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Baguio Green Group（01397.HK）Announces 2025 Interim Results

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Advertorial Desk
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Profit Doubled to HK$59 million
Wins First Marine Cleansing Contract
Business Footprint Continues to Expand

HONG KONG, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Baguio Green Group Limited (”Baguio” or the ”Group”, Stock Code: 01397.HK) is pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2025 (the “Period”).

During the Period, the Group’s revenue amounted to approximately HK$1,353.5 million, representing an increase of approximately 4.8% as compared to the same period last year. The overall gross profit margin increased from 7.5% for the same period last year to 9.8%, driving the overall gross profit up by approximately 37.0% to approximately HK$133.0 million. Profit for the Period amounted to approximately HK$58.8 million, representing an increase of approximately 128.1% as compared to the same period last year.

Business Overview and Prospects

The Group’s core business, cleaning services, recorded growth during the Period. Revenue from cleaning services increased by 4.0% to approximately HK$1,076.5 million, accounting for approximately 79.6% of the Group’s total revenue. Gross profit margin of the cleaning business increased from 6.4% for the same period last year to 7.9%, driving the gross profit up by 27.4% to approximately HK$84.7 million, mainly due to the Group’s new cleaning service contracts with various Government departments and different institutions. The Group’s cleaning services cover various scenarios, including Government streets, markets, leisure venues, hospitals and clinics. Other cleaning sites cover numerous different places such as universities, large exhibition centers, Hong Kong International Airport, housing estates and private institutions.

Waste management and recycling business recorded revenue of approximately HK$145.3 million, accounting for approximately 10.7% of the Group’s total revenue. The gross profit margin of the waste management and recycling business surged significantly from 12.9% for the same period last year to 19.2%, driving the gross profit of this business up by approximately 46.6% to approximately HK$28.1 million, mainly due to the Government’s proactive promotion of recycling and the substantial expansion of the network of recycling spots, including those for food waste, which facilitated public participation and effectively stimulated collection, and the contribution from the green technology business. The Group continued to provide Government-related waste collection services for five districts, serving a population of approximately 1.6 million. In terms of recycling, the Group is contracted by the EPD of the Government to provide collection services for thousands of recycling spots (including plastics, glass bottles, metals, waste paper and food waste) across Hong Kong. During the Period, the Group provided collection services for recycling bins in public places and schools. Baguio also provides collection services for Recycling Stations of “GREEN@COMMUNITY”, introduced by the EPD, recycling stores and smart recycling machines, and other institutions in Hong Kong. In addition, the Group also provides the Government with glass bottles collection and management services and food waste collection services in several districts in Hong Kong, and is one of the market leaders.

Regarding green technology business, the Group won a new contract to supply the Government with a new generation of solar-powered compacting refuse bins. This innovative product is designed with an auto-sensing inlet and indicator lights, and under its sealed design, it is equipped with devices for ventilation, lighting, and deodorization. Meanwhile, it is equipped with a big data platform and wireless technology to monitor data in real time, enabling effective tracking of the status of waste collection points, strategic deployment of resources, optimization of operational efficiency, and enhanced planning for future initiatives. Furthermore, the solar-powered compacting refuse bins adopt solar panels and rely on renewable energy, which significantly reduces carbon emissions. They can be flexibly deployed in various scenarios, suitable for remote areas where there are no refuse collection points. This product is expected to be gradually launched into the market in the year.

The Group seized the opportunity of smart city development and has been committed to expanding its market share of smart recycling in recent years. Currently, Baguio’s smart recycling products, such as smart recycling machines, smart food waste recycling machines, and smart balances, have been deployed in different places across Hong Kong, including Government venues and schools, private housing estates, commercial buildings, theme parks, large-scale exhibition venues, and sports stadiums. These products provide the public with convenient recycling services 24 hours a day and help increase Hong Kong’s overall recycling volume.

In partnership with Jardine Engineering Corporation Limited, the Pilot Biochar Production Plant at the EcoPark in Tuen Mun has commenced operation. By converting yard waste into high-quality biochar with pyrolysis technology for various applications, the production plant effectively “turns waste into useful resources”.

As for the landscaping business, the Group provides landscaping services for a wide range of clients, including large private residences, Government premises, schools, shopping malls, hotels, airports, Hong Kong Housing Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong Science Park, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Lingnan University, etc. During the Period, the Group provided landscaping services for Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, Nano Parks, and the Tung Chung New Town Extension (West).

For pest management business, the Group continued to provide pest management services in Wong Tai Sin and Tai Po districts during the Period. In addition, the Group provided termite control and monitoring services to 29 monuments under the Antiquities and Monuments Office and 24 temples under the Chinese Temples Committee respectively.

As of 30 June 2025, the Group’s contracts on hand amounted to approximately HK$3.10 billion, providing considerable revenue for subsequent years.

Subsequent to the Reporting Period, the Group has been successfully awarded a 3-year contract from the Marine Department of the Government for approximately HK$150 million for the provision of “Marine Refuse Cleansing and Disposal Services in the Eastern Waters of Hong Kong“. This contract marks a significant milestone for Baguio, as it represents a strategic expansion of its service portfolio from land to sea, further strengthening its leading position in Hong Kong’s integrated environmental services market. Under the contract, Baguio will deliver comprehensive marine refuse cleansing and ship refuse collection services in the Eastern Waters of Hong Kong starting from 1 October 2025 including, but not limited to: Victoria Harbour, Central, Sheung Wan, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Cheung Sha Wan, Shau Kei Wan, Kwun Tong, Sai Kung, Tolo Harbour and Tai Po. Winning this contract signifies strong market recognition of Baguio’s outstanding performance over the past 45 years. The Group will seamlessly extend its professional standards and operational efficiency in land-based waste management to the marine environment, striving to safeguard Hong Kong’s valuable marine ecosystem and present a cleaner, more beautiful Victoria Harbour to both residents and tourists.

