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Hongkong Land’s 1.5°C aligned science-based targets approved

  • Sixth Hong Kong-headquartered company to secure approval
  • Validation secured in less than four months

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 14 July 2022 – Hongkong Land today announced that its 1.5°C aligned near-term science-based targets (“SBTs”) to reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”).

Hongkong Land’s approved near-term SBTs cover its operations and development activities across Hong Kong, Singapore, the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia. They include a 46.2% reduction of absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels and a 22% per square metre reduction of carbon intensity for Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services and capital goods over the same period.

Hongkong Land becomes the fourth real estate company and the sixth company across all sectors in Hong Kong to have its 1.5°C aligned near-term SBTs approved. Having announced its commitment in February 2022, the Group has secured validation in less than four months.

“The successful validation of Hongkong Land’s near-term SBTs is a significant achievement in the Group’s climate action journey and is an important milestone in the execution of Jardines’ decarbonisation strategy,” said Mr Ben Keswick, Chairman of Hongkong Land.

“By setting targets that have now been validated by an independent party, we have strengthened Hongkong Land’s business resilience and readiness – positioning it for long-term growth, and aligned it more closely with the growing sustainability expectations of our partners, tenants and investors.”

The validation comes soon after Hongkong Land launched its new Sustainability Framework 2030, focused on four spotlights: Climate & Economic Resilience, Inspirational Connections, Operational Excellence and Vibrant Communities & Cities. In addition to near-term SBTs, the framework has specific climate-related 2030 targets including i) ensuring 90% of the Group’s leasing portfolio achieves the second highest or above ratings for green building certification, ii) sourcing 50% of electricity requirements from renewable sources and iii) a commitment to continuing to aggressively retrofit existing assets.

Underlining the Group’s green building leadership, 93% of its leasing portfolio (by floor area) across the region has achieved the second highest or above ratings for green building certification. This includes all its commercial buildings in Hong Kong and Singapore, which have the highest ratings of BEAM Plus Platinum (Existing Buildings Comprehensive Scheme) and Green Mark Platinum certifications.

Hongkong Land reinvests approximately US$50 million annually in retrofitting its Central Portfolio to drive energy efficiencies, reduce wastage and improve the use of renewable energy generation onsite. Initiatives in recent years include installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that generate over 30,000 kWh of electricity per annum at its Central Portfolio – with planned installation of another 73,000 kWh of new PV panels on the roof of Three Exchange Square later this year and establishing an award winning Integrated Smart Management System (“ISMS”) to optimise efficiencies across the Central Portfolio. The incorporation of ISMS into our operations has resulted in energy savings of 6.6% in the Central Portfolio in the past twelve months.

Mr Robert Wong, Chief Executive of Hongkong Land, said: “The speed at which we have secured formal validation of our SBTs is a testament to the commitment and operational excellence of our colleagues across all levels of the business.”

“We are proud to join an existing group of 12 real estate sector leaders across Asia that have aligned their decarbonisation efforts to the 1.5°C pathway. As a leading developer and operator of some of the world’s most sustainable buildings, we look forward to working with our stakeholders, including those in the property development value chain to deliver on the Group’s commitments in the years ahead.”

Hashtag: #HongkongLand

Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management and development group. Founded in 1889, Hongkong Land’s business is built on excellence, integrity and partnership.

The Group owns and manages more than 850,000 sq. m. of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing and Jakarta. Its properties attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands.

The Group’s Central Hong Kong portfolio represents some 450,000 sq. m. of prime property. It has a further 165,000 sq. m. of prestigious office space in Singapore mainly held through joint ventures, four retail centres on the Chinese mainland, including a luxury retail centre at Wangfujing in Beijing, and a 50% interest in a leading office complex in Central Jakarta. The Group also has a number of high- quality residential, commercial and mixed-use projects under development in cities across China and Southeast Asia, including a 43% interest in a 1.1 million sq. m. mixed-use project in West Bund, Shanghai. Its subsidiary, MCL Land, is a well-established residential developer in Singapore.

Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group’s assets and investments are managed from Hong Kong by Hongkong Land Limited. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

About the Science Based Targets initiative

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.

The initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments. The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets.

