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Manhattan Associates Transforms Enterprise Selling with Enterprise Promise & Fulfill™

New B2B sales and fulfilment solution adds new selling and fulfilment capabilities to existing ERP environments, elevating sales revenues, improving inventory accuracy and performance, and enhancing customer experiences

SYDNEY, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH), the global leader in supply chain commerce solutions, today announced the launch of Enterprise Promise & Fulfill™, a breakthrough cloud-native solution that transforms traditional order management by augmenting existing ERP systems with advanced capabilities to maximise inventory visibility, intelligent order promising, and fulfilment optimisation. Focusing on enhancing a customer’s existing ERP landscape, this solution is positioned to solve a number of fundamental challenges experienced by today’s B2B sellers.

Photo credit: Manhattan Associates
Photo credit: Manhattan Associates

As the expectations of enterprise buyers continue to shift toward consumer-like experiences, traditional ERP order management systems have struggled to keep up. Most were designed for financial transactions, not the dynamic, inventory-intensive demands of today’s supply chains. Enterprise Promise & Fulfill empowers manufacturers, global brand owners, wholesalers, and distributors to elevate their fulfilment performance, drive revenue, and improve customer satisfaction—without costly ERP overhauls.

“Enterprise Promise & Fulfill is purpose-built to meet the growing demand for smarter, faster, and more transparent B2B fulfilment,” said Amy Tennent, senior director of Product Management at Manhattan Associates. “Enterprise buyers today expect the same real-time visibility, flexibility, and control as consumers. This solution closes that gap, driving sales, delivering modern fulfilment intelligence, and operational excellence and agility in close coordination with existing ERP’s.”

Enterprise Promise & Fulfill addresses the most pressing challenges enterprise merchants face, including limited inventory visibility, manual exception handling, inaccurate promising, fragmented order orchestration, and increasing fulfilment costs. It unlocks three critical business outcomes:

  • Elevate Sales Revenue – surface more sellable inventory and enable confident delivery commitments at the point of purchase.
  • Expand Operational Excellence – provide advanced order routing, consolidation, and automated exception management to cut shipping costs and reduce manual labor.
  • Enhance Buyer Experiences – enable personalised fulfilment options, transparent order tracking, and buyer-controlled delivery adjustments.

The solution’s cloud-native, microservices architecture ensures rapid scalability and seamless integration with existing ERP, WMS, TMS, and eCommerce platforms. Its flexible deployment model allows organisations to add modern capabilities without disrupting core systems, making it especially valuable for multi-ERP or legacy ERP environments.

Because Enterprise Promise and Fulfill is built on the Manhattan Active Platform, it works seamlessly with other Manhattan Active applications, including Manhattan Active Warehouse Management, Transportation Management, and Supply Chain Planning.

Now available globally, Enterprise Promise & Fulfill from Manhattan empowers merchants to meet the moment and exceed customer expectations, reinforcing Manhattan’s commitment to innovation and leadership in unified supply chain commerce.

Receive up-to-date product, customer and partner news directly from Manhattan on LinkedIn.

ABOUT MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES:
Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader in supply chain and omnichannel commerce. We unite information across the enterprise, converging front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. Our software, platform technology and unmatched experience help drive both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability for our customers. 

Manhattan Associates designs, builds and delivers leading edge cloud solutions so that across the store, through your network or from your fulfillment center, you are ready to reap the rewards of the omnichannel marketplace. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.

 

Vietnam Abolishes Two-Child Policy Amid Declining Birth Rate

A family rides a motorcycle along a street in Hanoi on June 4, 2025. Vietnam has scrapped a long-standing policy of limiting families to two children, state media said on June 4, as the communist-run country contends with a declining birth rate. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

Vietnam has officially ended its long-standing two-child policy as the country grapples with a falling birth rate and a rapidly ageing population.

On 3 June, the National Assembly Standing Committee approved a new regulation allowing all couples to freely decide when to have children, how many to have, and how far apart to space them, according to state-run Vietnam News Agency.

The decision marks the end of a population control policy that had been in place since 1988. 

That law limited most families to one or two children, although special cases were exempt. 

In practice, it was loosely enforced for the general public, but Communist Party members could face official warnings, pay cuts, or even dismissal for violating it.

