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Envu Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia Forge Strategic Collaboration to Advance Sustainable Rodent Management

The partnership advances innovation in environmentally responsible pest control and supports Malaysia’s oil palm industry through science-backed field solutions

PENANG, Malaysia, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Envu Malaysia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), formalizing a long-term collaboration aimed at strengthening sustainable rodent control practices through applied research and field validation.

From left to right: Mr. Saipulilah, Mr. Kamarul Hassan (from Envu), Mr. Mark Ooi (from Envu), Mr. Tan Eng-Kooi(from Envu), Mr. Lee Teck Peng(Managing Director of Envu Malaysia and Export Countries), Professor Dato' Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed(FASc, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia(USM)), Associate Professor Dr. Amir Hamzah Ahmad Ghazali (from USM), Professor Emeritus Dr. Abu Hassan Ahmad(from BORG), Associate Professor Dr. Hasber Salim (from BORG). Leaders from Envu and Universiti Sains Malaysia came together on 8 May 2025 to formalize a strategic partnership focused on advancing sustainable rodent management solutions.
From left to right: Mr. Saipulilah, Mr. Kamarul Hassan (from Envu), Mr. Mark Ooi (from Envu), Mr. Tan Eng-Kooi(from Envu), Mr. Lee Teck Peng(Managing Director of Envu Malaysia and Export Countries), Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed(FASc, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia(USM)), Associate Professor Dr. Amir Hamzah Ahmad Ghazali (from USM), Professor Emeritus Dr. Abu Hassan Ahmad(from BORG), Associate Professor Dr. Hasber Salim (from BORG). Leaders from Envu and Universiti Sains Malaysia came together on 8 May 2025 to formalize a strategic partnership focused on advancing sustainable rodent management solutions.

The partnership connects Envu’s leadership in professional pest management with USM’s academic expertise, particularly through the Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), a specialist research team under the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, dedicated to sustainable rodent management and ecological pest control. Together, the organizations will develop and promote best practices that address rodent management challenges across both plantation and urban settings.

“This partnership builds on a strong foundation of collaboration and signals our shared commitment to delivering locally validated, science-driven solutions,” said Lee Teck Peng, Managing Director of Envu Malaysia and Export Countries. “In sectors such as oil palm plantations, where pest pressure and workforce shortages are a growing concern, this collaboration enables us to support customers with tools that are both effective and environmentally responsible.”

Recent collaborations between Envu Malaysia and BORG have focused on the development and field validation of Envu’s Racumin® Wax Block, a first-generation rodenticide designed for use in both oil palm plantations and urban environments. The partnership also explored innovative multiple baiting strategies with Racumin® Wax Block, yielding promising initial outcomes. These approaches demonstrated practical ways to reduce labour reliance, enabling plantation teams to focus more effectively on other critical maintenance activities.

By promoting more efficient and sustainable rodent management, these efforts align with Envu’s commitment to advancing Healthier Spaces and People, as well as Nature Positive Innovation.

Building on these practical outcomes, the collaboration continues to strengthen the academic-industry partnership aimed at sustainable pest management excellence.

The MoU outlines opportunities for the co-development of educational materials, training initiatives, and additional research projects that contribute to high standards of effective and responsible pest management practices across Malaysia. The collaboration also supports knowledge-sharing and talent development between academia and industry. It represents a significant step forward in combining scientific insight with field expertise to address evolving pest control challenges. The collaboration reflects a shared vision to advance responsible, nature-positive innovation grounded in local needs and global relevance.

Envu Malaysia and USM invite industry partners, researchers, and innovators to join us in shaping the future of sustainable pest management through science, collaboration, and shared purpose.