@sciencetargets

Laos-China Railway Clarifies Wet Weather Incident

Laos-China Railway outdoor seating at Vientiane Station
Laos-China Railway employees bring seating outdoors at Vientiane Station.

The Laos-China Railway Company has issued a statement on its Facebook page clarifying an incident that occurred recently in which customers were caught in a downpour at the Vientiane Railway Station.

NetApp Powers Porsche Motorsport to ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Wins with Data-driven Cloud Solutions

TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team utilizes real-time data collaboration powered by NetApp hybrid cloud solutions to achieve superior performance

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 14 July 2022 – NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), a global cloud-led, data-centric software company, and TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E1 Team, today announced a multi-year partnership. NetApp will provide the sportscar maker with innovative hybrid cloud solutions that will help them continue to write car racing history.

TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team utilizes real-time data collaboration powered by NetApp hybrid cloud solutions to achieve superior performance

TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team utilizes real-time data collaboration powered by NetApp hybrid cloud solutions to achieve superior performance

Porsche AG, a global automotive brand owned by Volkswagen Group, has begun shifting production towards electric or e-fuel powered vehicles in 2015. By the year 2030, Porsche AG aims for 80% of all vehicles sold to be electric. Tapping into NetApp’s real-time data services, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team helps deliver on the vision of sustainable mobility while enabling the real-time adjustments that deliver superior race performance – and help drive the next generation of Porsche electric vehicles.

Real-time data collaboration service for the racetrack

NetApp’s hybrid cloud solutions enable TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team to access their data trackside to support driver and team performance. This helps them make data-driven decisions in real-time, for example when to use the Formula E Attack Mode, which unlocks an additional 30 kilowatts of engine power. The rules about engaging Attack Mode are set by FIA shortly before every ePrix, hence it has a great impact on race strategy.

With data at the core of racing, business, and engineering decisions, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team requires cutting-edge data management technology:

  • Data and systems need to be available at the racetrack and fulfill demanding performance requirements.
  • Digital data collected during the ePrix must be uploaded to the cloud for analysis while the race is still running.
  • Cloud data needs to be processed by the team at Porsche Motorsport headquarters in Weissach, Germany for R&D.
  • After the race, data must be transferred to the cloud so it can be utilized in the future, and to support crucial data services such as backup and archiving.

The hybrid cloud data solution designed by NetApp and Porsche in response combines cloud network-attached (NAS) storage services with Global File Cache to ensure data can flow seamlessly and quickly between different widely dispersed locations. It also integrates powerful NetApp data services to ensure version consistency, manage and monitor cloud resources, and protect Porsche’s intellectual property:

  • Cloud Volumes ONTAP is the primary storage platform for TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. The multicloud solution deployed on Azure acts as a hub that consolidates all the team’s data.
  • Global File Cache, the cloud volume edge capability provides local edge instances, enabling low-latency access to a common dataset, both at the on-premises development center in Weissach and the racetrack.
  • Cloud Manager delivers centralized orchestration across hybrid cloud storage infrastructure and all data management services, so that TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team can manage, monitor and automate all their data software and hardware consumption.
  • Cloud Backup integrates as backup and archive layer for the consolidated cloud data.

“Formula E is a technology showcase and R&D backbone for Porsche and preserves our strong motorsports heritage on the road and on the track,” said Friedemann Kurz, Head of Motorsport IT, Porsche. “Data is the defining element here, but it is not easy to harness when the racing team is always on the road. The solution created by NetApp is unique in the market in how it can move huge amounts of data at high speed while delivering an intuitive experience across edge, core and cloud so we can design better, faster cars for our racecar drivers and car enthusiasts everywhere.”

“This is a winning partnership in which two champions meet eye-to-eye. Porsche has secured over 30,000 wins in all major car racing series. NetApp has submitted more than 2,500 data innovation patents. Joining forces now, we are working to make our mark on the future of racing,” said James Whitemore, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at NetApp. “Digital data is collected by the cars’ many sensors as they dart along the track and is processed synchronously to predict outcomes to aid the trackside team. Data equals speed.”

Additional Resources


1 Formula E is the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) innovative and sustainable international championship for electric open-wheel racing cars.

