 2,900 kcal/kg (arb) to 6,600 kcal/kg (arb).

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF: Golden Energy and Resources Limited
BY: Citigate Dewe Rogerson Singapore Pte Ltd
55 Market Street #02-01 SINGAPORE 048941
CONTACT: Mr. Winston Choo / Mr. Derrick Tee
at telephone
DURING OFFICE HOURS: 6534-5122
EMAIL: winston.choo@citigatedewerogerson.com / derrick.tee@citigatedewerogerson.com

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

TTI Announces Record 2018 First Half Results

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Organic Growth Delivers Record Results;
Sales Increases 19.1% and Profit Increases 24.6%

HONG KONG, Aug 15, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Hong Kong-based global power equipment and floor care company Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. ("TTI"/ TTI Group) (stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) has delivered record sales and net profit for the ninth consecutive first half. This is a result of a strategic foundation of relentless innovation, continuous operational improvement, exceptional people, and a powerful brand portfolio. Sales in the first half were US$3.4 billion, a 19.1% increase over the previous period, while net profit margin improved by 30 basis points. Gross profit margin improved for the tenth consecutive year on positive gains from the ongoing flow of new products and productivity. Through relentless execution, TTI has driven excellent sales growth while increasing earnings before interest and taxes by 20.7% to US$281 million and continuing to efficiently manage working capital at 17.0% of sales compared to 19.1% last year in the first half. Net profit attributable to shareholders was US$255 million, a 24.6% increase from the prior year, and a basic earnings per share increase of 24.4% to US13.89 cents.

- Organic growth delivers record results
- Sales grew 19.1% and net profit expanded 24.6%
- Gross margin improved for the tenth consecutive year in the first half from 36.6% to 37.1%
- MILWAUKEE continued strong growth momentum with an outstanding 29.8% sales increase
- RYOBI ONE+ sustained double-digit sales growth
- Floor Care and Appliances business delivered double digit sales growth of 12.9%

TTI's largest business segment, the Power Equipment business sustained double-digit growth for the first half with US$3.0 billion in global sales, representing a 20.1% increase when compared with the same period in 2017. This strong growth was fueled by the commitment to cordless technology through the flow of new product introductions, expanding new product categories like cordless lawn mowers, building customer partnerships, adding new distribution channels, geographic expansion, and focused end-user conversions. MILWAUKEE has remained at the forefront of the cordless revolution, delivering outstanding 29.8% growth in the first half, while the Consumer Power Tool and the Outdoor Product businesses both grew by double digits primarily from the expansion of the RYOBI ONE+ and 40V cordless platforms. The early phase of our strategic direction of the Floor Care and Appliances segment is slowly and encouragingly gaining traction with sales growing 12.9%.

Mr. Joseph Galli, CEO of TTI, commented, "Looking into the second half and beyond, it is clear that the momentum is increasing at an exciting rate throughout TTI. We are thriving as we ambitiously continue executing our laser-focused strategy that created the platform for our industry-leading growth. TTI is leading the world's rapid transition to cordless, displacing old technologies, entering new categories, and expanding our served industries. Our vision for a cordless future is vast."

Mr. Horst Pudwill, Chairman of TTI, said, "We are highly encouraged by our growth trajectory. We expect our cordless business to continue being the key driver and to grow at unprecedented levels because of our leading edge technology. Our long term vision at TTI is to build an unassailable competitive advantage through cordless product leadership, outstanding organizational development, and superior operational excellence. We are highly confident our business will continue to outperform in the coming years."

About TTI
Founded in 1985 and listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited in 1990, TTI is a world leader in cordless technology spanning Power Tools, Outdoor Power Equipment, Floor Care Appliances and Accessories for the consumer, professional, and industrial users in the home, construction, maintenance, industrial and infrastructure industries. The Company has a foundation built on four strategic drivers - Powerful Brands, Innovative Products, Operational Excellence and Exceptional People - reflecting a long-term expansive vision to advance cordless technology. The global growth strategy of the relentless pursuit of product innovation has brought TTI to the forefront of its industries. TTI's powerful brand portfolio includes MILWAUKEE, AEG and RYOBI power tools, accessories and hand tools, RYOBI and HOMELITE outdoor products, EMPIRE layout and measuring products, and HOOVER, ORECK, VAX and DIRT DEVIL Floor Care and Appliances.

