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Ascott Accelerates Growth In Europe With Portfolio Expansion And Global Partnership With Chelsea Football Club

  • Marks debut of The Unlimited Collection brand and expansion of lyf brand with six new property signings in Europe
  • Enters into multi-year partnership with Chelsea Football Club as the “Official Global Hotels Partner”
  • Operator of stadium hotels to be rebranded as lyf Stamford Bridge London

LONDON, UK/SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2024 – The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), today announced several major milestones in the European market as it accelerates its global expansion strategy. These include the addition of six new properties to its European portfolio, marking the debut of The Unlimited Collection brand and expansion of the lyf brand in the region. Building on a growing demand for Ascott’s suite of brands, these new signings will boost Ascott’s portfolio in Europe by 14% to about 8,000 units across six brands, and extend Ascott’s presence in the region to 29 cities from 24. The five new cities are Colmar in France, as well as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester and Manchester in the United Kingdom.

Ascott and Chelsea ink multi-year global hotels partnership
Ascott and Chelsea ink multi-year global hotels partnership

To further boost Ascott’s visibility in Europe and support its expansive global network, Ascott has entered a strategic multi-year partnership with Chelsea Football Club (Chelsea), becoming the Official Global Hotels Partner of the English Premier League club. Ascott will also assume management of the 232-unit stadium hotels at London’s Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea, from 2H 2024. To be rebranded as lyf Stamford Bridge London in 2H 2025, the properties will be an anchor showcase of Ascott’s hospitality to Chelsea fans from around the world. For more information on the partnership, please refer to the joint news release between Ascott and Chelsea.

Mr Kevin Goh, Chief Executive Officer for Ascott and CLI Lodging, said: “As a global tourism and business hub, Europe plays a key role in Ascott’s expansion plans. The diverse and dynamic nature of its hospitality sector offers plenty of scope for Ascott to drive more successful partnerships with owners. We will achieve this by leveraging Ascott’s flex-hybrid hotel-in-residence model, which is designed to meet the varying needs of owners and guests through a wide selection of brands and customised solutions, backed by experienced teams with deep local knowledge.”

“With five of the six new signings in Europe year to date being conversion projects, Ascott’s established suite of conversion capabilities has already been proven as effective in gaining the confidence of property owners. We expect franchise management to be our next pillar of growth in Europe, where market conditions are conducive for this business segment. For our existing owners, we will continue to deliver sustained value by embarking on asset enhancement initiatives that elevate the stay experiences of guests,” added Mr Goh.

Mr Lee Ngor Houai, Chief Operating Officer, Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), South Asia and China, Ascott, said: “Our European portfolio has been delivering strong performance, driving average daily rates of almost 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, our properties in Europe far exceeded all other markets in terms of revenue per available unit (RevPAU) and contributed to almost 16% of Ascott’s global revenue. By expanding and strengthening Ascott’s presence in some of Europe’s key markets, we will be better positioned to capture the growth opportunities in Europe and contribute to the region’s thriving tourism sector.”

“Europe also serves as a significant source of guests for Ascott’s extensive network of hotels worldwide. In 2023, travellers from Europe contributed to about 16% of Ascott’s global hospitality business. Riding on Ascott’s expanded portfolio in Europe coupled with increased efforts to build on the brand in the region, we are targeting to almost double this figure to 30% by 2028, placing Europe as a top three source market for Ascott,” added Mr Lee.

Leveraging Partnerships for Expansion of Global Reach

Starting July 2024, Ascott will become the Official Global Hotels Partner of Chelsea for the next four seasons. Leveraging Chelsea’s strong following as one of the world’s 10 most popular football clubs[1], Ascott aims to introduce its extensive portfolio of hospitality brands and properties around the globe to a new catchment of guests.

This partnership will see collaborative efforts in offering “money can’t buy” experiences for members of the Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) loyalty programme worldwide. These include exclusive access to matches at Stamford Bridge and VIP visits to The Blues Cobham Training Ground. The Ascott brand will also be displayed at Stamford Bridge for both Men’s and Women’s matches, as well as across Chelsea’s social and digital channels with engaging content for fans to enjoy. In line with Ascott’s commitment to bring Chelsea closer to its overseas fans, Ascott will become the presenting partner of Chelsea’s flagship international fan engagement event, the Famous CFC, in two international markets.