Hashtag: #NetApp #TAGHeuer

About NetApp

NetApp is a global, cloud-led, data-centric software company that empowers organizations to lead with data in the age of accelerated digital transformation. The company provides systems, software and cloud services that enable them to run their applications optimally from data center to cloud, whether they are developing in the cloud, moving to the cloud, or creating their own cloudlike experiences on premises. With solutions that perform across diverse environments, NetApp helps organizations build their own data fabric and securely deliver the right data, services and applications to the right people—anytime, anywhere. Learn more at or follow us on , , , and .

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at are trademarks of NetApp, Inc.

About Porsche in Formula E
With the Porsche 99X Electric, Porsche returned to open-wheel single-seater racing in 2019 after more than 30 years and celebrated a successful debut scoring second place at the season-opener in Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah in the ABB Formula E season 6. In 2021/2022, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team contests its third Formula E season with the Porsche 99X Electric – and clinched an historic one-two result in Mexico on 12 February 2022. The fully electric racing car sporting the Weissach-developed Porsche E Performance Powertrain also serves as a development platform for the sports car manufacturer’s fully electric production models. Energy management and efficiency are important factors of success in Formula E and in the development of production cars. For the 2021/2022 season, the 99X Electric has a maximum output of 250 kW in qualification mode and 220 kW (last season 200 kW) in normal race mode. Attack Mode boosts the output to 250 kW (last season 235 kW). Maximum recuperation is 250 kW; the usable battery capacity is 52 Kilowatt-hours.

Laos Knocks Out Thailand in Historic Victory at AFF U19 Youth Championship

Laos defeats Thailand 2-0 at 2022 AFF U19 Championship
Laos defeats Thailand 2-0 at 2022 AFF U19 Championship (Lao Football Federation)

Laos defeated Thailand in a historic victory yesterday evening during the semi-final round of the AFF U19 Youth Championship at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Indonesia.

Passport Applications Overwhelm Consular Department in Laos

A drastic increase in the number of residents applying for passports in Laos has overwhelmed the passport office, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Custom Menswear Clothier J.Hilburn Names New CEO

DALLAS, US – Media OutReach – 13 July 2022 – J.Hilburn, a leading custom-made menswear brand, announces today that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dave DeFeo is retiring but will remain a Board Member and advisor to the Management Team. Stein Ove Fenne will succeed DeFeo as the new CEO, effective July 14, 2022.

Stein Ove Fenne

Stein Ove Fenne

DeFeo was appointed as CEO in 2019, overseeing J.Hilburn’s strategic vision, leading the company through the pandemic and returning the company to increased sales and profitable growth. Taking his place will be Fenne, a direct sales veteran with more than 25 years of experience in leading global businesses with a wealth of direct sales experience.

A golf look from the J.Hilburn Spring 2022 Collection, featuring shirting by Ratti

A golf look from the J.Hilburn Spring 2022 Collection, featuring shirting by Ratti

During his time as CEO, DeFeo led the company to success as it embraced the use of technology and various clienteling tools. These enabled Stylists to work with their Clients virtually using a state-of-the-art fitting technology app on their phones, a 3D garment configuration tool, visual closets and virtual calls, paving a new way for Clients to purchase custom clothing through meeting with their personal Stylists either virtually or in person, whichever they preferred. Under DeFeo’s leadership, the brand also expanded its ever-popular range of custom casual clothing, proving to be a winner when the hybrid work model was adopted everywhere.

A suiting look from the J.Hilburn Spring 2022 Collection, featuring cloth by Reda 1865

A suiting look from the J.Hilburn Spring 2022 Collection, featuring cloth by Reda 1865


DeFeo says, “I am proud that we were able to transform our business and continuously provide high-quality products and services to our Clients through new technology while also expanding our casual assortment. It has been an amazing journey to lead J.Hilburn and see our progress throughout the pandemic. This is an exciting time for the company and our Stylists to grow, and I believe the company will thrive with Fenne’s leadership.”

Roger Lee, Chairman of J.Hilburn, added, “I want to thank DeFeo for the tremendous work he has done to take J.Hilburn through the pandemic and transform the company into a healthy and growing one. I am sad to see DeFeo take a back seat in J.Hilburn’s future but glad he will be staying on as a Board Member and Advisor. We have been very fortunate to find Fenne during our search and are very confident that Fenne will drive our growth strategy and take the company to the next level.”