Recently, the Group has been successfully awarded two 35-month contracts from the EPD, with a total value of approximately HK$43 million. Starting from September 2025, the Group will be responsible for operating the “GREEN@Tai Wo” and “GREEN@Po Lam” recycling stores, and will collaborate with nearby buildings, organizations, and community stakeholders to establish and operate fixed and mobile recycling spots for waste collection, provide community recycling support to facilitate citizens, and promote and educate the public on waste sorting and recycling in the community to strengthen citizens’ recycling habits.

In addition, the Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal of Products (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025 submitted by the Government was passed by the Legislative Council on 23 July 2025. This bill establishes a common legal framework for producer responsibility scheme applicable to different products. Under this framework, the Government plans to submit the producer responsibility scheme on plastic beverage containers and beverage cartons in the coming year. The scheme encourages citizens to return used containers for recycling to earn rebate, which will help significantly increase the recycling rate. Benefiting from the scheme, Baguio’s recycling volume is expected to be directly driven up, providing attractive returns for the Group’s long-term investments in recycling services and competitive barriers.

The Government is actively developing the Northern Metropolis. Four new development areas include Kwu Tung North/Fanling North, Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long South, and San Tin Technopole are under construction. The Government has resumed more than 400 hectares of private land within these four new development areas, completed land levelling for 80 hectares, and is progressively handing over these lands to relevant departments for building road and railway infrastructure, public and private housing, schools, public markets, ecological conservation, as well as development of innovation and technology industry. The Group believes that this will bring opportunities for many of its core businesses.

Looking forward, the Group will continue to increase the market share of its core businesses and proactively engage in expansion in Hong Kong and beyond. Meanwhile, in line with the development of the Company, it will actively explore potential mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures or new business projects to accelerate future business growth and deliver substantial and long-term returns to shareholders.

For details of the Group’s 2025 interim results announcement, please visit the following website:
https://www.baguio.com.hk/en/investor/notices/ 

– End-

About Baguio Green Group

Established in 1980, Baguio Green Group (Stock code: 01397.HK) is one of Hong Kong’s largest integrated environmental management solution providers. It provides a full spectrum of professional services including professional cleaning, waste collection & recycling, waste management, green technology, green products, horticulture & landscaping, and pest control. The Group delivers innovative environmental solutions using the latest technologies to serve a wide range of customers in various sectors including Government departments, statutory organizations and multinational corporations. Fully committed to ESG, the Group works relentlessly to advance sustainable development and create a cleaner, greener, healthier city for a greener tomorrow.

MUSINSA Achieves Record-Breaking Q2 2025 Results — Revenue KRW 377.7B (USD 282M), Up 31% YoY — Operating Profit Jumps 23%

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Advertorial Desk
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Q2 2025 Revenue Up 31%, Operating Profit Up 23% YoY…H1 Revenue Reaches KRW 670.5B(USD 500M), Operating Profit KRW 58.9B(USD 44M)
Omnichannel Strategy Strengthens Online and Offline Competitiveness…Continued Investments in Growth Areas Including Beauty and Global Expansion in H2

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — MUSINSA‘s revenue for Q2 2025 reached approximately KRW 377.7 billion(USD 282 million), representing an increase of 30.7% compared to the same period last year. Operating profit for the quarter came in at KRW 41.3 billion(USD 31 million), up 22.6% year-on-year. Net income for Q2 2025 was KRW 40.8 billion(USD 30 million), a surge of more than fivefold(+462.8%) from Q2 2024. These figures represent MUSINSA’s highest-ever second-quarter performance.

For the first half of 2025, MUSINSA’s consolidated revenue totaled KRW 670.5 billion(USD 500 million), an increase of 22.1% year-on-year. Operating profit for the period reached KRW 58.9 billion(USD 44 million), up 23.0% from the first half of 2024. MUSINSA also reported a net income of KRW 37.2 billion(USD 28 million) for H1 2025, impacted by an accounting policy change under which RCPS (Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares), previously classified as equity, are now recognized as debt. As a result, approximately KRW 40 billion(USD 30 million) in non-cash interest expenses were reflected in the financial statements. Excluding this impact, adjusted net income for the first half of 2025 would have been nearly KRW 80 billion(USD 60 million).

In Q2 2025, MUSINSA maintained steady growth despite sluggish overall consumer sentiment, with balanced performance across the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle categories. For the online business, 29CM’s “29 Week” and MUSINSA’s “Summer Black Friday” promotional events held in June generated combined sales exceeding KRW 340 billion(USD 254 million), achieving strong results despite the traditionally slow summer season.

For the offline business, MUSINSA focused on enhancing customer experience by opening new stores during Q2 2025, including: Musinsa Standard Triple Street Songdo(April), Musinsa Standard Galleria Timeworld(May), Musinsa Standard Shinsegae Premium Outlet Siheung (June), and 29CM Home Seongsu(June). In total, MUSINSA opened nine new offline stores in the first half of 2025, with offline sales exceeding KRW 100 billion(USD 75 million). The company continues to strengthen its omnichannel strategy to reinforce competitiveness across both online and offline channels.

