Category: Business

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 2 July 2020 - Luxury hotels and resorts have always
positioned seclusion, exclusivity and a host of wellness options as touchpoints
in their offerings. Moving forward, the Covid-19 pandemic begs the question of
whether the travel industry will follow suit.

 

With over two decades of experience in the
business of luxury travel and private equity, Olivier Jolivet, CEO of COMO
Group, is one of the far and few professionals fit to divulge the future of
luxury travel in a post-pandemic world.

 

Supporting COMO's Community & Employees

COMO's brand DNA is not without its focus on
well-being. Through its social media channels and Stories newsletters, COMO has
been reaching out to those staying at home during the period. The
organisation's group of therapists are also plugged into improving wellness,
both physically and mentally, in employees and communities.

 

Likewise, in the spirit of support and
sensitivity, COMO waives all of its cancellation fees - offering the option of
either reimbursement or postponement of travel dates to 2021. Retaining their
employees is also part of the efforts despite closing off 90 percent of their
hotels.

 

Extending the commitment to well-being
beyond COMO's direct influence, food, supplies and beds have been provided to
healthcare organisations to aid front liners in the fight against the pandemic.

 

Travel & Its Future in a Post Covid-19
World

As unprecedented as it is, the Covid-19
crisis is unfolding at the pinnacle of travel - causing ripple effects onto
international travel and even putting a stop to it momentarily. To Olivier,
luxury travel has always been about space, privacy and choice. This cannot be
farther from truth in what constitutes our new normal.

 

Given our current and recent experiences,
Olivier considers that travellers tomorrow may opt for smaller groups, more
intimate locations and specialised offerings instead of 300-bedroom hotels. In
this respect, destination-focused hotels, unique suites and wellness programs
have always formed the nucleus of COMO's business model.

 

Intentionally so, the vision COMO's founder,
Christina Ong, had 30 years ago has led the brand to unrivalled success and
certainly so, not by chance. As Olivier calls it, the COMO model for modern
travel and living is, without a doubt, significant in today's context.

 

Although relevance is key to staying in
business, Olivier believes that it isn't the right time for a new marketing
decision - at least for COMO. He advises against remodelling messaging -
indicating that crises are not opportunities and using them in that way can be
unfortunate.

 

Mitigating Covid-19 Impacts on the Travel Industry

It all starts with your brand DNA, remarks
Olivier. How it relates to the environment you operate in, people you serve -
from employees and guests to stake-holders present - factors in your crisis
management.

 

Cushioning the impact of a crisis of this
scale requires intervention in some form. If the government is financially
capable, monetary initiatives point in the right direction for repair and
recovery. Still, this could be an issue for emerging economies.

 

This article is originally inspired by Robb Report Singapore.

COMO Hotels and Resorts

Media Contact:

Chris Orlikowski - chris.orlikowski@comohotels.com

“Dialog and proximity to our customers help us react quickly to changing market conditions, especially in times of the Corona crisis,” said Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain.

 

BONN, GERMANY - Media OutReach - 2 July 2020 - DHL, part of the world's leading logistics company Deutsche Post DHL Group, has been positioned as a Leader by Gartner, Inc., the world's leading research and advisory company, in its June 2020 Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics, Worldwide. Both DHL divisions, DHL Supply Chain and DHL Global Forwarding, were considered within this research.

 

"We fundamentally believe in putting our customers at the heart of our business" said Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain and Member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Post DHL Group. "We develop the most effective solutions when we step beyond being a logistics service provider and invest in really understanding the challenges our customers are facing as their partner. To do this ongoing dialogue and proximity to our customers are key -- especially in times of the Corona virus with all the additional demands that brings. Reliability and flexibility are crucial. That is the only way to quickly react to changing market conditions, balance volume fluctuations and, if necessary, set up entirely new supply chains fast."

 

Tim  Scharwath, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding and Member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Post DHL Group added: "The forwarding solutions offered by DHL Global Forwarding around the globe have been just as crucial as the right supply chain management, warehousing, transport and strategic consulting provided by DHL Supply Chain. I am particularly pleased that DHL has been recognized in this report."

 

De Bok added: "Our various e-Commerce offerings are an area of significant commitment for us alongside our business partners. As a division of brands, we receive top marks from our customers year over year. In addition to this, Gartner, Inc. has again named DHL a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics, Worldwide."

 

DHL is one of 16 international companies recognized in this report that Gartner, evaluated based on completeness of vision and ability to execute. In 2020, DHL is positioned highest for the ability to execute.

 

Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics, Worldwide," David Gonzalez, et al, 10 June 2020

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

 

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world".

 

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 63 billion euros in 2019. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.

