Seyond to Expand LiDAR Solutions for Autonomous Vehicles with NVIDIA DriveWorks and Omniverse Integration

SUNNYVALE, CA, Mar 19, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Seyond, a leading global provider of high-performance LiDAR solutions for autonomous vehicles and smart transportation, today announced its collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate Seyond’s cutting-edge LiDAR solutions within the NVIDIA DriveWorks and NVIDIA Omniverse platforms.

By combining Seyond’s industry-leading LiDAR technology and expertise with NVIDIA’s expansive automotive development solutions, Seyond looks to transform the way autonomous vehicles are designed, developed and tested. As part of this collaboration, NVIDIA’s GPU hardware will be used alongside Seyond’s LiDAR to process point cloud data quickly and accurately for improved autonomous driving capabilities.

NVIDIA DriveWorks is the foundation for autonomous vehicle software development and deployment, and now offers Seyond’s LiDAR as one of its many versatile tools. With this latest integration, developers can now use the DriveWorks platform, with its automotive-grade middleware and accelerated algorithms, to more easily and efficiently integrate Seyond’s LiDAR technology into their vehicle design.

NVIDIA Omniverse is a platform of application programming interfaces (APIs), software-development kits (SDKs) and services that enable developers to easily integrate Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) and RTX rendering technologies into their 3D applications and services. Such applications include high-fidelity, physically based simulation for autonomous vehicle (AV) development.

Seyond’s high-performance LiDAR sensors offer exceptional per-point precision and ultra-long-range capabilities to provide unparalleled accuracy for a wide range of applications, including AVs. The company’s flagship, ultra-long range LiDAR sensor, Falcon, has a 500-meter detection range and produces 1,500 configurable scan lines/per second to create a 3D point cloud image, allowing for easy detection and classification of objects on and near the road.

Falcon’s unparalleled combination of ultra-long-distance range and image-grade resolution provides auto manufacturers with the highest level of safety for autonomous driving and driver assistance capabilities. It has been a standard configuration of the Aquila system for eight NIO models, including the ET7, ES7 and ET5, since 2022 and is also integrated into Faraday Future’s FF91 Futurist models.

“The integration of Seyond’s LiDAR solutions into DriveWorks and Omniverse is indicative of our commitment to producing high-quality, rigorously tested LiDAR solutions to further the development of safer, smarter and more efficient autonomous driving and smart infrastructure solutions worldwide,” said Ezana Tesfu, Director of Business Development at Seyond. “Through this integration, we look forward to collaborating with NVIDIA on new and innovative ways to help our automotive OEM customers develop and scale more intelligent, highly-functional autonomous driving applications.”

Seyond is a member of NVIDIA Inception, a program that nurtures startups revolutionizing industries with technological advancements.

About Seyond

Seyond is a leading global provider of image-grade LiDAR technology, powering a safer, smarter and more mobile world across the automotive, intelligent transportation, robotics and industrial automation sectors. Founded in Silicon Valley with strategically placed research and manufacturing facilities across the globe, Seyond is crafting LiDAR solutions that elevate autonomous driving and fuel the advancement of smart infrastructure development. The company’s dynamic portfolio – including ultra-long range flagship LiDAR sensor Falcon, mid-to-short range LiDAR sensor Robin and perception service software platform OmniVidi – powers automotive and ITS solutions for partners like NIO, NVIDIA, Exwayz and Hexagon. With hundreds of thousands of Seyond LiDAR sensors already in use in automotive and non-automotive applications globally, and with total annual production capacity expected to exceed a half-million units by the end of 2024, Seyond is lighting the path forward for the world to See Smarter™.

For more information, please visit: https://www.seyond.com/

CONTACT:
SeyondKen Bieber
PR@seyond.com

SOURCE: Seyond

Essex Bio-Technology Posts Sound 2023 Annual Financial Results, Revenue Up 29.5%, Profit Up 22.1%

HONG KONG, Mar 18, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Essex Bio-Technology Limited (“Essex” or the “Group”, Stock Code: 1061.HK) today announced the annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Financial Performance

The Group weathered the headwinds and managed to deliver sound performances amidst the challenging trading environment in 2023. During the year under review, the Group achieved a consolidated revenue of approximately HK$1,706.6 million, with an increase of 29.5% as compared to last year, which was contributed principally from Beifushu® unit-dose eye drops, Beifuxin® gel and Shilishun® (Iodized Lecithin Capsules). The Group achieved a net profit of approximately HK$275.3 million, representing an increase of 22.1% as compared to last year, which was exceptionally weighed down by the withholding tax incurred.

As of 31 December 2023, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of approximately HK$509.8 million (2022: approximately HK$543.5 million). The Board is pleased to propose a final dividend of HK$0.045 (2022: HK$0.025) per ordinary share to be approved at the upcoming annual general meeting of the Group. Together with the interim dividend of HK$0.045 per ordinary share paid on 13 September 2023, the total dividend for 2023 would be HK$0.09 (2022: HK$0.065) per ordinary share.

Revenue Growth in Ophthalmology and Surgical Segments

The Group’s turnover is primarily made up of the ophthalmology segment (“Ophthalmology”) and surgical (wound care and healing) segment (“Surgical”). For the year ended 31 December 2023, Ophthalmology contributed approximately HK$753.4 million to the Group’s turnover, representing an increase of 36.1% YoY, while Surgical recorded a total turnover of approximately HK$953.2 million, representing an increase of 24.7% YoY. The core products that are current growth drivers under each segment are:

1. Ophthalmology – Beifushu® series (Beifushu® eye drops, Beifushu® eye gel and Beifushu® unit-dose eye drops), Tobramycin Eye Drops, Levofloxacin Eye Drops, Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops and Shilishun® (Iodized Lecithin Capsules); and

2. Surgical (wound care and healing) – Beifuji® series (Beifuji® spray, Beifuji® lyophilised powder and Beifuxin® gel), Carisolv® dental caries removal gel, Dr. YaDian mouth wash, Yi Xue An Granules and PELNACTM collagen-based artificial dermis.

Significant Business Development Milestones

During the year under review, the expansion of production capacity has progressed well. The second gel manufacturing line and the new freeze-drying (lyophilise) manufacturing line have been successfully commissioned and have passed the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) approval. The two additional manufacturing lines have been officially put into production. The core functional modules of the second phase of the quality management system (QMS) are officially launched, taking digitalisation, informatisation and intelligence to a new level in quality control.

Research and development (“R&D”) innovation continues to progress, with multiple pipelines advancing smoothly, and the global phase 3 clinical project of bevacizumab ophthalmic injection (EB12-20145P) has successfully enrolled patients in the PRC, Australia, European Union countries and the United States.

