Expleo recognises and celebrates leaders and financial institutions driving digital transformation in the Philippines

MANILA, Aug 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – While the country's financial services sector is pacing to incorporate technology innovations in its core infrastructure, its massive unbanked population (71%) now has a better chance at wealth management. Driven by digitalisation, a favourable regulatory framework, and steady modernisation initiatives by the government, the Philippines' FSI organisations have not only upgraded but have also witnessed commendable initiatives driven by business and technology professionals.

As the situation called for a moment to bestow honor upon the initiatives taken by the financial institutions in the last 12 months and recognize the top professionals for their groundbreaking work, Expleo, the global consulting, technology and engineering service provider that powers digital transformation for financial institutions globally including the leading banks and insurance institutions in the Philippines, took the initiative to power Philippines' most desired FSI Awards Show, at the World Financial Innovation Series (WFIS), which took place at the Manila Marriott Hotel on August 22-23, 2023.

The highlight of the awards evening was Expleo felicitating the award winners across categories like Digital Architect of the Year, GRC Advocate of the Year, Tech Innovator of the Year, Data and Analytics Leader of the Year, Excellence in Retail Banking, Fintech Provider of the Year, Women Influencer in FSI, Cyber Practitioner of the Year, CX Innovator of the Year, and CMO of the Year. The evening was filled with an extravagant Gala Dinner decked with a fine range of gourmet dishes and exquisite cocktails.

In a statement issued, Balaji Viswanathan, MD & CEO of Expleo Solutions Limited, said: "It's an incredible achievement and a testament to every banking, financial services and insurance institution shaping the future of finance in the Philippines. Expleo is honoured and delighted to recognise the winners for demonstrating their resilience and ensuring seamless and secure banking experiences for the Filipinos."

As per the organising body – Tradepass, the awards show featured a space where the contestants submitted their best work in the form of use cases, whitepapers, published articles and much more to demonstrate their expertise in the respective categories. The winners not only got recognition in front of the entire financial services & tech community but also a chance to network with the key stakeholders from the industry.

The CEO of Tradepass, Sudhir Ranjan Jena expressed his views on Expleo's engagement with the awards show, "With a global expert like Expleo behind WFIS Philippines Awards 2023, the platform brought the most deserving and the best talents to the limelight. We hope this collaboration with Expleo that is renowned for powering the digital transformation of the financial institutions in the Philippines, will go a long way in encouraging and uplifting the Philippines' financial services sector."

For more information about the event, log on to:
https://philippines.worldfis.com/

About Tradepass

Providing access to the global emerging markets, Tradepass brings together people, products and solutions to power events for unparalleled business and networking opportunities. Being the most accredited event company, it helps organizations: enter new markets, grow sales pipeline, close prospects, raise capital and identify the right solution providers.

As a deal facilitator, Tradepass is always determined about exposing the most agile liquid growth markets, to enable all-round scalability and growth.

Media contact:
Shrinkhal Sharad
PR & Communication Lead
shrinkhals@tradepassglobal.com
+ (91) 80 6166 4401
Tradepass

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Net Profit of Kingworld Medicines Increased By 55.8%

HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Kingworld Medicines Group Limited ("Kingworld Medicines" or the "Group", stock code: 01110.HK), a leading healthcare distribution company, announced its unaudited interim results for the year ended 30 June 2023 (the "Reporting Period" or the "First Half of 2023") . During the Reporting Period, benefiting from the overall recovery of China's economy and consumption, the group's revenue reached approximately RMB 553 million, an increase of 31.8% compared to the same period last year. Gross profit increased by 15.7% to approximately RMB155 million. Profit for the period increased by 35.9% to approximately RMB48 million. Profit attributable to owners of the Company increased by 55.8% to approximately RMB38 million. Basic earnings per share was increased by 59.9% to RMB 6.38 cents.

Mr. Zhao Lisheng, Chairman of the Board of Kingworld Medicines Group, said: "In the First Half of 2023, with the market recovery and consumers returning to rational consumption, there has been a heightened emphasis on the physical and mental health of individuals. Consumers are seeking to establish connections with various health resources and are actively trying to improve their lifestyles and enhance their quality of life in pursuit of a more fulfilling existence, which has been driven the growth of the group's business."

Pharmaceutical sales continue to grow, and Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa has shown outstanding performance.

In the First Half of 2023, the group seized the opportunity of the demand for cough and respiratory products from the post-"Yangkang" group (i.e the recovering Covid-19 patients). Through the company's SMART system and collaboration with partners, the products were quickly displayed and sold on the shelves of retail outlets. Precise marketing promotion further contributed to the significant revenue growth of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa during the Reporting Period. On the other hand, the group's Taiko Seriogan experienced slight growth due to its excellent quality, reputation, and effective treatment, but faced challenges due to global supply shortages.

Besides, During the Reporting Period, the Group obtained the cooperation authorisation for the promotion of Fortune Coltalin in Shanghai, Henan, Anhui, Shaanxi and Gansu for three years, opening a new chapter of cooperation between the two parties. The Group has obtained the authorisation of the renowned brand product, which demonstrates the Group's strength and control over consumption terminals. Coltalin and Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa are well-known products come from Hong Kong and are applied to fever as medicine. Accordingly, they shared common features at the end-user market. After the Pandemic, people have relaxed their Pandemic prevention awareness gradually, and the recurrence of respiratory illnesses have increased when the Group introduced the product that combines with Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa and comes as a cross-over with a famous brand in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the Group has established sound commercial cooperation and coverage, covering a total of approximately 150,000 chain pharmacies and individual pharmacies, approximately 20,000 primary medical institutions, more than 10,000 hospitals and clinics, as well as some convenience stores and supermarkets.

During the Reporting Period, the group actively explored prescription drugs and clinical sales models, promoting the sales of Enalapril and Jianfu capsules and making progress in this area. The active customer base for Enalapril reached 9,526, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.40%. In the clinical exploration of Jianfu capsules, the group collaborated with partners and doctors to provide clinical data and research papers, demonstrating the effectiveness of the product in treating infertility. This has led to an increased market interest in these products.

With the increasing demand for health supplements, "Culturelle" probiotics and "life's DHA continually remain a high demand in the market.

Benefited from the rebound of visitors to Hong Kong and the trend of consumers' increasing demand for brand quality and price-performance ratio, which led to the substantial increase of the healthcare daily chemical business year-on-year. During the Reporting Period, the group's "Culturelle" probiotics and life's DHA recorded an increase 68.1% and 42.2%, respectively.

With consumers who pay more attention to safety, quality and health, there is a promising prospect for DHA products. Our online DHA products have recorded an increase of 50% in sales, substantially outperforming that of other products. As a pioneer of DHA products, and a well -known leading player in terms of DHA and the related technologies, Life's DHA, which have strong brand influence and superior product quality, have been favoured by consumers. Life's DHA, which have strong brand influence and superior product quality, have been favoured by consumers. The sales of Life's DHA has been increasing since its distribution by our Group. During the Reporting Period, the products of the Life's DHA series has recorded a rapid increase in sales and was among the JD 618 selling list.

Medical devices continue to innovate, and the "6S Lean Production " management model is being further promoted and implemented.