 

On the Internet: dpdhl.de/press

Follow us at: twitter.com/DeutschePostDHL

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 2 July, 2020 - FWD Management Holdings Limited, the Hong Kong registered business of FWD Group, is delighted to announce it has completed the acquisition of MetLife Limited and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of Hong Kong Limited from MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET).

 

The acquisition further strengthens FWD's presence, market share, and distribution synergies in the Hong Kong insurance market, as well as underlines the company's continued confidence in the long-term growth potential of Hong Kong.  FWD looks forward to officially welcoming the employees, agents, business partners and customers of MetLife Limited and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of Hong Kong Limited (collectively "MetLife Hong Kong") in due course. 

 

FWD will be renaming and rebranding the newly acquired businesses in the next few months.  At the same time, MetLife Hong Kong will continue to operate through all its existing channels across its businesses.  All existing MetLife Hong Kong policies will continue to be honoured by FWD following the change in ownership.

Huynh Thanh Phong, FWD Group Chief Executive Officer said, "This acquisition is a firm testament to our confidence in the long-term growth and potential of the Hong Kong insurance market and enhances our reach and platform in our flagship market. I'm very proud of our team who have worked tirelessly to successfully complete yet another landmark acquisition in our journey to become a leading pan-Asian insurer and look forward to welcoming our newest employees, agents, partners and customers from MetLife Hong Kong."

 

Ken Lau, FWD Greater China Managing Director and Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer said, "This is another milestone day for FWD as completing the MetLife Hong Kong acquisition gives us an opportunity to share our unique and leading customer experience with even more customers in Hong Kong.  I'm excited to take on new challenges with our expanded Hong Kong team and look forward to welcoming MetLife Hong Kong agents and employees as we continue to change the way people feel about insurance."

About FWD Group

FWD Group spans Hong Kong & Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, employee benefits, Shariah and Family Takaful products across a number of its markets.

FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD aims to become a leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance.

Established in Asia in 2013, FWD is the insurance business of investment group, Pacific Century Group.

For more information please visit  WWW.FWD.COM and WWW.FWD.COM.HK .

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - EQS Newswire - July 1^st, 2020 - The African Energy Chamber takes notes of recent initiatives taken by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to support Africa's energy transition and salutes the leadership of the IEA in this dialogue. Such conversations notably echo the Chamber's recent statement on African Lives Matter, questioning the OECD and IEA's recent call to phase out fossil fuels. While the conversation of Africa's energy transition continues, the Chamber reiterates its support to inclusive dialogues that take into account the realities of African economies and of energy poverty.

Image Link: https://bit.ly/3glEdi1

Unfortunately, the Africa Ministerial Roundtable organized this week has sidelined key stakeholders and actors within Africa's energy sector, preventing its ability to be truly inclusive and impactful on the ground. Africa's energy transition will not be possible without the inclusion, and participation of, the continent's petroleum and gas ministries and companies.

The Chamber strongly believes that key institutions like the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), led by its Secretary General Dr. Farouk Ibrahim, need to be part of this dialogue, along with representatives of the petroleum ministries of producing countries such as Algeria, Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial, Libya, Congo or Gabon and key National Oil Companies such as Sonatrach, GEPetrol, Gabon Oil, NNPC or Sonangol. The African private sector was not invited while we note the invitation and participation an international oil company. Given the importance of the oil & gas sector for several African economies, the Chamber questions the relevance of an energy debate that would exclude them from the conversation.

"Energy poverty is as real as climate change, and the global debate on Africa's energy transition tends to forget that hundreds of millions of African have no access to energy and still rely on firewood for cooking. Their needs must be at the center of the energy transition debate, which should not be made at the expense of any particular source of energy," stated Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber. "This generation of Africans are not tickled by foreign aid and handouts that resulted in poor governance and mismanagement. Jobs, sustainable power and gas that drives development, along strong market-driven economies, are what Africans want. In order to accomplish a true African energy transition, petroleum producing countries, their National Oil Companies, civil society, African entrepreneurs and independent producing companies need to have a seat at the table," he added.

The African Energy Chamber remains concerned that global conversations on Africa's energy transition would result in a new foreign aid narrative by which Western stakeholders and investors would blindly push a renewable energy agenda at the expense of proper private sector-led development supporting jobs and entrepreneurship. While the Chamber strongly supports diversified energy mixes and wishes to see cleaner energy developments across Africa, solar and wind projects are still relying on global value chains which restrain their ability to support local content development. As a result, most solar and wind projects in the continent continue to have local content participation of less than 50%. Such issues need to be at the core of the energy transition debate so Africa's cleaner future does not serve only the interests of big multinational corporations but also translates into private sector development and opportunities in Africa. It is time to put the voices of African businesses at the center of the debate.