About Envu :

Envu was founded in 2022, a company built on years of environmental science experience, for the sole purpose of advancing healthy environments for everyone, everywhere. Envu offers dedicated services in: Professional Pest Management, Forestry, Ornamentals, Golf, Industrial Vegetation Management, Lawn & Landscape, Mosquito Management, and Range & Pasture. Envu collaborates with customers to design innovative solutions that meet their requirements today and well into the future. The Envu portfolio consists of more than 180 trusted and well-known brands. The company employs over 900 people, operates in 100 countries, and has four global innovation hubs. For additional information, visit https://www.my.envu.com/

  • EcoVadis Gold Rating: Envu ranks among the top 5% of over 70,000 companies assessed globally for sustainability, supporting customer ESG and procurement standards.
  • Alignment with UN Global Compact: Envu upholds globally recognized ethical labor principles, advancing decent work and labor conditions across its operations.
  • Commitment to Climate Action: Envu is aligned with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and has committed to near-term net-zero targets.
  • Sustainability as a Differentiator: Envu’s sustainability leadership enables customers to strengthen their own corporate responsibility and ESG commitments.
  • Great Place to Work® Certified: Envu has earned certifications in key markets including India, the USA, and France, reflecting a strong, motivated global workforce

About Universiti Sains Malaysia :

UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA, a public institution of higher learning established under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, is Malaysia’s premier public university with research and teaching facilities, experience, and a multi-disciplinary team of experts from among its staff members to undertake the creation, development, dissemination and application of knowledge that can contribute towards achieving the Malaysian Government’s goal of nation building. USM has set its mission to be “a pioneering, trans-disciplinary research intensive university that empowers future talents and enables the bottom billions to transform their socio-economic well-being”. 

For more information, visit www.usm.my

For further information, please contact:
Mark Ooi Chuan Sen
Technical Services Manager, Envu
mark.ooi@envu.com

Sumit Maurya
Marketing Communication and Events 
Manager, Envu
sumit.maurya@envu.com 

   

Aker Horizons: Information regarding share-based investment program

FORNEBU, Norway, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In 2021, Kristian Røkke, Chairman of Aker Horizons ASA (the “Company”), participated in a share-based investment program in which the Company sold shares in its subsidiary Aker Horizons Holding AS for NOK 25 million. NOK 10 million were paid in cash by Kristian, and NOK 15 million were financed through a loan from the Company. The share program was settled in 2024 with a total loss for Kristian of NOK 23.8 million.

As part of the settlement, the shares were transferred back to the Company. The Company retained the NOK 10 million in cash contribution, while the portion of the loan not covered by the proceeds from the sale of the shares upon settlement was cancelled in accordance with the agreement. The amount of the loan cancellation in favor of Kristian was NOK 13.8 million, reducing his loss on the investment correspondingly. The debt cancellation mechanism was part of the original terms for the share program.

Kristian today paid NOK 13.8 million to the Company and gave the following comment:

“I recognize the concerns raised by stakeholders and have listened. To reinforce alignment, I have chosen to repay the loan amount that was otherwise cancelled under the agreed terms.”

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Jonas Gamre, Investor Relations, tel: +47 97 11 82 92, email: jonas.gamre@akerhorizons.com
Mats Ektvedt, Media, tel: +47 41 42 33 28, email: mats.ektvedt@corporatecommunications.no 

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-horizons/r/information-regarding-share-based-investment-program,c4147916

 

Aker Horizons announces merger with Aker and early repayment of NOK 2.5 billion green bond

FORNEBU, Norway, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aker ASA (Aker) and Aker Horizons ASA (Aker Horizons or AKH) today announce a merger (the Merger) whereby AKH’s subsidiary, Aker Horizons Holding AS (AKH Holding), will merge with a subsidiary of Aker ASA (AKH MergerCo) against consideration in the form of shares in Aker ASA and cash to all shareholders in Aker Horizons (other than Aker Capital). Specifically, shareholders will receive 0.001898 shares in Aker ASA (subject to rounding as described below) and NOK 0.267963 in cash for each share owned in AKH. The exchange ratio is based on the 30-day volume weighted average share price for each of Aker and AKH. The Merger is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2025.