In addition, this year has been a fruitful year in promoting product diversification. We have obtained the exclusive agency rights for Osteopore’s innovative oral and maxillofacial products in Singapore, and released high-end home phototherapy brands PAINT® and EYESU+® dry eye care products. The business of medical devices such as FarFlex series of elastic bandages, PELNACTM absorbable dressings, Wlight eye adjustment training lights, etc. is of sound development. The Group’s new business segments have also made several breakthroughs. The Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, UNO Medical (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd. and Dymind Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Dymind”) have reached a strategic cooperation to jointly build an industry-leading digital cloud inspection platform, “Diyi Cloud Inspection”, for the point-of-care testing (POCT) equipment of Dymind.

Entrenched Market Access Capability

As of 31 December 2023, the Group maintains a network of 43 regional sales offices in the PRC with more than 1,260 sales and marketing representatives, covering more than 12,500 hospitals and medical providers, coupled with approximately 1,800 pharmaceutical stores, which are widely located in the major cities, provinces and county cities in the PRC. Sales to lower-tier cities are supplemented by on-line platform for e-consultation and e-prescription, which is further deployed for serving patients with chronic diseases.

The Group’s expansion of its market access into Southeast Asian countries via its base in Singapore has been gaining good traction since 2020.

Research and Development

During the period under review, the Group remains focused on executing its 5-year (2021 to 2025) R&D development plan. As at the date of this announcement, there are 16 R&D programmes in the pre-clinical to clinical stage, out of which the following 4 ophthalmology programmes are targeted as mid-term growth drivers:

— EB11-18136P: SkQ1 eye drops, second phase 3 clinical trial (US FDA) (VISTA-2) topline data released on 24 February 2021. The continuation of the VISTA program is subject to the completion of the transfer of chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), know-how and intellectual property rights relating to SKQ1 from Mitotech, following the acquisition on 13 Oct 2022.

— EB11-15120P: Azithromycin eye drops, ongoing review by external key opinion leaders (National Medical Products Administration (“NMPA”) in the PRC)

— EB12-20145P: Bevacizumab intravitreal injection for exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration, phase 3 clinical trial (US FDA, European Medicines Agency, Therapeutic Goods Administration and NMPA in the PRC)

— EB11-21148P: Cyclosporine eye drops, phase 2 clinical trial (NMPA in the PRC)

The Group holds a total of 84 patent certificates or authorisation letters, which include 63 invention patents, 14 utility model patents and 7 design patents. The Group currently has diversified its R&D resources to multiple research sites in Zhuhai (PRC), Boston (USA), London (UK) and Singapore which support not only our pursuit of new therapeutics but also our recruitment of global talents.

Honors and Awards Obtained In 2023

Zhuhai Essex Bio-Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group, has been recognised as one of the 2022 top 100 innovative companies in Zhuhai, and has also been recognised as one of the 2022 top 100 chemical pharmaceutical companies in the PRC.

The Group’s Beifushu® has been awarded as one of the Chinese reputable medicine brands in five consecutive years. Also, the Group’s Beifuxin® gel has been recognised as 2023 Excellent Brand of Biochemical and Biological Enterprise. These awards are the testament to the recognition by the industry for the efficacy and quality of the Group’s flagship biologic drug.

In addition, the Company was awarded The Best Mid and Small Cap Company and further conferred with China Excellent IR – The Best Shareholder Relations Award and The Best Digitalised Investor Relations Award.

Mr. Patrick Ngiam, Chairman of Essex, said, “The tenacity, resilience and solidarity are factors that have enabled the Group to weather the headwinds and achieved sound performances in FY23. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Group remains focused on executing its plans and delivering progressive results.”

Full version of Essex’s FY2023 Annual Results Announcement can be downloaded at: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0318/2024031801326.pdf

About Essex (1061.HK)

Essex Bio-Technology Limited is a bio-pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercialises genetically engineered therapeutic b-bFGF (FGF-2), having six commercialised biologics marketed in China since 1998. Additionally, it has a portfolio of commercialised products of preservative-free unit-dose eye drops and Shilishun® (Iodized Lecithin Capsules) etc. The products of the Company are principally prescribed for the treatment of wounds healing and diseases in Ophthalmology and Dermatology, which are marketed and sold through approximately 12,500 hospitals and managed directly by its 43 regional sales offices in China. Leveraging on its in-house R&D platform in growth factor and antibody, the Company maintains a pipeline of projects in various clinical stages, covering a wide range of fields and indications.

Website: http://www.essexbio.com

Investor Enquiry:

Investor Relations: investors@essex.com.cn

Breaking Boundaries: Dubai Set to Redefine Blockchain Technology at WBS Dubai

DUBAI, UAE, Mar 18, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The 29th edition of the World Blockchain Summit, organised by Trescon and co-hosted by Sun Minimeal, returns to Dubai on 22-23rd April 2024 at the iconic JW Marriott Hotel Marina. This highly anticipated event is summit is set to become a major focal point for global web3 and blockchain innovators to take note of the region’s efforts towards a web3-driven future. This eagerly awaited edition is poised to become a critical hub for global web3 and blockchain innovators, highlighting UAE’s efforts towards a future driven by web3 technology.

The Summit, one of the longest-running global blockchain series, has become a pivotal platform for leading and emerging blockchain and web3 innovators, visionaries, though-leaders and policymakers to deliberate over the trending innovations and solutions that are driving the inclusion of blockchain-based solutions in critical sectors of the global economy.

Benefiting from supportive government policies and a shift towards a digital-first economy, Dubai is solidifying its position as a leading global hub for blockchain innovation, enhancing its digital infrastructure comprehensively. The launch of the Dubai AI & Web3 Campus by the DIFC, alongside the Virtual Assets Regulatory Agency (VARA) Dubai, has attracted global investors and innovators eager to play a pivotal role in nurturing a dynamic digital ecosystem within the UAE.

The Summit will host over 2,000 web3 decision-makers, 300+ investors, and more than 50 speakers. The event will also feature the regional finale of the Startup World Cup organised by the renowned US-based venture capital firm Pegasus Ventures, offering the winner a chance to secure a spot to pitch at the global finals in San Francisco, with a potential prize of US$1 million in funding.

#WBSDubai showcases compelling keynote speeches, use-case presentations by prominent blockchain visionaries and experts, and engaging panel discussions on pivotal topics shaping the web3 landscape. Some of the themes that will be explored at the event include 2024 Blockchain Ecosystem Market Analysis, Decrypting the Regulatory Landscape of Virtual Assets, Emerging Trends in Enterprise Blockchain Adoption, The rise of AI-Blockchain integration and more.