In the second half of 2025, MUSINSA plans to further expand its business by enhancing platform competitiveness and increasing its offline footprint. Earlier this month, MUSINSA opened “Musinsa Store Gangnam”, a curated multi-brand shop featuring over 130 fashion brands. By the end of 2025 and early 2026, the company also plans to launch large-format Musinsa Megastores in Yongsan and Seongsu.

Joonmo Park, CEO of MUSINSA, stated “Since declaring an emergency management phase in April, we have focused on eliminating inefficiencies across the organization and rapidly enhancing competitiveness both online and offline. As a result, our Q2 performance demonstrated balanced growth across key areas.” He added, “Although external uncertainties are expected to continue in the second half, we will proceed with our planned investments in global expansion, beauty, lifestyle, and re-commerce to remain agile and responsive to changing market conditions.” 

MUSINSA Achieves Record-Breaking Q2 2025 Results — Revenue KRW 377.7B (USD 282M), Up 31% YoY — Operating Profit Jumps 23%
MUSINSA Achieves Record-Breaking Q2 2025 Results — Revenue KRW 377.7B (USD 282M), Up 31% YoY — Operating Profit Jumps 23%

 

LakeShore Biopharma Announces Receipt of a Revised Preliminary Non-Binding Proposal to Acquire the Company and Formation of Special Committee

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Advertorial Desk
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BEIJING, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LakeShore Biopharma Co., Ltd (Nasdaq: LSB) (“LakeShore Biopharma” or the “Company”), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer, today announced that its board of directors (the “Board”) has received a revised preliminary non-binding proposal letter (the “Revised Proposal Letter”), dated August 26, 2025, from a consortium (the “Consortium”) comprised of Oceanpine Investment Fund II LP and Oceanpine Capital Inc. (together, “Oceanpine Capital”), and Crystal Peak Investment Inc. to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares, par value US$0.0002 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”) that are not currently owned by the Consortium in an all-cash transaction for US$0.86 per Ordinary Share, which remains unchanged from the original proposal (the “Proposed Transaction”).

This Revised Proposal Letter revises the preliminary non-binding proposal letter dated August 18, 2025, previously received from Oceanpine Capital. A copy of the Revised Proposal Letter is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

According to the Revised Proposal Letter, the members of the Consortium, who currently beneficially own in aggregate approximately 52.1% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, have entered into a consortium agreement and have agreed to vote all of their shares in favor of the Proposed Transaction. They also do not intend to sell their shares to any third party or support any competing bid while remaining members of the Consortium.

The Company today also announced that the Board has formed a special committee consisting of its three independent directors, Adam Zhao, Thomas Xue and Chunyang Shao, to evaluate and consider the Revised Proposal Letter and the Proposed Transaction. Mr. Adam Zhao will chair the special committee.

The Company cautions its shareholders and others considering trading in its securities that the Board has just received the Revised Proposal Letter and has not made any decisions with respect to the Company’s response to the proposal. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made, that any agreement will be executed, or that the Proposed Transaction or any other transaction will be approved or consummated. The Company does not undertake any obligation to provide any updates with respect to this or any other transaction, except as required under applicable law.

About LakeShore Biopharma

LakeShore Biopharma, previously known as YS Biopharma, is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer. It has developed a proprietary PIKA® immunomodulating technology platform and a new generation of preventive and therapeutic biologics targeting Rabies, Hepatitis B, Influenza, and other virus infections. The Company operates in China, Singapore, and the Philippines, and is led by a management team that combines rich local expertise and global experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. For more information, please visit please visit https://investors.lakeshorebio.com/.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the Board’s evaluation of the Proposal Letter and the Proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “goal,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of LakeShore Biopharma’s management and are not predictions of actual performance.

LakeShore Biopharma cannot assure you the forward-looking statements in this press release will be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. There may be additional risks that LakeShore Biopharma does not presently know or that LakeShore Biopharma currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of LakeShore Biopharma as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while LakeShore Biopharma may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of LakeShore Biopharma as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, LakeShore Biopharma does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Exhibit A

Revised Non-Binding Proposal

August 26, 2025

The Board of Directors (the “Board“)
LakeShore Biopharma Co., Ltd
Building No. 2, 38 Yongda Road
Daxing Biomedical Industry Park
Daxing District, Beijing, 102629
People’s Republic of China

Dear members of the Board:

On August 18, 2025, Oceanpine Investment Fund II LP and Oceanpine Capital Inc. (collectively, “Oceanpine Capital“) made a preliminary non-binding proposal (the “Original Proposal“) to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0002 each (the “Ordinary Shares“) of LakeShore Biopharma Co., Ltd (the “Company“) not owned by them, in an all cash transaction.

We are pleased to submit this revised proposal (the “Revised Proposal“) to inform the Board that (i) Oceanpine Investment Fund II LP; (ii) Oceanpine Capital Inc.; and (iii) Crystal Peak Investment Inc. (collectively, “we“, “our” or “us“) have formed a buyer consortium (the “Consortium“) and, as the initial members of the Consortium, have agreed to work exclusively with each other to acquire all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company not owned by us, in an all cash transaction (the “Proposed Transaction“).