The change comes at a critical time. Vietnam’s fertility rate dropped to 1.91 children per woman in December 2024, the lowest on record, and has remained below the replacement level of 2.1 for three consecutive years. 

A population needs a replacement-level fertility rate to maintain long-term stability without relying on immigration.

The Ministry of Health proposed lifting the restriction in 2024 in response to shifting demographics. 

The United Nations Population Fund has warned that Vietnam is moving from an “ageing” to an “aged” population within just two decades, a transition that took far longer in many developed countries.

The end of the two-child rule is part of Vietnam’s broader efforts to respond to the long-term implications of a shrinking, older population, state media says. These include potential labor shortages, reduced economic productivity, and growing pressure on pension and healthcare systems.

Techcombank Expands Overseas Talent Roadshow 2025 to Europe Following U.S. Success


HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 June 2025 – After a successful launch in Los Angeles, Techcombank and ecosystem—One Mount and Masterise Group—are bringing the Overseas Talent Roadshow 2025 to Europe, with the next stop set for Paris on July 4–5.

The Overseas Talent Roadshow attracted nearly 1,000 Vietnamese professionals in various majors.
The Overseas Talent Roadshow attracted nearly 1,000 Vietnamese professionals in various majors.

Los Angeles: A Kick-Off with Over 1,000 Talents Engaged

The Los Angeles event attracted nearly 1,000 Vietnamese professionals working in technology, data, finance, and management. Held in one of the U.S.’s most dynamic innovation hubs, the roadshow marked a bold step in Techcombank’s mission to reverse the brain drain and inspire global Vietnamese talent to contribute to Vietnam’s transformation.

Attended by Techcombank CEO Jens Lottner and senior leaders, the event featured a strategic dialogue on Vietnam’s economic outlook and the evolving role of the bank’s ecosystem in shaping new career pathways beyond traditional banking.

“It felt less like a recruitment session and more like a shared vision in motion—transparent, engaging, and backed by leadership commitment,” said Khoa Nguyen, a participant at the LA event.

Ahead of the event, Techcombank hosted a virtual Techcombank Info Day featuring returnee employees, offering firsthand perspectives on career development, reintegration, and working culture in Vietnam.

Now, the bank sets its sights on Europe, engaging high-caliber Vietnamese professionals, especially in finance, insurance, data, and tech. The Paris edition aims to spark not only career opportunities but also the spirit of homecoming and contribution.

A Long-Term Vision from a Leading Organization

Since 2022, Techcombank has spearheaded international talent campaigns in key markets such as Singapore, the UK, the U.S., and Australia. Each year, the program has expanded in scope and depth, seeking professionals with a “breakthrough DNA”—those who think big, act boldly, and are ready to grow with their organization and homeland.

With over 13,000 employees, a fully Agile environment, and robust learning programs like TechcomPACE, LEAP, and LinkedIn Learning, the bank has been named Vietnam’s Best Workplace and a Top 9 Best Workplace in Asia 2024 (Great Place to Work®).

Event Info
Techcombank Overseas Talent Roadshow 2025
Date: 28 June (Virtual), July 4–5, 2025 (Networking & 1:1 Career Discussion)
Location: Paris, France
Register: techcombankjobs.com/overseas-roadshow-2025
Hashtag: #Techcombank

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

Kiwa PVEL Releases 11th Edition of the PV Module Reliability Scorecard

The total number of Top Performers remains steady, but failures have increased

NAPA, Calif., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kiwa PVEL, the independent lab for quality and reliability testing of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, today announced the publication of its 11th annual PV Module Reliability Scorecard. This digital resource provides solar industry stakeholders with testing insights gained from Kiwa PVEL’s flagship Product Qualification Program (PQP). The PQP is a comprehensive suite of extended reliability and performance tests that evaluate solar modules under a wide range of environmental and mechanical conditions—including the effects of extreme temperatures and high humidity, as well as the impacts of mechanical stress, hail and ultraviolet light.

In the 11th edition, Kiwa PVEL names a total of 50 manufacturers as “Top Performers” in one or more of the tests, with nine manufacturers named as Top Performers with at least one model type listed in each of the seven test categories.

