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SMA Solar Technology AG: Managing Board raises earnings forecast for current fiscal year

NIESTETAL, GERMANY – EQS Newswire – 27 October 2022 – The Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) has raised its earnings forecast for the fiscal year 2022. The new forecast predicts operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of €60 million to €75 million (previously: €10 million to €60 million). As reasons for raising the forecast, the Managing Board cites the continued high level of incoming orders and a gradually improving supply of electronic components, which should lead to a business performance in the fourth quarter that exceeds previous expectations. In addition, a special effect in the lower double-digit million euro range from the sale of real estate had a positive impact on the earnings of SMA in the third quarter. For the operating earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), the Managing Board expects a range of €22 million to €37 million (previously: €–30 million to €20 million). Net cash is expected to amount to around 190 million euros at the end of the year according to the new Managing Board forecast (previously: around €175 million). Sales expectations in the current fiscal year were narrowed by the SMA Managing Board to between €975 million and €1,050 million (previously: €900 million to €1,050 million).

Hashtag: #SMASolarTechnology

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

About SMA

As a leading global specialist in photovoltaic and storage system technology, the SMA Group is setting the standards today for the decentralized and renewable energy supply of tomorrow. SMA’s portfolio contains a wide range of efficient PV and battery inverters, holistic system solutions for PV and battery-storage systems of all power classes, intelligent energy management systems and charging solutions for electric vehicles and power-to-gas applications. Digital energy services as well as extensive services up to and including operation and maintenance services for PV power plants round off SMA’s range. SMA inverters with a total output of around 120 gigawatts have been installed in more than 190 countries worldwide. SMA’s multi-award-winning technology is protected by more than 1,700 patents and utility models. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and is listed in the TecDAX index and SDAX index.

Revenue and Net Profit of Oi Wah rise 7.6% and 17.3% respectively in FP2023  Actively Expand the Branch Network and Integrate with Fintech

Financial Highlights

For the six months ended 31 Aug

HK$’000

2022

2021

Change

Revenue

81,991

76,201

+7.6%

Profit before taxation

52,684

44,807

+17.6%

Profit for the period attributable to shareholders

44,120

37,611

+17.3%

Net interest margin

15.6%

14.8%

+0.8 p.p.

Basic earnings per share (HK cents)

2.3

1.9

+21.1%

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 October 2022 – The board of directors of Oi Wah Pawnshop Credit Holdings Limited (HKEx stock code: 1319.HK, the “Group” or “Oi Wah”) announced its interim results and its financial position. For the six months ended 31 August 2022 (“FP2023”), the Group recorded revenue of approximately HK$82.0 million and profit attributable to shareholders of the Company of approximately HK$44.1 million. During the period, net interest margin improved by 0.8 percentage point to 15.6%.

During the period, earnings per share was HK 2.3 cents. The Board of Directors recommends an interim dividend of HK 0.92 cents.

Business Review

Mortgage loan business

In FP2023, the interest income of the mortgage loan business of the Group increased by 5.8% to approximately HK$45.3 million, which accounted for approximately 55.3% of the Group’s total revenue. As at 31 August 2022, the gross mortgage loan receivable was approximately HK$836.7 million and during the period, the total new mortgage loans granted amounted to approximately HK$375.0 million. The net interest margin of the mortgage loan business increased by 0.8 percentage point to 10.6% and there were 54 new cases of mortgage loan transactions in FP2023.

The Group continued to keep a close eye on the performance of its loan portfolio, especially in respect to the repayment status of existing customers. As a result, there was no bad debt recorded during the period. In FP2023, the loan-to-value ratio for first mortgage was approximately 53.7%, while the overall loan-to-value ratio for subordinate mortgage was approximately 51.7%, of which, loan-to-value ratio of subordinate mortgage that the Group participated in was approximately 5.1%.

Pawn Loan Business

In FP2023, the interest income generated from the pawn loan business increased by 19.7% to approximately HK$34.6 million. It is mainly attributable to the prevailing trend in investing luxury goods, which promoted the relevant re-financing needs. However, due to the price fluctuation of second-hand luxury market, the Group recorded gain from disposal on repossessed assets of approximately HK$2.1 million, representing a decrease of 53.3%. During the period, the Group continued to channel resources to advertising and promotion in order to enhance the brand exposure. Such effort has generated demand of one-to-one pawn loan appointment services for pawn loans of loan size exceeding HK$0.1 million. Number of pawn loan transactions with such amount granted increased by 130 transactions to 357 transactions in FP2023 and average loan amount increased to approximately HK$15,000 per transaction.

