Singapore Celebrities Gather to Celebrate National Day at Madame Tussauds

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 5 August 2020 – Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin and Dick Lee are just a handful of the local celebrities who have gathered together for National Day celebrations at Madame Tussauds on Sentosa.

The wax attraction full of famous fun has created a special National Day celebration where local icons come together in front of an Instagrammable wall. The figures are overlooking the famous nighttime skyline, where guests can set off fireworks on the movement activated, projection mapped interactive set. In this specially created zone, they can also relive classic National Day songs alongside the artists who sung them

 

Besides the National Day celebration, which will be featured for a limited period only, guests can enjoy the Marvel 4D cinema again, since it will reopen also this weekend! The Marvel 4D Experience is 1 of the 5 experiences Madame Tussauds offer.  For National Day, Sentosa is giving out free NDP Fun Passes, redeem your tickets for the world famous wax attraction now or visit the website of Madame Tussauds for great promotions.

The 55th National Day celebration will be like no other this year, if you are missing the National Day Parade and all the memorable performances that go with it then come to Madame Tussauds and take the stage yourself next to the nation’s most famous stars!

Twitter: @MTsSingapore

Instagram: @mtssingapore

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MadameTussaudsSingapore

About Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is the ultimate celebrity experience and the world’s best known and most popular wax attraction. There are currently 23 Madame Tussauds attractions around the world.  Each of the attractions is unique and tailored to the host city and visitor demographic to feature both local as well as international figures. These attractions are continually endorsed by celebrities, sports stars, royalty and global politicians.

Founded in London in 1835, Madame Tussauds’ amazing wax figures are so high quality and so lifelike that even the celebrities themselves do a double take when they see them — and all in stunning interactive themed sets designed to excite, amaze, and surprise, including some with unique animated features! And, with no bars, ropes or barriers around the figures, visitors will have no problem believing that they really are standing beside their heroes and the photographs taken with favourite stars will be a special memory for ever.

 

The result of 200 years of expertise and painstaking research every figure takes Madame Tussauds’ gifted sculptors a minimum of three months to make, and costs more than $300K (Singapore dollars). Most contemporary figures are also produced following sittings with the celebrities themselves and are the result of hundreds of separate measurements, hours matching skin tone, eye and hair colour — with every individual hair inserted separately. Celebrities and film studio wardrobe departments often supply clothing for their figures, or designers will reproduce significant or iconic outfits as exact replicas, only for Madame Tussauds. Inclusion in one of Madame Tussauds attractions around the world is seen as a huge honour and recognition of an individual’s contribution, status and achievement.


About Merlin Entertainments plc

Merlin Entertainments plc is a global leader in location-based, family entertainment. As Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 130 attractions, 19 hotels and 6 holiday villages in 25 countries and across 4 continents. Merlin’s purpose is to deliver memorable experiences to its 67 million guests around the world, through its iconic brands and multiple attraction formats, and the commitment and passion of its c.28,000 employees (peak season).


See www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information and follow on Twitter @MerlinEntsNews.

Spackman Entertainment Group’s #ALIVE Number One In VOD Sales Since The First Day of Post-Theatrical Release On 28 July 2020 In Korea

  • #ALIVE, produced by the Group’s indirect
    wholly-owned subsidiary, Zip Cinema, attained #1 in VOD sales at top IPTV
    channels in Korea such as KT’s Olleh TV and Digital Cable TV Home Choice

 

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 5 August 2020 – Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“Spackman Entertainment
Group
” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group“),
one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups, wishes to announce that
#ALIVE, produced by the Company’s indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Zip
Cinema Co., Ltd. (“Zip Cinema“), achieved the top ranking in Video On
Demand (“VOD“) sales since the first day of its post-theatrical release
on 28 July 2020 in Korea[1],
taking the #1 position at top IPTV channels in Korea including KT’s Olleh TV
and Digital Cable TV Home Choice.

 

As one of the first
successful theatrical movie releases in the world amidst the current COVID-19
pandemic, the Group’s film #ALIVE surpassed the 1 million ticket sales within
five days of its wide release on 24 June 2020. It was also recorded as the
first film to break the one million ticket sales mark since February 2020 at
the Korean box office.

 

Starring top leading actor
Yoo Ah-in of UAA&CO Inc., a subsidiary of the Group’s associated company
Spackman Media Group Limited, and superstar actress Park Shin-hye, #ALIVE
is based on an original scenario by Hollywood writer Matt Taylor, who produced
the American documentary series, SMALL BUSINESS REVOLUTION: MAIN STREET.

 

The film relates the story of
isolated survivors of a city under lockdown that gets out of control as a
consequence of a sudden spread of an unknown infection. UAA’s Yoo Ah-in of DEFAULT
(2018), BURNING (2018) & VETERAN (2015) shall play the role
of Joon Woon, a gamer who survived by himself and becomes disconnected from the
rest of the world. Park Shin-hye of MEMORIES OF THE ALHAMBRA (2018), THE
DOCTORS
(2016) & THE HEIRS (2013) takes on the role of Yoo Bin,
another survivor who relies on her own survival skills throughout the extremely
challenging situation in the city.

 

The film is distributed by
Lotte Entertainment and directed by Jo II Hyung.

 

For more information on #ALIVE
and its official trailer, visit the Group’s website at https://spackmanentertainmentgroup.com.



[1]
Naver News, https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000309333, 4 August
2020. 

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

Spackman Entertainment Group
Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its
subsidiaries, (the “Group“), founded
in 2011 by Charles Spackman, is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production
groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production,
presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea. According
to Variety, Korea was the world’s fourth largest box office market in 2019,
behind only North America, China and Japan.   

The
Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to
our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related
companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our
existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore
Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.

 

Production Labels

 

SEGL’s wholly-owned Zip Cinema
Co., Ltd. (“Zip Cinema“) is one of
the most recognised film production labels in Korea and has originated and
produced some of Korea’s most commercially successful theatrical films,
consecutively producing 10 profitable movies since 2009 representing an
industry leading track record. Recent theatrical releases of Zip Cinema’s
motion pictures include some of Korea’s highest grossing and award-winning
films such as CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER
(2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), COLD EYES (2013), and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012). For more
information on Zip Cinema, do visit http://zipcine.com 

SEGL also owns Novus Mediacorp
Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an
investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films
(58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE
OF BETRAYAL
, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the
biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS fame, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the
post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL
ABOUT MY WIFE
, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In
2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by
Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more
information on Novus Mediacorp, do visit 
http://novusmediacorp.com 

The Company owns a 100% equity
interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early
stage film production firm. Simplex Films has the following
films in the pipeline namely, A BOLT FROM THE BLUE, IRREVOCABLE
PROMISE
and OUR SUPERSTAR K.

