Travelers say technology is key to their travel experience
Travel Tech Company Sojern Announces Financing Round Led By TCV
MIFF Holds 25th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Dinner
SundayToz to Launch Mobile Casual Game with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and other Peanuts characters in Japan
LINE FRIENDS Unveils Collaboration with ROY WANG with the Release of 'ROY6' at its New York Times Square Store
Coca-Cola, Kroger, PepsiCo, Bureau Veritas to Lead at 2019 USA Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky(R) - the success and leadership summit on Fe
iQIYI and THX(R) Launch China's First THX Certified On-Demand Movie Theater
Acorn International Records Over RMB 14 Million in Singles Day Gross Sales
Formal Cooperations Reached between Several Companies at Chengdu Creativity & Design Week
HH Global Announces Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Results
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Win Real Gold With New Mobile Game Planet Gold Rush
HITS 24 COUNTRIES TODAY - SO GRAB YOUR GEAR & GET MINING PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oregon-based Truly Social Games is bringing its hugely successful mobile game PLANET GOLD RUSH to 24 countries around the world, so now it's your turn to try and WIN REAL GOLD with this free-to-play mobile game. Download Planet Gold Rush now on the iTunes App Store or Google Play: http://bit.ly/downloadPGR Already a massive hit in North America, PLANET GOLD RUSH offers the perfect combination of city building and gold mining. To celebrate the game's launch, Truly Social Games will be giving away two ounces of real gold each week for a limited time. Every day players can compete in a daily tournament for a chance to win one eighth of an ounce of gold, with two chances to win on Sundays. Players can enter the daily tournament as many times as they like, and the player with the highest score at the end of each day will win real gold. At the end of each week, the best overall player will win a further additional ounce of gold. Real world gold, real world value. "The game has been a fantastic success in America and it's such a buzz to see YouTube videos of people winning our real gold," said Cooper DuBois, Founder and CEO of Truly Social Games. Added CEO, Patrick Tougas, "We're releasing in 24 countries around the world and this is just the start. Come and try to WIN REAL GOLD, someone has to every week." Players can build the ultimate gold mining operation, explore the land for valuable resources, and compete in a variety of fun and challenging mini-games, from downhill racing to competitive gold-washing in PLANET GOLD RUSH. PLANET GOLD RUSH is available today in: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. The game is already available in US. Contact for Consumers only: support@trulysocialgames.com www.TrulySocialGames.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/779938/Planet_Gold_Rush___Truly_Social_Games.jpg
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New Malaysia's Message to the World Intensified for 2019 Budget Announcement and US Mid-Term Elections
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The global "Malaysia: Bouncing Back even Better than Before" communications campaign, launched last September by ISC Innovators to help communicate to the world Malaysia's resolve to put the country back on track after the country's recent historic General Election triumph, has received greater visibility to coincide with the 2019 Budget Announcement last Friday as well as the US Mid-Term Elections this week. In addition to the campaign's exposure in The Economist, Fortune, The NY Times newspaper and Time magazine, as well as China's Economic Observer and Japan's Nikkei Shimbun, the New Malaysia's message is also featured in Forbes Asia's Global CEO Forum October 2018 issue featuring an article titled "Malaysia: A Fresh Road Map Ahead" in conjunction with the Forbes Global CEO Forum held in Bangkok last week. Also, on the 1st of November, TIME Magazine featured an online article on how Malaysia is indeed Bouncing Back, echoing the sentiments conveyed in this worldwide campaign. Fortune, too, will soon publish an online article focused on the optimism of doing business in Malaysia. The "Malaysia: Bouncing Back even Better than Before" TVC also receives a boost from the 2nd to the 11th of November on CNN USA as well as on New York's Times Square digital billboard on the day of the US Mid-Term Elections on the 6th of November. New York’s Times Square billboard displaying the “Malaysia: Bouncing Back even Better than Before” TVC, during last Tuesday’s US Mid-Term Elections day as passerby were anxious to stay abreast of the elections results. New York's Times Square billboard displaying the "Malaysia: Bouncing Back even Better than Before" TVC, during last Tuesday's US Mid-Term Elections day as passerby were anxious to stay abreast of the elections results. This international media campaign is sponsored by Malaysian private corporations, led by Berjaya, NAZA and U Mobile. The conception and production of this campaign is being provided pro-bono by the ISC Innovators agency, the same group that also produced on a pro-bono basis the successful economic confidence-restoring campaign called "Malaysia: Bullish on Bouncing Back" during the 1997-98 Asian Economic Crisis. About ISC Innovators Sdn BhdISC Innovators is an award-winning, integrated marketing communications agency offering branding, strategy, creative, production, digital/social media, PR/activation and media services. We have a proud history in Malaysia, having won over 120 local and international awards for creativity and marketing effectiveness in all major industry categories since our beginnings in 1975. In addition to our membership in ICOM - a network of independent agencies with more than 80 agencies in more than 60 countries - our own expert, extensive network of business allies and associates in Asia-Pacific and around the world provides an extensive resource platform for clients looking to expand beyond Malaysia. We are perhaps best known for our conception and work on the multi-awarded "Malaysia: Truly Asia" international campaign for Tourism Malaysia, quadrupling annual visitors to Malaysia and quintupling annual tourism earnings for the country in the campaign's first 12 years. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181109/2295370-1
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New Start, New Development: Shandong Amazes the World with its Speed of Development
JINAN, China, Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 16-19, 2018, the Information Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province hosted a successful event with the theme of "Shandong-New Start, New Development". Reporters from the mainstream media, such as the Associated Press (AP), Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), ORF, Japan's Tokyo Newspaper, etc., traveled to Jinan, Qingdao, and Yantai in quick succession. They visited scientific research institutions, factory buildings and workshops, and port docks where they interviewed various people, going on to report some of the new development initiatives in Shandong. During the interviews, world-class "Made in Shandong" achievements elicited great praise from the reporters. When it comes to assembly density and performance per watt, the Sunway Bluelight Supercomputer System in the National Supercomputer Center in Jinan is one of the world's most advanced computer systems. China's largest white goods manufacturer, Haier, has whole-heartedly embraced artificial intelligence. The Bright Moon Seaweed Group (BMSG), the world's largest seaweed biological product enterprise, has witnessed extraordinary growth. Qingdao port, a year-long sludge- and ice-free deep-water port, ranks the first in the world in terms of container loading and unloading efficiency at the unmanned automated dock. The world's most advanced deep-water double drilling tower semi-submersible drilling platforms -- Bluewhale I and Bluewhale II -- showcased their immense power. The Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Company has long focused on becoming a large, modern, world-class wine production region. All these initiatives vividly reveal the speed and prosperity of development in Shandong Province. In recent years, implementing the concept of new development, Shandong Province has pursued high-quality development and has made notable achievements in the replacement of old growth drivers with new ones, marine technology research and development, opening up trade, etc. Image Attachments Links:http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=324051http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=324061http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=324063http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=324064 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-start-new-development-shandong-amazes-the-world-with-its-speed-of-development-300747391.html
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Rise of Monetisation and Customisation of Reader Experience - will 2019 be the year paid content go up in Asia?