AKH Holding encompasses all business activities of the Aker Horizons group, including its shareholding in Aker Carbon Capture ASA (ACC), investment in Mainstream Renewable Power, and the Narvik properties. As described in a stock exchange notice from ACC today, ACC has entered into an agreement to sell its ownership interest in SLB Capturi AS to Aker, followed by a proposed dividend payment to ACC shareholders and liquidation of ACC.

To enable shareholders in AKH to benefit directly from the merger consideration, the shares in AKH Holding will be distributed as a dividend in kind to AKH shareholders immediately prior to completion of the Merger. Upon completion of the Merger, AKH shareholders who received AKH Holding shares as dividend in kind will receive the merger consideration in exchange for their shareholding in AKH Holding. The distribution of dividend in kind in the form of shares in AKH Holding is subject to approval by the shareholders of AKH. An extraordinary general meeting to consider this is expected to be called for the first part of June 2025.

AKH has also resolved to redeem 100% of the Aker Horizons AS FRN Senior Unsecured NOK 2,500,000,000 Green Bond 2021/2025 (ISIN NO0010923220) (the Green Bond) at a call price of 100.37 percent of par, plus accrued unpaid interest. AKH will utilize existing cash reserves for the redemption, which is expected to be completed by the end of May 2025. The early redemption will reduce cash interest costs for AKH that would otherwise accrue until the maturity of the Green Bond on August 15, 2025. The redemption is not conditional upon completion of the Merger.

As part of the overall transaction relating to the Merger:

  • AKH will offer to repurchase the outstanding bonds under AKH’s NOK 1.6 billion Convertible Bond due 2026 (the Convertible Bond) at a cash price of 93% of par. Repurchased bonds will subsequently be cancelled. AKH will fund such redemption by drawing on a receivable against AKH Holding that will be established as part of the Merger, whereby the economic liability to repay the Convertible Bond is assumed by AKH Holding. Aker Capital, which holds Convertible Bonds equalling NOK 1.3 billion par value, has undertaken not to accept the redemption offer.
  • AKH Holding will upon completion of the Merger assume the debtor position under AKH’s NOK 2.6 bn (including accrued interest) shareholder loan from Aker Capital.
  • AKH will propose to DNB Bank ASA that the guarantee provided by AKH in relation to the Mainstream Renewable Power DNB facility shall be transferred to AKH MergerCo. Such transfers will be conditional upon completion of the Merger. The new shareholder loan from AKH to Mainstream Renewable Power issued in April 2025 and the new shareholder loan commitment will also be transferred to AKH MergerCo.

The transaction is the result of a strategic review process by the Board of Directors of Aker Horizons (the Board), who has concluded that it represents the most attractive alternative for Aker Horizons and its shareholders. There is significant market uncertainty and substantial funding requirements needed to realize the value creation potential in Aker Horizons’ portfolio of assets, which makes it challenging for Aker Horizons as a stand-alone listed company to raise financing without diluting existing shareholders. Additionally, Aker Horizons has significant debt that will mature during the next 12 months.

The Board believes that the Merger and other transactions described herein are in the best commercial interests of AKH, its shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders. Consequently, the Board has deemed it advisable and in the best interests of AKH and its shareholders to complete the transactions.

Following the completion of the Merger, Aker will continue to realize the value of AKH Holdings’ existing investments. Mainstream’s activities have been scaled down and the company is focusing on a few key areas, including South Africa and Australia. Overall, going forward the task is to manage risks and opportunities in the portfolio, including in Chile and within offshore wind. In Narvik, the emphasis will be on developing the data center business opportunity.

Øyvind Eriksen, President and CEO, Aker ASA, comments:

“This merger follows a prolonged period of financial uncertainty for Aker Horizons. Despite significant losses for Aker and fellow shareholders in Aker Horizons, our perspective remains long-term. We believe in the underlying industrial potential and are taking steps to protect and rebuild shareholder value through more focused capital deployment and a clearer strategic direction. We will continue to develop the existing assets, including core projects in Mainstream and the ownership in SLB Capturi, as well as the possible data center development in Narvik, which will require Aker’s full weight of industrial expertise and financial capacity.”

