HKTDC’s April lifestyle fairs open today

– Showcasing cultural and creative design excellence for gifts and home products
and sustainable trends in the fashion and packaging sectors

– Five HKTDC trade fairs kick off today, including the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, while two major licensing events, the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference, will begin tomorrow
– Celebrating its 40th edition, the Gifts & Premium Fair showcases creative and functional products, with award-winning entries from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards highlighting local design talent
– Home InStyle introduces the Gerontech Living Pavilion and expands its upgraded Cultural and Creative Avenue, welcoming first-time exhibitors from the Czech Republic
– Fashion InStyle’s new highlighted zone, NEXT@Fashion InStyle, features advanced fashion materials from over 60 global suppliers, with renowned international fashion designer and Self-Portrait brand founder Han Chong joining as ambassador
– The two packaging fairs present printing and packaging solutions that balance sustainability and smart design, aligning with market trends

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) launches its diverse lineup of lifestyle exhibitions today, with the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium FairHome InStyle, and Fashion InStyle opening at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong beginning at AsiaWorld-Expo.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong said: “Hong Kong’s exports of gifts, home products, fashion items and packaging solutions are increasingly targeting the mid-to-high-end market, transitioning from original equipment manufacturing to original design. The HKTDC remains committed to supporting exhibitors’ needs to help them upgrade and transform their businesses, while enhancing the overall quality of our exhibitions to provide a premier platform for cultural and creative design that can reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a leading regional creative hub. This year’s lifestyle fairs are being held together in late April to offer buyers a one-stop, diverse sourcing experience, helping industry players explore cross-sector and cross-disciplinary business opportunities and creating synergies.”

The 2025 lifestyle fairs and conferences have attracted some 6,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, including Mainland China and Hong Kong, as well as Australia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand from the Asia-Pacific region, and Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United States from the European and North American regions. Fashion InStyle will welcome first-time exhibitors from Austria and the UK, while the Printing & Packaging Fair will feature a new participant from Cambodia, reflecting the global business community’s confidence in Hong Kong’s exhibition platform.

Creative designs unlock business opportunities, Gifts Fair embraces blind box trend
The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair marks its 40th edition in 2025 with the theme “Celebrating Four Decades of Wonder”, showcasing products that blend functionality with creative design. This year, some exhibitors are tapping into the popular blind box trend. The Jiangxi Province Jingdezhen Pavilion introduces ceramic works that use the blind box model to nurture the next generation of designers and artisans. Hong Kong exhibitor Soap Studio Company Limited showcases blind boxes featuring the popular Japanese character SHO-CHAN and Disney’s Toy Story character Aliens (Booth: HKCEC 1C-E03). Another Hong Kong exhibitor, Star Industrial Co Ltd, presents blind boxes from its Red A brand (Booth: HKCEC 1C-G03).

To showcase Hong Kong’s original design talent to the world, 65 award-winning works from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards 2025, organised by the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association, are on display at the Gifts & Premium Fair (Booth: HKCEC 5C-C02). In addition, Wei Yit Vacuum Flask Manufactory Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company with 85 years of heritage, is leveraging the fair to expand its flagship Camel-brand glass flasks into overseas markets (Booth: HKCEC 1C-E02).

The Cultural and Creative Avenue at Home InStyle has been upgraded and expanded this year, featuring more than 100 exhibitors from nine countries and regions including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan and the UK. First-time exhibitors from the Czech Republic are showcasing Bohemian crystal glassware, home fragrances and incense (Booth: HKCEC 5E-M07, M09), while Hong Kong exhibitor Canalside Studio presents its innovative “Ball Bearing Bench” that combines a doughnut-inspired design with a roller structure, allowing users to rotate while seated and enjoy a more interactive experience.

New Gerontech Living Pavilion targets the silver economy
To support the growing silver economy in Hong Kong, Home InStyle, with funding from the Innovation and Technology Commission, is launching the Gerontech Living Pavilion (Booth: HKCEC 5E-A08) at this year’s fair. The pavilion is divided into four areas – bedroom, living room, bathroom and games room – to showcase innovative gerontechnology products from over 10 local companies, including social robots, smart mobile toilets and smart walking sticks. The Hong Kong Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre is staging the Age-Friendly Home Living Lab and organising the Experiential Empathy Workshop that allows visitors to better understand the needs of the elderly (Booth: HKCEC 5E-A02). In addition, the Hong Kong Productivity Council introduces mixed-reality (MR) games that integrate hand-eye coordination with floral arrangements to stimulate muscular and brain functions (Booth: HKCEC 5E-A08).

Home InStyle and the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair will together host a seminar featuring a representative from Venture Global Limited, a developer of wireless elderly home care products, alongside a scholar from Lingnan University to discuss emerging trends in healthcare and the silver economy. The seminar will focus on the development of smart wearable technologies and innovative gerontechnology products, assessing strategies that can effectively meet the needs of the silver demographic.

NEXT@Fashion InStyle becomes the new focus
The 2025 edition of Fashion InStyle sees the launch of NEXT@ Fashion InStyle (NEXT), a new highlighted zone organised by the HKTDC and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the HKSAR Government. Thailand is the Strategic Partner of NEXT@Fashion InStyle, powered by the Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) and The National Soft Power Development Committee who have brought some 30 Thai exhibitors to showcase fashion materials that blend Thai culture with sustainability and innovative technologies. In addition to Thai exhibitors, the NEXT zone has brought together more than 60 exhibitors from Mainland China, Europe, the Americas, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam, among others, presenting cutting-edge materials to create an international platform for shaping future fashion trends. Notably, the Hangzhou New Concept Fabric Creative Centre Textile Library has established an innovation hub within NEXT, featuring products that integrate traditional Chinese crafts such as Badu Linen Embroidery, beam printing and tie-dye techniques with advanced materials. (Booth: HKCEC 3F-G11)

The NEXT zone has facilitated collaborations between leading advanced material brands and five local designers, with Han Chong, founder of internationally acclaimed fashion brand Self-Portrait, joining as ambassador to share insights and mentor the designers. Participants include designer Jason Ying, a former intern at the Self-Portrait studio, who draws inspiration from vintage military uniforms to reimagine classics using innovative materials (Booth: HKCEC 3F-H16). Another designer, Kinyan Lam, employs Gambiered Canton Silk, a national intangible cultural heritage textile from Guangdong that goes back more than 1,000 years, leveraging its lightweight and soft texture to create streamlined silhouettes and flowing hemlines, blending cultural heritage with contemporary design (Booth: HKCEC 3F-H12).