TTI is one of the constituent stocks of the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI), FTSE Developed Index and Hang Seng Composite LargeCap Index under the Hang Seng Composite Size Index. For more information, please visit www.ttigroup.com.

All trademarks listed other than AEG and RYOBI are owned by TTI Group. AEG is a registered trademark of AB Electrolux (publ.), and is used under license. RYOBI is a registered trademark of Ryobi Limited, and is used under license.

For enquiries:
Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
Isabella Chan
Tel: +(852) 2402 6495
Email: isabella.chan@tti.com.hk
Website: www.ttigroup.com

Strategic Financial Relations Limited
Veron Ng +(852) 2864 4831 veron.ng@sprg.com.hk
Denise Siu +(852) 2114 4913 denise.siu@sprg.com.hk
Beverly Chiu +(852) 2114 4329 beverly.chiu@sprg.com.hk
Website: www.sprg.com.hk


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

HKTDC Food, Tea, Beauty & Wellness, Home Delights Fairs Open Tomorrow

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Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director (L) and Francis Ngai, Chief Executive Officer of Social Ventures Hong Kong and founder of BottLess (R)
For the first time, the HKTDC and the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) will launch a K-Beauty Expo Hong Kong pavilion at the Beauty & Wellness Expo, bringing popular products from about 30 Korean exhibitors. Exhibits at the pavilion, themed "Stylish K-Beauty", will include a USB rechargeable eyelash curler that is easy and convenient to use.
The Home Delights Expo will feature the Avenue of Delights with stylish branded products from 45 exhibitors, including Dyson, CLP Power, Tiger and more. CLP Power will conduct cooking demonstrations with food tasting.
Pilot On-site Utensils Lending Service to Promote Waste Reduction

HONG KONG, Aug 15, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Organised by the HKTDC, four fairs will open tomorrow (16 August) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC): the 29th Food Expo, the 10th Hong Kong International Tea Fair, the third Beauty & Wellness Expo and the fifth Home Delights Expo. The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM), jointly organised by HKTDC and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association Ltd, will also be held on 16-17 August. The four fairs will welcome close to 2,100 exhibitors showcasing a wide variety of delicacies and products to provide an all-round shopping and sourcing experience for consumers and trade buyers. The events will also create cross-sector business opportunities and enhance cultural exchange between Hong Kong and other regions.

To promote environmental awareness and waste reduction, a pilot on-site tableware lending service will be launched at the Food Expo this year to reduce the use of disposable plastic utensils. Visitors can borrow a set comprising a reusable food container and wooden utensils with a HK$20 deposit in cash (at the entrance of Hall 1E), and return the used set and reclaim the deposit when leaving the fairground (at Hall 1A and 3E Concourses). Available while stocks last, the service is run jointly by the HKTDC, NWS Holdings Limited and social enterprise BottLess, with the wooden utensils provided by Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/2wbqYuy

Websites:
Food Expo http://www.hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com/
Home Delights Expo http://www.homedelights.hktdc.com/
Beauty & Wellness Expo http://www.hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com/
Tea Fair http://www.hkteafair.hktdc.com/
International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products https://bit.ly/2MtomCD

Morning Admission Tickets to Attract More Public Visitors

This year, the HKTDC introduces the HK$10 Morning Admission Ticket for entry before noon on 16, 17 and 20 Aug. There will also be HK$10 Night Admission Tickets for entry after 6pm on 16-19 Aug, with a top-up fee of HK$15 for admission to the Gourmet Zone on the same day. For ticketing details, please visit the HKTDC Food Expo website.

Media Enquiries
This media release was distributed by Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG) on behalf of the HKTDC. For further media enquiries, please contact:

Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG)
Andico Tsui
Tel: +852 2114 4346 / +852 6902 3831
Fax: +852 2114 0880
Email: andico.tsui@sprg.com.hk

Sonya Lai
Tel: +852 2114 4984 / +852 6671 3008
Fax: +852 2114 0880
Email: sonya.lai@sprg.com.hk

HKTDC's Communication & Public Affairs Department
Katherine Chan
Tel: +852 2584 4537
Email: katherine.cm.chan@hktdc.org

Angel Tang
Tel: +852 2584 4544
Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. Please visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus or follow us on Google+, Twitter@hktdc, LinkedIn.

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Krypton Capital Signs Agreement with AnApp To Invest In New IoT Cryptocurrency - IOTW

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HONG KONG, Aug 15, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Krypton Capital signed an agreement with AnApp Blockchain Technologies Limited ("AnApp") to invest in an undisclosed amount of IOTW tokens, a new cryptocurrency for IoT applications.