The
Company owns a 100% equity interest Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which has a line-up of several films including STONE SKIPPING
(working title), GUARDIAN (working title) and the
co-production with Zip Cinema for THE
PRIESTS 2.

The Company owns a
100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited which is mainly involved in the business of
investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for
the production of Korean content.

The Company owns a 20% equity
interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four
upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL,
a comedy horror film.

Our films are theatrically
distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for
subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including
online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home
video/DVD, etc. We release all of our motion pictures into wide-theatrical
exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.

 

Talent
Representation

 

The Company holds an effective
shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in
Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest
entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under
management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment
industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned
agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-jung, Ko
Sung-hee), UAA&CO Inc. (Song Hye-kyo, Yoo Ah-in, Park Hyung-sik), Fiftyone
K Inc. (So Ji Sub, Ok Taec-yeon), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Bae Doo-na, Son
Suk-ku), and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Ji-young).
Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides
the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses
in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements,
and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists
as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of
entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety
shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for
SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can
collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company.

The Company owns a 100% equity
interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation
Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the
business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas
market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider
specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent
management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in
film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.

 

Strategic
Businesses

 

The
Company owns a 100% equity interest in Frame Pictures Co., Ltd. (“Frame Pictures“). Frame Pictures is a leader in the movie/drama
equipment leasing business in Korea. Established in 2014, Frame Pictures has
worked with over 25 top directors and provided the camera and lighting
equipment for some of Korea’s most notable drama and movie projects including ITAEWON
CLASS
(2020), HOW TO BUY A FRIEND (2020), KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN 1982
(2019), FOUR MEN (2019) and ASADAL CHRONICLES (2019). 

Previously, Frame Pictures was
also involved in GIRL COPS (2018), MALMOI (2018), SUITS (2018),
MISTRESS (2018), LIFE (2018), LIVE (2018), MONEY FLOWER
(2017), SWEET REVENGE (2017), BAD GUYS 2 (2017), THE
LEGEND OF THE BLUE SEA
(2016) and VETERAN (2015).

We also operate a café-lounge
called Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional
photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.

 

For
more details, do visit http://www.spackmanentertainmentgroup.com/

Karatbars, Harald Seiz, the Handelsblatt, Data Protection and A Criminal Complaint

STUTTGART, GERMANY – NEWSAKTUELL – 4 August 2020 – Data protection is, as every citizen knows, a term that originated in the second half of the 20th century. Depending on the point of view, data protection is understood as protection against improper data processing, protection of the right to informational self-determination, protection of personal rights in data processing and above all protection of privacy.


Harald Seiz, Managing Director of Karatbars International GmbH. 

Editorial use of this picture is free of charge. Please quote the source: “obs/Karatbars International GmbH”​

In the recent past, there have been cases of data protection abuse, the unauthorized access to police computers by third parties. The “piercing” of information from internal systems of police authorities to journalists, or unauthorized third parties, is a punishable offence, regulated by the laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Harald Seiz, Managing Director of Karatbars International GmbH, filed a criminal complaint and a criminal complaint with the German public prosecutor’s office in Stuttgart on 15 July 2020 against two editors and the editor-in-chief of the “Handelsblatt” on suspicion of incitement to violate official secrecy and a special duty of confidentiality, in accordance with Section 353b and Section 26 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) and a possible violation of the State Data Protection Act of Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany), for all offences under consideration. The case number of the public prosecutor’s office in Stuttgart is Js 71420/20.

Proof is an audio recording, which is 1 hour 16 minutes 43 seconds long, additionally a transcription of the interview (pages 6, 11, 12, 13) as well as witness statements of those present at an interview, conducted on November 7, 2019, by editors of the “Handelsblatt” with Harald Seiz.

In the audio recording, which according to Mr. Seiz was approved by editors of the “Handelsblatt”, it is recorded that Mr. J.B. and Mr. L.M.N. were the third parties to verbally request data – this according to Mr. Harald Seiz, contrary to applicable laws, here via the police information system POLIS.

 

If such personal data or secret information is passed on to third parties, this may, in addition to a breach of the obligation of official secrecy, constitute a criminal offence under Section 353 b StGB / Criminal Code of the Federal Republic of Germany (breach of official secrecy and special obligation of secrecy), Section 203 StGB (breach of private secrets) and the State Data Protection Act of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

The writers of the “Handelsblatt” have not mentioned in earlier articles that Harald Seiz has a currently available police clearance certificate from the Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany, in which no conviction is evident in any way. The certificate of good conduct (Germany, formerly the police certificate of good conduct or the certificate of integrity), unofficially also known as a character reference, also known as a “criminal record certificate” in EU usage, is an official certificate of a person’s previously registered criminal record. If the criminal record certificate has no entry, the person must be considered to have a clean record!

If journalists have obtained information from a police computer, contrary to current laws, this is a punishable offence and could bring the German media landscape into considerable discredit. Within the framework of the European Union, Article 48(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantees: “Everyone charged with a crime shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law”.

Nevertheless, the accusations against the editors of what is actually the “Handelsblatt” and their editor-in-chief are still pending. In this context, the earlier reporting of the “Handelsblatt”, in relation to Karatbars, its KBC Coin (KaratGold Coin) and Harald Seiz, should be noted. The “Handelsblatt” also demonstrably advertised in the media for an ex-developer of Karatbars, this on 03.04. 2019 and on 29.04. 2020, the latter, however, still during an ongoing trial at the public prosecutor’s office in Mainz against the ex-developer.

 

Karatbars is currently conducting a legal investigation to determine whether this reporting by the renowned “Handelsblatt complies with the press code and its regulations, or could even have had an influence on the ex-developer’s proceedings.