Two packaging fairs highlight sustainability and luxury design

Jointly organised by the HKTDC and CIEC Exhibition Company (HK) Limited, the 20th edition of the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and the concurrent DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong bring together a diverse range of printing and packaging solutions. The Green Printing & Packaging Solutions Zone at the Printing & Packaging Fair features innovative offerings, including gift bags from Vietnam’s Intbox Intelligent Packaging Corporation made from 100% recycled paper and biodegradable materials (Booth: AWE 3-G01), and Hong Kong’s Complacent Industrial (H.K.) Limited’s recycled yarn woven ribbons crafted from repurposed plastic bottles and other recycled plastics (Booth: AWE 3-E06). In the Packaging Services and Solutions Zone, Shanghai Forests Packaging Group Co., Ltd. exhibits eco-friendly paper bags and boxes made from recycled kraft paper and biodegradable coatings (Booth: AWE 6-C17).

DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, which focuses on premium packaging for fine wines, cosmetics and jewellery, also presents an array of sustainable packaging solutions. Hong Kong exhibitor Man Sang Envelope Manufacturing Factory Co Ltd features FSC-certified paper and meticulous craftsmanship in its advent calendar packaging boxes, seamlessly blending environmental sustainability with luxurious design (Booth: AWE 3-A06).

Industry seminars unlock new market opportunities
The April lifestyle events are featuring approximately 60 thematic seminars, buyer forums, product promotion and launch events and fashion parades, covering market analysis, cultural creative design, smart industry developments, the silver economy, health and wellness, and sustainability. At Home InStyle and the Gifts & Premium Fair, distinguished speakers will share insights on sustainable consumption trends in the gift and houseware markets and address issues such as how SMEs can navigate the European Union’s latest Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The speakers include Steven Baumgaertner, Chairman of the European Associations Cooperation, Steven Choi, Chief Operating Officer of the Green Council, and representatives from the Gold Award winner of the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions (AEII), the Hong Kong Accreditation Service of the Innovation and Technology Commission, and TÜV Rheinland. Meanwhile, the Printing & Packaging Fair, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Digital Printing Association, will host a seminar featuring industry leaders such as William Ho, the Association’s Honorary Chairman, and representatives from Kanghong Digital Image (hk) Ltd. and eprint Group Limited, to explore how the printing industry can address the dual challenges of competitiveness and innovation.

Running concurrently with the five April trade fairs will be the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference, which start tomorrow and run for three days at the HKCEC.

EXHIBITION+ model extends business opportunities for participants
The HKTDC continues to employ its EXHIBITION+ online-offline integrated model for the fairs, allowing exhibitors to leverage the AI-powered Click2Match business matching platform, hktdc.com Sourcing platform and the Intelligence Hub to extend physical exhibition interactions onto online platforms. Buyers can use the Scan2Match function in the HKTDC Marketplace App to scan exhibitor and product showcase QR codes, record favourite exhibitors, browse product information and make enquiries, allowing discussions to continue online during and after the exhibition. Starting this month, the online promotion period for exhibitors will be extended to one year. For convenience, buyers can register on the HKTDC Marketplace App and download free eBadges for direct venue entry.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/4jJYmie

image
image
image
image
image

Websites

HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/en
Home InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/homeinstyle/en
Fashion InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/fashioninstyle/en
Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en
DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong: https://www.hktdc.com/event/deluxeprintpackhk/en
Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Home InStyle
Fraser LiTel: (852) 2584 4369Email: fraser.li@hktdc.org
Fashion InStyle
Serena CheungTel: (852) 2584 4272Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
HK Gifts & Premium Fair, HK International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong
Winnie KanTel: (852) 2584 4055Email: winnie.wy.kan@hktdc.org
HK International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference
Katy WongTel: (852) 2584 4524Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitionsconferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus

Global Sports Brand U.S. Polo Assn. Delivers Record $2.5 Billion in Retail Sales for 2024, Targets $3 Billion and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. Stores

USPA Global, the company that manages U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), announced that the sports brand has delivered a record $2.5 billion in global retail sales in 2024 with a target of $3 billion in sales and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. stores in the near future.

U.S. Polo Assn.
U.S. Polo Assn.

U.S. Polo Assn.’s continued record growth resulted from expanding its existing footprint across all regions around the world. U.S. Polo Assn. delivered steady growth in North America, the brand’s largest market, and continued to gain market share in the other established regions of Western Europe, Middle East and Latin America. In addition, U.S. Polo Assn. is significantly growing in emerging markets for the brand such as Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe. Finally, U.S. Polo Assn. is considered the largest and fastest growing menswear brand in India, with the brand targeting a billion dollars of retail sales in the country in the coming years. U.S. Polo Assn. will also be actively launching several new strategic markets in 2025 including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Poland and Thailand.

Today, U.S. Polo Assn.’s footprint spans across 190 countries, with some 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores, and thousands of other locations including department stores, specialty retail, sporting goods channels, and e-commerce. U.S. Polo Assn. continues to climb the retail ranks as one of the largest global licensed sports brands in the world, ranking in the top five alongside the NFL, MLB, and NBA, according to License Global.

“The strength of our sport-inspired brand, great quality products and overall global momentum has resulted in yet another record year for U.S. Polo Assn.,” explained J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages and markets the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand globally. “Our biggest growth engine for U.S. Polo Assn. around the world is our direct-to-consumer sales, whether that’s in our sport-inspired stores or through our branded e-commerce sites, which enable consumers to engage with the brand and our authentic connection to the sport.”

“For U.S. Polo Assn., our significant growth in direct-to-consumer channels can be directly attributed to our strategic initiatives to enhance customer engagement and build brand awareness in ways that improve the overall customer experience,” added Prince.

U.S. Polo Assn.’s robust growth strategy includes a relentless focus on retail store expansion worldwide. The brand has grown its global fleet to over 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. stores, targeting some 1,500 by 2030. For 2024, new and existing strategic stores around the world continue to be enhanced with a more elevated brand and sports concept, providing consumers with an authentic experience when engaging with the brand. Flagship locations are being enhanced or opening in markets all over the world, offering curated selections of U.S. Polo Assn. clothing and accessories for men, women and kids.