Lone Fønss Schrøder, Independent Director of Aker Horizons, comments:

“This transaction serves the long-term interests of all stakeholders. It reflects the need to adapt to a materially changed market environment, where the sharp downturn in green energy and industrial markets has made capital raising and large-scale execution significantly more challenging. We have already adjusted our strategy – and now also our structure.”

Kristian Røkke, Chairman of Aker Horizons, comments:

“Aker Horizons was founded with a clear vision: to accelerate the transition to Net Zero by applying the Aker group’s industrial, technological, and capital markets expertise to drive global decarbonization through renewable energy, carbon capture, and sustainable industry. The portfolio, built in a different market environment, retains potential with several promising initiatives.

Notably, the powered land sites in Narvik, originally part of our green industry strategy, have evolved into an AI Factory initiative. The surging demand for AI infrastructure offers significant value creation opportunities. Today’s market conditions do not support large-scale green investments to the extent they once did, and realizing this potential requires capital and scale beyond Aker Horizons’ standalone capacity.”

The Board will work on defining AKH’s future strategy and structure following completion of the Merger and will revert with an update once the Board has concluded in this respect.

Key Terms of the Merger

Aker Horizons’ wholly owned subsidiary, AKH Holding, will merge with an indirect subsidiary of Aker ASA (AKH MergerCo), with AKH MergerCo as the surviving entity. Shareholders in Aker Horizons (other than Aker Capital) will upon completion of the Merger receive merger consideration in the form of NOK 0.267963 in cash and 0.001898 shares in Aker ASA for each share owned in Aker Horizons. The exchange ratio is based on the 30-day volume weighted average share price for each of Aker and AKH.

Aker ASA will settle the consideration shares in the Merger with treasury shares held and/or acquired and/or issue of new shares pursuant to authorizations granted to the board of directors of Aker ASA.

Fractions of Aker ASA consideration shares will not be allotted in the Merger. For each shareholder the number of Aker ASA shares will be rounded down to each whole number, or to zero shares. Excess shares, which because of this round down will not be allotted to eligible shareholders, will be issued to and sold by DNB Bank ASA according to instructions from Aker ASA at the expense and risk of the beneficiaries with a proportionate distribution of net sales proceeds among the shareholders who have the number of consideration shares rounded off.

Since the Merger is between AKH Holding and AKH MergerCo, shareholders in AKH will retain their shares in AKH following completion of the Merger.

Completion of the Merger is subject to (i) completion of the distribution of dividend in kind in the form of shares in AKH Holding, (ii) all third-party notifications and consents having been delivered and obtained, including consent from DNB Bank ASA in relation to transfer of the support arrangements relating to Mainstream Renewables described above, and (iii) other customary closing conditions. Subject to fulfilment of these conditions, the Merger is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2025.

Advisors

Arctic Securities AS has acted as financial adviser to Aker and DNB Markets has acted as financial adviser to Aker Horizons in connection with the Merger. Advokatfirmaet BAHR AS has acted as legal counsel to Aker and Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS has acted as legal counsel to Aker Horizons.

For further information, please contact:
Jonas Gamre, Investor Relations, tel: +47 97 11 82 92, email: jonas.gamre@akerhorizons.com
Mats Ektvedt, Media, tel: +47 41 42 33 28, email: mats.ektvedt@corporatecommunications.no 

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation article 7 and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to MAR article 17 and Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement was published by Mats Ektvedt, Partner in Corporate Communications, on 9 May 2025 at 06:57 CEST.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-horizons/r/aker-horizons-announces-merger-with-aker-and-early-repayment-of-nok-2-5-billion-green-bond,c4147914

Skymizer Launches HyperThought: Build Your Own AI Chip with Skymizer’s LPU IP

TAIPEI, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Following the success of EdgeThought, the breakthrough LPU that revolutionized on-device LLM inferencing in 2024, Skymizer today announced the launch of its powerful next-generation AI accelerator IP: HyperThought. Engineered to meet the growing demands of real-time, multimodal, and agent-based AI, HyperThought represents a major leap forward in performance, scalability, and deployment flexibility.

