European Dairy Exports from Ireland to Asia Top EUR440 Million in 2024 as Ireland Launches EUR3.2 Million EU Campaign to Strengthen Partnerships ACN Newswire

European Dairy Exports from Ireland to Asia Top EUR440 Million in 2024 as Ireland Launches EUR3.2 Million EU Campaign to Strengthen Partnerships

Grass-fed provenance and advanced R&D connect European dairy from Ireland with Singapore’s food innovation ecosystem and regional HQsSINGAPORE, Sept 8, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Building on the success of the European dairy exports from Ireland to Asia, which exceeded €440 million in 2024, the European Union and Ireland today launched the “European Dairy – Ireland, Where Nature Meets Science” campaign. This €3.2 million co-funded investment aims to strengthen Asia’s nutrition pipeline and foster long-term trade partnerships. Positioning Singapore as the regional hub, the three-year project running until 2028 will focus on building supply resilience, and driving new partnerships across Singapore, China, and Vietnam. Singapore stands at the heart of Asia’s food innovation and trade ecosystem. Its world-class safety standards, research infrastructure, and regional influence empower European dairy to meet Asia’s demand for sustainable, traceable, and science-driven ingredients in a volatile global market. Her Excellency Sarah McGrath, Ambassador of Ireland to Singapore, said,“This campaign is a symbol of Ireland’s commitment to strengthening the bridges between Europe and Asia. By launching in Singapore, we are reinforcing not only a vital trade relationship but also our shared pursuit of innovation, research, and sustainable development in food. Ireland’s expertise in science-driven agriculture, combined with Asia’s leadership in food innovation, creates an opportunity to deepen trust and collaboration across sectors. This initiative reflects the spirit of partnership that will define the future of our cultural and economic ties.”Driving this mission is Bord Bia - the Irish Food Board, which champions the national and international growth of Ireland’s food, drink, and horticulture sectors. With a strategic network of offices across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the United States, and Asia (Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo), Bord Bia connects European producers from Ireland with priority partners in these key markets, strengthening trade links and fostering long-term collaboration.Lisa Phelan, Director for Southeast Asia and Australia and New Zealand at Bord Bia, explained, "Ireland’s grass-fed, sustainably produced dairy, supported by Origin Green, our pioneering national food and drink sustainability programme, brings provenance, quality, and science-driven innovation - but we cannot achieve impact alone. By collaborating with Singapore, which combines technological expertise, research capabilities, and regional market knowledge, we can secure Asia’s nutrition future with dairy that is trusted, traceable, and future-ready. This campaign exemplifies how Europe’s strengths and Asia’s innovation ecosystem can come together to drive sustainable, long-term food solutions."Europe’s Flagship for Sustainable Dairy - IrelandIn Europe, Ireland leads in sustainable dairy production, combining grass-fed farming at scale with advanced science and research and development. Key credentials include:90% of herds are grass-fed, unique globally at this scale.95% of processors are enrolled in Origin Green, the independently verified sustainability programme.Ranked second globally in the Food Security Index, underscoring safety and reliability.Home to the Dairy Processing Technology Centre, developing functional ingredients for infant formula, medical nutrition, and food innovation.The campaign aims to: Reaffirm European Dairy’s reputation as high-quality dairy suppliers 2. Provide traceable, science-driven ingredients 3. Connect Singaporean firms with European Union innovation pipelinesFor more information, visit https://european-dairy.eu. Media Contact:Wani DiwarkarE: wani@prbespoke.com Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Yuexiu REIT Disposes of 50% Interest in Yuexiu Financial Tower in Guangzhou and Reorganises the Remaining 50% ACN Newswire

Yuexiu REIT Disposes of 50% Interest in Yuexiu Financial Tower in Guangzhou and Reorganises the Remaining 50%

HONG KONG, Sep 8, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – Yuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust (“Yuexiu REIT”, together with Yuexiu REIT Asset Management Limited, collectively known as the “REIT”; stock code: 405) today announced a strategic capital reorganisation plan to dispose of its 50% interest in Yuexiu Financial Tower (“the Property”) in Guangzhou to Guangzhou Yue Xiu Development Group Co., Ltd., the external transferee, at a consideration of approximately RMB3,433 million and effect an internal reorganisation of the remaining 50% interest. Following completion of the disposal and the internal reorganisation, Yuexiu REIT’s effective beneficial interest in Yuexiu Financial Tower in Guangzhou will be reduced to 49.495%, and the target companies will cease to be subsidiaries of Yuexiu REIT. Yuexiu Financial Tower will be regarded as a “qualified minority-owned property”, continuing to contribute income to the REIT.Reduce gearing and lower financing costsThe transaction and accompanying refinancing plan are intended to optimise Yuexiu REIT's capital structure and reduce its gearing ratio. The net proceeds from the disposal are expected to be approximately RMB2,300 million. Including the RMB3,000 million to be drawn from the new bank facility, the total proceeds of approximately RMB5,300 million will be fully applied towards the repayment of existing indebtedness. Management expects a significant reduction in interest expenses, distribution per unit (“DPU”) accretion and a decrease of the gearing ratio from 48.1% to approximately 41.2% upon the completion of the transaction and refinancing, improving the REIT's financial resilience and enhancing its long-term competitiveness.DPU accretive transaction and positive impact on Yuexiu REIT’s external credit ratingIt is expected that the disposal and the internal reorganisation, together with the refinancing, would lower Yuexiu REIT’s gearing ratio and interest expense, and, on a pro forma basis, result in an accretion to the total distributable income and DPU of the REIT. In addition, with the disposal and an optimised debt structure, the external credit rating of Yuexiu REIT is expected to improve, allowing it to employ diverse fundraising channels, including the offshore bond market, to support future development.Portfolio rebalancing and upgradeThe disposal represents a significant strategic decision for Yuexiu REIT to optimise its portfolio composition. Following the disposal, the proportion of Yuexiu REIT’s revenue from office properties will decrease from 55% to 46%, further enhancing Yuexiu REIT’s ability to withstand market cyclical fluctuations.Tap on potential advantages of partnering with Guangzhou Yue XiuFollowing the disposal, Yuexiu REIT will effectively be partnering with Guangzhou Yue Xiu as its joint venture partner in its ownership of Yuexiu Financial Tower in Guangzhou. Leveraging Guangzhou Yue Xiu’s credit, resources and reputation, Yuexiu Financial Tower in Guangzhou is expected to capture more favourable financing costs, further enhancing the yield of the Property. As a continuing minority shareholder, Yuexiu REIT stands to benefit from these improved financing conditions and the resulting uplift in investment returns.Yuexiu Financial Tower is located in the core area of Guangzhou Zhujiang New Town. The Property comprises a 68-storey above-ground Grade A office building and a 4-storey basement with 827 underground carpark spaces. For the six months ended 30 June 2025 and the year ended 31 December 2024, revenue of Yuexiu Financial Tower was RMB165 million and RMB362 million, respectively.For details, please refer to the REIT’s announcement dated 8 September 2025.About Yuexiu Real Estate Investment TrustYuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust (“Yuexiu REIT”) was listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 21 December 2005 and is the first listed real estate investment trust in the world which invests in real properties in the mainland of the People's Republic of China (the “PRC”). The current property portfolio of Yuexiu REIT comprises ten high quality properties, namely Guangzhou International Finance Center, White Horse Building, Fortune Plaza, City Development Plaza, Victory Plaza and Yuexiu Financial Tower located in Guangzhou, Yue Xiu Tower located in Shanghai, Wuhan Properties located in Wuhan (including Wuhan Yuexiu Fortune Centre and Starry Victoria Shopping Centre), Victory Business Centre located in Hangzhou and Yue Xiu Building located in Hong Kong, with a total area of ownership of approximately 1.184 million sq.m. All properties are located in the central business district of Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, the PRC, respectively. The categories of the properties include Grade-A offices, commercial complexes, retail business, hotel, serviced apartments and clothing wholesale market etc. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, Salon de TIME end on a high note ACN Newswire

Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, Salon de TIME end on a high note

- Two fairs attracted some 16,000 buyers on-site- Survey results indicate respondents consider the growth prospects for the watch industry in the following target sales markets to be promising or very promising in the next two years: the Middle East, Taiwan, Korea, Latin America, Australia, and ASEAN countries; smart watches are considered to have the most significant growth potential.HONG KONG, Sep 7, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – The 44th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 13th Salon de TIME, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, successfully ended yesterday in physical fair format. Meanwhile, the Click2Match AI-driven business matching platform will remain open until 13 September, allowing global exhibitors and buyers to continue business discussions.Over the past five days, the physical fairs attracted some 16,000 trade buyers from 95 countries and regions on-site. Buyers from outside Hong Kong mainly came from Mainland China, Taiwan, India, Japan, the US, and ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This highlights Hong Kong's pivotal position as a key global transshipment hub and sales centre for watches and clocks.Salon de TIME was open to the public for free for the second consecutive year. Together with CENTRESTAGE, which was held at the same time, the events attracted more than 19,000 public visits to purchase their favourite items. Around 400 watch and fashion brands were showcased on-site.HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong said: “The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME are annual highlights for the industry. This year, the events brought together over 650 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions. This year's exhibition featured pavilions from Guangzhou, Taiwan, the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (SIWP), and the French pavilion by Francéclat. It also welcomed the return of exhibitors from Germany, Japan, Lebanon and the Netherlands. The number of brands at Salon de TIME reached a new post-pandemic high. Many exhibitors used the platform to launch innovative products showcasing exquisite craftsmanship, serving as a springboard for entering international and mainland markets. This underscores Hong Kong's vitality as a global hub for commerce and creativity.”She mentioned that a series of trade exhibitions will be held in the fall, including the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia, which will take place simultaneously from 13 to 16 October at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Following these, the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) will be held from 27 to 30 October, and the Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo will run from 28 to 31 October, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo, respectively. All four exhibitions will adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, allowing global buyers and exhibitors to continue discussions online after the physical fairs.Survey indicates that markets such as the Middle East and East Asia are viewed optimisticallyDuring the exhibition, the HKTDC conducted a survey, interviewing some 920 exhibitors and buyers on-site. The aim was to understand global trends in the watch industry, as well as exhibitors' and buyers' perspectives on the industry's outlook and product trends.The survey results show that 59% of respondents expect overall sales to grow in the next 12 to 24 months, while 36% anticipate that sales will remain stable. Respondents considered the growth prospects for the watch industry in the following target sales markets to be promising or very promising in the next two years: the Middle East (82%), Taiwan (79%), Korea (78%), Latin America (76%), Australia (76%), and ASEAN countries (73%).Regarding product trends, 47% of respondents consider smart watches to have the most significant growth potential, followed by fashion watches (30%), and casual watches (26%).The twin watch fairs unveiled industry trends; EXHIBITION+ plays a roleSaat ve Saat, which has over 160 points of sale in Türkiye, attended the two watch fairs again this year. The company's production manager Yusuf Eyilmez stated: “Through the business matching meetings on the smart platform click2match, and the physical meetings at the fair, we have procured automatic mechanical watches from the Hong Kong exhibitor Dailywin Watch Products Mfg Ltd. The annual order value is expected to reach US$1 million.”Su & Co Trading Company from Myanmar sells fashion watches through both online and physical stores. The company founder Su Hnin Aye stated: “This year, we have purchased US$600,000 worth of branded watches at the fair and have identified two new watch brands to introduce to the Myanmar market. We will also sign a sole distributor agreement with a brand at the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (SIWP), Mathey Tissot.”At the fair, Hong Kong exhibitor Dayton Industrial launched the new Watch2Care TCM smart watch. The company's director Paul Yuen said: “We have invented this smart watch featuring digital pulsation analysis with TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) reports for preventive healthcare. During the exhibition, we introduced the features of our revolutionary smart watch to hundreds of both local and international buyers. We have found potential distributors from Germany, Mainland China, Singapore and the US. We are also excited to have received collaboration invitations from a Swiss watch movement company and a buyer from Myanmar. We aim to achieve an on-site sales turnover of HK$1.5 million.”Last year, the German brand Lilienthal Berlin introduced the world's first wristwatch with a case made from recycled coffee grounds at Salon de TIME. This year, they have innovated once again by bringing a new eco-friendly watch with a dial made from recycled tea leaves. The company's management director Ruby Young stated: “The new watch has garnered media attention, attracting buyers from around the globe to our booth. We have successfully identified potential distributors from Bangladesh and Israel and are in discussions with buyers from Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mainland China, the UAE, and the US.”Salon de TIME also featured several exhibitors showcasing “Guochao” series watches. This year, Sun International Concepts presented six renowned watch brands from Mainland China, including masterpieces by four independent watchmakers: Ma Xushu, Tan Zehua, Qian Guobiao, and Gong Xun. Company executive director David Sun mentioned that feedback from both the industry and the public is more enthusiastic compared to last year, and they have successfully found exclusive distributors at the fair to expand into the ASEAN market. Several watches were available for on-site retail purchase and the projected on-site sales are expected to reach six figures, representing a 10% increase over last year.The new zone Microbrands presents unique niche brands offering watches that are both affordable and stylish. First-time exhibitor and YouTube channel Watchcatavlog brought four microbrands. The channel’s founder Ciff Luk stated that they are in discussions with buyers from Canada, Taiwan, and the UAE regarding distributor collaborations. The brands also attracted numerous watch enthusiasts.For the second consecutive year, Salon de TIME was completely open to the public for free. Watch enthusiasts Jovi Ha, CK Hung and Ricky Tsang attended the event together and remarked: “This exhibition has truly broadened our horizons, allowing us to admire the exquisite craftsmanship of numerous high-quality brands all at once, and to have direct interaction with independent watchmakers. The diversity in watch styles available at the fair, along with their great value for money, led us to spend nearly HK$100,000 in total, purchasing multiple branded watches and leaving the event thoroughly satisfied.”Photo download: http://bit.ly/4gh0lu6The 44th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 13th Salon de TIME successfully concluded in physical fair format yesterday, attracting some 16,000 buyers from 95 countries and regions on-siteAs a highlight of Salon de TIME, World Brand Piazza presented nine world-class watch brandsSalon de TIME was open to the public for free for the second consecutive year, allowing attendees to visit, shop, and participate in on-site events This year's fair featured pavilions from Guangzhou, Taiwan, Francéclat from France, and the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (above)The Hong Kong International Watch Forum (above) and Asian Watch Conference hosted various experts to share the latest trade data and industry trends from around the world, to discuss strategies for the global watch industry's supply chain, and to delve into the artistic concepts behind independent watchmaking and micro brands.Salon de TIME welcomed brands from Mainland China and several independent watchmakers to present their “Guochao” series watches, including Shanghai Watch, Sea-Gull, FIYTA and Zbioland.The 42nd Hong Kong Watch Design Competition featured an open group and a student group; celebrity Bowie Cheung served as a guest judge and attended the awards ceremony.The fair featured a variety of exciting activities, including a watch parade (as shown in the image), Smart Bidding, watch engraving demonstrations, and watch appreciation paired with tea art experiences; additionally, a lucky draw offered generous prizes.HKTDC and Hong Kong Tourism Board (Destination Partner) offered travel and hospitality support to overseas buyers and journalists, including an Aqua Luna boat ride (as shown in the image), Muslim-friendly visit programme to the Hong Kong Palace Museum and Kowloon Masjid, Plaza Premium Lounge passes, and cultural booths at the Networking Reception.Media enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Johnny Tsui Tel: (852) 2584 4395 Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org WebsitesHong Kong Watch & Clock Fair: hkwatchfair.hktdc.comSalon de TIME: hkwatchfair.hktdc.com/teAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 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. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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10th anniversary CENTRESTAGE concludes successfully ACN Newswire