 

The criminal record certificate is available at: https://www.presseportal.de/en/pm/146903/4669612

 

Galaxy Integrated Resorts introduces GICC and the precinct’s latest MICE offerings in Macau at IT&CM China

MACAU, CHINA – Media OutReach
– 4 August 2020 – Ahead of the highly anticipated opening of Galaxy
International Convention Center
(GICC) — Macau’s premier MICE destination — in
the first half of 2021, Galaxy Integrated Resorts will showcase this brand new
events facility and the Galaxy Integrated Resorts MICE Offer
at the IT&CM China 2020 virtual event in August.

“We look forward
to participating in IT&CM China’s new virtual event format this year,” Joey Pather, Senior
Vice President, MICE Operations and Sales, New Resort for Galaxy Entertainment
Group said. “With GICC as
the newest addition to Macau’s MICE scene next year, it will be one of the most
technologically advanced MICE destinations in Asia, offering 5G for high-speed
connectivity and live streaming of content. We are witnessing an accelerating
trend of more hybrid events, where people meet both on site at events venues
and online. Meeting organizers who take advantage of the digital hybrid format
will undoubtedly create innovative events in future. GICC will soon have the
infrastructure and technology in place to become best in class in global
digital and simulcast communication.”

Seamlessly situated within
the Galaxy Integrated Resorts precinct, GICC will offer 40,000m2 of versatile meeting
space, a 650-seat auditorium, the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena and a luxurious new
700-room Andaz Macau hotel — all in one location. For large-scale exhibitions,
GICC offers 10,000m2 of pillar-less convention
and exhibition areas that can cater for 7,000 delegates. Galaxy Arena will play
host to major sports events, world-class concerts, thrilling fight nights and
corporate launches. The
arena’s impressive design, state-of-the-art audio-visual, lighting and
communication systems set the stage for events of any kind.

GICC and the
Galaxy Arena are also pleased to unveil their own distinctive logos featuring
Galaxy Integrated Resorts’ iconic cupola symbol, in a nod to the company’s rich
heritage. The elegant and contemporary designs of the logos convey the
uniqueness of the Galaxy Integrated Resorts experience and are closely linked
to the architectural design of the original property in Macau — Galaxy Macau™.

 

Galaxy Integrated Resorts offers a variety of
versatile venues

Galaxy
International Convention Center connects seamlessly with multiple award-winning
Galaxy Integrated Resorts, with Macau’s largest collection of luxury hotel
brands in one destination– StarWorld Hotel, Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel™,
Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau and
Broadway Hotel.

Poised
to open a new chapter for MICE tourism, guests also enjoy easy access to 1.1 million m² of unique
entertainment, shopping and leisure attractions. These include 120 dining
optionsf, some of which have been garnered such prestigious accolades as the
Michelin Stars, and Broadway Food Street at Broadway Macau™ which is just a
link bridge away from Galaxy Macau.

Blending
business and leisure, GICC also provides guests easy access to The Grand Resort
Deck, a unique rooftop “tropical beach” experience with the world’s longest
Skytop Aquatic Adventure Rapids and a 150-meter beach front Wave Pool with
white sand beach. Leisure attractions extend to The Promenade Shops of 200
international brands, a 3D Cineplex with state-of-art 4K laser experience, and
award-winning spas.

Stunning
poolside cabanas, pristine beaches on the Grand Resort Deck, a festive Broadway
Food Street featuring local Macau cuisine, the chic China Rouge and many more
venues create distinctive settings for teambuilding activities, networking
events, gala dinners and a host of other events. All venues are within
convenient walking distance to one another so that meeting organizers need not
worry about the logistics of arranging transportation, and the variety of
venues offer new experiences for delegates each day.


The Galaxy Integrated
Resorts MICE Offer

Meeting organizers
who book an event at GICC or at any of the 8 luxury hotels at the resort precinct
before December 31, 2020 can enjoy discounts off the master bill, refreshing
welcome drinks, complimentary coach transfer, suite upgrades, complimentary rooms
and 15% off on dining for hotel guests of Galaxy Macau and Broadway Macau.

With just 25 room
bookings, meeting organizers may choose from two of the following offers, and
those who book 401 rooms or more on peak may select 5 of these exclusive
benefits:

  • 5% off the master bill
  • Refreshing welcome drinks at China Rouge, Belon, JW
    Marriott Lounge or Nagomi Bar & Lounge
  • Complimentary single-trip 38/45-seater coach transfer
  • One complimentary upgrade to a suite for every 25 rooms
    booked
  • One complimentary room for every 25 rooms booked
  • Galaxy Macau and Broadway Macau hotel guests will receive
    a 15% discount on dining
  • More room bookings lead to greater benefits:
  • Earn
    2 benefits for 25-100 rooms booked on one night
  • Earn
    3 benefits for 101-200 rooms booked on one night
  • Earn
    4 benefits for 201-400 rooms booked on one night
  • Earn
    5 benefits for 401 or more rooms booked on one night

This resort-wide MICE offer is for events booked within this year and
held before December 31, 2021. A minimum stay of two consecutive nights with 25
rooms per night is required with the purchase of one full-day standard meeting
package or standard banquet dinner menu for all attendees.

Partner with our “EVENT
STUDIO” for creative events

The Galaxy Integrated Resorts precinct offers
its own in-house team of event planners known as “EVENT STUDIO” to co-create
customized events with organizers. Organizers now have access to a one-stop shop
of experienced planners who are familiar with all of the venues across the integrated
resorts.

The role of EVENT STUDIO is to go beyond
conventional event planning by pushing the envelope to develop creative
concepts that make events truly impactful. This innovative team will partner
with meeting organizers every step of the way to assist with venue selection,
conceptualizing themes, décor, entertainment and marketing coordination to
create events that are bespoke and tailor-made for the needs of delegates.

