Society Pass’ (Nasdaq: SOPA) Thoughtful Media Group Launches The Creator Economy in the Indonesian Market

JAKARTA, Apr 4, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia (SEA)'s next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, announces the official launch of its digital advertising platform, Thoughtful Media Group Inc (TMG), in the Indonesian market. TMG will introduce its new Indonesia management team and business model at a media presentation in Jakarta on 05 April 2023.

Established in 2021 as an international caliber design and branding agency serving innovative Indonesian companies in the beauty, F&B, e-commerce, and logistics sectors and acquired by TMG in December 2022, More Media has been integrated into Thoughtful Media Group Indonesia (TMGI) connecting content creators and brands in the world's fourth most populous country. By rapidly deploying value-added services, possessing an intimate understanding of local market trends, focusing on the art of storytelling, TMGI has quickly onboarded a diverse list of local clients such as Langsre, Emilia, Kei Dining, and Allino.

Pamela Aw-Yeung, TMG Vice-Chairwoman, states, "We are very pleased to welcome More Media into the TMG ecosystem. By combining TMGI's market-leading design and branding capabilities in Indonesia with TMG's influencer advertising-focused social commerce business model, we leverage our storytelling capabilities for local, regional and international advertisers seeking to market in Indonesia. TMG now operates in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia."

Responsible for driving sales and onboarding Indonesian clients onto TMG's regional digital advertising platform, Ms. Eugenia Agnes Gusti, the Co-Founder of More Media and VP of Business Development of TMGI, comments, "Our local team's unique advantage is that we are led by amazing heroines with significant experience in the fields of branding and media in this country". Ms. Erlinda Gutami, TMGI Indonesia Country Manager, expounds, "With the explosion of influencer advertising and social commerce across SEA, especially in Indonesia, TMGI emphasises the importance of theme of "Connection" for brands and influencers to build loyal audiences/users over time".

TMGI is uniquely positioned to become Indonesia's premier regional digital advertising agency offering a significant value proposition to advertisers, merchants, and influencers in SEA's largest economy. Well positioned to benefit from Indonesia's forecast soaring digital advertising revenues over the next decade as increasingly more consumers make direct purchases on social media platforms, TMGI collaborates with social media platforms, advertisers and influencers to develop the entire creator economy in Indonesia.

About Thoughtful Media Group (TMG)

Founded in 2010, Thoughtful Media Group is a leading digital advertising platform in SEA. Through our network of talented creators across multiple industries in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, we help brands maximise marketing budgets and achieve business objectives through some of the most innovative marketing campaigns in the region.

In 2022, Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA), the next generation acquisition-focused fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in SEA, acquired Thoughtful Media Group. Since then, TMG has fully evolved into a digital-first and fully integrated advertising powerhouse.

For more information, please visit:
Website at www.thoughtfulmedia.com
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoughtful-media-group-inc or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thoughtfulmedia/ or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thoughtfulmediaasia or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/ThoughtfulMedia.

About Society Pass

Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please visit:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Media Contact:
Ms. Eugenia Agnes Gusti
agnes@thoughtfulmedia.com

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

Global Corporate Reputation Scores Continue to Decline According to the 2023 Global RepTrak(R) 100 from The RepTrak Company

BOSTON, MA, Apr 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The RepTrak Company™, the world’s leading reputation data and insights company, announces the results of its 2023 Global RepTrak® 100. The report is the world’s most comprehensive study of corporate reputation, compiled for the past 13 years using RepTrak’s in-depth analysis and ranking of the top 100 companies worldwide by Reputation Score.

Utilizing its advanced reputation monitoring software, RepTrak gathered data from more than 230,000 ratings globally to understand the public’s perceptions of the most important elements of corporate reputation: ESG (Environmental/Social/Governance), workplace fairness, leadership, innovation, branding, and more.

Available today is the complete 2023 Global RepTrak 100® ranking and report, with comprehensive analysis of global, industry, and demographic trends, at https://www.reptrak.com/rankings/

This data shows how people think, feel and act towards particular companies and ranks those companies based on the RepTrak Reputation Score.

The continued downfall of corporate reputation

In 2022, the global RepTrak Reputation Score went down for the first time since 2018. In 2023, this decrease continued on a global scale, with global Reputation Scores settling at an average of 73.2, down from 74.2 in 2022.

“Even with corporate reputation down in 2023,” says RepTrak CEO Mark Sonders, “Top 100 companies are exceptional in their efforts, rising up to intense and complex stakeholder expectations on ethical, supply chain, and workplace issues globally. There’s always room for improvement, but Top 100 companies are leading the way.”

ESG remains important but expectations are unmet

The global ESG score was also down this year. Each individual driver saw a significant decrease, with Environmental experiencing the biggest decline. RepTrak data has shown that perceptions of a company’s leadership in ESG have a direct impact on purchase intent – the public’s willingness to buy from a company goes from 20% with a weak ESG score to 60% with a high score.

“This year’s ESG results serve as a reminder: it’s not just about what you do, it’s about how you do it,” says Sonders. “ESG is only increasing in importance, affecting how we buy, trust, and recommend the brands we interact with.”

Financial concerns are top of mind

As part of its reputation measurement and monitoring platform, RepTrak also measures the actions stakeholders are willing to take when considering, supporting, and engaging with a company, referred to as Business Outcomes. Business Outcomes Willingness to Buy, Willingness to Invest, and Willingness to Work For all experienced significant decreases in 2023 demonstrating a clear frustration with the current economic state. Inflation is being felt on a global scale.

“The combination of a global decrease in reputation paired with an unpredictable financial landscape has stakeholders nervous to interact with brands,” warns Mark Sonders. “How organizations manage their approach to a potential recession will impact stakeholders beyond 2023.”

2022’s Reputation Leaders

The top 10 companies by Reputation Score, as ranked in the 2023 Global RepTrak® 100, are:

The LEGO Group
The Bosch Group
Rolls-Royce Aerospace
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Canon
Rolex SA
Miele
Sony
Nintendo
Mercedes-Benz

The LEGO Group is the World’s Most Reputable Company in 2023, but this is not their first #1 ranking. They achieved RepTrak’s #1 spot in 2020 and 2021, dropped to #3 in 2022, and now they’ve returned. Although their Reputation Scores have decreased, a well-rounded approach to supporting the world of play, combined with a dedicated focus to ethical practices makes them a global reputation favorite.

“I am very honored that the LEGO Group has been named the World’s Most Reputable Company in 2023,” says Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group. “This reflects the unwavering passion and commitment of our colleagues to help keep our promises during a year shaped by significant challenges. Children are our role models and inspire us to make choices that make their future world better. This means not only innovating LEGO play but also constantly striving to have a positive impact on environment and society.”