In September 2022, the Group successfully acquired approximately HK$8.0 million pawn loan receivables (principal amount) and opened a new pawnshop in Tuen Mun. Together with this new pawnshop, the Group is currently operating a total of 11 pawnshops. In addition, the Group continued to develop its mobile app that enables customers to obtain pawn loans easily. The app is expected to help promote the Group’s pawn loan business at a lower promotional cost.

Prospects

With the pandemic situation continue to be more stable, the Hong Kong government has eased travel restrictions to “0+3” quarantine-free medical surveillance. However, the market still remains conservative and the management expect the economic activities in Hong Kong will be steady strides along the path to normalcy if and only if all travel restrictions are lifted entirely. The Board is of the view that the reopen of Hong Kong and Mainland China border and an eventual economic recovery in the Mainland China could become a new tailwind of local economy. At the same time, the rising interest rates enable the Group to improve its net interest margin and overall profitability. Before that, the Group will continue to remain prudent when granting loans and closely monitor the credit risk of its loan portfolio and wait for market recovery.

In view of the rising loan demand, the Group is actively exploring to expand its branch network to more convenient locations (such as MTR stations) and serve as premium service centres for both pawn loan and mortgage loan. The Group plans to integrate with fintech and is currently developing a mobile APP that enable customers to make online appointments, get a quote of collateral evaluation and apply for pawn loan, etc.

Mr. Edward Chan, Chairman and CEO of the Company, said, “Although economic activities are gradually resuming with the stabilization of the pandemic, the Group remains prudent in exploring and seizing new business opportunities while continuing to strike a balance between business growth and risk management. Looking forward, we hope to maximize return for shareholders and to further create value for them in the long run.”

Hashtag: #OiWahPawnshop

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

About Oi Wah Pawnshop Credit Holdings Limited

Oi Wah is a financing service provider in Hong Kong, mainly providing short-term secured financing, including pawn loans and mortgage loans. The Group established its first pawnshop in 1975 and currently owns 11 pawnshops in various locations in Hong Kong. Oi Wah diversified into mortgage loan business in 2009. The Group is the first local pawn shop which successfully listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 12 March 2013.

TRON Founder Justin Sun Gives a Speech at BWB 2022: Blockchain Is the Foundation for Future Digital Cities

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Media OutReach – 27 October 2022 – On October 27, TRON founder Justin Sun virtually attended Blockchain Week in Busan 2022, or BWB 2022, and gave a speech themed “The Cities of Tomorrow”. “Blocks will build the foundation for future digital cities, and the economy will be decentralized and digital in the future,” said he, “With over 117 million users, TRON is pioneering the decentralized future economy and will further unleash the potential of digital economy by devising and taking more decentralized measures such as dApps. We hope to build thriving digital cities in this way.”

Justin-Sun-1-.jpeg

Sun proceeded to comment that the mass adoption of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency will effectively facilitate the development of digital cities and offer innovative solutions to concerns troubling cities today, such as cybersecurity threats, inefficient technology, inadequate energy, infrastructure maintenance, affordable housing, and accessible education.

“Mass adoption is upon us. This event’s host, Busan of South Korea, is leading the way. They aim to boost their economy with the integration of cryptocurrencies, enhance their governmental systems with blockchain technology, and secure their digital future with Metaverse development.”

As a representative from the blockchain world, Sun has been committed to contributing to global sustainable development with blockchain technology. He emphasized in his speech the future trend of a compliant, inclusive, and green digital world, and his TRON, one of the top three public chains in the world, has been striving for such a vision and made tangible progress.

TRON and its cryptos have achieved compliance in multiple countries. Its VanEck TRON ETN (VTRX) was listed on Deutsche Börse’s digital platform Xetra and subsequently accepted by 14 European countries, including the UK and the Netherlands, for trading. Moreover, TRON was recently appointed the Caribbean island country Domonica’s designated national blockchain infrastructure. The seven cryptos under TRON were granted legal tender status and became the country’s authorized digital currency.

TRON also engages in international multilateral cooperation, where it joins hands with top-notch platforms and institutions for better industry development and inclusive finance across the globe. In the meantime, Sun has been promoting, by leveraging his position as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the WTO, the utilization of blockchain technologies in international trade. As of now, TRON’s native token TRX has been circulating on exchanges and platforms in Europe, North America, and Asia, reaching industries and users across the globe by enhancing its international presence and compliance.

