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NASDAQ-listed wealth and health firm, AGBA Group Holding Limited to acquire Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd in Singapore

  • AGBA Group signs agreement to acquire Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd in Singapore
  • Acquisition is a key milestone for AGBA’s business and expansion beyond the Greater Bay Area into Southeast Asia

HONG KONG and SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 April 2023 – NASDAQ-listed AGBA Group Holding Limited “AGBA” announced that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement, dated 5 April 2023, to acquire Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd, a duly licensed financial adviser and insurance broker in Singapore. AGBA, together with its subsidiary, the “AGBA Group”, is a leading one-stop financial supermarket headquartered in Hong Kong.

(Left) Yoshiki Moriyama, Managing Director and CEO, Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd
(Right) Wing-Fai Ng, Group President, AGBA Group Holding Limited

Trusted by over 400,000 individual and corporate customers, the AGBA Group offers the broadest set of financial services and healthcare products in the Greater Bay Area in China. The AGBA Group has a unique collection of complementary businesses that blends market-leading businesses with emerging businesses models. It serves a large captive customer base, while at the same time unlocking growth through the introduction of innovative new wealth and health products and services through a variety of B2B and B2C distribution channels.

(Left) Yoshiki Moriyama, Managing Director and CEO, Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd
(Middle) Almond Wong, Group Chief Operating Officer, AGBA Group Holding Limited
(Right) Wing-Fai Ng, Group President, AGBA Group Holding Limited

The latest acquisition marks a key milestone for AGBA; it is lucrative to its insurance and fintech businesses and expands access to key markets in Asia. While AGBA’s primary focus is in the Greater Bay Area in China, Singapore was selected for expansion due to the island nation’s position and reputation as a global center for innovation, business and finance. Ranked 10th place for average income by country, Singapore has is known to have one of the highest saving rates in the world.

Group photo of senior management of AGBA Group and Sony Life Financial Advisers at the signing ceremony

Singapore is also home to one of the largest and fastest growing family office and wealth management centers in the world. AGBA believes its advanced technology and infrastructure in wealth management will offer the industry compelling solution sets in the long run.

Yoshiki Moriyama Managing Director and CEO, Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd said, “We are confident AGBA has the capabilities, resources and commitment to take SLFA to new heights. We will work together with AGBA to obtain regulatory and other approvals. As we do so, SLFA will continue to deliver the high standard of service that its customers have come to expect. When such approvals are given, Sony Life and AGBA are both committed to ensure an orderly and seamless transition. This agreement is good news for all stakeholders. We are committed to support AGBA and to ensure that SLFA is well positioned to succeed.”

Wing-Fai Ng, Group President, AGBA Group Holding Limited said that beyond the Greater Bay area, Southeast Asia plays a key role in the development of financial service markets.

“Singapore, in particular, holds magnificent potential for this, given its strategic geographical location and status as a global centre for innovation and finance,” Ng said. “As a company, AGBA will continue to leverage our existing infrastructure, business partners, and our large user base to optimise customer experience through technology.” Ng added that AGBA will further strengthen its competitive advantages in procuring and financing new clients and partners.

“The acquisition of Sony Financial Advisers is a win-win solution for both companies as our businesses are similar and our products are complementary,” Ng said. “Our expectation is for the latest acquisition of Sony Life Financial Advisers in Singapore to bring forth new prospects and promising business opportunities — especially in the Southeast Asian region.”

Hashtag: #AGBAGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Sony Financial Advisors:

Sony Financial Advisers is a duly licensed financial adviser and insurance broker in Singapore which was established in 2017 and has become a distinctive retail financial services advisory firm that serves mass affluent retail customers (comprising Japanese residing in Singapore as well as local residents) for both their protection and investment needs.

About AGBA Group:

Established in 1993, AGBA Group Holding Limited (NASDAQ: “AGBA”) is a leading one-stop financial supermarket based in Hong Kong offering the broadest set of financial services and healthcare products in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) through a tech-led ecosystem, enabling clients to unlock the choices that best suit their needs. Trusted by over 400,000 individual and corporate customers, the Group is organized into four market-leading businesses: Platform Business, Distribution Business, Healthcare Business, and Fintech Business.

Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the AGBA uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from AGBA’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: AGBA’s goals and strategies; AGBA’s future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us following the consummation of the business combination; expectations regarding our strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and our ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in Hong Kong and the international markets AGBA plans to serve (including without limitation Singapore) and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by AGBA with the SEC, the length and severity of the recent coronavirus outbreak, including its impacts across our business and operations. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in AGBA’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. AGBA undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

For more information about AGBA, please visit

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The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council: Upholding Medical Innovations as a Cancer Care Centre of Excellence

Malaysian health practitioners are at the helm of various new techniques to treat tongue, blood and orthopaedic-related cancers in their race to boost cancer care accessibility.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 6 April 2023 – Cancer has become a leading cause of premature death, with nearly 10 million lives being lost to the disease in 2020[1]. As the world celebrates the 2023 World Health Day with the theme Health for All, it is worth noting that healthcare practitioners are keeping pace with technological advances, which are increasingly opening up access to state-of-the-art treatments in oncology.