Ms Tan Bee Leng, Chief Commercial Officer, Ascott, said: “The partnership taps on the strong synergy between Ascott and Chelsea as storied brands with global ambitions and extensive networks. As the Official Global Hotels Partner, Ascott will collaborate with Chelsea on a series of innovative marketing and promotional initiatives to engage with millions of football enthusiasts across Europe and beyond. Leveraging the club’s massive global fanbase of over 600 million[2] people worldwide and its premier position in European football, the partnership will provide unparalleled opportunities for Ascott to bring together the worlds of hospitality and football to curate memorable fan engagement activities, exclusive offers for Chelsea supporters, and bespoke stay experiences at Ascott properties for fans and guests alike.”

“With loyalty as a key driver of growth, we recognise the importance of providing unique and impactful experiences for loyal members of Ascott Star Rewards. Offering exclusive opportunities to attend coveted events like Premier League football matches, major tennis tournaments, and other high-profile activities not only enhances travel experiences but also deepens guests’ connection with our brands. In line with the brand promise of ASR to ‘Stay Rewarded’, these extraordinary experiences represent Ascott’s commitment to foster a sense of belonging and appreciation that is inherently rewarding for our guests,” added Ms Tan.

Building Loyalty for Growth

Tapping on the growing priority that travellers place on exclusive experiences, Ascott organised the first of its series of global events as part of the Ascott Privilege Signatures programme. Held in London, over 80 guests from across its platinum tier of ASR members and esteemed owners were treated to a stay at The Cavendish London and an experience at The Championships, Wimbledon 2024, where they enjoyed debenture/court access to view the Men’s and Women’s third round of finals on 6 July. More events are in the pipeline to delight ASR members and ramp up ASR memberships.

Please refer to Annex A for more information on exclusive Chelsea experiences for ASR members, and Annex B for Ascott’s new signings, property openings and asset enhancement initiatives in Europe.


[1] Source: GlobalWebIndex (Q2 2023 – Q1 2024).

[2] Source: Premier League & Nielsen (2024).

ANNEX A – EXCLUSIVE CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB EXPERIENCES FOR ASCOTT STAR REWARDS MEMBERS

Exclusively for Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) members, fans of Chelsea Football Club (Chelsea) can look forward to Score Big with stay experiences complemented with guided stadium tours and commemorative co-branded merchandise available in limited quantities. With a touch of Match Day Magic, matchday access will also come with ease for privileged ASR members with limited sets of guaranteed tickets to designated home matches alongside pre-game refreshments.

Elevating guest rewards through “money can’t buy” experiences, ASR members will further gain unparalleled access to VIP meet and greet sessions with the men’s and women’s football teams, pitch-side access prior to home matches, intimate tours to Chelsea’s private training grounds, as well as signed memorabilia. Through these privileges, Ascott seeks to ensure that every stay serves as a gateway for guests to ‘Stay Rewarded’.

Don’t miss ASR’s upcoming exclusive Chelsea experiences for members only. Sign up as an ASR member at https://www.discoverasr.com/en/sign-up.

Stand a Chance to Win Tickets to Chelsea’s First Game of the 2024/2025 Premier League Season

From 12 to 31 July 2024, fans who sign up as an ASR member with the referral code GoalChelsea will be entered into a draw for a chance to score a pair of tickets to Chelsea’s first game of the 2024/25 Premier League Season on home ground at Stamford Bridge on 18 August 2024. The lucky winner will be announced on 1 August 2024.

For more information, please visit www.discoverasr.com/en/ascott-chelseafc for the latest updates on stay experiences, sale dates and more.

ANNEX B – ASCOTT’S NEW SIGNINGS, PROPERTY OPENINGS AND ASSET ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVES IN EUROPE

New Signings

2024 year to date, Ascott has inked six new property signings totalling about 1,000 units in Europe, with one property each in Colmar in France, as well as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, London and Manchester in the United Kingdom. These bring Ascott’s portfolio in Europe to over 60 properties, including both operating and in the pipeline.

