The new Lao minister of Natural Resources and Environment has assured the head of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat of her country cooperation and support to this intergovernmental organization.
That Luang Lake Market Becomes Shopping Hotspot
The recently opened That Luang Lake Market, also known as Beung That Luang Market, has become a shopping hotspot overnight after the closure of other markets around Vientiane Capital.
Han Ji-hyun Of SBD Entertainment, Wholly-Owned by Spackman Entertainment Group’s Associated Company, Spackman Media Group, Stars in Popular K-Drama, THE PENTHOUSE 3: WAR IN LIFE
- Han Ji-hyun of SBD Entertainment continues to star in the third season of SBS K-drama PENTHOUSE which premiered on 4 June 2021
- Previously, Han Ji-hyun won the Best Rookie Female Actor in the 2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards in Korea in April 2021
- Han Ji-hyun endorsed Shiseido Professional last month and was featured in W Korea Magazine for Gucci
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 7 June 2021 – 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 Han Ji-hyun, currently one of Korea’s rapidly-rising young actors, of SBD Entertainment Inc. (“SBD Entertainment“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited, stars in SBS drama, THE PENTHOUSE 3: WAR IN LIFE which premiered on 4 June 2021.
In April this year, Han Ji-hyun was awarded the Best Rookie Female Actor in the 2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards in Korea. She was also featured in W Korea magazine for luxury fashion brand Gucci.
Last month, she was pictured in fashion magazine Marie Claire’s beauty makeup pictorial and was selected as a model for premium hair care brand, Shiseido Professional.
Other than Han Ji-hyun, SBD Entertainment also represents Son Suk-ku who shall be starring in OTT media service Watcha’s original content, UNFRAMED PROJECT.
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, 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. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release GUARDIAN (working title) in 2021 tentatively.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) 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. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.
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.
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. (Son Suk-ku), and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. 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 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).
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/
#SpackmanEntertainmentGroup
Laos Confirms Five New Cases of Covid-19 as Downward Trend Continues
Laos has confirmed five new cases of Covid-19 as the week begins.
HDBank to pay 25 per cent dividend in shares, Moody’s raises credit rating for the bank to positive outlook
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 7 June 2021 – The Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HoSE: HDBank) has announced plans to increase its charter capital to more than VND20.273 trillion (US$879.48 million) by paying dividends for 2020 in shares and an employee stock option plan.
According to information published by the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange on June 4, the HDBank board of directors approved the plan to hike the charter capital in 2021 as approved at the bank’s annual general meeting in April.
The Bank will increase its charter capital by VND3.984 trillion ($172.83 million) by issuing more than 398 million shares as dividends for 2020 at a rate of 25 per cent from undistributed profits.
The lender will also issue 20 million shares to employees (ESOP).
The HDB share closed on June 3 at VND35,800 with a lot of foreign buying.
In the first quarter HDBank reported a pre-tax profit of more than VND 2.1 trillion ($91.1 million), an increase of 68 per cent year-on-year, with income from services up by more than 98 per cent.
HDBank’s return on equity and return on assets increased strongly to 26.3 per cent and 2.1 per cent, its capital adequacy ratio (based on Basel II standards) was over 12 per cent while its standalone bad debts ratio was only 1.1 per cent.
The Bank is considered to have high growth potential, with great potential in bancassurance, consumer finance, credit cards and services . HDBank is one of the few banks that not to have signed an exclusive distribution agreement with any life insurance company, and is currently the focus of intense attention of many major players.
International credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service recently upgraded HDBank’s outlook from “stable” to “positive”. The positive outlook reflects Moody’s view that improvements in asset quality over recent years, which could translate into lower credit costs and higher profitability, could raise the Bank’s Baseline Credit Assessments over the next 12 – 18 months.
#HDBank
True Colors Fashion: The Future is Now!
Showcasing Adaptive Fashion and Tech Wearables
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 7 June 2021 – The Future is Now! unites some of the world’s leading tech companies and fashion brands with a diverse cast of models to present innovative creations. This video series – which includes an atmospheric pre-recorded runway show & revelatory conversations between cast members – now on the True Colors Festival YouTube Channel, captures human creativity at its best, and the endless possibilities that technology offers.
Meet an ALS creator who makes art with eye movement input, see hearing aids worn as fashion, prosthetic blades for children, discover an ingeniously designed trench coat…and more.
Participating models include Masatane Muto, a DJ with ALS who plays music with his eyes; Pippi, a deaf model who has graced ad campaigns and fashion runways; Hirotada Ototake, bestselling author of the memoir “No One’s Perfect” about his life without limbs; and Fumiya Hamanoue, a visually impaired Paralympic climber.
Collaborating brands include Xiborg Inc. and SONY Computer Science Laboratory, both specialists in prosthetics enhanced with robotics; ONTENNA, which converts sound information into light and vibration; Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive, the first major label to launch a full-fledged adaptive line; and KANSAI YAMAMOTO, the fashion house that has dressed luminaries like David Bowie.