10th anniversary CENTRESTAGE concludes successfully

- Fair attracts participation of more than 260 brands from 25 countries and regions, achieving its largest-ever scale and level of internationalisation- Over the four‑day period, CENTRESTAGE welcomed over 10,000 trade buyers from 91 countries and regions, with the number of buyers from the UK, Mainland China, India and Indonesia showing significant growth- Internationally acclaimed couturier Guo Pei and world-renowned fashion legend Professor Jimmy Choo OBE hosted talks at the fair; Guo Pei also staged her solo couture show themed “Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance”, at CENTRESTAGE ELITES- Survey findings reveal that over 55% of respondents expect sales to increase in the coming 12 to 24 months- 38% of respondents believe that rising demand from emerging markets is the major opportunity for business, while 36% believe that fashion accessories hold the greatest growth potential for the industryHONG KONG, Sep 6, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – CENTRESTAGE, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, drew to a successful close today. Celebrating its 10th edition, this year’s event ran on an unprecedented scale. Over 260 brands from 25 countries and regions participated in the four-day event, attracting over 10,000 buyers from 91 countries and regions. Buyer participation from the UK, Mainland China, India and Indonesia recorded a significant increase, further strengthening Hong Kong’s role as Asia’s fashion hub and a centre for East‑West cultural exchange.CENTRESTAGE and Salon de TIME, the HKTDC’s concurrent fashion event, were fully open to the public free of charge. The public count for the events exceeded 19,000 visits, successfully assisting exhibitors in expanding their customer base and helping to promote the development of the creative sector.Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Over the past decade, CENTRESTAGE has become an essential trade and exchange platform for local, Asian and international fashion brands. This year’s fair set records in terms of scale and internationalisation, bringing together a wide range of globally renowned design brands which participated for the first time, including Saul Nash from the UK, HENRIK VIBSKOV from Denmark and THE NERDYS from Japan. Internationally acclaimed couturier Guo Pei and world-renowned fashion legend Professor Jimmy Choo OBE also appeared at CENTRESTAGE to host inspiring sharing sessions. The event successfully attracted prominent local and overseas buyers, including leading retailers and procurement groups such as Machine-A from the UK, Sugar Srl from Italy, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores from Japan, Zalora from Indonesia and ESSX. from the United States, as well as helping local brands expand internationally and highlighting Hong Kong’s unique appeal as Asia’s fashion hub.”Over 55% respondents expect sales growth; emerging markets seen as keyThe HKTDC conducted a survey during the fair, interviewing more than 400 exhibitors and buyers to gauge their views on product trends and the outlook for the fashion industry. The survey revealed that 56% of respondents expect sales to increase over the next 12 to 24 months, while 40% anticipate that sales will remain unchanged, reflecting an optimistic stance towards the industry’s sales landscape.Respondents also identified key challenges such as fluctuations in the global economy (44%) and keen competition within the industry (40%). In terms of opportunities. 38% said their greatest opportunities lay in rising demand from emerging markets.Global designers explore market frontiers; cross-cultural craftsmanship shinesFor the first time, the United Kingdom joined CENTRESTAGE as Partner Country, presenting 16 highly creative fashion brands and emerging designers. The UK pavilion highlighted diverse styles and sustainable concepts, partnering with the JCA-London Fashion Academy founded by Professor Jimmy Choo OBE to showcase works by a new generation of designers. On the first day of the fair, a UK fashion show celebrated the craftsmanship and forward‑looking vision of British fashion.This year’s CENTRESTAGE featured six themed zones showcasing the latest fashion trends and creative forces. The newly launched Accessories zone highlighted functional yet stylish accessory ranges in response to market demand. The survey revealed that, same as last year, fashion accessories were seen by respondents as having the greatest growth potential among fashion product categories in major sales markets (36%).Cross-cultural craftsmanship has also emerged as a rising design trend. This year’s fair not only presented selected pieces from internationally acclaimed couturier Guo Pei’s entirely hand‑crafted collection “Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance”, but also brought together brands from diverse cultural backgrounds, showcasing fashion works that blend traditional techniques such as embroidery, weaving and tie-dyeing. They included Hong Kong brand Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Limited which showcased designs utilising Gambier Canton Silk, a national intangible cultural heritage fabric.Other highlights included Hong Kong brand Isabelle.C, which incorporates the Chinese intangible heritage technique of Kesi (silk tapestry weaving) into its designs; Thai brand Lava Laweng, which showcases Thai ethnic culture and weaving craftsmanship; and Macao brand Yu Kwa, founded by Lin Yingwen, the fifth-generation inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage production of gold-embroidered skirt jackets. These works not only showcase exquisite craftsmanship and rich cultural depth, but also breathe new life into traditional techniques within the modern fashion landscape.As a first-time exhibitor at CENTRESTAGE, Vald Showroom from Denmark brought a curated selection of brands, including Danish label HENRIK VIBSKOV which is known for its runway appearances in Copenhagen and Paris. The showroom is planning to expand into new markets across Asia. “We are very excited to learn about local customers’ preferences and see how buyers respond to our collections in terms of quality, price, fit and style,” said Jacob Jensen, the company’s CEO.Hong Kong brand Imellda Ho Millinery specialises in handmade custom hats and headpieces. Designer Imellda Ho said this year marks her first participation at CENTRESTAGE under her own brand name, and that the fair reflected the HKTDC's international vision. “The team even anticipated needs I hadn't considered. This 'thinking beyond the designer' support is exactly what independent brands need most,” she said. Ms Ho added that although the custom headwear market is relatively small, the fair offers opportunities for brands to expand into overseas markets. She commended the HKTDC for equipping designers with hands-on styling workshops and expert-led brand development support, representing “irreplaceable value for independent designers”.Buyers from around the world were drawn to the fair, praising its global brand appeal and diverse product offerings. Many expressed strong interest in the distinctive creativity of Hong Kong designers. Marianna Kuvvet, Brand Director of Tomorrow Ltd, a brand accelerator, said: “This was my first time attending CENTRESTAGE. What stood out to me most was the calibre of local talent.” Stavros Karelis, Founder and Buying Director at Machine-A, a UK-based concept store, said that CENTRESTAGE is proven to be an exciting platform for new talent, while providing international buyers with a valuable gateway to explore the pulse of Asia’s vibrant and diverse market. “I was particularly impressed by local Hong Kong designers and brands, such as WEN PAN and Kinyan Lam from Genau Studio. The fair beautifully captured the fusion of local and global design talents,” he said. Despite it being his inaugural visit to CENTRESTAGE, Mr Karelis allocated a specific budget to acquire standout designs discovered at the fair, underscoring its importance as an influential global fashion platform.Spectacular fashion shows with international designers dazzle audiencesSome 50 fashion shows and events were staged during the fair. The opening gala show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, was in the spotlight on 1 September at M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District, with celebrated couturier Guo Pei unveiled her collection themed “Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance”, featuring more than 30 handcrafted masterpieces that transformed fleeting moments into timeless brilliance. On 4 September, Guo Pei also hosted a masterclass to share her design journey and philosophy with an enthusiastic full house.Marking the 10th anniversary of the Fashion Hong Kong overseas promotion campaign series, Fashion Hong Kong presented a show under the theme “A Decade in Design: What Is Seen' What Is Felt'”. Four Hong Kong brands – ANGUS TSUI, ARTY:ACTIVE, IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO and selfFab. – unveiled creative collections reflecting the journeys of Hong Kong designers, blending vision with emotion. The show received enthusiastic acclaim from a multitude of industry professionals, celebrities and fashion enthusiast in a packed venue. The public can revisit the show’s highlights on the CENTRESTAGE and Fashion Hong Kong websites, the Fashion Hong Kong Instagram, and HKTDC Facebook and YouTube channels.The FASHIONALLY platform also showcased four emerging brands – phenotypsetter, MARCCH, Oplus2 and OUS – in its FASHIONALLY Collection #25, highlighting the creativity and energy of Hong Kong’s new generation of designers. FASHIONALLY Presentation featured LAPEEWEE, MOODLABBYLORRAINE and KOWLOON CITY BOY, who used immersive stage installations to bring their latest works vividly to life.Several other Hong Kong brands launched new collections at CENTRESTAGE. DORISKATH collaborated with bridal label Vincci to mark its 10th anniversary, 112 mountainyam presented its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, while other participants included NATACHA VAN and more. LOCAL POWER 2025, a cross-cultural project curated by the Asian New Generation Creativity Design Association, was officially launched during CENTRESTAGE. Dorian Ho, Chairman of the Association said: “CENTRESTAGE is a key fashion platform in Asia, and launching the project here helps attract greater attention. We also invited five Korean designers to participate, and the project successfully attracted more than 30 buyers from various markets including Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and Mainland China, to connect with us for just first two days, opening up opportunities for international collaboration.”The finals of the Redress Design Award 2025 – a competition dedicated to advancing circular fashion and now in its 15th year – were successfully staged at CENTRESTAGE. Multiple awards were presented during the event, with the championship title jointly awarded to designers Carla Zhang and Hugo Dumas. Nathan Moy was awarded the “Hong Kong Best”, while other contestants also showcased their unique sustainable fashion designs.Photo download: http://bit.ly/482vCywThe 10th edition of CENTRESTAGE attracted over 10,000 trade buyers from 91 countries and regionsThe annual fashion extravaganza gathered over 260 brands from 25 countries and regions – the largest number of participating brands in the fair’s history. The participation in the Thai pavilion reached a record high this year, bringing together over 40 brands.Internationally acclaimed couturier Guo Pei joined CENTRESTAGE for a masterclass, sharing her design philosophy and creative journey. The event drew a full house of industry professionals, fashion lovers and design students eager to learn and exchange ideas.Several fashion design competitions were held during the fair, including the Young Knitwear Designer Contest organised by the Knitwear Innovation and Design Society. Designer Jason Ying claimed the championship title.Several local fashion labels staged shows during CENTRESTAGE, including the latest collection by DORISKATH.Cross-cultural craftsmanship emerged as a growing trend. The fair brought together design brands from diverse cultural backgrounds, showcasing fashion pieces that incorporate traditional techniques such as embroidery.For the first time, the United Kingdom joined CENTRESTAGE as Partner Country, presenting 16 highly creative fashion brands and emerging designers.The Asia New Generation Cultural Creative Design Association officially launched LOCAL POWER 2025 Hong Kong Fashion in Seoul at CENTRESTAGE.Websites- CENTRESTAGE: www.centrestage.com.hk- Fashion Hong Kong: https://www.fashionhongkong.com/en- Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC): www.fashionally.com/enRevisit CENTRESTAGE ELITES:- CENTRESTAGE website: https://www.hktdc.com/event/centrestage/en/livestream- CENTRESTAGE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centrestage_hktdc- HKTDC Exhibition Channel Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AAMjms6eB/'mibextid=wwXIfr- HKTDC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/dsECvOgiYNE'si=0OLm1S_9hXhjLiYIMedia enquiriesBest Crew Public Relations & MarketingDiana TangTel: (852) 3594 6443 Email: diana.tang@bestcrewpr.comReni KwokTel: (852) 3594 6443 Email: reni.kwok@bestcrewpr.comHKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department:Sharon Ha Tel: (852) 2584 4575Email: sharon.mt.ha@hktdc.orgKaty Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgHKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enAbout the HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 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. About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong’s positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.CCIDA’s website: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enDisclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Fourth Paradigm announces 2025 interim results ACN Newswire