We currently own in aggregate approximately 52.1% of all the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company, representing the same percentage of the aggregate voting power of the Company. We agree that the Board should form a special committee of independent and disinterested directors (the “Special Committee“) to consider our Revised Proposal and make a recommendation to the Board. We further agree that the Special Committee shall retain its own independent legal and financial advisors to assist in its review of our Proposed Transaction.

None of the Company’s directors who are affiliated with us will participate in the evaluation of our Revised Proposal by the Company, the Special Committee or Special Committee’s advisors.

Except as otherwise stated herein, we confirm that all of the key terms as set forth in the Original Proposal remain unchanged. We intend to fund the Proposed Transaction with equity capital from us in the form of rollover equity in the Company and cash contribution by Oceanpine Capital or its affiliates. Accordingly, our Proposed Transaction would not be subject to any uncertainty or delay with respect to any debt financing nor a financing condition. 

In considering our Revised Proposal, you should be aware that we, as the initial members of the Consortium, have entered into a consortium agreement dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which we have agreed to vote all of the Ordinary Shares of the Company beneficially owned by us in favor of the Proposed Transaction and do not intend to sell our Ordinary Shares of the Company to any third party or support any competing bid to our Revised Proposal while remaining as members of the Consortium.

Given our knowledge of the Company, we remain committed to completing the Proposed Transaction in an expedited manner by promptly engaging in discussions with the Special Committee and its advisors to negotiate and finalize the definitive documentation relating to the Proposed Transaction, so as to expedite the process of delivering value to the Company’s shareholders.

Due to our obligations under the securities laws, we intend to timely file one or more Schedule 13D or Schedule 13D amendment(s) with the Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose this Revised Proposal. However, we are sure that you will agree with us that it is in all of our interests to ensure that we otherwise proceed in a strictly confidential manner, unless otherwise required by law, until we have executed definitive documentation relating to the Proposed Transaction or terminated our discussions.

This letter constitutes only a preliminary indication of our interest and does not constitute any binding commitment with respect to the transactions proposed in this letter or any other transaction. No agreement, arrangement or understanding between us and the Company relating to any transaction will be created until such time as definitive documentation has been executed and delivered by us and the Company and all other appropriate parties.

We look forward to hearing from you and working expeditiously with you towards the completion of a successful transaction.

Sincerely,

Oceanpine Investment Fund II LP

By:

/s/ Dave Liguang Chenn          

Name:

Dave Liguang Chenn

Title:

Director

Oceanpine Capital Inc.

By:

/s/ Yang Jiayu                          

Name:

Yang Jiayu

Title:

Director

Crystal Peak Investment Inc.

By:

/s/ Xue Huaqin                        

Name:

Xue Huaqin

Title:

Director

 

 

Rain Raises $58M Series B Led By Sapphire Ventures to Become the Enterprise Stablecoin Platform of Record

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Advertorial Desk
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Rain has experienced 10x growth in 2025 and now powers service to 1.5B+ people through a single integration

NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rain, the enterprise-grade infrastructure for stablecoin-powered payments, today announced a $58 million Series B funding round led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from Dragonfly, Galaxy Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, Samsung Next, Lightspeed, and Norwest. The raise brings Rain’s total funding to $88.5M and comes just five months after the company’s Series A — cementing Rain’s role as the single integration global fintechs, banks, and marketplaces use to launch compliant stablecoin-powered cards, wallets, and payment programs.

Enterprise interest in stablecoins has surged following the GENIUS Act in the U.S. and the MiCA framework in Europe, which have created a clear regulatory path for adoption. Rain’s vertically integrated platform enables partners to embed stablecoins into products and operations — covering money-in, storage, spending, and money-out — all through one API. Partners can compliantly launch programs to over 1.5 billion people today, with expansion underway into Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Rain has pioneered making stablecoins instantly usable anywhere Visa is accepted through its physical and virtual card programs, processing millions of transactions across 150+ countries. The company’s transaction volume has grown 10x since January 2025, with portfolio partners — including Nuvei, Avalanche, Dakota, and Nomad — using Rain’s infrastructure for merchant payouts, everyday consumer purchases, B2B spend, and cross-border payroll.

“Stablecoins are shifting to the backbone of global commerce,” said Farooq Malik, CEO and Co-founder of Rain. “In its earliest form, money moved instantly. We’ve spent centuries slowing it down. Rain is bringing that simplicity back to billions of people, but now it works across any border, any platform, and any currency.”

Rain is a Visa Principal Member and uniquely settles 100% of card payment volume directly in stablecoins on the Visa network. The platform is built natively for stablecoins, not retrofitted from fiat rails, and meets enterprise compliance standards including PCI DSS, SOC 2, and audited smart contracts.

“Stablecoins have scaled to hundreds of billions in circulation, but until now, they couldn’t be easily spent. Rain is working to fix that by connecting stablecoins to Visa’s global network, turning them into money you can actually use for everyday commerce. We’re proud to partner with Farooq, Charles, and the Rain team as they redefine the future of payments,” said Jai Das, President and Partner at Sapphire Ventures, as well as Rain’s newest Board Director.

The new funding will be used to expand Rain’s platform and services to give global institutions the most flexible, modular, and compliant stablecoin infrastructure available. The company is also investing in hiring across engineering, commercial, and compliance teams; helping existing partners scale programs; and entering into new markets where enterprises are embracing stablecoin-based payment workflows.