HONG KONG, Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Media Asia 2018, organized by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), discusses how the current society is shifting with technology disruption with various parties from all over Asia. Digital Media Asia 2018 organized by WAN-IFRA With digital advertising unable to make up for the huge falls in print advertising revenue*, news publishers are seriously considering taking the paid route after encouraging signs. Singapore Press Holdings was an early starter, embarking on a paid subscription model over 13 years ago which has evolved over significantly over time. Last year, Indonesia's Kompas Daily launched its paid website, kompas.id, which carries premium content over its free, advertising-funded cousin, kompas.com. And more Asian publishers will be following suit. At Digital Media Asia 2018, industry leaders from all the region's major news organisations are gathering in Hong Kong on November 7-9, 2018 to explore the various evolving business models in the news world. They also celebrate the success stories of the early adopters, which have experimented with a variety of approaches such as hard, metered, freemium and hybrid paywalls, micropayments, reader donations and memberships, and tapped into new revenue streams. Speakers from publishers such as Germany's BILD, Switzerland's Neue Zurcher Zeitung (NZZ) and Malaysiakini share how they have grown digital subscription income, which is far less volatile than income from third-party platforms and programmatic buying. They talk about how they have determined readers' propensity to pay and persuaded audiences to pay for quality content. According to WAN-IFRA's 2018 World Press Trends report, traditional revenue sources continue to come under pressure globally, registering a four and eight percent fall for print circulation, and advertising respectively*. Despite this, print media continues to drive publishers' bottom line globally, while digital circulation revenue has increased by 155% in the last five years as more users pay for online content*. And there is a lot more potential for growth. Personalising user experience to drive engagement and subscription Early pioneers in digital subscriptions have moved into personalising the delivery of news products to drive reader engagement, and ultimately, subscriptions. At NZZ, machine-learning algorithms help personalise the user experience and its paywall, enabling the company to quintuple customer conversion in the last three years. Over at Fairfax Australia, deep customer insights and engagement metrics shaped this year's redesign of its sites such as the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in Melbourne in pursuit of its ambitious paid membership goals. Creating sustainable revenue streams At Digital Media Asia, speakers from Reuters News Agency and Google encourage the exploration of new ground in non-traditional partnerships which extend beyond publishers' usual reader, media or advertising clients, while early movers in the media blockchain space, such as CoinDesk, Forkast.news and Smartchain Media cut through all the hype, demystify the technology and tokenomics, and explain why there is a future on the blockchain. Digital Media Asia 2018 Conference sessions Transformation and business models Go local: driving revenue with local communities Native advertising as premium ad revenue Non-traditional partnerships Digital marketing using AI New ways of creating premium content Digital media consumption trends in Asia Digital subscription Engagement and personalisation Instagram stories school Video for social media Data for business intelligence Blockchain for the media industry Product development and innovation #DMAHK18 #blockchain #paidcontent #monetisation #AI #nativeadvertising #video #social #dataintelligence #premiumcontent #digitalmarketing #markettrends * Source: WAN-IFRA World Press trends 2018 - Print advertising revenues globally fell by 8.3% in 2017 while digital advertising revenues rose by 5.38%. However note that print is falling from a base of US$51.4b globally, while digital has a much smaller base of only US$11.4b. (WAN-IFRA 2018 World Press Trends slides 24, 43 and 48, hereinafter known as "WPT") Media contact: WilsonEmail: wilson.leong@wan-ifra.orgTel: +65 6562 8446 Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181108/2294063-1 Related Links :http://www.wan-ifra.org
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Asian Publishers recognised for their outstanding work in adopting digital and mobile strategies at WAN-IFRA's 9th Digital Media Awards
Singapore Press Holdings and South China Morning Post are multiple winners Two new Gold winners from Indonesia and the Philippines HONG KONG, Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and South China Morning Post (SCMP) emerged as the biggest winners at the eminent 9th Digital Media Awards organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) in Hong Kong. WAN-IFRA Asian Digital Media Awards 2018 Winners Group Photo SPH topped the chart with 13 awards including three golds; while SCMP, clinched five awards including two golds in the "Best Data Visualisation" and "Best Digital News Start Up" categories. There are also two first-time winners: PT GVM Network (Womantalk.com) from Indonesia won Gold in the "Best in Digital Marketing" and bronze in the "Best in Social Media Engagement" categories. Rappler, a news website from the Philippines won Gold for "Best Use of Online Video" – the most competitive category with a record of 38 submissions, the highest for this year's event. The Awards are the most prestigious recognition in Asia of outstanding work by publishers in adopting digital media and mobile strategies as part of their total offerings to meet the changes in how people consumer news today. This year's Awards attracted 157 entries from 27 media companies across 10 Asian countries. The ceremony was held at Digital Media Asia 2018, WAN-IFRA's annual digital conference which opened on November 8, 2018 and gathered 400 media executives from 30 countries. The Gold winners of this Asian edition will have a chance to compete with counterparts from other regions - Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and South Asia - during the WAN-IFRA's World Digital Media Awards in June 2019. The full list of winners can be found at https://events.wan-ifra.org/asian-digital-media-awards-2018-winners. Media Contact: WilsonEmail: wilson.leong@wan-ifra.orgTel: +65 6562 8446 Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181108/2294069-1 Related Links :http://www.wan-ifra.org
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Acorn International Foresees Little Impact From Trade War on its Business
SHANGHAI, Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Acorn International, Inc. (NYSE: ATV) ("Acorn" or the "Company") today announced that it has completed an initial assessment of the potential impact of the trade war between the US and China and, based on facts and information currently available and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the present time, expects the trade war's impact on Acorn is likely to be limited. During 2018, the Company has not sold any products into the United States. Products sourced from the United States accounted for less than 1% of all costs of goods sold by the Company during 2018. Consequently, an increase in tariffs between the U.S. and China is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's net sales, costs of goods sold, or profit margin. "Although we can't predict the exact impact trade tensions between the US and China will have on consumer spending in China, we expect sales of luxury goods and discretionary items to be hit the hardest, while sales of mid- and lower-priced staples are less likely to be affected," said Mr. Robert Roche, Acorn's Executive Chairman. Mr. Jacob A. Fisch, Acorn's President and CEO added, "As a Chinese company selling mid-priced products sourced primarily in China directly to Chinese consumers, we do not foresee any meaningful impact on our e-commerce business from tariffs imposed by the US Government, or China's retaliatory tariffs in response. Additionally, our product mix features health-related products, including those targeting children and older adults, which are both affordable and, we believe, relatively nondiscretionary. In determining who is likely to be impacted by the trade war, it is important to distinguish between businesses highly affected by the trade in goods between the U.S. and China, and those, like ours, that is fundamentally a domestic business insofar as we source and sell our products principally within China." About Acorn International, Inc. Acorn International is a leading marketing and branding company in China, leveraging a twenty-year direct marketing history to monetize brand IP, content creation and distribution, and product sales, through digital media in China. Previously the leading TV infomercial company in China, Acorn today has three divisions support its growth: 1) Product Division, 2) Content Division, and 3) Influencer Management Division. In the Product Division, Acorn sells product primarily through e-commerce channels in China, as well as through offline distribution and outbound marketing. In the Content Division, Acorn monetizes content. Specifically, in the Content Division, Acorn has redirected its direct marketing know-how to digital media in China, launching Acorn Streaming, which is primarily focused on live streaming and pre-recorded video content creation and distribution. In the Influencer Management Division, Acorn brings, through the creation of digital social content, leading U.S. celebrity talent and brands to China, representing their in-country digital presence. For more information visit www.acorninternationalir.com. Safe Harbor Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "future," "going forward," "intends," "outlook," "plans," "target," "will," "potential," and similar statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, including the duration and intensity of the US-China trade war, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acorn-international-foresees-little-impact-from-trade-war-on-its-business-300746981.htmlRelated Links :www.acorninternationalir.com