**Build Your Own AI Chip with Skymizer’s HyperThought LPU IP** – Skymizer’s LPU IP is not just an accelerator; it’s a fully integrable subsystem that empowers SoC teams to design and deploy custom AI silicon tailored for their applications. HyperThought gives developers the control to combine domain-specific intelligence with their own host CPU and edge subsystems.

HyperThought is powered by Skymizer’s Language Instruction Set Architecture (LISA) v3, enabling multimodal processing, concurrent multi-model execution, and native support for agentic AI workflows. Paired with a fully updated runtime and compiler stack, the HyperThought platform delivers unmatched efficiency in compute, memory, and bandwidth—making it ideal for a wide range of edge AI deployments from smart devices to autonomous systems.

“EdgeThought brought LLM inference to the edge. HyperThought makes the edge intelligent,” said William Wei, CMO of Skymizer. “With LISA v3, we’re not just accelerating tokens—we’re enabling intelligent agents that can reason, interact multimodally, and adapt in real time. This is a transformative step forward for edge AI.”

Key Highlights of HyperThought

  • Built on LISA v3: Skymizer’s third-generation Language ISA introduces dynamic graph control, parallel agent execution, and advanced memory ops—fully hardware-supported.
  • Multimodal Capability: HyperThought supports seamless execution of text, vision, and instruction-based models across shared compute resources.
  • Concurrent Multi-Model Support: Efficient execution of multiple quantized LLMs in parallel, enabling low-latency response across applications.
  • Agentic AI Infrastructure: Designed to support persistent, goal-driven agents capable of interactive and contextual reasoning across tasks.
  • Optimized Software Stack: Co-designed compiler-runtime platform balances compute throughput with memory and bandwidth constraints.
  • Scalable Integration: IP block is modular and compact for rapid integration into mobile, embedded, and automotive-grade SoCs.

“HyperThought is the most advanced LPU we’ve engineered,” said Luba Tang, CTO of Skymizer. “LISA v3 enables us to support not just language models, but real-time intelligent systems that need to react, infer, and adapt. It’s a foundational step toward truly autonomous, on-device AI.”

Join Skymizer at COMPUTEX 2025

Skymizer will showcase HyperThought at COMPUTEX Taipei, from May 20–23, 2025. Attendees will experience:

  • FPGA verified IP powering multimodal inference and agent-based workflows
  • Technical sessions on LISA v3 and SoC integration best practices
  • Previews of HyperThought’s software tools and developer stack

Visit Skymizer at the following location
Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 – System Integration Solution Area
Our Booths:
1F Power Chip Booth: I-1111 (PSMC Booth)
4F RISC-V Booth: L-0425 (RVTA Booth)

Please note: Visitors must register for a COMPUTEX Member Account in advance:

https://www.computexonline.com.tw/?userlang=en

About Skymizer
Skymizer is a semiconductor IP provider enabling intelligent computing everywhere. With deep expertise in compiler technology and silicon architecture, Skymizer delivers efficient, scalable AI acceleration solutions for the next generation of smart devices.

www.skymizer.com

QCY H3 Pro Wins Red Dot Design Award 2025, Continuing a String of Global Design Accolades

DONGGUAN, China, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — QCY, a globally renowned brand in wireless audio technology, is proud to announce that its QCY H3 Pro Adaptive Noise Cancelling Headphones have received the Red Dot Design Award 2025, one of the most prestigious honors in the global design community.

This new award joins the H3 Pro’s increasing number of international awards, including the VGP Design Award and the IDEA Award, thereby further reinforcing its reputation for sophisticated aesthetic, user-centric design, and innovative forward thinking.

QCY H3 Pro Wins Red Dot Design Award 2025
QCY H3 Pro Wins Red Dot Design Award 2025

Red Dot: The Universal Standard for Design Excellence

The Red Dot Design Award has been one of the most renowned design awards in the world since its establishment in 1954. An international jury of design professionals evaluates products based on design quality, innovation, usability, and functionality. The H3 Pro was distinguished because it features a premium industrial design, a user-friendly interface, and outstanding sound quality.

