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Spackman Entertainment Group Successfully Completes the Disposal of Zip Cinema Co., Ltd. for S$19.8 Million

  • Following the disposal, the Group intends to strategically diversify into the production and financing of Korean drama and US movies

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 December 2021 – Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups, wishes to announce that it has successfully completed the disposal of its subsidiary Zip Cinema Co., Ltd. for S$19.8 million (the “Disposal“).

Following the Disposal, the Group intends to strategically diversify into the production and financing of Korean drama and US movies, which are potentially more profitable than Korean films due to a wider international audience base.

Recent well-known Korean drama productions such as Netflix’s most-watched show ever[1], SQUID GAME (2021) starring rising international Korean star Wi Ha-jun of the Group’s associated company Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“), MY NAME (2021) which is gaining traction following the success of SQUID GAME, and Netflix’s latest Korean blockbuster hit show HELLBOUND (2021), serve as exemplary projects that attract huge viewership not only in the US, but globally. 

In terms of the North American film sector, demand for Korean productions has been burgeoning recently. Oscar-winning Korean film PARASITE (2019) and Oscar-nominated Korean film MINARI (2020) are examples of critically acclaimed films that have captured the hearts of US film critics and international audiences.

Mr. Na Kyoungwon, Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer and President of the Group, said, “Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been many significant changes and developments in regards to how, where and who consumes Korean entertainment content. Korean content is increasingly becoming global, and we feel the need to make significant changes in our overall business model in order to capitalize on this changing landscape. The sale of one of our main production labels and the new focus on K-dramas and international films signal a new start for our Group.”

Leveraging on the popularity and globalization of Korean content, the Disposal will provide the Group with the capital support to look for opportunities to develop, produce and invest into film and drama projects targeted at international audiences.



[1] Yonhap News Agency, ‘Squid Game’ becomes most-watched Netflix show with record 1.65 bln hours, https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20211117004700315?section=news, 17 November 2021

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its subsidiaries, (the “Group“), founded in 2011 by Charles Spackman, is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea. According to Variety, Korea was the world’s fourth largest box office market in 2019, behind only North America, China and Japan.

The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.

Production Labels

SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films (58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE OF BETRAYAL, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information on Novus Mediacorp, do visit http://novusmediacorp.com.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).


The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release GUARDIAN (working title) in 2021 tentatively.


The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.


The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL, a comedy horror film.

Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. We release all of our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.

Talent Representation

The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee), UAA&CO Inc. (Song Hye-kyo, Yoo Ah-in, Park Hyung-sik), Fiftyone K Inc. (So Ji Sub, Ok Taec-yeon), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku), and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.

Strategic Businesses

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Frame Pictures Co., Ltd. (“Frame Pictures“). Frame Pictures is a leader in the movie/drama equipment leasing business in Korea. Established in 2014, Frame Pictures has worked with over 25 top

directors and provided the camera and lighting equipment some of Korea’s most notable drama and movie projects including ITAEWON CLASS (2020), HOW TO BUY A FRIEND (2020), KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN 1982 (2019), FOUR MEN (2019) and ASADAL CHRONICLES (2019).

We also operate a café-lounge called Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.

For more details, do visit http://www.spackmanentertainmentgroup.com/

#SpackmanEntertainmentGroup

Arlo Surpasses 1 million Paid Accounts

Milestone Underscored by Innovation and an Unwavering Commitment to Customer Needs

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 December 2021 – Arlo Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ARLO), a leading smart home security brand, today announced its AI-powered subscription service has surpassed 1 million paid accounts. The milestone is a testament to the brand’s ongoing smart home security innovations, robust ecosystem of award-winning hardware, software and services, and ability to provide consumers with added peace of mind by giving them the power to protect their homes and families.

 

From comprehensive, industry-first AI person, package, animal and vehicle detection, to potentially life-saving features like Smoke and CO Alarm detection, Arlo enables users to easily monitor and protect loved ones, properties and more. The service ensures users are always aware so they can react quickly with the help of innovative tools designed for immediate action.

 

“The acceleration of our subscriber base continues with paid accounts nearly doubling since March 2021,” said Brad Little, Vice President & Managing Director APAC. “Achieving this milestone faster than forecasted demonstrates Arlo’s ability to provide trusted smart home security solutions that address fundamental customer needs. The recent launch of Arlo Secure, shows our focus on innovation remains as we create value for our service offerings. We are proud to play such an important role in our customers’ lives.”