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AirMedia Announces Receipt of Notice from Nasdaq of Extension to Comply with Minimum Bid Price Requirements and Approval of Transfer to The Nasdaq Cap
BEIJING, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AirMedia Group Inc. ("AirMedia" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: AMCN), a leading operator of out-of-home advertising platforms in China targeting mid-to-high-end consumers as well as a first-mover in the travel Wi-Fi market, today announced that Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Staff (the "Staff") has determined that the Company is eligible for an additional 180 calendar day period, or until May 6, 2019 (the "Second Compliance Period") for the Company to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. The determination is based on the Company meeting the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other applicable requirements for initial listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market (the "Capital Market") with the exception of the bid price requirement, and the Company's written notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during the Second Compliance Period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. Furthermore, the Staff approved the Company's application to list its American Depositary Shares on the Capital Market. The Company's securities will be transferred to Capital Market at the opening of business on November 7, 2018. About AirMedia Group Inc. Incorporated in 2007 and headquartered in Beijing, China, AirMedia Group Inc. (AMCN) is an operator of out-of-home advertising platforms in China targeting mid-to-high-end consumers as well as a first-mover in the travel Wi-Fi market. AirMedia sells advertisements on the routes operated by several Chinese airlines and at Sinopec's service stations in China. AirMedia also has concession rights to operate the Wi-Fi systems on trains administered by eight railway administrative bureaus in China as well as on many long-haul buses in China. For more information, please visit http://www.airmedia.net.cn. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company's business strategies and initiatives as well as the Company's business plans; the Company's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; expected changes in the Company's revenue and certain cost or expense items; trends and competition in China; general economic and business conditions in China; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. For more information, please contact: Company Contact: Yan Liu Director, Investor Relations AirMedia Group Inc. Tel: +86-10-8460-8678 Email: ir@ihangmei.com Investor Contact: Tina XiaoPresidentAscent Investor Relations LLCPhone: +1-917-609-0333Email: tina.xiao@ascent-ir.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airmedia-announces-receipt-of-notice-from-nasdaq-of-extension-to-comply-with-minimum-bid-price-requirements-and-approval-of-transfer-to-the-nasdaq-capital-market-300746343.htmlRelated Links :http://www.airmedia.net.cn
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Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center at 31st Tokyo International Film Festival Goes to Huang Huang for His Film "Wushu Orphan"
TOKYO, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) Award Ceremony on November 2, Director Huang Huang won the Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center for his film "Wushu Orphan". The award is bestowed on a promising director in the TIFF Asian Future section, chosen for its chances at international success beyond cultural and national borders. Accepting the award from the Japan Foundation President Hiroyasu Ando, Huang thanked the jury and TIFF filmgoers in English, Japanese and Chinese, adding, "I may someday become a part of the 'Asian past,' but for now, thank you for this Asian Future award." (Photo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/201811060052?p=images) The Best Asian Future Film Award went to "A First Farewell," directed by Lina Wang. The festival's most prestigious award, the Tokyo Grand Prix, was given to Mikhael Hers for "Amanda." The Japan Foundation Asia Center and TIFF are now in their fifth year of collaboration. This endeavor aims to deepen mutual understanding within Asia by showcasing Asian films in Japan and Japanese films in Asia, and by bringing Asian talent to the world through TIFF. World Premiere of Asian Omnibus Film Series: Asian Three-Fold Mirror The world premiere of "Asian Three-Fold Mirror 2018: Journey," the second in a series of Asian omnibus films, was held on October 26. The co-production project aims to deepen interactions between neighboring countries within Asia, as well as to enrich cultural understanding and explore Asian identities and ways of life. At the world premiere screening, three young directors, Degena Yun (China), Daishi Matsunaga (Japan), and Edwin (Indonesia) presented their films along with their cast members: popular Indonesian actor Nicholas Saputra, acclaimed Chinese actress Jin Chen, up-and-coming actress Zhe Gong, striking Japanese actor Hiroki Hasegawa, Myanmar actress Nandar Myat Aung who is making her feature film debut, popular Indonesian actress Agni Pratistha, and her compatriot actor Oka Antara. The Japan Foundation Asia Center Presents CROSSCUT ASIA #05: Soundtrip to Southeast Asia The Japan Foundation Asia Center's CROSSCUT ASIA series showcases Asian films focused on particular countries, directors, actors or themes. This year, CROSSCUT ASIA #05: Soundtrip to Southeast Asia showcased films featuring a rich variety of musical genres, reflecting historical and present-day Southeast Asia. - Symposium: Directors Talk About Their "Soundtrip Cinema" On October 26, Garin Nugroho from "Chaotic Love Poems", Nguyen Quang Dung from "Go-Go Sisters" and Treb Monteras II from "Respeto" explained at the symposium that music has always been an integral aspect of filmmaking throughout the region. The 31st Tokyo International Film Festival unspooled from October 25 to November 3, 2018. Official Website: The Japan Foundation Asia Center: https://jfac.jp/en/Tokyo International Film Festival: https://2018.tiff-jp.net/en/"Asian Three-Fold Mirror 2018: Journey": https://asian3mirror.jfac.jp/en/Related Links :https://2018.tiff-jp.net
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"Amanda" Wins Tokyo Grand Prix at 31st Tokyo International Film Festival
TOKYO, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The 31st Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), held from October 25 to November 3, concluded with the announcement of winners at the Award Ceremony on its 9th day of the festival. This year, TIFF screened 181 films and 62,125 film fans (not including last day's turnout) attended the screenings. The Tokyo Grand Prix was awarded to "Amanda" directed by Mikhael Hers. Following are the winners of awards in all sections. (Photo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/201811060047?p=images) - Competition sectionTokyo Grand Prix: "Amanda" (directed by Mikhael Hers)Special Jury Prize: "Before the Frost" (directed by Michael Noer)Award for Best Director: Edoardo De Angelis ("The Vice of Hope")Award for Best Actress: Pina Turco ("The Vice of Hope")Award for Best Actor: Jesper Christensen ("Before the Frost")Award for Best Artistic Contribution: "The White Crow" (directed by Ralph Fiennes)Award for Best Screenplay by WOWOW: "Amanda" (co-written by Maud Ameline and director Mikhael Hers)Audience Award: "Another World" (directed by Junji Sakamoto) - Asian Future sectionAsian Future Best Film Award: "A First Farewell" (directed by Lina Wang)The Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center: Director Huang Huang ("Wushu Orphan") - Japanese Cinema Splash sectionBest Film Award: "Lying to Mom" (directed by Katsumi Nojiri)Japanese Cinema Splash Best Director Award: Director Masaharu Take ("The Gun"), Director Seiji Tanaka ("Melancholic") - Gemstone Award: Mai Kiryu ("Lying to Mom", "The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine"), Lien Binh Phat ("The Tap Box"), Karelle Tremblay ("The Fireflies Are Gone"), and Nijiro Murakami ("The Gun"). Jury President Brillante Ma Mendoza commented that "Amanda" is "a seemingly simple, but not simple film" and "a story of complex human emotions." Mendoza then shared his thoughts on the festival overall: "We the jury had such a good time together. The past few days, it was quite challenging to choose the winners because of the vast diversity of the films." He added thanks to those behind the scenes, like assistant directors, production managers and more, as well as TIFF's volunteer staff for their "kindness, hospitality and warmth." Official Website: 31st Tokyo International Film Festival: https://2018.tiff-jp.net/en/