In addition, U.S. Polo Assn. continues to build on its successful digital strategies to generate record growth in e-commerce with some 50 brand sites in 20 languages. Retail sales growth can also be attributed to new site launches in India, the U.K., Japan and Romania, all demonstrating tremendous e-commerce momentum. U.S. Polo Assn. has further expanded its digital presence across the top social media platforms, with over 10 million followers worldwide demonstrating additional global momentum.

“We remain committed to entering new partnerships and opportunities to drive our international market expansion and grow our product category offerings while also elevating our global brand strategy, strengthening our strategic sports relationships and philanthropic mission while deepening our authentic connection to the sport of polo,” Prince concludes.

The brand’s relationship with ESPN now runs through 2026 with a recent extension, bringing the thrilling sport to a large global audience and making polo accessible to millions of households and multiple digital channels. The sport’s illustrious U.S. Open Polo Championship®, which is broadcast by ESPN and hosted this year by legendary ESPN commentator Chris Fowler, now sits alongside the elite company of The Masters and the Kentucky Derby as one of the country’s most prestigious Spring sporting events. In addition, an iconic deal was signed with Star Sports India to broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn, alongside Wimbledon, Premier League Soccer and India Premier League (IPL) Cricket.

The USPA National Polo Center (NPC), the sport’s premier destination in North America, brought record crowds and sellout Sundays for the 2024-2025 American High-Goal Polo Season, with the best polo in the world from January through April. The stunning venue, now owned by the USPA, is situated in beautiful Palm Beach County, Florida, spans 160 acres, and encompasses multiple grass polo fields, fine dining, tennis courts, stadium seating, swimming pool, and the newly renovated USPA Shop. This Flagship location is an elevated consumer experience filled with rich polo heritage and fashion, boasting a diverse curated collection of sport-inspired and luxury merchandise. At the centerpiece of the USPA Shop is the “Halo,” a 360-degree circular screen that showcases the most exciting polo highlights of the season, immersing polo fans and consumers alike.

Further supporting the brand’s consumer engagement initiatives, the USPA Global Team has been preparing worldwide for a series of 135th Anniversary global events and brand campaigns to create an unforgettable experience for sports fans and consumers in 2025. The U.S. Polo Assn. Anniversary Campaign, now underway, celebrates the 135th year of the USPA and features activations in major markets, including North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Throughout 2025, consumers can look forward to exclusive in-store events, digital experiences, capsule collections, and collaborations with influencers and athletes, all celebrating the sport’s legacy and future.

“In 2024, the U.S. Polo Assn. Global Team and our worldwide strategic partners delivered unprecedented financial results and reached significant achievements in our product offerings, expansion initiatives, global marketing and broadcast efforts,” said Prince. “I look forward to an exciting 2025 with an outstanding 135th Anniversary Campaign featuring global events that are already underway in the United States, India and China, with more to come in Italy, the U.K., Turkey and beyond.”

“I have never been more confident and optimistic about the U.S. Polo Assn. global business increasing our market presence and growing our leadership position, with the near-term goal of passing $3 billion in worldwide sales and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores by 2030,” Prince concludes.

About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global
U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890 and based at the USPA National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida. This year, U.S. Polo Assn. celebrates 135 years of sports inspiration alongside the USPA. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States and Star Sports in India now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time.

U.S. Polo Assn. has consistently been named one of the top global sports licensors in the world alongside the NFL, NBA, and MLB, according to License Global. In addition, the sport-inspired brand is being recognized internationally with awards for global and digital growth. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Modern Retail, and GQ as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world.

For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn.

USPA Global is a subsidiary of the USPA and manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. Through its subsidiary, Global Polo Entertainment (GPE), USPA Global also manages Global Polo TV, which provides sports and lifestyle content. For more sports content, visit globalpolo.com.

Contact Information
Stacey Kovalsky
Vice President, Global PR and Communications
skovalsky@uspagl.com
+001.561.790.8036

Kaela Drake
PR & Communications Specialist
kdrake@uspagl.com
+001.561.461.8596

SOURCE: U.S. Polo Assn.

Related Images

U.S. Polo Assn.

The Apipatana Foundation Donates S$50,000 to Support Lower-Income Students in Singapore

Supported by the Collective for a Stronger Society, this donation is doubled through the SG Gives Matching Grant, expanding its impact

The Apipatana Foundation has donated S$50,000 through the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS)’s donor-advised fund to support children from lower-income families in Singapore.

This donation qualifies for a 1-to-1 match under the SG Gives Matching Grant through the Collective for a Stronger Society (CSS) – a CFS-led initiative that consolidates resources to drive impactful social programmes.

These funds will fully support a year of operational costs for CATCH THEM YOUNG’s new KidsExcel+ programme, an afterschool initiative dedicated to primary school students from households earning a per capita monthly income of S$750 or less. By ensuring sustained access to quality educational and extracurricular support, this investment directly empowers children with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed for long-term success.

“I am honoured to support the KidsExcel+ programme with this inaugural donation,” said Thanit Apipatana, Founder, The Apipatana Foundation. “Many children face hurdles that go beyond the classroom, making it harder to stay on track academically. I look forward to seeing this programme support students in their studies and beyond.”

“Real change doesn’t happen on its own – it happens when people come together,” said Paul Tan, CEO, Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS). “We’re proud to support The Apipatana Foundation and Catch Them Young in their shared mission to uplift children’s lives. For 17 years, CFS has been a trusted partner, empowering givers like Thanit to fulfil their philanthropic purpose for good. We remain committed to advocating for a generous society and helping to build a more caring and inclusive Singapore for generations to come.”

The donations will benefit 650 participating lower-income students under the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) ComLink+ and the Ministry of Education’s Financial Assistance Scheme this year.

KidsExcel+ is an expanded version of the original KidsExcel programme, and following a successful pilot in 2024, it will fully replace the latter this year. The new programme has integrated a more holistic range of offerings to improve academic and socio-emotional development outcomes for its student intake.

The KidsExcel+ programme will run for 50 weeks every year, with weekly three-hour sessions that provide academic tutoring in English, Mathematics, and Science. Beyond the core curriculum, the programme incorporates team sports to help students develop confidence, resilience, and teamwork skills, with biannual sports camps offering additional opportunities to strengthen leadership and collaboration. Students will also have access to e-resource libraries, adaptive assessments, and Android tablets with mobile connectivity – tools that allow them to learn on their own.