Other Key Highlights from the 2025 Scorecard include:

  • Only 21 model types achieved Top Performer status in all reliability tests (TC, DH, MSS, HSS, PID and LID+LETID), and of those, only three models were also Top Performers in PAN.
  • There are mixed results across PQP tests, with some improving and others trending down. The PID and PAN results improved, but the module breakage rate for MSS and HSS has increased. Likewise, UVID results are starting to improve, but are still a source of concern for some.
  • 83% of module manufacturers had at least one test failure, up from 66% reported in the 2024 Scorecard, which at the time was the highest percentage ever reported.

“The rapid pace of innovation in the PV module landscape is encouraging, and it’s great to see more products achieving Top Performer status,” said Tristan Erion-Lorico, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Kiwa PVEL. “However, we continue to caution buyers not to assume all modules are created equal. Our testing continues to uncover significant variability in performance and long-term reliability. The Scorecard remains an essential tool for navigating these differences, helping procurement teams make smart, risk-conscious decisions.”

The complete 2025 PV Module Reliability Scorecard is available online at scorecard.pvel.com. Using the Top Performers tool allows users to explore detailed test results, filter by manufacturer, module type, and test category, and download custom search results for further analysis.

“Our 2025 Scorecard reveals both the progress and the challenges that come with a dynamic PV module market,” commented Kevin Gibson, Managing Director of Kiwa PVEL. “For over a decade, we’ve rigorously tested modules to uncover reliability and performance trends, and this year was no exception. While not every test result exceeded our expectations, many did—demonstrating resilience and excellence in an evolving industry.”

To be eligible for the 2025 Scorecard, manufacturers must have completed the PQP sample production factory witness after October 1, 2023, and submitted at least two factory-witnessed PV module samples to all PQP reliability tests, as per Kiwa PVEL’s BOM test requirements.

Visit the Scorecard online at scorecard.pvel.com.

About Kiwa PVEL
Kiwa PVEL is the leading reliability and performance testing lab for downstream solar project developers, financiers, and asset owners around the world. As part of the larger Kiwa Group, Kiwa PVEL’s integrated services for the solar supply chain offer technical solutions for mitigating risk, optimizing financing and improving solar and energy storage systems performance throughout the project lifecycle.

For over a decade, Kiwa PVEL’s Product Qualification Program (PQP) has been globally recognized for replacing assumptions about PV module performance with quantifiable metrics. Related data and consulting services offered by Kiwa PVEL provide vital procurement intelligence to a network of downstream solar buyers. Visit kiwa.com/pvel and kiwa.com/solar to learn more.

Kiwa PVEL - 2025 Top Performer Mark
Kiwa PVEL – 2025 Top Performer Mark

Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2025 Malaysia Celebrates Future-Ready Enterprises Driving the Nation’s Growth

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) Malaysia concluded its 19th edition with great success, honoring the nation’s most future-ready enterprises that are boldly navigating disruption and driving sustainable growth in the new economy. Organized by the region’s leading NGO Enterprise Asia, the prestigious awards ceremony was held at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre on 30 May 2025.

Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2025 Malaysia Celebrates Future-Ready Enterprises Driving the Nation’s Growth
Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2025 Malaysia Celebrates Future-Ready Enterprises Driving the Nation’s Growth

The awards ceremony was graced by the presence of Rizal bin Dato‘ Nainy, CEO of SME Corp. Malaysia; Mansor Shah Wahid, Deputy CEO of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) (Exporters Development); YBhg. Datuk Wira Dr. Hj. Rais Hussin, CEO of the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI); along with Dato’ Robert Teo, Managing Partner of RSM Malaysia, the event’s Official Assurance Partner.

Under the theme of “Showcasing Future-Ready Enterprises”, the APEA 2025 Malaysia recognized outstanding Malaysian businesses and entrepreneurs who have demonstrated resilience, innovation, and foresight in future-proofing their organizations amidst rapid technological and economic shifts.

A distinguished panel of judges meticulously assessed over 100 nominees, evaluating each entrepreneur and organization for their overall excellence, leadership, and business performance. Through this rigorous evaluation process, the most outstanding recipients were selected across four categories: Master Entrepreneur, Inspirational Brand, Fast Enterprise, and Corporate Excellence.