MHTC-Press-Release-General-Cancer-Awareness#5.jpg

In 2020, researchers at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Malaysia devised a groundbreaking treatment for tongue cancer. Spearheaded by Dr. Gokula Kumar Appalanaido, a Visiting Consultant Radiation Oncologist at the Penang Adventist Hospital, the technique proved successful, with two patients recovering within six months of clinical trials[2]. Known as Hybrid Brachytherapy Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (HyBIRT), brachytherapy needles are applied directly into the tumour, followed by further radiotherapy and chemotherapy. “Oncology has advanced by leaps and bounds. It’s amazing how tumours can now be removed without surgery,” said Dr. Gokula.

Underpinned by a professional training system, Malaysia benefits from a wealth of medical expertise, which is also behind a variety of oncology innovations. “For our part, allogeneic bone marrow transplants are now possible, even from donors who are only partially compatible genetically,” said Dr. Ng Soo Chin, a consultant haematologist at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre.

Introduced to treat various blood cancers, including leukaemia, the method is found to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by up to 22%, as grafts from allogeneic transplants are free from contaminant cells[3],[4]. “This allows for a potentially enlarged pool of donors, like distant relatives, and what’s more, it’s almost as effective as a fully-matched transplant,” continued Dr. Ng.

While surgeries sometimes cannot be avoided, numerous techniques have been developed through the years to facilitate better outcomes. One of these is limb-salvage surgery. It involves the targeted removal of a tumour without affecting the rest of the limb, thus negating the need for amputations in cases of orthopaedic-related cancer. According to researchers at USM, the survival rate for osteosarcoma patients who underwent limb-salvage surgery stood at 85% at two years, which is significantly greater than for amputees[5].

“We can now remove big portions of a bone or tissue, after which the defect is reconstructed, sometimes using donor cells,” added Dr Prashant Narhari, a Visiting Consultant Orthopaedic, Traumatologist and Oncologist at the Penang Adventist Hospital.

As medical technology progresses, oncology treatments are evolving in tandem, with healthcare practitioners racing to enhance cancer care access for all. The growing availability of various cancer treatments in Malaysia is a step forward that aligns with this year’s World Health Day’s call for Health for All, becoming a testament to the shared commitment to improving patient outcomes within the country.

Find out more about Malaysia’s oncology offerings at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP9MZ35Xfv0.

For more information on Malaysia Healthcare and its services, please visit https://malaysiahealthcare.org.my or visit our social feeds at: www.facebook.com/MHTCMalaysia or at LinkedIn (Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council).

Hashtag: #MalaysiaHealthcare

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia that has been entrusted with the responsibility of curating the country’s healthcare travel scene. Founded in 2009, MHTC works to streamline industry players and service providers in facilitating and growing Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry under the brand “Malaysia Healthcare” with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. MHTC works closely with over 80 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia, who are registered members of MHTC.

Introducing Microsoft Security Copilot: Empowering defenders at the speed of AI

The odds are against today’s defenders

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 April 2023 – Today the odds remain stacked against cybersecurity professionals. Too often, they fight an asymmetric battle against prolific, relentless and sophisticated attackers. To protect their organizations, defenders must respond to threats that are often hidden among noise. Compounding this challenge is a global shortage of skilled security professionals, leading to an estimated 3.4 million openings in the field.

To overcome these challenges, new technologies must be continually developed to tip the scales in favor of defenders. With the rapid advancements in AI, organizations are applying the technology to various use cases, empowering security professionals to drive innovation and disrupt attackers’ traditional advantages.

As the world welcomes a new era of security, Microsoft is taking a significant step forward by combining its leading security technologies with the latest advancements in AI. At the inaugural Microsoft Secure event on 28 March, Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Security Copilot – shaped by the power of OpenAI’s GPT-4 generative AI to revolutionize the field of cybersecurity.

Security Copilot — end-to-end defense at machine speed and scale
Microsoft Security Copilot is the first security product to enable defenders to move at the speed and scale of AI. Security Copilot combines this advanced large language model (LLM) with a security-specific model from Microsoft.