Comprehensive
“Health and Safety” measures

The primary focus at Galaxy Integrated Resorts is to ensure the
continued health and safety of all guests. Recently, a “We Are Ready” campaign was
launched to inform guests about enhanced health and safety measures at the
resorts.
The aim of
this initiative is to protect the health and safety of visitors in three major
ways: health screening; comprehensive disinfection measures and taking extra
precautions to protect every guest. The Galaxy Integrated
Resorts
continues to explore and introduce new technology to safeguard
each guest. The following is an overview of new measures in place:

  • Temperature
    screening at all main entrances and exits at the resorts
  • Macau Health Codes
    must be presented upon entry
  • UV light to
    sterilize hotel room key cards
  • Nano-coating
    technology for long-lasting, self-disinfection of surfaces
  • The use of
    hospital grade disinfections
  • Galaxy Integrated
    Resorts is also the first and only resort in Macau to house its own laboratory
    certified by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment
    (CNAS) for food safety
  • Hotels guests will
    receive complimentary hygiene kits with masks and sanitizers
  • All team members
    attend regular health and safety training programs

 

Learn
more at IT&CM China

From August 3 — 5, 2020, buyers and exhibitors are
invited to engage with Galaxy Integrated Resorts online at the IT&CM China
virtual event to learn more about the opening of GICC and the entire resorts precinct.
Buyers have an opportunity to arrange Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSA) by
“Perfect Match” during the 2nd week of July and by “Buyer/Seller
Request” from the 4th week of July until August 5. In addition to
PSAs, buyers can also take part in exclusive “Walk-In” meetings with Galaxy
Integrated Resorts for a more in-depth discussion. For more information, please
visit:
www.itcmchina.com; or to contact the
Galaxy Integrated Resorts’ sales team directly, please
e-mail:
sales@galaxyentertainment.com or call: +853 8883 1628.

Galaxy International Convention Center

Creatively
designed for bespoke meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, GICC is
the latest addition to GEG’s ever-expanding integrated resort precinct in
Macau, which will set a new standard for Macau, while supporting the city’s
vision of becoming a “World Center of Tourism and Leisure”. Offering 40,000
m2 of MICE space, the
venue will feature advanced facilities and be equipped with immersive
technology, state-of-the-art audio-visual and lighting, the latest communication
systems, and flexible event space catering to multiple configurations and
set-ups.


GICC
will offer a 10,000m2 pillar-less Exhibition Hall for trade shows;
an Auditorium seating 650 guests for keynote sessions, ceremonies, performances
and product launches; a Banquet Hall seating 2,400 guests; a 4,000
m2 Conference Hall
consisting of 3 partitionable spaces; a Ballroom catering for over 1,000
guests; a diverse selection of dining options and Andaz Macau, a luxury
lifestyle hotel with over 700 rooms and suites. 

Galaxy Arena

The 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena is set to become the
most technologically advanced event and entertainment facility in Asia when it
opens in the first half of 2021. 


Galaxy Arena is the place where spectacular events
come to life – from world concert tours to thrilling fight nights. Our arena
offers center-stage, end-stage or boxing ring set-ups, all of which are
customizable for your event. With unobstructed views and high-definition
broadcasting enabled by advanced technical infrastructure, every guest will
enjoy amazing 360° views and high quality surround sound. The arena also
features 8 Hospitality Suites for guests to relax and network in luxuriously
private surrounds.


Galaxy Arena’s impressive design, state-of-the-art
audio-visual, lighting and communication systems set the stage for events of
any kind. The new and immersive digital technology at Galaxy Arena is designed
to boost engagement between fans and organizers.


Galaxy Arena is seamlessly integrated with the
Galaxy International Convention Center and Galaxy Integrated Resorts.

Andaz Macau

Andaz Macau, a vibrant luxury lifestyle hotel
rooted in local art and culture, will become the first Andaz hotel joining
GEG’s ever-expanding Galaxy Integrated Resorts precinct in Macau.


Andaz Macau will feature a dedicated check-in
lounge catering to large MICE group, over 700 rooms and suites, an Andaz
lounge, a bar and restaurant, state-of-the-art fitness center and an indoor
pool. Andaz Macau will be connected to the multiple award-winning integrated
resort Galaxy Macau™, offering 1.1 million m2 of unique
entertainment, shopping with over 200 world renowned luxury brands and leisure
attractions.


The addition of the Andaz brand will solidify
Galaxy Integrated Resorts precinct’s position as Macau’s leading integrated
resorts offering the largest collection of luxury hotels – including StarWorld
Hotel, Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel™, Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel
Macau, The Ritz-Carlton Macau, Broadway Hotel.


Andaz Macau will bring the distinctive Andaz style
to Macau, immersing business and leisure guests in a stimulating environment
inspired by the city’s colorful heritage that is a blend of Chinese and
Portuguese cultures. This will include the vibrant interior design, local
tastes and aromas with a twist and experiences that will satiate the curiosity
of inquisitive guests.

For more
information, please visit:
www.galaxyicc.com

Please also follow the GICC official LinkedIn page for
the latest news and happenings:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/galaxy-international-convention-center/

Fashion Walk Actively Evolves Innovative Pop-up Store Concept

  • Launching “In the Name of Summer” Pop-up Twin Stores together
    with Lifestyle Brand – Asian Gold
  • Showcasing a Selection of Globally Exclusive Brands, Setting
    Off an Aesthetic Movement this Summer

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach – 4 August 2020
– Located in the heart
of Hong Kong, Fashion Walk is a hotspot of international fashion, beauty and
lifestyle brands, and global delicacies. This summer, Fashion Walk strives to
further develop pop-up store concept by integrating fashion and art in
collaboration with the lifestyle brand Asian Gold. From now through August 31,
2020, selective artists and fashion brands will take part in several globally exclusive
exhibitions or unveil for the first time at “In the Name of Summer” pop-up twin
stores. This will definitely reinforce the leading position in trend and
fashion of Fashion Walk.

Ms. Bella Chhoa, Director — Leasing and Property Management of Hang
Lung Properties (right) and Mr. Phillip GOLD, founder of Asian Gold (left) join
forces to launch the “In the Name of Summer” pop-up twin stores to
show their determination to further develop the innovative pop-up store concept. 
For more photos, please download from
this link.

Ms.
Bella Chhoa, Director —
Leasing and Management of
Hang Lung Properties, says, “In addition to continuously introducing flagship
stores of international fashion brands and specialty shops, we have also been
broadening our tenant mix and constantly bringing excitement to our customers through
various events and pop-up stores with different themes. As customers enjoy a
broad spectrum of new brands and the gastronomic experiences, we are widening
their exposure and knowledge in different areas while offering them a one-stop
shopping experience.”

Fashion
Walk takes leading edge when it comes to launching captivating pop-up stores. An
impressive portfolio of unique pop-up stores previously held includes
“INCREDIBLE X Mickey Mouse X Red A” concept store, the world’s first
“Givenchy #ThisIsNotWhatYouThink” pop-up store, and “IWC X Urban
Coffee Roaster” pop-up coffee shop just to name a few. All projects received
high acclamation. Bella continues, “Our collaboration with Asian Gold to
launch the pop-up twin stores aims at bringing out different themes at two
spaces at Fashion Walk, which guarantees to offer customers a one-of-a-kind
experience.”