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SK Broadband Selects dataxu to Bring Addressable TV to Asia
First-to-market partnership brings household-level addressability to South Korea SINGAPORE, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- dataxu, a leading provider of programmatic marketing software for marketing and media professionals, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SK Broadband, the leading South Korean operator of IPTV service Btv, OTT service Oksusu, and TV Commerce service SK Stoa. With this agreement, SK Broadband is now able to utilize dataxu's TotalTV™ offering, which revolutionizes the way TV campaigns are planned and executed by enabling targeting at the household level, in real-time--all via dataxu's self-serve DSP, Touchpoint™. Now, global marketing professionals can buy advanced audiences on a household-by-household basis, powered by SK's unrivaled view of the Korean consumer, who are watching Btv's premium and brand-safe VOD and Live Linear services on SK Broadband set top boxes. This service is now live and available for marketing professionals to buy through TouchPoint, recently named "Best Overall Technology for Programmatic Trading" at The Drum Digital Trading Awards for the second year running. Within the scope of the MOU is continued co-innovation: dataxu will develop additional Advanced TV products in partnership with SK for the Korean and broader Asian markets. "It's a highly competitive market, and at SK, we're constantly identifying and implementing the ideas and technologies that help us deliver the best possible experience for viewers and advertisers," said Shane Park, SVP of Advertising at SK Stoa. "The demand for Addressable TV is accelerating across Asia and our partnership with dataxu ideally positions us to maximize the opportunities this dynamic and growing area presents." "dataxu's excellent track record with TV operators across the globe makes them a natural fit to collaborate with to bring innovative and audience-driven ad products to market," Park continued. "Consumer viewing habits have shifted to the point of being nearly unrecognizable, and nowhere is that more evident than in South Korea," said James Sampson, VP & GM, APAC, at dataxu. "The future of TV is here, and we're thrilled to partner with a leader like SK Broadband in defining what that future looks like here in Asia, and around the world. Advertisers today are seeking high-quality TV inventory at scale with the 1:1 reach and analytics of digital media. Together with SK Broadband, we're delivering on that promise." dataxu's TotalTV offering is the first of its kind that enables advanced TV buying and audience targeting for both advertisers and their agencies, as well as sellers of media like SK Broadband. With TotalTV for Advertisers, dataxu has introduced a unified planning and buying solution for agencies and brands investing across linear, connected and addressable TV. When broadcasters, programmers and distributors of media utilize TotalTV for Media Companies, they understand, engage and monetize audiences across devices at the individual consumer level, improving yield for media owners, increasing efficiency for advertisers and reducing ad load for viewers. About dataxu dataxu® helps marketing & media professionals use data to improve their advertising. Our software empowers you to connect with real people across all channels, including TV, capturing consumers' attention when and where it matters most. With 11 offices around the world, we're here to help power your business forward. Discover what you + our software can do at www.dataxu.com. Media Contacts Cherie Loh / Stephanie AngRICE Communications for dataxu E: dataxu@ricecomms.com T: +65 3157 5684 / +65 3157 5662 Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181108/2293924-1LOGO Related Links :http://www.dataxu.com
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Brisbane's Jack Campbell Tapped As Drummer For GRAMMY®-Nominated Singer/Songwriter Ryan Stevenson Ahead Of 2019 U.S. Dates
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed drummer and Brisbane native Jack Campbell has joined GRAMMY®-nominated singer/songwriter Ryan Stevenson's band, it was recently announced by U.S.-based First Company Management. Campbell previously toured America with New Zealand's Rapture Ruckus and will now support Stevenson in a range of stateside dates throughout 2019. BRISBANE’S JACK CAMPBELL Stevenson, best known for his Christian radio mega-hit "Eye of the Storm," is poised for extensive touring across the U.S. next year. In January, the Gotee Records artist and his band will be featured on GRAMMY®-winning Christian hip/hop superstar TobyMac's "Hits Deep Tour," which is slated to hit more than three dozen large venues around the country. "It is an honor to be asked to support one of the fastest-growing artists in Christian music," said Campbell, who will also join Stevenson for concerts in Canada later this year, as well as multiple solo dates and festivals throughout 2019. "I fully expect this to enhance my abilities and create even more opportunities to establish myself as a top-level musician in America." Ryan Stevenson has garnered four #1 singles, a GRAMMY® nomination, a Billboard Music Award nomination, a Dove Award and ASCAP honors, among numerous other accolades. Distinguished as a rare talent whose unique perspective guides his honest lyrics and sonic sensibilities, Stevenson has toured with such artists as TobyMac, MercyMe and Newsboys. Born in Brisbane in 1995, Jack Campbell began drumming at an early age, showcasing his talents in church and at school. He joined Rapture Ruckus in 2016 and performed over 300 concerts with the New Zealand-based hip-hop act in three years. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/781375/Jack_Campbell_Headshot.jpg
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Cision Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results; Provides Updated Full Year 2018 Outlook
CHICAGO, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cision Ltd. (NYSE: CISN), a leading global provider of software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals, today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. All data presented below is compared to the third quarter of 2017, unless otherwise noted. Third Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights Revenue increased 11.0% to $177.2 million Revenue, excluding the impact from purchase accounting, increased 10.7% to $177.5 million Operating income increased 2.4% to $14.2 million Net loss decreased 87.0% to $6.0 million Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.9% to $62.7 million Adjusted net income increased 47.0% to $26.6 million Adjusted net income per share increased 33.3% to $0.20 "We are pleased to have delivered another solid quarter of financial results," said Kevin Akeroyd, Cision's Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to focus our efforts on delivering best-in-class products and services to our customers, executing our strategic and operational plans, and driving toward our long-term financial goals. This focus resulted in third quarter pro forma organic revenue growth of 2.1% after adjusting for non-core revenues and the impact of currency, an approximate 160 basis-point increase from the prior year's third fiscal quarter." Third Quarter Business Statistics and Operational Highlights Americas revenues increased 8.8% to $122.6 million EMEA revenues increased 15.6% to $46.6 million APAC revenues increased 19.8% to $8.1 million Non-core revenues declined 41.2% to $1.0 million Average pro forma subscription customers increased 2.8% to approximately 41,700 Average annualized pro forma revenue per subscription customer, excluding the impact of currency, increased 1.2% to approximately $11,200 Customers that purchased services from us on a transaction basis decreased 6.6% to approximately 38,200 Average pro forma revenue per customer per quarter that purchased services from us on a transaction basis, excluding the impact of currency, increased 5.4% to approximately $1,400 Cross-sell bookings of software, distribution and insights in the United States increased 130.3% to $2.2 million Cision Communication Cloud ® platform customers at September 30, 2018 were approximately 9,400 Long-Term Debt As of September 30, 2018, we had approximately $974.7 million of outstanding dollar-denominated term loans and approximately €247.5 million of outstanding Euro-denominated term loans. In addition to the $3.3 million in quarterly amortization payments during the third quarter, we further reduced our outstanding dollar-denominated term loan by $10.0 million through a voluntary prepayment pursuant to the terms of our 2017 First Lien Credit Facility. On October 22, 2018, we completed a repricing of our First Lien Credit Facility. The repricing reduced the interest rate on revolving borrowings and USD borrowings from LIBOR plus 3.25% to LIBOR plus 2.75%, and reduced the interest rate on EUR borrowings from EURIBOR plus 3.50% to EURIBOR plus 3.00%. We estimate that the 50 basis point reduction on USD and EUR borrowings will reduce our annual cash interest costs by approximately $6.3 million. "We are pleased to have concluded this repricing transaction on such beneficial terms," said Jack Pearlstein, Cision's Chief Financial Officer. "The repricing will provide us with incremental annual cash interest savings and represents another step in our ongoing effort to reduce interest expense, drive increased cash flow and, by extension, drive incremental value for our shareholders." Subscription and Transaction Customer Trends Our average pro forma subscription customers, average annualized pro forma revenue per subscription customer, pro forma number of customers that purchased services from us on a transaction basis, and average pro forma revenue per customer that purchased services from us on a transaction basis appear below for the most recent five fiscal quarters. All of the figures below have been adjusted to exclude the impact of currency. Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q3 2018compared to Q3 2017 Average pro forma subscription customers 40,532 40,628 40,252 41,249 41,661 2.8% Average annualized pro forma revenue per subscription customer $11,101 $11,227 $11,153 $11,186 $11,237 1.2% Pro forma transaction customers 40,829 41,670 40,216 41,172 38,152 (6.6%) Average pro forma revenue per transaction customer $1,286 $1,405 $1,382 $1,454 $1,356 5.4% Updated Full Year 2018 Outlook Our updated outlook for the full year ending December 31, 2018 appears below (all figures in millions, except per share amounts). These estimates are based on a number of assumptions that management believes to be reasonable and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates as a result of various factors, and the Company refers you to the cautionary language regarding "Forward Looking Statements" included in this press release when considering this information. Previous Updated Revenue $722 - $730 $724 - $728 Revenue, excluding the impact from purchase accounting $724 - $732 $725 - $729 Net income ($6) - $6 ($12.0) - ($8.0) Adjusted EBITDA $249 - $253 $250 - $253 Adjusted net income $106 - $109 $106 - $109 Adjusted net income per diluted share $0.83 - $0.85 $0.83 - $0.85 Pro-forma fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding 128.3 128.8 Additionally, for the full year ending December 31, 2018, we expect (all figures in millions): Previous Updated Depreciation expense $30 - $32 $30 - $32 Amortization expense $105 - $107 $104 - $106 Amortization expense included in cost of revenue $23 - $24 $23 - $24 Interest expense $78 - $80 $77 - $79 Debt extinguishment costs $4 - $5 $4 - $5 Interest expense, net of debt extinguishment costs $74 - $76 $73 - $75 Cash interest expense $64 - $66 $64 - $66 Stock-based compensation $4 - $5 $4 - $5 Capital expenditures, inclusive of capitalized software development $34 - $36 $33 - $35 The updated outlook above assumes three-month LIBOR of approximately 2.5% and three-month EURIBOR of approximately 0.0%. The above outlook also incorporates a change from the prior quarter with respect to our exchange rate assumptions for the fourth quarter of 2018. This change in our exchange rate assumption for the British Pound, the Euro and the Canadian Dollar reduced our revenue outlook for the fourth quarter of 2018 by approximately $1.0 million, reduced our Adjusted EBITDA outlook for the fourth quarter of 2018 by approximately $0.4 million, and reduced our Adjusted net income per diluted share outlook for the fourth quarter of 2018 by $0.01. On September 13, 2018, we issued 2,000,000 earn-out shares to Canyon Holdings (Cayman), L.P. ("Cision Owner") as consideration for our merger with Capitol Acquisition Corp. III. This issuance increased our weighted average shares outstanding during the third quarter of 2018 by approximately 390,000 shares and will increase our weighted average shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of 2018 by 2,000,000 shares. This share issuance does not reduce our Adjusted net income per diluted share for the third quarter of 2018 and reduces our Adjusted net income per diluted share outlook for the full year 2018 by approximately $0.01. Excluding the impact of the change in our exchange rate assumptions and our issuance of 2,000,000 earn-out shares to Cision Owner, our updated revenue outlook, including the impact from purchase accounting would have been $726 million to $730 million, our updated Adjusted EBITDA outlook would have been $251 million to $253 million, and our updated Adjusted net income per diluted share outlook would have been $0.84 to $0.86. Our previous and updated assumptions for the British Pound, the Euro and the Canadian Dollar appear below: Previous Updated GBP to USD 1.30 1.28 EUR to USD 1.16 1.14 CAD to USD 0.77 0.76 We plan to adopt Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 ("ASC 606") on a modified retrospective basis, effective December 31, 2018. We are in the process of determining the potential impact of adopting this new standard, which could have a significant impact on our fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results. Additionally, our outlook for 2018 excludes the impact of any future acquisitions, divestitures, voluntary prepayments of our 2017 First Lien Credit Facility, future refinancings or repricings of our 2017 First Lien Credit Facility, the adoption of ASC 606 or other unanticipated events. See discussion of non-GAAP financial measures below in this release. Third Quarter 2018 Conference Call Details As previously announced, we will hold a conference call to review our third quarter 2018 financial results on Wednesday, November 7th at 5:00 pm EST. To hear the live event, visit the Cision investor website at http://investors.cision.com, or dial 1-877-443-4809 (participant dial in toll free) or 1-412-317-5235 (participant dial in International). The conference call will be simultaneously webcast on the Investor Relations section of our website: http://investors.cision.com Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "aim," "strive," "believe," "see," "project," "predict," "estimate," "expect," "continue," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "might," "should," "will," "would," "target," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these statements, as actual results may vary materially. A detailed discussion of some of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from the forward-looking statements is described under the caption "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2018, along with our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this communication is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date of this release. We do not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws. Please consult our public filings at www.sec.gov or www.cision.com. About CisionCision Ltd. (NYSE: CISN) is a leading global provider of earned media software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals. Cision's software allows users to identify key influencers, craft and distribute strategic content, and measure meaningful impact. Cision has over 4,000 employees with offices in 19 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information about its award-winning products and services, including the Cision Communications Cloud®, visit www.cision.com and follow Cision on Twitter @Cision. Cision Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands, except per share and share amounts) (Unaudited) 2018 2017 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 84,192 $ 148,654 Accounts receivable, net 113,821 113,008 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 21,426 19,896 Total current assets 219,439 281,558 Property and equipment, net 54,032 53,578 Other intangible assets, net 406,515 456,291 Goodwill 1,179,597 1,136,403 Other assets 6,429 7,528 Total assets $ 1,866,012 $ 1,935,358 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 13,251 $ 13,349 Accounts payable 12,560 13,327 Accrued compensation and benefits 25,718 25,873 Other accrued expenses 75,128 73,483 Current portion of deferred revenue 140,493 140,351 Total current liabilities 267,150 266,383 Long-term debt, net of current portion 1,206,313 1,266,121 Deferred revenue, net of current portion 1,258 1,412 Deferred tax liability 65,068 62,617 Other liabilities 20,778 22,456 Total liabilities 1,560,567 1,618,989 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 - - Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 480,000,000 shares authorized; 132,713,555 and 122,634,922 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively 13 12 Additional paid-in capital 795,668 771,813 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (55,907) (35,111) Accumulated deficit (434,329) (420,345) Total stockholders' equity 305,445 316,369 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,866,012 $ 1,935,358 Cision Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (in thousands, except per share and share amounts) (Unaudited) Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenue $ 177,236 $ 159,729 $ 544,004 $ 462,678 Cost of revenue 69,177 53,287 200,212 147,571 Gross profit 108,059 106,442 343,792 315,107 Operating costs and expenses: Sales and marketing 27,367 27,931 85,345 83,231 Research and development 7,292 5,661 22,282 16,679 General and administrative 39,002 36,127 126,762 117,819 Amortization of intangible assets 20,167 22,829 60,681 66,306 Total operating costs and expenses 93,828 92,548 295,070 284,035 Operating income 14,231 13,894 48,722 31,072 Non operating income (expense): Foreign exchange gains (losses) 2,196 802 10,277 (1,832) Interest and other income, net 380 177 472 2,450 Interest expense (19,785) (23,063) (59,947) (96,306) Loss on extinguishment of debt - (51,872) (2,432) (51,872) Total non operating loss (17,209) (73,956) (51,630) (147,560) Loss before income taxes (2,978) (60,062) (2,908) (116,488) Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 3,070 (13,653) 10,016 (27,938) Net loss (6,048) (46,409) (12,924) (88,550) Other comprehensive income (loss) - foreign currency translation adjustments (2,479) 13,371 (20,796) 35,965 Comprehensive loss $ (8,527) $ (33,038) $ (33,720) $ (52,585) Net loss per share: Basic and Diluted $ (0.05) $ (0.38)