Dennis Chung, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Singapore, shared, “The rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape demands that organizations continuously strengthen and maintain their security measures to effectively combat increasingly sophisticated threats and ensure the safety of their people and business. Our Microsoft Security Copilot brings the power of AI to individuals to drive innovation and scale at pace, as they create a secure digital environment for all. ”

This security-specific model in turn incorporates a growing set of security-specific skills and is informed by Microsoft’s unique global threat intelligence and more than 65 trillion daily signals. Security Copilot also delivers an enterprise-grade security and privacy-compliant experience as it runs on Azure’s hyperscale infrastructure.

When Security Copilot receives a prompt from a security professional, it uses the full power of the security-specific model to deploy skills and queries that maximize the value of the latest large language model capabilities. And this is unique to a security use-case. Microsoft’s cyber-trained model adds a learning system to create and tune new skills. Security Copilot then can help catch what other approaches might miss and augment an analyst’s work. In a typical incident, this boost translates into gains in the quality of detection, speed of response and ability to strengthen security posture.

Security Copilot doesn’t always get everything right. AI-generated content can contain mistakes. But Security Copilot is a closed-loop learning system, which means it’s continually learning from users and giving them the opportunity to give explicit feedback with the feedback feature that is built directly into the tool. As we continue to learn from these interactions, we are adjusting its responses to create more coherent, relevant and useful answers.

Security Copilot also integrates with the end-to-end Microsoft Security products, and over time it will expand to a growing ecosystem of third-party products. So, in short, Security Copilot is not only a large language model, but rather a system that learns, to enable organizations to truly defend at machine speed.

Microsoft believes that security is a team sport, and that security should be built with privacy at the core. With security teams in mind, Microsoft built the Security Copilot to ensure that data stays with the control of each user. It is not used to train the foundation AI models, and in fact, it is protected by the most comprehensive enterprise compliance and security controls. While remaining private, each user interaction can be easily shared with other team members to accelerate incident response, collaborate more effectively on complex problems and develop collective skills.

Technology that elevates human strengths
Human creativity and knowledge will always be imperative for defense. Security Copilot can augment security professionals with machine speed and scale, so human ingenuity is deployed where it matters most. In delivering this experience, the following principles guide Microsoft in driving innovation that empowers everyone:

  1. Simplify the complex.
    In security, minutes count. With Security Copilot, defenders can respond to security incidents within minutes instead of hours or days. Security Copilot delivers critical step-by-step guidance and context through a natural language-based investigation experience that accelerates incident investigation and response. The ability to quickly summarize any process or event and tune reporting to suit a desired audience frees defenders to focus on the most pressing work.
  2. Catch what others miss.
    Attackers hide behind noise and weak signals. Defenders can now discover malicious behavior and threat signals that could otherwise go undetected. Security Copilot surfaces prioritized threats in real time and anticipates a threat actor’s next move with continuous reasoning based on Microsoft’s global threat intelligence. Security Copilot also comes with skills that represent the expertise of security analysts in areas such as threat hunting, incident response and vulnerability management.
  3. Address the talent gap.
    A security team’s capacity will always be limited by the team’s size and the natural limits of human attention. Security Copilot boosts your defenders’ skills with its ability to answer security-related questions – from the basic to the complex. Security Copilot continually learns from user interactions, adapts to enterprise preferences, and advises defenders on the best course of action to achieve more secure outcomes. It also supports learning for new team members as it exposes them to new skills and approaches as they develop. This enables security teams to do more with less, and to operate with the capabilities of a larger, more mature organization.


Unrivaled security capabilities

With Security Copilot, the agility advantage is being restored to defenders by combining Microsoft’s leading security technologies with the latest advancements in AI. By working with Security Copilot, organizations get access to an unrivaled depth and breadth of security AI capabilities, including:

  1. Ongoing access to the most advanced OpenAI models to support the most demanding security tasks and applications
  2. A security-specific model that benefits from continuous reinforcement, learning and user feedback to meet the unique needs of security professionals;
  3. Visibility and evergreen threat intelligence powered by your organization’s security products and the 65 trillion threat signals Microsoft sees every day to ensure that security teams are operating with the latest knowledge of attackers, their tactics, techniques, and procedures;
  4. Integration with Microsoft’s end-to-end security portfolio for a highly efficient experience that builds on the security signals;
  5. A growing list of unique skills and prompts that elevate the expertise of security teams and set the bar higher for what is possible even under limited resources.


Delivering security AI in a responsible way
Without a doubt, AI will transform how organizations around the world interact with security technologies. To achieve their highest potential, security AI solutions must be delivered in a safe, secure and responsible way. With Security Copilot, Microsoft reinforces its commitment to impactful and responsible AI practices by innovating responsibly, empowering others, and fostering positive impact.