The signings in Edinburgh and Leicester will mark the Europe debut of The Unlimited Collection brand by Ascott, a selection of independent upscale hotels with exquisite designs in vibrant neighbourhoods that cater to travellers’ demand for authenticity and immersive local cultural experiences. Originating from Singapore, The Unlimited Collection is a soft brand that enables Ascott to partner with independent owners who would like to preserve the unique identities of their properties while leveraging Ascott’s expertise in hospitality management, supported by its global distribution system and loyalty network.

Meanwhile, Colmar will welcome Citadines while three new properties – one each in Glasgow, London and Manchester – will signal the expansion of the lyf brand in Europe.

Property Openings

In the first quarter of 2024, Ascott opened its second Citadines outpost in Amsterdam – Citadines Canal Amsterdam, which is close to the Amsterdam canal belt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also opened lyf Schönbrunn Vienna, Somerset Schönbrunn Vienna and Citadines Danube Vienna at the end of 2023, marking the debut of the lyf and Somerset brands in Europe.

Most recently, the lyf brand planted its first flag in Germany with the opening of lyf East Frankfurt in early July, while lyf Gambetta Paris will open as the first lyf branded property in France later this year. Ascott’s newly signed The Unlimited Collection branded property in Edinburgh will also open before end of the year.

Asset Enhancement Initiatives (AEIs)

In addition, Ascott is leveraging AEIs to ensure that its existing properties continue to deliver operational excellence for both owners and guests.

In Ireland, Temple Bar Hotel Dublin will be rebranded under The Unlimited Collection by end 2024. In London, the United Kingdom, The Cavendish London will undergo renovation and be rebranded in 2026 as the first property in the United Kingdom under The Crest Collection, while Citadines Holborn-Covent Garden is expected to unveil new spaces following the completion of renovation works this year. In France, Citadines Les Halles Paris has just completed renovation works while Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris will be transformed into a property under The Crest Collection by 2H 2026 with a target opening in 2028.

Hashtag: #TheAscottLimited #ChelseaFootballClub #ChelseaFC #Hospitality #Partnership #AscottStarRewards #LoyaltyProgramme




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

About The Ascott Limited

Since pioneering Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984, Ascott has grown to be a trusted hospitality company with over 950 properties globally. Headquartered in Singapore, Ascott’s presence extends across more than 220 cities in over 40 countries in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA.

Ascott’s diversified accommodation offerings span serviced residences, coliving properties, hotels and independent senior living apartments, as well as student accommodation and rental housing. Its award-winning hospitality brands include , , , , , , , , , , , , and . Through Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), Ascott’s loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and offers at participating properties.

A wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment Limited, Ascott is a leading vertically-integrated lodging operator. Harnessing its extensive network of third-party owners and in-market expertise, Ascott grows fee-related earnings through its hospitality management and investment management capabilities. Ascott also expands its funds under management by growing its sponsored CapitaLand Ascott Trust and private funds.

This year, Ascott marks 40 years in hospitality service with the launch of Ascott Unlimited, a full year campaign that will offer Unlimited Opportunities, Unlimited Choices, Unlimited Freedom, and Unlimited Good. Navigating a future of unlimited possibilities against a backdrop of global change and evolving perspectives of travel, Ascott Unlimited marks Ascott’s ambitions to break new ground, and springboard to its next chapter of growth as a global hospitality company. Find out more about Ascott Unlimited at .

For more information on Ascott and its sustainability programme, please visit . Alternatively, connect with us on , , and .

About CapitaLand Investment Limited (www.capitalandinvest.com)

Headquartered and listed in Singapore, CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI) is a leading global real asset manager with a strong Asia foothold. As at 31 March 2024, CLI had S$134 billion of assets under management as well as S$100 billion of funds under management (FUM) held via six listed real estate investment trusts and business trusts, and more than 30 private vehicles across Asia Pacific, Europe and USA. Its diversified real estate asset classes cover retail, office, lodging, business parks, industrial, logistics, self-storage and data centres.