Some of the notable speakers attending the event include:

Pascal Gauthier, Chairman & CEO, Ledger

Roham Gharegozlou, Co-founder and CEO, Dapper Labs
Mike Belshe, Co-Founder & CEO, BitGo
Bertrand Levy, VP Global Partnerships, SANDBOX
George Gvazava, Chief Crypto Officer, Bank of Georgia
Miriam Kiwan, Vice President of MEA, the issuer of leading regulated stablecoin, USDC., Circle
Yosuke Yoshida, Co-CEO of EMURGO Middle East & Africa CEO of EMURGO Kepple Ventures, EMURGO
Bandar Altunisi, Head of Development for Binance in Saudi Arabia Head of Institutional Relationships for Binance Dubai (FZE), Binance
Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, Ripple

Sharing their enthusiasm about the event, George Gvazava, Chief Crypto Officer, Bank of Georgia said,” In the realm of innovation, the World Blockchain Summit serves not only as a gathering of minds but as a crucible, where ideas are forged into the connections, use-cases and technologies of tomorrow.”

“In the heart of Dubai’s dynamic tech landscape, blockchain technology stands as a cornerstone in the UAE’s digital transformation. Trescon plays a pivotal role, connecting global entrepreneurs and startups with leading investors and experts. The World Blockchain Summit offers a prime venue for unveiling the latest in blockchain innovation and insights.”, said Sharath Kumar, Commercial Director, Trescon

Registration for the World Blockchain Summit Dubai is still open. Seize the chance to book your slots today and prepare to be a part of another thrilling blockchain and crypto event of the year. Don’t let this opportunity slip away!!

The 29th edition of the World Blockchain Summit is supported by:

Co-Host – Sun Minimeal
Co-Powered By – Ecrox Chain
Gold Sponsor – Medifakt, Crypto2Cash, Anbruggen
Silver Sponsor- Kreation, Coingames, Reat Capital
Lanyard Sponsor- M2
Badge Sponsor- Ledn
Bronze Sponsor- BitGo, Block Convey, M2
Exhibitors- Reltime, Qoneqt , C# Corner
Official Accommodation Partner- HotelPlanner
Business Broadcast Partner – CNBC Arabia
Official Newspaper Partner- The Fintech Times
Official Digital PR Distribution Partner – ZEX PR Wire
ABM Partner- Demandify
Association Partners- Crypto and Blockchain Association, Blockchain Council, Asia Web3 Alliance Japan, European Blockchain Association
Prime Media Partner- Demandteq

About World Blockchain Summit (WBS)

World Blockchain Summit (WBS) is an event by Trescon that supports the growth of the blockchain, crypto and Web3 ecosystem globally.

WBS is the world’s longest-running blockchain, crypto, and web 3-focused summit series. Since our inception in 2017, we have hosted more than 20 editions in 11 countries as we strived to create the ultimate networking and deal flow platform for the Web3 ecosystem. Each edition brings together global leaders and emerging startups in the space, including investors, developers, IT leaders, entrepreneurs, government authorities, and others.

To book your tickets, visit: https://shorturl.at/gmwxO

Contact:
Shadi Dawi
Director, Public Relations & Partnerships – MENA, Trescon
shadi@tresconglobal.com
+971 55 498 4989

China Lilang Announces 2023 Annual Results

HONG KONG, Mar 18, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – China Lilang Limited (“China Lilang” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 1234) today announced its 2023 annual results.

Mr. Wang Dong Xing, Chairman and Non-Executive Director of China Lilang, said:

“In 2023, China welcomed its first year of recovery after three years of pandemic. Despite the continued complex and ever-changing global situation, the economy in Mainland demonstrated resilience. Under the guidance of the encourage consumption policy by the Central Government, the retail market has gradually recovered and achieved a moderate growth in the second half of the year. During the year, the Group pushed forward the Lilang brand’s strategic upgrade, achieving both revenue and profit growth, and laying a solid foundation for future sustainable development.”

For the year ended 31 December 2023, the Group’s revenue increased by 14.8% year-on-year to RMB3.544 billion. The increase in sales was mainly due to the resumption of normal operations of all stores together with the resumption of social activities. In addition, the turnover of smart casual business increased significantly by 35.2% due to the opening of more new stores and the increase in single-store sales and average unit price. The distributors of the core collection had to digest the inventory from 2022, which suppressed the order growth in 2023. Sales of the core collection increased by 10.7%.

Gross profit margin was 48.2%, an increase of 2.2 percentage points year-on-year. This was attributable to the significant growth in sales of the self-operated smart casual business during the year, and an increase in the proportion of high-end products in total sales as a result of the strategy of maintaining high quality and value. Net profit climbed by 18.4% year-on-year to RMB530 million. Net profit margin increased by 0.5 percentage points to 15.0%. Basic earnings per share were RMB44.30 cents, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.4%.

During the year, the Group maintained a healthy financial position and sufficient cash flow. The Board of Directors has recommended the payment of a final dividend of HK13 cents per share and a special final dividend of HK5 cents per share. Together with the interim dividend already paid, total dividend for the year amounted to HK36 cents per share, representing an increase of 12.5% from last year, and maintaining a stable dividend payout ratio.

The Group continued to promote its new retail business by vigorously developing interactive and entertaining live-streaming sales models to enhance consumer’s online shopping experience and stimulate their desire to buy. Leveraging the complementary advantages of direct-to-retail online stores and WeChat Mall, the e-commerce business achieved a growth rate of 17.6% for the year, outperforming the overall growth rate.

The Group has been actively reforming its sales channels. After three years of hard work, the Group has established four sales channels: the distribution and consignment models of the core collection, the direct-to-retail stores of the smart casual collection and the direct-to-retail stores under the e-commerce sales model. This has allowed the Group to closely match its products and services with the purchasing patterns of Chinese menswear consumers and drive sales growth. During the year, each of the sales channel has recorded profit and sales per store increased significantly, further reflecting the effectiveness of the sales channel reform. As of the end of 2023, the Group had a total of 2,695 stores, including 302 smart casual collection stores and a total of 2,393 core collection stores, representing a net year-on-year increase of 51 stores.

With respect to inventory management, 22 more outlet stores were opened and sold seasonal products that were not sold in other stores. The sold-out rate of core collection and smart casual stores has increased. The new logistics center became operational, together with its intelligent logistics system has accelerated the delivery speed of goods to stores, while improving inventory control and achieving cost reduction. As at the end of 2023, the Group’s average inventory turnover days decreased by 25 days from the end of 2022 to 170 days, reflecting a more efficient level of inventory management.

In terms of brand promotion, the Group sells menswear products comprising two collections – the core collection and the smart casual collection. It continues to provide consumers with high-quality simple menswear and new wearing experiences for fashionable items, enhancing the brand’s appeal through the concept of “Simplified Design Excellent Quality”. During the year, the Group launched a re-designed logo. Based on the original logo, the visual proportion and graphic design have been optimized to enhance the brand’s vitality and sense of fashion. In addition, store spaces use immersive technology installations that create a chic environment suitable for young people.