The cornerstone of this work is Microsoft’s commitment to how Security Copilot handles user data:

  1. Your data is your data. It’s yours to own and control, and yours to choose how you want to leverage and monetize.
  2. Your data is not used to train or enrich foundation AI models used by others – no one beyond your organization is benefiting from AI trained on your data or business processes.
  3. Your data and AI models are protected at every step by the most comprehensive enterprise compliance and security controls in the industry.

The new era of security
At Microsoft, we believe that security is ultimately about people. With Security Copilot, Microsoft is building a future where every defender is empowered with the technologies and expertise that enable them to reach their full potential. Technology will play an essential role on this journey, but successful security is, and will continue to be, a human endeavor.

Hashtag: #Microsoft

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Unbox & Discover: Unleashing the Wow Factor with Samsung’s 2023 Lineup

2023 TVs and sound devices showcase the latest innovations in premium audio and visual performances for homes of all sizes

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 April 2023 – Samsung Electronics unveiled its 2023 lineup of Neo QLED 8K, Samsung OLED, Lifestyle TVs and sound devices at its Unbox & Discover 2023 Singapore launch held at the Digital Light Canvas at Marina Bay Sands. The event will also be opened to the public on 7 and 8 April, where visitors can partake in exciting activities, including docent-led tours and gaming challenges to experience the WOW with the new lineup.

Samsung Unbox & Discover 2023 at Marina Bay Sands, Digital Light Canvas

Under the tagline of “More Wow than Ever”, this year’s lineup showcases the latest innovations in premium audio and visual performances, gaming experiences, smart connectivity and sustainability initiatives for homes of all sizes. Samsung will also introduce more larger-sized TVs (75-inch and up) this year.

In a recent consumer survey conducted at the Samsung TV Tech Fair[1]:

  • 57% of respondents staying in a HDB flat and 51% staying in a condominium felt that a 75-inch TV was too big for their living rooms.
  • However, following a demonstration of optimal TV viewing distance[2], 84% of respondents living in HDBs and 90% of those living in condominiums are convinced that a 75-inch TV would fit in their living room.

“We understand that technology should empower and enhance people’s lives, not complicate them. For homeowners in Singapore, the TV continues to be a staple for entertainment in their living space – be it for streaming or gaming. Our recent study conducted at the Samsung TV Tech Fair showed that respondents clearly underestimated the size of their living rooms. As such, Samsung is introducing a larger size option for our OLED TV line, as well as continuing larger sized screens for our premium Neo QLED and QLED lineup,” said Steven Koh, Senior Director, Consumer Electronics Business (TV/AV), Samsung Electronics Singapore.

“Beyond making large screen sizes and premium picture quality more accessible than ever, openness and connectivity are also key for our 2023 range. Consumers can expect a holistic device experience tailored to what they need and want out of their connected home with our SmartThings capabilities,” Koh added.

Samsung 2023 TV Line-up: More Screen Choices for All Homes
At Unbox & Discover 2023, Samsung unveiled TV and AV products designed to deliver premium experiences that address different entertainment needs.

Experience more WOW than ever with Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K TV lineup, with incredible picture quality with an Infinity design making it virtually bezel and border-free for an edge-to-edge 8K picture. With ground-breaking technologies like Auto HDR Remastering and 8K AI upscaling, the QN900C is impressing industry experts and reviewers alike.

Samsung Neo QLED QN900 Neo QLED 8K TV

The QN900C sits at the top of Samsung’s premium Neo QLED 8K lineup, and is a standout model in the premium TV category. Samsung is speaking to its efforts in expanding the 8K ecosystem by working closely with various partners, including the 8K Association, to introduce more ways to enjoy native 8K content. Plus, it offers upgraded sound with Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony 3.0 to further envelope viewers in every single scene.

Alternatively, consumers can choose to opt for Samsung’s Neo QLED 4K lineup, which also offers excellent picture quality, as well as support for 144Hz refresh rate[3] – making it a solid screen choice for users who are seeking an immersive, tabletop screen for fast-action games or content. For consumers who are looking to improve their productivity, the addition of the Samsung SlimFit Cam[4] allows users to easily turn their Neo QLED 4K TVs into a video conferencing facility with Google Meet.

Samsung OLED S95C OLED TV delivers immaculate colour reproduction

For consumers who prefer OLED screens, Samsung’s 2023 Samsung OLED lineup brings immaculate picture quality to homes in a sleek design. To provide consumers with even more viewing options, Samsung’s 2023 OLED lineup is now available in 55-, 65- and the new 77-inch models.

The 2023 Samsung OLED 4K TV portfolio offers immaculate colour accuracy through Neural Quantum Processor 4K’s perceptional colour mapping – making it the “World’s First Pantone-Validated HDR OLED[5]“. Samsung OLED TV boasts true blacks and stunningly natural pictures with perfect contrast and colour expression. The expanded line-up also supports 144Hz refresh rate, making it a solid screen choice for action-packed content.