Fenne served at Tupperware for 17 years before joining J.Hilburn. He was the Managing Director for the Northern Europe sector from 2007 to 2011, where he led the northern European business portfolio spanning 10 countries and successfully turned a four-year revenue decline. He was later appointed as President of the United States and Canada from 2011 to 2018 and Group President of EMEA from 2018 to 2020, overseeing Tupperware’s $1B division in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He also helped spearhead portfolios of 17 independent business units with manufacturing operations in South Africa, Portugal, Belgium, and Greece. After abundant experiences with an Independent Stylist community like J.Hilburn’s, Fenne has a strong understanding of the direct sales business model. He has been influential in developing a high-performance leadership culture, championed innovative digital strategies and social media initiatives, and led the successful turnaround of multiple established and emerging markets. Most recently, Fenne was President of Yes You Can. Earlier in his career, he was recruited to the Norwegian Armed Forces and graduated from the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy.

Commenting on his new position at J.Hilburn, Fenne said, “I am extremely thankful and honored to be J.Hilburn’s new CEO and be part of an amazing and successful company. I have been impressed by the quality of our Stylists, product, and the strength of our Client relationships that I see so much potential in. With this, I am confident that J.Hilburn will continue to be the world’s leading custom-made menswear brand.”

For more information on J.Hilburn, please visit www.jhilburn.com.

Hashtag: #J.Hilburn

About J.Hilburn

J.Hilburn is a leading custom-made menswear brand with luxury fabrics sourced directly from the most storied Italian mills. These exceptional fabrics are crafted into individual, custom-made garments for each Client’s fit and styling preference. J.Hilburn’s custom-made garments are offered through a trusted network of independent Personal Stylists who offer personal fittings and styling sessions at a Client’s convenience. J.Hilburn proudly delivers an unmatched apparel experience for men rooted in the core belief that every man deserves access to quality, service and value in his expression of personal style.

Johnson Electric reports Business and Unaudited Financial Information for the First Quarter of Financial Year 2022/23

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 13 July 2022 – This news release is made by Johnson Electric Holdings Limited (“Johnson Electric” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) for the business operations and selected unaudited financial information of the Group for the three months to 30 June 2022.

The Group’s sales for the quarter ended 30 June 2022 were US$840 million compared to US$877 million for the same quarter in 2021, a decrease of 4%. Excluding the impact of currency movements and the acquisition of E. Zimmermann GmbH (“Zimmermann”), sales were flat at US$874 million.

Foreign exchange rate movements had a negative effect of US$37 million on the Group’s sales for the quarter. This was mainly due to the impact of weaker average exchange rates especially for the Euro, but also for the RMB and Canadian Dollar against the US Dollar, compared to the same quarter in 2021. The acquisition of Zimmermann, completed on 31 May 2021, increased sales by US$3 million.

Sales of Automotive Products Group (“APG”)

APG’s sales for the quarter ended 30 June 2022 decreased by US$20 million or 3% compared to the same quarter in 2021. Excluding currency effects and the acquisition of Zimmermann, APG’s sales increased by US$9 million or 1% in the quarter. This increase in underlying sales compared to a 4% decrease in global light vehicle industry production volumes in the quarter.

On a regional basis, APG’s sales also fared better than automotive industry production volumes, which were constrained by shortages of semiconductors, in all regions during the quarter. The sales changes by region, excluding currency effects and the acquisition of Zimmermann, were as follows:

  • Asia decreased 7%
  • Europe decreased 2%
  • Americas increased 15%

In Asia, COVID-related factory lockdowns in China adversely affected sales of powertrain cooling and powder metal products, although other areas such as closure and water pumps increased. In Europe, oil and water pumps, coolant valves and powder metal parts were strong, although sales of other products decreased due to a reduction in light vehicle production in the region. In the Americas, there was strength across many of our product lines.