As Africa seeks new ways to develop and grow in a post Covid-19 world, let's remember the words of Nelson Mandela: "Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom. Do not look the other way; do not hesitate. Recognise that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision."

SINGAPORE - Media
OutReach - 1 July 2020 - Dataxet, a data intelligence company, has
announced that it has acquired Sonar Platform in Indonesia along with News and
Ads Monitoring Agency (NAMA) in Malaysia. This marks Dataxet's latest efforts
in building its network of data intelligence capabilities across Asia,
following its joint venture with Truescope in Singapore.

"The strategic acquisitions of recognised companies such
as Sonar Platform and NAMA marks Dataxet's progress in building its branded
network of integrated data intelligence in Asia following the launch of
Truescope Singapore," said David Liu, CEO & Co-Founder of Dataxet.
"Securing presence in key commercial markets across Asia is part of our plan to
provide a truly 'best-in-class' data intelligence at scale while ensuring localised
expertise and context."

Amien Krisna, Founder and CEO of Sonar Platform, who will join
Dataxet's executive board after the acquisition shares, "I'm excited to
join the Dataxet Group and look forward to the opportunities that the
combination of our expertise will bring. Sonar Platform has a track record of
delivering insights with the use of smart technology which we want to bring to
the Dataxet network."

Ooi Kiam
Hong, CEO and Founder of NAMA adds, "I trust in the team's vision of building a
robust and next-generation data intelligence network -- one that continuously
focuses on product innovation, technology and talents to deliver smarter insights for clients."

1. Sonar Platform, founded in 2015, boasts of two state-of-the-art intelligence modules:

i.      Sonar Analytics -- intelligence platform that combines social media, digital media, print media and
marketplace data sources aimed at delivering mission critical insights and
automated insight reports on demand. Using artificial intelligence, the
application can automate the immense processing, analysis and reporting
of billions of social and digital media to capture
and analyse sentiment, trends and industry content.

ii.     Sonar Influence -- end-to-end social media
influencer management platform covering
influencer discovery, campaign management and intelligent reporting aimed at
optimising branded influencer campaigns and maximising ROI.

iii.      Crisis
support, audience profiling, campaign reporting and bespoke audits are some
examples of its strategic add-on services provided for its clients beyond these
intelligence platforms. The company's portfolio includes a range of well-known
global brands across diverse sectors such as Microsoft, Grab, Huawei and
AirAsia.

2. News and Ads
Monitoring Agency (NAMA) was founded
in 2006 and has grown to be the largest independent media monitoring company in
Malaysia.

i.      Provides a
full range of traditional media monitoring service with comprehensive coverage
across print, broadcast and radio. 

ii.      Amongst its services,
the company also delivers customised media measurement and insights reports to several
global and local brands from industries such as travel, financial services and
telcos.

Jason Lee, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Dataxet
adds, "While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected parts of the economy,
Dataxet is not slowing down and instead, looking forward to ensure that we stay
ahead of what the market needs and be at the forefront of the industry in
providing smart, accurate and actionable intelligence. Growing a diverse and
creative pool of talents, starting with Amien, along with continuous product
innovation and creative collaborations, will be our key priorities as we look
to grow Asia's 'best-in-class' media and data intelligence network and
capabilities."

About Dataxet

Dataxet Pte Ltd is a leading integrated data
intelligence holding company operating in Asia. Its branded networks provide
best-in-class media monitoring services along with localised research and data
analytics expertise to deliver accurate, applicable and actionable data
insights. https://www.dataxet.com/

Targets 1000 licensed clubs to serve a global audience of millions

 

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach -  1 July 2020 - Evolution Wellness, Asia's
leading health club operator whose portfolio of brands also includes Celebrity
Fitness and Fitness First, today announced the launch of a competitive
licensing programme for its high value, low price (HVLP) gym brand GoFit. A new
concept developed and owned by Evolution Wellness, GoFit is guided by its brand values of Smart, Bold,
and Invigorating, and a game-changer
in the HVLP category, presenting members with a smart new way to train through
a no-frills, fuss-free yet high quality gym experience. Through its global
licensing programme, Evolution Wellness sees an opportunity to address an
audience of millions, and confidently predicts a global reach of over 1000
licensed clubs.

With
membership prices starting from approximately USD20 a month, GoFit is not just
affordably priced, but also very well equipped with a wide range of cardio,
strength and Olympic lifting equipment catering to all levels of gym goers -- from the new-to-fitness
customer, to the fitness fanatic. At a GoFit club, access is gained through an
app for increased security, which facilitates 24/7 operating hours should the
demographic require it, while a self-managed membership system makes it easy
for members to purchase add-on services such as a session on a HydroMassage
Lounger¹, or a FitQuest fitness assessment². Members can
also participate in a Signature GoFit workout³, SuperCircuit^TM;
workoutto scheduled or on-demand digital classes, as
well as stream their own workouts onto the large screens in the MyGoZone^TM.