Samsung OLED TVs also look good for any contemporary home designs. The flagship S95C OLED TV features a sleek design with Samsung’s signature Infinity One design, while the LaserSlim design of the S90C model has a touch of sophisticated metal finish that elevates any home.

Putting Gaming at the Forefront with Unparalleled Gaming Experience
With easier access to screens, more consumers are turning to games to de-stress and relax. According to the recent Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) Gaming Insight Study, majority of Singaporean gamers (55%) are playing and watching gaming content at least once a week. 1 in 10 are hardcore gamers, who play and watch gaming content multiple times a day.

Amongst gamers in Singapore, the TV continues to be a key device to enhance their gaming experience, with 63% of gamers utilising it for gaming purposes. Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K to OLED TVs not only bring video and photo content to life in ultra-high resolution, but also gaming experiences to a next level.

With support of up to 144Hz refresh rate across different screen types and sizes, PC and console gamers will be able to level up the gaming experience in any room at home, giving them boosted performance to never miss a single frame.

In addition to its advanced features for viewing experiences, the 2023 lineup also offers gamer-centric features such as Game Bar, which places gamer controls front and centre and can make all the difference between winning and losing in competitive gameplay.[6] Features such as Mini Map Zoom is a great tool for open world games, while Virtual Aim Point which provides gamers precision for first person shooter games.

Consumers who participate in early order of selected new TV models[7] before 17 April will also have the choice of opting for an Xbox Series S bundle gift to fully enjoy immersive gaming visuals and audio when paired with a Samsung TV.

Complement Screens with Unbeatable Aural Experience
A complete entertainment experience is not only delivered through visuals, but also through audio experiences that bring viewers closer to the action.

Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar will feature Wireless Dolby Atmos Connectivity

For consumers seeking a more complete sound experience, the new flagship Q Series (HW-Q990C) will offer 11.1.4 channels of sound supporting Dolby Atmos. In fact, the soundbar features the world’s first built-in wireless Samsung TV-to-soundbar Dolby Atmos connection. This allows both the screen and the soundbar speakers to produce outstanding audio experiences, without distracting cables.

This year, Samsung’s flagship TV and soundbar offer Sound Remastering, which utilises AI to remaster each sound object to ensure voices are clear, environmental sounds are totally enveloping and that each component is just the right volume. Plus, the new iteration of Q-Symphony provides an evolved paired sound between the TV and soundbar, by way of the soundbar tapping into the TV’s Neural Processing Unit to analyse audio signals and process each sound for more detail.

Putting People and Planet at the Centre of our Innovation
Samsung is also committed to delivering connected tech experiences and eco-conscious practices that make life easier and better for consumers.

To provide increased convenience when setting up their smart homes, Samsung devices are integrated with SmartThings that enables users to easily connect their device in just one step.

In addition, Samsung is putting sustainability first – from product sourcing to production, distribution, use and recycling, utilising various technologies, to create sustainable products that contribute to building a healthier planet for future generations. (Further details on Samsung’s connected and sustainability offering available in the appendix.)

Unbox & Discover at Marina Bay Sands
On 7 and 8 April, consumers can visit the Unbox & Discover event held at Marina Bay Sands’ Digital Light Canvas (located at B2 of The Shoppes) to experience the new TV and sound devices line-up.

During the two-day roadshow, visitors can learn more about the products and how they are perfect for home entertainment and gaming experiences through docent-led tours (daily at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm). Visitors can also win prizes by participating in the 360 Videobooth, or the Xbox Game Challenge: Football Fiesta.

Early Order Promotions
Consumers who participate in the early order for the QN900C, QN90C or S95C from now till 17 April will enjoy the following gifts with purchase, as well as free wall-mounting service[8]:

Model Gifts with Purchase
For 75″ and up HW-Q990C Soundbar (worth $2,899)
For 55″ – 65″ models Choose from

  • Xbox Series S – Gilded Hunter Bundle (worth $469)
  • Ultra Slim Soundbar (worth $1,311)
For 43″ – 50″ models SlimFit Camera (worth $200)

For more information about the 2023 TV and sound devices line-up, please visit www.samsung.com/sg.

APPENDIX : SAMSUNG’S CONNECTED AND SUSTAINABILITY APPROACHES

1 – True, One Samsung Experience
Samsung’s 2023 TVs will be equipped with Smart Hub[9] – the centrepiece of the connected home experience that brings together Entertainment, Ambient options, and SmartThings all in one place. Committed to the need to make smart device connectivity easier and more intuitive, users can connect to and control various SmartThings supported devices and appliances from their 2023 Neo QLED TV[10].