 

Arlo Secure subscription plans represent the brand’s commitment to interactive alerts and access to priority support all at a greater value. Plans currently start at $4.49 SGD per month for single camera or $13.99 SGD per month to support unlimited security devices in the home. For those who want even greater peace of mind, Arlo Secure Plus gives users access to 4K video recordings cloud storage for supported devices for $21.99 SGD per month for unlimited camera support. 

 

Features of Arlo Secure subscriptions include: 

  • 2K (Arlo Secure) and 4K (Arlo Secure Plus) Cloud-based Video Recording – View 30 days of recordings securely stored on Arlo’s SmartCloud platform for ultimate peace of mind and protection even if the device is damaged or stolen in a break-in, storm or other physical incident. 
  • Unlimited Cameras – Users can enjoy Arlo Secure service for all cameras in their home with one all-encompassing plan. Add new Arlo cameras for no additional charge.
  • Advanced Object Detection – Arlo processes and filters 50 million events each day through advanced object detection backed by visual artificial intelligence, allowing for better recognition of people, packages, vehicles, and animals to add key context to notifications and reduce unwanted alerts.
  • Smart Interactive Notifications – Users can take quicker action by responding to rich notifications or viewing an animated preview of a notification video through the lock screen on their smartphone or other smart device.
  • Smoke and CO Alarm Detection – Get notified when the camera hears a smoke or CO alarm triggered. 
  • Cloud-based Activity Zones – Users can reduce unwanted notifications by highlighting specific areas on their property where they want motion to be detected. 
  • Call a Friend – Customers can instantly call a friend through the Arlo App from their notification screen with one tap. 
  • 24/7 Priority Support – Subscribers get priority technical support through the in-app Help Centre with omni-channel access to phone, chat, Community, or self-help articles.

 

All Arlo hardware purchases ship with a complimentary three-month trial of Arlo Secure Plus. For more information on the full range of Arlo smart home security products and services, visit www.arlo.com/asia.

 

About Arlo Technologies, Inc.

Arlo is the award-winning, industry leader that is transforming the way people experience the connected lifestyle. Arlo’s deep expertise in product design, wireless connectivity, cloud infrastructure and cutting-edge AI capabilities focuses on delivering a seamless, smart home experience for Arlo users that is easy to setup and interact with every day. The company’s cloud-based platform provides users with visibility, insight and a powerful means to help protect and connect in real-time with the people and things that matter most, from any location with a Wi-Fi or a mobile connection. To date, Arlo has launched several categories of award-winning smart connected devices, including wire-free smart Wi-Fi and 4G-enabled security cameras, audio and video doorbells, and floodlight.

With a mission to bring users peace of mind, Arlo is as passionate about protecting user privacy as it is about safeguarding homes and families. Arlo is committed to supporting industry standards for data protection designed to keep users’ personal information private and in their control. Arlo doesn’t monetise personal data, provides enhanced controls for user data, supports privacy legislation, keeps user data safely secure, and puts security at the forefront of company culture.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” “forecast” or other similar words are used to identify such forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements represent Arlo Technologies, Inc.’s (the “Company” or “Arlo”) expectations or beliefs concerning future events based on information available at the time such statements were made and include statements regarding Arlo cameras, Arlo video doorbells, Arlo Secure, Arlo Secure Plus and future Arlo products. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the following: future demand for the Company’s products may be lower than anticipated; consumers may choose not to adopt the Company’s new product offerings or adopt competing products; and product performance may be adversely affected by real world operating conditions. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect Arlo and its business are detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risk factors described in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these circumstances, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Arlo undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

#Arlo

BODW CityProg 2021 connects 100+ creative partners; Creating shared values through design for better communities; Making positive social impact by doing “business for good”

  • With HKDC stepping into its 20th anniversary, the 2021 edition of CityProg has taken the theme “20s: Reflect‧Refresh‧Reset”
  • In November and December, CityProg will bring together over 100 partners to spark more than 200 happenings around the city through its three distinct platforms
  • “Design City Hunt” will return; new initiatives “Design !n Action “, “Design Explorer” and “OpenHouse!HK” will be launched