Looking at 2024, faced with an ever-changing international environment and domestic economic challenges, the Central Government has designated 2024 as the “Year of Consumption Promotion” to boost market confidence and stimulate the vitality of the retail sector. China Lilang has responded positively. It plans to further upgrade the brand image of “Lilang Minimalist Menswear” through innovative product development and differentiated brand strategies, coupled with a sales channel that is more geared towards young consumers, to cater for and lead in satisfying the needs of consumers, as well as further enhance its sales performance.

The Group plans to achieve a net increase of 100-200 stores, particularly in upscale shopping malls and outlet malls in provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities. It will also vigorously develop a new retail business, offering personalized shopping experiences via live-streaming on Tik Tok, in order to have close contact with consumers. The Group aims for the new retail business to achieve year-on-year sales growth of 20% and overall sales growth of 15% in 2024. In addition, the Group plans to complete the seventh-generation renovation project for 400 stores to enhance the brand image and shopping experience of consumers.

In terms of product positioning, the Group will continue its strategy of providing products that represent “high quality and value” and will continuously introduce innovative and differentiated new products to meet consumers’ desire for personalized clothing. With the successful inventory clearance and further reduction of off-season inventory, the Group will intensify the launch of new products to increase the proportion of higher-priced new items, thereby improving the average selling price and the overall profitability of the products.

To enrich the product portfolio of China Lilang and strategically upgrade the existing brands, the Group has implemented a new “multi-brand and internationalization” development strategy and is actively seeking collaborations with other brands to provide consumers with diversified choices and to meet their different clothing preferences. With a well-established sales network in the Mainland China, and an increasingly interconnected global market, the Group plans to propel the brand to the global stage, expanding into the overseas markets. The Group believes that the internationalization of its brand will not only bring about a new style for the Group and enrich the product design, but also broaden its sources of revenue and welcome more market opportunities.

Mr. Wang Dong Xing concluded:

“In the long run, China Lilang will steadfastly uphold its mission to deliver stylish menswear with superior quality and value to its customers; enhancing the competitiveness of our brand with unique product designs and marketing promotions; and further consolidating the Group’s leading position in the menswear industry, thereby enabling sustainable and long-term growth of the business for our supportive shareholders, colleagues and customers.”

About China Lilang

China Lilang is one of the leading PRC menswear enterprises. As an integrated fashion enterprise, the Group designs, sources and manufactures high-quality business and casual apparel for men and sells under the LILANZ brand across an extensive distribution network, covering 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the PRC.

GERMAGIC(TM) PET Hosts “Social Inclusion Charity Run with Pets”

HONG KONG, Mar 18, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Sponsored by GERMAGIC™ PET, supported by the Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited, and jointly organized by the City University of Hong Kong and the CityU EMBA Association, the inaugural “Social Inclusion Charity Run with Pets” was grandly held on 17 March 2024 (Sunday) at the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct, Wan Chai. Drawing participation from approximately four hundred athletes and pets, the event aimed to encourage the establishment of pet-friendly spaces within society while promoting an optimistic and inclusive life attitude, thereby fostering social inclusion. Beneficiary organizations included the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association.

Nowadays, pets have become significant companions in human life, not only bringing endless love and joy but also enhancing people’s mental well-being. To provide pets with more care and protection, GERMAGIC™ PET continuously innovates and utilizes its scientific research technology to develop various green pet health products, thus promoting social inclusion and sustainable development. As the title sponsor of the event, GERMAGIC™ PET partnered with Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited to promote the event, aiming to encourage collective efforts from all walks of life to create a pet-friendly environment where more pets can receive care and love.

Mr. Anthony Leung, General Manager – Business and Market Development of Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited, stated, “We are honoured to collaborate with GERMAGIC™ PET in promoting this event. We believe that through this event, we can raise awareness in society about pet protection and social inclusion and serve as an inspiration for more action. Let us work together to create a better future for pets and our society.”

Hong Kong artist, Ms. Anne Heung, shared her experience on choosing pet products

The event was honoured to have Hong Kong artist and pet lover, Ms. Anne Heung, attend with her beloved canine. Ms. Anne Heung expressed, “I am delighted to attend today’s fun and meaningful event. Besides exercising together with cats and dogs to support the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association and encourage the establishment of pet-friendly spaces, our fellow owners could also promote the concept of social inclusion, creating a more friendly and inclusive environment for both humans and pets.”

Talking about choosing pet products, Ms. Anne Heung mentioned that product safety, friendliness towards pets, and environmental impact are her primary considerations. She also seeks out certified products, such as those with the Quality Pet Protection (QPP) certification and professional veterinary certification, as these products meet strict safety standards, allowing her and her canine companion to use them with peace of mind.

28-day long-lasting antibacterial protection, safeguarding human-pet safety and health

As a research and development company specializing in biochemistry and biomedical products behind GERMAGIC™ PET, Absolute Pure EnviroSci Limited (“APEL”) is committed to innovate and promote the development of pet health care. GERMAGIC™ PET products utilize GERMAGIC™’s encapsulation technology and molecular materials to comprehensively support and protect pet health. Furthermore, GERMAGIC™ PET’s long-lasting antibacterial product series not only caters to pets but also effectively eliminates various bacteria and viruses, providing a 28-day antibacterial protection, thus offering a safer and healthier living environment for both humans and pets.

Leading the pet health industry through Research, Academic and Industry Sectors collaboration

Moreover, GERMAGIC™ PET products have received QPP certification, becoming one of the few high-end pet health care products in Hong Kong to obtain this certification. QPP is a scheme led by the IBH Pet Industry Development Standing Committee, supported by Pet Space Group for veterinary professional support, with SGS serving as the scheme secretary for providing testing and certification services. This certification not only recognizes the quality of GERMAGIC™ PET products but also sets higher quality standards for the pet health industry.

In addition to developing QPP certified products, APEL has been committed to collaborating with partners in different fields to create synergy and win-win situations. This year, APEL has established partnerships with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Pet Space Group, the largest veterinary group in Hong Kong with veterinary clinics across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, as well as in Singapore, and a major medical supplies brand – Life Star Biotech, to bring more innovation and improvement to the field of pet health through Research, Academic and Industry Sectors collaboration.

Dr. David Chung, Chairman of APEL, expressed during the event, “GERMAGIC™ PET is honoured to be the title sponsor of this event. We sincerely thank the organizers – the Hong Kong Network for the Promotion of Inclusive Society, the City University of Hong Kong, and the CityU EMBA Association – for initiating such a meaningful event. We also appreciate Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited’s full support as a media partner. This grand event witnesses the profound connection and spirit of inclusion between humans and pets. It not only brings joy and health to pet owners and their pets but also brings the power of harmony and warmth to society. In the future, APEL will continue to collaborate with partners from all walks of life to provide more innovative and high-quality pet health products for pet owners and their pets. We firmly believe that through collective efforts, we can create a more friendly and healthier pet environment and make positive contributions to the development of social inclusion.”