HR Asia Announces Malaysia's Best Companies to Work for in Asia
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Nov. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Forty-six Malaysian companies have been named the Best Companies to Work for in Asia by human-resource publication, HR Asia. The Malaysia Edition of the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia(TM) 2018 at New World Hotel. 46 companies qualified this year out of the 310 participating companies. This year, 9,972 employees from a total of 310 companies across Malaysia responded to the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Survey. The survey also covers seven other markets across Asia, including mainland China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand. Award winners included Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, DHL Information Services (Asia-Pacific) Sdn Bhd, Encorp Berhad, Sunway Malls, Top Glove Corporation Berhad and TMF Group. "The HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia is programme is the only in the market that relies 100% on the input of employees across three key factors: emotional engagement (heart), intention and motivation (mind) and behaviour and advocacy (soul)," says Rozita Shuib, Associate Publisher of Business Media International, the publishers of HR Asia. GOOD EMPLOYERS SCORE HIGHER Survey participants were asked affirmative statements about their employers, and either agree or disagree with each of the statements. Based on these answers across the survey, the top 3 areas that employees in Malaysia agree about their jobs are: Employees want to meet and exceed customer expectation (average score of 4.40/5) Employees are always seeking a better way to improve their efficiency at work (4.33/5) Employees know clearly what is expected from them at work (average score of 4.31/5) On the other hand, the 3 areas that score the lowest in the survey (i.e. the ones which the employees feel their companies can improve on) are: Employees feel that they do not get supported by the companies in pursuing their own professional development (average score of 3.69/5) Employees feel that they do not really know what is going on in the organisation (average score of 3.74/5) Employees feel that they are not involved in the decision-making process (average score of 3.74/5) With few exceptions, all the winning companies scored significantly higher in these areas compared to other participants. This indicates that employers that are more transparent, supportive of employees' growth and lead by example, are more likely to be rated as a good workplace by their own employees. WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK The survey also obtained employers' input on their employees. 95.4% of the companies surveyed agree that regular performance appraisals are important in order to be recognised as a 'best company to work for'. Appraisals bring employers and employees together to discuss and identify work responsibilities while correcting weaknesses and recognising good performance. 92.2% of the participating companies felt that safety was top priority in their respective companies. It is essential for employees to have a safe environment in which they will be comfortable to work in and for employers to provide this necessary safety with regards to operation, procedures and policies. A safe workplace is conducive in creating positive productivity where employees not only perform better but also feel they matter to their organisation. "HR Asia is Asia's largest circulating publication for HR professionals. We take our role as a catalyst of the industry very seriously. To be the best in not easy, but how do we remain as the best? As we compete regionally for talents, it is crucial that we maintain industry and market leading workplace practices and employee engagement initiatives," Rozita shared. WORDS OF WISDOM Echoing words of the triumphant winners of the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Awards 2018, we cite few of the more inspiring pieces: "'The Best Company to Work For Award is indeed a great recognition and a meaningful reward being awarded to AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd. We are truly honored by this recognition and this win is a strong testament that AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd is committed to providing the best towards our staff's growth and welfare," says Ajith A/L Jayaram, Chief Strategy Officer of Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd. "At BAT, we are looking for extra support in pre and post. We envision the digital age as something we need to integrate with immediately, starting with the right cultural mentality. We will keep thriving forward. It's an evolution. It is about getting involved, to declare where you stand and you got some progress going on," says David Sutherland, Head of HR of BAT Global Business Services & IT KL Hub. "I am very happy and believe this award is a well-deserved recognition for DHL IT Services. Being the no.1 Logistics Company in the world, a lot of people have the opportunity to know about DHL as Logistics Company. The recognition helps to positioned us also as best IT company to work for. The award belongs to all colleagues of DHL IT Services as result of everyone great contribution. We are Connecting People Improving Lives!" says Then Sik Kwang, Head of HR of DHL Information Services (Asia-Pacific) Sdn Bhd. "Following my appointment as chairman, I look forward to serve by cultivating our aspirations and building a working environment that is grounded in teamwork, mutual respect, ethics and integrity. ENCORP's brand and reputation is only as good as the people who make up the ENCORP team. In this, I am proud to be part of a corporate family committed to our values and dedicated in delivering their best efforts in bringing the Encorp Experience," says Tuan Haji Hussein Bin Ismail, Chairman of Encorp Berhad. "I like to thank my team who gave us a lot of supports as we continue to invest in our people and continue to empower opportunities to help create a better tomorrow," says Chua Chai Ping, HR Director of Experian (M) Sdn Bhd. "This give us encouragement that industry-peers are acknowledging our efforts in bringing good HR practises to the mall. It inspires us to continue the journey and to be one of the high-score engagement company in the country," says Kevin Tan Gar Peng, Chief Operating Officer -- Retail of Sunway Malls. "Our biggest competitive advantage, our best product and our Unique Selling Proposition are definitely our employees. We invest in them, we engage them and we nurture them. These are our utmost priorities," says Sharon Yam, Managing Director of TMF Malaysia. "This is truly a recognition to Top Glove as we aspire to be in the Bursa Malaysia, to be the top 20 by 2020. This is where we need to show the care by the employer and we need to ensure the people how we perform today and prepare them for tomorrow," says Loke Kean Mun, Deputy General Manager, HR of Top Glove Corporation Berhad. "The award marked Yinson's continuous efforts to encourage personal and professional growth. We realise that to build an energy infrastructure that lasts far into the future, we need to build a team that's in for the long haul, so we worked hard to create a vibrant, progressive workplace that puts people first," says Daniel Bong, Group Chief Strategy Officer of Yinson Holdings Berhad. About HR Asia HR Asia is Asia's largest circulating publication for senior HR professionals. With over 50,000 copies distributed every issue, and an online and offline audience exceeding 200,000. HR Asia is the go-to brand for HR professionals seeking quality business intelligence and industry updates. HR Asia is published by Business Media International, a regional leader in B2B intelligence. List of Winners of HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2018 (Malaysia Edition) Company Industry AbbVie Sdn Bhd Healthcare Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd Financial Services APM Automotive Holdings Berhad