The non-wholly owned subsidiary of the Group, Shenzhen Dong Di Xin Technology Company Limited, is a national high-tech enterprise and was awarded the Shenzhen's Professional, Refined, Specialised and New SME Award during the Reporting Period. Under the continuous influence of the international and domestic macro environment, the overall orders of Dong Di Xin decreased year-on-year. However, through active marketing and promotion, the market share of the major products increased significantly year-on-year with an increase in gross profit margin.

Dong Di Xin will continue to deepen and solidly promote the "6S management model of lean production" to ensure high-quality products. We continued to innovate the bidding and procurement methods of electronic components, which greatly reduced the cost of raw materials and ensured the Company's gross profit margin to achieve the target level.

During the Reporting Period, Dong Di Xin has accumulated the ownership of 3 valid invention patents, 25 valid utility model patents, 1 valid design patents and 13 software copyrights

The Kingworld Longde Life and Health Industrial Park aims to promote the integration and innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Over the years, the Group has been committed to promote the open up and integration of traditional Chinese medicine in Shenzhen and Hong Kong and the and innovation of international layout of traditional Chinese medicine. The Group undertaking the mission of building and innovating the ecological partners of traditional Chinese medicine, The Kingworld Longde Life and Health Industrial Park has been providing specialised biopharmaceutical hardware and equipment sharing platforms,

During the Reporting Period, the overall construction of the Longde Industrial Park was 85% completed. Merchant solicitation work is also in full swing. In the meantime, the Group and Shenzhen Angel Fund of Funds have jointly held the "20+8" industry matching conference, and established two-way relationships with dozens of industrial enterprises, investment institutions and ecological partners in the biopharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare sectors.

Mr. Zhao Lisheng, Chairman of Kingworld Medicines Group, concludes: "2023 is the second year for our strategies of the Fifth Five-Year Plan. Based on the good opening in the last year, the Group has achieved encouraging development during the Reporting Period. The Group has accomplished its plans for the First Half of the year, with results exceeding the targets. We recorded a -year-on-year increase of 32%. In the second half of 2023, the Group will be continued to accelerate the decision and implementation of the strategic plans in the strategies of the Fifth Five-Year Plan. The Group will make adjustments in light of actual market conditions, and make resources integration and allocation of manpower, properties and goods, in order to ensure first priority of investing and increasing strategic resources, The Group will adhere to the concept of "highlighting its principal activities and developing related businesses", so as to continuously enhance the quality of the operation of its pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses, strengthening its competitiveness in technologies and products as well as profitability of the Group, thereby developing the Group into a large group with core competitiveness."


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

GMG Provides Commercialisation Progress of THERMAL-XR(R)

BRISBANE, AUS, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. (TSXV: GMG) ("GMG" or the "Company") is pleased to outline important commercialisation progress and sales development of THERMAL-XR(R) powered by GMG Graphene.


THERMAL-XR(R) powered by GMG Graphene

GMG Projects & Operations Staff involved in commissioning the first 1000 litre of THERMAL-XR(R) RESTORE


THERMAL-XR(R) powered by GMG Graphene
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/178644_57b4434074bb08bd_001full.jpg

THERMAL-XR (R) Coating Blending Project | Initial Production & Capabilities

The Company is pleased to announce that it has commissioned its graphene enhanced coating blending plant and it is now operational after making its first 1000 litre blend. This blending plant is expected to have the capacity to produce up to 500,000 litres of THERMAL-XR(R) RESTORE(R) coating per annum, subject to graphene production, when operating two blends per eight hour shift, 250 days per year. This capacity enables future service growth well into the future.

GMG Projects & Operations Staff involved in commissioning the first 1000 litre of THERMAL-XR(R) RESTORE
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/178644_graphenefig2.jpg

GMG has also installed laboratory facilities for quality and control requirements and progressing research and development, to extend and enhance the THERMAL-XR(R) portfolio into additional industries and applications.

GMG's Managing Director and CEO, Craig Nicol, commented: "We are very excited to commission our own blend plant and to have manufactured 1000 litres of THERMAL-XR(R) RESTORE as part of our distributor's initial orders, which are subject to in-country regulatory approvals. This is an important step to becoming a globally recognised manufacturer and marketer of energy-saving products."

Since the February 2023 Australian Government approval for GMG to produce and sell TXR at scale, the Company has intensified sales activities that have resulted in distribution agreements in North America, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea to the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning-Refrigeration (HVAC-R) market. Furthermore, wider potential industries are being assessed including energy savings applications in Data Centres and for Energy Producers e.g. Liquified Natural Gas Plants, where THERMAL-XR(R) has the potential to increase production capacity and energy efficiency.

Important initial and forward sales orders have been received from HVAC-R distributors and these are being reviewed against their market introduction timelines and their local country approvals. The application to the USA's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval of THERMAL-XR(R) with all the supporting scientific testing is to be submitted shortly with a statutory 30-day review period. Given the number of approved graphene material products, the Company is confident of an approval.

Total forward sales orders received to date will be communicated to the market in a forth coming update.

The Company has received and is assessing requests by various parties to be Distributors around the world – especially in Europe and Asia for the HVAC-R market. The Company is also working with various large companies on the potential use of THERMAL-XR(R) in vehicle radiators, solar cells and industrial applications. The Company believes the LNG industry remains a highly attractive opportunity for the use of THERMAL-XR(R) given the large potential economic and environmental benefit it could provide for LNG plants. A testing program with LNG producers is in the process of being developed and implemented.

About THERMAL-XR(R) powered by GMG Graphene:

THERMAL-XR(R) COATING SYSTEM is a unique method of improving the conductivity of corroded heat exchange surfaces and improving and maintaining the performance of new units at peak levels. The process coats and protects heat exchange surfaces while improving and rebuilding the lost corroded thermal conductivity and increasing the heat transfer rate by leveraging the physics of GMG Graphene, resulting in an efficiency improvement and a potential power reduction.

THERMAL-XR RESTORE(R) is powered by GMG Graphene. PATENT PENDING

About GMG www.graphenemg.com

GMG is a clean-technology company which seeks to offer energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene, including that manufactured in-house via a proprietary production process.

GMG has developed a proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, 'tuneable' and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications. The Company's present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications.

In the energy savings segment, GMG has focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC-R") coating (or energy-saving paint), lubricants and fluids. In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Batteries").