The Future is Now! is the third part of the True Colors Fashion series produced by Kao Kanamori. The first two parts were launched in March this year: Clothes in Conversation, a documentary available to watch on YouTube and a photo exhibition at the annual Shibuya Fashion Week.
Supported by Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture and Aputure. Co-presented by DRIFTERS INTERNATIONAL.
Visit: True Colors Festival website
#TrueColorsFestival
Shopmatic waives hosting fees for 90 days to support small businesses
Shopmatic encourages small businesses and entrepreneurs to go online with its ‘Inspiring Entrepreneurship Programme’, offering no hosting fees for 90 days between 3rd June and 31st August 2021.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 7 June 2021 – International e-commerce enabler Shopmatic has been unlocking online business success for SMBs and individual entrepreneurs since its inception. In its latest drive to help businesses go online, Shopmatic is offering zero hosting charges to anyone signing up between 3rd June and 31st August 2021.
As part of its ‘Inspiring Entrepreneurship Programme’ merchants will be able to use the entire Shopmatic platform for setting up their ecommerce presence without paying any sign-up charges; all they will pay is a nominal fee of 3% per transaction whenever they make a sale. This step is being taken to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to take their business online, especially in these trying times.
For 90 days from the time they sign up, business owners will be able to access Shopmatic’s vast range of tech-led features to help them grow their business while paying only 3% on each successful transaction.
Shopmatic is the only ecommerce platform to offer 4 different ways for merchants to go online. During the promotional period, merchants can choose to set up their online presence from any of the 4 options available- Shopmatic Webstore, Shopmatic Chat, Shopmatic Social or Shopmatic Marketplaces,
Speaking on the initiative, Anurag Avula, CEO & Co-Founder, Shopmatic, said, “In our continued effort to support businesses to start selling online in the current challenging environment, we’re making it even easier for businesses to get online by removing the monthly hosting fee for the next 90 days.
We encourage SMEs and individual entrepreneurs in our markets to sign-up on the platform with no hosting fees and leverage the Shopmatic platform to drive their online success.”
Through the ‘Inspiring Entrepreneurship Programme’, Shopmatic is extending its platform to a larger group of aspiring entrepreneurs during a decidedly challenging time. The platform has been leaving no stone unturned in fulfilling the desire of its customers to succeed in the online ecosystem.
You will recall that in May 2020, Shopmatic expanded its offerings to create tailored solutions for Singapore’s Grocery stores, enabling them to create an online presence with pre-developed catalogs and more. This enabled small business owners to create web-stores easily without the need for technical know-how, or design experience. The platform also offered easy inventory management, secure and instant online payments, contactless delivery, and self-pickup options.
Earlier this year, Shopmatic went a step ahead to help not only incubate but manage and fund some merchants impacted by COVID, to go online.
“We are helping businesses to sell on marketplaces and brick and mortar retailers to sell online by creating fully fledged ecommerce stores for their businesses. For these businesses, Shopmatic is setting up their ecommerce stores, and managing all elements of the e-commerce value chain for them to be online-ready; these include Search Engine Optimization, creating their social presence across Facebook and Instagram, setting up Google Analytics etc and integrating multiple payment & shipping options. This initiative has helped many businesses during this challenging time by creating an alternate revenue stream. The business categories supported in this initiative include packaged F&B, Groceries, Fashion, Toys, Sportswear, Cosmetics, Jewellery and Organic Products,” added Mr. Avula.
A consummate enabler of online business, Shopmatic delivers on its brand promise ‘anyone can sell online’ with its current Programme. It is indeed making it very easy for all kinds of businesses to go online, and is inviting social sellers, chat sellers, marketplace sellers, entrepreneurs, homepreneurs, businesses with brick and mortar stores, and literally anyone, to create their much-needed ecommerce presence on the robust Shopmatic platform.
About Shopmatic
Founded in December 2014, Shopmatic has been driving game-changing strategies in the ecommerce space and has engineered itself to stay focused on helping its customers succeed.
With its acquisitions of CombineSell and Octopus in 2019, Shopmatic is driving an omnichannel play for individual entrepreneurs and businesses in emerging markets, by enabling the entire ecommerce-&-retail-management ecosystems for them to succeed.
From a domain name to easy integrations with domestic and international payment gateways and shipping partners, to getting discovered via a unique, curated platform- Shopmatic World & multiple marketplaces, to POS, Inventory Management and CRM solutions, Shopmatic helps business owners manage the full spectrum of what is required to grow their business.
Shopmatic is headquartered in Singapore with a presence in India, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Philippines and UAE. The company is quickly expanding to the rest of South-East Asia, this year.
Shopmatic has raised 20 M SGD from its incorporation till date with August One, SEEDS Capital and a consortium of investors.
For more information on the Shopmatic Group, please visit www.goshopmatic.com or contact media@goshopmatic.com
#Shopmatic
Pfizer Jabs Set to Begin Next Week in Vientiane
Laos is to roll out its Pfizer vaccinations to the elderly and those with underlying conditions in Vientiane next week.