QCY H3 Pro: A Design and Sound Award-Winning Leap

The QCY H3 Pro is a premium over-ear headphone for immersive, high-resolution sound. Featuring adaptive noise cancellation by up to 50dB and a dual-chip architecture—a main audio chip and a dedicated amplifier chip—it delivers deeper, more powerful bass with better clarity.

The product’s ergonomic shape ensures long-lasting comfort throughout extended listening periods. With support for the LDAC codec and being Hi-Res Audio certified, the H3 Pro delivers detailed sound over a wide frequency band. In addition, the implementation of spatial audio technology allows for a multi-dimensional, cinema-like soundstage, while individual EQ settings through the QCY App allow users to tailor their hearing experience based on their personal needs.

A Commitment to the Future of Design.

This recognition mirrors QCY’s unwavering commitment to design excellence and empowering users. QCY aims to make high-quality audio accessible by merging intelligent technology, eco-friendly values, and considerate design that enriches everyday life.

Regarding QCY as a top global audio brand owned by Dongguan Hele Electronics, it is committed to expanding the possibilities of wireless audio through technology and intelligent design. With more than 16 years of experience in the field and millions of users across the globe, QCY is still venturing into the future of consumer electronics. Stop by qcy.com to learn about the newest products.

PR Contact
Tracy, Senior PR Manager, QCY
pr@qcyearphone.com
Rice, Marketing Director, QCY
Rice@qcyearphone.com

Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus Announces the Best Young Sommelier Competition – Asia Edition 2025 to showcase the talent of aspiring sommeliers across 10 regions in Asia


HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 May 2025 – Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus proudly announces the Best Young Sommelier Competition by Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus – Asia Edition 2025, a landmark event designed to cultivate and celebrate the next generation of sommeliers talent throughout Asia. This prestigious competition will serve as a crucial stepping stone for candidates, preparing them for future success on both local and international stages. This year, Vietnam will have the honor of hosting the competition, welcoming aspiring sommeliers from numerous regions, including China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

The Jury Panel for the Best Young Sommelier Competition by Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus – Asia Edition 2025
The Jury Panel for the Best Young Sommelier Competition by Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus – Asia Edition 2025

Nurturing The Future of The Sommelier Community

Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of wine professionals, the competition provides a platform for young sommeliers aged 18 to 30 to demonstrate their expertise and passion. Candidates will progress through three rigorous stages: preliminary selection, semi-finals, and finals. This year competition is particularly honored to have a distinguished judging panel of 8 renowned wine experts presiding over the semi-finals and finals.

Competition Timeline and Structure

The preliminary selection round has successfully concluded across regions in March and April, indentifiying the top 10 young talents who will be representing their nations in the semi-final and final rounds, taking place in Vietnam from May 20th to 21st, 2025, at Mai House hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Top 10 candidates competing in the semi-final and final rounds for the Best Young Sommelier Competition by Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus – Asia Edition 2025
The Top 10 candidates competing in the semi-final and final rounds for the Best Young Sommelier Competition by Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus – Asia Edition 2025

The preliminary round was notably supported by the esteemed local sommelier associations: the Hong Kong Sommelier Association, the Sommelier Association of Malaysia, the Sommelier Association of Singapore, the Taiwan Sommelier Association and the Indonesia Sommelier Association, to organize the selections in their respective regions.

On May 20th, the semi-finalists will participate in a private event featuring a thorough written examination and educational workshops to assess and elevate their knowledge and skills. The top three performers will proceed to the public final on May 21st. This final round will be a dynamic public showcase where finalists will demonstrate their expertise through live performances judged on wine region knowledge, sensory analysis, food pairing, and service technique.

The winner will receive a special prize package: a five-day immersive experience in Bordeaux, exploring the prestigious Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus estates; a Château Montlabert gift box; and a bottle of Château Beychevelle. The winning association will also be awarded a case of Castel wines and an exclusive online masterclass.