In
contrast to conventional pop-up stores, “In the Name of Summer” takes
form as twin stores at Fashion Walk. Two spaces are created; one showcases
weekly art exhibitions, while the other one offers retail service from
multi-brands for customers. The idea is to surprise customers with a fruitful and
in-depth exploration.

Mr.
Phillip GOLD, the founder of Asian Gold, says, “Frankly speaking, I am an
avid customer of Fashion Walk. Apart from being recognized for offering a vast
selection of international fashion and lifestyle brands, the pop-up stores that
Fashion Walk has had from time to time impressed me a lot too. These often inspire
me with creative ideas. The vision of Asian Gold is to promote lifestyle
immersed by art and fashion, which closely aligns with the commitment of
Fashion Walk to assimilate high quality lifestyle experiences. When the concept
of “In the Name of Summer” project was conceived, Fashion Walk is on
my top priority. This summer, Asian Gold and Fashion Walk join forces to launch
“In the Name of Summer” pop-up twin stores in order to create a
platform where fashion and art come together for consumers to appreciate the
aesthetics of design and commerce in one single place.”

“In
the Name of Summer” brings fashion, lifestyle, photography, music, dance,
and other elements together to set off a new anesthetic movement in the form of
pop-up exhibitions and stores. The participating artists and brands include:

  • Wilson
    PK, a fashion designer and a graduate from Central Saint Martins College of Art
    and Design, who previously collaborated with the international superstar Lady
    Gaga;
  • Rickyy
    Wong, a designer who participated in Vancouver Fashion Week, Los Angeles
    Fashion Week, Shanghai Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week;
  • Vincent
    Li, a fashion designer who was selected as Not Just A Label’s Top 50 Global
    Designers in 2016;
  • Jeff
    Mui, a fashion designer and the founder of Jeff Dark, who designed costumes for
    celebrities such as Kelly Chan, Kay Tse and so on;
  • James
    Tong, the mastermind behind LUXELIVING and was selected as one of the receivers
    of the World Chinese Youth Leadership award by the world Chinese magazine YaZhouZhouKan
    (formerly known as Asia Times);
  • Vincy
    Leung, a Green Leaf Artist of Art with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, who
    specializes in photography of streets, products and creativity;
  • Vaap
    Ip, an artist who is famed for the use of uniformity and repetition to depict
    cityscape structures;
  • Feminart,
    a photography studio set up by Iris Cheng, who has worked in film and creative media
    fields for years;
  • Bow
    Tie Shop HK, a local bow tie brand notable for working with Mini cooper, trendy
    brand LEE, HKJC, etc;
  • OTT
    (Over The Top), a fashion brand reputable for their exaggerated and glamorous
    styles;
  • Big
    Horn, an eyewear brand that has won various international design awards, and is
    popular among international stylists, celebrities, fashionistas and bloggers;
  • Make
    Yourself Look Amazing, a hair and jewelry label, which creates hand-made French
    artisan headpieces.

About Fashion Walk

In a unique fusion of indoor and outdoor elements
at the heart of Causeway Bay, embracing three vibrant streets — Paterson,
Kingston and Food Street — Fashion Walk is a distinctive shopping destination,
offering the latest trends in fashion, gastronomy, and lifestyle in a
magnificent setting. Fashion Walk has its finger firmly on the pulse of fashion
trends, allowing connoisseurs of style to discover popular international brands
and rising stars. More and more cutting-edge designers and labels are opening their
flagship and concept stores here, including the first CHANEL Beauty Studio,
medical beauty solution SkinCeuticals and SkinCeuticals by per FACE, legendary
French perfume label GOUTAL’s first flagship store in Asia, the first overseas
store of Japanese fashion retailer STUDIOUS, the first pet-friendly beauty and
event venue Private i Concept Store, the first Vivienne Westwood café-boutique,
and trendy label select shops including D-Mop, HER, I.T, JUICE, Mastermind
World, and SHINE, to name but a few. Fashion Walk is also home to a diverse
array of culinary delights. Highlights include America’s lobster-themed chain
Red Lobster, Asia’s best female chef’s burger joint Little Bao Diner flagship
store, the only patisserie with a savory menu Lady M from New York, and many
more. Fashion Walk is obviously the home of Fashion Intelligence, and the
coming together of ideas and insights.

 

Please visit:

Website

: www.fashionwalk.com.hk

Facebook

: www.facebook.com/HK.FashionWalk

WeChat

:
hongkongfashionwalk

Instagram

: instagram.com/hkfashionwalk

Youtube

: www.youtube.com/user/hkfashionwalk

Spackman Entertainment Group’s Upcoming Art Film, STONE SKIPPING, Produced by Studio Take, To Be Released in Korea on 9 September 2020

  • STONE SKIPPING, a human drama film , is
    the first production of the Company’s wholly‐owned indirect subsidiary, Studio
    Take, founded by veteran movie producer, Mr. Song Dae‐chan
  • STONE SKIPPING was screened at the 23rd Busan
    International Film Festival in October 2018, and expected to be released in
    Korea on 9 September 2020

 

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 August 2020 – Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“Spackman Entertainment
Group
” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group“),
wishes to announce that the Group’s new art film, STONE SKIPPING,
produced by the Company’s wholly‐owned indirect subsidiary, Studio Take Co.,
Ltd. (“Studio Take“) is scheduled to be released in Korea on 9 September
2020.

 

STONE SKIPPING is the first production to be
released by Studio Take. The human drama film stars Kim Dae-Myung of GOLDEN
SLUMBER
(2017) & BLUEBEARD (2017), Jeon Chae‐eun of ANNE OF
GREEN GABLES
(MUSICAL) (2017), Kim Eui‐sung of TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016)
& GOLDEN SLUMBER (2017) and Song Yun‐ah of THE K2 (2016). The
story of STONE SKIPPING revolves around an unforeseen friendship between
Suk‐Gu (played by Kim Dae-Myung), an adult with an intellectual disability
running a rice mill in a small village, and Eun‐Ji (played by Jeon Chae‐eun), a
runaway teenage girl from the city looking for her father. One day, an
unexpected incident at the rice mill leads to their world falling apart.