About Rain: Rain is the global stablecoin infrastructure platform for enterprises, neobanks, platforms, and developers. Our technology allows partners to move, store, and use stablecoins instantly and compliantly through global payment cards, on/off-ramps, wallets, and cross-border rails. As a Visa Principal Member, Rain issues cards that work anywhere Visa is accepted, powering millions of purchases in over 150 countries. Built natively for stablecoins and trusted by more than 100 organizations worldwide, Rain delivers secure, scalable infrastructure that makes money move freely and instantly around the world. Learn more at https://www.rain.xyz/.

About Sapphire Ventures: Sapphire is a global software venture capital firm with over $11 billion in AUM and team members across Austin, London, Menlo Park and San Francisco. For more than two decades, Sapphire has partnered with visionary management teams and venture funds to back companies of consequence. Since its founding, Sapphire has invested in more than 170 companies globally resulting in more than 30 Public Listings and 45 acquisitions. The firm’s investment strategies — Sapphire Ventures, Sapphire Partners and Sapphire Sport — are focused on scaling companies and venture funds, elevating them to become category leaders. Sapphire’s Portfolio Growth team of experienced operators delivers a strategic blend of value-add services, tools and resources designed to support portfolio company leaders as they scale.

Media Contact:
Lucas Piazza
Marketing Lead, Rain
lucas@rain.xyz 

Reallusion Officially Launches Character Creator 5, Powering the Next Generation of HD Character Creation

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Advertorial Desk
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SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Reallusion officially releases Character Creator 5 (CC5), a major upgrade that brings the character creation ecosystem into the HD era. Its powerful subdivision workflow bridges game-ready 3D characters with film-quality rendering. This release includes all-new HD Morphs, anatomically accurate human bases, the next-gen ActorMIXER PRO plugin, and an advanced HD facial animation system. Step into the future of expressive, lifelike, production-ready digital humans.

Reallusion officially releases Character Creator 5 (CC5), a major upgrade that brings the character creation ecosystem into the HD era.
Reallusion officially releases Character Creator 5 (CC5), a major upgrade that brings the character creation ecosystem into the HD era.

With CC5, existing users can upgrade their legacy characters to HD quality, unlock Extended+ or HD facial profiles, and immediately benefit from enhanced facial animation capabilities. All previously purchased CC plugins and iClone software will also receive free upgrades to ensure full compatibility with CC5.

Raising the Bar for Real-Time HD Character Creation

Since its 2015 debut, Character Creator has become a leading solution for professional 3D character development. With the release of the next-generation CC5, Reallusion raises the bar once again by introducing a powerful new HD character base that supports up to 16 times more mesh detail with one-click subdivisioning.

Paired with enhanced shaders, high-resolution eyes, whole new eyelash system, and full displacement map support, CC5 delivers cinema-quality visuals with real geometric depth (even for real-time editing). Whether for film-quality close-ups or performance-optimized game development, CC5 offers the fidelity and flexibility needed to meet the demands of any creative pipeline.

The system also includes HD morphs that add layers of anatomical detail without altering the character’s bone structure or main proportions. It’s a revamp that allows the same base mesh to become slimmer or fuller, define feminine curves or muscular forms, or even portray graceful aging.

With these advancements, CC5 redefines what’s possible for instantaneous character design, making it the ideal creative hub for Blender, Maya, and other major solutions.

Next-Gen Facial Animation for True-to-Life Expressions

Facial expressions are key to believable character performance, and CC5 takes them further with a completely overhauled HD Expression Profile. Each expression now drives an expanded set of blendshapes, enabling precise micro-expressions that capture subtle emotional shifts. From a smirk to a furrowed brow or the twitch of an eyelid, every nuance can be rendered for greater impact. In total, artists gain finer control over emotional detail, helping to enhance storytelling across games, film, and other forms of media.

A newly introduced Corrective Expression System ensures that all blended expressions remain within anatomically accurate ranges, preventing visual distortion while maintaining facial structure. While non-linear animation curves and mesh elasticity empower realistic motion details such as sticky lips, squints, and tension in the brows. The entire system will be fully supported in iClone, with updates to facial mocap tools for iPhone, AccuFACE.

ActorMIXER, the Smarter Character Generator

Introduced with Character Creator 5, ActorMIXER is a revolutionary character blender that enables non-destructive mixing and matching of entire characters, facial features, and head shapes to create unique appearances. Whether combining stylized elements with realistic traits or recombining parts from different characters, it preserves full rigging and animation compatibility. ActorMIXER empowers rapid prototyping and creative exploration without compromising control or quality.

For professional artists, the ActorMIXER PRO plugin unlocks advanced features and the full ActorMIXER CORE Library, providing deeper customization and expanded asset access. Any character can be made “mixable” by converting it into Mixer sliders and skins. With one-click randomization, diverse characters can be generated; or use the ActorMIXER Packager to create and share custom Mixer assets that are built for collaboration and commercialization.

Seamless Integration with Major Industry Pipelines

Maya & Marmoset Toolbag

CC5 expands its Auto Setup ecosystem to include Maya Arnold and Marmoset Toolbag, offering automatic shader assignments and facial rig compatibility for streamlined character transfer, animation editing, and final rendering.

Professionals can now combine cinematic-level character creation in CC5, intuitive face and body animation editing in iClone 8, and ready-to-use motions and assets from Reallusion to accelerate animation and lookdev productions.

ZBrush Subdivision Workflow

CC5 integrates seamlessly with ZBrush via GoZ, enabling high-resolution sculpt data to be baked directly onto subdivided characters. Artists can convert sculpted detail into normal and displacement maps, maintaining fidelity throughout the sculpt-to-animation process.