The IKEA Group experienced a notable increase rank in 2023, landing at #24 on this year’s list, up from #52 in 2022. With a 0.9-point increase in Reputation Score and a 1.0-point increase in their Products & Services Score, an indicator of their price-friendly utility in the face of inflation. Inflation remains a top concern internationally, with global average Products & Services Scores down from 1.0-point from 2022, with particular concern on quality for value.

Workplace concerns persists

As a Reputation Driver, Workplace decreased to the lowest Score amongst Drivers in 2023. Widespread layoffs have individual RepTrak Reputation factors including “equal opportunities in the workplace,” “rewards employees fairly,” and “concerned for employee well-being,” decreasing significantly.

When respondents were asked What actions do you want companies to prioritize during a recession? Their top priority was “[Avoiding] staff layoffs.”

But layoffs haven’t lowered employment standards established during the Great Resignation. As part of our Business Outcomes, RepTrak measures Willingness to Work For. In 2023, Work For Scores have decreased. Even in the face of unemployment, worker scrutiny has not let up. It is important for employers to maintain fair and attractive employee benefits, especially as inflation erodes workers’ purchasing power.

“As the Great Resignation concluded and massive layoffs began, both workers and customers want their favorite brands to be good employers,” explains Sonders. “RepTrak data demonstrates a lot is wrong in the world of work, but avoiding layoffs in the face of recession is key in the eyes of stakeholders.”

Additional notable findings:

Reputation was down across industries and across organizations. Results at the individual company level show the same: company scores in the Global RepTrak Top 10 and Top 100 have lower scores than in 2022.
Brand Scores have also decreased, suggesting that branding efforts are losing their way.
Notable increases in rank include Booking.com (+43), Hewlett Packard (+42), Novartis (+32), Honda Motor Company (+31), and Aldi GmbH & Co. KG (+31)
Baby Boomers are the most optimistic generation studied, while Millennials experienced the largest YoY Reputation Score decrease, and Gen Z seems to have settled further into their corporate pessimism

Report and Methodology

RepTrak helps companies understand how stakeholders feel, think, and act towards them, measuring Reputation using a 0-100 scale and tracking how a company is perceived across several Reputation drivers: Products & Services, Innovation, Citizenship, Performance, Governance, Leadership and Workplace. RepTrak’s proprietary measurement system has been developed to allow worldwide application on a normative scale, which enables direct comparison regardless of sector, size, or geography.

For consideration in the 2022 Global RepTrak® 100, a company had to meet the following criteria:

Be a corporate brand with global revenue above USD $2 billion
Achieve a global average familiarity threshold above 20 percent in all fourteen countries measured and a familiarity threshold above 20 percent in seven or more of the fourteen countries measured
Reach a qualifying Reputation Score above the median score (i.e., 67.3 points)

To determine the ranking, The RepTrak Company analyzed Reputation data for several thousand companies which was collected between December 2022 and January 2023 using world-class survey methodology and was enriched by RepTrak’s historical database. Companies that met these criteria were then ranked based on their global Reputation Scores. A company’s corporate Reputation is determined using RepTrak’s proprietary and patent-pending Reputation Score – a score from 0-100 that measures how people feel towards a particular company. Reputation Scores demonstrate a strong positive relationship with business outcomes, such as an audience’s willingness to buy, recommend, or trust a company. The top 100 companies with the highest Reputation Scores made the final ranking.

The Global RepTrak® 100 ranking is based on more than 230,000 ratings collected across the 14 largest economies globally using online surveys. For access to the report, visit https://www.reptrak.com/rankings/

About RepTrak

The RepTrak Company™ is the world’s leading Reputation data and insights company. We provide the only global platform for data-driven insights on Reputation, Brand, and ESG. Our proprietary RepTrak® model is the global standard for measuring and analyzing the sentiment of the world using proven data science models and machine learning techniques across industries and geographies.

Subscribers to the RepTrak® Program use our predictive insights to protect business value, improve return on investment, and increase their positive impact on society.

Established in 2004, The RepTrak Company owns the world’s largest Reputation benchmarking database of over 1 million company ratings per year used by CEOs, boards, and executives in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.reptrak.com.

Contact:

Ali Jawin
pr@reptrak.com

SOURCE: The RepTrak Company

HKTDC launches seven parallel events to cover lifestyle products and licensing

HONG KONG, Apr 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – As Asia's cultural and creativity hub, Hong Kong brings together innovative ideas and design talents. Coupled with the increasing demand of sophisticated consumers in pursuit of excellence, innovation and quality life, various industries such as fashion, lifestyle, product design and licensing are developing rapidly, creating abundant business opportunities.

Hong Kong Exporters Association Chairman Eric Sun; HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee Chairlady Katherine Fang; Home InStyle, Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair, and Gifts & Premium Fair Organising Committee Chairman Jeffrey Lam; HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong and Innovative Entrepreneur Association Vice President David Leung [L-R]

Home InStyle and Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair will feature a brand new Cultural Creative Corner, showcasing designer brands and products with a unique cultural touch.

The InnoFashion and Trade Services zone, one of Fashion InStyle's main highlights, will have 12 exhibitors displaying a wide range of advanced fashion technologies.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will hold a series of exhibitions and conferences this spring, covering various lifestyle sectors. The seven events will run concurrently for the first time, from 19-22 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The events include the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair; Home InStyle (formerly the Hong Kong Houseware Fair); the Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair; Fashion InStyle (formerly Hong Kong Fashion Week); the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair as well as the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference which will end on 21 April. Under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, exhibitors and buyers have the opportunity to participate beyond physical shows, through the intelligent Click2Match platform which will run until 29 April.

Ms Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "Hong Kong is a unique creative and cultural hub where East meets West and the city always excels in creativity. The HKTDC has been committed to promoting creative and design industries, help develop Hong Kong as Asia's city of culture and creativity. This year, the HKTDC gathers a number of large-scale exhibitions in April, covering lifestyle products and licensing to strengthen cross-industry and cross-field cooperation, creating even greater synergy to the industries."

"Since Hong Kong returned to normality, the HKTDC has organised several large-scale trade fairs and forums. Both domestic and international exhibitors and buyers showed support by attending the events physically, which is very encouraging. This time, the six major exhibitions attract over 3,800 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions, with 70% being non-local exhibitors who will participate in person. More than 20 international licensing leaders will also join the Asian Licensing Conference." she added.