GERMAGIC™ PET is the title sponsor of the “Social Inclusion Charity Run with Pets” on 17 March. Group photo of (from left to right) Ms. Phoebe Ng, Chief Commercial Officer of GERMAGIC™ PET, Dr. David Chung, Chairman of APEL, Hong Kong artist Ms. Anne Heung, and Mr. Jackin Jim, Chairman of Yee Hop Holdings Limited (Stock code: 1662.HK).

Group photo of (from left to right) Mr. Hamilton Hung, Co-Founder of GERMAGIC™, Dr. David Chung, Chairman of APEL, Hong Kong artist Ms. Anne Heung, Ms. Phoebe Ng, Chief Commercial Officer of GERMAGIC™ PET, and Mr. Anthony Leung, General Manager – Business and Market Development of Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited.

About APEL

Absolute Pure EnviroSci Limited (APEL), an indirect non-wholly owned subsidiary of Yee Hop Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1662.HK), with a mission to improve the quality of life and living environment, is principally engaged in the business of distribution, research and development of specialty biomedical and biochemical products. APEL looks forward to working with researchers who aspire to help the green industries in Hong Kong grow, contributing together to the city and the Greater Bay Area’s low- carbon transformation and advance towards carbon neutrality, and also give the city impetus to pursue reindustrialization vital to her long-term prosperity.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Avy Yu Tel: +852 9500 4443 Email: avy.yu@ajacapital.com.hk

Eudice Law Tel: +852 9326 1113 Email: eudice.law@ajacapital.com.hk

Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. (CIL) Announces Relocation of Corporate Headquarters and Expansion of Research & Development and cGMP Production

TEWKSBURY, MA, Mar 15, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. (CIL), the world leader in stable isotope chemistry and the separation of carbon-13 (13C), has announced it will be relocating and expanding its corporate headquarters to newly purchased space in Tewksbury, MA, to advance the operations and growth of the company. The purchase was made in June 2023.

The new location is a two-building, 150,000-square-foot campus with 25 lakefront acres at 100 & 200 Ames Pond Drive. The Ames Pond campus will be the home of a new 8,000-square-foot research and development (R&D) facility and will significantly expand cGMP, QC, formulations, and production labs. The spacious facility will provide CIL with the opportunity to cultivate a dynamic work environment for its valued employees, enabling cross-functional teams to collaborate seamlessly.

“Stable isotope-labeled compounds are in high demand in the market. This expansion provides CIL the space to develop new products and invest in advanced analytical and production technologies,” states CIL’s Chief Science Officer (CSO) Todd Osiek. “The new R&D facility will include organic chemistry space as well as a development/scale-up lab with multiple walk-in hoods.”

The GMP facility will more than double the existing space. Marwan ElMasri, Director of GMP Production, adds, “With this expansion, CIL will be able to produce metric ton quantities of commercial-grade APIs labeled with stable isotopes. This expansion will dramatically improve our capabilities for producing larger scale stable isotope-labeled materials for clinical trials. Our increased production capacity will certainly enable us to better serve our customers and partners.”

CEO Cliff Caldwell adds, “The Ames Pond development, in addition to providing a highly desirable work campus for our employees, elevates our research and development efforts, significantly expands our GMP production capacities, improves operational efficiency, and enhances our ability to innovate for our customers.”

CIL will continue operating its existing headquarters at 3 Highwood Drive, Tewksbury, MA, and production facility located 50 Frontage Road in Andover, MA. The 3 Highwood Drive facility will transition to Ames Pond as construction is completed. CIL’s Andover production location will remain operational after the move.

About Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.

CIL is the world’s largest manufacturer and global supplier of stable isotopes and stable isotope-labeled compounds used in research, environmental, neonatal, pharmaceutical, medical diagnostic, OLED, and industrial markets. CIL subsidiary ABX, located in Dresden, Germany, is active in the development and commercialization of radio isotopic-labeled compounds for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. CIL is an operating business owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical. The CIL business consists of two facilities in the Boston, MA, area; a large isotope-enrichment production plant in Xenia, OH; CIL China; CIL Canada; ABX in Dresden, Germany; and Eurisotop in Saclay, France. For more information on CIL, visit isotope.com.

Contact Information
Crissy Krisko
crissyk@isotope.com
1.978.269.1930

SOURCE: Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.

Animoca Brands and Blockpass forge strategic partnership for a secure and regulatory compliant Web3

HONG KONG, Mar 15, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Blockpass, the leading provider of compliant identity verification solutions for the Web3 space, and Animoca Brands, the company advancing digital property rights for gaming and the open metaverse and a long-standing Blockpass customer, today announced a strategic partnership to build a safer and more compliant Web3 environment.

This collaboration will leverage Blockpass’ industry-leading KYC/AML SaaS to provide Animoca Brands and select portfolio companies with seamless and cost-effective solutions for user verification. This will ensure stronger regulatory compliance while fostering a safer, user-friendly experience within the burgeoning Web3 and metaverse landscapes.

Through this strategic partnership, Blockpass and Animoca Brands aim to:

– Enhance user safety and security:
— In an era of AI deepfakes and rampant identity fraud, Blockpass’s identity verification solutions play a crucial role in mitigating fraud risks and safeguarding users within the Animoca Brands ecosystem.

– Achieve compliance amid growing crypto regulations:
— In the evolving landscape of crypto regulations, adhering to KYC and AML requirements is essential. Animoca Brands and its participating portfolio companies will be able to operate with greater confidence knowing they are in compliance.

– Streamline user onboarding with reusable identity:
— Blockpass offers a user-friendly verification process that ensures smooth and efficient onboarding. Users can create, store, and manage a secure digital identity, simplifying access to Web3 services and other sectors that are subject to regulation.

Blockpass, renowned as “Web3’s OG identity verifier,” has pioneered reusable identities and crypto-native KYC/AML solutions. Its turnkey suite of compliance tools is designed to lower onboarding costs, automate remediation, prove humanity and protect against malicious actors, fraudulent activities, bots, and AI. Businesses can set up services quickly, test them for free, and start verifying users. With around one million verified identity profiles, Blockpass facilitates instant onboarding, and to date over a thousand businesses have taken advantage of this opportunity to benefit from Blockpass’ compliant network.

Animoca Brands is a global leader in gamification and blockchain with a large portfolio of over 400 investments in Web3 projects, and with the mission to advance digital property rights and contribute to building the open metaverse. The company and its various subsidiaries develop and publish blockchain games, traditional games, and other products, many of which are based on popular global brands including The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E.

Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, said: “One of Animoca Brands’ core philosophies has always been to support and empower mission-aligned builders who believe in the vision of Web3 and the open metaverse to usher in digital property rights for all. We work with Blockpass not only for the breadth of its offerings, but also because Adam and his colleagues are highly committed to the vision of data sovereignty and true digital ownership. This strategic partnership will enable Blockpass to tap into the potential of Animoca Brands’ ecosystem while enhancing our user verification process.”

“Animoca Brands has been an important customer of Blockpass since 2021 and we’re excited to further our relationship,” said Adam Vaziri, CEO of Blockpass. “This collaboration marks a significant step forward in establishing trust and regulatory compliance in the metaverse. By working together, we can create a safer and more accessible Web3 experience for everyone.”

This partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Web3 and the open metaverse. By prioritizing user safety, regulatory compliance, and user experience, Blockpass and Animoca Brands are paving the way for a more secure and inclusive future for the decentralized world.

About Blockpass

Ditch tedious onboarding and say hello to seamless compliance with Blockpass, the ultimate turnkey solution for KYC, KYB, and AML. Experience the market’s most efficient and cost-effective compliance suite, built by seasoned compliance veterans and crypto-natives. Automate compliance processes, eradicate fraud, and onboard globally with confidence. Verify businesses worldwide, launch bank-grade verification for your organization, and instantly activate compliant KYC/AML for DeFi, exchanges, token launchpads, NFT mintings and beyond. Through Blockpass’ decentralized network of a million pre-verified crypto-enthusiasts and a thousand pre-verified businesses, you can expand your reach effortlessly. Leverage Advanced KYC Bot(TM) for intelligent remediation, On-Chain KYC® for data-free anonymity, and Unhosted Wallet KYC(TM) to meet Crypto Travel Rule regulations. Join Animoca Brands, Cardano, Polygon, Chainlink, Delta Exchange, National Geographic, TinyTap, Seedify, ChainGPT, Iskra and many more in partnering with Blockpass for compliance you can trust, growth you can accelerate and an experience you can enjoy. Join the cutting edge of secure, streamlined onboardings.

Learn more and engage the Blockpass team via the following:
Website: https://www.blockpass.org
Email: sales@blockpass.org

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner, a Fortune Crypto 40 company, and one of the Financial Times’ High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2023, is a Web3 leader that leverages blockchain to deliver digital property rights to consumers around the world to help to establish the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including original games such as The Sandbox, PHANTOM GALAXIES™, Life Beyond, and Crazy Defense Heroes, and products utilizing popular intellectual properties from the worlds of sports and entertainment, such as The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Animoca Brands Japan, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, TinyTap, Be., PIXELYNX, WePlay Media, Gryfyn, and Azarus. Animoca Brands is one of the most active investors in Web3, with a portfolio of over 400 Web3 investments, both directly and through Animoca Ventures, including Yuga Labs, Axie Infinity, Polygon, Consensys, Magic Eden, Fireblocks, OpenSea, Dapper Labs, Yield Guild Games, and many more. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on X (Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.

Contact: press@animocabrands.com

Eight tips for choosing a domain name for your small business

SINGAPORE, Mar 15, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Choosing a domain name for a small business requires careful consideration, as it is often the first thing people see about your business. The domain name of a business is often considered a piece of real estate on the internet, or your business home on the web. It is core to the digital presence of your business.

GoDaddy shares eight tips to help select a domain name that is right for your business and can serve you for years to come.

1. Keep it simple

The first rule of choosing a domain name is to keep it simple. If your domain name has an unusual spelling or is difficult to type, chances are people could mis-spell your domain name and not find you on the internet. Use proper spellings for words, instead for example of using ‘u’ for ‘you’ or ‘c’ for ‘see’. If you have to explain how to spell your domain name, then it might be too confusing.

2. Shorter is better

Consider aiming for six to fourteen characters to the left of the dot. The fewer characters your domain name has, the easier it will be to type, say and share. There is also less risk of losing visitors who might mistype or misspell it.

This also allows more of the URL address to show up in search engine list results, which can help customers quickly find your website.

3. Add keywords to your domain name

Using keywords that describe your business and the products or services you offer can make it easier to recognize the nature of your business.

For example, if you run a specialized cake business, you might want to register a domain name with the words “specialized” and “cakes” in it, depending on your business name. Try to Include keywords that people might enter when searching for your product or service can help improve your search engine results.

4. Mention your location

You may want to consider including your location in your domain name, by choosing a domain name extension for your location, like a .ph. or a .sg domain name, shows customers that you are a business located in the country. This can be important for customers who would like to do business with companies located in their country.

Whether you add your location before or after the dot, customers will be able to find you geographically more easily. They will know quickly they are dealing with someone based locally and supporting a local business.

5. Avoid numbers and hyphens

Numbers and hyphens can easily cause confusion. People who heard your domain spoken might not immediately known if you are using a number, or whether the number is spelled out as a word.

Likewise, if you used a hyphen, customers could forget the hyphen and mistype your URL. Or they would remember the hyphen but put it in the wrong place. Either way, the result is the same, a potential customer lost because they could not find your website.

6. Make it unforgettable

With so many businesses online, there is a lot of competition out there. So having a catchy and memorable domain name is essential. An easy-to-remember custom domain name will help to encourage word-of-mouth advertising and help spread your brand faster. If you cannot get your domain name down to one memorable word, you might want to think about joining two words together.

7. Consider all your domain name options

The internet’s been around for decades, but there’s still a strong bias towards choosing a .com domain name extension. So, if you can, you can try and register a .com domain address.

But if the .com domain name you want isn’t available, there are a variety of industry-specific domain extensions available, such as .co, .net, .org, .online and .news. There are also extensions that can clearly show the nature of the business such as .photography, .shop, .coffee and .club.

8. Safeguard your brand

To help further protect your brand, consider registering your domain name with various domain extensions, as well as misspelled versions of your domain name, if you think that might be helpful. This can help to prevent competitors from registering different versions of your domain name, and then using them to pull traffic away from your website.

Once you have found the perfect domain name(s) for your business, it is important to check that the name is not trademarked or copyrighted by another company. It can also help to check that the domain name you want is available on social media sites, by checking social media networks to make sure the name is not already taken, and helpful to have the same name across your website and social platforms for consistency.

And finally, be sure to keep your domain names current and registered, as you do not want the registrations to lapse. Providers, like GoDaddy, offer automatic renewals for domain names to help ensure they do not expire.

Take your time and do it right and your domain name will be a proud representation of your business for many years to come.

For more information on how GoDaddy can help your small business: Domain Names, Websites, Hosting & Online Marketing Tools – GoDaddy IE

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.godaddy.com.