TRON’s endeavor in ecological conservation is acknowledged by the world-renowned Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute (CCRI), which has rated it as one of the most eco-friendly blockchains. As per CCRI, TRON’s DPoS consensus algorithm helps the platform to reduce its carbon footprint, and its yearly energy consumption is 99.9% less than the power consumed by Bitcoin.

Sun is convinced that sustainable development is irresistible and will ultimately prevail in the global society and that blockchains will underpin a better and more efficient world.

On top of that, Justin Sun, as a member of the Global Advisory Board of Huobi Global, delivered opening remarks via video for BWB 2022’s Huobi session. “Even though the market has been bearish for crypto this year, blockchain technology still holds great possibilities,” Sun stated in his speech, “Thanks to the hard work of crypto enthusiasts, the value of blockchain has been seen by more people in the past years, and the industry is destined for a brighter future.” He also said South Korea is one of the most crypto-active countries and hoped that the unfolding BWB 2022 could engage more developers and innovative projects, making a difference in the blockchain world.

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BWB 2022, sponsored by Huobi Global with other crypto organizations, is the first blockchain conference in South Korea that Huobi Global has attended since the acquisition. In mid-October, Sun was appointed as a member of the Global Advisory Board of Huobi Global and has since been working with his peers on industry development, academic research, and compliance to help guide and grow the organization. By enhancing cross-institutional collaboration, Huobi is poised to win the acknowledgment of more users with a better brand image and sharpened competitiveness, forging towards new milestones.

BWB 2022 was hosted by the Busan government and co-sponsored by Huobi, Binance, and FTX. The event was held from October 27 to 29 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO). Justin Sun, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Sam Bankman-Fried, and other crypto leaders attended this event and discussed Blockchain, City and Life.

Hashtag: #TRONDAO

De Beers’ Global Ambassador Lupita Nyong’o Shines In De Beers Jewellers At The World Premiere Of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, US – Media OutReach – 27 October 2022 – De Beers’ global ambassador, Actress Lupita Nyong’o, shines in natural diamond designs from De Beers Jewellers at the world premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever held at the Dolby Theatre.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

Earlier this week De Beers was proud to announce Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o as its very first global ambassador featured in the brand’s latest campaign, De Beers: Where It Begins, which tells the story of the only global diamond luxury brand that starts at the source. In addition to starring in the campaign, Lupita will support De Beers’ Building Forever commitment which aims to advance women and girls in the countries its diamonds are unearthed. De Beers will work with Nyong’o to engage 10,000 girls in STEM and support 10,000 women entrepreneurs and will invest $10 million across southern Africa to achieve these goals by 2030.

Hashtag: #DeBeers #lupitanyongo #buildingforever #diamonds #naturaldiamonds

About De Beers Jewellers

Founded in London, with a flagship store on Old Bond Street and a presence in the most exclusive locations around the world, De Beers Jewellers is the pinnacle of luxury diamond jewellery. Building on De Beers’ 130 years of expertise, the House glorifies the world’s most beautiful diamonds through creativity and craftsmanship in bold, distinctive designs.

De Beers is invested in ensuring all the diamonds it discovers create a lasting positive impact for people and the places where they are found. This comes with a pledge to build a better future – one that is fairer, safer, cleaner and healthier, in which communities thrive, ethical practices are maintained, and the natural environment is protected. We call this long-term commitment Building Forever.

De Beers Jewellers has 31 stores globally and ships to 15 markets via .

FB: @DeBeers
IG: @debeersofficial

Top 5 Places to Visit in Quang Nam, Vietnam

Vietnam is often hailed by many as Southeast Asia’s next ‘it’ tourist destination. It was recently recommended as one of the Top places to visit in January 2023 by the prestigious Wanderlust magazine. Replete with natural beauty, rich culture, and history, Vietnam also has bustling metropolises like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City which have good flight connectivity to major cities in the world.

Thai Businessman in Possession of Child Pornography Arrested in Udon Thani

Photo credit: Khaosod English

An infamous Thai businessman was arrested on Wednesday for possession of child pornography and shooting explicit content featuring minors.

National Geographic Lists Laos as Breathtaking Travel Destination for 2023

The tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos
Hot air balloons above the scenic Nam Song River in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos.

National Geographic, one of the most widely-read and respected magazines in the world, has selected Laos as one of the 25 most breathtaking places one should visit in 2023.