Fourth Paradigm announces 2025 interim results

Financial Highlights:- In the first half of 2025, the total revenue amounted to RMB2,626 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 40.7% - The revenue of the 4ParadigmSage AI Platform (“4ParadigmSage”) business grew by 71.9% year on year to RMB2,149 million, accounting for 81.8% of the total revenue - The SHIFT Intelligent Solutions business recorded revenue of RMB371 million, accounting for 14.1% of the total revenue - The revenue of the 4ParadigmSageGPT AIGS Services segment amounted to RMB106 million, accounting for 4.1% of the total revenue- In the first half of 2025, the total R&D expenses further increased to RMB893.4 million, with the R&D expense ratio of 34.0%- In the first half of 2025, the Company recorded an adjusted net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company (a non-IFRS measure) of RMB43.70 million, which narrowed by approximately 71.2% from RMB151.6 million for the same period last yearOperation Highlights:- In the first half of 2025, the number of lighthouse users reached 90, an increase of four compared to the same period last year, and the average revenue per lighthouse user was RMB17.98 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 56.6%- AI agent + World Model: During the Reporting Period, the Company launched intelligent agent solutions of “AI agent + industry-specific large models” across multiple sectors, driving a leap in productivity for enterprise users- Phancy: During the Reporting Period, the Company launched its “Phancy” consumer electronics business, positioned to provide the market with integrated software and hardware solutions based on AI agents- AI + Energy Storage: During the Reporting Period, the Company is committed to aggregating distributed power supplies, controllable loads, energy storage systems and other resources scattered in the power grid, and carrying out unified coordination, optimization, and control, to help Virtual Power Plant participate in the operation of the power market in all aspects, and provide a variety of services for the power grid, such as peak shaving and frequency shifting- AI + Stablecoin: During the Reporting Period, the Company entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with a leading brokerage firm, jointly developing and exploring the “AI + Stablecoin Risk Control & Compliance Solution”HONG KONG, Sep 5, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – 21 August 2025, A leading enterprise AI software company - Beijing Fourth Paradigm Technology Co., Ltd. (“Fourth Paradigm” or the “Company”, Stock Code: 6682.HK) today announced the consolidated interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2025 (the “Reporting Period”).During the reporting period, Fourth Paradigm’s revenue increased significantly, with total revenue of RMB2,626 million, representing a year-on-year growth of approximately 40.7%. Adjusted net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company (non-IFRS) was RMB43.7 million, narrowing by approximately 71.2% from RMB151.6 million for the same period last year.Fourth Paradigm’s core business - the 4ParadigmSage AI Platform - continued to perform strongly. Benefiting from strong demand from enterprises for AI-native software, comprehensive upgrade of the 4ParadigmSage AI Platform, and timely development of a new AI productivity system, the Company successfully launched multiple industry-specific Agent application solutions and established an ecosystem of partner collaborations, driving significant revenue growth for the 4ParadigmSage AI Platform business. During the reporting period, the 4ParadigmSage AI Platform business generated revenue of RMB2,149 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 71.9%, accounting for approximately 81.8% of the Company's total revenue.In terms of expenses, during the reporting period, the total ratio of the Company’s three major expenses to revenue decreased from 58.2% to 44.5%, of which the scale effect of R&D investment has been fully demonstrated this year, with total R&D expenses increasing by approximately 5.1% compared to last year, while the expense ratio decreased by 11.5pct year-on-year to 34.0%. At the same time, the Company has always paid close attention to healthy cash flow and business quality. As of June 30, 2025, the balance of accounts receivable decreased significantly from RMB3,086 million at the end of last year to RMB1,967 million.“AI Agent + World Model” has been Deployed Comprehensively, Achieving Significant Commercial SuccessDuring the Reporting Period, Fourth Paradigm deepened the implementation and application of its “AI agent + World Model” strategy, effectively capturing the AI transformation demands of enterprise clients in high-value scenarios. The Company provides enterprises with AI solutions (enterprise-grade AIOS) that are deeply integrated with their business and engineered for implementation, rather than standalone tools. The value proposition of “AI agent + World Model” achieved comprehensive adoption among enterprise clients. The number of lighthouse users reached 90, an increase of four compared to the same period last year, and the average revenue per lighthouse user was RMB17.98 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 56.6%. This growth trajectory in average revenue per user indicates that the 4ParadigmSage AI Platform is rapidly becoming the AI productivity infrastructure for enterprises.According to a recent market share report released by IDC, Fourth Paradigm has ranked first in China’s machine learning platform market share for seven consecutive years in 2024.Continuously Exploring New Businesses, “AI+” Positioning for Future GrowthWhile focusing on the application of AI in traditional strong industries, Fourth Paradigm has never stopped exploring new areas of “AI+”. In response to “AI + Stablecoin”, the Company has successively introduced “AI + Stablecoin Risk Control & Compliance Solution” and “Stablecoin Underlying Asset Management Solution,” actively cooperating with leading securities firms to strategically expand into the stablecoin ecosystem. Committed to “AI + Energy Storage”, Fourth Paradigm focuses on power trading strategy optimization and smart power plant operation and maintenance, utilizing accumulated data models in the energy industry to solve industry pain points. In the future, Fourth Paradigm will continue to keenly capture cutting-edge trends, explore more possibilities for “AI+”, uncover new commercial value and application scenarios, open up new growth curves for the Company, lead the trend of artificial intelligence transformation, and help customers occupy a more advantageous strategic position in global AI industry competition.Ecological Construction and Edge-side Extension: “Phancy” Consumer Electronics Business Shows Strong Potential and is Poised for Promising Growth“Phancy” consumer electronics business, which was officially launched this year, has also performed well. As an important exploration by Fourth Paradigm to extend its AI capabilities to the end-user side, it has already launched and started selling a number of consumer electronics products, including smart watches, smart glasses, and smart earphones, in collaboration with partners in the first half of the year. In the future, it will expand into areas such as smart toys, smart wearable accessories, and embodied intelligence. Phancy is committed to building a comprehensive product ecosystem that brings AI capabilities into every household and benefits every individual.More importantly, Fourth Paradigm is gradually building a brand-new smart terminal device ecosystem. In May, 2025, the Company announced a deep cooperation with HarmonyOS and HiSilicon, integrating the Company’s AI model capabilities on the edge side with HiSilicon’s high-performance, low-power chips to jointly create an integrated smart hardware solution combining “AI + Operating System + Core Chips.” This collaboration injects strong innovative momentum into HarmonyOS’s ecosystem and empowers the new era of intelligent connectivity. At the same time, Fourth Paradigm entered into strategic partnerships with Bluetrum, Jieli Technology and Beken Corporation to deeply integrate leading AI communication chips with algorithms, providing end-to-end AI solutions for more consumer electronics products in the future and strengthening the Company’s underlying technological competitiveness.In terms of Strategic Outlooks, Dr. Dai Wenyuan, Chairman of the Board, Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Beijing Fourth Paradigm Technology Co., Ltd. said, “In the first half of 2025, we have solidified our market leadership through superior products and technological capabilities, while proactively pursuing open ecosystem partnerships to lay the groundwork for future growth. In the future, we will continue to adhere to our core strategy of “technology-driven, customer value, and ecosystem win-win,” building AI productivity infrastructure that drives comprehensive corporate profitability, aiming to become a core driver of the AI era and lead the way toward the early arrival of the AGI era. We firmly believe that through continuous investment in technological innovation, Fourth Paradigm will remain at the forefront of the exploration and commercial implementation of AI technology.” Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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CBL International Reports 1H 2025 Results Highlighting Strong Biofuel Growth, Reduced Net Loss, and Improved Gross Profit Margin ACN Newswire

CBL International Reports 1H 2025 Results Highlighting Strong Biofuel Growth, Reduced Net Loss, and Improved Gross Profit Margin

KualaLumpur, Sep 5, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – CBL International Limited (NASDAQ: BANL) (the “Company” or “CBL”), the listing vehicle of the Banle Group (“Banle” or “the Group”), a leading marine fuel logistics company in the Asia-Pacific region, has announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2025 on September 2, 2025.1H 2025 Financial and Operational Highlights- Revenue of $265.17 million, reflecting resilient performance in a volatile macro environment.- Sales volume increased by 9.8%, driven by network expansion, new customer acquisitions, and expansion toward the non-container liner and biofuel segments.- Gross profit margin increased to 1.02% in 1H2025, reflecting the Company's strategic approach to maintaining profitability while growing market share in a competitive environment.- Net loss narrowed by 38.8% year-on-year to $992,000, demonstrating improved cost control and operating efficiency.- Biofuel sales surged 154.7%, driven by accelerating adoption of sustainable marine fuels under IMO 2023 and EU FuelEU Maritime regulations.- Global network expanded to 65 ports, strengthening CBL’s role as a global one-stop marine fuel logistics platform.- Cash balance of $5.43 million and $50 million committed banking facilities provide strong financial flexibility to support growth and shareholder value.Financial Performance OverviewThe Company reported consolidated revenue of $265.17 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, representing a 4.4% decrease from $277.23 million in the same period of 2024. The decrease was mainly attributable to the decrease in the marine fuel price which was partially offset by the increase in the sales volume. The increase in sales volume was mainly driven by network expansion, new customer acquisitions, and expansion toward the non-container liner and biofuel segments. Furthermore, the Group’s network demonstrated the Group’s resilience to geopolitical impacts on the marine industry.Gross profit remained stable at $2.71 million with an increase in sales volume to cope with the challenging competition in the market, while gross profit margin increased from 0.98% in 1H2024 to 1.02% in 1H2025. This margin expansion reflects the Company's strategic approach to maintaining profitability while growing market share in a competitive environment.The Company reported a net loss of $992,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2025, representing a significant 38.8% improvement compared to a net loss of $1.62 million in the same period of 2024, primarily driven by disciplined cost management and operational efficiency initiatives that reduced operating expenses by 17% to $3.42 million from $4.12 million in 1H 2024.Cash and cash equivalents stood at $5.43 million as of June 30, 2025, supported by improved working capital management and expanded banking facilities of $50.0 million, providing enhanced financial flexibility for growth initiatives.Strategic Expansion and Operational ExcellenceCBL's operational expansion continued to be a key growth driver, with the Company's global service network reaching 65 ports by June 30, 2025, strategically positioned across Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Central America. This expansion enabled CBL to effectively navigate geopolitical disruptions, particularly in the Red Sea region and the Middle East, along with the changes in global trade patterns due to the impact of U.S. tariffs policy, by capturing increased demand along alternative intra-Asia and Euro-Asia trade routes.Customer diversification reached a significant milestone, with non-container liner sales accounting for 36.9% of revenue, while sales concentration among the top five customers declined to 60.4% from 66.7% in 1H 2024. The Company continues to service nine of the world's top 12 container shipping lines, which contributed nearly 60% of global container fleet capacity.Additionally, biofuel sales demand was fueled by stricter environmental regulations, including IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator and the EU’s FuelEU Maritime, and surged 154.7% year-on-year in 1H2025, with volumes up 189.5%, reinforcing CBL’s forerunning position in sustainable marine fuels. The Company stayed ahead of this trend with the successful rollout of its B24 biofuel in China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, followed by a 2025 launch in Singapore. The B24 blend, comprising 76% conventional fuel and 24% UCOME, delivers a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional marine fuels.Stricter Environmental Regulations and Industry ReshapingDespite the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy, oil prices, and geopolitical risks, CBL remains cautiously optimistic about the outlook as further uncertainties could impact our results of operations for a particular period. Regarding the ongoing instability in the Red Sea, where vessels were rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, CBL targeted the increased demand from rerouted vessels, ensuring that our strategic supply chain could meet these demands, allowing us to maintain the stability of our offerings and capitalize on the opportunities created by these disruptions.The adoption of biofuels and other sustainable marine fuels is accelerating as stricter environmental regulations reshape the shipping industry. Consultant agency Exactitude Consultancy is projecting a 50.4% CAGR for the green marine fuel market from 2023 to 2030, as demand for biofuels is expected to climb sharply. Leveraging its early move into sustainable fuels, CBL is expanding its biofuel supply chain and exploring LNG and methanol, positioning itself to capture growth while helping customers meet tightening decarbonization targets across Asia Pacific, Europe, and other key markets.Management Commentary and Future OutlookDr. Teck Lim Chia, Chairman and CEO of CBL International Limited, stated, “Our first half results highlight significant strategic progress. Despite a challenging macro backdrop, we successfully expanded our global network, accelerated our biofuel transition with triple-digit growth, and narrowed our net loss by nearly 40%. These achievements underscore our resilience, operational discipline, and confidence in long-term growth.As regulations tighten and customer demand for sustainable marine fuels accelerates, CBL is uniquely positioned as an early mover with the ISCC certifications and supply partnerships to lead the market transition. We remain focused on executing our strategy to deliver profitable growth and long-term shareholder value.”Outlook Looking ahead, CBL expects to:- Further scale its biofuel supply chain and explore LNG and methanol, leveraging regulatory support and customer adoption.- Continue expanding port coverage to enhance global connectivity.- Maintain disciplined cost management and capitalize on financial flexibility to invest in sustainable fuels and potential shareholder return initiatives.Webcast DetailsCBL International Limited (Nasdaq: BANL) cordially invites you to participate in a webcast to discuss its financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2025.Event:2025 Interim Results WebcastDate and Time:10:00 pm – 11:00 pm US EST on September 15, 2025 (Monday) 10:00 am – 11:00 am MST/HKT on September 16, 2025 (Tuesday)Access:The webinar can be accessed live through the website provided below.Webcast Link: https://webcast.roadshowchina.cn/k8WDrnAbout the Banle GroupCBL International Limited (Nasdaq: BANL) is the listing vehicle of Banle Group, a reputable marine fuel logistics company based in the Asia Pacific region that was established in 2015. We are committed to providing customers with a one-stop solution for vessel refueling, which is referred to as bunkering facilitator in the bunkering industry. We facilitate vessel refueling mainly through local physical suppliers in 65 major ports covering Belgium, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Panama, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. The Group actively promotes the use of sustainable fuels and has been awarded the ISCC EU and ISCC Plus certifications.For more information about our Company, please visit our website at: https://www.banle-intl.com.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this announcement are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “future,” “outlook,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other performance metrics and projections of market opportunity. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release and on current expectations of BANL’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of BANL. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements could include changes in domestic and foreign business, fuel prices and tariffs, market, financial, political and legal conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's filings with the SEC.CBL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liabilities)For more information, please contact:CBL International LimitedEmail: investors@banle-intl.comStrategic Financial Relations LimitedShelly Cheng Tel: (852) 2864 4857 Iris Au Yeung Tel: (852) 2114 4913 Email: sprg_cbl@sprg.com.hk Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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LOLC Advanced Tech and Corsair Group Join Forces to Transform Waste into Fuel in Sri Lanka ACN Newswire