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 December 2021 – Organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), with Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the Lead Sponsor, BODW CityProg (CityProg) is a citywide design activation programme that aims to foster exchange and collaborations among creative and design units, businesses and community organisations. Joining forces with different partners, CityProg creates shared values through design, makes the community a better place and creates positive social impact; as well as fosters creativity for our city and economy and nurtures a thriving creative ecosystem in Hong Kong. With HKDC stepping into its 20th anniversary, the 2021 edition of CityProg has taken the theme “20s: Reflect‧Refresh‧Reset”. Bringing together over 100 creative partners to spark more than 200 happenings around the city, CityProg strives to make a positive impact to the community with good design, adhering to a “business for good” concept. As a community extension programme of Business of Design Week (BODW), CityProg’s major happenings take place in November and December near BODW annually, peaking from 27 November to 5 December for the 2021 edition.

 

With three distinct platforms at its core, CityProg 2021 will present 16 one to two-day “Anchor Site Festivals”, 5 “Design EduVation” Programmes focusing on design education, and over 100 “Satellite Events  & Offers”. Last year’s highly acclaimed “Design City Hunt” will also return, offering public the chance to win fabulous prizes by participating in the events and supporting local brands in the neighbourhood.   

 

In addition, CityProg 2021 will launch a new initiative, “Design !n Action”, bringing together local design and creative talents and businesses to contribute their spare time and skills to work with the local community, NGOs and youths to create shared values through design and design thinking, as well as create positive social impact. Through the power of “business for good”, “Design !n Action” will start with nurturing the new generation by organising two programmes, “Design Explorer” and “OpenHouse!HK” which are tailor made for students from local primary and secondary schools, and design department of local tertiary institutions respectively. The programmes are designed to guide the new generation to develop a positive attitude towards the world, work and consumption through an understanding of design thinking and global sustainability trends.

 

Prof. Eric Yim, Chairman of Hong Kong Design Centre said, “we believe that design can spark inspiration and empower people, create positive behavioural changes. Designers are enablers to influence people’s values and aspirations, making a better community. We hope that through the BODW CityProg we can connect creative talents from all walks of life, make the best of their resources and expertise to create shared values, and work together to harness the power of design to bring innovation to the community and improve people’s lives, so that the public can discover more about the possibilities and social value of design, driving the long-term development of Hong Kong’s creative economy.”

 

“NFT x Design: Digital Design Battle” as kick-off event for BODW CityProg 2021

The NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) scene continues to boom, bringing innovations and new business opportunities. NFTs not only disrupt the art market and commercial brands but also help designers discover new markets, fostering a diversified economy in the creative industries. Hong Kong Design Centre is staging a kick-off event for BODW CityProg 2021 on 10 November 2021, Digital Design Battle at Central Market, exploring the possibilities of NFT x Design.

 

Conducted in a one-on-one format and within a time limit of 20 minutes, each participating local young designer will create a digital work based on a topic provided by the organiser on the spot during the two sessions of Digital Design Battle. The works will then be selected by a professional judging panel, and the works will be available for sale on UCOLLEX’s NFT platform. Audience who stay to cheer for the participating designers will have a chance to receive the winning NFT works for free.

 

5 major events in Sham Shui Po – a creative design hub to promote sustainable development of the local creative economy, cultural conservation and better community living through design

 

Sham Shui Po is being revitalised into one of the cultural and creative landmarks in the city. This year, 5 major events will be held in this creative design hub in November and December, bringing out the three key sustainable development concepts of design as a catalyst for the local creative economy, historical and cultural conservation and good community living.

 

Dr Joseph Wong, Executive Director of Hong Kong Design Centre said, “Sham Shui Po is a hub of creativity and design inspiration where the old meets the new, and Hong Kong Design Centre will set up a new design and fashion base in the district in the near future. We are inviting all creative partners, SMEs and NGOs to collaborate and exchange ideas with us through BODW CityProg, and work together to preserve the traditional culture of the old district and add sustainable design elements to the city, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the creative ecosystem of Sham Shui Po and shaping a better and more liveable community.”

 

2×2 Studio’s “Gwaden: Made in Hong Kong” and openground’s “The Fabric Commune” to pursuit sustainable creative economy through design and giving back to the community

 

2×2 Studio and openground, CityProg’s “Design EduVation” partners this year, are putting into practice the concept of “taken from the community, giving back to community”. Stimulating the promotion of sustainable creative economy in the community through design.