Taiwan Creative Content Fest 2022 Boosts International Co-production in Asia

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 27 October 2022 – Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) held a press conference today (October 27) to announce that the third edition of Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) will take place at Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park on November 3-13. Reflecting the momentum of Taiwan’s creative content industries, the 2022 TCCF will expand from 5 to 11 days of online and offline events comprising four programs: PITCHING, MARKET, INNOVATIONS, and FORUM.

2022-TCCF.jpg

Asias Key Content Marketplace

Promoted as “Your Best Partner in Asia”, TCCF is a key B2B content marketplace that draws international professionals to Taiwan to promote creative content, connecting projects and proposals with buyers and investors. Through pitching sessions, content showcases, and forums, TCCF aims to drive collaboration between homegrown and foreign talents.

In the press conference, TAICCA’s CEO Izero Lee shared this year’s TCCF objectives: strengthening international connections, introducing multichannel resources, and promoting interdisciplinary co-creation. “Following the rise of streaming platforms and the post-epidemic industry reshuffle, the cultural content industry needs to explore new international sales channels.” he said. “TCCF will take responsibility for promoting Taiwan’s cultural content industry.”

PITCHING

The PITCHING program focuses on projects still in early development phases. Through pitching sessions organized by format and genre, this segment creates a streamlined pathway for Taiwan’s creators and producers to seek funding from potential buyers and partners, accelerating the transition of title or story into fully fledged product. For international visitors, PITCHING sheds light on Taiwan’s abundance of high-quality, creative content and frames Taiwan as the go-to source for original content in Asia. The sessions focus on 42 Taiwanese series, feature films, animations, and Taipei Golden Horse Film Project Promotion Series Projects.

MARKET

MARKET consists of in-person and online trade exhibitions and invites more than 130 domestic and foreign companies from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc., to exhibit nearly 800 titles. Spanning film & TV, publishing, comics, gaming, performing arts, and other industries, MARKET illuminates the best Taiwanese content of the year and drives business collaboration through title readings, film test screenings, and one-on-one matchmaking sessions. As Taiwan’s borders have now opened, TCCF has attracted several international companies to attend MARKET in person, including exhibitors like Japan’s TV Tokyo, CJ ENM Korea, and Singapore’s Mediacorp, and buyers such as Netflix and The Walt Disney Company. For virtual attendees, TAICCA’s IP Meetup platform encourages users to exhibit titles online in search of local and foreign distributors, funding, or buyers.

INNOVATIONS

Open to the public, INNOVATIONS gives insight into the future of entertainment by showcasing forward-looking content and works that span multiple disciplines. It features an exhibition on immersive contents and works combining culture and technology usage, a ‘Stereo’ interdisciplinary stage exploring the future of the music industry, and a series of ‘Salons’ or short lectures.

The exhibition contains 19 works that use new technology in an interdisciplinary approach, creating an immersive experience while delving into the potential of the Metaverse. Exhibits include director Singing Chen’s VR film: “The Man Who Couldn’t Leave” which won the Best Experience Award at the 2022 Venice Immersive Competition, and “Yoshitaka Amano’s VR Museum”– which boasts the largest official exhibition of works by the influential Japanese visual artist. More than 40 artists will perform onstage for Stereo, while Salon features nearly 40 short talks that explore contemporary and future entertainment in a relaxed, interactive format.

FORUM

FORUM consists of ‘Industry Talk’ and ‘Spotlight’ and invites film and TV professionals from home and abroad to discuss topics like trends in international film and TV co-production. Industry Talk is open to the public and involves ten sessions with companies and organizations like Taiwan’s largest telecommunications company Chunghwa Telecom and production company Korean entertainment studio Bound Entertainment. Spotlight is a new addition to TCCF and is open to professionals only. Its purpose is to let TAICCA’s partners share perspectives on content trends in global audiences.

Among those speaking are Mediacorp’s executive producer of Chinese drama productions, Loh Woon Woon, and TCCF partner Series Mania– Europe’s biggest event dedicated to TV series. This year, Series Mania invites a selection of top international executives to talk about opportunities for collaboration. They will also select one Taiwanese project from the PITCHING segment to enter into their 2023 program.

Hashtag: #TaiwanCreativeContentAgency

About TCCF

TCCF is a key content marketplace in Asia, gathering selected entertainment content from Taiwan, and bringing buyers and professionals from all over the world to Taipei in November. TCCF offers diverse events like pitching sessions, content and music showcases, forum panels, and immersive experiences to connect you with promising stories, fundings, and global partners. Come and meet your future business partner at TCCF!