LOLC Advanced Tech and Corsair Group Join Forces to Transform Waste into Fuel in Sri Lanka

AMSTERDAM, Sept 5, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - LOLC Advanced Technologies (LOLC AT), a fully owned subsidiary of LOLC Holdings PLC, together with Corsair Group International, headquartered in Amsterdam, has announced a landmark partnership to upgrade and expand LOLC AT's existing waste-to-fuel plant at Kerawalapitiya. This strategic initiative aims to address Sri Lanka's growing plastic and polythene waste challenge. With Sri Lanka generating an estimated 7,000 metric tons of solid waste per day, equating to roughly 2.56 million metric tons per year, a significant portion of which consists of polythene and plastic. Plastic pollution has become one of the nation's most pressing environmental concerns, with much of this waste ends up in overflowing landfills, waterways, and oceans, posing serious threats to ecosystems, public health, and tourism.LOLC AT invested in and commissioned a waste-to-fuel plant in 2023, which it has successfully operated throughout 2024. This facility converts non-recyclable plastics into a reusable fuel, offering a viable alternative to fossil fuels while diverting waste from landfill and incineration. The newly formed partnership with Corsair Group International will build upon this foundation, introducing cutting-edge enhancements to increase processing capacity and improve efficiency. Through proprietary technology developed in-house by Corsair together with its technology partners, the project will focus on producing high-quality, ISCC PLUS-certified Pyrolysis Oil contributing to a fully circular economy where waste is transformed into resources that can be reintegrated into the economy in a sustainable and scalable way.The expanded facility will be able to handle larger volumes of plastic waste and process a broader range of material types, transforming them into high-quality pyrolysis oil that serves as a raw material for petrochemical companies to produce new plastics positioning the facility as a key contributor to the circular plastics value chain. In doing so, it will not only address a critical environmental challenge but also create green jobs, stimulate innovation, and position Sri Lanka as a regional leader in sustainable waste management solutions.Designed with cutting-edge technology, the new facility will have the capacity to process 12 million kilograms of plastic waste annually, converting it into high-quality Pyrolysis Oil. This oil will serve as a sustainable raw material for the petrochemical industry, enabling the production of new, recycled, and environmentally friendly plastic products. By transforming discarded plastic from landfills into valuable raw materials, the facility will not only help clean the environment of pollution but also contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy in Sri Lanka.Construction of the facility is scheduled to commence in 2025, with completion expected within approximately two years. Under the partnership, Corsair Group will bring in its technical expertise and global experience in plastic waste recycling, while LOLC AT will leverage its operational capabilities and commitment to developing projects that deliver lasting socio-economic and financial benefits to Sri Lanka.Sharing his thoughts on the new partnership, Mr. Danesh Abeyrathna, Director/ CEO of LOLC Advanced Technologies stated, "This partnership marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Sri Lanka today. By leveraging our operational expertise alongside Corsair's proven waste-to-fuel technology, we aim to not only enhance the efficiency and capacity of our existing facility but also create a tangible, positive impact on the country's plastic and polythene waste problem. Together, we are driving innovation that turns environmental responsibility into practical, measurable action for a greener future".Mr. Jussi Saloranta, CEO of Corsair Group International, added, "We are very excited and honoured to enter into this partnership with LOLC. As one of the most diversified conglomerates in Sri Lanka, LOLC provides an ideal platform for us to collaborate and create meaningful impact. This facility in Colombo represents the first of several planned joint initiatives, and we are fully committed to investing in Sri Lanka's sustainable development. Together, we aim to tackle the plastic waste challenge while building a cleaner, greener future for communities across the country."About LOLC Advanced TechnologiesLOLC Advanced Technologies (Pvt) Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of LOLC Holdings PLC, is the research, innovation, and new business development arm of the Group. The company focuses on pioneering ventures that create long-term socio-economic value and financial returns for the country. Current projects span advanced materials such as graphene, high-value spice extraction, and waste-to-value initiatives that address pressing environmental and economic needs.About Corsair Group:Corsair Group International, headquartered in Amsterdam, is one of the fastest-growing companies in plastic waste recycling, focused on producing high-quality pyrolysis oil. With operations and partnerships spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, the company specializes in converting end-of-life plastics-often destined for landfills or oceans-into premium raw material for petrochemical companies to create new plastics, rather than fuels that are burned and lost from circulation. Corsair's further-developed technology and expertise enable scalable, commercially viable solutions that reduce plastic pollution, recover resources, and strengthen the circular plastics economy. Through its international projects, Corsair has already diverted thousands of tons of plastic from the environment, contributing to a more sustainable global future.Contact Infomail: info@corsairnow.comphone: +66 957 613 702SOURCE: Corsair group Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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The MOU Signing Ceremony cum Seminar Titled “A New Horizon in Film & TV Trading: Web3 x DMP – Reshaping the Cross-Industry Supply Chain” Hosted by eBRAM Concludes Successfully ACN Newswire

The MOU Signing Ceremony cum Seminar Titled “A New Horizon in Film & TV Trading: Web3 x DMP – Reshaping the Cross-Industry Supply Chain” Hosted by eBRAM Concludes Successfully

HONG KONG, Sep 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – Hosted by eBRAM International Online Arbitration and Mediation Centre (“eBRAM”), an independent not-for-profit arbitration and mediation institution established with the support of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the seminar titled "A New Horizon in Film & TV Trading: Web3 × DMP — Reshaping the Cross-Industry Supply Chain" concluded successfully today. Featuring experts from different industries as speakers and panellists, the event gathered close to a hundred professionals, senior executives, etc., who witnessed the signing of the MOU, and to explore new landscape of film and TV trading.Following the opening remarks delivered by Dr. Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM, a welcome remarks was made by Dr. Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice of HKSAR. Together with Ms. Zhang Yumei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, they witnessed the signing of the MOU between eBRAM and Radio Television Hong Kong, the Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals, and Asia Pacific Creativity Industries Association, with the parties committing to collaborating in promoting legal technology application in the film and TV cultural industry. In his welcome address, Deputy Secretary Cheung pointed out that being one of the important film and TV production centers in the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong serves as a "super-connector" between the Mainland China and international markets. To promote the healthy development of the industry, the Department of Justice continues to advance the development of legal technology application and dispute resolution mechanisms, enhancing the legal support framework through various policies and measures to foster industry innovation. At the same time, eBRAM's Deal-Making Portal (DMP) acts as a vital tool for the industry to address challenges, providing a more convenient channel for cooperation discussions and more efficient legal rights protection, supporting the steady development of the industry in the long term."CEPA" Promotes Connectivity Between the Film and TV Industries in Mainland China and Hong Kong Attracting International Capital Inflows and the Industry To Go GlobalThe country has actively amended the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (“CEPA”) - Agreement on Trade in Services, to accelerate establishing a new normal in film and TV cooperation between Mainland China and Hong Kong. In his keynote speech, Dr. Johnny Ng Kit-chong, MH, JP, Member of the Legislative Council and Director of eBRAM, shared his insights and explained how the newly amended CEPA can reshape and facilitate the upgrade and development of the film and TV cultural industries in the two places. Dr. Ng pointed out that CEPA has injected core impetus into the film and TV industries in Hong Kong and the Mainland China. Co-productions of Hong Kong films and TV programmes would be treated the same as Mainland productions, easing market access for them and allowing upgrade across the entire industry chain, from creation, production, investment to distribution and screening. The removal of restrictions on creative teams also helps safeguard the creative freedom and uniqueness of Hong Kong's film and TV creations. For the industry in Mainland China, the better framework permits it to leverage the international platform in Hong Kong in directing capital to speed up international cooperation and project development. Such in-depth integration can drive two-way flow of talent, funds and projects, opening up wider channels for Hong Kong's film and TV industry to enter the mainland market, and boosting the potential inflow of international capital and technologies, while also assisting mainland China’s film and TV companies in expanding into international markets through Web3 technology.Synergistic Application of Legal Technology and Web3 to Reshape Entire Film and TV Industry ChainAt the seminar titled "On-chain Collaboration X Legal Protection: The Digital Transformation Journey of the Hong Kong Film and TV Industry in the Web3 Generation", Mr. Albert Leung, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM, Mr. Alan Chiu, Partner at ELLALAN, Mr. Kaijun Huang, Senior Partner at Beijing Dacheng (Shanghai) Law Offices, LLP, Mr. Rex Ma, Honorary President of the Asia Pacific Creativity Industries Association, Dr. Cheney Tsoi, President of the Asia Blockchain Society, and Dr. Alex Lau, Partner at the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Advisory Service, discussed the digital transformation and cross-border cooperation of the film and TV industry in the Web3 era. Speakers highlighted the structural impacts that Web3 technology brings to the film and TV industry, and analysed common obstacles and controversies in technological adaptation and cross-border collaboration within the industry. The discussion emphasized that legal technology enhances copyright protection in both Mainland China and Hong Kong, while mentioning that Web3 introduces disintermediation and smart contract applications to the industry chain, serving as the core for building a trustworthy trading environment and enhancing the efficiency of cross-border film and TV contracts and risk management. Discussions also pointed out how blockchain is reshaping collaboration model of the film and TV industry, emphasizing the role of DMP in transformation and dispute avoidance. It explained that through eBRAM’s DMP and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform, the industry can leverage tools like smart contracts and blockchain evidence to provide seamless online trading and legal protection to cooperative projects, facilitating efficient cross-border market tradings and resolves common copyright and contract disputes in cross-border collaborations, as such, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a bridge for Sino-foreign film and TV cultural cooperation, and highlighting the critical role of technology and law in driving industry innovation, protecting rights, and enhancing cooperation efficiency.Dr. Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM, said, "eBRAM is very honoured to sign the MOU and joint hands with the various film and TV, and cultural creative institutions to build an efficient, professional and safe one-stop cross- jurisdiction online ‘technology + law’ solution platform for the industry. With the help of legal technology and Web3 blockchain technology, the platform will assist companies in effectively connecting resources and partners, clarifying contractual terms and providing digital dispute resolution solutions when needed, building together the world’s first integrated ecosystem of ‘Film and TV x Web3 x Legal Technology’ with international influence, and kicking off strategic deployment of Hong Kong‘s Web3 cultural and creative industry. We look forward to welcoming more film and TV, and cultural creative institutions in different regions to join to perfect our ecosystem, and facilitate healthy cross-border development and cooperation in the film and TV, and cultural creative industry.”In November last year, eBRAM signed an MOU on “International Dispute Resolution in the Film and Television Industry” with Hengdian Film and Television Industry Association and Dongyang Law Society, and in March this year, it participated in the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART). Such initiatives speak volumes to its commitment to introducing the DMP and ODR platforms to the film and TV industry and facilitating healthy and synergistic cross-border and cross-media development. On the foundation of the latest MOU signed with local film and TV cultural institutions, together with national policy support, eBRAM hopes to leverage its platforms to bring a continuous steam of new opportunities for film and TV collaboration between Mainland China and Hong Kong, fostering in-depth integration and innovative development within the industry.Photo CaptionsDr. Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM, host the opening of the event.Dr. Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice of HKSAR, delivers welcome remarks at the event.Dr. Johnny Ng Kit-chong, MH, JP, Member of the Legislative Council and Director of eBRAM, delivers keynote speech at the event.Ms. Zhang Yumei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (Left 3)and Dr. Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice of HKSAR(Right 3), together witness the signing of the MOU between Dr. Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM(Right 2), Ms. Angelina Kwan, JP, Director of Broadcasting at Radio Television Hong Kong(Left 2), Mr. Stephen Ma, Vice President of the Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals(Left 1), and Ms. Linda Lam, President of the Asia Pacific Creativity Industries Association(Right 1).(From Left to Right) Mr. Kaijun Huang, Senior Partner at Beijing Dacheng (Shanghai) Law Offices, Mr. Alan Chiu, Partner at ELLALAN, LLP, Mr. Rex Ma, Honorary President of the Asia Pacific Creativity Industries Association, Mr. Albert Leung, Acting Chief Executive Officer of eBRAM, Dr. Cheney Tsoi, President of the Asia Blockchain Society, and Dr. Alex Lau, Partner at the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Advisory Service, engage in an in-depth discussion on the digital transformation and cross-border cooperation of the film and TV industry in the Web3 era during the seminar.Olivia Kung, Member of the eBRAM Board of Directors, Chairman of the Marketing Task Force, delivers closing remarks at the event.About eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution CentreeBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee established in 2018, with the support of Asian Academy of International Law Ltd, Hong Kong Bar Association, and The Law Society of Hong Kong. eBRAM tasks itself to elevate Hong Kong’s arbitration and mediation services and build capacity to meet the rapidly expanding demand for online dispute resolution and deal-making services across the borders by utilising innovative technologies to enable the city to become a LawTech centre and hub for international business dispute avoidance and resolution and collaborate with global organisations and participating economies such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Belt-and-Road countries and beyond.eBRAM has developed its ODR platform and DMP Portal leveraging the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain and cloud. Cybersecurity and data privacy are our top priorities, and eBRAM makes every effort to ensure the security of information proceeded and stored on its platform.For more information, please visit the organisation’s official website, LinkedIn, and Wechat Official Account (eBRAM). Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Magnum Opus Resorts Launches International Architectural Design Competition for Iconic Costa Rica Retreat ACN Newswire