 

2×2 Studio brings cross-sectoral production projects to the community, with the hope of achieving mutual learning and sustainable production. Continuing with the “Gwaden” project at Amazing Land in Tai Po, the workshop will invite fashion designer Mr Hung Ming-kin to lead youths from H.K.S.K.H. Kowloon City Children and Youth Integrated Service Centre to participate in the “Made in Hong Kong” project, which aims to educate and nurture youths on the concepts of green design and living. The project includes a guided tour to the fabric market “Pang Jai”, to get to know more about the knowledge of raw materials used in garment making.

 

Located at Tai Nan Street, openground, is a concept venue rolling café, bookstore and workshop space into one. This year, openground brings “The Fabric Commune” project as an extension of last year. The project focuses on researching the soft goods shops in Sham Shui Po and refining the “Material Map” produced in 2020. Workshops will be held to educate the public on integrating design into their lives by linking material supply with design thinking.

 

Orient Occident Atelier’s “Between Hither and Hill” and THY LAB’s “Memory Lane 1921-2021” to demonstrate the feasibility of design as a catalyst for historical and cultural conservation

 

Design plays a vital role in the preservation of the historical buildings and culture in Sham Shui Po. Orient Occident Atelier, another “Design EduVation” partner of CityProg 2021, uses VR technology to bring back the temporary strengthening Grade 1 historic building “Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir” (as known as “Bishop Hill Service Reservoir”) to life. In “Between Hither and Hill – VR and the Bishop Hill Underground Service Reservoir”, the public will be invited to participate in a series of workshops to learn about the monument through VR experiences and professional sharing by building conservation professionals, followed by urban orientation and discussion. 3D scanning will be used to bring out the public’s associative approach towards conservation.

 

As for the “Anchor Site Festivals”, CityProg 2021’s partner THY LAB brings a series of design book sharing sessions and design thinking workshops with local typographers and sign makers on the theme of “Typography” and “Hong Kong Signboards”. These are cultural features found everywhere in Sham Shui Po, through workshops we can stimulate and discuss the importance of conservation culture. In addition, “Hong Kong Signboards” exhibition will be one of the highlights at THY LAB to showcase the history and design evolution of Hong Kong signboards over the past century.

 

Milk Design and Kennifstudio’s “Signage Lab” to co-design for better living community

 

Every sign in a city has meaning behind it, and well-designed street signs can often enhance our daily lives. Milk Design and Kennifstudio, the partners of “Design EduVation” in CityProg 2021, will jointly present the “Signage Lab”, a series of activities to guide participants to understand how street sign design can shape a better community life and using Sham Shui Po community as the theme. The programme will start with a guided tour, where participants will learn about the design of street signs in Sham Shui Po as idea stimulation. Participants then turn their ideas into artworks through workshops and share on social media platform for public voting. The ten designs with the highest number of votes will be produced in different materials and installed on the streets in Sham Shui Po. This project aims to foster community communication and building a healthy living environment for the mind, body and soul.

 

More exciting events in November and December to ignite city’s design and creative fire

 

Apart from the above 5 major events in Sham Shui Po, CityProg 2021 will also link up with various creative partners in November and December to bring more “Anchor Site Festivals”, “Design EduVation” Programmes and “Satellite Events & Offers” to energise the city with creative design atmosphere.

 

These include a community design workshop in collaboration with ROUGH C, “Design EduVation” partner, to collect second-hand material for upcycling in various districts across the territory. Other key partners of “Anchor Site Festivals” include: the Waste Upcycling Competition and Exhibition at K-Farm at Kennedy Town Waterfront, which uses design and creative perspectives to turn “waste” into value; and the impactful project “Made in Hong Kong 2.0” by GLOs Café by foody, which uses a mentorship model to organise a series of youth-led creative bazaars, talks, demonstrations, guided tours and musical performances, allowing people to show support and engage with various “Made in Hong Kong” brands; Making on Loft‘s “Creating as Usual –  Cultural and Creative Hangout in To Kwa Wan“, an “unearthed artefact” made in Hong Kong, will bring about a radical change in the district with the opening of the MTR Tuen Ma Line. Local creative designers and cultural workers take part in a series of guided tours, workshops and sharing sessions to encourage the public to rediscover the history and stories of the area through the lens of design. The Warehouse Teenage Club, located in the Grade 2 historic building former Aberdeen Police Station, aims to inspire the youth with “play” and blend design into entertainment by putting up “Re-imagine Backyard Warehouse” project. Last but not least, HKFYG Tsuen Wan Youth S.P.O.T.’s “PLAY in Tsuen Wan (Playtime Leisure Activation Youth)” project, focuses on ‘discovery’, ‘exploration’, ‘creation’ and ‘experience’, with a variety of community design activities and workshops to draw the attention of young people and the public to Tsuen Wan community and apply design thinking in their daily lives.