CLI aims to scale its FUM and fee-related earnings through fund management, lodging management and commercial management, and maintain effective capital management. As the investment management arm of CapitaLand Group, CLI has access to the development capabilities of and pipeline investment opportunities from CapitaLand’s development arm.

As a responsible company, CLI places sustainability at the core of what it does and has committed to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2050. CLI contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.

About Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club is one of the top football clubs globally and its men’s team were the FIFA Club World Cup winners for 2021, with the final when the side beat Brazilian side Palmeiras in Abu Dhabi held in 2022 due to the pandemic. That success followed winning the UEFA Champions League for a second time in 2021 with victory over Manchester City in Porto.

Founded in 1905, Chelsea is London’s most central football club, based at the iconic 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium. Nicknamed ‘The Blues’, the club lifted the Champions League for the first time in 2012 and has also won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup eight times, the Football League Cup five times, the UEFA Europa League twice, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice and the Football League Championship once, in 1955.

The 2021 Champions League and Super Cup triumphs ensured Chelsea became the first club to win four major UEFA club competitions twice, following its earlier successes in those two competitions as well as the Europa League and Cup Winners’ Cup.

The Chelsea Women’s team have enjoyed a huge amount of success and in 2024 won the FA Women’s Super League for a fifth consecutive year and the seventh time overall. The Women’s FA Cup has been won on five occasions. The side has also captured the FA Women’s League Cup twice as well as reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021.

In addition to possessing some of the world’s most recognisable players, Chelsea has also invested in its future with a state-of-the-art Academy and training centre in Cobham, Surrey. Since the Academy building’s opening in 2008, the club has won seven FA Youth Cups, back-to-back UEFA Youth League titles in 2015 and 2016, and the U23 and U18 Premier League national championships most recently in 2019/20 and 2017/18 respectively.

The Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, helping to improve the lives of children and young people all over the world.

Important Notice

This announcement and the information contained herein does not constitute and is not intended to constitute an offering of any investment product to, or solicitation of, investors in any jurisdiction where such offering or solicitation would not be permitted.

Impact Fusion International Inc.: Louisiana State Legislature Unanimously Passes LA HCR-42 Focusing on Bagasse Utilization


NAPOLEONVILLE, LOUISIANA – Newsfile Corp. – 8 July 2024 – Impact Fusion International Inc. (OTC Pink: IFUS)

On May 28, 2024 bipartisan legislation passed both the Louisiana House with 99 Yeas and 0 Nays and the Louisiana Senate 31 Yeas and 0 Nays. LA HCR-42 (2024) places focus of bagasse utilization and was generated by testimony provided by Dr. Clyde (Pat) Bagley and Agricultural Commissioner, The Honorable Dr. Michael Strain.

To read the information on the Resolution please hit Control Click on link that follows:
LA HCR42 | 2024 | Regular Session | LegiScan

IFUS met with Dr. Strain in September 2023 in his office in Baton Rouge, LA, whereby he provided us with valuable guidance as to the steps the Company should take in the validation of SGP+™ as a supplement, partial feed, and possibly hay replacement for beef and dairy cattle. These scientific steps are considered to be “Best Practices and Methods” in the beef and dairy industries.

Following Dr. Strain’s advice and working with the American Sugarcane League, local U.S.D.A. representatives, and the Farm Bureau Federation, IFUS contacted Dr. Clyde “Pat” Bagley, formerly Dean of Tennessee Tech School of Agriculture (now Director, SUAREC Beef Research Unit).

IFUS formed a partnership with the Southern University Agricultural and Research Center (SUAREC) also located in Baton Rouge, LA. Team members from SUAREC have made several visits to the IFUS Napoleonville, LA operations where they were awestruck by the immediate exothermic to endothermic transition of bagasse into SGP+™. As a result of this discovery, Dr. Bagley, the leader of the SUAREC Team, stated that if IFUS had discovered how to naturally breakdown lignin, this would be in fact the “Holy Grail” of energy and nutrition for beef and dairy cattle. Dr. Bagley further stated, “Lignin was thought to be indigestible. What we think is happening here is their special blend is making the lignin pull apart and become digestible, which we have never seen happen before.” In addition, Dr. Bagley is investigating as to whether SGP+™ is actually a hay replacement.