“The generosity of our donors surpasses our expectations each year. We applaud their enthusiasm in seeing disadvantaged children succeed. According to the 2023 Household Expenditure Survey, lower-income families in Singapore spend nearly 4 times less on tuition than high-income families,” said Kevyn Sim, CEO, CATCH THEM YOUNG. “Donations like Mr Apipatana’s make it possible for us to help alleviate the burden on lower-income families by helping their children excel in school.”

The KidsExcel+ programme aims for 50% of participating children to improve their academic performance in at least one subject by 15%, and for 50% of them to achieve a higher Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score after completing the 50 week long programme.

About The Apipatana Foundation
Established in November 2024, The Apipatana Foundation is a philanthropic initiative under the Community Foundation of Singapore, dedicated to funding education and community programmes that provide academic support, mentorship, and essential resources for underprivileged groups.

Established by Thanit Apipatana, a Bangkok-based entrepreneur, investor, and startup advisor, The Apipatana Foundation focuses on initiatives that create direct, measurable impact. Apipatana has invested in companies such as Singapore’s Mogul.sg and Thailand’s Life Below Labs, with a portfolio spanning venture building, real estate, F&B, and sports. He actively supports projects that improve access to education and strengthen social support systems.

About The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS)
The Community Foundation of Singapore empowers individuals and organisations to fulfil their philanthropic giving with purpose and impact. Our vision is to nurture a generous society of caring, inclusive and thriving communities.

As specialists in Singapore’s philanthropic ecosystem, our dedicated team provides trusted guidance to help donors structure and optimise their giving based on their values and interests. We support a wide range of causes – from uplifting disadvantaged families and vulnerable children, to championing the arts, culture, and the environment.

To ensure every donation makes a meaningful difference, we uphold the highest standards of corporate governance and collaborate with over 400 charity partners to drive effective, measurable impact.

As at March 31, 2025, CFS has raised over S$344 million in donations, including legacy gifts, and disbursed over S$200 million to diverse charitable causes.

Visit www.cf.org.sg to learn more about what we do.

About CATCH THEM YOUNG and KidsExcel+
CATCH THEM YOUNG is a charity that supports children from disadvantaged profiles by trying to level the playing field. One of its key programmes is KidsExcel+, which is a sports and academic enrichment programme, comprising weekly sessions held over the year.

Partnering primary schools and social agencies, each year we support 500 children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Through regular, consistent engagement, we hope to achieve sustained academic and behavioural progress in our children. KidsExcel+ aims to develop resilient, confident children with positive learning attitudes.

For more details about the KidsExcel+ programme, please visit: https://www.cty.sg/kidsexcel

Azurite Medical and Wellness Launches Revolutionary Luxury Surgical Retreat Concept in Global Medical Tourism Market

Azurite Medical and Wellness, founded by entrepreneur Trina Eliassen, announces the launch of its innovative medical tourism service that combines affordable cosmetic surgery with exclusive luxury aftercare experiences in Thailand, fundamentally transforming how patients approach overseas surgical procedures.


Azurite Medical and Wellness

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10373/249980_b94c71f2c41a5943_001full.jpg

The new venture, led by American-born Eliassen who relocated to Australia in 2005, brings together world-class surgical expertise with comprehensive pre-operative preparation and 5-star recovery accommodations, delivering premium surgical packages at up to 75% less than Western prices.

“We’ve created a service that addresses every aspect of the medical tourism journey,” explains Trina Eliassen, Founder of Azurite Medical and Wellness. “From nutritional coaching months before surgery to luxury recovery accommodations with 24/7 nursing care, our goal is to eliminate the stress and uncertainty typically associated with overseas procedures.”

The company has established an exclusive partnership with renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Theerapong, whose expertise in complex reconstructive procedures has attracted patients from across the globe. Azurite’s comprehensive packages include private transportation, luxury accommodation, personalized meal plans, and round-the-clock nursing care for 9-28 days depending on procedure complexity.

What sets the Azurite approach apart is its focus on bundled surgical packages that deliver more balanced aesthetic results while maximizing value. A comprehensive facelift package including fat transfer, upper and lower blepharoplasty, and an optional surgical lip lift costs approximately AUD 17,500 through Azurite’s service, compared to around AUD 75,000 for equivalent procedures in Australia.

The announcement comes as global medical tourism continues to grow, with patients increasingly seeking alternatives to high-cost procedures in Western countries. Eliassen plans to expand the Azurite service model to Turkey and Korea in the coming years, leveraging these countries’ advanced medical technologies and established beauty industries. The company also has plans to launch a specialized nutrition and supplement line designed specifically for post-surgery healing to reduce scarring and infection risk.

About Azurite Medical and Wellness: Azurite Medical and Wellness is pioneering a new approach to medical tourism that combines surgical excellence with luxury recovery experiences. The company provides comprehensive support throughout the entire transformation journey, from pre-operative preparation to post-surgical care.

Media Contact:
+61 407 330 054
info@azurite.com.au
azurite.com.au & azuritemedicalandwellness.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249980

Melbourne’s Deputy Lord Mayor shares city’s path forward at PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) launch

The 8th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) has officially launched, opening entries for 2025 across expanded categories that showcase the finest of Australia’s thriving real estate markets, from Melbourne and Sydney to Brisbane and beyond.

This year’s Awards will shine a spotlight on innovative developments in both established hubs and Australia’s fastest-growing “cities of tomorrow.”

From Left to right: Karen Kong, Head of Property Lending, Bendigo Bank; Nathanael Kitingan, AMBC Victoria President & Managing Principal, Macpherson Kelley; Ivan Lam, Executive Director, International Business, Charter Keck Cramer; Kathy Johnson, Managing Director, Yarraport Group; Josh Chye, Partner & Head of Tax Consulting, HLB Mann Judd; Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell, City of Melbourne;  Jules Kay, General Manager, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards & Events; and Bill Papastergiadis OAM, Melbourne Managing Partner, Moray & Agnew

The official launch announcement of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) was held on 9 April at the Melbourne Marriott Hotel during the “Asia Connect: Melbourne” event, with the Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Roshena Campbell, representing the City of Melbourne. The event was jointly organised by PropertyGuru Group and the Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC) in Victoria, with support from HLB Mann Judd and the Malaysian Developers Council of Australia (MDCA).


Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell, City of Melbourne

The Deputy Lord Mayor’s attendance underscored the role of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards in driving innovation, urban revitalisation, and cross-border investment in Australia’s real estate sector.

During her special address at the Asia Connect: Melbourne event, Deputy Lord Mayor Campbell shared the vision for the city’s path forward and strategic focus on long-term development and opportunities for its multicultural communities. She also highlighted the city’s important trade relationship with Asia, as well as the impact of international events such as the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards that promote Melbourne as a great place to invest, study or live, calling it the “destination of choice.”

Exceptional liveability

Deputy Lord Mayor Campbell said: “Melbourne’s exceptional liveability is a drawcard for both domestic and international investors—with world-class sporting, cultural, and dining experiences, lush parks and gardens, and leading education opportunities, it’s no surprise we’re Australia’s fastest-growing city.”

She added: “The City of Melbourne is backing quality development like never before—and we welcome bold, visionary minds to help shape the future of our city. Melbourne is built on smart design that reflects our unique identity. But great design is more than good looks. Every building can lift our quality of life, attract investment, and deliver better housing. Our Design Excellence Program and Design Review Panel help make that happen.”

The City of Melbourne proudly hosted the last two editions of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) ceremonies. In 2024, several leading real estate developers in the Australian market earned prestigious accolades, including OSK Property; BHC Property; FY Property, Kooringa Group, MA Financial, CPDM; Golden Sedayu; and Jean Yip Developments.

Asia Connect: Melbourne Panel Discussion


Asia Connect: Brisbane Panel Discussion

Other guests at Asia Connect: Melbourne included Bill Papastergiadis, OAM​, Melbourne managing partner,​ Moray & Agnew​; Karen Kong, head of property lending, Bendigo Bank; and Kathy Johnson, managing director, Yarraport Group.


From Left to right: Kiong Chan, CEO and Principal Trainer, Australian Leadership Skills Centre; Ivan Lam, Executive Director, International Business, Charter Keck Cramer; James Henderson, Managing Partner, Business Advisory, Tax Consulting, Brisbane, HLB Mann Judd; Shona Leppanen-Gibson, President, Australia Malaysia Business Council Qld; Josh Chye, Partner & Head of Tax Consulting , HLB Mann Judd; Jules Kay, General Manager, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards & Events; Peter Li, General Manager, Plus Agency; and Karl Fu, Partner – Asian Markets, Winning Commercial

Landmark expansion

In a landmark expansion, this year’s Awards programme was also launched at the Asia Connect: Brisbane event co-organised with HLB Mann Judd, the official supervisor. Held on 11 April at HLB’s headquarters in the Brisbane CBD, the presentation featured a panel discussion on the strengthening Brisbane property market. The speakers included Ivan Lam, chairperson of the judges, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia), and ​​​​executive director for international business, Charter Keck Cramer; Josh Chye, partner and head of tax at HLB Mann Judd; James Henderson, managing partner for business advisory and tax consulting in Brisbane at HLB Mann Judd; Kiong Chan, CEO and principal trainer, Australian Leadership Skills Centre; and Shona Leppanen-Gibson, president of Australia Malaysia Business Council – Queensland.

Asia Connect: Brisbane speakers highlighted the infrastructure improvements and development happening in Queensland’s capital city as it prepares to host the 2032 Olympic Games. Other notable guests at the event were Tina Field, honorary consul of the Royal Thai Consulate, and Sheryll Gabutero, honorary consul of the Philippines Consulate Brisbane.

The annual black-tie gala dinner and presentation ceremony for the 2025 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) in September will take place in Sydney at the Shangri-La Sydney. Expecting participation from Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, the Awards demonstrate a wider interest from developers across Australia’s key real estate markets.

Key dates for this year’s edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) are:

  • 18 July 2025 – Entries Close
  • 11-20 August 2025 – Site Inspections
  • 22 August 2025 – Final Judging
  • 19 September 2025 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Sydney, Australia
  • 12 December 2025 – Regional Grand Final Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

According to Property Report by PropertyGuru, the official magazine of the Awards, the underlying demand for Australian residential real estate remains robust, despite supply constraints in new residential listings. With stabilising interest rates, improving supply chains, and increasing suburban demand, experts remain cautiously optimistic about the long-term prospects of the market.


Jules Kay, General Manager, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards & Events

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “With Australian real estate commanding global interest, we are thrilled to unveil our 2025 awards to showcase world-class projects to discerning property seekers throughout Asia Pacific. Alongside Melbourne and Sydney, Brisbane is a worthy addition to our event schedule this year, as Australia’s property market continues to diversify with impressive growth beyond traditional urban hubs. We look forward to celebrating the ingenuity and innovation of developers from all key property destinations at our domestic and international galas later this year.”

International stage

The 8th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) are part of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards series, organised by PropertyGuru Group, Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company. First established in 2005 in Thailand, the series marks its 20th anniversary in 2025. Over the years, the Awards expanded to include Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East, and Australia.

Winners of the Australia awards may qualify to compete at the 20th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final to be held in Bangkok, Thailand in December 2025. At the Grand Final, the best of the best from more than a dozen dynamic property markets in the Asia-Pacific region will compete on the international stage.


Josh Chye, Partner & Head of Tax Consulting, HLB Mann Judd, and Official Supervisor of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia)

An esteemed panel of independent judges, comprising experts across various real estate sectors, will inspect and evaluate the entries. The judging process will be supervised by HLB International Real Estate Group, the “2024 Network of the Year,” under Josh Chye of HLB Mann Judd.



Ivan Lam, Executive Director, International Business, Charter Keck Cramer, and Chairperson of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) 

Ivan Lam, chairperson of the judges, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia), said: “We proudly launch our awards’ eighth edition amid Australia’s suburban growth, driven by demand for residences beyond city centres—especially from buyers undeterred by market shifts. With new categories this year, we honour developers who have agilely adapted to market shifts, delivering designs and masterplans that meet the needs of diverse property seekers in Australia. With economic stability improving and pressures easing, we are optimistic about long-term investment in Australia’s property market. As more projects rise, we look forward to celebrating innovation and excellence that will define the future of Australian real estate, setting benchmarks for 2025 and beyond.”

The 8th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) are supported by official portal partner PropertyGuru; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; supporting associations Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC) and Malaysian Developers Council of Australia (MDCA); and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS:

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair, and transparent. 