 

If you are interested in knowing more about CityProg, please visit the official website and social media platforms to receive the latest information about the events.

CityProg website:

www.bodwcityprog.com

Official Facebook :

https://www.facebook.com/bodwcityprogramme

Official Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bodw.cityprog

Appendix

Design !n Action

 

Design !n Action, a programme calling all design, creative talents and businesses to contribute their spare time and skills to collaborate with the local community, NGOs and youths to create shared values through design and design thinking, make a positive impact on society.

 

Design Explorer: Design career discovery programme for senior primary and junior secondary students

Design Explorer, a design career discovery programme for local Primary 5 to Secondary 3 students. Through a series of design thinking workshops, experienced design professionals’ sharing, guided tours of tertiary design schools and one day design internships, students will gain a multi-faceted understanding of the design industry and sustainable design development. The programme is free of charge and students who completed the specified numbers of credits will receive a certificate from Hong Kong Design Centre and special award experience.

 

OpenHouse!HK: Tailor-made career experiential programme for design students


OpenHouse!HK
, a tailor-made career experiential programme for design students of local tertiary institutions to enhance their understanding of the design industry. The programme will connect designers from various disciplines in the industry, including graphic design, brand design and craft product design. Designers will open their studios for industry sharing, students are able to gain knowledge, experience the industry’s ecosystem and to learn sustainable trends.

 

Disclaimer: Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the Create Smart Initiative Secretariat, or the Create Smart Initiative Vetting Committee.

About Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC)

Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) is a non-governmental organisation, and was founded in 2001 as a strategic partner of the HKSAR Government in establishing Hong Kong as an international centre of design excellence in Asia. Our public mission is to promote wider and strategic use of design and design thinking to create business value and improve societal well-being.

HKDC’s flagship programmes include Business of Design Week (BODW; since 2002) – Asia’s leading annual event on design, innovation and brands; DFA Awards (since 2003) – a well-recognised annual awards that celebrate outstanding designs with Asian perspectives; and Knowledge of Design Week (KODW; since 2006) – an annual thematic programme that gathers the global design community to explore how design can solve complex challenges of our society.

We also manage a Design Incubation Programme and Fashion Incubation Programme (since 2012 and 2016) – 2-year programmes to nurture future design and fashion entrepreneurs; and launched FASHION ASIA HONG KONG (since 2016) – an initiative combining conversations, interactions and cultural exchanges to position the city as an Asian hub for fashion trade and business development.

Learn more about us at www.hkdesigncentre.org

#HKDC

About BODW CityProg (CityProg)

BODW CityProg (CityProg) is a citywide creative business and community activation programme initiated in 2018 by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC). It aims to foster exchange and collaborations among creative and design units, businesses and community organisations in rolling out a series of activities and events that create shared values through design, make the community a better place and create positive social impact. Each year, CityProg brings together over 100 partners to spark more than 200 happenings around the city through its three distinct platforms: “Anchor Site Festivals“, “Design EduVation” programmes, and “Satellite Events & Offers“, fostering creativity for our city and economy and nurturing a thriving creative ecosystem in Hong Kong.

A community extension programme of HKDC’s annual flagship event Business of Design Week (BODW), CityProg spans throughout the year, with major happenings in November and December near BODW annually, peaking from 27 November to 5 December for the 2021 edition. With HKDC stepping into its 20th anniversary, the 2021 edition of CityProg has taken the theme “20s: ReflectRefreshReset“. It will join forces with different sector partners and the wider public to make a positive impact to the community with good design, adhering to a “business for good” concept.

Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the Lead Sponsor of BODW and CityProg.

Find out more at https://www.bodwcityprog.com/

About Create Hong Kong

Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicated agency set up by the HKSAR Government in June 2009. It is under the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and dedicated to spearheading the development of creative industries in Hong Kong. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community. CreateHK sponsors HKDC to organise BODW, BODW CityProg and other projects to promote Hong Kong design.

CreateHK’s website: www.createhk.gov.hk.