Sales of Industry Products Group (“IPG”)

IPG’s sales for the quarter ended 30 June 2022 decreased by US$17 million or 8% compared to the same quarter in 2021. Excluding currency effects, IPG’s sales decreased by US$12 million or 6% in the quarter, with the following changes by regions:

  • Asia decreased 33%
  • Europe increased 7%
  • Americas increased 16%

Asia sales, which primarily represents goods invoiced to Asia-based OEMs and contract manufacturers whose end products are mostly destined to export markets, declined owing to the combination of supply chain disruptions caused by COVID lockdowns in China, ongoing shortages of semiconductor chips and other components, and a decline in demand for some “home-centric” products that had experienced an exceptional surge in sales during the pandemic. In Europe, sales grew in the beverage and lawn segments and, in the Americas, in the medical, ventilation and white goods segments, due to new business wins and increased demand.

Chairman’s Comments on First Quarter’s Sales Performance and Outlook

Concerning the first quarter’s sales performance and outlook for the current financial year, Dr. Patrick Shui-Chung Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive, said, “Johnson Electric delivered a satisfactory sales performance in the first quarter in the context of significant disruptions to global manufacturing supply chains, which included ongoing chip shortages in the automotive sector and COVID-related operational restrictions in China.”

“Looking forward, it is presently difficult to gauge the impact of the sharp increase in global inflation on consumer demand across the wide range of end markets we serve. In our Industry Products Group, we are seeing a reduction in order flow among some customer segments which experienced exceptionally strong sales for “home-centric” products during the pandemic. However, in the automotive sector and for some other industrial product applications, we are not presently experiencing any noticeable weakening in underlying demand and the key factor constraining sales growth continues to be shortages of semiconductors and other components. An additional headwind on the Group’s reported sales is the current strength of the US Dollar against the Euro, RMB and Canadian Dollar, which together constitute over half of the Group’s denominated sales.”

“Despite these external challenges, our business units continue to work collaboratively with customers to adjust prices to offset the surge in cost input increases experienced in the past year. Our global operating footprint and geographically diverse sales mix also provides Johnson Electric with strong foundations to navigate further potential volatility in the macro economy.”

Cautionary Statement

Shareholders and potential investors in the Company are reminded that the information provided in this news release, including information related to the expected outlook for the full year, is based on the Group’s unaudited internal records and management accounts. This information has not been reviewed or audited by the Company’s auditors.

Shareholders and potential investors should exercise caution when dealing or investing in the shares of the Company.

Hashtag: #JohnsonElectric

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

About Johnson Electric Group

The Johnson Electric Group is a global leader in electric motors, actuators, motion subsystems and related electro-mechanical components. It serves a broad range of industries including Automotive, Smart Metering, Medical Devices, Business Equipment, Home Automation, Ventilation, White Goods, Power Tools, and Lawn & Garden Equipment. The Group is headquartered in Hong Kong and employs over 35,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide. Johnson Electric Holdings Limited is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 179). For further information, please visit: .

GEODIS named a Leader in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Third-Party Logistics, Worldwide

LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE – Media OutReach – 13 July 2022 – For the 5th time in a row, GEODIS has been recognized by Gartner as a Leader in its Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics, Worldwide report.

Every year, the Gartner Magic Quadrant report evaluates leading international third party logistics companies on their completeness of vision and ability to execute. Based on its research methodology, Gartner recognizes four types of providers: Leaders, Visionaries, Niche Players and Challengers. This Magic Quadrant can be used by supply chain leaders responsible for logistics to assess these 3PLs when considering outsourcing their logistics operations.

“GEODIS confirms its global leadership position, thanks to the most diverse portfolios of services on the market, 7.3 million sqm of warehouse space and a 46,000-strong workforce serving more than 165,000 customers. Our success as a company is directly tied to our engagement to support our clients in the management of their supply chain with end-to-end solutions while minimizing the environmental impact,” commented Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS.

GEODIS serves a wide range of vertical industries, including retail, FMCG, healthcare, industrial, high tech and automotive. In 2021, GEODIS achieved record revenue of €10.9 billion.
Hashtag: #GEODIS

Gartner Disclaimer

GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a global leading transport and logistics provider recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport), coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, is reflected by its top business rankings: no. 1 in France and no. 7 worldwide. GEODIS employs over 44,000 people globally and generated €10.9 billion in revenue in 2021.