 

The
first GoFit club in the world, which
is owned and operated by Evolution Wellness, opened its doors to members at
Central i-City Mall in Shah Alam, Malaysia last November, and is already
serving over 2,000 members. The flexible nature of the GoFit model saw the
first location implementing a ladies-only 'gym within a gym', privately accessed
through the woman's changing room. "This feature has been a fantastic success
in the Malaysia market, and we believe that it has significant further
potential in markets overseas," said Simon Flint, Chief Executive Officer,
Evolution Wellness.

 

Evolution
Wellness has already committed to a further 12 GoFit clubs in Malaysia,
Thailand and Indonesia on an owned and operated basis, and is in discussion on
a number of additional sites in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

"In
addition to our owned and operated clubs, we are today officially launching our
licensing programme which will see this new and exciting HVLP brand go global.
We already have keen interest from investors looking to participate in this at
the master licensee level, which gives us a lot of confidence in the
credibility and reach of this brand," Flint added. "The collective experience
of our senior leadership team draws from decades of exposure to the global
fitness industry, therefore there's a lot of captured learning invested in
creating our GoFit brand. The public response to our launch site in Malaysia
has been everything we could have hoped for, and we are genuinely excited to
introduce this brand onto the global stage."

 

GoFit's Director of Licensing, Nad Myan, said, "The
budget gym segment around the world has experienced accelerated growth in
recent years, and we feel that there is still a lot of room for growth in the truly high value, low price category. We're
excited at GoFit's potential to change the way people think about budget gyms, and
we'd like to invite fitness-loving entrepreneurs and individuals to join us on
our journey. We have a competitive licensing programme that we believe is the most attractive fitness business
platform for those looking to venture into the vibrant global fitness industry,
with the expertise and commercial support of Asia's leading health club
operator."

For
more information about GoFit licensing opportunities, please visit http://bit.ly/GoFitLicensing2020.

For further media enquiries
/ interview requests about GoFit or Evolution Wellness, please contact: Jillyn
Tan (jill.tan@evolutionwellness.com).

 

Download more images of the
first-ever GoFit club at Central i-City Mall in Shah Alam, Malaysia here.

 

Notes:

1. HydroMassage provides an invigorating recovery programme delivered by
   travelling water jets under a waterproof skin (so the user doesn't get wet) to
   help alleviate muscle and soft tissue injuries.

2. FitQuest is a fitness assessment that utilises four simple exercises (or
   tasks) and a heart rate recovery measurement that only takes four minutes to
   complete.  Once the tasks have been completed, the results are
   displayed on the screen immediately and are also accessible online. The
   FitQuest machine can also be used to perform a body composition analysis to
   determine a variety of metrics including body fat and muscle percentage.

3. SuperCircuit™ is a proprietary GoFit programme, with a mixture of cardio
   and strength training to give you that full-body burn. Members train in a
   designated zone for SuperCircuit™ where our equipment
   selection has been carefully constructed to ensure ease of use, adding to the
   efficiency the workout.

About GoFit

GoFit was created with the intention of making
fitness accessible to more people. Guided by its brand values of Smart,
Invigorating, and Bold, GoFit aims to provide members with a convenient
approach to fitness using technology as an enabler, in line with its brand
positioning 'to energise life through easy and affordable fitness.' It offers
members a smart new way to train through a no-frills, fuss-free gym experience.
Malaysia is home to the pioneer GoFit club, which opened in November 2019.

 

Get smart. Go. Get started with GoFit by visiting www.gofit-gym.com. 

About Evolution Wellness

Evolution Wellness is the
owner and operator of Asia’s largest wholly-owned network of fitness clubs.
Established in 2017 following the coming together of two leading fitness brands
in Southeast Asia – Celebrity Fitness and Fitness First – we’re on a journey of
growth ‘from fitness to wellness.’

 

Our vision is to build a
comprehensive wellness ecosystem for our members and customers, and providing a
compelling range of propositions to help them become the best versions of
themselves. With a network of more than 170 properties across six countries,
we’re focused on leveraging the strength of our brands, and continuing to grow
our business through continuous innovation, expansion, diversification, with
robust strategic governance.

 

For more information about
Evolution Wellness and our portfolio brands, please visit www.evolutionwellness.com.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach
- 1^st July 2020 - Cityneon Holdings has announced that its
subsidiary, Victory Hill Exhibitions, has acquired multi-year licensing rights
for the global touring exhibition based on James Cameron's blockbuster film AVATAR. Cityneon will work in close
collaboration with Disney Location-Based Experiences and James Cameron and Jon
Landau's Lightstorm Entertainment on this exciting venture.