In 2025, the Awards series is open to key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during PropertyGuru Week in December 2025. 

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP:

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia’s leading1 PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 31 million property seekers2 to connect with over 50,000 agents monthly3 to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 2.1 million real estate listings4, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in Singapore in 2007 and since then, PropertyGuru Group has made the property journey a transparent one for property seekers in Southeast Asia. In the last 17 years, PropertyGuru has grown into a high-growth PropTech company with a robust portfolio including leading property marketplaces and award-winning mobile apps across its core markets.  

For more information, please visit: PropertyGuruGroup.com; PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn.

(1) Based on SimilarWeb data between January 2024 and June 2024.
(2) Based on Google Analytics data between January 2024 and June 2024.
(3) Based on data between April 2024 and June 2024
(4) Based on data between January 2024 and June 2024.

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com  

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Senior Manager, Media and Marketing Services
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Watcharaphon Chaisuk (Jeff), Solutions Manager
M: +66 95 797 0595
E: jeff@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Monika Singh, Solutions Manager
M: +66 87 677 4812
E: monika@propertyguru.com

DataBurning and Vumonic Announce Strategic Partnership for India E-Receipt Data

– DataBurning becomes exclusive GTM partner for Vumonic’s comprehensive India e-receipt panel

DataBurning, a leading alternative data and digital solutions provider for financial institutions and corporates, recently announced a strategic partnership with Vumonic Datalabs, a pioneer in e-receipt technology. Under the agreement, DataBurning will serve as the official go-to-market partner for Vumonic’s industry-leading India e-receipt panel.

The partnership combines Vumonic’s proprietary e-receipt technology and extensive India panel with DataBurning’s established distribution network and client relationships. Financial institutions and corporations will now have exclusive access to granular spending data covering over 270 companies across India’s rapidly growing digital economy.

This landmark partnership brings Vumonic’s high-frequency, low-latency e-receipt data to investment professionals for the first time. The dataset, delivered with industry-leading accuracy through Vumonic’s proprietary processing technology, is designed to meet the exacting standards of hedge funds, quantitative investors, private equity firms, venture capital groups, and major investment banks seeking visibility into India’s dynamic market.

“This partnership represents a significant advancement in alternative data on the Indian market,” said Gabriel Appleton, Co-founder of Vumonic Datalabs. “By combining our comprehensive e-receipt technology and data with DataBurning’s market reach, we’re providing unprecedented visibility into spending patterns across India’s digital economy.”

This marks the first time Vumonic’s powerful e-receipt data is being made available to financial firms, following years of development and validation. The company’s extensive panel and proprietary parsing technology have until now been reserved for select enterprise clients and internal research.

Vumonic’s e-receipt panel offers transaction-level insights for major platforms including Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, MakeMyTrip, and hundreds more Indian companies. The data provides valuable signals for investors and brands looking to understand market share, growth trends, and spending behavior.

“We’ve been searching for a partner that could deliver reliable, granular e-receipt data on India’s digital economy,” said Joyce Xiang, Co-President of DataBurning’s Finance Business Group. “Vumonic’s e-receipt panel offers the scale, accuracy, and coverage institutional investors demand for making data-driven investment and strategic decisions.”

The partnership delivers several key benefits tailored specifically for institutional investors:·
– Institutional-Grade Signal Quality: Transaction data with demonstrated correlation to company performance metrics, ideal for investment modeling
– Ultra-Low Latency: Data delivered with minimal lag, critical for time-sensitive investment strategies
– Comprehensive Coverage: Transaction-level data for over 270 companies, covering both public equities and private market opportunities
– Multi-Frequency Options: Data available in daily, weekly, or monthly cadences to match various investment horizons
– Ethical Data Collection: All data collected with explicit user consent and properly anonymized

“Vumonic’s technology can consistently process millions of complex e-receipts daily with 99.9% accuracy, providing the reliability that institutional investors require,” added Appleton. “Our panel’s scale and depth offer unprecedented visibility into transaction patterns across India’s most dynamic sectors.”

As part of the collaboration, the companies will jointly host regular webinars showcasing market insights and trends derived from the data. Investors interested in the webinar could register on Databurning website.

Founded in 2018, Vumonic has established itself as a leader in e-receipt technology, processing billions of transactions annually while maintaining the highest standards of data privacy and security. The company’s proprietary parsing and enrichment technology transforms raw receipt data into structured intelligence.

DataBurning, founded in early 2019 and backed by SoftBank Asia, and IDG Capital, has quickly becomes Asia’s premier provider of alternative data and digital solutions for financial institutions and corporations. By harnessing AI and other innovative technologies, DataBurning’s highly skilled data-science and analyst team turn data into actionable insights, and commentary and fundamental analysis to enhance client’s decision-making.

Financial institutions and corporations interested in accessing Vumonic’s India e-receipt data should contact DataBurning for more information.

Website: https://www.databurning.com/en/

Email: market@databurning.com

HydroFleet Propels Hydrogen Revolution Forward With HTWO Logistics Collaboration in Savannah, GA

The Industry’s First High-Volume Class-8 Hydrogen Refueling Station in the United States

HydroFleet, Inc. (HydroFleet) is excited to announce the construction of its new hydrogen production and refueling station at the new HTWO Energy Savannah site in Pooler, Georgia. This state-of-the-art facility represents a significant investment in clean energy and sustainable transportation solutions, aimed at servicing zero-emission FCEV heavy trucks. This investment will significantly enhance the region’s clean energy infrastructure, supporting zero-emission heavy-duty trucks and other clean energy vehicles, including port applications and nearby rail, while contributing to a sustainable future.

HTWO Energy Savannah Refueling Bay
HTWO Energy Savannah Refueling Bay

HTWO Energy Savannah Station Depictions are Represented for the Planned Pooler, GA, Facility

“Pooler is an ideal location for HydroFleet’s facility due to the proximity to major interstates, the Port of Savannah, and prospective fleet customers,” said Scott Moe, President and CEO, HydroFleet, expressing his enthusiasm for the project. “We know customers want zero-emission fleets but have struggled to source the entire hydrogen ecosystem at a competitive price. Through strategic partnerships and proven, safe technology, HydroFleet solves this challenging industry problem. We look forward to partnering with Pooler to lead the clean energy transition to cost-effective, emission-free heavy truck fleets here in Georgia and across the U.S.”