CLDY Implements Managed Services: Cloud Hosting Catered To SMEs

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 December 2021 – CLDY is pleased to announce it has launched a variety of technologies for a better experience in cloud hosting. One of their latest email hosting solutions, the SureSend 1.0, helps analyse the best route for email delivery in the backend without any user intervention. The proprietary technology suite allows for emails to be delivered on time with a considerably better delivery rate than standard shared hosting accounts, without any worry of being unknowingly blacklisted from the client’s inbox.

Another solution, SpamShield, is being continuously developed over the years through CLDY’s experience in dealing with customers’ spam issues. It does not use old-fashioned technologies or manual methods. It also gives a 99% success rate in accurately clearing the spam to help save time and money for businesses.

Amid the rapid advancement of computer technology, CLDY aims to explore other hosting areas to provide the same high-quality cloud hosting services to ensure that businesses can quickly get on the cloud.

For instance, UltraScale v1.0 helps by computing resources consumed by a business and detecting if the resources need to be increased or refused. As part of VPS hosting, SecureMax v1.0 is an automated solution that ensures that no unauthorised user can access their confidential data.

Because hosting setups are technically complex, it also requires businesses to have access to technical skills to manage cloud hosting well so that it is convenient and high-performing. Moreover, the bill can also be a chore to monitor constantly.

 

By providing Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Content Delivery Networks (CDN), multiple-country Point of Presence (POP), and redundant and failover servers, CLDY takes care of this complicated aspect for the clients. While CLDY admits that it’s not going to be an easy journey, they will continue to provide the simplicity, security, speed, stability, and support needed to provide their clients with the best experience possible.

 

CLDY is a new-age, employee-led cloud hosting provider that provides various services through the industry’s best systems from around the world. It has a global reach, aimed to help businesses navigate and get onto the cloud server without the need for any prior technological knowledge. 

 

For more info and information on their range of web hosting services, do visit: https://www.cldy.com/sg/.

 

#CLDY

UXO Kills Three, Injures Two During Clearance Operation in Southern Laos

Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme
UXO destroyed in routine operation (Photo: Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme)

Three Lao UXO clearance workers have been killed and two injured by an explosion in Champasack Province.

Get Into the Spirit of Giving with BearloonSG’s Unique Christmas Launch & Santa Delivery Service

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 December 2021 – It’s the most wonderful time of the year again! Shoppers on the hunt for unique Christmas gifts in Singapore can now look forward to BearloonSG‘s latest selection of novelty gifts and hampers. This year, the leading retailer for contemporary gifts will also be launching a first-of-its-kind Santa Delivery Service for a memorable gift-giving experience.

Celebrate Christmas and experience the joy of giving with BearloonSG. Pick out a thoughtful, personalised gift for your friends and family from our selection of novelty gifts and hampers, and surprise them with our complimentary Santa Delivery Service. 


Spread the Festive Cheer With Unique, Personalised Gifts

Shoppers can expect to be spoilt for choice by the latest launch of BearloonSG’s unique Christmas-themed gifts. With a wide selection of hampers, novelty gifts and personalised helium balloons available, there is a gift for everyone at BearloonSG.

Shoppers looking to add an element of surprise to their Christmas gifts should not miss out on BearloonSG’s Christmas Gourmet Hampers. Adorned with a personalised hot air balloon and packed to the brim with festive goodies like chocolate and wine, any recipient will be delighted to receive these unique gift hampers.

BearloonSG’s Christmas Floral Gifts will be ideal for recipients with a penchant for flowers. Featuring their signature 3D Christmas-themed hot air balloon atop a gorgeous bed of fresh florals, the Christmas Hot Air Balloon will put anyone in a celebratory mood and makes the perfect gift to your loved ones this festive season.

 

Toast to a memorable Christmas with the Christmas Bloom Box, which comes in a thoughtful combination of fresh florals and wine. BearloonSG customers may opt for either Moët & Chandon champagne or Moscato wine.

 

For shoppers looking for wallet-friendly, personalised gifts for friends and family, BearloonSG’s Christmas Baubles will be a great option. What’s so unique about these baubles is that customers can choose what to include in each bauble from the following items: snacks, miniature perfumes and screen cleaners. Each bauble is also fully customisable with personalised text or the name of the intended recipient. Available in bundles, these Christmas Baubles are affordable choices for customers looking to bulk-purchase gifts for their colleagues or team.