A Commitment to the Asian Sommelier Community

“We are thrilled to host the Best Young Sommelier Competition – Asia Edition 2025, bringing together talented young sommeliers from across the region” stated Mrs. Stephanie Voy, APAC Senior Marketing Manager at Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus. “This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering strong connections within the Asian sommelier community and empowering the next generation of wine professionals. We aim to provide an enriching and unforgettable experience, offering valuable knowledge, insights into Bordeaux wines, and unparalleled networking opportunities for the candidates.”Hashtag: #BestYoungSommelier

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

About Castel Châteaux & Grand Crus

Castel’s Family Estates have traditionally been based in the Bordeaux region, although the family have made acquisitions in 3 other major French winemaking areas: the Loire, the Languedoc and Provence. This means that the family can offer a range of red, white, and rosé wines built around 11 AOCs and 1 PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) area. This collection is made up with more than 60 exclusive wines from the 20 Family Estates.

These Great Wines’ standards are extremely high, inspired and upheld by the family’s commitment to excellence. Teams of experts are constantly at work to ensure that the products capture the quintessence of each one of these terroirs, hand-picked by the Castel family. One of the fundamental values close to the heart of the business as a whole is the preservation of the terroirs, reflected in Castel Estates and Vineyards’ growing commitment to sustainability. To date, 1000 hectares of vineyard are either Terra Vitis accredited or certified organic.

For more information about Castel Châteaux & Grand Crus, please visit: or

About Apron Fine Wines & Spirits and Celliers d’Asie Vietnam

Red Apron Fine Wines & Spirits and Celliers d’Asie Vietnam proudly serve as the official platinum sponsors for the competition, demonstrating their shared commitment to empowering the next generation of sommelier talent across Asia.

Red Apron Fine Wines and Spirits is a leading wine company in Vietnam, offers over 3,000 wine and spirit selections, including renowned brands, estates, and chateaux, along with premium accessories. With 16 stores nationwide, they consistently aim to provide the finest wine experiences.

Celliers d’Asie Vietnam is a leading wine importer and distributor in Vietnam and serves as the direct supplier for Red Apron Fine Wines & Spirits. Their sophisticated selection and premium accessories make them a comprehensive resource for wine enthusiasts, contributing to Vietnam’s evolving wine culture.

About Lucaris

Lucaris is a world-renowned premium crystal glassware brand produced in Thailand, joining this year’s competition as the official glassware sponsor.

With world class quality and design, inspired by modern Asian cities lifestyle, Lucaris evokes the wining senses, enabling the wine to develop its full aromas and tastes, and creates an emerging paradigm in the art of pairing wines with modern Asian Cuisine.

About KadeKa

As the official wine chiller sponsor for the competition, KadeKa represents quality and innovation in wine preservation. Established in 1998, KadeKa revolutionized Singapore’s wine chiller industry by introducing the first-ever 30-bottle wine chiller, catering to the evolving needs of a burgeoning wine-drinking community. With continual effort, KadeKa expands its product line, aiming for seamless home integration and an elevated lifestyle.

Sohu.com to Report First Quarter 2025 Financial Results on May 19, 2025

BEIJING, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sohu.com Limited (NASDAQ: SOHU), a leading Chinese online media platform and game business group, will report its first quarter 2025 unaudited financial results on Monday, May 19, 2025, before U.S. market hours.

Sohu’s management team will host a conference call on the same day at 7:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, May 19, 2025 (7:30 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time, May 19, 2025) following the quarterly results announcement.

Conference Call Preregistration

Participants can register for the conference call by click here, you will be led to the conference registration website. Upon registration, each participant will receive details for the conference call, including dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

The live webcast and archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sohu’s website at https://investors.sohu.com/.

About Sohu

Sohu.com Limited (NASDAQ: SOHU) was established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of China’s internet pioneers, in the 1990s. Sohu operates one of the leading Chinese online media platforms and also engages in the online game business in the Chinese mainland. Sohu has built one of the most comprehensive matrices of Chinese language web properties, consisting of Sohu News App, Sohu Video App, the mobile portal m.sohu.com, the PC portal www.sohu.com, and the online games platform www.changyou.com/en/.