Issued on behalf of GoDaddy.
For more information, contact:
Fekra Communications
info@fekracomms.com

Spikes Asia announces 2024 winners including the Special Awards and Young Spikes Competition winners

Singapore, Mar 14, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Spikes Asia, APAC’s most prestigious and sought-after award for creativity and marketing effectiveness, has revealed the Grands Prix and Special Award winners for 2024 this evening.

Australia saw the highest number of Grands Prix at eight, including five Grands Prix for ‘FitChix’, for Honest Eggs Co., entered by VML, Melbourne. Japan took home six Grands Prix, including three for ‘My Japan Railway’, for JR Group, by Dentsu Inc, Tokyo, in Industry Craft, Digital Craft and Direct. In its inaugural year, the Gaming Spikes Grand Prix was awarded to the Philippines for ‘Unbranded Menu’, for McDonald’s, entered by Leo Burnett, Manila.

Speaking about the Winners, Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “Congratulations to our 2024 Spikes Asia Award winners. What an exciting time for creative marketing in this very special part of the world. This region continues to be a creative powerhouse, and this is reflected in the body of work awarded by our expert Juries this year. The breadth of the winners showcases the region’s collective effort to elevate the role of creativity in driving business performance and positive change in the world. Thank you to our wonderful Jurors, for setting the creative standard for the year ahead.”

Jaime Ng, Festival Director, Spikes Asia, added: “We’re excited to announce the 2024 Award winners for Spikes Asia, after a fantastic event this week. This year we brought the APAC community together to network, learn and be inspired by the rich mix of speakers and champions for creativity in the region. There are lots of exciting shifts taking place in APAC and we look forward to exploring the insights and trends from this year’s work in the Spikes Asia Creativity Report. This report will also provide the official rankings for this year’s top performing Networks, Agencies and Companies from across the region.”

This year’s Grand Prix winners are:

Brand Experience & Activation

From 423 entries received, 35 Spikes were awarded: 4 Gold, 12 Silver, 18 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘FitChix’, for Honest Eggs Co., by VML, Melbourne, Australia

Creative Commerce

From 61 entries received, 5 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘FitChix’, for Honest Eggs Co., by VML, Melbourne, Australia

Creative Data

From 35 entries received, 5 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Lay’s Smart Farm’, for Lay’s, by Leo Burnett, Mumbai, India

Creative Effectiveness

From 46 entries received, 5 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 3 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘The Last Performance’, for Partners Life, by Special, Auckland, New Zealand

Creative Strategy

From 181 entries received, 15 Spikes were awarded: 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 8 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘The First Digital Nation’, for The Government of Tuvalu, by The Monkeys, Part of Accenture Song, Sydney, Australia

Design

From 124 entries received, 12 Spikes were awarded: 3 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Untangling The Politics Of Hair’, for STIR, by FCB India, Gurugram, India

Digital Craft

From 59 entries received, 5 Spikes were awarded: 2 Silver, 2 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘My Japan Railway’, for JR Group, by Dentsu Inc, Tokyo, Japan

Direct

From 234 entries received, 15 Spikes were awarded: 2 Gold, 5 Silver, 7 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘My Japan Railway’, for JR Group, by Dentsu Inc, Tokyo, Japan

Entertainment

From 134 entries received, 10 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Perfect Days’, for Perfect Days, by Mount / Dentsu Inc, Tokyo, Japan

Film

From 370 entries received, 25 Spikes were awarded: 4 Gold, 7 Silver, 13 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Sammakorn Not Sanpakorn’, for Sammakorn, by Choojai and Friends, Bangkok, Thailand

Film Craft

From 327 entries received, 34 Spikes were awarded: 6 Gold, 8 Silver, 19 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘This is Footy Country’, for Telstra, by The Monkeys, Part Of Accenture Song, Sydney, Australia

Gaming

From 55 entries received, 5 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Unbranded Menu’, for McDonald’s, by Leo Burnett, Manila, The Philippines

Glass: The Award for Change

From 20 entries received, 2 Spikes were awarded: 1 Glass Spike and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Right to Care’, for Quenzon City Gender and Development Council, by MullenLowe Treyna, Makati City, the Philippines

Grand Prix for Good

The Grand Prix for Good was awarded to ‘Shift 20 Initiative’, for Shift 20 Initiative, by Special, Sydney / Dylan Alcott Foundation, Melbourne, Australia

Healthcare

From 118 entries received, 12 Spikes were awarded: 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘FitChix’, for Honest Eggs Co., by VML, Melbourne, Australia

Industry Craft

From 79 entries received, 7 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘My Japan Railway’, for JR Group, by Dentsu Inc, Tokyo, Japan

Innovation

From 26 entries received, 4 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Shellmet’, for Koushi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., by TBWA\HAKUHODO INC., Tokyo, Japan

Integrated

From 33 entries received, 3 Spikes were awarded: 2 Silver and the Grand Prix that went to ‘FitChix’, for Honest Eggs Co., by VML, Melbourne, Australia

Media

From 203 entries received, 16 Spikes were awarded: 2 Gold, 5 Silver, 8 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Newspaper For “Lettuce Preservation”’, for「COOKDO®︎」, by Dentsu Inc, Tokyo, Japan

Music

From 60 entries received, 6 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Megh Santoor’, for Brooke Bond, by Ogilvy, Mumbai, India

Outdoor

From 183 entries received, 14 Spikes were awarded: 3 Gold, 3 Silver, 7 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘FitChix’, for Honest Eggs Co., by VML, Melbourne, Australia

From 184 entries received, 17 Spikes were awarded: 2 Gold, 5 Silver, 9 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Correct The Internet’, for Team Heroine, by DDB New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand

Print & Publishing

From 48 entries received, 4 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Seal Alarm’, for The Times of India, by VML / Wunderman Thompson, Mumbai, India

Radio & Audio

From 43 entries received, 5 Spikes were awarded: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Guide Play’, for JBL, by BLKJ HAVAS, Singapore

Social & Influencer

From 143 entries received, 11 Spikes were awarded: 2 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze and the Grand Prix that went to ‘Correct The Internet’, for Team Heroine, by DDB New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand

Spikes Asia Special Awards were given as follows:

Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year

1. Dentsu Inc, Tokyo, Japan
2. VML, Melbourne, Australia
3. The Monkeys, Part of Accenture Song, Sydney, Australia

Independent Agency of the Year

1. Special, Sydney, Australia
2. Choojai and Friends, Bangkok, Thailand
3. Special, Auckland, New Zealand

Network of the Year

1. dentsu
2. VML
3. Accenture Song

Media Network of the Year

1. Mindshare
2. Wavemaker
3. Starcom

Spikes Palm

1. Exit Films, Australia
2. Revolver, Australia
3. Spoon, Japan

Strategy & Effectiveness Agency of the Year

1. The Monkeys, Part of Accenture Song, Sydney, Australia
2. Special, Auckland, New Zealand
3. Colenso BBDO, Auckland, New Zealand