With the SmartThings Zigbee & Matter Thread One-Chip Module built directly into the TVs, there is also no need for users to purchase a separate SmartThings dongle. SmartThings seamlessly syncs and offers easier control of compatible Samsung and third-party appliances and IoT devices, enhancing convenience through connectivity.

2 – Eco-conscious practices that make life easier and better for users
Earlier last year, Samsung announced its new environmental strategy, a comprehensive effort to join global efforts to tackle climate change.

Samsung is leading the way with three innovative approaches to sustainability: Turning carbon dioxide (CO2) into recycled materials, using fewer materials, and upcycling products and packaging.

  • Samsung’s 2023 TVs, monitors, and remote controls use recycled resin made of at least 50% recycled materials.[11]
  • In addition, Samsung has made significant efforts to ensure it is offering sustainable packaging from the box to the wrappers.
  • Samsung has also developed AI Energy Mode that helps users monitor energy consumption and usage patterns, putting them in control of themselves. AI Energy Mode feature even analyses the content playing on the screen to reduce power consumption without distracting one from the content.
  • Samsung’s third generation SolarCell Remote uses fewer materials and is more compact. It is also free of licensing, allowing any manufacturer to join Samsung on the journey in making the world a more eco-conscious place.

[1] Consumer survey conducted in person at the Samsung TV Tech Fair, with 185 respondents from Singapore.

[2] Optimal TV viewing distance demonstration where a 75-inch TV was placed 2.3m away from participants for a viewing experience.

[3] Applicable for 43″ and 50″ QN90C

[4] Accessory sold separately

[5] Pantone is a global authority in colour, providing a standardised system relied on by over 10 million designers and producers worldwide.

[6] Game Bar supports PC & console gaming only.

[7] Early Promo Offer applicable only for QN900C, QN90C, S95C. Terms and conditions apply.

[8] Whilst stock last, terms and conditions apply

[9] Available for Samsung TV models UHD CU7000 and above.

[10] Available for Samsung TV models Q60C and above.

[11] Resin contains a minimum of 50% recycled content. (Environmental Claim Validation Procedure, UL 2809 5th Edition)

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

Vientiane Authorities Alert Vendors to Not Raise Prices During Lao New Year

Vientiane Capital Reiterates Rules To Stop Price Hikes During Lao New Year
People at a local market in Laos. ( Photo ; Khonesavanh.KMV / Shutterstock.com )

With the Lao New Year festival just around the corner, the Department of Industry and Commerce in Vientiane Capital has reminded shopkeepers and stall owners that they must adhere to the rules governing the provision of goods and services during the festival.

ABBANK accelerates banking transformation with Backbase Platform in Vietnam

Backbase’s Engagement Banking Platform powers both retail and business banking

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 6 April 2023 – Backbase, the global leader in Engagement Banking, has partnered An Binh Bank (ABBANK) to transform the banking experiences for millions of Vietnamese customers. Supported by their local partner CMC Technology and Solution, Backbase will deliver the full suite of the Engagement Banking Platform, which encompasses Digital Onboarding, Digital Banking, Digital Assist and Digital Engage. The platform will enable omni-channel banking, increase ease in customer acquisition, retention, cross-sell, hyper-personalization, and improve customer servicing through a 360 degree unified customer view for ABBANK retail banking and business banking lines of business.

ABBANK Backbase CMC Engagement Banking Solution

ABBANK, Backbase & CMC partner to launch digital transformation with Backbase Engagement Banking Solution

ABBANK is a bank with the vision to enable modernizing of customer experiences. ABBANK set a five-year digital transformation strategy in 2021 with the mission to deliver a new level of customer experience in digital channels and to strengthen digital products and services enabled by an advanced digital banking platform. ABBANK also has partnered with McKinsey Vietnam to design a technological architecture and long-term implementation plan.

Le Thi Bich Phuong, CEO, ABBANK said, “Omnichannel banking is not only a trend, but also a necessary service for banks to keep up with the increasingly diverse needs of users, which are rapidly changing along with the progress of technology. In cooperation with experienced partners such as Backbase and CMC in this project, ABBANK expects to optimize the customer’s experience across different customer segments for Corporate and Retail clients, as well as transform the customer’s experience in digital sales across different customer’s touchpoints”

“With the plan to launch Omnichannel Banking, ABBANK’s customers will experience financial services in a seamless, synchronous and transparent manner across all touchpoints. Meanwhile, ABBANK will also be able to strengthen its capability in customer’s data management, operation efficiency resulted in improvement in competitive advantage for ABBANK in the market,” Ms. Phuong elaborated.