The upgraded Face Tools now support wrinkle-to-displacement baking and 8K textures, giving ZBrush users powerful tools to enhance expression realism and fine-tune facial surface detail with precision.

Blender Support

The latest upgrade to Blender Auto Setup adds support for both Eevee and Cycles render engines, along with adjustable material-based displacement maps, allowing you to fine-tune displacement strength directly in Blender.

CC5 characters can be exported with HD facial animations and wrinkle displacements, including controls for wrinkle intensity and playback speed. HD iClone animations can also be imported into Blender, fully compatible with the HD Face Board that utilizes MetaHuman-style facial controls. These features work seamlessly with both standard and extended facial profiles.

Unreal Engine and MetaHuman Interoperability

For Unreal developers, CC5 introduces a suite of enhancements to streamline animation and character deployment. CC characters can now be exported with skeletons optimized for Unreal Engine 4 and 5, including bind poses tailored for MetaHuman and UEFN formats, ensuring precise motion retargeting and real-time gameplay control.

CC5 HD characters and MetaHumans now share the same skeleton structures and facial control standards compatible with the AutoSetup plugin. Characters can swap directly with MetaHuman counterparts in Unreal Sequencer, allowing the direct application of MetaHuman animations without tedious motion retargeting. This update makes CC characters fully compatible with Unreal’s MHA facial capture, body mocap, and audio-to-face syncing, delivering a unified animation workflow inside Unreal Engine.

For iClone developers, the new Unreal Live Link update adds UE5 skeleton, enabling one-click character and motion transfer to UE5.5/UE5.6. MetaHuman facial animations can also be imported for realistic talking performances, with matching HD Face controls available as a free download for high-definition facial refinement and seamless MetaHuman data compatibility.

CC5 Deluxe – UNLEASH THE FULL POTENTIAL OF Character Creator 5

Harness the full power of Character Creator 5, the centerpiece of next-level character creation. CC5 Deluxe enhances your workflow with ActorMIXER PRO, the full ActorMIXER Core Library, and a collection of HD skins. Refine every detail with the HD Ultimate Morphs Pack, and receive the HD Human Anatomy Set (valued at $990) as an exclusive bonus. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just getting started, CC5 Deluxe is the best starter kit to instantly elevate your creativity to a pro level.

HD Ultimate Morphs Pack

Step into a new era of realism with the HD Ultimate Morphs Pack. Featuring 152 meticulously organized body morphs and 20 head types across 12 core body styles, each slider allows for precise refinement—from facial micro-details to full-body adjustments—all without altering base proportions. Powered by the Subdivision workflow, this system offers sculpting freedom like never before. For optimized performance, HD morphs can also be baked into normal maps at lower subdivision levels without compromising visual quality.

HD Human Anatomy Set

The HD Human Anatomy Set includes 12 fully rigged, animation-ready characters built from high-resolution 3D scan data, with both 2K and 4K texture options for real-time and cinematic use. Every character is ActorMIXER-ready and fully modular—allowing users to mix and match faces and bodies by simply dragging elements into the Mixer Wheel and previewing results instantly. This set maximizes the power of ActorMIXER and is exclusive to CC5 Deluxe buyers.

Join the “#MyFirstCC5” Event for Prizes

To celebrate the launch of Character Creator 5, Reallusion invites creators worldwide to join the My CC5 Foray event. This month-long celebration lets creators share their first CC5 character on the Reallusion Forum and Instagram using the hashtag #MyFirstCC5. From September 1 to 27, 2025, weekly winners will be selected on both platforms to receive exclusive HD Morph content, and forum participants will also earn a limited-edition badge.

Ready to showcase your first CC5 creations and win prizes? Join the discussion on the Reallusion Forum, start your 30-day free trial of Character Creator 5 and ActorMIXER PRO today and experience the full creative power of real-time HD character design.

Village Grocer Announced Expansion in Johor with New Outlet in IOI Mall, Bandar Putra Kulai.

By
Advertorial Desk
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Village Grocer’s rapid growth this year now open its 34th new supermarket outlet at IOI Mall, Kulai in Johor. The iconic one-stop destination that caters an array of F&B delicacies, fashion boutiques, handphones and accessories, groceries and on demand wellness and healthcare.

JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Village Grocer officially open its 34th supermarket outlet, located in IOI Mall, Bandar Putra Kulai in Johor. This is the 3rd Village Grocer outlet in Johor. Kulai marks another milestone for Village Grocer, as the brand continues to expand its footprint and bring its premium grocery offers to communities in Johor. The new Village Grocer will serve as a one- stop destination for discerning shoppers seeking the freshest produce, high-quality meats, artisanal baked goods, and a wide selection of specialty and gourmet items.

Village Grocer Announced Expansion in Johor with New Outlet in IOI Mall, Bandar Putra Kulai.
Village Grocer Announced Expansion in Johor with New Outlet in IOI Mall, Bandar Putra Kulai.

“We are pleased to welcome Village Grocer to IOI Mall Kulai as this partnership brings the first premium grocer within a 10-kilometer radius to the estimated population of over 70,000 residents of our Bandar Putra Kulai township and the wider Kulai and Senai communities. This collaboration reflects our 30-year commitment to nurturing a vibrant community and elevating the lifestyle of our residents. We believe this premium offering will not only raise the standard of daily living but also enhance our IOI Mall Kulai’s appeal as the central hub for lifestyle, dining, and shopping. We look forward to fostering a long-term partnership that brings sustained value to our tenants, patrons, and the communities we serve.”– IOI Properties Group’s Chief Operating Officer – Southern Region, Mr. Lim Beng Yeang.