Manufacturing Arrow Components (M) Sdn Bhd Electronic Components Distributor Arvato Systems Malaysia Sdn Bhd IT AXA Affin General Insurance Bhd General Insurance BAT Global Business Services & IT KL Hub FMCG / Tobacco British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Berhad Consumer Goods - Tobacco CCM Duopharma Biotech Berhad Manufacturing Coca-Cola Bottlers Malaysia FMCG DHL Information Services (Asia-Pacific) Sdn Bhd IT Shared Services DKSH Malaysia Market Expansion Services DRB-Hicom Berhad Conglomerate Encorp Berhad Property Developer Experian (M) Sdn Bhd Information Services Gabungan Strategik Sdn Bhd Construction & Development Great Eastern Life Assurance (M) Bhd Life Insurance Indah Putrajaya Sdn Bhd (The Everly Putrajaya) Hospitality Innovix Distribution Sdn Bhd IT International SOS Healthcare IOI Group Plantation and Resource Based Manufacturing JOS Malaysia Sdn Bhd IT KPJ Healthcare Berhad Healthcare KPMG PLT Professional Services Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad Investment Holding Lendlease Malaysia Construction Malayan Flour Mills Berhad Manufacturing McDonald's Malaysia Food Service Motorola Solutions (M) Sdn Bhd Telecommunication Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals Sdn Bhd Pharmaceutical MyKRIS Asia Sdn Bhd Managed Internet Service Provider Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd Property Development Nexperia Malaysia Sdn Bhd Manufacturing Puma Sports Goods Sdn Bhd Retail & Wholesales RHB Banking Group Banking & Financial Institution SAS Institute Sdn Bhd IT SunPower Malaysia Manufacturing Sdn Bhd Manufacturing Sunway Malls Retail Swarovski Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd Retail & Wholesale Sysmex (M) Sdn Bhd Healthcare TMF Group Professional Services Top Glove Corporation Berhad Manufacturing VF Brands Malaysia Sdn Bhd Retail & Wholesale Wipro Consumer Care (LDW) Malaysia Manufacturing & Trading of FMCG Products Yinson Holdings Berhad Oil & Gas Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd Healthcare Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20181107/2292430-1
AirMedia Announces the Sale of 20.32% of its Advertising Business and Realignment of its Business Components
BEIJING, Nov. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AirMedia Group Inc. ("AirMedia" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: AMCN), an operator of out-of-home advertising platforms in China targeting mid-to-high-end consumers as well as a first-mover in the travel Wi-Fi market, today announced that Beijing Linghang Shengshi Advertising Co., Ltd., one of the variable interest entities of the Company, Mr. Herman Guo, the Chairman and CEO of the Company, and Mr. Qing Xu, the director and executive president of the Company (together, the "Sellers") have entered an equity transfer agreement (the "Agreement) with Jiangsu Hong Zhou Investment Co., Ltd., an independent third party (the "Buyer") to sell 20.32% equity interest of Airmedia Group Co., Ltd. (the "AM Advertising" or the "Target") for an initial transfer price of RMB580 million in cash (the "Initial Consideration"), as adjusted pursuant to the Agreement. Among the total Initial Consideration, the consideration payment of RMB200 million will be made in three installments pursuant to the Agreement. The first installment of RMB50 million is required to be received within 3 working days after the execution of the Agreement. The second installment of RMB100 million is required to be received within 3 working days after the completion of the industrial and commercial registration procedure by the Sellers. The third installment of RMB50 million is required to be received within 30 days after the completion of the industrial and commercial registration procedure by the Sellers. The remainder of the RMB380 million shall be, subject to certain conditions provided in the Agreement, paid to the Sellers within 3 working days upon receipt of approvals granted by the competent securities regulatory department with respect to the listing/restructuring applications of the Target or its related party. Meanwhile, Sellers are obligated to repurchase the equity interests in the Target if the listing/restructuring applications are not duly submitted or the approvals from the competent securities regulatory department are not secured, each within a specified period provided in the Agreement, for the repurchase price as calculated pursuant to the Agreement. In addition, subject to certain conditions provided in the Agreement, the Initial Consideration may be incremented if the Buyer would successfully re-transfer the 20.32% of the equity interest in the Target to a third party above the Initial Consideration or the Buyer makes profit or should have made profit on selling its equity securities in the Target after the completion of listing/restructuring of the Target. The foregoing summary description does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by the Agreement, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit to the Form 6-K to be filed by the Company. Furthermore, the Company announced that it has decided to terminate its business on bus Wi-Fi networks and gas advertising business, and cut down its train Wi-Fi networks business and may terminate the train Wi-Fi networks business when the management of the Company deems necessary. "The sale of the remaining equity of AM Advertising and the realignment of our business components put us on the right tracks further into the new chapter of our future," said Herman Guo, CEO the Company. He said, "the realignment empowers the Company to reallocate its resources to further focus on the technological development, system integration, operational management, data analysis and business innovation in providing Wi-Fi inflight." He further commented, "it is our mission as a vanguard of the inflight Internet business to enable airlines and other partners to embrace the advent of a new chapter in the inflight connectivity." About AirMedia Group Inc. Incorporated in 2007 and headquartered in Beijing, China, AirMedia Group Inc. (AMCN) is an operator of out-of-home advertising platforms in China targeting mid-to-high-end consumers as well as a first-mover in the travel Wi-Fi market. AirMedia sells advertisements on the routes operated by several Chinese airlines and at Sinopec's service stations in China. AirMedia also has concession rights to operate the Wi-Fi systems on trains administered by eight railway administrative bureaus in China as well as on many long-haul buses in China. For more information, please visit http://www.airmedia.net.cn. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company's business strategies and initiatives as well as the Company's business plans; the Company's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; expected changes in the Company's revenue and certain cost or expense items; trends and competition in China; general economic and business conditions in China; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. For more information, please contact: Company Contact: Yan Liu Director, Investor Relations AirMedia Group Inc. Tel: +86-10-8460-8678 Email: ir@ihangmei.com Investor Contact: Tina Xiao President Ascent Investor Relations LLC Phone: +1-917-609-0333 Email: tina.xiao@ascent-ir.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airmedia-announces-the-sale-of-20-32-of-its-advertising-business-and-realignment-of-its-business-components-300744615.htmlRelated Links :http://www.airmedia.net.cn
CleverTap Launches CleverTap4Good, Enabling Non-Profits to Execute More Effective Mobile Campaigns
Philanthropic initiative provides social organizations with actionable insights to engage with and grow network of supporters SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CleverTap, the advanced mobile marketing solutions provider, today announced their philanthropy program: CleverTap4Good. CleverTap works with non-profits and social organizations around the world to help them engage and grow their network of supporters with the power of advanced behavioral analytics and mobile engagement. Using CleverTap's advanced customer insights, social organizations can build a global community of loyal supporters by crafting compelling engagement campaigns based on demographics, user preferences, and social profiles. CleverTap is a powerful mobile marketing solution that helps marketers create differentiated omnichannel customer engagement strategies that drive exponential growth. Every day, thousands of brands build valuable customer relationships using CleverTap’s intelligent mobile marketing platform, which provides actionable, real-time insights to help create amazing customer experiences. Today's non-profits start thinking of marketing automation early on to reach potential donors/partners but often lack the resources to do so. For brands that do not have the expertise to implement this on their own, CleverTap's mobile marketing experts will work closely with them to understand their objectives and help build and execute an effective mobile marketing strategy. Among the many organizations currently using CleverTap, fundraising platform Ketto has raised more than $50M for social, creative, and charitable causes. Zaheer Adenwala, Co-Founder & CTO at Ketto, says, "Ketto's platform amplifies the