The HKTDC invited buyers from all over the world through its 50 global offices, and expected the participation of 170 buying missions from 50 countries and regions – including Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, the Middle East, Germany, France and the United States.

Cultural & Creative Corner to debut at Gifts Fair and Home InStyle

The Hong Kong Houseware Fair has been renamed Home InStyle, in keeping with the latest developments; with the expectation of bringing more design and style-oriented products to buyers. The upcoming Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, and the Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair will draw more than 2,650 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, reaffirming Hong Kong's position as a renowned global hub for lifestyle product procurement. The Gifts & Premium Fair and Home InStyle will feature a brand-new Cultural & Creative Corner, promoting designer brands and products with unique styles. Additionally, the Gifts & Premium Fair will feature pavilions from a range of countries and regions including Mainland China and South Korea. At Home InStyle, a first-time participant – the Industrial Designers Society of Hong Kong (IDSHK) will feature 12 exhibitors and present multiple design-led crossover product series from the ReMIX Program, covering lifestyle items, accessories-decorations, electronic devices, furniture and household essentials. Each product integrates the essence of brand and unique creativity, offering global buyers a glimpse into local design scene.

The fairs will also feature several themed zones. At Home InStyle, the Zhejiang Pavilion will feature unique products from various provincial cities under the Zhejiang Ingenuity: Culture and Quality theme, providing a one-stop sourcing experience for buyers. The mainland's Yuecheng District of Zhejiang Province will debut a pavilion at the Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair.

As branded products have always been popular amongst consumers, the Hall of Fine Designs at the Gifts & Premium Fair and the Hall of Elegance at Home InStyle will present various prominent designers and international brands. In addition, the Hong Kong Exporters Association will set up a pavilion at the Gifts & Premium Fair – featuring 21 local exhibitors and award-winning products from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards.

Several seminars will also be hosted covering various topics. The seminar "Feel the Pulse of the Upcoming Trend in 2023" will delve into the latest consumer trends for this year, as well as the optimisation of business-to-business (B2B) marketing through ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Representatives from the Business Environment Council and local eco-friendly companies will also discuss how to integrate sustainable development into their products. Expert speakers from the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Hong Kong Interior Design Association will share experiences on creative designs; while the Hong Kong Retail Technology Association and several start-up representatives will analyse how e-commerce and metaverse applications can strengthen business resilience.

Fashion technology takes centre stage

In the first quarter of this year, the HKTDC Export Index surged by 9.3 points to reach 39.0, with the clothing industry being the most optimistic, seeing an index jump of 27.7 points to 51.5. As a leading trade show in the Asian fashion and textile industry, Hong Kong Fashion Week, renamed Fashion InStyle, brings together nearly 430 exhibitors covering the entire industry chain from upstream to downstream. The highlighted zone InnoFashion and Trade Services gathers 12 exhibitors demonstrating cutting-edge fashion technologies, including 3D printed fashion, artificial intelligence (AI) and wireless radio frequency identification technology (RFID). One of the exhibitors, AiDLab, will host the Innovation in Design Summit 2023, where industry experts from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the United Kingdom's Royal College of Art will share how AI technology can be applied to the fashion industry. Another exhibitor, Stratasys, will unveil its latest 3D printing textile technology during the seminars. In addition, several fashion shows will be held during fair period, showcasing the latest clothing designs from multiple fashion brands.

The Hong Kong International Printing and Packaging Fair, jointly organised by HKTDC and CIEC Exhibition Company (Hong Kong) Limited, will feature over 450 exhibitors. The highlighted zones, World of DeLuxe PrintPack and Green Printing & Packaging Solutions, will spotlight a wide range of premium and eco-friendly printing and packaging solutions. A series of seminars and forums will be held with industry representatives sharing the latest industry insights and global trends. Topics will include: ESG – Design & Printing; New Technology on Print Color Control: CTV, Going Green: Innovations in Sustainable Packaging; and The Latest Trend in Prepress: IT Innovations for Printing Industry.

Showcasing diversified global licensing projects and unveiling market trends

This year's Hong Kong International Licensing Show will showcase more than 500 licensing projects and brands, featuring top global licensors and licensing agents such as CAA-GBG Global Brands Management Group, MediaLink, Wildbrain CPLG and more. The Licensing Show will feature nine group pavilions – including the Mainland, Macao, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan, presenting unique brands from various regions. Meanwhile, with the dedicated support of CreateHK, the DLAB Hong Kong Pavilion will showcase 45 local original Intellectual Properties (IP) and brands to promote the strength of homegrown design, including SHIBAINC, Falling Cyan, Malut Design and 8EGGS Studio.

Over at the concurrent Asian Licensing Conference, more than 20 experts from the global licensing field will gather to discuss hot topics, including the latest developments in global licensing, location-based marketing (LBM) and sport licensing, keeping participants up-to-date on market trends. Overseas speakers will include Ben Peace, Vice President for the Asia Pacific at WildBrain CPLG (the agency for PEANUTS, Sonic Prime, and the Teletubbies); Maura Regan, President of Licensing International; and Yvonne Chou, Head of Global Marketing at VICTOR Rackets Industrial Corp, (the badminton brand in cooperation with various IPs such as Peanuts, Hello Kitty, One Piece). The Licensing Academy, organised by Licensing International and supported by the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, will host a speaker from Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture. The speaker will share insights on how "royalty-free" marketing creates a win-win licensing model and how the IP of prefecture mascot Kumamon is protected. The event will also feature a session themed "Powering change: Women in innovation and creativity", in the spirit of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day on 26 April.

Related statistics: Hong Kong export performance
2022 | January to February 2023
Houseware 275 billion (-20.8%) | 36.7 billion (-27%)
Home Textiles 560 million (-37%) | 60 million (-41.5%)
Gifts & Premium 177.6 billion (-2.8%) | 27.9 billion (-0.1%)
Clothing 53.5 billion (-19.8%) | 7.9 billion (-16.6%)
Printed Matter 9.9 billion (-37.2%) | 1.2 billion (-45.3%)
Packaging Material 14.5 billion (-33.3%) | 1.7 billion (-45%)

Websites
– The HKTDC's Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
– HK Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/en
– Home InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/homeinstyle/en
– HK Intl' Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkhometextilesfair/en
– Fashion InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/fashioninstyle/en
– HK Intl' Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en
– HK Intl' Licensing Show: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en
– Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/40UVl5f

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org

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

Avantor Named Best Bioprocessing Supplier in Cell and Gene Therapy at the Biopharma Excellence Awards India Edition

Award recognizes Avantor’s outstanding efforts to expand the market reach for life-altering innovative cell and gene therapies

Pune, INDIA, April 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Avantor, Inc., a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences, education and government, advanced technologies and applied materials industries, has been honored with the Best Bioprocessing Supplier Award for Cell and Gene Therapy at the Biopharma Excellence Awards (BEA) India Edition 2023, organized by IMAPAC in Pune, India.