The Food Purveyor’s Group Executive Director, Mr. Ivan Tan, expressed his delight in inaugurating their newest supermarket location at IOI Mall, Bandar Putra Kulai. He conveyed the company’s pride in being recognized and accepted by IOI Mall. “Although we join late, but we offer a whole new grocery shopping experience to the community here by offering Village Grocer’s exceptional service and unparalleled product selection”.

The Food Purveyor’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kok Kian Kee shared that Kulai is a strategic location for Village Grocer expansion and there has been constant demand for Village Grocer to open and serve the Kulai communities. “We still believe in bringing exceptional grocery experience closer to home, convenient and within reach. We may also consider providing grocery delivery service to really eliminate the need to travel the distances to access to fresh and quality groceries for your family”.

As a homegrown brand, Village Grocer is committed to giving back to local communities. It actively supports and source from local farmers, small businesses, and local brands. Village Grocer is also passionate about sustainability and has set a goal to be plastic-free. Its environmental, social and governance efforts have earned Village Grocer several awards. 

  • To celebrate the grand opening, Village Grocer is offering a host of special giveaways and promotions throughout the entire month, until 28th Sept 2025.
    • Shoppers can enjoy Savoir Classic Egg Grade C 30s FREE with minimum purchase of RM 150 per transaction from 28 Aug – 1st Sept 2025. Terms and conditions apply. While stocks last.
    • Bumper Bonanza – a one (1)-day-only-deal offering the best deal in town!
    • The first 100 customers who spend min RM150 can redeem an exclusive goodie bag for free from our customer service counter, and if you managed to spend RM300, get both the goodie bag and a free Fruit & Vegetables giftbag containing the freshest picks and harvest prepared by us, limited to the first 50 redemptions only. While stocks last, don’t miss out!
  • Sign up Bites membership to collect points, earn rewards and enjoy members only price offer. Spend RM2 to earn 1 Bites point.

About Village Grocer:

Village Grocer is one of the leading premium supermarket chain, known for its commitment to offering the finest quality products, exceptional customer service, and a unique shopping experience. With 32 locations across the country, Village Grocer is dedicated to bringing the best of local and international gourmet items to discerning shoppers, while maintaining the highest standards of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Village Grocer IOI Mall, Bandar Putra Kulai open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and look forward to serving the Kulai community and creating memorable shopping experiences for years to come.

For more information, visit villagegrocer.com.my.

HTX Commits to Fulfilling Global Corporate Responsibility: Building a Charity Chain to Deliver Love and Care

By
Advertorial Desk
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PANAMA CITY, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In the context of accelerated globalization, enterprises are being entrusted with a greater social responsibilities. For HTX, this responsibility extends beyond maintaining robust platform operations and continuously improving services—it also includes sustained commitment to societal welfare and proactively responding to the needs of vulnerable groups worldwide.

Over the past year, HTX and HTX DAO have visited multiple regions both at home and abroad, actively carrying out charity initiatives. Collaborating with local welfare institutions and philanthropic organizations, HTX and HTX DAO have provided both material support and emotional comfort to orphans, the elderly, and other disadvantaged groups, striving to ensure more people feel warmth and respect.

Establishing Genuine Connections with Communities

In Izmir, Turkey, HTX partnered with a local infant protection agency to provide essential supplies for abandoned newborns, and personally participated in visits and exchanges. There, team members delivered donations directly to caregivers and witnessed infants sleeping peacefully under the care of volunteers. Surmounting language barrier, a profound mutual understanding was fostered through kindness.


HTX’s Cross-Generational Compassionate Support in the CIS Region

The HTX team partnered with the St. Great martyr Catherine’s abode of virtue Georgia, to visit orphans, the elderly, and individuals with cognitive impairments residing there. Some of them were bedridden for extended periods, while others were nearly cut off from the outside world—but HTX’s visit broke through that silence. At that moment, charity was no longer an abstract concept, but a genuine act of companionship.


Contribution to Chi Minh City, Vietnam

At the Tam Binh Child Nurturing and Protection Center in Ho Chi Minh City, HTX donated food supplies and also provided direct financial assistance to improve the daily lives of the children. Local staff emphasized that such international support is immensely meaningful—not only easing operational pressures but also offering profound emotional encouragement.


Ongoing Commitment in Indonesia

Indonesia remains a dedicated site for HTX’s charitable efforts. Since 2024, HTX has engaged deeply with local welfare institutions, delivering meals and essential supplies to children for two consecutive years. Rather than opting for one-off donations, HTX emphasizes sustained contact and companionship—turning charity into a long-term bond of trust, not a fleeting consolation.


Championing DeFi-inspired Philanthropy Domestically

Within China, HTX DAO has embraced decentralized philanthropy by collaborating with prominent Web3 philanthropists and bestowing the title of “Charity Ambassador.” In January, HTX DAO officially named Loyal (Lu Yao) as HTX DAO Charity Ambassador, minting a bespoke Soulbound Token (SBT) to honor his commitment to decentralized charity and the Web3 ethos. Following this, HTX DAO and Loyal co-hosted a series of charity events focused on supporting children with special needs and those in remote areas—bringing warmth and hope to dozens through meaningful engagement.