voices of those in need so they can be heard by the billions of people across the globe who are willing to help. With CleverTap, we can personalize messages so our users stay connected to the causes close to their hearts, be it fighting chronic illnesses, giving back to the community, or lending wings to a new idea. CleverTap's multi-channel marketing suite enables us to not only engage with all our supporters, but also gives us real-time customer insights that help us make informed marketing decisions. Having a technology partner who believes in our core value proposition helps us accelerate our efforts and make a positive difference in people's lives." Almitra Karnik, Head of Marketing at CleverTap, says, "It is heartwarming to see that through these brands we are able to do our bit towards a better world. Helping these non-profits reach a larger audience and engage them effectively makes us believe that technology is definitely a boon. Mobile marketing solutions and marketing technology shouldn't be something that just big brands have access to. Organizations that want to drive change and support various causes - from global warming to child labor to much more - will benefit immensely from our platform and this program." CleverTap is confident that by working alongside non-profits and social organizations, its innovative technology can help improve the lives of others. We look forward to expanding and adding more organizations to our network of brands who want to give back to the community. To learn more, visit the CleverTap4Good page. About CleverTap CleverTap helps consumer brands retain their users for life. It is a powerful mobile marketing solution that brings together user data from online and offline channels on one centralized platform. Every day, thousands of brands use CleverTap's machine learning models to create differentiated customer engagement strategies that help marketers drive omnichannel growth. Build valuable customer relationships using actionable, real-time insights that help create amazing customer experiences. Over 8,000 global brands, including Sony, Vodafone, Domino's Pizza, DC Comics, Go-Jek, BookMyShow, and DealsPlus trust CleverTap to help them connect with users and grow their mobile apps. To learn more about CleverTap, visit clevertap.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter. CleverTap operates out of San Francisco, New York, London, Singapore, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. To see how businesses of all sizes are building more meaningful customer relationships, visit our customers page. Press ContactKetan PanditPR for CleverTapketan@clevertap.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/779940/CleverTap.jpgRelated Links :http://www.clevertap.com
Cision Unveils Global Innovation Lab to Transform Communications Industry
LONDON, Nov. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CISION COMMSCON -- Cision® (NYSE: CISN) today announced the opening of a new global innovation and research center to fuel the ongoing development of groundbreaking technology for the communications industry. The Cision Innovation Lab, with locations in New York City and Berlin, is designed to build, test, and launch cutting-edge technology that helps communicators unify data, processes and analysis to transform the comms function. The Lab will serve as a testing ground for integration of acquired technology into the Cision Communications Cloud®, as well as the integration of the Cision Comms Cloud™ with industry-leading marketing and advertising technology from around the world. The research center will also focus on the creation of industry-standard frameworks and approaches that follow the best practices of Earned Media Management, helping to transform the comms function into a business driver. "Cision is building transformative technology to enable a modern communications industry – one where comms is realized as one of the most valuable assets within an organization," said Kevin Akeroyd, Cision CEO. "We led the charge for a new era with our breakthrough Communications Cloud, and the Cision Innovation Lab is an important component to achieving our vision for the future of comms. We're taking a new approach to innovation, helping global communications professionals to more holistically connect earned media with paid and owned media." The Cision Innovation Lab will be led by David Barker, the company's President of Data and Innovation. Under Barker's leadership, the Lab will focus on anticipating and solving the communication industry's challenges through product development, strategic acquisitions, and select partnerships with organizations in the paid and owned media spaces, including MediaMath® and LiveRamp®. The research center will be used to build and beta-test different communications use cases and solutions. Four primary centers of testing and development within the Lab environment include: Quants: Enabling communicators to access data, metrics and measurement to validate the importance of earned media as a business driver. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Bringing efficiency, scalability, and deep insights to both the day-to-day functions and overarching comms strategies. Graph: Allowing communicators to visualize and act on the interconnectivity of key influencers, content and target audiences. Media: Integrating with the broader martech environment to extend and connect earned media to paid and owned channels. "Communications and public relations are rapidly evolving," noted Barker. "Today, more than ever, comms and PR professionals are being asked to produce data-driven results that align with core business metrics. The Cision Innovation Lab will provide the ongoing development and innovation needed to set new standards of measurement and integration to continue validating the importance of earned media." About Cision Cision Ltd. (NYSE: CISN) is a leading global provider of earned media software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals. Cision's software allows users to identify key influencers, craft and distribute strategic content, and measure meaningful impact. Cision has over 4,000 employees with offices in 19 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information about its award-winning products and services, including the Cision Communications Cloud®, visit www.cision.com and follow Cision on Twitter @Cision. Media Contacts:U.S.Laura RomanDirector of Corporate Communications, Cisioncisionpr@cision.com Kate WalkerMcGrath|Power for Cisioncision@mcgrathpower.com EuropeSteph MacleodKaizo for Cisioncision@kaizo.co.uk Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467136/cision_logo.jpg Related Links :http://www.cision.com
Alliance Ventures Invests in Transit to Advance Multi-Modal Transportation and Mobility-as-a-Service Strategy
PARIS, TOKYO, and YOKOHAMA, Japan, November 5, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- Transit's mobile app aggregates and maps real-time transportation data, functional in more than 175 metropolitan areas around the world Alliance Ventures, the strategic venture capital arm of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, has announced today that it has invested in the latest round of funding in Transit, a multi-modal transportation mobile app company based in Montreal, Canada. This marks the latest technology investment by Alliance Ventures, launched earlier this year to support start-ups, early-stage development and entrepreneurs at the cutting edge of next-generation systems for the automotive industry. François Dossa, Alliance Global Vice President, Ventures and Open innovation, said: "We are pleased to make a strategic investment in Transit, the leading urban mobility navigation start-up in North America. This investment, which will advance Transit's efforts to make mobility seamless and accessible in cities, fits with the Alliance 2022 strategy to become a leader in robo-vehicle ride-hailing mobility services and a provider of vehicles for public transit use and car-sharing." Sam Vermette, chief executive of Transit, added: "New modes of mobility are entering the market at record speeds. It took decades for car-sharing to catch on. Now, e-bikes and scooters are being rolled out in weeks. This is an exciting time, as Transit helps people navigate their new mobility options. We look forward to working closely with Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi as Transit grows." Transit's mobile app platform enables multi-modal transportation, integrating public transit, ride-hailing, bike-sharing, and scooter-sharing. By combining real-time data from transit agencies with user crowdsourcing, Transit provides the most accurate information. Users enable GO, a function to get real-time notifications for their ride. Transit then tracks the real-time location of the vehicle and notifies the user when to leave for their stop, when to disembark, and sends adjusted ETAs. The investment reflects the capability of Transit in advancing multi-modal transportation as new modes of mobility rapidly enter the market. Transit is seen as a leader in its field, servicing more than 175 metropolitan areas globally. https://www.alliance-2022.com/news/alliance-ventures-invests-in-transit-to-advance-multi-modal-transportation-and-mobility-as-a-service-strategy/