ABBANK chose Backbase because of the differentiated value the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform brings. Taking the platform approach unlocks the Bank towards a faster path in establishing fundamentals to creating a unique and customer-centric experience. Backbase’s platform empowers the Bank to own, manage and create accelerated builds upon the platform, which will provide the long-term strategic advantage for the Bank to focus on improving business operation efficiency, time to market, and upskilling employees’ digital development. The Bank’s Transformation and Digital Banking Committee recognized speed to market and scalability are critical to meet the Bank’s vision and transformation goals. The platform is built on microservices and APIs to deliver not only essential but also advanced banking journeys in real-time; the platform is designed to orchestrate the most complex requests into frictionless experiences across digital channels and through the entire customer lifecycle.

“ABBANK has taken the fundamental step to architect omnichannel banking around the needs of their customers by leveraging on the Backbase Engagement Platform to unify data and journeys across different lines of business, channels and banking products,” Riddhi Dutta, Regional Vice President, Asia, Backbase said. “In this region, Vietnam is set to take the lead in digital banking usage for the next 3 years; it is imperative for banks to harness scalable and agile architecture and be empowered to dynamically execute against shifting customer needs while continuing to deliver the highest standard in digital customer experience.”

ABBANK has been working closely with long-time business partner CMC TS, a leading technology solution and service provider to ensure the project’s objectives were achieved within the time and budget allowed. With deep expertise and insights of the banking industry and data and integration solutions, CMC TS has assigned a team of digital banking professionals, project manager, solution architects, application developers and quality assurance manager to support ABBANK in creating a secure and user-friendly digital banking platform.

“We are delighted to partner with ABBANK to accelerate their digital transformation with the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. CMC TS believes that this platform will help ABBANK to improve every aspect of the customer experience,” Nguyen Trung Chinh, CMC Chairman shared.

Accredited as a “Best Place to Work” in Asia by HR Asia, ABBANK is leading the way in upskilling the Vietnamese banking talent pool. In addition to investing in engagement banking, ABBANK organized more than 670 training courses for 88.000 trainees and provided 219.360 training hours in 2022. This project will open up job opportunities and retraining opportunities within ABBANK for talents passionate about the opportunity to reshape the customer banking experience through leveraging the technology in Vietnam.

Hashtag: #engagementbanking #digitalbanking #digitaltransformation #omnichannelbanking #customerexperience #CX #customerengagement

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Backbase

is on a mission to re-architect banking around the customer.

Backbase created the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform – a unified platform with the customer at the center, empowering banks to accelerate their digital transformation. From customer onboarding, to servicing, loyalty, and loan origination, our single platform — open and frictionless, with ready-to-go apps — improves every aspect of the customer experience. Built from the ground up with the customer at the heart, our Engagement Banking Platform easily plugs into existing core banking systems and comes pre-integrated with the latest fintechs so financial institutions can innovate at scale.

Industry analysts Gartner, Omdia, and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership position. Over 150 financials around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. In APAC, the customers we serve include ABBANK, BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, EastWest Bank, HDFC, IDFC First, JudoBank, Techcombank, TPBank, and UBank.

Backbase is a privately funded fintech company, founded in 2003 in Amsterdam (Global HQ), with regional offices in Singapore (APAC HQ), Atlanta (Americas HQ), and operations in Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Latin America, and the UK.

ABBANK

An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ABBANK) was established on May 13, 1993, with a vision to be one of the leading joint stock commercial banks in Vietnam, focusing on retail banking.

Pursuing the strategy associated with stable and efficient business operation with the motto “offering the best services to the highest satisfaction of the customers is the center of all business activities,” during the 30 years of development, ABBANK has always been rated as a prestigious bank, a reliable destination for customers, partners and investors.

ABBANK focuses on improving service quality with the professional, dedicated personnel resource; develops effective, efficient and flexible financial solutions; improvement of physical facilities and expand the network of at transaction points in nationwide. With these efforts bring more added value and experience outstanding financial services to customers.

Not only focusing on sustainable business activities, ABBANK also has made a good impression on a community-friendly and active bank, towards sustainable — long-term development for the whole society through investment activities in education, health, talent promotion and “green living” campaigns are carried out across the country.

CMC Technology and Solution (CMC TS)

CMC TS, founded in 1993, is a leading IT solutions & services provider in Vietnam. CMC TS offers cloud computing and digital transformation solutions, data services, IT system management services and cyber security solutions to public sector, banks, financial institutes and enterprises.