Magnum Opus Resorts Launches International Architectural Design Competition for Iconic Costa Rica Retreat

MIAMI BEACH, FL, Sept 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Magnum Opus Resorts, a luxury hospitality company founded by seasoned industry executives, announces the launch of its International Architectural Design Competition. This invitation challenges visionary architects worldwide to design a one-of-a-kind 8-10 room boutique retreat on 8 pristine acres of Costa Rica's Pacific coast-a location celebrated for its lush rainforests, panoramic ocean views, rich natural resources, and dedication to responsible eco-tourism.Rising 600 feet above the pristine beaches of Pacific Ocean on a private mountaintop, the retreat will be unlike any other hotel. Considered to offer the most breathtaking views 360-degree views in all of Costa Rica, this retreat will be designed for exclusive full-property stays and will serve as a sanctuary of elevation - physical, emotional, and architectural - for private groups seeking privacy, inspiration, and transformation. The project aspires to achieve recognition in international design journals and to set a new benchmark for timeless architectural innovation.Extended Deadlines Due to High InterestRegistration Deadline: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 10:00 PM ETConcept Submission Deadline: Saturday, October 25, 2025, 10:00 PM ETWinner Announcement: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 12:00 Noon ETCompetition HighlightsProject Scope: Design an 8-10 room luxury retreat reserved for whole-property rental (not rented by individual rooms).Guest Profile: Celebrities, executives, tastemakers, and discerning travelers seeking privacy and immersive natural experiences.Vision & Backing: The project is fully financed and must blend seamlessly with nature, maintain construction affordability, and achieve global design acclaim.Award: $2,000 USD honorarium, plus the opportunity for a full design commission under a professional services contract.Design Requirements: Entries must include concept sketches / massing diagrams, narrative explaining design intent, mood board, and optional visuals as determined by each entrant. Details available here https://www.magnumopusresorts.com/the-competitionJudging CriteriaArchitectural originality and visionIntegration with natural surroundingsConceptual clarity and design languageCost-aware, buildable solutionsAlignment with transformative guest experienceHow to ParticipateThis global competition is open to architects, designers, and firms-individuals or teams. There are no restrictions on nationality, age or professional affiliation. No entry fee is required.Register now and access the full competition brief at: www.magnumopusresorts.com/the-competitionAbout Magnum Opus ResortsMagnum Opus Resorts, a Miami Beach based hospitality company, is redefining boutique luxury through retreats that prioritize transformative experiences in world-class environments. Founded by a leadership team with deep expertise in hospitality management and finance, the company's first retreat in Costa Rica was selected for its environmental beauty, spiritual energy, and unparalleled 360-degree views.Media Contact:Max FrankMax@magnumopusresorts.comSOURCE: Magnum Opus Resorts Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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U.S. Polo Assn. Celebrates Historic Title Sponsorship of 2025 Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club ACN Newswire

U.S. Polo Assn. Celebrates Historic Title Sponsorship of 2025 Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club

SANTA BARBARA, CA AND WEST PALM BEACH, FL , Sept 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - U.S. Polo Assn., the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), proudly marked a major milestone this past weekend as the Title Sponsor of the 2025 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open, held August 15-31 at the iconic Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. This prestigious tournament, known as the crown jewel of West Coast polo, brought together top-tier talent and record-breaking crowds for one of the sport's most celebrated events.U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open (Photo Credit: Michelle Lauren)For the first time, U.S. Polo Assn. served as the Title Sponsor of the 2025 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open, one of the oldest and most revered polo tournaments in the world, dating back to 1908. As part of a broader partnership, U.S. Polo Assn. also served as the Official Apparel Brand and Stadium Sponsor of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club for the 2025 season, extending its relationship with the club into its eighth consecutive year."U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to have supported the Pacific Coast Open for many years, as one of the most historic and prestigious tournaments in the world, and this year we are thrilled to be the Pacific Coast Open's Title Sponsor," said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. "Our longstanding partnership and collaboration with the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club as Official Apparel Brand and Stadium Sponsor, gives U.S. Polo Assn. the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the brand's authentic connection to the sport and its heritage, alongside polo players, fans, and the Santa Barbara community through this exceptional event."Throughout the tournament, U.S. Polo Assn. hosted branded activations and offered exclusive 2025 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open merchandise, available both on-site at the Santa Barbara Club Boutique and online at uspashop.com. The sports brand also collaborated with fellow Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club partners for lifestyle and social content opportunities, further celebrating the authentic connection between the sport, fashion, and California culture.The tournament featured an elite lineup of athletes, including U.S. Polo Assn. Brand Ambassador Nico Escobar, who took the field for Team La Karina. In an action-packed final game, La Karina secured its first-ever Pacific Coast Open title with a 12-10 win over Carbenella. La Karina's Felipe "Pipe" Vercellino delivered a dominant performance and earned Most Valuable Player honors after scoring nine of his team's twelve goals."The U.S. Polo Assn. brand continues to enhance the sports experience for players, fans, and our community for the prestigious Pacific Coast Open," said Henry Walker, President of the Board of Directors for Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. "The long-standing partnership between U.S. Polo Assn. and the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is a true testament to our shared passion for the sport."The 2025 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open remains the most coveted prize in West Coast polo and is a symbol of tradition, excellence, and competitive spirit. With U.S. Polo Assn.'s title sponsorship, this year's event elevated not only the level of play but also the lifestyle and experience for fans and players.Photo Credit: Michelle LaurenAbout U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA GlobalU.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890 and based at the USPA National Polo Center (NPC) in Wellington, Florida. This year, U.S. Polo Assn. celebrates 135 years of sports inspiration alongside the USPA. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. The brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at NPC in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, and Star Sports in India now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time.U.S. Polo Assn. has consistently been named one of the top global sports licensors in the world alongside the NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. In addition, the sport-inspired brand is being recognized internationally with awards for global growth. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Modern Retail, and GQ as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world.For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn.USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the multi-billion-dollar sport brand, U.S. Polo Assn. USPA Global also manages the subsidiary, Global Polo, which is the worldwide leader in polo sport content. To learn more, visit globalpolo.com or Global Polo on YouTube.Contact InformationShannon StilsonVP, Sports Marketing and Mediasstilson@uspagl.com+001.561.227.6994Stacey KovalskyVP, Global PR and Communicationsskovalsky@uspagl.com+001.561.790.8036SOURCE: U.S. Polo Assn. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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HKTDC Export Confidence Index: 3Q25; Exporter optimism rises as global trade tension falls ACN Newswire

HKTDC Export Confidence Index: 3Q25; Exporter optimism rises as global trade tension falls

HONG KONG, Sep 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – The recent de-escalation in global trade tension has triggered an uptick in confidence among Hong Kong exporters. This was the key finding of the latest edition of the HKTDC Export Confidence Index – 3Q25 – which was released today.Overall 2025 Export Growth Forecast for 2025 upwardly adjustedThis rise in confidence was underlined by the readings of two of the Index’s key components – the Current Performance Index and the Expectation Index. For its part, the Current Performance Index, a measure of how exporters viewed their business performance in the surveyed quarter, stood at 53.3 (up from 49.6). The Expectation Index, a measure of how exporters see their likely prospects in the coming quarter, stood at 54.3 (up from 49.0).This is the highest reading for the two metrics since the introduction of the upgraded HKTDC Export Confidence Index in January 2024. The outcomes here were underpinned by the rally in Sales and New Orders, a development driven by the widely adopted trade front-loading strategy, and the rise in Trade Value (higher unit prices), which stemmed from the impact of the higher US tariffs.Hong Kong’s exports recorded year-on-year growth of 12.7% in the first seven months of 2025, with the tactical front-loading of trade being the major contributory factor. As a result, the HKTDC has upwardly revised its overall Hong Kong Export Growth Forecast for 2025 from 3% to 7-9%.Tariffs and front-loaded trade set to impact 2026 export figuresThe Council, however, has been keen to put this revision into perspective and has cautioned against assuming this latest prediction will remain unaffected by the ongoing market uncertainties.Addressing the uncertainties that lie ahead, Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research, said: “While it’s tempting to celebrate this forecast, it’s essential that we bear in mind that the better-than-expected export performance in the first seven months of the year was driven largely by the front-loading trade strategy, the benefits of which will recede over the coming months.“As of August, the US imposed high tariffs on many of its major trading partners, including Japan, South Korea, the European Union and several key ASEAN bloc members. Beyond that, China-US trade talks are ongoing, with the deadline for any agreement now extended until November this year.“With all of this in mind, we should be duly cautious and refrain from being overly optimistic. The possibility of future tariff hikes and further supply chain risks within the already increasingly fragmented global trading arena remains very real and could well translate into a sharp deceleration in trade in 2026.”For the present, though, in terms of markets, Mainland China (62.4, up 9.5) and the ASEAN bloc (56.9, up 3.5) continue to be seen as hugely promising with regard to their Current Performance, while export performance was reported as being elevated across the EU and in Japan. There are also signs that this is likely to continue in the near term, with the Market Expectation Index showing that exporters remain optimistic as to their expansion prospects within many of their target markets, including Mainland China (60.5, up 7.9), the ASEAN bloc (60.5, up 0.6), the EU (55.0, up 4.3 points) and Japan (54.7, up 4.1 points).Overall, it is only in the case of the US that confidence continued to falter, with readings for both its current and expected performance staying firmly below 40, an indication that considerable contraction is anticipated.Rising / stable profit margins widely expectedOn the industry sector front, the Current Performance readings for Timepieces (54.9, up 2.8), Electronics (54.5, up 5.6), Clothing (51.2, up 2.3), and Jewellery (51.3, down 0.3 points) placed them all in expansionary territory. Toys (49.4, up 6.3 points) and Equipment/ Materials (45.8, down 4.6), however, remained in contractionary space.A similar message could be derived from the Expectation Index, with Electronics (56.0, up 7.6), Timepieces (53.8, up 2.3), Clothing (51.9, up 4.6) and Jewellery (51.5, up 1.5) all firmly in the expansionary zone, and only the Toys (49.4, up 5.8) and Equipment / Materials (47.3, down 3.8) sectors seen as still liable to contract.Reiterating the overall message of the most recent figures, Nicholas Fu, the HKTDC Research Senior Economist who oversaw the compilation of the Index, said: “From the 3Q25 readings, it is encouraging that the majority (64%) of survey respondents expected rising/stable profit margins despite the challenging trading environment.”To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tcReferences- HKTDC Research website: https://research.hktdc.com/en/- HKTDC Export Confidence Index 3Q25: Exporter optimism up as global trade tension declines [https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MjEwMDQzNTA1Nw]Photo download: http://bit.ly/3VuV3RVHKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan (left) and HKTDC Senior Economist Nicholas Fu (right) announced the HKTDC Export Confidence Index for 2025’s third quarter at a press conference todayHKTDC Director of Research Irina FanHKTDC Senior Economist Nicholas FuMedia enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:Clayton LauwTel: (852) 2584 4472Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.orgAgnes WatTel: (852) 2584 4554Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.orgAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 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. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Zhejiang Expressway Absorbs and Merges with Oceanking Development: Establishing Dual A+H Platform to Boost Share Price