Krypton Capital, founded in 2017 as an early-stage venture capital company, focuses primarily on blockchain ventures. Its investment portfolio features assets across a variety of sectors, including crypto-related companies, media businesses, and software development projects. With a rapidly expanding team of finance and IT specialists, the Krypton Capital network provides a wide range of services, from token sale management, consulting and media support to trading and fundraising. Krypton Capital has already helped partners raise funds totaling over US$300 million.

Krypton Capital's purchase of IOTW from AnApp is a confirmation that the upside potential of IOTW tokens is being recognized by the market.

Krypton Capital's decision to invest in IOTW and forge a partnership was a result of AnApp having made significant and practical progress on the product front. Additionally, the venture capital firm lauded the team, led by Dr. Patrick Hung, Frederick Leung and Tony Chan, and believes that AnApp's vision and strategy on IOTW, coupled with their strategic partnerships with manufacturers, show great potential for rapid market penetration and adoption.

Commenting on the partnership, Krypton Capital's founder and CEO Ilan Tzorya said,

"At Krypton Capital, we are very particular about the ventures we invest in, and support. Our partnership with AnApp to invest in IOTW represents our commitment towards innovation and the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. Given how rapid the IoT market grows, we believe IOTW has immense potential to make a lasting impact due to AnApp's capable team, robust product and experienced leadership."


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

RetailEX ASEAN 2018 Press Conference Reveals How Event is 'Transforming the ASEAN Retail Landscape' with Brand-New Features

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BANGKOK, Aug 15, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - RetailEX ASEAN 2018 ("RetailEX"), the largest annual international trade exhibition and conference in Southeast Asia, catering to retailers and brands focused on succeeding in ASEAN markets, is set to return better than ever before this September; with brand-new zones and content rich conferences over the three-day event.

RetailEX, under the theme "Transforming the ASEAN Retail Landscape" will be held on 19 to 21 September 2018, in Halls 3 and 4 at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. Over 4,000 attendees from diverse industries such as e-commerce and entertainment, healthcare, design and hospitality are expected to attend.

The three-day event is co-organised by the Thai Retailers Association ("TRA"), together with Clarion Events and IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd. ("IMPACT"), and is supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau ("TCEB"). Dr Chartchai Tuongratanaphan, Executive Director, TRA, emphasised at the press conference, how RetailEX ASEAN 2018 is defining retail within ASEAN. "Retail possibilities, expectations, behaviour and opportunities in the ASEAN community are evolving fast. Sharing our insights, knowledge and experience is absolutely essential; as is making those valuable connections and sourcing new products, services and even ideas. Retail beyond 2018 is unchartered territory and retailers and brands need to know how to navigate these newly emerging landscapes."

"RetailEX showcases the very best in cutting-edge retail technology innovation and solutions; acting as a must-visit, go-to marketplace as well as an insightful, industry knowledge-sharing platform with keynote speakers, workshops and invaluable networking opportunities," shared Mr. Loy Joon How, General Manager, IMPACT.

Mr. Charkrit Direkwattanachai, Vice President, Marketing Activation & Public Relations, Marketing Association of Thailand, adds "This is the first time that the Marketing Association of Thailand has partnered RetailEX to organise the 'Marketing in Retail' seminar. The objective of this seminar is to provide latest marketing trends and updates to retail brands. The seminar will feature many topics from various perspectives. This include consumer insights; how brands can differentiate themselves at point of sales; utilising big data for marketing strategy; case studies on omni channel; and how to integrate offline to online to revolutionise the retail industry."

Ms. Kanokporn Dumrongkul, Director of Exhibitions Department, TCEB, states "TCEB has been supporting RetailEX for four consecutive years. This year the bureau supported overseas marketing of the event and attracted trade buyers from ASEAN+6 countries through the Connect Businesses Campaign. The campaign aims to boost business matching between ASEAN+6 countries with the exhibitors, which will expand business opportunities in the event. TCEB expects that this support will generate more than 70 million baht revenue to the country. RetailEX will have a role in making Thailand an exhibition platform of ASEAN, in line with TCEB's policy. In 2017, TCEB-supported exhibitions experienced 126% growth in ASEAN trade visitors and 42.8% increase in ASEAN exhibitors."