For further information please contact:
Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223
Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward‐looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, the expected benefits and capabilities of the blending plant, including its ability to produce up to 500,000 litres of THERMAL-XR(R) RESTORE(R) per annum and that it will service growth well into the future, the developments of extensions and enhancements to the THERMAL-XR(R) portfolio into a wider range of applications, the potential for THERMAL-XR(R) to enable energy producers to produce additional energy more efficiently, the continuous requests of parties to be Distributors around the world, the large comparative benefit the use of Thermal XR(R) could provide for LNG plants, and the timing and communication of forward sales orders to the market.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding the ability of the blending plant to produce up to 500,000 litres of THERMAL-XR(R) RESTORE(R) per annum and service growth well into the future, the development of extensions and enhancements to the THERMAL-XR(R) portfolio into a wider range of applications, that energy producers will be able to derive the expected benefits from the Company's products, parties continuing to request to be Distributors around the world, the expected benefits that Thermal XR(R) could provide for LNG plants, and that the Company will communicate its forward sales orders to the market shortly. Additionally, forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of GMG to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the blending plant will not have the capacity to produce up to 500,000 litres of THERMAL-XR(R) RESTORE(R) per annum or be able to service growth well into the future, that there will be no developments of extensions or enhancements to the THERMAL-XR(R) portfolio into a wider range of applications, that parties will not continue to request to be Distributors, that Thermal XR(R) will not provide comparative benefits for LNG plants, that the Company will not communicate its forward sales orders on the expected timeline, if at all, that energy producers will not derive the expected benefits from the Company's products, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, the failure of the Company to obtain regulatory approvals, attract and retain skilled personnel, unexpected development and production challenges, unanticipated costs and the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated October 18, 2022 available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HanchorBio and Henlius Announce Strategic Collaboration to Develop Innovative Immunotherapies

SHANGHAI, CHINA and TAIPEI, TAIWAN, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HanchorBio Inc., a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on the discovery and development of innovative immuno-biomedicines, and Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company developing biologic medicines with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, today announced that the two companies have entered into a strategic framework agreement for collaboration to combine HanchorBio's protein engineering expertise and proprietary Fc-based designer biologics (FBDB(TM)) technology platform with Henlius' integrated product development and commercialization capabilities. The collaboration aims to expand the application of each company's platform by developing novel cancer immunotherapies, including those tumors resistant to anti-PD-1/L1 immunotherapies, to accelerate their respective pipeline of innovative immunotherapy medicines.

"FBDB(TM)-based innovative products may offer effective cancer immunotherapies to patients suffering from cancers which are resistant or refractory to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapies and having significant unmet medical needs on a global scale," said Scott Liu, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of HanchorBio. "This collaboration represents a foundational recognition and investment in our platform science and capabilities, which strengthens our pipeline and accelerates our research to providing novel therapies to patients globally. We are thrilled to collaborate with Shanghai Henlius to jointly address the inadequacies of the current anti-PD-1/L1 therapies and to navigate new frontiers in immuno-oncology through the design and development of novel multi-functional modalities that synergistically modulate and re-engage immune systems to fight cancers."

Mr. Jason Zhu, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Financial Officer of Henlius, said, "Henlius is dedicated to providing affordable and innovative biologics for patients around the world. Today, we have achieved great success in marketing 5 products to the global market. Focusing on unmet clinical needs, Henlius actively collaborates with our global leading partners to pursue discovery and technology advance. HanchorBio was founded by Dr. Scott Liu, one of the co-founders of Henlius, and the Company possesses an experienced management team with a great mission and vision. Taking innovation as a driver, HanchorBio has quickly built its differentiated advantages and stands out in the field of onco-immunotherapy. This collaboration will allow Henlius to further accelerate our practice of affordable innovation and benefit more patients worldwide by fully leveraging HanchorBio's leading-edge technology and R&D platform."

About the Collaboration

With this collaboration, Henlius will consider early licensing and/or establish research collaboration of promising products from HanchorBio's pipeline that are complementary to Henlius' current portfolio (e.g., FBDB(TM) platform molecules, engineered immunocytokines etc.). This will be detailed in a separate agreement upon successful presentation of relevant efficacy/safety data. Under the terms of the agreement, Henlius will also have the opportunity to opt-in and co-develop the selected products with HanchorBio.

About Henlius

Henlius is a global biopharmaceutical company with the vision to offer high-quality, affordable, and innovative biologic medicines for patients worldwide with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases, and ophthalmic diseases. Since its inception in 2010, Henlius has built an integrated biopharmaceutical platform with core capabilities of high-efficiency and innovation embedded throughout the whole product life cycle including R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization. It has established global innovation centers and Shanghai-based manufacturing facilities in compliance with global Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), including Xuhui Plant certificated by China and the EU GMP and Songjiang-I Plant certificated by China GMP. Apart from the launched biosimilar products HANLIKANG (rituximab), HANQUYOU (trastuzumab) for injection, trade name in Europe: Zercepac(R); trade names in Australia: Tuzucip(R) and Trastucip(R), HANDAYUAN (adalimumab) and HANBEITAI (bevacizumab), the innovative product HANSIZHUANG (anti-PD-1) has been approved by the NMPA for the treatment of MSI-H solid tumors, squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC), and extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), making it the world's first anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody for the first-line treatment of SCLC. Its NDA for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is under review. What's more, Henlius has conducted over 30 clinical trials for 16 products, expanding its presence in major and emerging markets.

About HanchorBio

Based in Taipei, Shanghai, and San Francisco Bay Area, HanchorBio is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on immuno-oncology. The Company is led by an experienced team of pharmaceutical industry veterans with proven track-record of success in biologics discovery and global development to transcend current cancer therapies. Committed to reactivating the immune system to fight against diseases, the proprietary Fc-based designer biologics (FBDB(TM)) platform enables unique biologics with diverse multi-targeting modalities to unleash both innate and adaptive immunity to overcome the current inadequacies of anti-PD1/L1 immunotherapies. The FBDB(TM) platform has successfully delivered proof-of-concept data in several in vivo tumor animal models. By making breakthroughs in multi-functional innovative molecular configurations in R&D and improving the manufacturing process in CMC, HanchorBio develops transformative medicines to address unmet medical needs.

For more information, please visit: www.HanchorBio.com or follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/hanchorbio-inc

Contact Information
Scott Liu
Founder, Chairman and CEO
scott_liu@hanchorbio.com

Yi Du
Sr. Director of Business Development
yi_du@hanchorbio.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Swiss WEB3FEST 2023: The Convergence of Web3 Innovation and Collaboration

ZUG, SWITZERLAND, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Amidst the grandeur of the Switzerland United event, the Swiss WEB3FEST 2023 emerges as a focal point of transformative conversations and cutting-edge insights. From September 12th to 17th, in prime locations of Zug and Zurich, this visionary 6-day festival will captivate the imagination of trailblazers, investors, creators, and thought leaders alike.



At the nexus of this extraordinary gathering are two exceptional ecosystems, Crypto Valley and the Crypto Oasis. The Swiss WEB3FEST serves as a testament to their shared vision of ushering in the future of the internet. Crypto Valley, known for its pioneering role in blockchain and decentralized technologies in Switzerland and Lichtenstein, and the Crypto Oasis in MENA, a thriving hub for innovation, growth and advancement, come together to present an event that encapsulates the essence of Web3.

Web3 encapsulates the upcoming phase of the internet, encompassing a spectrum of cutting-edge technologies including AI, Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, Gaming, Sustainability, IoT, Metaverse, NFTs, and beyond.

Ralf Glabischnig, initiator of WEB3FEST, commented: "Our vision for this festival is to combine the exceptional potential of both Crypto Valley and Crypto Oasis. Switzerland is an outstanding location for founders looking to provide a regulatory home for their blockchain and Web3 startups. The Middle East offers a brilliant platform for these startups to scale internationally. With the launch of WEB3FEST, we aim to establish an annual Web3 event series worldwide."