Furthermore, Dr. Mallory Tate, DVM and Director of Pre-Veterinary Studies at SUAREC, believes combining Chios Mastic Oil emulsified in native ionic minerals (much like Lochte’s Saline) could significantly improve bovine ration digestibility and absorbability.

Since then, a “Best Practices and Methods” statistically viable study after a visit to our facility on June 13, 2024, has been launched by Dr. Bagley and select members of his team with results pending. Dr. Bagley, visited an IFUS test ranching operation where he noted a significant improvement in herd score as well as an absence of flies. Additionally, cattle testing trials continue in any number of locations across the U.S. On June 13, 2024 we delivered approximately 5,000 pounds of SGP+ to the SUAREC testing ranch in Baton Rouge, LA.

Lastly, other Green-to-Gold studies for added utilization of SGP+™ are in discussion to include soil amendment and mulch, application in viticulture, natural insecticide or insect repellent, fly management on cattle, greenhouse gas reduction, and manure management.

Marc Walther, CEO of IFUS, said, “We greatly appreciate the efforts of Dr. Strain, the Louisiana Legislature, the entire SURAEC Team lead by Dr. Bagley, and all the IFUS team and customers who strive to advance the validation and commercialization of SGP+™ and other commercial uses for bagasse. The impact of bagasse utilization in transforming a waste product into useful cash products while reducing Carbon-Footprint is both promising and exciting for The State of Louisiana, The United States, and the world at large.”

Our 1-800-775-4130 is always open for questions and you may also reach us at: impactfusionintl@gmail.com.

Back to Work!

Marc Walther

About Impact Fusion International Inc.

Impact Fusion International, Inc. is in the business of marketing products in the “Health and Wellness” sector of all international markets. It is the company’s mission to invent, develop and market these proprietary products worldwide for the health and wellbeing of humans and animals.

The information contained in this release includes some statement that are not purely historical and that are “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our and their management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including our financial condition, results of operations. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions, or the negatives of such terms, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and the potential effects on the parties and the corporate and administrative transactions. Forward-Looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and represent our management’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Contact:
Impact Fusion International Inc.
204 Highway 1011
Napoleonville LA 70390
1-800-775-4130
Email: impactfusionintl@gmail.com https://www.impactfusionbrands.com/brands
Updates can be found at the official Impact Fusion Twitter account @impactfusioni.

#legislation #bagasse #drought #HolyGrail #SUAREC #Louisiana #green house gases #methane gas #cattle #dairy #floods #wildfires #scientific studies #American Sugar League

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

About Impact Fusion International Inc.

Stories behind China’s latest mega cross-sea link: from blueprint to reality


BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2024 – The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in south China that consists of one underwater tunnel, two bridges, and two artificial islands, opened to traffic on Sunday.

A view of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in the Great Bay Area, June 27, 2024.
A view of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in the Great Bay Area, June 27, 2024.

Seven years on, Chinese designers and constructors have overcome some of the world’s most pressing technical challenges, transforming the passage from a blueprint to a reality and setting 10 world records.

On Wednesday, China News Network interviewed some and discovered the stories behind the one of the most challenging cross-sea cluster projects in the world.

No room for error

This 24-kilometer passage, connecting Shenzhen in the east of the Pearl River estuary with Zhongshan in the west, has significantly slashed travel time between the two cities from about two hours to under 30 minutes.

It is equipped with numerous devices to ensure its safe and stable operation.

The construction personnel need to build a suspension bridge with a tower height of 270 meters and a main span of 1,666 meters approximately 15 kilometers off the coast. They also need to achieve millimeter-level precision in docking 23 immersed tubes, each weighing about 80,000 metric tons, on the seabed nearly 40 meters deep in the Lingdingyang sea. Additionally, within less than six months, they must create an island in the sea with an area equivalent to 19 international standard football fields.