 

STONE SKIPPING is directed by Kim Jung-sik
and distributed by Little Big Pictures.

 

For more information on STONE
SKIPPING
and its official trailer, visit the Group’s website at http://www.spackmanentertainment.com.

 

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

Spackman Entertainment Group
Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its
subsidiaries, (the “Group“), founded
in 2011 by Charles Spackman, is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production
groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production,
presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea. According
to Variety, Korea was the world’s fourth largest box office market in 2019,
behind only North America, China and Japan.    

The
Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to
our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related
companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our
existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore
Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.

 

Production Labels

 

SEGL’s wholly-owned Zip Cinema
Co., Ltd. (“Zip Cinema“) is one of
the most recognised film production labels in Korea and has originated and
produced some of Korea’s most commercially successful theatrical films,
consecutively producing 10 profitable movies since 2009 representing an
industry leading track record. Recent theatrical releases of Zip Cinema’s
motion pictures include some of Korea’s highest grossing and award-winning
films such as CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER
(2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), COLD EYES (2013), and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012). For more
information on Zip Cinema, do visit http://zipcine.com 

SEGL also owns Novus Mediacorp
Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an
investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films
(58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE
OF BETRAYAL
, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the
biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS fame, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the
post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL
ABOUT MY WIFE
, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In
2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by
Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more
information on Novus Mediacorp, do visit 
http://novusmediacorp.com 

The Company owns a 100% equity
interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early
stage film production firm. Simplex Films has the
following films in the pipeline namely, A BOLT FROM THE BLUE, IRREVOCABLE
PROMISE
and OUR SUPERSTAR K.

The
Company owns a 100% equity interest Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which has a line-up of several films including STONE SKIPPING
(working title), GUARDIAN (working title) and the
co-production with Zip Cinema for THE
PRIESTS 2.

The Company owns a
100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited which is mainly involved in the business of
investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for
the production of Korean content.

The Company owns a 20% equity
interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four
upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL,
a comedy horror film.

Our films are theatrically
distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for
subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including
online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home
video/DVD, etc. We release all of our motion pictures into wide-theatrical
exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.

 

Talent
Representation

 

The Company holds an effective
shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in
Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest
entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under
management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment
industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned
agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-jung, Ko
Sung-hee), UAA&CO Inc. (Song Hye-kyo, Yoo Ah-in, Park Hyung-sik), Fiftyone
K Inc. (So Ji Sub, Ok Taec-yeon), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Bae Doo-na, Son
Suk-ku), and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Ji-young).
Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides
the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses
in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements,
and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists
as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of
entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety
shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for
SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can
collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company.

The Company owns a 100% equity
interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation
Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the
business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas
market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider
specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent
management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in
film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.

 

Strategic
Businesses

 

The
Company owns a 100% equity interest in Frame Pictures Co., Ltd. (“Frame Pictures“). Frame Pictures is a leader in the movie/drama
equipment leasing business in Korea. Established in 2014, Frame Pictures has
worked with over 25 top directors and provided the camera and lighting
equipment for some of Korea’s most notable drama and movie projects including ITAEWON
CLASS
(2020), HOW TO BUY A FRIEND (2020), KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN 1982
(2019), FOUR MEN (2019) and ASADAL CHRONICLES (2019).  

Previously, Frame Pictures was
also involved in GIRL COPS (2018), MALMOI (2018), SUITS (2018),
MISTRESS (2018), LIFE (2018), LIVE (2018), MONEY FLOWER
(2017), SWEET REVENGE (2017), BAD GUYS 2 (2017), THE
LEGEND OF THE BLUE SEA
(2016) and VETERAN (2015).

We also operate a café-lounge
called Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional
photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.

 

For
more details, do visit http://www.spackmanentertainmentgroup.com/

Citi Hong Kong Releases Results of Second Quarter 2020 Residential Property Ownership Survey

Overall property market sentiment improves as the number of people expecting higher property prices next year doubles

 

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach – 4 August 2020 – Citi Hong Kong conducted a survey in June this year on the impact of COVID-19
on residential property ownership in Q2 2020, gauging residents’ attitudes
towards residential property ownership as COVID-19 unfolded. According to the survey:

  • More than 10% of the respondents considered it
    a good/excellent time to buy a home at this moment, representing a slight
    increase from the previous quarter, and remains the highest percentage in
    nine years.
  • The public were split on the trend of property
    prices. In this quarter, the proportion of respondents who considered that
    property prices will rise in the next 12 months has doubled as compared
    with the previous quarter, and the number of respondents who expected
    property prices to fall has decreased significantly.
  • The overall interest in purchasing residential
    property over the past two quarters has rebounded, with more than
    one-fifth of this quarter’s respondents interested in buying a home.
  • Compared to the figures in the first quarter
    and the second quarter, the impact of COVID-19 on the attitude towards the
    property market in the second quarter has eased. Respondents anticipated property
    prices at the end of the year would be similar to that at the beginning of
    the year taking into account COVID-19’s impact, which was expected to only
    knock 5% off property prices at most.

Property market
sentiment has improved, with rebounded interest in buying properties

 

The survey in Q2 2020 indicated a relative calm sentiment in the property
market with positive changes observed in important indicators, including the
judgment on the time of property purchasing, the views on the trends of property
prices and the interest towards property buying. In this quarter, although a
considerable proportion of respondents considered now a bad/terrible time to
purchase a home, more than 10% of the respondents considered now a
good/excellent time to do so, representing a slight increase from the previous
quarter and the percentage remained at its highest level in nine years. As for
the trend of property market, respondents who anticipated property prices to
rise, remain flat and fall next year were evenly split, with each option accounting
for 33% to 34% of all respondents. Compared with the previous quarter, the number
of respondents expecting property prices to rise in this quarter has doubled,
while the number of respondents expecting property prices to fall has decreased
significantly. Meanwhile, the overall interest in purchasing a property has
rebounded over the past two quarters, with more than one-fifth of this
quarter’s respondents suggesting they were interested in buying a home.

If you do not own any property now, taking into
consideration your current standard of living and family finances, do you
think it is a good time to purchase a home now?