Since 2007, the Awards has been organized all over the region with past recipients comprising Taiwan region’s Douglas Tong Hsu, Hong Kong SAR’s Francis Lui and Lawrence Ho, TTC Vietnam’s Dang Van Thanh, Thailand’s Supaluck Ampuj, Indonesia’s Hary Tanoesoedibjo and Mochtar Riady, India’s Adi Godrej, the Philippines’ Manuel Villar, and Cuckoo Malaysia’s Hoe Kian Choon.

“In an era of constant disruption, the enterprises that will thrive are those that challenge conventions, embrace transformative technologies, and create value beyond profits. These organizations recognize the interconnectedness of economies, societies, and the environment, and take bold steps to shape a sustainable and inclusive future.” stated Tan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, Chairman of Enterprise Asia, in his inspiring welcome address.

Award winners under the Master Entrepreneur category include Chiew Oon Leong, CEO of Cert Academy Sdn Bhd, and Datuk Lawrence Leow Fong Peng, Chief Executive Director of Teamplete Sdn Bhd, who have each demonstrated exceptional leadership, resilience, and vision in steering their organizations to new heights.

NS Bluescope Malaysia Sdn Bhd and The Food Purveyor were honored as recipients of the Inspirational Brand Award. Recognized under the Fast Enterprise category is Union Profit Cosmetic Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, while leading companies awarded in the Corporate Excellence category include Niro Ceramic Group, UAC Berhad, and UM Specialist Centre (UMSC).

The APEA 2025 Malaysia Chapter is proudly supported by RSM Malaysia as the Official Assurance Partner and PR Newswire as the Official News Release Distribution Partner. Supporting Partners include the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia, CCI France Malaysia, EuroCham Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce (KLMCC), and the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI), with Dailywire.asia and SME Magazine as the Media Partners.

AWARD RECIPIENT LIST OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2025 MALAYSIA 

MASTER ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY

NAME

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

ANDREW TEOW KET SEANG

 

MANAGING DIRECTOR

ADVANTAGE MARINE SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD.

PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

CHIEW OON LEONG

 

CEO

CERT ACADEMY SDN BHD

EDUCATION & TRAINING

AHMAD RUZAINI BIN ZAINAL

 

MANAGING DIRECTOR

KNOWLES ELECTRONICS (M) SDN. BHD.

MANUFACTURING

DR. SIA TIAN POH

 

CHAIRMAN

SIACON TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD

CONSTRUCTION

DATUK LAWRENCE LEOW FONG PENG

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

TEAMPLETE SDN BHD

AGRICULTURE

 

 

FAST ENTERPRISE CATEGORY

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

ADVANTAGE MARINE SERVICES (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD.

PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

ASIC OFFSHORE & MARINE SDN BHD

OIL & GAS

LEDGEN MALAYSIA SDN BHD

PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

NAVIRA MEDITECH SDN. BHD.

HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY

OPEN DC SDN. BHD.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & ICT

SANSICO INDUSTRIES SDN BHD

BUILDING MATERIALS

SAVOURÉS GROUP SDN BHD

INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

UNION PROFIT COSMETIC MANUFACTURING SDN BHD

MANUFACTURING

 

 

INSPIRATIONAL BRAND CATEGORY

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

NIRO CERAMIC GROUP

BUILDING MATERIALS

NS BLUESCOPE MALAYSIA SDN BHD

BUILDING MATERIALS

THE FOOD PURVEYOR

RETAIL

 

 

CORPORATE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY

COMPANY

INDUSTRY

ALWAYS MARKETING

PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES

COMMERCE DOT COM SDN. BHD.

E-COMMERCE

EASTERN SUNTECH ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION SDN. BHD.

CONSTRUCTION

EURO HOLDINGS BERHAD

FURNITURE

NIRO CERAMIC GROUP

BUILDING MATERIALS

NS BLUESCOPE MALAYSIA SDN BHD

BUILDING MATERIALS

SIACON TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD

CONSTRUCTION

TEAMPLETE SDN BHD

AGRICULTURE

UAC BERHAD

MANUFACTURING

UM SPECIALIST CENTRE (UMSC)

HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY

 

About Enterprise Asia

Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are an investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, uplift the economic status of people across Asia, and ensure a legacy of hope, innovation, and courage for future generations. Please visit www.enterpriseasia.org for more information.

About Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards

Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards is the region’s most prestigious award for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation, and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices, and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups together leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation-only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 16 countries/ regions and markets all over Asia. For further information, please visit www.apea.asia.

AXA Launches “Max Goal II Insurance Plan”

Shortest guaranteed breakeven timeframe and market-first Wealth Master Service to empower High-Net-Worth Individuals to secure and grow their wealth across generations

HONG KONG, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AXA Hong Kong and Macau (“AXA”) has launched the new “Max Goal II Insurance Plan” (“Max Goal II”), featuring the shortest guaranteed breakeven timeframe of 5 years in the market[1] , along with competitive total returns. The plan is complemented by the market-first[2] Wealth Master Service[3], and offers various unique capabilities for wealth distribution and succession. It provides customers with flexible wealth management solutions to achieve long-term assets appreciation and wealth transfer across generations.

Janet Lee, Chief Life and Health Insurance Officer of AXA Hong Kong and Macau, said, “Global geopolitical instability has led to market volatility, impacting the stable growth of family assets. In response, we are introducing the new ‘Max Goal II Insurance Plan’, which offers a ‘short guaranteed breakeven timeframe’ with ample liquidity for our customers. With highly competitive total returns, this plan empowers customers to achieve steady growth in volatile markets while optimising cash flow management. Furthermore, we recognise the importance of wealth succession planning for High-Net-Worth customers. Therefore, this product features a trust-like wealth inheritance and management structure, along with the market-first Wealth Master Service, allowing customers to allocate their wealth and manage succession planning with flexibility and precision.”

“Max Goal II” offers the following key features to meet customers’ diverse needs across Elevate, Master and Bequeath:

1.    Elevate: Guaranteed breakeven timeframe of 5 years

  • Rapid breakeven: The guaranteed cash value at the commencement of the policy equals to 81% of the single premium. By the 5th policy anniversary, the guaranteed cash value will reach 100% of the single premium.
  • Terminal Dividend: Starting from the 3rd policy anniversary, “Max Goal II” offers a non-guaranteed terminal dividend, allowing the policy to achieve total breakeven by the 4th policy anniversary, and further enhancing potential wealth growth and accumulation over the medium to long term.
  • Lock-in gains: From the 5th policy anniversary onwards, customers have the flexibility to exercise the terminal dividend lock-in option[4], converting non-guaranteed dividends into guaranteed returns via the lock-in account and earn interests. Customer can withdraw the value of the terminal dividend lock-in account at any time to meet their financial needs and goals.

2.    Master: First ever Wealth Master Service for tailoring wealth distribution

  • Market-first[2] Wealth Master Service[3]: In addition to one-off partial withdrawals, customers can make periodic withdrawals through the Wealth Master Service[3], where they can set the withdrawal amount and period, and nominate up to 3 recipients to receive the withdrawal proceeds, enabling hassle-free allocation of wealth to family and loved ones.
  • Flexi Segregation Option[5]:Customers may split their policies as many times as they want, for optimal family wealth allocation strategically, fulfilling customers’ financial needs and goals in different life stages.

3.    Bequeath: Seamlessly achieving succession planning, as well as comprehensive wealth inheritance and management structure

  • Heritage Protector Option[6]: Customers can select a succession event option and appoint a contingent owner and interim owner[7] to safeguard the policy and ensure a smooth transition of policy ownership, mitigating inheritance risks. If the succession event occurs before the contingent owner has reached the designated age, the interim owner[7] will hold and manage the policy with granted policy rights pre-specified by the customer before the contingent owner assumes policy ownership after attaining the designated age, ensuring wealth is passed on in accordance with customer’s intention.
  • Flexi Continuation Option/Change of insured: Customers may apply to designate one contingent insured[8] and assign a portion of policy value to be accumulated further. In the unfortunate event of the death of the insured, the designated contingent insured will become the new insured, and the pre-assigned portion of the policy value will continue to accumulate for future generations. The remaining portion of the policy will be payable in the form of compassionate benefit in a lump sum to the designated beneficiary. In addition, customer may change the insured of the policy for an unlimited number of times, which will not affect the policy values under the policy, ensuing that the policy value can be passed on to the next generation.
  • Flexi Care Option[9]: Customers can appoint a trusted individual as designated executor. In the unfortunate event of the customers’ mental incapacitation or physical incapacitation, this designated executor can act on behalf of the customer to make a one-time withdrawal from the policy, providing crucial emergency financial support.
  • Multiple Death Benefit Settlement Options: Customers may customise different death benefit settlement option for each of the beneficiaries, including lump sum payment, payment by instalments, or hybrid payment based on the diverse needs of beneficiaries, to achieve customers’ legacy planning goals. Regardless of the choices made, customers have the flexibility to defer the commencement of settlement of death proceeds with a beneficiary for up to 30 years, aligning the distribution of benefits with the most appropriate timing.
  • Charitable Giving Benefit: Customers can designate a recognised and accredited charity of their choice to receive the charitable giving benefit, of an amount equivalent to 1%[10] of the total standard premiums paid[11], to be paid by AXA when the death benefit becomes payable, ensuring the good deed lasts without affecting the payout of the death benefit.