Despite enormous challenges during the construction, these projects were all completed within the scheduled time.

Chen Weibin, General Manager of Technology Center and Project Manager of Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Contract 9 for Precasting of Immersed Tunnel of CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., introduced that “the construction process of the passage that adopted steel-shell immersed tube structures is irreversible and there was no room for error”.

Without any lesson to learn from, the project team adopted 3D printing technology to develop a customized intelligent pouring system, saving 2,500 hours of machinery time.

Independently-developed key technologies

In the construction, breakthroughs in domesticating key technologies have also been achieved.

Suo Xuhong, Director of the Measurement Management Center of CCCC – First Harbor Engineering Company’s Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Project Management Department, introduced that over the past seven years, his team has generated over 170 patents, achieving eight major technological innovations and accomplishments, including rapid island formation and underwater push-type final joints.

For example, he elaborated that “facing complex geological and hydrological conditions, we independently developed the ‘underwater 3D printer’ — a gravel leveling ship. We have achieved full localization of both hardware and software, with leveling precision and efficiency meeting the requirements for various specifications of immersed tube tunnel bed construction. Additionally, we integrated the BeiDou system into immersed tube construction for the first time in the world, and developed an integral prefabricated underwater push-type final joint.”

Marine ecological environment outweighs cost

The construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link also attaches great importance to protecting the marine ecological environment. Ma Dingqiang, deputy general manager of the Dredging Branch Company under CCCC-Guangzhou DREDGING CO., LTD,and project manager of the dredging works for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Project (section 09), said that during the trench excavation process, a large amount of decomposed rocks were found to have distributed on the seabed.

Ma explained that according to traditional dredging methods, the most efficient, economical, and conventional approach would be blasting. However, the construction site is located in the Pearl River Estuary, which is on the migration route and an important habitat for the Chinese white dolphin.

After evaluation, a precise mechanical rock-breaking technique for deep water and deep trenches was developed. “This advancement came at a financial cost of about 30 million yuan ($4.13 million) and a time investment of more than one year. However, the impact on the habitat of the Chinese white dolphin was minimized,” Ma stated.

About 24 hours after the link opened to traffic, the volume on the mega cross-sea passage had reached 125,000 vehicles, according to the Guangdong Transportation Group.

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

Schneider Electric named the world’s most sustainable company by Time magazine and Statista


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2024 – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has topped the “World’s Most Sustainable Companies for 2024” list by Time magazine and Statista. This recognition reflects Schneider Electric’s ambitious goals to reduce its own emissions, but also the company’s commitment to helping its customers to become more energy efficient and reduce their emissions.

Time and Statista used a transparent, multi-stage methodology to identify the world’s most sustainable companies for 2024. The process began with a pool of over 5,000 of the world’s largest and most influential companies. Following a rigorous four-stage assessment, the final ranking excluded unsustainable industries and considered factors like external sustainability ratings and commitments, corporate reporting practices, and environmental and social performance indicators. This comprehensive approach produced a ranking of 500 companies from over 30 countries.

Both Time and Statista highlighted Schneider Electric’s technological expertise and the Schneider Sustainability Impact (SSI) program. This transformative program drives and measures the company’s progress toward global sustainability 2021–2025 targets contributing to six long-term commitments that cover all environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions. Among this progress, the company helped customers reduce their carbon emissions, with 553 million tonnes of CO2 saved and avoided since 2018. The company has also made significant progress in transforming its own supply chain. Carbon emissions from Schneider Electric’s top 1,000 suppliers fell by 27% since the beginning of the program — and 21% of the company’s most strategic supply chain partners have met Schneider Electric’s decent work standards.

“We’re incredibly honored to be recognized as the world’s most sustainable company”, said Peter Herweck, CEO of Schneider Electric. “This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability, which is embedded in everything we do. We consider the environment, society, and good governance in all our decisions and daily operations. That’s why we’re pushing hard to make even more progress on our sustainability goals and ensure everyone contributes to creating a positive and enduring impact”.