Shoppers looking for a fuss-free yet eye-catching gift will not go wrong with BearloonSG’s personalised Christmas Helium Balloons. Available in a variety of festive shapes and colours, these balloons will liven up homes and create a joyful ambience for this Christmas season.

Amp up the Festive Joy With BearloonSG’s Santa Delivery Service

To provide customers with a truly unique gifting experience, BearloonSG will also be launching a one-of-its-kind Santa Delivery Service for its products. Between 13th to 25th December 2021, recipients can look forward to having their Bearloon SG Christmas gifts delivered to their doorstep by Santa Claus himself. Limited slots are available, so shoppers are encouraged to send in orders early to avoid disappointment.

 

BearloonSG’s Christmas hampers, novelty gifts and personalised helium balloons are available for purchase online. All gifts are fully customisable (additional charges may apply). Delivery is free for all orders islandwide, and same-day delivery is available for all orders placed before 2.30pm.

About BearloonSG

BearloonSG prides itself in providing consumers with a plethora of modern and unique gift options, including gift hampers, hot air balloons, helium balloons and floral gifts. By offering personalisation options, BearloonSG aims to transform the gift-giving experience into a meaningful and enjoyable process for all.

#BearloonSG

Vantage Data Centers Finalizes PCCW DC Acquisition to Bring its Best-in-Class, Hyperscale Data Center Platform to Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur

Milestone follows announcement of Vantage’s entrance to Asia-Pacific region, including acquisition of Agile Data Centers

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 December 2021 – Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyperscale data center campuses, and its lead investor, Digital Bridge Group, Inc., announced today that they have completed the acquisition of PCCW Ltd.’s data center business (PCCW DC). The acquisition expands Vantage’s data center platform to include 100MW of existing and expansion capacity across multiple facilities in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and is part of the company’s strategic expansion into Asia Pacific previously announced in September, which also included the acquisition of Agile Data Centers.

Vantage Data Centers’ 48MW data center in Tsuen Wan West, Hong Kong, currently under development.

Brian Groen joins Vantage as president, APAC from PCCW DC. Giles Proctor, who previously served as Vantage’s president, APAC is now chief operating officer of Vantage’s Asia-Pacific business. 

“The closing of this second acquisition is a critical piece to our rapid expansion in key Asia-Pacific markets,” said Sureel Choksi, president and CEO, Vantage Data Centers. “We now have a total of 23 campuses across five continents led by highly experienced regional teams, including Brian Groen and Giles Proctor. I’m excited for Brian and Giles to partner together in their new roles to lead our APAC business as we continue to expand and scale to meet the growing demand of customers globally.” 

This milestone enables Vantage to offer data center services in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, two high growth markets in the APAC region. 

“Asia Pacific is a high growth region with hyperscale, cloud and enterprise companies who need a global digital infrastructure platform like ours on which to expand their businesses,” said Jon Mauck, senior managing director of DigitalBridge Investment Management. “Vantage is now in a position to quickly become a leading provider in these markets and offer a superior product with high reliability, fast speed to market and a commitment to sustainability.” 

Today, Vantage has an established and growing footprint in North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. The company secured US$1.5 billion in incremental equity from an investor group led by DigitalBridge Investment Management, with participation from other existing Vantage investors, to accelerate its APAC expansion.

“Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur are unparalleled connectivity hubs for companies doing business across Asia,” said Groen. “We have a strong sales pipeline with existing facilities and several greenfield developments underway to support our customers’ growing businesses. If you are a hyperscale company, a cloud provider or a large global enterprise, we can serve your needs in leading business centers throughout the region.” 

More information on Vantage’s global campuses can be found at https://vantage-dc.com/data-center-locations/

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across five continents in North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands. For more information, visit www.vantage-dc.com.

About DigitalBridge

DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global digital infrastructure REIT. With a heritage of over 25 years of investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells and edge infrastructure, the DigitalBridge team manages a $35 billion portfolio of digital infrastructure assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders. DigitalBridge is headquartered in Boca Raton with key offices in Los Angeles, New York, London and Singapore. For more information, visit www.digitalbridge.com.

#VantageDataCenters

First Freight Trains Arrive at Destinations in Both Countries along Laos-China Railway

First freight train along the Laos-China Railway
First freight trains along the Laos-China Railway arrived at their destinations on Saturday.


The first two international freight trains along the Laos-China railway have arrived at their destination in both Laos and China.