HONG KONG, Sep 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - On September 2, Zhejiang Expressway Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhejiang Expressway,” Stock Code: 00576.HK) announced a major development — it plans to absorb and merge Zhejiang Oceanking Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Oceanking Development”). The news has attracted widespread attention in both the capital markets and the industry, reflecting numerous strategic considerations and long-term significance.Zhejiang Expressway is a core member and key listed platform of Zhejiang Provincial Transportation Group. Leveraging its profound historical legacy, it holds a pivotal leading position in the expressway investment and operation sector. The Company focuses on managing strategically vital road networks within Zhejiang Province, undertaking the critical mission of ensuring regional transportation connectivity. As the only listed expressway company in Zhejiang Province, it has deeply established its presence in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, boasting irreplicable geographical advantages and continuously growing traffic demand, which consolidate its dominant market position.The main assets operated by Zhejiang Expressway include the 248-km Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway, the 141-km Shangsan Expressway, the 70-km Jinhua Section of the Ningbo-Jinhua Expressway, the 122-km Hanghui Expressway, the 82-km Huihang Expressway, the 46-km Zhoushan Bay Bridge, the 222-km LongLiLiLong Expressway, the 50-km Zhajiasu Expressway, and the 161-km HuangQuNan Expressway. In addition to the above expressway assets, the Company also operates two major financial business segments (Zheshang Securities and Zheshang Futures), further diversifying its business structure and establishing a solid foundation for its diversified development.This absorption and merger will have a significant positive impact on Zhejiang Expressway’s H-share price. According to the announcement, the issue price of A-shares of Zhejiang Expressway is RMB 13.5 per share, representing a premium of approximately 119.01% over the closing price of HKD 6.76 per H-share of Zhejiang Expressway on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on September 2, 2025. Among all listed expressway-related companies in both markets, Zhejiang Expressway ranks first in net profit attributable to the parent, consolidating its leading position in the industry.According to the financial report, in the first half of 2025, Zhejiang Expressway achieved revenue of RMB 8,685.46 million, representing an increase of 3.8% as compared to the same period in 2024. Profit attributable to owners of the Company was RMB 2,787.48 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.0%. Basic earnings per share was RMB 46.51 cents, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.0%. Diluted earnings per share was RMB 46.51 cents, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.6%.By business segment, segment profit from the nine major expressways operated by the Company achieved RMB 2,258.26 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.3% and 57.5% of the total profit. Segment profit generated from securities business was RMB 1,258.41 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 56.6% and 32.1% of the total profit.However, despite strong performance, the H-share P/E of Zhejiang Expressway still lagged noticeably behind A-share peers. Based on a comprehensive analysis of industry average prices and the lowest A-H share discount, it was estimated that after converting to A-shares, Zhejiang Expressway’s valuation could have an upside potential of 62% based on the maximum value, and nearly 50% upside potential based on the average value, indicating promising prospects for future development.High Emphasis on Shareholder Returns: Post-Merger Share Price Upside Potential is PromisingIn the capital markets, the path for expressway enterprises to list directly on the A-share market has been full of challenges. The last expressway company to directly list on the A-share market dates back to 2009, and there have been few successful cases in the following years. Chengdu Expressway terminated its A-share listing application at the end of 2024, an event that further highlights the challenges faced by expressway companies in pursuing A-share listings.According to analysis of investment professionals, under the current market environment and regulatory policies, achieving an A-share listing through absorption and merger has become the only viable path for expressway companies. Zhejiang Expressway’s proposed absorption and merger with Oceanking Development reflects this industry trend, actively exploring a development path suitable for itself while also providing a new paradigm for capital operations within the sector.From a dividend perspective, Zhejiang Expressway has consistently attached great importance to shareholder returns and adheres to a long-term and steady dividend policy. Since its listing in 1997, the Company has distributed cumulative dividends totaling RMB 28.46 billion, equivalent to 7.78 times the total proceeds raised in its IPO. It is anticipated that upon completion of the absorption and merger, Zhejiang Expressway’s dividend attractiveness will be further enhanced.In the latest released draft plan, Zhejiang Expressway has explicitly committed to strictly formulating a scientific and reasonable shareholder dividend arrangement in accordance with the Company Law, Securities Law, and the relevant provisions of the articles of association of the Company. For the three years following the completion of this transaction (including the year of completion), and subject to compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and regulatory rules regarding cash dividends, the surviving company will distribute annual profits in cash of no less than RMB 0.41 per share (including both A-shares and H-shares). This commitment fully reflects the Company’s strong emphasis on shareholder interests as well as its firm confidence in future development.From the perspective of the key indicator of dividend yield, as of September 3, 2025, Zhejiang Expressway’s dividend yield reached approximately 6%. The relatively high dividend yield not only provides investors with considerable returns but also injects strong confidence and momentum into the Company’s future development.Post-Merger Focus on Core Business with Broader Growth PotentialIn terms of business layout, Zhejiang Expressway has, in recent years, leveraged its long-standing expertise in expressway operations to successfully build a diversified business portfolio. The proposed absorption and merger with Oceanking Development reflects the Company’s accurate assessment of market trends and careful consideration of its development strategy. Upon completion of the merger, the Company will continue to focus on its core business, optimize resource allocation, and maximize efficiency, thereby unlocking broader growth potential.In terms of strategic layout, Zhejiang Expressway, leveraging its acute market insight, will inject eligible expressway assets in a timely manner based on market dynamics and corporate development needs. Recently, Shangsan Co received a total capital injection of RMB 6 billion from Communications Group, China Merchants Expressway, Tiantai State Capital, and Shangyu Transportation, of which RMB 4.4175 billion was contributed by its controlling shareholder, Communications Group. Upon completion of the capital increase, Zhejiang Expressway’s shareholding in Shangsan Co will be reduced to 61.25%, thereby indirectly lowering the proportion of its securities business. This move will significantly enhance the Company’s overall strength and financial stability, while also underscoring the effectiveness of its strategy to focus on its core expressway business.Overall, as a leading enterprise in the expressway industry, Zhejiang Expressway will, upon completion of the restructuring, establish an “A+H” dual-capital platform. This will place the Company in a favorable position comparable to its peers, supporting long-term development and aligning with shareholder interests. The higher valuation level of the A-share market will enable more efficient financing, thereby creating greater value for all shareholders. Meanwhile, following the major shareholder’s return to the A-share market, its holdings will be converted into tradable shares, providing a more direct driver for market capitalization growth and aligning closely with the interests of minority shareholders to form a strong community of shared interests. With its outstanding strategic layout and strong growth potential, Zhejiang Expressway is poised to seize future opportunities, and its development prospects are highly promising. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Champion REIT Receives ‘A’ Ratings From Credit Rating Agencies JCR and R&I ACN Newswire

Champion REIT Receives ‘A’ Ratings From Credit Rating Agencies JCR and R&I

HONG KONG, Sep 1, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Champion Real Estate Investment Trust (“Champion REIT” or the “Trust”) (Stock Code: 2778) is pleased to announce that the Trust has been assigned its first “A” Issuer Rating with a stable outlook by Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (“JCR”) and Rating & Investment Information Inc. (“R&I”).The dual recognition from Japan’s two leading credit rating agencies underscores the Trust’s strong reputation in the capital markets, and reinforces investor confidence in its steady and prudent financial management.Ms Christina Hau, Chief Executive Officer of Champion REIT, said, “We are honoured to receive ‘A’ credit ratings with stable outlooks from both JCR and R&I. This recognition testifies to our prudent financial management, stable capital structure and the enduring quality of our landmark assets in prime locations. We will continue to stay agile in our business and financial strategies to deliver sustainable value to our unitholders and stakeholders in a dynamic market environment.” JCR said, “The ratings positively reflect the Trust’s stable business model focused solely on property leasing and management, high-quality portfolio, financial soundness supported by conservative leverage control, and long-term management track record of overcoming past market cycles.”R&I said, “The rating reflects the excellent portfolio comprised of trophy properties located in central Hong Kong, significantly low level of leverage and track record of long-term and solid performance for approximately 19 years.”About Champion REIT (2778)Champion Real Estate Investment Trust is a trust formed to own and invest in income-producing office and retail properties. The Trust focuses on Grade A commercial properties in prime locations. It currently offers investors direct exposure to nearly 3 million sq. ft. of prime office and retail floor area. These include two Hong Kong landmark properties, Three Garden Road and Langham Place, as well as a joint venture stake in 66 Shoe Lane in Central London. The Trust has been awarded the top five-star rating by GRESB since 2023. Champion REIT is managed by Eagle Asset Management (CP) Limited, a member of the Great Eagle Group.Website: www.championreit.comAbout Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. (JCR)Established in 1985, JCR is a leading credit rating agency in Japan, and an expert of credit risk analysis. JCR widely provides accurate evaluations on sustainable finance, and is an evaluation organization that contributes the most to “overcoming environmental and social issues and realizing a sustainable society”, one of the most important global issues. JCR is certified by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and recognized as eligible ECAI by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).About Rating & Investment Information Inc. (R&I)R&I is Japan's leading rating agency with the largest market share in Japanese bond market. R&I provides credit ratings, research, and investment information services to support sound investment decisions and promote transparency in the financial markets. It is recognized by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Fashion Hong Kong celebrates 10th anniversary, Four local brands present ‘A Decade in Design: What is Seen? What is Felt?’ ACN Newswire

Fashion Hong Kong celebrates 10th anniversary, Four local brands present ‘A Decade in Design: What is Seen? What is Felt?’

HONG KONG, Sep 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Annual fashion extravaganza CENTRESTAGE kicked off with the spectacular Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show on 3 September. The show featured the creative collections of four Hong Kong brands: ANGUS TSUI, ARTY:ACTIVE, IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO, and selfFab.This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of Fashion Hong Kong. To mark the milestone, the runway show adopted the theme “A Decade in Design: What is Seen? What is Felt?”, reflecting on the creative journey of Hong Kong designers. Through their unique works, the four designers have showcased personal stories, cultural heritage and design ingenuity, fusing the “seen” with the “felt” to deliver a fashion experience that resonates both visually and emotionally.The show received enthusiastic acclaim from the multitude of industry professionals, celebrities and fashion enthusiasts in attendance, including luminaries such as Grace Chan, Tony Wu, DeeGor Ho and Isabella Chan.Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, CENTRESTAGE is now in full swing, running until 6 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year's fashion showcase has brought together participants from 25 countries and regions and features a record-breaking number of more than 260 local and international brands. The four-day event is open to both trade professionals and the public with free admission for all. Visitors from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas are invited to come along and experience the excitement and vibrancy of the fashion world.CENTRESTAGE is held concurrently with the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE, offering visitors a multifaceted fashion journey where apparel and timepieces converge, with visitors able to take part in the CENTRESTAGE x Watch & Clock Lucky Draw.Photo download: http://bit.ly/4604T36Celebrities at the Fashion Hong Kong Runway ShowGrace Chan(wearing ANGUS TSUI)Tony Wu(wearing IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO)DeeGor Ho(wearing selfFab.)Isabella Chan(wearing selfFab.)Winnie Chan(wearing ANGUS TSUI)Marco@P1X3L(wearing IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO)Adams Ho(wearing ARTY:ACTIVE)Manson Cheung(wearing ANGUS TSUI)Alice Hui(wearing ARTY:ACTIVE)ANGUS TSUI (Designer: Angus Tsui), 10th Anniversary EditionBrand: ANGUS TSUI; Collection: A Decade of Creating Otherworldly Universe in FashionTo celebrate the brand’s 10th anniversary, the collection titled “A Decade of Creating Otherworldly Universe in Fashion” revisits iconic designs from past seasons, reimagining them through bold new approaches. Concluding the “Xeno” narrative on future space colonisation, the collection introduces fresh creations that deliver a visual spectacle of otherworldly aesthetics.ARTY:ACTIVE (Designer: Gary Tsang), Spring/Summer 2026 CollectionBrand: ARTY:ACTIVE; Collection: Pulsy BouncyInspired by the concept of bouncing, the collection “Pulsy Bouncy” translates the essence of resilience, energy and dynamic motion into a visually striking fusion of traditional craftsmanship and technology. Influenced by streetwear, the collection merges futuristic and sporty aesthetics, evoking optimism, fluidity and bold self-expression.IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO (Designer: Max Tsang), Chapter 06 Collection Brand: IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO; Collection: Relics from a Near FutureInspired by Maya from the movie The Creator, the "Relics from a Near Future" collection explores the journey of a solitary figure navigating ruins and wilderness – observing, sensing, and surviving. Stonewashed and abraded textures evoke the erosion of time, while functional cuts meet the demands of movement, defining a new aesthetic for fractured future fashion.selfFab. (Designer: Menu Tsai), Spring/Summer 2026 Collection Brand: selfFab.; Collection: Hybridized Armour: Cultural Codes ReconstructedDrawing inspiration from military tailoring, football kits and court silhouettes, the collection reinvents cultural codes into bold, oversized forms. Camouflage, jerseys and abandoned emblems are patchworked into modern armour, offering a new means of expression for a generation navigating fragmented identities.CENTRESTAGE details:Date: 3 to 6 September 2025 (Wednesday to Saturday)Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition CentreDateCENTERSTAGE opening hours3-5 Sept(Wed to Fri)10am-7pmFree admission for trade visitors (aged 18 and over) and public visitors6 Sept (Sat)10am-6pmWebsites- CENTRESTAGE: www.centrestage.com.hk- CENTRESTAGE buyer online registration: https://bit.ly/4m8mv33- Fashion Hong Kong: https://www.fashionhongkong.com/en- Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC): www.fashionally.com/enMedia enquiriesBest Crew Public Relations & MarketingDiana Tang Tel: (852) 3594 6443 Email: diana.tang@bestcrewpr.comReni Kwok Tel: (852) 3594 6443 Email: reni.kwok@bestcrewpr.comHKTDC Communications and Public Affairs Department:Sharon HaTel: (852) 2584 4575Email: sharon.mt.ha@hktdc.orgKaty WongTel: (852) 2584 4524Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgHKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enAbout Fashion Hong KongFashion Hong Kong is a series of international promotional events organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) to promote Hong Kong fashion designers and labels in the global fashion arena.Since 2015, Fashion Hong Kong has actively participated in international fashion weeks and renowned events to showcase Hong Kong’s unique and diversified designers, with footprints in New York, London, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tokyo and Seoul.About the HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 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. About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong’s positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. CCIDA’s website: www.ccidahk.gov.hk. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Asia Unicorn Forum Releases 2024 Report: China, India, Israel Top Asian Unicorn Rankings ACN Newswire