HydroFleet’s investment in Pooler is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the area, creating jobs and positioning Pooler, and the greater Savannah, GA, area, as a leader in clean energy solutions. The facility will utilize advanced hydrogen production and distribution technology to reduce emissions and noise pollution, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future for the community.

“HTWO Energy Savannah is a breakthrough hydrogen production and refueling station for the heavy-duty trucking industry, allowing zero-emissions trucks to quickly and easily refuel at a single convenient location in the Savannah region,” said Jim Park, SVP, commercial vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell business, Hyundai Motor North America. “The HTWO Energy Savannah hydrogen station will also truly fulfill our vision for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (“HMGMA”) Clean Logistics, allowing our innovative new electric vehicle plant to transport plant shipments within a clean, zero-emissions ecosystem.”

“This marks a significant step forward in the decarbonization of emissions-intensive port operations and major logistics corridors,” said Jonathan Choi, CEO, HTWO Logistics. “HTWO Energy Savannah provides hydrogen fuel for our Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen-powered class 8 truck fleet, which provides clean logistics for Hyundai’s new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America.”

John Porter, CEO of Capital Development Partners, the property owner and project developer, added, “We are thrilled to collaborate with HydroFleet on this groundbreaking project. This hydrogen production station will not only enhance the local economy but also establish Pooler as a leader in clean energy solutions. Our commitment to sustainable development aligns perfectly with HydroFleet’s vision for a greener future.”

Seth Greengrass, Director, Origination of Axpo, the global energy contract provider for the project, commented, “Axpo is proud to support HydroFleet’s innovative hydrogen production facility. Our expertise in energy trading and risk management ensures a reliable and efficient supply of feedstock, contributing to the success of this environmentally friendly initiative.”

HydroFleet also partnered with the Savannah Economic Development Authority (“SEDA”) and the Southeast Hydrogen Energy Alliance (“SHEA”) in development of the cutting-edge hydrogen facility. The collaboration encompassed comprehensive planning, strategic site selection, meticulous permitting processes, and robust public education initiatives, ensuring the project’s success and community engagement.

The deal was completed with legal assistance from Jennifer Surprenant and Raffael Fiumara, both shareholders of Greenberg Traurig LLP. HydroFleet was advised by Lazard, Inc.

For more details, please contact:
Leam Nelson
Chief Business Officer, HydroFleet
Email: info@hydrofleet.com
Phone: (833) 493-7635

Follow HydroFleet on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

About HydroFleet:
HydroFleet is at the forefront of the clean energy revolution, spearheading the transition to hydrogen-powered mobility and adoption of green technology. We equip industries and fleets with an evolving range of streamlined solutions that maximize operational efficiency and profitability. HydroFleet’s versatile hydrogen solutions fuel an increasing range of hydrogen applications, making the transition to a sustainable fleet effortless. HydroFleet, Power to make a difference®. Visit www.hydrofleet.com.

Contact Information
Leam Nelson
Chief Business Officer
info@hydrofleet.com
(833) 493-7635

Related Video

SOURCE: HydroFleet, Inc.

Related Images

HTWO Pooler Facility
HTWO Pooler Facility

HTWO Energy Savannah Station Depictions are Represented for the Planned Pooler, GA, Site

Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference Open Today

– Focusing on IP Opportunities, Driving Creative Innovation

– The Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) commence today for three days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
– Some 330 exhibitors from around the world, showcasing more than 600 brands and intellectual properties (IPs) will be attending HKILS
– ALC features nearly 20 international licensing industry experts to discuss the latest global licensing trends, sustainable licensing models, immersive art and technology applications, and IP innovations
– The event features more than 30 panda-themed IPs, with the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau and two Egyptian museums participating for the first time
-“Hong Kong Licensing Force” is a new exhibition zone showcasing design and IP projects from multiple Hong Kong universities.

The 22nd Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and the 14th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), commence today for three days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over 330 exhibitors from around the world are showcasing more than 600 brands and intellectual properties (IPs) at HKILS. At the concurrent ALC, nearly 20 international licensing industry experts will explore key industry topics. Both these events foster cross-sector and cross-industry collaboration, enhance the commercial value of IP, and expand the IP trading ecosystem, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a regional IP and licensing trading hub.

Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director, said at the opening ceremony: “These two flagship events reflect the continued growth and vitality of the global licensing sector. Thanks to our world-class experience and talents, robust legal protections, proximity to growth markets and a new generation of consumers, Hong Kong is an established IP and licensing trading hub. HKILS provides a vibrant platform for the city’s emerging creative talents who are developing new IPs.”

ALC focuses on trending topics, including how classic character and cultural heritage IPs can preserve their original spirit while staying relevant. Ms Fong added that ALC will include the enduring stories of truly iconic and globally appealing characters such as the Peanuts gang and the Smurfs, and explore the potential of these IPs to further develop their reach and appeal in the ever-changing marketplace. The conference will also take a deep dive into the rich cultural heritage of China and Egypt, two of the world’s most historic civilisations, and how such timeless IP create fresh connections and generate new experiences in today’s world.

HKILS and ALC welcomed Raistlin Lau, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony. Mr Lau remarked: “Brands and Intellectual Property has been proven as the cornerstone of the creative industry. The annual Hong Kong International Licensing Show is the flagship event in Asia that gathers global license sources and brand representatives in Hong Kong to explore infinite business opportunities with licensees, licensing agents and traders. In the three-day fair, among the 330 exhibitors are 43 Hong Kong emerging design companies which will showcase their licensable designs in Hong Kong Pavillion, which is one of the CreateSmart Initiative projects supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.”

Panda-themed IPs and museums and cultural institutions from the mainland at both events
Hong Kong’s pandas have welcomed local and international visitors, giving the local economy a significant boost. HKILS features over 30 panda-themed IPs, including Ocean Park Hong Kong’s panda family IP, featuring “Ying Ying”, “Le Le”, “Elder Sister”, and “Little Brother”. For the first time, HKILS welcomes the Egyptian Museum Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.

The Mainland China Pavilion features over 30 museums and cultural institutions including Prince Kung’s Palace Museum and 14 prominent museums led by Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, including the Capital Museum, China, Confucian Temple and the Imperial College Museum and Natural History Museum of China, showcasing Beijing’s rich historical and cultural resources and continuously enhancing the internationalisation of its cultural and creative museums.