Percentage of Respondents

 

Q2 2019

Q3 2019

Q4 2019

Q1 2020

Q2 2020

A good/excellent

time to purchase

2%

3%

5%

10%

11%

Neutral

27%

29%

34%

38%

35%

A bad/terrible

time to purchase

71%

68%

60%

52%

53%

Base: All
Respondents

 

How do you think home prices will trend in the next 12
months?

Percentage of Respondents

 

Q2 2019

Q3 2019

Q4 2019

Q1 2020

Q2 2020

Upward

36%

18%

21%

16%

33%

Flat

36%

26%

32%

28%

34%

Downward

28%

56%

46%

57%

33%

Base: All
Respondents

How interested are you in purchasing a property now?

Percentage of Respondents

Q2 2019

Q3 2019

Q4 2019

Q1 2020

Q2 2020

Very/rather interested

25%

20%

16%

17%

21%

Neutral

28%

29%

27%

31%

27%

Very/rather uninterested

47%

51%

57%

52%

52%

Base: All
Respondents

 

COVID-19’s impact
on attitude towards property market is diminishing

According to the survey, the respondents’ feedback over the impact of COVID-19
on the property market this quarter was less than that in the previous quarter.
Respondents in this quarter anticipated property prices at the end of the year
would be similar to that at the beginning of the year taking into account COVID-19’s
impact, which was expected to only knock 5% off the property prices at most.

 

“The results show that the public is beginning
to regain their confidence in purchasing residential property” said Josephine Lee, Head of Retail Bank, Citi Hong
Kong. “As the
overall property market sentiment improved in the second quarter of this year
and the number of respondents expecting property prices to rise has doubled,
the property market’s development is gradually returning to normal. We suggest that interested homebuyers comprehensively assess their financial position
and choose a mortgage plan that best meets their needs.”

 

Citibank commissioned The University of Hong Kong Social Sciences
Research Centre to conduct the survey, interviewing a random sample of over 500
Hong Kong respondents by phone in June 2020. Since 2010, Citibank has been
conducting quarterly surveys on the Hong Kong housing market to assess the
current state of home ownership in the SAR, gauge public intentions towards
home ownership, and track public expectations of future housing price trends.

 

Source: Citibank Q2 2020
Residential Property Ownership Survey

About Citi

Citi,
the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and
does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides
consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of
financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit,
corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services,
and wealth management.

Additional
information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube:
www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook:
www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

SugarCRM Named A Visionary in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation for 8th Consecutive Year

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA – Media OutReach – August
4, 2020 – SugarCRM Inc.®, the innovator of time-aware CX, today announced that
it was named a Visionary in the Gartner 2020 Magic Quadrant for Sales Force
Automation for the 8th consecutive year. Sugar was recognized for its ability
to execute and completeness of vision.

In the report[1],
Gartner noted the top three reasons, which drove the 100 vendor reference
customers who use the SFA solutions reviewed in the Magic Quadrant, to purchase
from their vendor included: product functionality and performance (64%), competitive
costs (62%), and strong customer focus (52%).

 

“We believe SugarCRM is the clear choice for
sales automation based on technology, value and ease of use,” said Rich Green,
Chief Product Officer and CTO, SugarCRM. “With one of the highest customer retention
rates of all ranked vendors and high scores for both our customer experience
and service, companies of all sizes are adopting Sugar Sell to drive their
sales initiatives and deliver for their customers”. 

 

Sugar Sell is part of Sugar’s time-aware CX
solutions
that enable marketing, sales and service teams to gain a
clear, unified view of the customer and deliver a better experience across the
customer journey. Now is a period of rapid innovation for Sugar as the company
builds out its time-aware, no-touch CX platform with analytics capabilities and
new products including Sugar Integrate, a robust, integration
solution for 200 business processes and apps.

 

Sugar improved its position on the ability to
execute in the Visionaries quadrant for Sales Force Automation (SFA) compared
to the previous report and is also positioned on the “Completeness of
Vision” axis. The report evaluated 15 vendors.

 

A complimentary copy of the Gartner, Inc. 2020
Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation research report is available from the SugarCRM site here.

 

Gartner
Disclaimer

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

About SugarCRM

SugarCRM’s time-aware sales, marketing and service software helps companies deliver effortless and predictable customer experience. For mid-market companies and anyone that wants a CX-driven platform, Sugar gives teams the time-aware customer data they need to create a seamless customer journey and increase customer lifetime value.

More than 4,500 companies in over 120 countries rely on SugarCRM. Based in Silicon Valley, SugarCRM is backed by Accel-KKR. 


[1]

Amazon Singapore Shines a Spotlight on Local Retailers this National Day

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 August 2020
To commemorate Singapore’s 55th
birthday, Amazon aims to recognize home-grown businesses and celebrate their
journeys by launching today dedicated “Shop
Local” storefront
on Amazon.sg. The
curated page features four local brands’ founding stories and a plethora of
products from local businesses in categories such as home and home improvement,
electronics, kitchen and dining, health and personal care, toys and games,
groceries and more.

 

“As Singaporeans come together to
celebrate the nation’s 55th birthday, we hope to help shoppers
discover and expand the support for local businesses through this new
initiative. We invite customers to learn more about the entrepreneurs behind
these homegrown businesses and check out their great products,” says Bernard
Tay, Country Leader, Amazon.sg Seller Services and Head of Amazon Global
Selling Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand
. “We are pleased to
welcome more local business onto Amazon.sg and look forward to helping them
expand their customer base and reach a global audience through our online
stores worldwide.”

Notable local brands featured on
“Shop Local” include: manufacturer of premium quality bedding with compostable
and bio-degradable fibers — EASVEN; local manufacturer of  plant-based products for babies with sensitive
skin — Happyganics; personal care brand for those aspiring to
enjoy clear and beautiful skin — Porcelain Skin; and non-medicated
solutions provider for menstrual cramps — Blood.

Getting to know the local retailers on Amazon.sg

 

EASVEN

Singaporean founder Chen Yan
started her career with her family’s bedding and household goods business but
soon left to study Design in Arts in the UK before moving to Singapore in 2004.
In 2019, Yan returned to her passion and love for textile, fabric, and the
environment to start EASVEN, a purpose-built brand which
manufactures premium quality bedding using TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers that are
certified compostable and bio-degradable. Amidst COVID-19, Yan started selling
on Amazon to reach a global audience with low shipment costs.