Embedding Long-Term Philanthropy into Our Brand DNA

HTX regards charitable work as a core element of its global brand strategy. Each initiative embodies respect for local cultures and serves as an opportunity for fostering deep, bilateral connection. Through collaboration with local charitable institutions, HTX delivers both material aid and establishes stable, friendly relationships, facilitating mutual growth in localization and brand affinity.

For HTX, charity is not just an afterthought—it’s an essential part of the company’s growth journey. While offering premier crypto services, HTX continuously explores how it can leverage corporate strength to respond to global challenges—whether in terms of poverty, aging, or improving conditions for child development.

Looking ahead, HTX will continue to uphold its philosophy of “long-term commitment + human-centered care,” translating love and responsibility into grounded actions. We believe every small act can become a starting point for a better world; every step into communities expands the boundary of trust between the platform and its users.

Charity is not the destination—it’s the commencement. HTX is always on the journey.

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX (formerly Huobi) has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.

To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord. 

Expats experience services in Qianhai: No Red Tape, Only Red Carpets

By
Advertorial Desk
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SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2025 – On the morning of August 27, “Qianhai Block V” was officially launched with the presence of representatives from various sectors in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. As the latest landmark for international talent innovation in Qianhai, Shenzhen, “Qianhai Block V” is rapidly emerging as an international talent hub that integrates the “innovation chain, industry chain, capital chain, and talent chain”. It is also propelling Qianhai to become a “golden stage” for talent to realize their dreams. By offering latest policy consultations, an easy access to optimal venture capital resources, and the most precise job matching, it will greatly support Shenzhen in building the best technology innovation ecosystem and talent development environment.

Qianhai Block V
Qianhai Block V

With the further optimization of its supporting infrastructure and policies, Qianhai vividly demonstrates how to break down administrative barriers with the “service cycle” and attract talent through “hardcore policies”. By fulfilling its promise of “no red tape, only red carpet”, today’s Qianhai has become a “preferred gateway” for international talent to integrate into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

“It’s incredibly efficient! There’s no need to run between multiple departments. The entire process from seeking consultation to completing the paperwork was much smoother than I expected.” After experiencing the one-stop services at Qianhai International Talent Hub, American blogger Alysa Kees, known as “Qi Shiwen” in China, shared her feelings with overseas audiences on camera.

Qianhai Block V
Qianhai Block V

In Qianhai, the “one-stop convenience” that Qi Shiwen experienced has long permeated every aspect of talent services. The international talent hub has integrated 700 services covering the full spectrum of employment, entrepreneurship, and living. There are dedicated counters for foreign talent to apply for work permits and for Hong Kong and Macao residents to consult on cross-border living matters. Furthermore, through the “In Qianhai” smart digital platform, overseas individuals can schedule visa appointments and access policies online in advance. By entering their career direction and living preferences, users can receive instant, tailored recommendations on suitable companies, housing, and subsidies. This makes talent services truly within reach, thus realizing a talent ecosystem at their fingertips.

The latest data reveals that Qianhai is currently home to over 3,000 foreign professionals, more than 5,000 foreign residents and over 51,000 holders of postgraduate degrees or higher. With a total of 660,000 professionals engaging in modern services and industrial technology sectors, Qianhai has been a growing magnet for talent.

Convenient living amenities are a key reason why numerous professionals choose to stay in Qianhai. To address cross-border living needs, Qianhai has introduced thoughtful initiatives: Hong Kong residents can use their local e-wallets directly for frequent daily spending scenarios without switching payment methods; cross-border salary payments are processed with a single click, eliminating repeated bank verification and significantly improving the efficiency of financial transactions. Beyond daily transactions and financial matters, family-related needs have also been carefully considered. To accommodate the educational plans of different families, multiple international schools offer curricula from kindergarten to high school. In terms of healthcare, Hong Kong-style medical institutions provide familiar consultation models and language services, thus ensuring a smoother transition for cross-border living.

Through the “Strive and Rise Programme”, Hong Kong is actively positioning Qianhai as a preferred destination for its youth entrepreneurs so as to deepen cross-border cooperation. In August, 160 middle school students from Hong Kong visited the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (E-hub) and Tencent Technology Innovation Workshop. While experiencing AI technology firsthand, they gained an in-depth understanding of relevant policies, such as “RMB 1 for office space” and “special fund for technology innovation” and the entrepreneurial advantages offered by Qianhai.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Qianhai has provided a favorable platform for them to shine. Its entrepreneurial support spans the entire lifecycle. In the startup phase, the “RMB 1 for entry” policy allows qualified teams to obtain office space at low cost, coupled with mentorship for market analysis. During the growth phase, they can apply for a fund of RMB 500 million to help solve their financial challenges. The model of “R&D in Hong Kong and Commercialization in Qianhai” enables a rapid connection to the industrial chains in the Chinese mainland.

From the seamless services experienced by foreign talent and the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of Hong Kong youth to the rapid growth of startups, Qianhai has turned its promise of “no red tape, only red carpet” from a slogan into a daily reality for those pursuing their dreams here.

In days to come, Qianhai will continue to deepen cross-border service innovation, enhance full-cycle entrepreneurial support, and expand its distinctive industrial ecosystem. This will enable more global talent to navigate their undertakings with greater ease and confidence. While enjoying efficient and convenient services, they will unleash their value in the thriving industrial landscape and write a new chapter of open development in the GBA.

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

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