Schneider Electric was also recently included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the 13th consecutive year, ranked #1 in its industry and secured its place in the Europe index. This achievement reflects its strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, with sustainability at the core of its strategy.

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

Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation, and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI-enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.

VinFast to participate in Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2024


JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2024 – VinFast Auto today announces its participation in the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2024, taking place from July 18 to 28. At Indonesia’s largest international auto show, customers will have the chance to test drive VinFast’s VF 5 and VF e34 models with right-hand drive configurations.

VinFast participates in GIIAS 2024 with a diverse range of products
VinFast participates in GIIAS 2024 with a diverse range of products

VinFast will introduce its diverse range of modern electric vehicles at GIIAS 2024, including the VF 5, VF e34, VF 6, VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9, spanning from A-SUV to E-SUV segments. Notably, the VF 5 and VF e34, which are the first two models launched in Indonesia, will be presented with right-hand drive configurations specifically tailored for the Indonesian market and available for public test drives.

VinFast’s smart and modern urban electric SUVs, combined with flexible sales policies and a pioneering battery subscription program, offer Indonesian customers diverse choices to accelerate EV adoption and move toward a greener mobility future.

Visitors to the VinFast booth at GIIAS will experience the immersive “Living Unbound” spirit through its modern design, featuring blue and silver as primary colors. The brand’s signature V-shaped LED lighting system evokes a green mobility future, symbolizing VinFast’s commitment to an electrification revolution in Indonesia and the region.

Mr. Temmy Wiradjaja, CEO of VinFast Indonesia, said: “GIIAS 2024 is an opportunity for VinFast to bring its products closer to Indonesian consumers, reaffirming our strong commitment to accompany Indonesians on the journey to a future of green transportation. We are confident in our ability to meet the diverse needs of customers and proud to introduce a modern, intelligent, and environmentally friendly EV ecosystem that contributes to a better and greener future for everyone.”

GIIAS is the largest auto show in Indonesia and one of the largest in Southeast Asia, with the participation of hundreds of leading automotive brands worldwide.

VinFast’s booth will be open to the public from July 18 to 28. During this time, visitors will also have the opportunity to test drive the VF e34 and VF 5 and their available smart features, as well as meet VinFast’s new Brand Ambassador for the VF 5, the beloved South Korean actress, Kim You Jung, on July 21. This global collaboration highlights VF 5 seamless integration into the stylish city lifestyle, blending sleek design with eco-friendly efficiency.

Kim You Jung is the brand ambassador for VinFast VF 5 electric cars in Indonesia
Kim You Jung is the brand ambassador for VinFast VF 5 electric cars in Indonesia


Just five months after its official market launch, VinFast has begun sales of the VF 5 and VF e34 models, opened dealer stores and unveiled plans to build an electric car factory in Indonesia. These steps demonstrate VinFast’s well-defined business strategy and unwavering determination to expand within the Indonesian market.Hashtag: #VinFast

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

About VinFast

VinFast – a member of Vingroup – envisioned to drive the movement of the global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with scalability that boasts up to 90 percent automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam.

Strongly committed to the mission for a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy for all to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at:

OctaTrader: upcoming updates and the current focus


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2024 – With its well-rounded functionality, OctaTrader aims to cover the entire traders’ experience across four fundamental areas: payments, education, trading, and decision-making. This all-in-one architecture allows the application to form a trading ecosystem designed for clients of various experience levels, trading styles, and asset preferences. As such, the platform continuously evolves, receiving updates with new enhancements and features at least twice a month.

OctaTrader: upcoming updates and the current focus

In the third quarter of 2024, the OctaTrader team will deploy Space, the analytics hub embedded into the application, for all regions and Octa clients. Bringing together analytics, education, and decision-making support within a single toolkit, Space will be an integral part of the OctaTrader’s interface. Space takes data-driven, confident, and innovative decision-making to a new level, enabling traders to copy ideas and predictions from the curated news feed to the client’s trading chart in a few clicks.