Asia Unicorn Forum Releases 2024 Report: China, India, Israel Top Asian Unicorn Rankings

SINGAPORE, Sept 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Asia Unicorn Forum (AUF), a future-shaping organisation dedicated to advancing technological innovation and sustainable growth among Asia’s unicorn companies, had published its 2024 Asia Unicorn Development Report in May 2025.The report identifies China, India, and Israel as Asia’s top three nations by unicorn count, with China holding a commanding lead.“While unicorns have long been a focus in investment circles, we now recognise them as a distinct economic phenomenon," said Mr Liu Yanlong (刘彦龙), Executive Chairman of AUF, emphasising the report’s groundbreaking approach and methodology."For the first time, we define unicorns as part of a standalone unicorn economy. Unlike other reports, we analysed 59 metrics across six categories—entrepreneurship, business model innovation, technological edge, capital strength, and more—to uncover the unique drivers of Asian unicorns."We’ve identified a replicable strategic pattern: the Creating Neo-Market Strategy (CNM). Unicorns aren’t just great companies; they pioneer entirely new market categories and become transformative forces."Key Findings1. Landscape for Unicorns- Asia is home to 646 unicorns (startups valued at more than US$1.0 billion) with a combined valuation of US$2.4 trillion (average US$37.0 billion per company), spanning 16 countries and 11 industries.- China dominates with 454 unicorns (70% of Asia’s total), followed by India (12%) and Israel. Only five countries — China, India, Israel, Singapore, and South Korea — have over 10 unicorns each (see Chart 1).2. 2024 Asia Top 100 Unicorns- China claims 75 spots, India 11, and Israel 6, collectively representing 92% of the list.3. Valuation Insights- Total Valuation: China’s unicorns account for US$1.74 trillion (73% of Asia’s total), while India’s total is US$281.8 billion (12%).- Average Valuation: China, Singapore, the UAE, and Vietnam exceed Asia’s average of US$37 billion (see Chart 2).4. Industry Breakdown:- China’s unicorns lead in software, transportation, key and core technology, consumer, fintech, and media/entertainment, each surpassing US$100 billion in total valuation. India’s software sector is its sole industry crossing this threshold.- Israel (software) and Singapore (consumer) show notable valuations (see Chart 3).5. Emerging Unicorns:- 73 new unicorns emerged in 2024, including 10 companies that achieved unicorn status within one year—far outpacing the traditional 10-year trajectory. Eight of these are Chinese companies.6. Business Models:- Platform-based (43%) and technology-driven (42%) models dominate Asia’s unicorn ecosystem.Future Trends - Tech Convergence: IT and biotech will increasingly merge, with growth extending into new energy and advanced materials.- Regionalisation: Amid global fragmentation, Asian unicorns will face intensified regional competition and collaboration.- AI & Energy: Unicorns in these sectors are poised to surge, reshaping Asia’s energy landscape.Report AvailabilityThe 300-page 2024 Asia Unicorn Development Report offers in-depth analysis of success patterns and regional drivers. For details, visit AUF’s official WeChat channel (Asia Unicorn AUF) or email auf@auforum.org.Charts Referenced1. Chart 1: Geographic Distribution of Unicorns in Asia (by Country Count)2. Chart 2: Total and Average Valuation of Asian Unicorns by Country3. Chart 3: Bubble Chart of Total Valuation Distribution by Country and IndustryFor media and any queries, please contact:AUF SecretariatEmail: auf@auforum.org Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Galaxy Payroll Group Limited Announces Share Consolidation ACN Newswire

Galaxy Payroll Group Limited Announces Share Consolidation

HONG KONG, Sep 4, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - September 3, Galaxy Payroll Group Limited (Nasdaq: GLXG) ("Galaxy" or the "Company"), a leading global payroll provider, today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a consolidation of all issued and unissued ordinary shares at a ratio of ten (10) shares to one (1) share of the same class (the “Share Consolidation”). The Share Consolidation was approved pursuant to the British Virgin Islands Business Companies Act and the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.The Share Consolidaton will be effective at 12:01 a.m. (ET) on September 8, 2025 (the “Record Date”) and the Company’s ordinary shares will begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) on a consolidation-adjusted basis at the opening of market on September 8, 2025. The Company’s ordinary shares will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the trading symbol “GLXY” but will trade under the following new CUSIP number: G37692 111.The Share Consolidation will apply to both Class A and Class B ordinary shares, with the par value per share increasing from US$0.000625 to US$0.00625 following the consolidation. The Share Consolidation will reduce the number of outstanding ordinary shares of the Company from 21,615,000 to approximately 2,161,500. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Share Consolidation. Instead, the Company will issue one full post-Share Consolidation ordinary share to any shareholder at a participant level who would have been entitled to receive a fractional share as a result of the process. The Company's memorandum and articles of association will be amended to reflect these changes."The share consolidation represents an important step in optimizing our capital structure as we position the Company for future growth opportunities," said Mr. Wai Hong Lao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Payroll Group. "This action will streamline our share structure while maintaining the proportional rights and economic interests of all shareholders."About Galaxy Payroll Group Limited Galaxy Payroll Group Limited is a leading payroll outsourcing service provider based in Hong Kong. The company specializes in delivering HR and payroll solutions to multinational companies across various industries. With a focus on innovation and client satisfaction, GLXG operates in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and the PRC, offering payroll outsourcing, employment services, and consultancy to businesses of all sizes.For more information, please visit Galaxy Payroll Group's website: www.galaxyapac.com. Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "potential," "may," "should," "expect" "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations.For enquiry, please contact Intelligent Joy Limited:Karen DengPhone: (852) 3594 6407Email: pr-team@intelligentjoy.com Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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CENTRESTAGE celebrates a decade of style, Four days of fashion events open to all with fashion gurus leading inspiring sessions ACN Newswire

CENTRESTAGE celebrates a decade of style, Four days of fashion events open to all with fashion gurus leading inspiring sessions

- The 10th edition of CENTRESTAGE runs from 3 to 6 September at the HKCEC, with free admission on all four days for both industry professionals and the public- Over 260 brands from 25 countries and regions are participating, making this the biggest and most international edition to date. Six themed zones cover accessories, athleisure, circular fashion, craftsmanship, contemporary design and urban street style- The United Kingdom joins for the first time as Partner Country, presenting 16 British brands and bringing fresh perspectives to the fair- Internationally acclaimed couturier Guo Pei and legendary fashion figure Professor Jimmy Choo OBE will both host sharing sessions- Around 30 runway shows will be staged, including the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show that features creative collections from four local brands- The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC) closes the fair on 6 September, with Charles Jeffrey, designer of London label Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY, serving as guest judgeHONG KONG, Sep 3, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Culture and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s annual fashion extravaganza, opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai. The fair runs until 6 September, with free admission on all four days for both industry professionals and members of the public. This year marks a major milestone for CENTRESTAGE as the event celebrates its 10th edition. Over 260 brands from 25 countries and regions are taking part – a record high for CENTRESTAGE – with more diverse international participation helping to cement Hong Kong’s role as Asia’s fashion hub.Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “For the past decade, CENTRESTAGE has been committed to providing a platform where designers from Hong Kong and Asia can showcase their work and exchange ideas. As it celebrates its 10th edition, the scale of the fair has reached another new high, and for the first time we are delighted to welcome the United Kingdom as Partner Country. At CENTRESTAGE ELITES, held on 1 September, we were greatly honoured to have internationally acclaimed couturier Guo Pei present her new couture collection ‘Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance’. This was her very first solo couture show in Hong Kong and it provided a dazzling highlight to the fair. During the exhibition period, more than 40 exciting events will take place, including a record number of around 30 fashion shows. These events will create more opportunities for designers, brands and the industry, while allowing the public to experience world-class fashion at close quarters.”International pavilions gather while design masters host sharing sessionsThis year’s CENTRESTAGE has attracted brands from around the globe. The United Kingdom is participating for the first time as Partner Country, presenting 16 brands, including the works of sustainable designer Patrick McDowell, to showcase the diversity of British design. Thailand has brought more than 40 brands for its largest pavilion ever, including KANZ BY THAITOR and SUNTREE ATELIER, highlighting the vibrancy of Southeast Asian fashion. Czechia is participating with brand LINDA PRO incorporating traditional glass craftsmanship into its unique handbag designs. The Canada pavilion highlights cultural diversity, presenting brands led by female, indigenous and multicultural designers, while Japan presents a number of emerging labels such as HOUGA and THE NERDYS. The Australia pavilion features brands such as BONDI BORN and bond-eye. Pavilions from Korea, Macao and the Philippines are also showcasing their latest designs. The fair has also attracted design forces from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Peru, Singapore, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the United States, Ukraine and Vietnam – a total of 25 countries and regions, with nine of them exhibiting for the first time – further consolidating CENTRESTAGE’s role as an international exchange platform and Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s fashion hub.CENTRESTAGE is not only a showcase for fashion brands but also a platform for industry exchange and discussions on the future development of fashion. This year sees several internationally renowned fashion gurus and industry leaders taking part in seminars and designer sharing sessions. On 1 September, Guo Pei presented more than 30 meticulously crafted works under the theme "Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance" at CENTRESTAGE ELITES. Some of these pieces are on display during the fair, and on 4 September Guo Pei will attend in person a master sharing session to share her design philosophy and journey with the audience. Earlier today, international fashion legend Professor Jimmy Choo OBE hosted the “Meet the Fashion Legend” session, introducing the JCA – London Fashion Academy and showcasing works by its emerging designers. And on 5 September, Charles Jeffrey, designer of the London label Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY, will discuss his avant-garde creations and fashion vision at another sharing session. The fair also features forums on topics such as the fashion design, circular fashion and sustainability, further promoting industry dialogue and collaboration.Fashion Hong Kong’s 10th anniversary showcases local brand powerMore than 40 events will take place over the four days of CENTRESTAGE, including around 30 fashion shows – the highest number in a decade – to offer audiences a dazzling fashion feast. The Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show, organised by the HKTDC, was staged earlier today, showcasing the creative collections of four local brands: ANGUS TSUI, ARTY:ACTIVE, IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO and selfFab. This year’s show also marks the 10th anniversary of the Fashion Hong Kong overseas promotion campaign series, presented under the theme “A Decade in Design: What is Seen' What is Felt'”, which explores the creative journeys of Hong Kong designers.The fair also features fashion shows from both local and overseas brands, presenting a wealth of cultures and styles. Highlights include new works by Hong Kong labels 112 mountainyam, DorisKath and KOWLOON CITY BOY; collections by Cambodian brand NATACHA VAN and Japanese brand Snidel; and a finale by CAMMIE CHAN CHEONGSAM, showing how cheongsam design can be extended to adult, children’s and even pet wear, promoting the concept of inclusivity.Multiple cross-regional and cross-sector collaborations are also featured, such as the “GBA Fashion Fusion 2025” organised by the Fashion Farm Foundation, the “Macau Fashion Parade” presented by the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center, and a Thai designers’ showcase. All these events further highlight CENTRESTAGE’s role as a platform for international exchange within the industry. In addition, a series of fashion design competitions will be held during the event, including the “Young Knitwear Designers’ Contest” organised by the Knitwear Innovation and Design Society, and the “THREAD OF CREATIVITY – Fashion Design Competition" organised by Asian New Generation Creativity Design Association, providing a platform for young designers to showcase their talent. Redress, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainability, will host the Redress Design Award Grand Final, marking its 15th cycle, further encouraging the industry to embrace eco-conscious design.An important platform for nurturing new talent, the grand final of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC) will take place on 6 September. This year, the guest judge is British designer Charles Jeffrey, renowned for his label Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY that is celebrated for its bold use of colour and combination of performance art with fashion design. His work is highly respected in the London fashion scene and beloved by international stars including Harry Styles, Rita Ora and Tilda Swinton. A panel of professional judges, including Mr Jeffrey, will select winners in four categories: Champion, Excellence Award, Best Visual Presentation, and the My Favourite Collection award. Members of the public can vote online for their favourite collection in the latter category with the chance to win one of five HK$2,000 Lee Gardens e-shopping vouchers sponsored by Hysan Development. (Voting link: https://bit.ly/YDC2025_IG_Vote_Now)This year’s fair features six major themed zones that cover multiple facets of the fashion industry. The newly added Accessories zone focuses on jewellery, footwear, handbags and lifestyle items, responding to strong market demand for fashion accessories. The Athleisure zone showcases sportswear that combines design and functionality, while the Craftsmanship zone highlights exquisite artisan techniques. The Contemporary zone presents avant-garde design, and the Urban zone focuses on youth-oriented street products, including Petrolhead, the design brand run by actor Louis Cheung. The Circular Fashion zone, meanwhile, showcases circular and sustainable design. Some exhibitors are offering retail products on site, allowing visitors to purchase directly from brands such as Bethel, Glocal Mahjong, IP AXIS INDUSTRIAL STUDIO, Petrolhead and YUE HWA.In addition to exhibitions and runway shows, the fair features interactive AI experiences and workshops where visitors can design and create their own fashion accessories, unleashing their creativity and experiencing the joy of fashion design. Local fragrance brand CitiScent has developed a bespoke scent specially for CENTRESTAGE, blending vitality and elegance. Visitors can redeem a 2ml sample with any onsite purchase, available while stocks last.The HKTDC continues to invite buyers from around the world to source at CENTRESTAGE, including major retailers such as Canada’s WDLT 117 Apparel Inc, Indonesia’s Zalora, Italy’s Sugar Srl and Japan’s Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores.CENTRESTAGE is held concurrently with the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE, offering visitors a multifaceted fashion journey where apparel and timepieces converge, with visitors able to take part in the CENTRESTAGE x Watch & Clock Lucky Draw.Photo download: https://bit.ly/3JJX5evCENTRESTAGE opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over four days, brands from around the world are unveiling their latest collections, including internationally acclaimed labelsJoining the glittering spectacle at CENTRESTAGE ELITES were Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (seventh left); Prof Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC (seventh right); acclaimed fashion designer Guo Pei (sixth left); Andrew Leung, President of the Legislative Council (sixth right); Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC (fifth left); Katherine Fang, Chairman of the HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee (fifth right); Vivian Sum, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (fourth left); Dr Peter K N Lam, Council Member of the HKTDC (fourth right); Dr Lo Kam Wing, Council Member of the HKTDC (third left); Lowell Cho, Acting Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of the HKSAR Government (second left); Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC (second right); Shirley Chan, Council Member of the HKTDC and other guestsThe four-day CENTRESTAGE fair is fully open to industry buyers and the public free of charge. Selected brands are also offering retail on site, enabling visitors to purchase fashion pieces from around the worldInternationally renowned couturier Guo Pei unveiled her new collection “Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance” at CENTRESTAGE ELITES on 1 September. Selected works from the collection are on display at the fairThe fair’s opening runway show, FASHIONALLY Collection, featured four local designer labels: MARCCH, Oplus2, OUS and phenotypsetterInternational fashion legend Professor Jimmy Choo OBE joined a sharing session today, introducing his JCA – London Fashion Academy and presenting creations from some of its emerging designers.This year’s CENTRESTAGE has attracted brands from across the globe. The United Kingdom is participating for the first time as Partner Country, bringing 16 British brands to the fairThe Czechia pavilion is making its debut, with brand LINDA PRO incorporating traditional glassmaking techniques into handbag designs, offering strikingly original creationsWebsites- CENTRESTAGE: www.centrestage.com.hk- CENTRESTAGE pre-registration link for buyer admission: https://bit.ly/4m8mv33- CENTRESTAGE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centrestage_hktdc - Fashion Hong Kong: https://www.fashionhongkong.com/en- Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC): www.fashionally.com/enMedia enquiriesBest Crew Public Relations & MarketingDiana Tang Tel: (852) 3594 6443 Email: diana.tang@bestcrewpr.comReni Kwok Tel: (852) 3594 6443 Email: reni.kwok@bestcrewpr.comHKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department:Sharon Ha Tel: (852) 2584 4575 Email: sharon.mt.ha@hktdc.orgKaty Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgHKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enAbout the HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 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. About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong’s positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. CCIDA’s website: www.ccidahk.gov.hk. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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SERES Posts Robust H1 2025 Results: Revenue Hits CNY 62.4 Billion, Net Profit Up 81% to CNY 2.94 Billion, R&D Investment Soars nearly 155% ACN Newswire