As a mainstream media platform with social features, Sohu is indispensable to the daily life of millions of Chinese, providing to a vast number of users a network of web properties and community based products, which offer a broad array of content such as news, information, text, picture, video and live broadcasting. Sohu also attracts users to be highly engaged in content generation and distribution, and actively interact with each other on the platform. Sohu’s online game business is conducted by its subsidiary Changyou which develops and operates a diverse portfolio of PC and mobile games, such as the well-known Tian Long Ba Bu (“TLBB”) PC and Legacy TLBB Mobile.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Ms. Pu Huang
Sohu.com Limited
Tel:     +86 (10) 6272-6645
E-mail:   ir@contact.sohu.com

In the United States:

Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Christensen
Tel:     +1 (480) 614-3004
E-mail:   linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

De Beers Group Announces Intention To Close Lightbox Business

Underpins De Beers Group’s commitment to natural diamonds Element Six to retain exclusive focus on industrial applications for synthetic diamonds

LONDON, UK – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 May 2025 – De Beers Group today announces its intention to close its lab-grown diamond (“LGD”) jewellery brand, Lightbox, reinforcing De Beers Group’s commitment to natural diamonds in the jewellery sector. As part of the closure process, De Beers Group is discussing the sale of certain assets, including inventory, with potential buyers.

Lightbox, which was established in 2018, has highlighted that LGDs are a distinct product from natural diamonds, with different attributes and different value. The business was launched with transparent linear pricing of $800 per carat. Since then, LGD prices in the jewellery sector have fallen 90% at wholesale, tracking closer to a cost-plus model as they have diverged from natural diamond prices. Reflecting this sharp price decline, De Beers Group intends to discontinue the Lightbox business. The evolution of LGD values in the jewellery sector underpins De Beers Group’s core belief in rare, high-value, natural diamond jewellery as a separate category from low-cost, mass-produced LGD jewellery.

The proposed closure of the Lightbox business reflects a key executional milestone in De Beers Group’s Origins Strategy, as set out in May 2024, to focus on high-return activities and streamline the business. The closure will enable De Beers Group to reallocate investment to initiatives focused on reinvigorating desire for natural diamonds through category marketing.

De Beers Group will work closely with employees, retail partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth process over the coming months. Customers will continue to receive support for existing purchases, including warranties and after-sales services, during the closure process.

Demand Growth for Synthetic Diamonds in Industrial Applications

Element Six, De Beers Group’s subsidiary that previously produced lab grown stones for Lightbox, maintains its exclusive focus on industrial solutions using synthetic diamonds. Building on its world-leading status developed over more than seven decades, Element Six is well-positioned to seize the rapidly growing potential for synthetic diamond applications across a range of future-facing technologies and applications. By centralising CVD (chemical vapor deposition) synthetic diamond production at its state-of-the-art facility in Oregon, US, Element Six will work with its growing global network of partners to accelerate cutting-edge technologies for high growth industries, such as semiconductors and quantum technologies. With a track record of growth and profitability, Element Six is favourably positioned to drive the future of synthetic diamond solutions in industrial and high-tech applications.

Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group, said: “As we move towards becoming a standalone company, we continue to optimise our business, reduce costs and build a focused De Beers that is positioned for profitable growth.

“The persistently declining value of lab-grown diamonds in jewellery underscores the growing differentiation between these factory-made products and natural diamonds. Lightbox has helped to highlight the fundamental differences in value between these two categories. Global competition continues to intensify with more low-cost lab-grown diamond production from China. In the US, supermarkets are driving down lab-grown diamond jewellery prices. Overall, we expect both the cost and price of lab-grown diamonds to fall further in the jewellery sector.

“The planned closure of Lightbox reflects our commitment to natural diamonds. We are also excited at the growing commercial potential for synthetic diamonds in the technology and industrial space.”

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About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.