Ganesh Bade – Head of Biopharma India Middle East & Africa (IMEA), Avantor (right) receiving the accolade at the Awards ceremony.

The award recognizes Avantor’s outstanding efforts to support the expansion of life-altering innovative cell and gene therapies to treat complex disease. Avantor is focused on making valuable contributions to cell and gene therapy production and offers expertise, technology capabilities and commitment to providing solutions. Recently, Avantor was also accorded the Best Bioprocessing Company in Chromatography at the Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Awards (ABEA) 2023 held in Singapore.

Ganesh Bade, Head Biopharma India Middle East and Africa (IMEA) at Avantor, said, “Cell and gene therapy is considered a game-changer for the biopharma industry. But the real effort lies in supplying this life altering solution at a reasonable cost to those in need. With high purity production chemicals, sterile fluid transfer systems, cell culture components and excipient technologies, Avantor is advancing the scalability and manufacturability of viral vector production to cell and gene therapies.”

“One of the most revolutionary modalities rising in the biopharmaceutical sector is cell and gene therapies. Avantor offers a comprehensive range of bioprocessing solutions such as media and supplements, single-use technologies, and custom development services to help accelerate the development and commercialization of cell and gene therapies,” said Amit Sehgal, Managing Director, Avantor India. “With this award, we are renewing our commitment to make cell and gene therapy successful and supply it with greater efficacy and reduced risk.”

Avantor provides compliant materials in scalable formats and single-use solutions for viral vector, CAR-T and gene therapies manufacturing, that have the potential to help reduce contamination risk, improve resource efficiency and reduce labor and energy costs. As part of its regulatory support services, Avantor also helps customers navigate the complex regulatory landscape of cell and gene therapy development and commercialization.

The Best Bioprocessing Supplier in Chromatography award recognizes Avantor’s ongoing efforts to provide innovative chromatography solutions that enable biopharmaceutical manufacturers to optimize processes and enhance product quality. With over four decades of experience in bioprocessing, Avantor is committed to addressing the complex challenges of downstream chromatography by providing a comprehensive range of equipment, products and services.

About Avantor

Avantor^®, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 300,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About Bioprocessing Excellence Awards (ABEA) India Edition 2023

The Biopharma Excellence Awards (BEA) India 2023 seeks to recognize exceptional biologics and vaccine experts, organizations and technologies that facilitate vaccine R&D and biologics manufacturing excellence at enhanced speed, reduced cost and superior quality. The BEA India Edition 2023 applauds extraordinary leaders & trendsetters of today and inspires the innovators of tomorrow.

Regional Media Contact:
Christina Koh
Director, Communications – AMEA
Avantor
M: +65 9720 0169
Christina.Koh@avantorsciences.com

ACROMETA Signs Sales & Purchase Agreement for Additional 40% of Life Science Incubator

SINGAPORE, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – ACROMETA Group Limited, an established specialist engineering service provider in the field of controlled environments serving mainly the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia sectors, has entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement ("the Agreement") for an additional 40% of the outstanding shares of Life Sciences Incubator Pte Ltd ("LSI") for a total consideration of S$1.6 million payable in tranches, based on the realisation of agreed milestones in its immediate expansion plan. Upon completion of the purchase, the Group will control 70% of LSI, up from the current 30%.

The Agreement updates and follows from the Letter of Intent ("LOI") announced to SGXNet on 20 February 2023 for the proposed acquisition of an additional 40% stake in LSI.

A site visit to Brisbane and the due diligence carried out by ACROMETA Management have shortlisted the location of the proposed co-working laboratory in Australia as it found it suitable.

Mr Levin Lee Keng Weng, ACROMETA Chairman, said, "Brisbane is a booming hub for the Life Sciences sector in Australia. According to Global Australia[1], a government-industry development agency, Queensland is home to more than 250 life sciences organisations, 85 core biotech companies, and more than 100 biotech-related research organisations.

A whole ecosystem has emerged with clusters of dynamic and innovative SMEs and start-ups either conducting their R&D or supporting the multinationals and research centres focusing on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and specialist healthcare such as gerontology and neurology."

Mr Lee added, "The demand for co-working laboratory space is strong. The performance milestones for the payment in tranches agreed to by the Vendor indicate that both the Purchaser and the Vendor have confidence in the co-working laboratory business in Australia and Singapore.

The proposed additional co-working laboratory space in Singapore is to cater for expected growth in demand. In addition, as Singapore transforms its economy towards high-value sectors, more and more SMEs and start-ups conducting their R & D will require co-working laboratory space."

This Media Release is to be read in conjunction with the announcement on SGXNet on 31 March 2023.

[1] https://www.globalaustralia.gov.au/industries/health-and-life-sciences

About ACROMETA Group Limited (SGX Stock Code:43F)

ACROMETA (Previously known as ACROMEC Limited) is an established specialist engineering services provider with more than 25 years of experience in the field of controlled environments.

The Group has, over the years, acquired expertise in the design and construction of facilities requiring controlled environments such as laboratories, medical and sterile facilities and cleanrooms.

ACROMETA's business is divided into three main business segments: (i) Engineering, procurement, and construction services, specialising in architectural, and mechanical, electrical, and process works within controlled environments; (ii) Maintenance and repair services of facilities and equipment of controlled environments and their supporting infrastructure. (iii) Co-Working Laboratory business; currently operates a 6,500 sq feet co-working laboratory space at The German Centre in Singapore serving SMEs and start-ups.

The Group mainly serves the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia, and electronics sectors. ACROMETA's customers include hospitals and medical centres, government agencies, research and development companies or agencies, research and development units of multinational corporations, tertiary educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor manufacturing companies, and multinational engineering companies.

The Company has been listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange since 2016. For more information, please visit www.acrometa.com

Media and Analysts Contact:

ACROMETA Group Limited
Mr. Jerry Tan
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +65 6415 0574
Email: jerry.tan@acromec.com

Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd
Mr. Wayne Koo
Tel: +65 6958 8008 / +65 9338 8166
Email: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg
Email: query@waterbrooks.com.sg

This media release has been reviewed by the Company's sponsor, Evolve Capital Advisory Private Limited (the "Sponsor"). It has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "Exchange"), and the Exchange assumes no responsibility for the contents of this document, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this document.