New features at RetailEX

RetailEX is introducing several new features this year, to cover every aspect of retail from start-up to creating an outlet and succeeding online. These new highlights include:

-- Design Pavilion - showcasing the latest concept store designs to create greater customer engagement and experience;

-- Vending Machine & Self-Service Facilities Expo - primarily targeting the F&B industry, as well as offering payment and remote monitoring systems; photo booths; phone charge boxes; laundry room self-service equipment and more;

-- Inaugural launch of the ASEAN Retail Excellence Award - acknowledges the very best retailers and retail initiatives in ASEAN;

-- Dedicated Concierge Business Matching Programme - connecting regional and local buyers with exhibitors and sponsors; and

-- Launch of the Start-up Zone with the RetailEX Elevator Pitch - 10 shortlisted start-ups are given two minutes to pitch their ideas to 10 seasoned investors.

More varied content at RetailEX Conference

The RetailEX Conference promises more varied content, featuring a distinguished speaker panel of local and international industry who's who, including the CEO of 11Street; CTO of Central Group; COO of City Mart Holdings; Chief Strategy Officer of The Mall Group; Head of eCommerce from Unilever and many more, to share the latest retail trends and insights in Thailand and beyond. There will also be free on-floor seminars over the 3 days such as the Retail Training Program, organised by TRA, which explores industry trends, business models, branding and design development. The inaugural Marketing in Retail Seminar, held in conjunction with RetailEX, covers topics of interest for brands and marketers to build stronger brand identity and better scaling for their businesses.

RetailEX features more than 80 exhibitors and sponsors including Zendesk, Workplace by Facebook, AsiaPay, Insider, SpotOn Interactive, System Form, Thai Foretaste, SELF Electronics, Turbon (Thailand), AJIS (Thailand), Moderate, Quikframe, Secure Solution Asia, Smart ICT, Shenzhen COSUN Sign Engineering, Canon Ball Manufacturing, Changshu Hongda Business Equipment, and many more.

Registration is open to business visitors. For more show information and details, please visit the official website: www.retailexasean.com.

About RetailEX ASEAN

RetailEX ASEAN is an annual international trade exhibition and conference that caters to retailers and brands focusing on the ASEAN market, one of the fastest growing regions of the world. The exhibition serves as a marketplace for buyers to source for the latest retail related technology and solutions whilst the conference is an educational and knowledge-sharing platform for industry players to learn about the latest retail trends, helping companies to scale their businesses through practical case studies and insights from movers and shakers of the industry.

The 3-day event, happening in Bangkok, will attract 4,000+ key retail stakeholders and is designed to help brands and retailers transform their operations with various solutions and innovative technologies.

The event will take place from 19-21 September 2018 at Hall 3-4, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center. For more show information and details, please visit the official website: www.retailexasean.com.

Meet the Organizers

Thai Retailers Association has been established more than 30 years. At first the group was called the "Department Store Retailers Club", it was gathered by a group of department store entrepreneurs who realized that they must be corporate other stand individual in order to exchange ideas and share their visions as to developing an industry strategies as a whole. www.thairetailer.com

Clarion Events is one of the world's leading event organisers, producing and delivering innovative and market-leading events. Founded in 1947, its 760 employees based in 13 offices worldwide specialise in delivering first class marketing, networking, and information solutions in high value sectors, both in mature and emerging geographies. Clarion's customers use our range of exhibitions, conferences, tradeshows, and websites to target new business, demonstrate their products, build deeper relationships with their clients and identify new opportunities for performance improvement. Some of our most important core markets include Energy, Defence and Security, Telecoms, Payments, Retail, Infrastructure, and Resources. www.clarionevents.com

IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd. is the leading exhibition organizer in Thailand. IMPACT organizes and manages professional trade and public exhibitions, conferences, meetings and training, working in hand with international trade associations, organizers and corporations across a board spectrum of industries. We create effective market platforms and offer a comprehensive range of turn-key event management solutions ranging from market research, exhibition and visitor promotion and sales, advertising and promotion, public relations, operation to on-site logistic management for exhibitions and conferences of all sizes and industries. www.impact.co.th.

For more information, please contact:
Monyaphat Klinmontha (Fern), +66 90 8978167, pr@brandnow.asia
Kittima Kaur (Tinny), +66 81 8262399, kittima@brandnow.asia
Pattaraporn (Pond), +66 94 4930069, event@brandnow.asia
Brand Now Asia, +66 2 105 4217, www.brandnow.asia

About RetailEX ASEAN 2018



 
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