Young Spikes Competition winners are as follows:

Digital:

Gold
‘Save Singapore’
Amaya Suriyapperuma & Arqam Anjath
Loops Integrated, Sri Lanka

Silver
‘Feel What We Feel’
Anggani Sekar Astuti Hardani & Mbarep Arya Warigalit
Bikin Ide Kreatif, Indonesia

Bronze
‘How is the weather inside?’
Kim Sae Young & Kang Ji Hye
ptkorea, South Korea

Integrated:

Gold
‘GIRLS OWN CHOICE’
Flavia Wang & Noah Song
Mindshare, Mainland China

Silver
‘All You Can Dream’
Nellia & Davin Susanto
Future Creative Network, Indonesia

Bronze
‘THINK WITH YOUR CLOCK’
Yi Rong, Sandie Chan & Carissa Almira Djawas
Iris Singapore, Singapore

PR:

Gold
‘H20 for Mental Health’
Ginola Tan & Tan Yuan Ling
Govt Pte Ltd., Singapore

Silver
‘Seeing Beyond Faces’
Rhonda Wong & Shalom Lim
VML, Singapore

Bronze
‘CHEERS GIFT’
Yuto Nakajima & Yukie Takasu
HAKUHODO, Japan

The Spikes Asia Creativity Report will be released on Thursday 28 March, which shines a light on the best Asian creativity, as selected by Spikes Juries. The Report will feature interviews with winners about how the work was created, insights from Jurors, trends and themes that have emerged, along with the annual rankings for this year’s top performing Networks, Agencies and Companies from APAC. All results can be found at https://www.lovethework.com/work-awards/awards/spikes-asia.

About Spikes Asia

Spikes Asia, the home of Asia-Pacific creativity, is the region’s oldest and most prestigious awards for creative advertising. Building on over 35 years of the illustrious Spikes Awards and Tangrams Strategy & Effectiveness Awards, Spikes Asia is the result of a collaboration between Ascential, the organiser of Cannes Lions and Haymarket, publisher of Campaign Asia-Pacific.

Spikes Asia celebrates creative excellence in the Asia-Pacific region alongside learning and networking opportunities. The Awards serve as the definitive benchmark for creative excellence, marketing strategy and effectiveness in Asia-Pacific. www.spikes.asia

About Ascential

Ascential delivers specialist information, analytics and events to the world’s leading consumer brands and their ecosystems. Our world-class businesses improve performance and solve customer problems by delivering immediately actionable information combined with visionary longer-term thinking across Product Design, Marketing and Retail & Financial Services.

We serve customers in over 120 countries, bringing local knowledge and connections to our global customer base. Ascential is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

www.lionscreativity.com | www.canneslions.com | www.ascential.com

About Haymarket

Haymarket Media Group creates award-winning specialist content and information for international audiences. The company has more than 70 market-leading brands created by world-class experts in locations in the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, India and Germany. Haymarket’s consumer and professional brands connect people and communities across digital, mobile, print and live/virtual media platforms. Although Haymarket’s portfolio is diverse, its mission is the same across borders and markets: to deliver brand experiences which truly meet the needs of its audiences and clients. Haymarket’s brands include Campaign, PRWeek, What Car?, Autocar, AsianInvestor and Finance Asia. www.haymarket.com

Contacts:

Jaime Ng
Festival Director
Spikes Asia
JaimeN@spikes.asia

Camilla Lambert
PR Director
Spikes Asia
CamillaL@canneslions.com

Tash Naidoo
Senior PR Manager
Spikes Asia
TashN@canneslions.com

Press Portal:
Press.canneslions.com

Awards Entries:
awards@spikes.asia

IFF Management’s Perspective on Australia’s GDP Trends

PERTH, W AUSTRALIA, Mar 14, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – In a recent analysis conducted by IFF Management, Australia’s economic landscape has come under scrutiny following the release of GDP data for the final quarter of 2023. The figures reveal a modest growth of 0.2 per cent, reflecting ongoing challenges within the economy and raising questions about the effectiveness of current monetary policies.

Liam Pearce, Chief Financial Officer at IFF Management, commented on the findings, noting, “The data highlights a worrying pattern of restrained growth, especially when taking into account the dynamics of the population.” This observation sheds light on the broader implications of economic activity per capita, which continues to decline despite nominal growth.

Further examination from IFF Management on the data reveals a broader slowdown across various sectors, extending beyond household consumption. “Australia’s economy is experiencing a mild expansion, characterised by limited growth in critical sectors and stagnant domestic demand,” added Michael Vinson, Chief Investment Officer at IFF Management. This assessment highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of the underlying factors contributing to the economic slowdown.

Of particular concern is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to raise interest rates in November, a move that now faces scrutiny in light of the subdued economic conditions. “Doubts emerge regarding the necessity of the November interest rate hike, considering the minimal inflationary pressures and subdued consumer sentiment,” emphasised Vinson. This sentiment underscores the importance of re-evaluating monetary policies to ensure alignment with economic realities.

Consumer behaviour remains a focal point, with household spending experiencing only marginal growth driven primarily by essential purchases. This cautious approach reflects broader uncertainties within the economy and warrants careful consideration in policy formulation.

Looking ahead, the challenges persist, with implications for small businesses evident in declining sales and subdued performance across various sectors. “The economic landscape presents notable hurdles for small businesses, as evidenced by declining sales and cautious consumer behaviour,” highlighted Vinson. This underscores the need for targeted interventions to support economic resilience and growth.

IFF Management’s analysis offers valuable insights into the complexities of Australia’s economic trajectory. “Navigating through these economic headwinds demands a comprehensive understanding of the underlying dynamics,” concluded Vinson. As policymakers deliberate on future strategies, it is imperative to prioritise measures that foster sustainable growth and resilience within the Australian economy.

About IFF Management

IFF Management, trading name of Investors First Funds Management Limited, is a distinguished financial management firm headquartered in the heart of Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1981, IFF Management has built a reputation for serving a diverse and global clientele with tailored investment solutions. Holding an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFS Licence: 246192), IFF Management remains committed to providing expert financial guidance and fostering long-term client prosperity.

For further information, please contact
IFF Management
AMP Tower, Level 28, 140 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Phone: +61 8 6385 3260
Email: daniel.gilbert@iff-management.com
Website: www.iff-management.com

Contact Information:
Daniel Gilbert
Head of Marketing
daniel.gilbert@iff-management.com
+61 8 6385 3260

SOURCE: IFF Management

View the original press release on newswire.com.