The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr. Jerry Chua, 138 Robinson Road, #13-02 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906, jerrychua@evolvecapitalasia.com

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

Expand Investment in Science and Technology and Empower Industry Development, Legend Holdings Realized Revenue of RMB483.7 billion by 2022

HONG KONG, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Legend Holdings Corporation (stock code: 3396.HK) announced its audited annual results for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the "Reporting Period") on March 31, 2023. During the Reporting Period, Legend Holdings achieved revenue of RMB483.7 billion and net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company of RMB1.167 billion.

In 2022, uncertainties in the international situation continued to increase, including rising global inflation and significant volatility in international financial markets and commodity markets, which also had a significant impact on the Company's performance. The industrial incubations and investments segment successfully promoted the listing of over 60 enterprises in the last three years, among the best in the industry. However, as these investments were measured at fair value, the segment's performance was affected by the volatility of the capital market; in addition, Joyvio Group made a provision for goodwill and asset impairment in 2022 year due to factors such as rising operating costs caused by the increase in raw material prices and the interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Facing the challenges, the company carefully studied the layout and solidly promoted its strategy to strengthen its competitive ability while stabilizing its fundamentals and ensuring sustainable profitability.

Mr. Li Peng, Executive Director and CEO of Legend Holdings, said that during the reporting period, the company's performance recorded a considerable decrease, but the company insisted on the goal of achieving high-quality development, with "industrial operation and technological innovation" as the core of its long-term development strategy. The company's fundamentals are sound, and certain enterprises in the industrial operations and incubations & investments sectors have good long-term growth potential. The main task now is to further strengthen the existing business foundation and enhance industrial competitiveness, while actively adjusting the business portfolio and optimizing the business model to improve shareholders' returns. During the reporting period, the industrial operations segment overcame various unfavorable factors and continued to promote management improvement and operation enhancement; the industrial incubations and investments segment focused on national key fields, supporting independent innovation and industrial chain upgrades, promoting the development of specialized and innovative enterprises, and linking economic chains in line with the dual circulation strategy. At the same time, the company continued to increase investment in scientific research and frontier layout, grasp green opportunities, promote energy saving and carbon reduction, and make positive progress in various businesses.

Driven by Technological Innovation, Continuously Expand R&D Investment in Frontier Technologies

In the current context of China's implementation of science and technology innovation to lead high-quality development, Legend Holdings grasps the opportunities of the times and has been constantly improving its enterprise-led innovation system based on partnership among industry, academia and research institutes, and shaping a collaborative and efficient innovation pattern with specialized and innovative enterprises to promote the sustainable development of the enterprises.

In 2022, R&D expenses within the Legend Holdings system increased 21% year-on-year to RMB15.3 billion, with total R&D expenses of RMB37.8 billion in the past three years, representing a compound annual growth rate of 27%, with over 20,000 licensed patents, maintaining a leading position among large Chinese enterprises. Lenovo Group boosted its R&D investment by 21% year-on-year and has nine labs including artificial intelligence and enterprise cloud computing. The investment in R&D of Levima Advanced Materials increased by 21% year-on-year, and applied for 53 patents and obtained 58 granted patents during the reporting period. It focused on investment in the layout of high-end new materials, and achieved a breakthrough in the domestic production of electronic-grade hydrogen chloride and chlorine products after taking the lead in achieving the local substitution of photovoltaic film materials. The "20,000 tons/year UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene) project" is expected to be put into operation in mid-2023, with the aim of reducing the UHMWPE import over-dependence. Fullhan Microelectronics' R&D investment increased by 20% year-on-year, mainly in chip R&D field, with R&D staff comprising 85% of its workforce.

At the same time, Legend Holdings also promoted its funds to closely follow China's national industrial plans and policy guidance and to intensively invest in national strategic industries, such as next-generation information technology, chips, new energy, new materials and AI. In 2022, the funds invested in almost 150 technology companies, and a total of 95 have been selected for the national list of specialized and innovative enterprises.

In the future, Legend Holdings will further focus on technological innovation when exploring new industrial areas and allocating resources, and will make long-term commitments in selected industries. The Company has set up the innovation and development center and planned to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with top universities and international institutions on early-stage technologies in key innovation areas.

Solidly Consolidate the Real Industry and Take Measures to Enhance the Quality and Efficiency of Real Economy

In 2022, Legend Holdings consolidated its business fundamentals, and withstood external challenges through management improvements and operational enhancements to ensure the steady progress of all businesses.

In the industrial operations segment, Lenovo Group continued to top the global PC business and was the world's No. 1 supercomputing maker, while at the same time, it fully promoted the transformation of its business to intelligent services, with the revenue share of non-PC business exceeding 40%. Among them, the Infrastructure Solutions Group has achieved rapid growth by grasping the trend of accelerated transformation of the global digital economy and the opportunity of the new computing revolution; the Solutions & Services Group, as the core business of digital and smart transformation, continues to maintain growth momentum.

Levima Advanced Materials maintained its leading edge in the new materials niche market, and expanded into new business areas to seize the opportunity of green development. During the Reporting Period, it completed the technical upgrade and capacity expansion of its EVA devices to further enhance operational efficiency, and several key projects were progressing ahead on track. The project covering lithium battery electrolyte materials completed its interim delivery and is about to be put into operation. Levima also entered the field of electronic materials by investing in electronic specialty gas. Construction of projects covering new energy materials for battery and biodegradable materials are progressing into the construction phase. The "New Energy Materials and Biodegradable Materials Integration Project" has obtained approval and is now under construction in an orderly manner.

Banque Internationale a Luxembourg ("BIL") has responded well to the challenges of the European economy and achieved good growth in all business indicators, while continuing to vigorously promote its business in China, helping Chinese enterprises issue overseas green bonds and contributing to the development of green finance; the bank's CET-1 ratio was 13.35% and its international credit ratings remained high. Joyvio Group's fruit business continued to reinforce its vertically integrated supply chain and core product strategy, and stepped up the development of new e-commerce retail channels.

On the other hand, a number of companies in the industrial incubations and investments segment have maintained their leading positions and steady development in their respective industries.

At the same time, Legend Holdings is also committed to promoting its portfolio companies to give full play to their advantages to empower the real economy.

Lenovo has been named to Gartner's Global Top 25 Supply Chain ranking for eight consecutive years and was the only Asia-Pacific high-tech manufacturer on the list, with more than 850 manufacturing suppliers, promoting mutual development with SMEs along the industrial chain. In 2022, its manufacturing bases in Tianjin and Shenzhen commenced operations, and its Hefei base was recognized as a "lighthouse" factory by the World Economic Forum. Its new IT solutions to intelligent transformation were successfully deployed by nearly 1,000 companies across various sectors.