A Glimpse into the 6-Day Extravaganza

The festival sets off from September 12th to immerse participants and attendees in a dynamic journey through the diverse themes that define the Web3 realm.

– NFT ART DAY: The festival's curtain raiser on September 12th in Zug, will be a comprehensive survey exhibition of the Swiss NFT art scene and the inauguration of the Swiss NFT Timeline.
– Web3 Gaming and Metaverse: The event's second day invites attendees to dive into the realm of Web3 gaming and Metaverse projects. Engage with innovators and founders while gaining a deeper understanding of Internet Computer's role in shaping the future of gaming. This will be followed by a tribute concert to Amy Winehouse combined with an AI-generated experience at the renowned Volkshaus Zurich.
– Sustainability and Innovation: On the third day, the spotlight shifts to sustainability, and the role of AI and Web3 in building it. The European launch of The Green Block initiative, which underscores the festival's commitment to sustainability and lines up to the launch of the first The Green Block report leading up to COP28 in the UAE.
– Deep Dive Crypto Valley: Day four unravels the history of Crypto Valley in Zug with a deep dive into the ecosystem, with a focus on protocols and regulated digital assets businesses, where attendees can connect with the minds behind this vibrant blockchain hub. Engage in discussions with opinion leaders and investors over an exclusive brunch, lunch or dinner that follows.
– Ecosystem Unconference: Saturday, September 16th is all about connection and collaboration and open to the public to showcase tangible products and experiences. The Ecosystem Unconference, together with the Swiss NFT Association, welcomes forward thinkers from various domains. The Entire FIVE Hotel Zurich will be divided into experience areas focusing on AI, DeFi, Education, Longevity, Sustainability, NFTs, Real world Assets, Gaming and the Metaverse. This day will also witness the unveiling of the FIVE Zurich Metaverse by Pulse World.
– Curtain Closer: The grand finale of the WEB3FEST will be a Networking Event on Sunday at the FIVE in Zurich. Attendees will have the opportunity to network over brunch and later by the pool, providing a relaxed setting to reflect on the festival, forge new connections, and plan for the year ahead. It's the perfect ending to a week of innovation and collaboration.

Throughout the entire week, attendees will enjoy exclusive dining experiences, electrifying concerts, performances by international DJs, and abundant chances to connect with fellow members of the Web3 community.

The Swiss WEB3FEST is initiated by Inacta Ventures, Crypto Oasis Ventures, The Crypto Valley Association, Trust Square, co-hosted by The Internet Computer and is supported by the City and Canton of Zug in Switzerland.

Mark your calendars for an unparalleled journey that transcends borders, embraces collaboration, and defines the Web3 era. Registration and detailed event information are available at www.web3fest.ch

About WEB3FEST

The WEB3FEST is a series of events designed to shed light on the core themes of Web3, shaping the future of the internet's next generation. Covering topics such as AI, Blockchain, Digital Assets, Cryptocurrencies, Gaming, Sustainability, IoT, Metaverse, NFTs, and more, the festival offers a comprehensive platform to foster innovation and advance networking.

About Crypto Valley

Situated in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Crypto Valley is a pioneering ecosystem at the pinnacle of blockchain innovation. This dynamic enclave thrives through collaboration, creating an environment where visionary entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and global leaders come together to reshape industries, challenge norms, and drive the future of technology. Committed to innovation, regulation, education, and responsible growth, Crypto Valley stands as a testament to the transformative power of blockchain technology, marking a new era of digital possibilities. Over 6,000 individuals are already working in more than 1,100 Web3 companies within the Crypto Valley.

About Crypto Oasis

Crypto Oasis is the worldwide fastest growing Blockchain Ecosystem with a focus on MENA. The essential components for its growth are Talent, Capital, and Infrastructure. The Ecosystem's stakeholders include Investors, Start-Ups & Projects, Corporates, Science & Research Institutions, Service Providers, and Government Bodies & Associations. The vision for Crypto Oasis is to be among the world's leading Blockchain Ecosystems. Today, it is the world's fastest-growing Blockchain Ecosystem, with over 1,800+ organizations identified in the UAE alone and more than 8,650 individuals working within it. www.cryptooasis.ae

About the DFINITY Foundation and the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP)

Founded with a mission to reinvent the internet, Dfinity and its Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) aim to expand the potential of the web. Based in Zurich, Dfinity has revolutionized the blockchain sector, offering decentralized cloud computing capabilities. This pioneering protocol ensures seamless, secure, and scalable solutions, heralding a new era of digital empowerment and innovation.

About NFT Fest Lugano

Europe's largest NFT event. Experience the decentralized revolution across five days. A venue where culture, entertainment, and technology merge into a unique experience. Featuring 100 speakers, dozens of workshops, and a dedicated business area. Engage in personal meetings with entrepreneurs, managers, investors, developers, and creators. And of course, at the end of each day, there's a party! This is the NFT Fest in Lugano, where the future is crafted and where boundaries are pushed.

About NFT Lakeside Unconference

The NFT Lakeside Unconference (NLU) is a vibrant gathering for Web3 enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and newcomers. It aims to connect industries to Web3 technology and onboard new users into the blockchain environment. The event will feature dynamic talks, panels, workshops, and fun booths on a range of topics, from NFT communities to legal alerts and AI debates. Notable NFT projects like Pudgy Penguins and Bored Ape Yacht Club will be present, making it a must-attend event for anyone in the Web3 space.

For more information contact:
Faisal Zaidi
Crypto Oasis
faisal@cryptooasis.ae
+971552000840

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Artue Presents ThankYouX – Odyssey, the First Solo Show of ThankYouX in Korea

SEOUL, S.KOREA, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The global online art platform Artue (Habitus Associates) presents ThankYouX's first showcase in Korea ThankYouX – Odyssey at Shinsegae's BOONTHESHOP Cheongdam flagship store from September 7 to October 8, 2023. ThankYouX, who began his artistic journey in street art, has emerged as one of the most in-demand contemporary leaders of Web 3.0 art today. Throughout his artistic exploration, he has focused on the process of creating changes through the merging of traditional art and digital elements. On view at the upcoming showcase in Seoul will be a total of nine artworks filling the entire fourth floor of the exhibition space, including seven new works in his signature abstract style, as well as My Escape (2023), a video based oeuvre that interweaves digital art and sound; and Come Find Me (2022) which combines digital and physical mediums.


ThankYouX


ThankYouX, who was working as a graphic designer by day, set on the artist's path after starting a street art movement that paid homage to Andy Warhol in 2009. He tagged the stencils of Andy Warhol that he had created then sprayed on the streets of Los Angeles with "ThankYouX," which was a combination of the words "Thank You" in tribute to the great pop icon and "X" to convey the anonymity of street art. ThankYouX moved from image based street art to the US gallery scene where he crossed over into fine art with the exploration of geometric patterns and movement based abstract works.