 

With AVATAR set to release the
first of four sequels next year, Cityneon looks forward to curating a uniquely
engaging experience for audiences to visit worldwide. The innovative
state-of-the-art touring exhibition will feature numerous interactive,
multi-sensory segments where guests can explore the fascinating wonders of
Pandora, the distant moon which is the setting for the films.

 

Ron Tan, Executive Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Cityneon,
said: "We are honoured to work with Disney and Lightstorm Entertainment. All of
us share the same vision of bringing these experiences alive with artistry and
inventiveness. We are thrilled to be part of this collaboration. There's a lot
of anticipation for the film's first sequel, and we're excited to be part of
the global effort to complement the film's release with a truly immersive
experience for fans in various markets."

 

Lightstorm Entertainment's President of Franchise Development, Kathy
Franklin, added: "Our powerful new relationship with Cityneon for this global
touring exhibition will play a key role in our continuing expansion of the
reach and impact of the AVATAR franchise
around the world."

 

Released in 2009, James Cameron's AVATAR was the
highest-grossing film in motion picture history with a box office gross of
nearly $2.8 billion, a record held for ten years.  Captivating audiences
across the globe with its otherworldly visuals and groundbreaking special
effects, the film quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. AVATAR is set to be followed by four sequels, with the first sequel
scheduled for release in December 2021. 

Victory Hill Exhibitions

Victory Hill Exhibitions is a subsidiary of Cityneon Holdings and is an
exhibition production company which strives to create interactive exhibits that
attract visitors and have educational value. With 25 years of experience and
cooperation with pioneers in technology from around the world, Victory Hill is
able to create astounding interactive experiences, and can adapt based on our
clients' needs to satisfy each and every unique need.

Cityneon Holding

With its global reach and international partnerships, Cityneon has the
capability to serve its clients anywhere in the world. Cityneon was listed on
the Mainboard of the Singapore Stock Exchange since 2005, and was privatized on
February 2019 by West Knighton Limited, a company wholly owned by Cityneon's
Executive Chairman and Group CEO, Ron Tan, together with Hong Kong veteran
entrepreneur and investor, Johnson Ko Chun Shun. Johnson is a capital markets
veteran and has held controlling interests and directorships in many listed
companies.  In May 2019, Cityneon welcomed CITIC Capital as a new
shareholder, who holds approximately 10% shares in Cityneon. CITIC Capital is
part of CITIC Group, one of China's largest conglomerates, and has over US$29b
of assets under its management across 100 funds and investment products
globally. Other institutional shareholders of the Group include EDBI - a
Singapore government-linked global investor, and Pavilion Capital - a
Singapore-based investment institution which focuses on private equity
investments, that made strategic investments in August and October 2019
respectively, to support the Group's further expansion globally. For more
information, please visit www.cityneongroup.com.

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Delivers Solid Performance Amidst Market Challenges

Revenue Increases +6.3%  

Maintains Full-Year Dividend Per Share of HK4.5 Cents

 

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 30 June 2020 - Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited ("Jacobson Pharma" or the "Company"; Stock Code: 2633), a leading company engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of generic drugs and proprietary medicines, today announced its annual results of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively the "Group") for the year ended 31 March 2020 (the "FY2020" or the "Reporting Period").

 

Resilient Performance under Distressed Economy

Amidst the overwhelming business challenges from the distressed economy in Hong Kong, the Group delivered a solid performance by posting a modest 6.3% year-on-year growth bringing its total revenue to HK$1,571.5 million (FY2019: HK$1,478.1 million (restated)). Gross profit grew by 2.3% to HK$690.0 million (FY2019: HK$674.7 million (restated)), while profit attributable to shareholders of the Company softened by 13.9% to HK$215.6 million (FY2019: HK$250.6 million (restated)) mainly due to the one-off revaluation gains recognised in the previous year, along with the increase in investments and operating expenses in setting up a regional management structure plus one-off professional expenses in preparing for the separation of the Group's consumer health business.

 

The Board recommends payment of a final dividend of HK2.5 cents per share (FY2019: HK3.0 cents per share). Combined with the interim dividend of HK2.0 cents per share, the full-year dividend for FY2020 remains the same as last year at HK4.5 cents per share. The Group's EBITDA (Adjusted) increased by 3.9% to HK$476.2 million, representing its strong capability of generating cash inflows.

 

Strong Market Position in Generics

Carrying a strong portfolio of generic drugs and a leadership position in a number of therapeutic categories in Hong Kong, the generic drugs business of the Group registered a positive growth of 3.6% in sales revenue in FY2020, amounting to HK$1,298.7 million (FY2019: HK$1,253.0 million), despite a decline in in-person consultation visits to medical clinics due to Covid-19 pandemic in the last quarter of the financial year.