SERES Posts Robust H1 2025 Results: Revenue Hits CNY 62.4 Billion, Net Profit Up 81% to CNY 2.94 Billion, R&D Investment Soars nearly 155%

HONG KONG, Sep 3, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - On August 29, SERES announced its 2025 mid-year results, reporting strong growth across all key metrics. In the first half of the year, SERES achieved operating revenue of CNY 62.4 billion and net profit attributable to shareholders of CNY 2.94 billion—an 81% year-on-year increase. R&D investment reached CNY 5.12 billion, up nearly 155% from the prior year, while NEV sales totaled 172,108 units.This impressive performance was fueled by robust demand for premium smart electric vehicles under the AITO brand, supported by exceptional product quality and delivery capabilities. Contributing factors include the versatile MF Platform for efficient model development, the Super Factory for rapid production scaling, advanced digital-intelligent quality assurance systems, and a modern luxury experience that continues to strengthen AITO’s market reputation.AITO’s latest models continue to raise the bar, with the AITO 9 and AITO 8 maintaining their positions as sales leaders.In the first half of this year, the AITO series continued to evolve with several new launches, including the AITO 5 Ultra, the 2025 Edition AITO 9, and the AITO 8—all of which received strong market and consumer response.Thanks to improvements across its entire value chain, AITO has set new standards for delivery among China’s luxury new energy vehicle brands. As of August 2025, total deliveries of all AITO models have surpassed 750,000 units. Notably, cumulative deliveries of the AITO 9 have exceeded 220,000 units, making it the top-selling vehicle in the CNY 500,000 luxury car segment. The AITO 8 quickly became a bestseller after its debut, with over 70,000 units delivered and holding the top spot in the CNY 400,000 price segment for four consecutive months.Additionally, according to LandRoads’ Brand Health Tracking Study for New Energy Vehicles in the first half of 2025, the AITO brand ranked No. 1 in the Brand Development Confidence Index. The AITO 9 also led the overall new energy vehicle Net Promoter Score (NPS) rankings, with a score of 85.2.Notably, AITO launched an all-electric version of its family-focused flagship SUV, the AITO 8, on August 25. The all-new AITO 7 is also set to make its official debut in September. With the ongoing introduction of new models, AITO continues to expand its product lineup to meet the diverse needs of consumers and strengthen its leadership in the luxury new energy vehicle market.A Commitment to Technological Innovation and Robust R&D InvestmentTechnological innovation is central to SERES’ long-term growth. The company has consistently invested in research and development, driving new advancements and achieving remarkable results in technology. In the first half of 2025, SERES invested CNY 5.20 billion in R&D—nearly a 155% increase year-over-year. The number of R&D personnel reached 6,984, up approximately 27% from last year and now comprising 36% of the company’s total workforce.At this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, SERES unveiled its intelligent safety system, pioneering a scenario-based approach to vehicle safety. The new system establishes an intelligent safety framework across four key areas: life protection, vehicle body protection, health care, and privacy protection. This comprehensive approach ensures user safety throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle and sets a new industry benchmark for intelligent safety.Previously, SERES introduced a series of major technological advancements, including the SERES MF Platform, SERES Super Range-Extender, and the SERES Super Factory. The SERES Super Factory has been an industry pioneer with its “factory-within-a-factory” model, driving product integration, intelligent manufacturing, and industrial clustering to boost collaboration and innovation. The company also set a new industry standard with its Zero-Carbon Smart Logistics Hub.Brand Value Surges Amid Strong Investor ConfidenceAs the world’s fourth new energy vehicle manufacturer to achieve profitability, SERES laid a strong foundation for growth in the first half of the year through strategic product portfolio optimization, technological innovation, and enhanced operational efficiency.SERES also ranked 169th on the 2025 Fortune China 500 list. This was an ascent of 235 spots from the previous year, making it the fastest-climbing company on the list. On the TopBrand 2025 China’s Top 500 Brands list, released in August, SERES ranked 92nd with a brand value of CNY 175.52 billion, breaking into the automotive industry’s top 10 and highlighting its leadership in brand development and market influence. More recently, on August 28, SERES climbed to 59th place—up 174 spots—on the 2025 China Top 500 Private Enterprises list, becoming the top-ranked private enterprise in Chongqing.Meanwhile, the capital markets continue to show strong confidence in SERES’ future growth. In the past six months, nearly 40 securities firms have issued “Buy” ratings for SERES, with expectations that the company will maintain a strong growth trajectory throughout the second half of the year. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Sichuan Neautus TCM Files for Hong Kong IPO to Accelerate Domestic and Global Expansion

HONG KONG, Sep 3, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Company leverages dual-market strategy and technology-driven standardization to strengthen its leadership in China’s TCM sector and enter international markets.Sichuan Neautus Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd. has submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The IPO is intended to raise capital to support the company’s expansion both domestically and internationally amid rapid modernization of China’s traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry.Founded in 2021, Chengdu, China, Neautus has grown into a leading player in the herbal decoction pieces market, with annual revenue exceeding RMB 1.2 billion.Dual Growth EnginesNeautus operates a “dual-engine” growth model, balancing institutional sales and consumer demand.The company supplies more than 1,000 major hospitals in China and is continuing to grow. And through its B2B platform, “Jinfang Caotang,” which is an online platform aimed at meeting the demands of approximately 90,000 TCM clinics in China, the company has seen significant success. Since the launch of “Jinfang Caotang,” the platform has attracted over 5,200 registered TCM clinics within a year, signaling high growth.In the consumer market, Neautus specializes in ready-to-consume herbal supplements aimed at a diverse demographic of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) users in China. Additionally, the company has expanded its reach into overseas markets, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia.Technology-Driven StandardizationNeautus is the first company worldwide to apply DNA barcoding technology to identify herbal materials, a standard recognized by both the Chinese and British Pharmacopoeias. This achievement earned the company the National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Class). In recent years, Neautus has also obtained a series of high-level certifications—from “Chengdu Digital Workshop” to Sichuan Province’s “Advanced Smart Factory”—highlighting its advancement toward Intelligentization 2.0.Market Tailwinds and Global ExpansionSupported by national policies promoting standardization, Frost & Sullivan projects China’s TCM market will exceed RMB 599.3 billion by 2030. IPO proceeds will fund overseas capacity, international certifications, cross-border e-commerce, regional acquisitions, and entry into European and U.S. markets. The company is also planning on developing AI-assisted diagnostic tools via its “Jinfang Cloud” platform.IPO OutlookThe IPO underscores Sichuan Neautus’s role in transforming the TCM industry from traditional manufacturing to value-driven healthcare innovation, while further strengthening its position as an industry leader and advancing the sector toward higher standards and quality.About Sichuan Neautus Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd.Sichuan Neautus Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd. specializes in high-quality herbal decoction pieces and health supplements, combining technology, traceability, and research to serve domestic and international markets. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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Focus Graphite Pilot Run Demonstrates Significant Increase in Large and Jumbo Flake Recovery at Lac Knife ACN Newswire

Focus Graphite Pilot Run Demonstrates Significant Increase in Large and Jumbo Flake Recovery at Lac Knife

Lac Knife Graphite meets and exceeds U.S. DoD standards while delivering ~47wt.% large flake recovery for advanced material markets in recent pilot run conducted by AETCOttawa, Ontario--(ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com - September 2, 2025) - Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) ("Focus" or the "Company") a Canadian developer of high-grade flake graphite deposits in Quebec, is pleased to announce results from a continuous pilot beneficiation program performed by American Energy Technologies Company ("AETC") on its 100%-owned Lac Knife project. The adjustment from 97.8% total graphite content ("TGC") to 95% TGC resulted in a substantial increase in coarse flake recovery. Large and jumbo flakes increased from approximately 33% to 47%, materially improving economics and diversifying market opportunities in a product portfolio approach planned by Focus.To achieve these results, Focus commissioned AETC to run an upstream beneficiation circuit consisting of 18 processing units connected in series in a continuous locked-cycle campaign. Over 800 kilograms of Lac Knife graphite-bearing rock was processed, producing a concentrate that not only met market specifications but also preserved natural flake size. By producing concentrate in line with real-world demand specifications, Focus maximizes downstream value while enhancing exposure to premium, non-battery markets.In Focus's original pilot plant testing program conducted at SGS Minerals ("SGS") in Lakefield (2013-2014), the objective of achieving a graphite concentrate grade of 97.8% TGC at 90.7% total recovery was successfully met. These results formed the technical foundation of the Lac Knife Feasibility Study (updated 2023), which outlined a process plant designed to produce 50,000 tonnes per year of graphite concentrate, including 47,781 tonnes of high-grade 97.8% TGC salable concentrate from a feed grade of 14.8% TGC. The process flow sheet developed through this work includes crushing, grinding, polishing, flotation, concentrate dewatering and drying, concentrate screening and bagging, and tailings filtration and loadout. While the Feasibility Study demonstrated Lac Knife's ability to deliver ultra-high-purity graphite, subsequent market feedback confirmed that such high purities are not required - and do not command a price premium - in most anode or industrial applications.As a benchmark, the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency ("DLA") Strategic Materials program has defined procurement specifications for natural graphite as -100 mesh concentrate. Lac Knife material comfortably exceeds U.S. defense-grade requirements, while simultaneously aligning with anode makers' specifications for EVs and stationary energy storage.Specification DLA RequirementFocus Graphite - AETC PilotFixed Carbon (TGC)≥ 94%95.5%Ash≤ 5%4.5%Volatile Matter≤ 1.2%0.63 wt.% (600 °C)Moisture≤ 0.5%
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