With 1000+ employees and 100+ ecosystem partners, CMC TS enables our customers to harness the power of the technology at scale and transform their businesses. CMC TS also invests in researching and developing new technologies such as cloud, Big Data, AI, IoT…

Blue Cross Launches HomeElite

Coverage for Household Contents up to HK$1,300,000 Incorporating Green Elements and Rewarding BEAM Plus Property with Supermarket e-Cash Coupons

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 April 2023 – Blue Cross (Asia Pacific) Insurance Limited (“Blue Cross”) announces the launch of HomeElite (the “Plan”), which is exclusively distributed by AIA Hong Kong Financial Planners who are registered as Blue Cross’ agents. The Plan provides coverage for household contents up to HK$1,300,000 and public liability up to HK$10,000,000; offering comprehensive home protection solution for residential flats of different sizes, owner-occupied or rented. HomeElite includes specially curated green features, including the provision of Extra Benefit for Green Living, encouraging the usage of energy efficient home appliances, and Solar Energy Generation System Benefit to support the proliferation of renewable energy. The Plan also provide first in market No Claim Benefit Upgrade which increases the initial sum insured by up to 10% at policy renewal. From now until 31 December 2023, if the home insured is in a residential property that holds a valid BEAM Plus* Platinum/Gold rating issued by the Hong Kong Green Building Council, customer will be rewarded with a HK$100 supermarket e-cash coupon.

Apart from household contents and valuables, HomeElite covers personal effects, money or unauthorised use of credit cards, personal documents and accidental damage to mobile phones, tablet computers or laptop computers, etc. Loss of or damage to household contents due to renovation or moving, or household contents stored in a professional storage facility are also covered.

As the general public has become more environmentally conscious, green elements are incorporated into HomeElite. If a customer replaces a household appliance – which is damaged to the extent that it is beyond repair, with a new item which qualifies as a Grade 1 Energy Efficient Product, the Plan will offer an Extra Benefit for Green Living which is equivalent to 10% of such original amount payable. Besides, to encourage the use of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions, Solar Energy Generation System Liability Benefit covers legal liability against accidental death or bodily injury to a third party, or accidental loss of or damage to third party’s property (including house, semi-detached house or village house), arising out of the use of a solar energy generation system installed in the insured premises. The maximum benefit is HK$5,000,000 per accident or per period of insurance.

In view of the ageing building in Hong Kong, the Plan covers building age up to 55 years, thereby providing coverage for a wider group of customers. HomeElite comes in 3 plan levels with premiums based on the size of premises which flexibly fits the needs and budget of Hong Kong families. Optional benefits such as Top-up Cover for Public Liability (Basic Benefits), All-risk Coverage for Building and Additional Valuables benefits are available for customers to choose from.

Ms Bonnie Tse, CEO of Blue Cross, said, “Blue Cross is committed to providing customers with comprehensive protection in all aspects of life. We understand that home is important to everyone, and is the place where it brings endless joy, love and treasured memories. As such, we launch the new HomeElite to help customers protect their most valuable assets in life. The Plan not only provides comprehensive home protection, but also includes extended coverage and additional benefits as well as green elements which are in line with our company’s goal of promoting sustainable development. Customers can add optional benefits for additional protection according to their needs. This product is all-round and flexible that can meet the needs of different families.”

The above product information of HomeElite does not include full version of terms and conditions. Please refer to the policy for detailed terms and conditions. For more details, please visit https://www.bluecross.com.hk/ch/epromotion/AIA_GIProducts/latest or contact AIA Hong Kong Financial Planners who have been registered as Blue Cross’ agents or call 2839 6333.

“AIA Hong Kong & Macau”, “AIA Hong Kong”, “AIA Macau” or “the Company” herein refers to the Hong Kong Branch and/or Macau Branch of AIA International Limited (Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability).

“Hong Kong” and “Macau” herein refer to “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” and “Macao Special Administrative Region”, respectively.

Disclaimers:

  • This press release is for distribution in Hong Kong only. The distribution of this press release is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or a provision of any insurance product outside Hong Kong.
  • Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited is a subsidiary of AIA Group Limited. It is not affiliated with or related in any way to Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association or any of its affiliates or licensees.

Hashtag: #bluecrosshk #homeinsurance #homeelite

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited

Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited (“Blue Cross”) is a subsidiary of AIA Group Limited. With over 50 years of operational experience in the insurance industry, Blue Cross provides a comprehensive range of products and services including medical, travel and general insurance, which cater to the needs of both individual and corporate customers. Blue Cross distributes its products through various channels, including AIA agency force, online platform, direct sales, BEA network, insurance agents and brokers, as well as travel agencies.

In 2023, Blue Cross is assigned a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a+” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, a global full-service credit rating firm specialising in the financial service industry. For the latest rating, please access .

Health Officials Issue Heatwave Warning in Thailand

Summertime in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: Bangkok Post).

Health authorities in Thailand have issued a warning regarding the heatwave sweeping the country this week leading to maximum temperatures as high as 50 degrees.