ThankYouX's ultimate goal is to challenge the conventions of the traditional art world through incorporating blockchain based technology into his practice. In an age where one can no longer turn a blind eye to the countless ways and conditions for engaging in images, ThankYouX actively seeks to create breakthrough artistic experiences that close the gap between traditional art and digital media. The artist's trajectory has been filled with such exciting projects as his three-part NFT collection Sound of Color released in 2021 in collaboration with the Oscar-winning Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer. The international attention that ThankYouX received once again with his solo project State of the Art in 2022 solidified his ability to seamlessly combine digital and physical elements in a way that proves the use case for art on the blockchain.

In State of the Art, ThankYouX reimagined the use of blockchain technology as a creative medium rather than just a simple tool for distribution. The collection consisted of four large-scale paintings broken up into 400 individual tiles each, creating 1,600 unique digital artworks paired with their physical counterpart. Upon mint, participants randomly received a singular digital tile corresponding with a section of one of the four paintings. Later, collectors were able to claim the identical physical artwork and also had the opportunity to buy the surrounding tiles in the secondary market to expand the size of their work. By offering a multifold approach to experiencing the traditional canvas-based painting through digital technology, ThankYouX helped the lay public intuitively grasp the NFT project's basic structure. The NFTs that were transferred immediately upon purchase of the artwork were at once a sort of a certificate of authentication and one more way to appreciate the artwork, and the public's response to the project far surpassed initial expectations. Artue is thrilled to welcome the artist of such groundbreaking work for his very first showcase of work in Korea, ThankYouX – Odyssey. This showcase is sponsored by Shinsegae Group, and blockchain-specialized investment firm Hashed.

About Artue

Artue (Habitus Associates) is a tech startup founded with the aim of ushering in the digital transformation of the art industry. Applying digital twins and AI to the traditional realm of art appreciation and collecting, Artue seeks to establish a novel and dynamic way to engage in and collect art. We are excited to organize the Seoul show with ThankYouX as we share his artistic vision to expand the experience of the art community through blockchain technology. We hope that the experimental spirit and singular aesthetic that inform his upcoming show will serve as a refreshing landmark for many art lovers from both home and abroad.

Contact Information
Ines On Sim
Communications Manager
ines@artue.io
+82-10-6298-5999

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EEKA Fashion Announces 2023 Interim Results, Net Profit Increased 71.57%

HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – EEKA Fashion Holdings Limited ("EEKA Fashion" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", stock code: 3709.HK) announces the unaudited results for the six months ended 30 June 2023 (the "Reporting Period").

During the Reporting Period, the Group's revenue reached RMB3,340.90 million, representing an increase of 15.36% with a net profit of RMB442.20 million, representing a sharp increase of 71.57% compared with the first half of 2022. Net profit margin sharply increased from 8.90% for the first half of 2022 to 13.24%. It is primarily attributable to the Company's comprehensive upgrade strategy has begun to show positive operational results

Both Upstream and Downstream Drive the Outperformance of Revenue
The company adheres to the long-term strategy of "multi-brand, omni-channel, comprehensive platform, merging upstream and downstream", and constantly iterates the core management system, optimizes the platform operation and management capabilities and consolidates the core competitive advantage to make impressive achievements regarding quantities of brands under the Company and the quality improvement of supply chains.

The revenue from the self-operated retail stores increased by 19.44% from RMB2,279.81 million for the first half of 2022 to RMB2,722.99 million for the Reporting Period. Total revenue from distributors decreased by 11.97% from RMB162.23million for the first half of 2022 to RMB142.81 million for the Reporting Period. Total revenue from e-commerce platforms increased by 4.58% from RMB443.40 million for the first half of 2022 to RMB463.72 million for the Reporting Period.

Brands was Recognized by Authorities and Customers
The revenue generated from the sales of products under the main brands Koradior and NAERSI showed an increase of 11.14% and 8.91% or RMB112.98 million and RMB57.66 million for the Reporting Period respectively. La Koradior, NAERSILING and NEXY.CO brands' performance is outstanding, with the revenue generated from sales of products increased to RMB217.05 million, RMB252.22 million and RMB479.71 million, representing an increase of 30.04%, 22.76% and 24.71% as compared to the first half of 2022 respectively. The revenue generated from sales of products of ELSEWHERE, CADIDL and FUUNNY FEELLN increased to RMB273.12 million, RMB215.50 million and RMB72.00 million respectively, representing an increase of 16.62%, 17.67% and 18.09% respectively as compared to the first half of 2022.

On 5 January 2023, the 2022 (6th Edition) Boao Enterprise Forum and China Brand Boao Summit were grandly held in Sanya, Hainan. During the awards ceremony, Koradior, a brand under EEKA Fashion Group, was honored with the title of "2022 Fashion Exemplary Brand," while La Koradior received the title of "2022 Top 10 Influential Brands." These prestigious accolades were presented at the ceremony, recognizing the remarkable achievements and influence of both brands in the fashion industry during 2022.

Comprehensive ESG System Promotes Sustainable Development
In terms of the governance of the Company, the Company has established a three-pillar talent development framework: Leadership System, Excellent Product Power System, and Sales Power System to explore and establish a talent development model that aligns with the Company's unique needs and requirements. In February 2023, the Group was awarded "2022 China's Best Learning Enterprise" in the "2022 (10th Edition) China's Best Learning Enterprise" selection organized by Xue Daojia Academy which emphasizes unique learning methodology to demonstrate effective practical exploration in learning, focusing on strategic innovation and transformation.

The Group actively assumed corporate social responsibility such as the collaboration of ELSEWHERE and "New Paradise" magazine launched an online art exhibition that brings together three marine artists to explore ocean conservation through art on World Oceans Day to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our oceans, highlighting the potential for sustainable fashion to contribute to ocean conservation efforts.

The Company is Expected to Achieve Continuous Progress
From the perspective of internal operation, in the second half of the year, we must continue to adhere to the comprehensive "quality improvement" strategy and drive the overall enhancement of quality effectiveness, store effectiveness, and personnel effectiveness. In terms of brand building, a wider integrated marketing system should be utilized to continuously enhance brand strength; acceleration of the standardization and streamlining of the excellent product system reform project should be expedited; the integration and construction of a high-quality supply chain should be strengthened; the combination of product research and development and supply chain should be deepened, and the release of product strength across all brands should be accelerated; emphasis should be placed on advancing the construction and operation of single-brand flagship stores. We will strengthen the quality of online commodity supply and improve the quality-price ratio; more platforms should be covered by the brand and product lines, with exploration of opportunities on platforms like Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) in the second half of the year, and increase investment in digital stores; increase investment in the same products on Tmall and JD.com, and, expand the number of stores on these platforms.

The Board of EEKA Fashion Holdings Limited said: "After three years, the Company has transformed from being a 'leading company in China's mid-to-high end women's clothing industry' to a magnificent rise as a more powerful and confident 'China's affordable luxury brand management group.' 2023 will be a new starting point for our even greater prospects as the Company believes that 'if you do persist, there will be an echo'. In the second half of year 2023, the uncertainty in the economic environment has not completely disappeared, but along with the positive effects of proactive fiscal and monetary policies, the market will be gradually repaired, and the stock game is favorable to the leading enterprises, etc., the Company is more optimistic. We will maintain strategic determination, adhere to brand positioning and core principles, respect rules, customers, products, the market, and talents, and continue to cultivate a solid foundation for multi-brand operations, strengthen platform-based operations and systematic management capabilities, combined with the unwavering efforts of all employees, we can achieve shareholder wealth maximization."