For further details about the Plan, please visit: https://www.axa.com.hk/en/max-goal-ii-insurance-plan 

About AXA Hong Kong and Macau

AXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 50 markets and serving 95 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters.

As one of the most diversified insurers in Hong Kong, we offer integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance. We are the largest General Insurance provider and a major Health and Employee Benefits provider. Our aim is to not only be the insurer to provide comprehensive protection to our customers, but also a holistic partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve. At the core of our service commitment is continuous product & service innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers’ needs and leveraging and investing in technology and digital transformation.

We embrace our responsibility to be a driving force against climate change and a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first to address the importance of mental health through different products and services and thought leading iconic research. Our overall Sustainability Strategy, with emphasis on climate strategy and biodiversity commitment, is developed based on TCFD recommendations. We are committed to integrating environmental, social and governance factors across our business and strive to contribute to a sustainable future through 3 distinct roles – as an investor, an insurer and an exemplary company.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA’S WEBSITE: AXA.COM.HK  

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 – “Risk factors and risk management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.

[1] It is compared with similar single premium participating savings plans offering high guaranteed cash value on day one (with guaranteed cash value of 80% or more of the single premium on the policy issuance date) provided by major competitors in the market. The relevant information is as of December 2024. Applicable to policies denominated in US and HK dollars.

[2] The information refers to the service of periodic withdrawal with multiple recipients of withdrawal payments. The statement refers to Hong Kong market only and is based on a comparison of periodic withdrawal arrangements offered by insurers for Long-Term Businesses as defined by the Insurance Authority in the Register of Authorised Insurers in Hong Kong as of December 2024.

[3] Wealth Master Service is an administrative service arrangement offered by AXA and not a plan feature of “Max Goal II”. Any application for the service is subject to the administrative rules of AXA from time to time.

[4] Only one application can be made within one policy year. The lock-in rate customer may apply to transfer to the terminal dividend lock-in account in a policy year shall not be more than 10% of the latest value of the terminal dividend before the 15th policy anniversary or 70% of the latest value of the terminal dividend on or after the 15th policy anniversary, customers who wants to transfer to the terminal dividend lock-in account must meet specific conditions. For further details regarding terminal dividend lock-in option, please refer to the policy contract.

[5] When customer apply to exercise the Flexi Segregation Option, customer shall specify the percentage (the “Segregation Percentage”) of the total cash value customer wish to transfer to the Segregated Policy. An application The designation of contingent insured must fulfil specific conditions. to exercise the Flexi Segregation Option is subject to the approval of the Company at its absolute discretion and must fulfill certain conditions. For further details, please refer to the product brochure.

[6] For further details regarding Heritage Protector Option, please refer to the policy contract.

[7] Interim owner is only applicable to policies issued in Hong Kong.

[8] The designation of contingent insured must fulfil specific conditions.

[9] For further details regarding the Flexi Care Option, please refer to the policy contract.

[10] 1% of the total standard premiums paid is up to USD 100,000/RMB 650,000/ HKD 800,000.

[11] Total standard premiums paid is the total premiums due and paid from the policy date up to the date of death of the insured, in which any extra premiums due to underwriting requirements shall be excluded. In case of any change in notional amount, the total standard premiums paid shall be adjusted accordingly.