As a modern trading toolkit, Space uses machine learning algorithms to process historical data and offer analytical predictions. It provides detailed educational materials for those willing to dive deep into the intricacies of technical analysis and learn more about fundamental trading concepts and the workings of financial markets. After that, Octa’s team of highly experienced expert traders thoroughly checks and reinforces the predictions. This combination of modern technology and human expertise facilitates decision validation. It allows less experienced traders to navigate financial markets more efficiently, spending less mental and nervous energy on the way.

The upcoming OctaTrader updates include adding analytical tools to the trading chart panel. This feature will allow traders not to draw patterns by hand and save their time by using presets from the feed instead and adding them to the chart layout. OctaTrader clients can place orders using ideas listed in the Space feed—or add the ideas that caught their eye to the chart for future analysis. Depending on the prediction featured in the selected Space post, the chart will display an arrow indicating the predicted price movement, visualising the idea and further streamlining the trading journey.

With its focus on continuous development and iterative research of the most popular traders’ demands, OctaTrader evolves according to the best industry practices. The ever-expanding list of useful features and tools allows traders to efficiently validate their decisions and spend less time on research and analysis while receiving quality expert insights tailored to their needs and preferences.

To further enhance traders’ opportunities, Octa has recently introduced the new leverage option of 1:1000, which is currently available to all clients. With this new option, the broker allows you to open larger positions with a smaller capital investment.
Hashtag: #Octa

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Octa

is an international broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and a variety of services already utilised by clients from 180 countries with more than 42 million trading accounts. Octa’s free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools help clients reach their investment goals.

The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.

Since its foundation, Octa has won more than 70 awards, including the ‘Best Educational Broker 2023’ award from World Business Outlook and the ‘Best Global Broker Asia 2022’ award from International Business Magazine.

Quantum Computing startup planqc raises 50 million euro


MUNICH, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 8 July 2024 – planqc, the European leader in digital atom-based quantum computing, proudly announces the securement of €50 million financing. This substantial Series A investment is led by the European Family Office CATRON Holding and the DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF). Additional financial support is provided by Bayern Kapital, the Max-Planck Foundation, further private investors, existing investors UVC and Speedinvest and it includes a non-dilutive grant from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

From left to right: Alexander Glätzle (planqc co-founder & CEO), Johannes Zeiher (planqc co-founder, Principal Scientist), Sebastian Blatt (planqc co-founder & CTO) copyright Dirk Bruniecki
From left to right: Alexander Glätzle (planqc co-founder & CEO), Johannes Zeiher (planqc co-founder, Principal Scientist), Sebastian Blatt (planqc co-founder & CTO) copyright Dirk Bruniecki

Alexander Glätzle, CEO and co-founder of planqc: “This latest investment round is a strong endorsement of our technology as a leading platform for quantum applications. The substantial backing places us in a perfect position to take on global competitors with our ‘Made in Germany’ quantum computers, targeting an emerging market valued at billions of euros.

planqc’s unique technology, built on award-winning research at the Max-Planck-Institute for Quantum Optics (MPQ), aims for rapid advancement in the development of industry-relevant quantum computers. The new financing will be utilized to establish a quantum computing cloud service and to develop quantum software for applications in industries such as chemistry, healthcare, climate-tech, automotive, and finance. Today, planqc is already using quantum machine learning to work on climate simulations or more efficient batteries for electric vehicles.

Dr. Torsten Löffler, Investment Director at DTCF: “We are thrilled to invest in a startup that not only leads in high-impact technology but also enables further breakthroughs in most pressing global computational challenges across various industries by offering access to the technology in form of a quantum cloud computing service. planqc’s impressive track record in securing contracts – in particular the DLR Tender – and public grants within just 18 months of operations underscores the company’s role as a frontrunner in the quantum computing sector both in Europe and globally.

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

China Targets Southeast Asia in Bid to Lead Global EV Market

China Automotive Company (Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images)

China’s growing electric vehicle (EV) industry has its eyes set on dominating the Southeast Asian market as part of its broader ambition to lead the global EV sector. This strategic move comes on the heels of China’s record-breaking export figures in 2023, which saw the country ship 1.2 million electric vehicles and 4 million conventional cars primarily to Europe and Asia-Pacific regions, including Thailand and Australia.