EEKA Fashion Holdings Limited (3709.HK):
EEKA Fashion Holdings Limited is a famous fashion apparel group with unique brand culture concepts, advanced R & D and design centres, sound marketing service system, efficient logistics distribution and network management system. Since its establishment, the Group has been deeply engaged in the high-end ladies-wear apparel industry in China and was listed on the Main Board of Hong Kong in 2014. At present, the Group has eight self-owned brands, namely Koradior, La Koradior, ELSEWHERE, NAERSI, NAERSILING, NEXY.CO, CADIDL and FUUNNY FEELLN, striving to occupy the high ground of fashion and become the leading affordable luxury brand management group in China.

For more information, please visit EEKA Fashion's website: http://www.eekagroup.com/

This press release is issued by Financial PR (HK) Limited on behalf of EEKA Fashion Holdings Limited.

For enquiries, please contact:
Financial PR (HK) Limited
Mr. Tim Yue Email: timyue@financialpr.hk
Ms. Leilei Qi Email: qileilei@financialpr.hk
Ms. Carol Zhou Email: carolzhou@financialpr.hk
Ms. Lucy Liu Email: lucyliu@financialpr.hk
Ms. Sharon Lee Email: Sharonlee@financialpr.hk

Tel: (852) 2610 0846
Fax: (852) 2610 0842


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Maybank Marathon 2023, ‘Elite’ Label Road Race, achieves active participation of over 13,600 runners

BALI, INDONESIA, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The first and only 'Elite' Label Road Race event in Indonesia, Maybank Marathon, organized by PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk (Maybank Indonesia), took place on Sunday, 27 August 2023 at Bali Safari & Marine Park, Gianyar Bali from start to finish. More than 13,600 runners from 50 countries enthusiastically participated in the 12th edition of the Maybank Marathon 2023.


Maybank Marathon 2023 start : Geoffrey Kiprotich Birgen of Kenya, bib10215, winner in record time of 02:15:04. [27-08-2023, Image : Antara]

Maybank Marathon 2023 mid-race : more than 13,600 runners from 50 countries participated in this years event. [27-08-2023, Image : Maybank]


The excitement among participants was palpable across the three categories, particularly during the flag-off moments. The Marathon category was flagged-off at 04:30 AM (Central Indonesia Time Zone/WITA), followed by the Half Marathon at 05:30 AM WITA, and the 10K category at 06:00 AM WITA. Additionally, a flag-off was held for the wheelchair category at 06:15 AM WITA, participated by 50 wheelchair runners.

As midday approached, the organizing committee of Maybank Marathon 2023 announced the race winners and concluded the series of events for the 'Elite' label road race endorsed by World Athletics. Maybank Marathon 2023, aptly called the 'feast' for runners, presented a total prize pool of IDR 2.7 billion for 86 winners, including record-breakers.

The press conference event at the Race Village Bali Safari & Marine Park unveiled the race winners of the Maybank Marathon 2023. In the Marathon Open Male category, Geoffrey Kiprotich Birgen from Kenya, bib number 10215, clinched victory with an outstanding record time of 02:15:04. Similarly, in the Marathon Open Female category, Sophy Jepchirchir, also from Kenya and bib number 22, secured first place with a remarkable record time of 02:31:04.

Both runners' record times broke the current threshold of 02:28:00 for Marathon Open Male and 02:33:00 for Marathon Open Female categories. These exceptional first-place finishers received cash prizes of IDR 240,000,000 each, with additional bonuses of IDR 33,750,000 and IDR 67,500,000 for breaking the records, respectively.

Furthermore, the Marathon National Male category won by Nurshodiq, bib number 21288, claiming victory with an impressive record time of 02:30:24. In contrast, Irma Handayani, bib number 21566, triumphed in the Marathon National Female category, clocking in a noteworthy record time of 03:01:44. Each of these first-place winners received cash prizes amounting to IDR 100,000,000.

The achievements of these exceptional athletes underscore the Maybank Marathon's commitment to promoting excellence and athleticism on both national and international level. Maybank Indonesia extends its congratulations to all winners for their remarkable performances.

Symbolically the prizes were handed over by President Director of Maybank Indonesia, Taswin Zakaria, to the Maybank Marathon 2023 winners.

Taswin, who actively participated in the Half Marathon category earlier that morning, expressed gratitude for the resounding success of the Maybank Marathon 2023 event. He extended his heartfelt appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed to the execution of the 'Elite' label road race, Maybank Marathon 2023.

"On this occasion, we congratulate all participants who have triumphed and earned rewards from this year's 'Elite' label road race, the Maybank Marathon. We hope that these achievements inspire all running enthusiasts to strive for similar accomplishments in the future," Taswin remarked.

Regarding the event's conceptual and execution excellence, Taswin conveyed his positive impression of the enthusiasm displayed by thousands of participants who eagerly prepared themselves in the early morning hours to run on the distinctive running track of the Maybank Marathon 2023. Taswin emphasized that the Maybank Marathon is not only about the quantity of participants but also places paramount importance on the safety and comfort of the runners.

Furthermore, Taswin emphasized the company's dedication to continuously enhancing the Maybank Marathon event's quality. As the event has attained the status of an 'Elite' label road race endorsed by World Athletics, it has positioned both the Maybank Marathon and Indonesia in the global stage of athletic competition, particularly the marathon run.

"On behalf of the entire Maybank Marathon 2023 organizing committee, we extend our gratitude to the participants for their disciplined participation and to the field staff, including the security teams, medical personnel, pacers, and marshals, who vigilantly supervised the entire route. Moreover, the engagement of the local community, consistently cheering on the runners throughout the Maybank Marathon 2023 route, created an even more exhilarating race atmosphere," Taswin elaborated.

The success of Maybank Marathon 2023 was bolstered by the collaborative efforts of various entities, including the Bali Provincial Government, Bali Provincial Police, Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia) Bali Branch, Gianyar Regency Government, Gianyar District Military Command 1616, the Indonesian Athletic Association (PASI), sponsors, and media partners.

Maybank Marathon 2023 owes a significant part of its success to the unwavering support of its esteemed sponsors. This remarkable event was made possible through the valuable contributions of Aqua, Bali Safari & Marine Park, Etiqa, New Balance, Pocari Sweat, BMW, Herbalife, Extra Joss, Kahf, Rexona, Garmin, Traveloka, Bali Island School, Indofood Ice Cream, Taman Bhagawan, Bali Hai, YAMAtune, Atlas, Optik Tunggal, Rintis, Fitbar, Salonpas, Rejuve, Biznet, Gambino, Shokz, Cardea, Salomon, Plataran, Ibis Bali Benoa, Prama, and RS Kasih Ibu.

Furthermore, the Maybank Marathon 2023 received support from a select group of media partners, including Metro TV, Jawa Pos, Tribunnews, Gatra, Kumparan, The Jakarta Post, Tempo, and other renowned media outlets across Indonesia.