 

“With Amazon, we’re not only
selling products, but a service, building our brand reputation, growing our
community, and connecting with our customers. As a young brand dealing with the
pandemic, selling online has been essential. We’ve been able to continue the
business, adapt quickly, and maintain the high quality and service of our
products,” said Yan, founder of EASVEN.

 

Happyganics

Happyganics was founded in 2015 in Singapore by parents Dawn Teh and Leslie Wou after their
baby daughter started suffering from skin allergies. With pure plant-based
ingredients and natural products, ranging from detergent to hand sanitizer,
Happyganics manufactures locally and sells in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

 

Dawn from Happyganics said: “With
Amazon, we have been able to reach many more customers without increasing our
operations cost. The warehousing and logistical support has allowed us to
streamline operations and offer same-day delivery to meet customer expectations.
Furthermore, joining Amazon through the E-Commerce Booster Package has meant
that we can leverage its global footprint without having to rent retail space —
a huge cost saver to grow rapidly!”

 

Porcelain Skin

Started by mother-daughter duo
Jenny Teng and Pauline Ng, Porcelain is a home-grown brand that
grew swiftly fueled by the mutual love for skincare and passion to correct, not
conceal, skin troubles. Over the last 10 years, since 2009, Porcelain Skin has
received more than 80 beauty awards for both service and products and has plans
to expand across Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia.

 

Daughter and Managing Director
Pauline Ng said: “While we grow as a company, we are constantly looking for
ways to continue listening to customer feedback and improve our service to
build long-term relationships. We’ve just joined Amazon in June and are looking
forward to connecting with consumers domestically and internationally to
address their needs quickly.”

 

Blood

Frustrated by the lack of good
quality non-medicated solutions for menstrual cramps, Singaporeans Tan Peck
Ying and Caleb Leow developed MenstruHeat — the flagship product of Blood
— to help and support women across the world through their period cycles. They
started selling on Amazon in 2015 and have since grown their business on Amazon
across the US, UK, EU, Canada, Japan, Australia with plans to expand in India.

 

“Selling internationally with
Amazon has given us exposure beyond our shores — this has been really important
for our brand building and awareness. In fact, more than 50% of our online
sales come through Amazon today. Thanks to Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA), since
our initial days, we have not had to worry about distribution and shipment
costs and can focus on managing inventory and growing the business,” said Peck
Ying, co-founder of Blood.

 

Discover the wide range of
selection from local retailers on Amazon.sg here.

 

Beyond the “Shop Local” showcase,
Amazon has launched Seller University so local businesses in Singapore can
access complimentary online tools and personalized support to better operate on
Amazon’s store. This is in addition to the E-Commerce Booster Package
collaboration with Enterprise Singapore where local retailers who sign up to
sell on Amazon.sg can avail a one-time grant of up to S$9,000 to enhance their E-Commerce
capabilities and reach more customers. 
Interested local retailers can find out more information and sign up by
30 September 2020 here: https://services.amazon.sg/esg-e-commerce-booster-package.html

 

To find out more about selling on Amazon, visit: https://www.amazon.sg/sell.

About Amazon

Amazon is
guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus,
passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term
thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations,
Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle,
Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and
services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit Amazon.sg.

Lafarge Africa – Cost Optimisation Drive Strong Bottomline Growth

Lafarge Africa Plc reported a relatively strong Q2’20 performance. Although revenue declined by 5% year-on-year in Q2’20 to N56.85bn from N59.87bn in Q2’19, net income surged by 60% YoY from N9.54bn in Q2’19 to N15.26bn in Q2’20.

The decline in revenue was due to lower volume sold in Q2’20 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which grounded economic activities.

Meanwhile, cost of sales declined by 14% YoY from N38.00bn in Q2’19 to N32.76bn in Q2’20. The decline in cost of sales was driven by the Company’s cost optimisation strategies. The management emphasised an overhaul and restructuring of costs were done during the period.

We also believe that the investments in fixed assets made by the Company in previous years are beginning to yield a positive result for the Company. Consequent to the 14% YoY decline in cost of sales, gross profit grew by 10% YoY from N21.87bn in Q2’19 to N24.08bn in Q2’20.

A significant decline in operating expenses resulted in a 30% YoY increase in operating profit from N16.33bn in Q2’19 to N21.17bn in Q2’20. Specifically, operating expenses reduced by 41% YoY from N6.85bn in Q2’19 to N4.01bn in Q2’20.

The lower operating expenses incurred during the period was driven by a 46% decline in administrative expenses, particularly office and general expenses. In our view, we think that the lockdown directive and ‘work-from-home’ policy resulted in cost-saving for the Group. Also, selling and marketing expenses declined by 12% YoY.

The positive impact of the successful deleveraging efforts of the Company continued to reflect in earnings, as finance cost declined by 69% YoY from N6.21bn in Q2’19 to N1.95bn in Q2’20.

We note that finance cost also declined by 69% YoY in Q1’20. As a result of the lower finance cost incurred in Q1’20, profit before tax spiked by 78% YoY from N10.87bn in Q2’19 to N19.38bn in Q2’20. However, the bottom-line growth was moderated, due to a higher effective tax rate (21% in Q2’20 vs 12% in Q2’19). Profit after tax grew by 60% YoY from N9.54bn in Q2’19 to N15.26bn in Q2’20.

Outlook

We revise our earnings expectations for FY’20E, owing to the positive surprise in Q2’20. We, however, note that the higher-than-expected Q2’20 results released by the Company were majorly due to lower-than-expected operating expenses.

Based on our assessment, the significant decline in operating expenses is linked to the ‘work-from-home’ policy induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the short term, we expect the Company to keep incurring lower operating expenses.

However, as the economy gradually recovers, and in the mid-term, we maintain that operating expenses will be at normalised levels. Therefore, we upgrade our EPS forecast from N1.87 to N2.27, reflecting our expectation of higher profit on the back of continued cost optimisation.

In addition, we revised our cost of equity used to discount our projected free cash flows and dividend. We made the downward revision of our cost of equity estimate to reflect a lower risk-free rate from 11% in our last earnings report to 8% as of the writing of this report.

Overall, we arrived at a fair value of N12.78. Based on our fair value estimate, the expected total return (price return and dividend yield) on the stock is 20%. Hence, we upgrade our recommendation to BUY.

WSTC Research