The Group's offerings in certain therapeutic classes demonstrated strong growth, with oral anti-diabetic and anti-ulcerative products registered a robust growth of 42.3% and 34.1% respectively, which was attributed to an increased usage of these essential medicines in chronic disease management. In addition, the cardiovascular products achieved a sales growth of 28.4%, whilst the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also grew by 28.7% due to an expanded market position in the public hospital sector.

 

The Group launched 19 new products during the reporting period, including some difficult-to-make products such as Diltiazem Controlled Release Tablets, Dihydrocodeine Tablets, Perindopril Tablets, Atomoxetine Capsules, Mesalazine Enteric Coated Tablets 500mg and Finasteride Tablets. Besides, over 27 regulatory filings were submitted for new drug registration by the Group.

 

Tapping New Market Potentials with High Value-added Offerings

In supplementing its R&D pipeline and portfolio offerings, the Group has signed in-license agreements with a host of multi-national companies for a total of 79 specialised drugs covering several therapeutic classes including cardiovascular, central nervous system, infectious diseases, oncology, gastrointestinal, and ophthalmology, as well as a medical device for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and Influenza rapid diagnostics test kit. Among them, 23 items are eligible for tender bidding in the coming years, and 22 items have been launched in Hong Kong.

 

Notable Growth in Proprietary Medicines with Newly Acquired Business

Albeit the negative sentiments prevailing in the retail sector, the Group's proprietary medicines business during the reporting period still registered a double-digit growth. With the incorporation of its newly acquired proprietary Chinese medicine business, sales revenue of the Group's proprietary medicine segment posted a 21.2% growth to HK$272.8 million (FY2019: HK$225.1 million).

 

Despite the economic distress, resilient performance has been demonstrated by proprietary brands such as Ho Chai Kung, a well-recognised heritage brand in the analgesics category, which delivered a notable growth of 10.8% over the same period of last year. Shiling Oil, a medicated oil brand of the Group, also presented a growth of 8.4% in overseas markets building on its strong tradition and recognition backed by persistent market development efforts.

 

Regional Expansion Strategy with China Focus

On the front of business development driven by its regional strategy, the Group has been actively forging strategic collaborations with multinational partners that cover in-licensing and representation of reputable branded products in Greater China and Asia regions.

 

The Group has respectively entered an exclusive distribution agreement with Vemedia for marketing and distribution of the renowned medicated foot care brand Excilor in Mainland China and a joint venture agreement with Kin Fung Weisen-U Company Limited to distribute and sell certain of its products -- including the well-recognised gastrointestinal OTC drug "Weisen-U" and the popular nasal spray brand "Flucur Nebuliser" -- to new markets in the Asia Pacific region, as well as to explore and develop product extensions in broadening the proprietary medicine platform of the Group.

 

In the consumer nutrition arena, the Group has entered an in-license agreement with Smartfish from Norway in a strategic collaboration to launch its patented and clinically substantiated high dose Omega-3 health and sports nutrition drinks in Greater China.

 

Tapping into the potential of the fast-growing cross-border e-commerce in China, the Group has developed its self-operating flagship store in a leading cross-border e-commerce platform in China in collaboration with key strategic partners to fully exploit the demand for proprietary medicines and consumer healthcare products among Mainland consumers, especially in Southern China and the Greater Bay Area.

 

Consumer Health Spin-off to Facilitate Expansion

By leveraging its regional commercial operations and focusing its efforts to tap into the burgeoning consumer healthcare market, the Group is also actively pursuing a spin-off of its branded consumer health business comprised of a strategically selected portfolio of branded medicines, proprietary Chinese medicines, and health and wellness products including health supplements, personal care products and diagnostic kits.

 

The potential spin-off is expected to facilitate the expansion of the consumer health business under a separate nimble platform from the generic drug business of the Group and groundworks have been undertaken to prepare for the spin-off plan.

 

Mr. Derek Sum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jacobson Pharma, said, "We will continue to strive for business excellence across all divisions as we pursue our goal of creating two separate and nimble platforms through a spin-off of our branded consumer health business from the Group. This separation initiative serves as a catalyst to reset capabilities and cost base, and helps deliver a value-creation opportunity for both businesses. It is also a significant step forward in terms of shaping Jacobson into a company comprising two enterprises, one being intently focused on its generic drugs business whilst the other is principally focused on consumer health products."

 

Mr. Sum added, "The dynamic and challenging environment requires us to continually assess our market position to ensure that our business remains relevant and strategically well-aligned. Looking ahead, we remain confident that by building on our reputation, strong R&D pipeline and network resources of the Group, we are well positioned to deliver a sustainable growth and returns to our shareholders in the long term."

About Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (雅各臣科研製藥有限公司；Stock Code: 2633)

Jacobson Pharma is a leading generic drug company in Hong Kong. The Group also carries a portfolio of proprietary brands, notably being Po Chai Pills (「保濟丸」), Ho Chai Kung TjiThung San (「何濟公止痛退熱散」), Contractubex Scar Gel (「秀碧除疤膏」) , Flying Eagle Woodlok Oil (「飛鷹活絡油」), Tong Tai Chung Woodlok Oil (「唐太宗活絡油」), Doan's Ointment (「兜安氏藥膏」), Saplingtan (「十靈丹」), Shiling Oil (「十靈油」) and Col-gan Tablet (「傷風克」), which have been widely recognised by the market. In the strategic expansion of its branded healthcare business platform, the Group has introduced health and wellness brands and products such as Dr. Freeman®Flu/RSV Combo (「Dr. Freeman醫臣®流感／呼吸道合胞病毒家用式診斷套件」), SmartfishHealth Nutrition Products (「Smartfish健康營養產品」), Dr.Freeman® Infection Control Product Series (「Dr. Freeman醫臣®感染控制產品系列」) and Dr Freeman COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit (「Dr. Freeman醫臣®COVID-19快速測試套件」), among other reputable brands represented in overseas markets such as Excilor and Weisen-U.

The Group aims at the continued strategic enrichment of both of its generic drug and branded healthcare portfolios through the addition of high value-added products. With its corporate headquarters based in Hong Kong, the Group has also established its operating subsidiaries in China, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Cambodia forming a regional commercial platform to tap the market potential in the Asia Pacific and Greater China region. Jacobson Pharma has been a constituent stock of MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index since 1 June 2017. For more details about Jacobson Pharma, please visit the Group's website: http://www.jacobsonpharma.com

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 30 June 2020 - Gudou Holdings Limited ("Gudou Holdings" or "Company", which together with its subsidiaries, is referred to as the "Group", SEHK stock code: 8308), a well-known operator of hot spring resorts and hotels and developer of tourism properties, announces its further cooperation with China Aoyuan Group Limited ("China Aoyuan", SEHK stock code: 3883) in developing tourism properties at Gudou Hot Spring Resort in Yamen Town, Xinhui, Jiangmen, Guangdong Province.

 

Pursuant to the two companies' new agreement about further cooperation, Guangdong Gudou Travel Group Company Limited ("Guangdong Gudou"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gudou Holdings Limited, will contribute three pieces of land with a total site area of approximately 63,797 square metres (sq.m.) and estimated gross floor area of 54,323 sq.m. at the Gudou Hot Spring Resort. According to an independent valuer, the three pieces of land are together valued at approximately RMB153 million as at 31 March 2020. Meanwhile, Guangdong Aoyuan Co., Ltd. ("Guangdong Aoyuan"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Aoyuan, will be responsible for funding the development and construction of the tourism properties, with an investment of approximately RMB357 million. Guangdong Gudou and Guangdong Aoyuan will jointly plan, develop, construct and operate the tourism properties on the lands. Guangdong Gudou will be entitled to 30% of the income to be derived from the project while Guangdong Aoyuan the remaining 70%.

 

The tourism properties to be built will include residential units, retail properties, parking spaces and other related facilities. They will form a part of the integrated tourism and leisure project of Gudou Hot Spring Resort. Gudou Hot Spring Resort is a grade-AAAA national tourist attraction in China, featuring natural scenery and cultural heritage. The resort is near to several railways and expressways, namely Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway, Guangdong West Coastal Expressway and Jiangmen-Zhaoqing Expressway so it is accessible to the major cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Zhongshan.  

 

Mr. HON Chi Ming, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Group, said, "Today, one year after our previous cooperation, Gudou Holdings partners with Guangdong Aoyuan again to develop tourism properties. We are confident that China Aoyuan's widely recognized expertise in property development and cultural tourism will enable Gudou Holdings to fulfil its mission to help people stay healthy both physically and mentally through health regimens at Gudou Hot Spring Resort. Meanwhile, our cooperation this time will also provide more plentiful funding for our strategic planning in the future. The Group will continue to focus on China's market for hot springs and hotels and seek to expand its customer base by combining a new mode of online retail and innovative features. At the same time, tourism property development will continue to be another focus of the company's development."

 

About Gudou Holdings Limited

Gudou Holdings is a hot spring resort and hotel operator and a tourism property developer in the PRC. It is principally engaged in the operation and management of the hot spring resort and hotel facilities of Gudou Hot Spring Resort, and the development and sale of tourism properties located at Gudou Hot Spring Resort. The "Gudou" brand is a well-known brand of integrated hot spring resort in the PRC. It operates six themed hotel complexes with a variety of leisure and recreational attractions, including hot spring facilities, hotels, shops, eateries, a water park, a spa centre, a conference centre, parks, tourist attractions and other ancillary leisure and recreational facilities.