Stay updated on Maybank Marathon in Bali through the following channels:
– Website: www.maybankmarathon.com
– Instagram: @maybankmarathon
– Facebook: Maybank Marathon
– Twitter: @maybankmarathon

About Maybank Marathon

Maybank Marathon is an international-level marathon race organized by PT Bank Maybank Indonesia, Tbk. ("Maybank Indonesia") since 2012, which has competed in marathon events with a distance of 42.195 km, half marathon (21.0975 km), and 10K (10 km). Various awards have been won by Maybank Marathon, including one of eleven "Remarkable Races in the World that One Must Participate Before You Die" by the Active, one of "the 52 Best Races on Earth 2016" by Runner's World, Best Marathon 2016, Best Half-Marathon 2015, and the Most Popular Sports Event 2018 by the Venue magazine.

In 2020, Maybank Marathon won the 'Elite' label road race certification from the athletics body that regulates, supervises, and certifies the organization of marathons worldwide, World Athletics or formerly IAAF. In addition, the Maybank Marathon is also part of the qualifying event for the World Championship marathon series Abbott World Marathon Major ("Abbott WMM") Wanda Age Group World Rankings. It is one of the qualifying races for the Boston Marathon. Maybank Marathon 2019 is a qualifying National Sports Week ("PON") event in Papua in 2021.

Various awards have been won by Maybank Marathon, including one of eleven "Remarkable Races in the World that One Must Participate before you die" by the Active, one of "The 52 Best Races on Earth 2016" by Runner's World, Best Marathon 2016, Best Half-Marathon 2015, and the Most Popular Sports Event 2018 by theVenue magazine. More: www.maybankmarathon.com.

About Maybank Indonesia

Maybank Indonesia is one of the leading banks in Indonesia and is a part of the regional and international network of the Maybank Group. Maybank Indonesia provides a comprehensive range of products and services for individual and corporate customers through Community Financial Services and Global Banking and automotive financing through subsidiaries, WOM Finance for two-wheeled vehicles and Maybank Finance for four-wheeled vehicles. Maybank Indonesia also continues to develop Digital Banking services and capacity through M2U (App and Web), M2E for corporate customer and other various channels.

As of June 2023, Maybank Indonesia has 339 branches, including Shariah branches spread across Indonesia, including one overseas branch in Mumbai, India, 22 Mobile Branch and 855 ATMs (including 26 Cash Recycle Machines/CRMs) connected with over 20,000 ATMs available through ATM PRIMA, ATM BERSAMA, ALTO, CIRRUS, and connected to 3,500 Maybank ATMs in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Maybank Indonesia manages customer deposits amounting to Rp110.38 trillion and has total assets value of Rp165.62 trillion as of June 2023. Visit: www.maybank.co.id.

For further information:
Dimas Tjahjono Dradjat
Head, Communications
Email: ccommunications@maybank.co.id
Telp: +6221 2922-8888

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Sunshine Insurance Announces 2023 Interim Results

HONG KONG, Aug 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Sunshine Insurance Group Company Limited ("Sunshine Insurance" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 06963.HK) is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2023 (the "Reporting Period").

2023 Interim Results Highlights:
— The Gross Written Premiums (GWPs) reached RMB67.81 billion, representing a YoY increase of 7.7%;
— The insurance revenue reached RMB30.16 billion, representing a YoY increase of 7.3%;
— Net profit attributable to equity owners of the parent reached RMB2.90 billion, representing a YoY increase of 9.0%;
— The embedded value was RMB104.98 billion, up 3.7% from the end of last year;
— The value of the life insurance's new business was RMB 2.68 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 37.1%;
— The annualized total investment yield was 4.9%;
— As of June 30, 2023, the Group had approximately 31.92 million active customers.

In the first half of 2023, despite a complex and challenging external environment, China's economy continued its recovery and showed remarkable resilience. This presented significant opportunities for the Group as the country's economic revival sustained, driving increased demand from residents and accelerating industry transformation. Taking advantage of these favorable conditions, the Group has seized the favorable circumstances and risen to the occasion, fully embracing the new development philosophy and model, a focus on the core insurance business and enhancing enterprise value and leveraging innovation to provide the necessary impetus for business growth. As a result of these strategic efforts, the Group successfully achieved its operational targets for the first half of the year.

In the Reporting Period, the overall operating performance of the Company grew steadily, and its ability to create value had been continuously enhanced, maintaining a sound growth momentum. The Gross Written Premiums (GWPs) of the Group were RMB 67.81 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.7%; and the insurance revenue reached RMB 30.16 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.3%. The net profit attributable to equity owners of the parent increased by 9.0% YoY to RMB 2.90 billion. The embedded value was RMB104.98 billion, up 3.7% from the end of last year. The annualized total investment yield was 4.9%. As of June 30, 2023, the Group had approximately 31.92 million active customers.

Adhering to the high-quality development of the core insurance business and the net profit attributable to equity owners of the parent increased by 9.0%

In the first half of the year, China's national economy recovered and kept improving, building an important foundation for the strong recovery of the insurance industry. As a leading insurance company in China, the Group kept focusing on the insurance business which is the main business, with life insurance and property and casualty insurance businesses progressing in tandem and developing in a balanced manner. In the first half of the year, the Group further consolidated the business model of diversified and synergistic development of sales channels in its life insurance business, and the value of new business continued to increase; For the property and casualty insurance business, the Group continued to deepen the project of the intelligent life table for automobile insurance and the non-automobile data insurance life tables, and its profitability continued to improve.

As for the life insurance business, the "contracyclical" nature of insurance products combining "protection" and "savings" continuously continued to drive the demand to increase, making recovery the main theme of the industry. Sunshine Life Insurance seized the development opportunity, achieved a new breakthrough in its development insisted on value-based development unswervingly and strengthened its own resilience and stability for development, also advanced its customer strategy of "Matrix Plan" in a solid manner by centering around on the entire life cycle of customers' families. The Group continued to promote its steady development through customer demand identification, product system improvement, service system upgrading, team transformation and development, and data intelligence innovation. During the Reporting Period, the structure of our life insurance business continued to be optimized and the value of new business achieved relatively fast growth. The GWPs of the life insurance were RMB 45.85 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.0%; The single premiums were RMB 13.95 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 53.4%; The value of half year's new business was RMB 2.68 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 37.1%.

As for the property and casualty insurance segment, with the economy continuing to recover, and the industry as a whole maintaining a high level of prosperity, what is even more encouraging was that the optimization of the structure of the industry's automobile insurance business and non-automobile insurance business had been further strengthened, with significant diversification, which was a significant advantage for the industry to leapfrog the cyclical fluctuations in the future. Similarly, Sunshine P&C further strengthened the foundation for high-quality development, continued to be customer-centered and adhered to the development concept of prioritizing profitability while pursuing growth, continuously optimized its business structure and improved its profitability, consolidated a solid foundation for high-quality development. During the reporting period, The Original Premium Income (OPI) was RMB21.93 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.1%; the value-oriented business and strategically-focused areas achieved rapid growth, of which the growth rate of personal vehicle premiums was 9.5%, of new energy vehicle premiums was 80.3%, of agricultural insurance premiums was 42.9% and of policy-supported health insurance premiums was 74.6%; with strengthened business management and risk screening, the underwriting combined ratio was 98.2%, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.7 percentage points.