Promote Green Development, Help Rural Revitalization and Increase Investment in Public Welfare of Science and Technology

As a company growing up under the system of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Legend Holdings has been actively focusing on public welfare investment in the field of science and technology. In 2022, the company entered into a donation agreement with University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Education Foundation (UCASEF) to donate RMB60 million to set up the Scientific and Technological Innovation Project Fund of Legend Holdings, specifically for nurturing of the talents and basic researches in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, new materials and biotechnology of UCAS. Legend Capital has also set up the " Legend Capital Scholars Program" to help the construction of China's innovative talents; Lenovo Group has reached cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tsinghua University and initiated donations to help the cultivation of R&D talents in universities.

Rural revitalization is an important part of Legend Holdings' corporate social responsibility. In terms of industry, the company has cooperated with the China Women's Development Foundation since 2018 to help women from low-income rural families to start businesses with local features through the "Revolving Fund for Mothers Project", helping the local community to move towards the development path of quality-boosting agriculture, green-boosting agriculture and benefit-first. In terms of talents, the company has established Legend Holdings Rural Education Fund since 2004 to focus on rural education on an ongoing basis, helping students with limited family financial conditions realize their dreams of attending university.

The company continued to promote the focus on green and low-carbon development within the system, in active respond to the carbon peak and carbon neutrality strategy of the country. Lenovo is the first domestic high-tech manufacturer to pass the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) net-zero target validation, its Wuhan manufacturing base obtained the ICT industry's first zero-carbon factory certificate, while its Tianjin industrial park completed a pilot project that met the ICT industry's zero-carbon factory standard. As the "National Green Factory", Levima Advanced Materials has improved self-sufficiency in terms of core raw materials in the photovoltaic industry, and landed its new biodegradable material PPC project. In addition, a number of portfolio companies of Legend Holdings have also helped to achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality through green finance.

In addition, the public welfare program "Legend Star Entrepreneurial CEO Training Course" established by the company in 2008 has trained more than 1,000 innovative and entrepreneurial talents, and 50 of the enterprises founded by the trainees have been successfully listed and 73 have been selected as national specialized and innovative enterprises.

Grasping the opportunities of the times and working hard to make contributions to high-quality development

In 2023, Legend Holdings will continue to actively improve asset quality and solidify business fundamentals through substantive investment management and services. Focusing on the long-term development, it will improve the business to position it for steady growth. In the industrial incubations and investments segment, technological innovation remains a key area. While safeguarding against potential volatility in the capital markets, the company will be creative and strive to discover new values. At the same time, the company will also take a positive attitude and innovative approaches to further adjust its business portfolio, realize returns, and find new opportunities for strategic layout, especially in the field of science and technology innovation. Meanwhile, it will further optimize the organization development, increase the introduction of scientific and technological talents, and improve and enhance the human resource structure.

Despite the evolving international situation, China's long-term positive fundamentals will not change, and Legend Holdings' prospects are promising in deploying the country's major strategic initiatives. The company will closely follow the national strategy of achieving high-quality development driven by technological innovation, carry out "Industrial operations and technological innovation", and continue to fulfill the corporate social responsibility at a strategic level, advancing the ESG work in the system.

Mr. Ning Min, Chairman and Executive Director of Legend Holdings, said that in 2022, facing the great uncertainties and challenges brought about by global changes, Legend Holdings, while consolidating its business fundamentals, insisted on strengthening investments in science and technology innovation and promoting the development of real economy, to overcome difficulties with toughness and ride out the storm, further consolidating the foundation for long-term corporate development. 2023 is the opening year of the comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. With the successful convening of the Central Economic Work Conference and the gradual emergence of the effects of various policies, China's economy once again is enjoying a broader space for development. Legend Holdings will work together to seize the opportunity, continue to give full play to the enthusiasm and creativity of all employees, adhere to innovation orientation, promote industrial upgrading, work hard, actively participate in the overall high-quality national development, and continuously contribute to the construction of Chinese path to modernization.

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

Palladium One Announces Strategic Equity Investment by Glencore

TORONTO, ON, Mar 30, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Palladium One Mining (TSXV: PDM) (FSE: 7N11) (OTCQB: NKORF) ("Palladium One" or "PDM") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a subscription agreement for a C$4,252,050 non-brokered private placement financing (the "Private Placement") with a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore plc ("Glencore"). Pursuant to the Private Placement, PDM will issue 28,347,000 common shares ("Common Shares") at C$0.15 per Common Share. Upon completion of the Private Placement, Glencore will own approximately 9.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis.

"We welcome Glencore as a shareholder and are pleased that our efforts to build a portfolio of nickel – copper sulphide projects in Tier 1 jurisdictions has been recognized and endorsed by an industry leader. We believe this transaction highlights the deep discount to fundamental value and strategy that PDM's shares represent.

"By utilizing its financial resources and expertise Palladium One will continue to execute its strategy of maximizing exposure to critical minerals on a per share basis.

"We look forward to working with Glencore's exploration team to advance our common exploration and development goals," commented Derrick Weyrauch, Chief Executive Officer of PDM.

"We are very pleased to become a cornerstone investor in Palladium One. The management team has been able to put together a sizeable land package focused on critical minerals. The exploration results to date have been very encouraging and we look forward to working with Palladium One to build on the success the team has had to date," commented Wayne Ashworth, Head of Nickel Assets for Glencore.

Net proceeds of the Private Placement are intended to be used for exploration and development activities at the Company's nickel projects, for future exploration and development activities, working capital and general and administrative expenses.

In connection with the Private Placement, Palladium One and Glencore will enter into an investor rights agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which Glencore will be entitled to certain customary rights including participation rights on future equity security issuances and a right to nominate an individual to the technical committee of Palladium One (such committee will be formed on execution of this investment). Under the Investor Rights Agreement, Glencore will agree to certain customary transfer and standstill restrictions.

The Private Placement is expected to close on or about April 11, 2023, subject to customary conditions, including acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. The Common Shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws. No commissions or finder fees are payable in connection with the Private Placement.