SHELTON, US - ACCESSWIRE - June 30, 2020 - NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American: NNVC) (the "Company") a leader in the development of highly effective antiviral therapies based on a novel nanomedicines platform, today announced that it has been added to the Russell Microcap^(R) Index effective after the U.S. markets opened yesterday, Monday, June 29, 2020.

Anil R. Diwan, PhD, President and Executive Chairman of the Company, commented, "We believe inclusion in the Russell Microcap index is a consequence of the significant progress we have made recently in advancing our novel portfolio of special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy towards our first IND filing. As we approach several important milestones in the coming months, we welcome the heightened visibility that is expected to result from inclusion in this widely followed benchmark."

Membership in the Russell Microcap^(R) Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $9 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell's US indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider. Inclusion of NanoViricides in the Russell Microcap Index may be expected to increased participation in the NNVC stock positions of investment managers and institutional investors that purchase, follow or employ this index.

For more information on the Russell Microcap^(R) Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the "Russell Reconstitution" section on the FTSE Russell website.

NanoViricides is pioneering a unique platform for developing anti-viral drugs based on the "bind-encapsulate-destroy" principles. Viruses would not be able to escape a properly designed nanoviricide(R) drug by mutations because in doing so, it is expected that, they would lose the ability to bind their cognate cellular receptor(s) and thus fail to infect productively, becoming incompetent.

NanoViricides possesses its own cGMP-capable manufacturing capability where thousands of doses of its drugs can be manufactured rapidly. More specifically, the Company has the capability to produce multiple kilograms of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) per batch.

The Company is developing a therapy or drug to combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that this drug that is designed to directly attack the virus, would lead to successful treatment of infected patients. It is not a drug that is designed for reducing clinical symptoms alone. The drug we are developing is not a vaccine, and does not have to be given to everyone, but will need to be given only to patients, if we can develop it successfully.

The Company has reported successful results for its broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drug candidates in cell culture studies against multiple coronaviruses as well as in animal studies against a coronavirus called hCoV-NL63 that binds to the same human receptor as SARS-CoV-2, namely ACE2, and causes similar pathology. The Company is advancing this program towards a pre-IND application to the US FDA with the aim of progressing it further towards human clinical trials as rapidly as possible.

The Company continues to advance its first drug candidate, namely NV-HHV-101 skin cream, for the treatment of shingles rash as its first indication, towards human clinical trials. The Company is now in the process of writing and completing its IND ("Investigational New Drug") application for NV-HHV-101 to the US FDA, which includes protocols for human clinical studies, with the help of its several regulatory consultants. The Company is in the process of identifying and selecting appropriate partners and collaborators for the intended Phase1/2a human clinical studies for this drug candidate.

About NanoViricides

NanoViricides, Inc. (www.nanoviricides.com) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide(R) class of drug candidates are designed to specifically attack enveloped virus particles and to dismantle them. Our lead drug candidate is NV-HHV-101 with its first indication as dermal topical cream for the treatment of shingles rash. The Company is in the process of completing an IND application to the US FDA for this drug candidate. The Company cannot project an exact date for filing an IND because of its dependence on a number of external collaborators and consultants, and the effects of recent COVID-19 restrictions.

The Company is also developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others. NanoViricides' platform technology and programs are based on the TheraCour(R) nanomedicine technology of TheraCour, which TheraCour licenses from AllExcel. NanoViricides holds a worldwide exclusive perpetual license to this technology for several drugs with specific targeting mechanisms in perpetuity for the treatment of the following human viral diseases: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Rabies, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV), Influenza and Asian Bird Flu Virus, Dengue viruses, Japanese Encephalitis virus, West Nile Virus and Ebola/Marburg viruses. The Company has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with TheraCour that provides a limited license for research and development for drugs against human coronaviruses. The Company intends to obtain a full license and has begun the process for the same. The Company's technology is based on broad, exclusive, sub-licensable, field licenses to drugs developed in these areas from TheraCour Pharma, Inc. The Company's business model is based on licensing technology from TheraCour Pharma Inc. for specific application verticals of specific viruses, as established at its foundation in 2005.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made by NanoViricides, Inc. are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, they may include the following: demonstration and proof of principle in preclinical trials that a nanoviricide is safe and effective; successful development of our product candidates; our ability to seek and obtain regulatory approvals, including with respect to the indications we are seeking; the successful commercialization of our product candidates; and market acceptance of our products. FDA refers to US Food and Drug Administration. IND application refers to "Investigational New Drug" application. CMC refers to "Chemistry, Manufacture, and Controls".