 

Wildberries Expands into Social E-commerce with Wibes App

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 June 2025 – Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Eurasia, is actively expanding into social commerce (s-commerce) with its short video app called Wibes which surpassed 5.5 million users at the end of May.

The app, which launched in beta mode in March, features hundreds of thousands of short videos (up to 90 seconds long) about various products on the Wildberries marketplace, created by sellers and influencers as well as ordinary users. While watching the videos, users can add items they like to their shopping cart on Wibes, and the items appear instantly in their shopping carts on the Wildberries website or app where they can complete the purchase. This format merges entertainment and inspiration with seamless shopping.

“Wibes are the emotions and impressions that purchases evoke in us,” said Tatyana Kim, Wildberries founder and CEO. “I’ve long wanted to create a space that helps buyers get to know products better through video reviews and short articles, while also offering new opportunities for sellers and bloggers”.

S-commerce is booming globally, driven by Gen Z’s preference for engaging content, video consumption, and greater trust in influencer reviews over traditional advertising. In China, where platforms like TikTok Shop and Pinduoduo thrive, social commerce already accounts for around 30% of online sales.

Any Wildberries seller can promote their products on Wibes, either by creating their own videos or tagging items they would like influencers to promote. Influencers can then choose from the available products, create review videos, and publish them on Wibes.

Monetisation for sellers operates on a Cost Per Order model, with sellers paying a 10% commission on sales made through Wibes. Meanwhile, influencers and other bloggers regardless of their audience size earn a commission of 9.9% from sales generated via their content on Wibes from 1 June – up from an initial 5% commission at the time of the app’s launch.

Since the launch of the monetisation programme, more than 2,500 content creators have joined Wibes. Wildberries sellers have made over 18,000 products available for promotion, and users have added more than 400,000 items from Wibes videos to their shopping carts.

Hashtag: #Wildberries

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

About Wildberries

Established in 2004 in Russia, Wildberries is a leading e-commerce platform operating in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, while also partnering with sellers in China and the UAE. Wildberries provides a state-of-the-art IT infrastructure to support customers and sellers, along with a developed logistics network spanning more than 130 facilities and 70,000 pick-up points across its markets. As of 2025, Wildberries serves over 79 million customers and processes more than 20 million orders per day.

Laos Hits 60% Milestone on Mega Solar Project, Eyes Year-End Launch

Construction at the 1,000 MW solar farm in Oudomxay province, Laos is 60% complete and expected to be operational by the end of 2025. (Photo: ສະຖານີວິທະຍຸ ແລະ ໂທລະພາບ ແຂວງອຸດົມໄຊ)

A 1,000-megawatt solar power project in northern Laos’ Oudomxay Province has reached 60 percent completion and is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2025, according to provincial governor Bounkhong Lachiemphon.

During an official site inspection on 29 May, Governor Lachiemphon reviewed progress at the large-scale solar farm, which spans 2,090 hectares across seven villages in Xay and Namor districts. The project is being built by a team of around 800 technical experts and laborers.

Key milestones have already been achieved. Land clearing is 100 percent complete, while landmine clearance has reached 95.74 percent. Infrastructure development is advancing steadily, with internal roads 81.32 percent complete and electrical pole installation at 59.78 percent.

Solar panel deployment has begun, with mounting structures at 3.56 percent and panel installation at 1.89 percent. For transmission infrastructure, surveys and site confirmation have been completed for 43 pole bases.

The project is being developed under a comprehensive concession agreement signed on 12 September 2024 between the Government of Laos and CGN Energy Technology (Laos) Co., Ltd.

Phase I of the project is expected to generate approximately 1.7 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to power about 10 million households

Once operational, the solar energy will be transmitted to China’s Yunnan Province via the China-Laos 500 kV power grid interconnection. This will contribute to Yunnan’s energy transition and enhance regional power supply stability.

The project forms a key part of the Northern Laos Interconnected Clean Energy Base, which spans Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, and Phongsaly provinces. The initiative aims to establish a regional clean energy hub by integrating solar, wind, and biomass power.

This solar farm directly supports Laos’s national renewable energy targets, including the goal of achieving 30 percent renewable energy consumption by 2025. It also marks a significant step toward strengthening the country’s energy independence and clean energy portfolio.