About Palladium One

Palladium One Mining Inc. (TSXV: PDM) is focused on discovering environmentally and socially conscious Metals for Green Transportation. A Canadian mineral exploration and development company, Palladium One is targeting district scale, platinum-group-element (PGE)-copper-nickel deposits in Canada and Finland. The Lantinen Koillismaa (LK) Project in north-central Finland, is a PGE-copper-nickel project that has existing NI43-101 Mineral Resources, while both the Tyko and Canalask high-grade nickel-copper projects are located in Ontario and the Yukon, Canada, respectively. Follow Palladium One on LinkedIn, Twitter, and at www.palladiumoneinc.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Derrick Weyrauch"
President & CEO, Director

For further information contact:
Derrick Weyrauch, President & CEO
Email: info@palladiumoneinc.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America. The common shares of Palladium One Mining Inc. have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration.

Information set forth in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the proposed Private Placement; expected future attributes, capitalization and strategy of Palladium One following the completion of the Private Placement; the anticipated benefits of, and rationale for, the Private Placement; plans, strategies and initiatives for Palladium One; terms and conditions of the Separation, including the expected use of proceeds of the Private Placement; the anticipated timing for completion of the Private Placement; the terms and conditions of the Investor Rights Agreement; and other statements that are not historical facts.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in palladium and other commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume; and tax consequences to Canadian and U.S. Shareholders. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

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

First-of-its-kind study explores the minds of CEOs in managing cyber risk and provides a playbook on how they can improve

Drawing on 37 in-depth interviews with global CEOs, nine of whom had endured a serious cyberattack, researchers uncover the emotions and struggles in properly managing cyber risk.

Singapore, Mar 30, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – ISTARI, a Temasek-founded global cybersecurity firm dedicated to helping clients build cyber resilience, and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford today revealed the findings of their joint CEO Report on Cyber Resilience. The report applies a top-management lens to cybersecurity risks and underscores the critical role CEOs play in building cyber resilience.

It shares insights from thirty-seven, one-hour-long face-to-face interviews with American, Asian and European CEOs whose businesses’ average annual revenue is $12 billion, employing an average of 40,000 employees. One-third of the interviewees are from Asia. Nine of the CEOs interviewed had guided their company through a serious cyberattack.

When cyberattacks happen, CEOs are inevitably at the centre of the incident and act as the face of the company. And in a cyber climate where cyberattacks have become a question of “when” and not “if”—with the Asia Pacific region facing the highest number of cyber-attacks in 2022—CEOs are naturally expected to take accountability when such unfortunate incidents occur.

What CEOs really think about cyber risk: secret fears, uncertainty and discomfort

Under the condition of anonymity, the CEOs spoke with remarkable honesty about their feelings, frustrations and regrets about cyber threats and security.

The CEOs acknowledged that they are formally answerable to regulators, shareholders and their boards for cybersecurity. Yet the majority (72%) said they were uncomfortable making decisions about it, often leading them to delegate responsibility for, and understanding of, cybersecurity to their technology teams, which can jeopardise resilience.

Co-author of the report, Dr Manuel Hepfer, Head of Knowledge and Insights at ISTARI and a Research Affiliate at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, says: “Many CEOs we spoke with highlighted the agonies of having to make existential decisions on imperfect information under extreme pressure in an area they lack familiarity and intuition.”

Four mindsets CEOs need to lead cyber resilient businesses

The study outlines four mindsets CEOs should adopt to build cyber resilience:

All CEOs interviewed said they feel accountable for cybersecurity. However, a parallel ISTARI survey of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) found one in two European (50%) and almost a third of US (30%) CISOs did not believe that their CEOs feel accountable. This gap in perception, according to the research, lies partly in the meaning of accountability: instead of seeing themselves as accountable – being the face of the mistake – CEOs should assume co-responsibility for cyber resilience together with their CISO.
CEOs should stay away from blindly trusting their technology teams. Instead, they should move to a state of informed trust about their enterprise’s cyber resilience maturity.
CEOs should embrace what the authors call the ‘preparedness paradox’: an inverse relationship between the perception of preparedness and resilience – the better-prepared CEOs think their organisation is for a serious cyberattack, the less resilient their organisation likely is, in reality.
CEOs should adapt their communication styles to regulate pressure from external stakeholders who have different and sometimes conflicting demands. Depending on the stakeholder and the situation, CEOs should either be a transmitter, filter, absorber or amplifier of pressure.

“Put down your phones”

Leaders who have endured a cyberattack feel strongly about helping others avoid some of the mistakes they have made. As one CEO said: “Whenever I speak to a group of CEOs to share my learnings from the cyberattack, I start by saying, ‘put down your phones for 15 minutes, you’ll want to listen carefully to what I have to tell you’.“

Rashmy Chatterjee, a co-author of the report and CEO of ISTARI, said: “It is self-evident that the impacts of a cyberattack go beyond IT. But, as our research shows, CEOs struggle to know how to lead their organisations’ responses. From these candid conversations, we can better answer what their role should be and fill the gap in what CEOs need to do to build and command cyber resilient organisations.”

The second part of the report synthesises such advice in a playbook for CEOs wanting to build cyber resilience in their enterprises, laying out specific steps CEOs can personally take to anticipate, withstand, respond and adapt to serious cyberattacks.

Michael Smets, co-author and Professor of Management at Saïd Business School said: “The fact that all CEOs in our study felt accountable for cybersecurity, but less than a third of them felt comfortable making decisions in that area reveals an alarming gap. To build cyber resilience, CEOs must close that gap. This report offers a first playbook to help CEOs do so.”

To discover more about how CEOs can build a cyber resilient organisation, read the full report.

About ISTARI

Established in 2020 by Temasek, an investment company headquartered in Singapore, ISTARI has a unique model. It is an advisory practice, investor and educator through its Academy. ISTARI harnesses the collective power of the world’s leading cybersecurity companies, experts and knowledge to work alongside clients on their journey to becoming digitally resilient. The ISTARI Collective includes Sygnia, BlueVoyant, Axio, Ensign InfoSecurity (EIS), Claroty, Armis, Prevalent AI and Sonrai Security. Headquartered in London, ISTARI has a global presence in the US, Europe and Singapore. To learn more, visit www.istari-global.com

About Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford blends the best of new and old. We are a young, vibrant, and entrepreneurial business school deeply embedded in the world’s most prestigious university. We deliver cutting-edge education and ground-breaking research that transform individuals, organisations, business practice, and society. We educate people for successful business careers and, as a community, we seek to harness our collective expertise and knowledge to help solve pressing global issues such as demographic change, natural resource scarcity and technological challenges. www.sbs.oxford.edu

Media Contacts:

PINPOINT PR Singapore

Jill Ilao
Email: jill@pinpointpr.sg | Phone: +63 915 437 3619

Windy Oktaviani
Email: windy@pinpointpr.sg | Phone: +62 811 910 9266

Bintai Kinden Pressures Melaka Government on Unimel Project Payments

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Mar 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, which has been classified as an affected listed issuer pursuant to Para 2.1(f) of Practice Note 17 (PN17) of the listing requirements of the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Bursa Securities), is pressuring the Melaka government for not taking action to address payments owed the Company from the Universiti Melaka (UNIMEL) project resulting in the default of an RM109.0 million Islamic financing facility.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden

The PN17 classification came after MBSB Bank Berhad (MBSB) issued a notice of termination dated 29 March 2023 to Bintai Kinden as the corporate guarantor and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Optimal Property Management Sdn Bhd (OPM), as the borrower in respect of RM109.0 million in Islamic banking facilities in which the Company and/or OPM has defaulted on.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, "We are being victimised into PN17 status because the Melaka government has not seen fit despite a series of meetings to take action to address the RM49.8 million owed to OPM by Kolej Teknologi Islam Melaka Berhad (KTIMB) for the construction of the UNIMEL student campus accommodation."

KTIMB is the operator of UNIMEL, which had awarded a contract via a concession agreement to OPM in early 2016 valued at RM121.0 million to construct student accommodation for the campus. The 25-year concession agreement comprised three years of construction and 22 years of maintenance services in which KTIMB is obliged to pay OPM for the upkeep of the campus accommodation. OPM had taken a 17-year tenure Islamic financing facility of RM109.0 million with MBSB to part-finance the UNIMEL campus accommodation project, which was completed in 2019.

"We have also sent various reminders to KTIMB as well as Melaka Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI Melaka) on the matter. Let us be clear that despite non-payment or irregular payments by the parties, Bintai Kinden has been honouring its debt to MBSB and has paid RM18.6 million from March 2021 to December 2022 towards the financing facility despite collecting only RM3.7 million from KTIMB."

"Bintai Kinden would like to appeal to the Prime Minister to seek redress on this issue for the sake of the UNIMEL students, as we have been trying our best to maintain the campus accommodation. CMI Melaka is obliged to top-up any shortfall in the payments as part of the financing facility agreement with MBSB but the top-ups have been inadequate while KTIMB, which was required as part of the concession agreement to pledge land or properties with a market value of not less than RM42.5 million to safeguard Bintai Kinden's credit risk, has not done so."

Pursuant to the PN17 classification, Bintai Kinden is required to announce within three months of today's announcement on whether the regularisation plan will result in a significant change in its business direction or policy and, within 12 months of today's announcement, to submit a regularisation plan to the Securities Commission ("SC") if the plan will result in a significant change in the business direction or policy of the Company and to complete the implementation of the plan within such timeframe as prescribed by the SC or, submit a regularisation plan to Bursa Securities if the plan will not result in a significant change in the business direction or policy as well as complete the implementation of the plan within such timeframe as prescribed.

Bintai Kinden reassures stakeholders that its other businesses such as the Mechanical & Engineering and Oil & Gas are running as usual. The Company has total unbilled orderbook to RM142.95million.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

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

Society Pass’ (Nasdaq: SOPA) Thoughtful Media Group Launches in Vietnam Market, Revolutionizing the Creator Economy with Integrated Marketing Services

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM, Mar 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia (SEA)'s next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, announces the official launch of its digital advertising platform, Thoughtful Media Group Inc (TMG), in the Vietnamese market.

Founded in 2010, TMG pioneered the use of multi-channel network for content creators in the Asian market. After being acquired by SOPA in July 2022, TMG has transformed into a multi-platform integrated advertising platform connecting content creators and brands.

With headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, TMG has expanded its ecosystem of integrated advertising services to include Vietnam and Indonesia. Through a network of talented creators across multiple industries, TMG assists brands and merchants to build their businesses from awareness to effective conversion.

Mr. Rokas Sidlauskas, Chief Marketing Officer of SOPA Group, announced the launch of TMG in Vietnam, stating, "After almost one year of being acquired and joining the SOPA ecosystem, TMG has become a vital part of our integrated advertising and digital strategy. As a digital marketing powerhouse, TMG not only provides innovative marketing and branding services, but also helps other ventures in the SOPA ecosystem grow and acquire customers faster. Through strategic partnerships with SOPA's sister companies in other verticals, TMG generates additional benefits for users, such as our leading lifestyle platform Leflair. By partnering with TMG, Leflair leverages the TMG network of talented creators to review and sell their products across multiple online platforms like Youtube and Tiktok. SOPA is fully committed to the growth of TMG in SEA, and we are excited to see the innovative marketing campaigns that the new TMG after restructuring will bring to the region."

"Cultivating Vietnam's vast potential in the digital transformation is at the forefront of TMG's mission," said Thao Ngo, Representative of TMG Vietnam. "With our wealth of experience and deep understanding of the local Vietnamese market, TMG Vietnam provides brands and advertisers with top-notch services to maximise the effectiveness of their marketing budgets. By offering strategic advice and premium advertising services, TMG connects brands with consumers more efficiently, enabling them to expand their marketing businesses and tap into the full potential of the region."

Since joining the SOPA ecosystem, TMG has gained access to greater financial resources and technological capabilities of its parent company. And this access has enabled TMG to expand rapidly into new markets, upgrade its service offerings. Following its corporate restructuring, TMG has become a fully integrated marketing powerhouse with four core businesses: Online Platforms, Premium Brands, Social-selling, and Sports Marketing.

With its unique values of technological innovation, diverse content, and approaches through a network of talented creators, TMG Vietnam attracts bright talents, create and introduce them to the market through strategic content directions and massive online reach. TMG's premium marketing services help brands interact with consumers more effectively, thereby boosting business performances and bringing the awareness of those companies beyond Vietnam and out to the region.

About Thoughtful Media Group (TMG)

Founded in 2010, Thoughtful Media Group is a leading digital advertising platform in SEA. Through our network of talented creators across multiple industries in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, we help brands maximise marketing budgets and achieve business objectives through some of the most innovative marketing campaigns in the region.

In 2022, Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA), the next generation acquisition-focused fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in SEA, acquired Thoughtful Media Group. Since then, TMG has fully evolved into a digital-first and fully integrated advertising powerhouse.

For more information, please visit:
Website at www.thoughtfulmedia.com
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoughtful-media-group-inc or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thoughtfulmedia/ or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thoughtfulmediaasia or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/ThoughtfulMedia.

About Society Pass

Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please visit:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Media Contact:
Public Relations Representative
Ms. Ha Nguyen – 0903 988579
hanguyen@sunrisesvn.com

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