As for its asset management business, the Group adhered to the concept of long-term value investment, continued to optimize its asset and liability management system, improved its investment management system, gave full play to its advantages in terms of all-round investment qualities and diversified investment capabilities, and adhered to strategic asset allocation that matches the characteristics of its insurance liabilities and traverses the macro-economic cycle, so as to build up an investment portfolio that was designed to realize long-term, stable and sustainable returns. As of June 30, 2023, the Group's total investment assets amounted to RMB 466.60 billion, representing an increase of 12.4% as compared with that of the end of the previous year. The total investment income amounted to RMB 7.69 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.3%, with an annualized comprehensive investment yield of 4.9%. The Group gave full play to professional advantages, with third-party assets under management of RMB 366.49 billion.

Adhering to Value Development and Continuously Improving Customer Service Capabilities

In addition to focusing on its insurance business, the Group also attached importance to the realising of value development and continues to promote its customer strategy to build a customer-driven development model. Centering on building a customer-oriented diversified product and service system, the Group had continued to advance its "Matrix Plan" and "Partner Initiative", and its customer service capabilities had continuously been improved, thereby consolidating its position in the industry and laying a solid foundation for future development.

For individual customers, Sunshine Life Insurance continued to push forward the "Matrix Plan", for which, focusing on the core needs of customers at different stages of their family life cycle, we launched a massive research on customer needs, to form a life protection guide map with Sunshine's characteristics, to enrich the "Insurance + Service" product supply system and to optimize customer service experience. As of June 30, 2023, Sunshine Life Insurance had approximately 13.51 million active customers.

In terms of institutional customers, we continued to promote the implementation of the "Partner Action" mode in the form of "insurance + technology + service" and piloted the promotion of Internet of Things perception technology services, including infrared thermal imaging and wireless smoke sensors to create and form an industry-specific risk management solutions, and to assist customers in risk reduction. As of June 30, 2023, Sunshine P&G had 19.14 million active customers.

While focusing on the main business areas of insurance and maintaining a leading position in the life and property and casualty insurance markets, the Group had always adhered to the principle of value development and won a good reputation in the market through continuous improvement in customer management. With the continuous growth of the results and the accumulation of customer recognition, the Group had attracted long-term attention from the market for its intrinsic value, while its operating resilience and long-term investment value had also been fully demonstrated.

Accelerating the Overall Arrangement for Data Intelligence Innovation driven by proprietary development and external collaboration

During the Reporting Period, the Group established a data intelligence innovation layout driven by both internal autonomy and external collaboration. It built "three robots", namely a sales robot, a management robot and a service robot. It also strengthened its core capabilities in customer management and content operation and continued to optimize the depth and breadth of customer services to enhance customer experience. The service robots provided 70% of intelligent business operations and over 90% of intelligent consultation services to voice-call customers.

At the same time, the Group continued to promote digital intelligence transformation through the application of big data. The Group strengthened its integration of and insights into internal and external data, supported marketing with artificial intelligence technology, and improved customer conversion efficiency and capabilities. It also improved the "intelligent automobile insurance life table" system, established a non-automobile management system with a non-automobile data life table as the core and strengthened risk pricing capabilities. The Group upgraded the construction of risk control platforms and continuously improved risk control capabilities.

In addition, the Group firmly promoted the strategic project of Sunshine GPT. It focused on the R&D breakthrough of private large models in the insurance field, realized multiple intelligent support capabilities such as multi-application entrance, multi-modal service support, and multi-business scenario integration, and accelerated the application in core business scenarios such as customer service and sales support. Within 3 months after the launch of Sunshine GPT, it had been used 345,000 times.

With Dual Engine of "Entrepreneurial Gene" and "Sunshine Culture", Actively Fulfilling the Social Responsibility and Conveying the Warmth of Sunshine Insurance Group

The satisfactory growth trend was closely related to the good foundation laid during the founding period of the Group and the continuous promotion of its corporate culture. As an entrepreneurship-driven enterprise, the Group was one of the rare insurance companies that have sought shareholders in the form of entrepreneurship and obtained approval. Due to its uniqueness, the entrepreneurial spirit of the Group of "daring to face and overcome challenges with perseverance" was formed during the original founding period, which had injected the strong gene of "striving" into its future development, laid the foundation of the value proposition and entrepreneurial spirit of the Group, and had become a genetic force for the Group's continuous development and expansion.

In addition, the building of corporate culture was one of the important strategic resources for an enterprise to survive and develop, and it was a precious material and spiritual wealth that an enterprise should cherish, which could both enhance its competitiveness and was a key factor in the construction of a harmonious enterprise. The Sunshine culture of the Group had actively permeated into all aspects of the management, and accumulated and precipitated genetic culture at the time of its foundation, a basic core culture at the time of commencement of the business of the Group, a complete core culture after the commencement of its business, and gradually developing into itemized cultures and post cultures covering all areas of the Group, thus constructing a rich and perfect cultural system, forming a unique, solid, systematic and complete Sunshine culture, which was going to be integrated as the determination of adhering to the main business and pursuing values.

It was worth mentioning that, under the dual influence of "entrepreneurship gene + cultural blood", the Group, bearing in mind its social responsibility and mission, had taken practical actions to support the real economy, fulfill its social responsibility and practice sustainable development. In the first half of 2023, the Group provided risk protection of RMB 32.6 trillion for the real economy, RMB 66.98 billion for " Belt and Road" projects, RMB 126.90 billion for about 15,000 SMEs, and assisted SMEs in obtaining financing amounting to RMB 5.39 billion; provided assistance for the construction of 73 charity schools and the training of 17,733 rural doctors in 24 provinces across the country; provided green insurance protection of RMB 6.0 trillion to 754,000 enterprises and individuals, and provided compensation support amounting to RMB 1.74 billion; and, as of the first half of 2023, the balance of sustainable investment exceeded RMB 50 billion.

Looking ahead, the insurance market in China will continue to have great potential for growth, driven by factors such as the overall robustness of the economy, the accumulation of wealth among residents and an aging population. With the mission of "bringing more sunshine to people" and the pursuit of "becoming the leading professional insurance service provider for families, as well as the trusted risk management partner for enterprises", the Group will continue to implement the development requirements of "striving for quality and seeking further progress based on quality" and solidly promote the "Matrix Plan" and the "Partnership Action", so as to accumulate the development strength unceasingly.

About Sunshine Insurance Group Company Limited
Sunshine Insurance Group Company Limited is a fast-growing private insurance service group in China. Since its establishment, the Group has focused on value creation and has been committed to providing customers with professional risk coverage and integrated service solutions. The Group carries out life and health insurance business through Sunshine Life, property and casualty insurance business through Sunshine P&C and manages insurance funds through Sunshine AMC. As of 30 June 2023, the Group has been ranked among the top 500 Chinese enterprises by the China Enterprise Confederation for 12 consecutive years and has been entitled as one of the "Top 500 Valuable Brands in China" by the World Brand Lab for 12 consecutive years.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com