“Hong Kong Licensing Force” supports young talent
This year’s HKILS introduces the “Hong Kong Licensing Force”, aimed at nurturing original brands and IPs. The zone features 15 IPs from students at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, covering areas such as environmental protection, cultural conservation and social development. Through diverse media applications, including AR and VR experiences, these projects present the innovative thoughts of the new generation.

Another initiative supporting local creative design is the Design Licensing and Business (DLAB) Support Scheme, sponsored by the HKSAR Government’s Cultural and the Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) which returns to the Licensing Show with more than 40 local designers.

Classic IPs Reveal Strategies for Sustained Popularity
For ALC, Maarten Weck, Executive Vice President, Global Partnerships & Licensing of WildBrain and Tim Erickson, Executive Vice President, Peanuts Worldwide & WildBrain Brands, shared the sophisticated strategies that keep Peanuts popular and loved across generations during Snoopy’s 75th Anniversary: The Beagle that Captured Our Hearts. WildBrain is Peanuts IP owner.

Mr Weck said: “Brands are global, but executions need to be local. Consumers nowadays want to be surprised by diverse and different offerings, including brand collaborations. We need to think outside the box about which brands could benefit from working with you, and vice versa. That is something consumers really focus on.”

ALC hosted a China Opportunity sharing session, focusing on the potential and opportunities within the cultural industry on the mainland. In the China Opportunity (1) – Hong Kong’s Unique Position to Take Chinese Cultural IP Global session were Lichao Zhang, Chairman of Beijing National Library Innovative Cultural Relics Protection Technology and General Manager of Beijing National Library Innovative Cultural Service, Pan Wei, Deputy Director of Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum (Xiannongtan) and Gabriel Kwong, Ocean Park Hong Kong’s Panda IP Creator and Co-Founder of Air World Limited. During the session, the speakers analysed how Hong Kong’s unique role as a “super connector” in creating cultural symbols with both Chinese characteristics and international appeal, facilitating cultural exports. The conference also specially invited Wan Pin Chu, an erhuist and film composer for the Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha ” as speaker.

ALC continues over the next two days with more exciting content, including a series of activities to deepen the understanding of ancient Egyptian civilisation and the commercial opportunities behind its IPs. Metavision Global Entertainment CEO Ethan Tang will join attendees tomorrow in the Licensing Academy II – The Future of Storytelling: How Technology Transforms Narrative in Immersive Art to experience VR and AR that bring new entertainment experiences and explore the development process of the VR immersive journey, “Horizon of Khufu”.

Dr. Ali Abdelhalim Ali, General Director of the Egyptian Museum, and Dr. Nashwa Gaber Mohamed, Deputy Executive Director of Archaeological Affairs at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, will participate in tomorrow’s Tapping into the Timeless Allure of Ancient Egypt: Licensing Opportunities with Museums, focusing on artifacts with potential and successful commercialisation cases, sharing how museums can expand from traditional souvenir shop models into new licensing domains.

Fabienne Gilles, Chief Commercial Officer of Peyo Company, and Marie Van Buggenhout, Senior Licensing Distribution Manager, will join tomorrow’s session, How to Mix Fun and Sustainability in a Smurfy Way. Representing the Smurfs, created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo (Pierre Culliford), they will share how the core values of the Smurfs can be harnessed to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices worldwide through the collaborations with the United Nations.

The Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference are held concurrently with five other lifestyle exhibitions organised by the HKTDC, including the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, creating opportunities for cross-industry exchange and collaboration.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/4lJ8Z6J

image
image
image

Websites
Hong Kong International Licensing Show:
https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en

Asian Licensing Conference:  https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en/programme category=all&date=all

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

Media enquiries
For more information, please contact Raconteur:

Molisa LauTel: (852) 6187 7786Email: molisalau@raconteur.hk
Betsy TseTel: (852) 9742 7338Email: betsytse@raconteur.hk

The HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:

Katy WongTel: (852) 2584 4524Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitionsconferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus

Q2 Metals Extends Mineralized Zone Strike Length to 1.5 Kilometres and Concludes the 2025 Winter Program at the Cisco Lithium Project in Quebec, Canada

Highlights:

  • The 2025 Winter Program concluded with 6,997 metres (m) drilled across 14 holes.
  • Drill hole CS25-028 encountered eight (8) spodumene pegmatite intervals, with the widest interval of 50.9 m of continuous spodumene pegmatite, along with additional noteworthy intercepts of 21.5 m and 19.3 m.
  • Drill hole CS25-036 encountered 13 spodumene pegmatite intervals, with the widest interval of 64.3 m of continuous spodumene pegmatite, along with additional noteworthy intervals of 22.3 m, 18.1 m and 12.7 m. Hole 36 ended in pegmatite at a depth of 308.6 m due to time constraints.
  • Assays are pending on all 14 drill holes completed in the 2025 Winter Program.
  • The northeast-southwest strike of the main zone has increased to 1,500 m (previously 850 m at the end of 2024).

Q2 Metals Corp. (TSX.V:QTWO)(OTCQB:QUEXF)(FSE:458) (Q2 or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the Winter 2025 expansion drill program (2025 Winter Program) at the Company’s Cisco Lithium Project (the Project or the Cisco Project), located within the greater Nemaska traditional territory of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec, Canada.

The 2025 Winter Program at the Cisco Project concluded with a total of 14 drill holes for 6,997 m of drilling completed. Of the 14 drill holes completed, 10 intercepted spodumene-bearing pegmatite. Assays are pending on all 14 drill holes, and the Company anticipates the first results to be announced in May.

“We are very encouraged by the results to date, which continue to validate the scale and potential of the Cisco Project,” said Q2 Metals President and CEO Alicia Milne. “With only 37 holes drilled for 14,644 metres to date, we’ve built a strong foundation for continued advancement. Cisco’s strategic position in the southernmost part of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, just 150 kilometres from rail access, gives it a distinct development advantage and further enhances the project’s long-term value. We remain well-funded, the project remains open in all directions and at depth, and we are eager to resume drilling in June.”

“The 2025 Winter Program was highly successful,” said Q2 Vice President of Exploration Neil McCallum. “During the program we nearly doubled the strike length of the main mineralized zone from 850 m to 1.5 kilometres and started to drill test other areas of interest that will require further work. On our return to the Project in June, we will continue to systematically define the known mineralized zone, starting with Hole 36 which ended due to the start of the traditional goose hunting season at 308.6 m and in spodumene pegmatite. Additional mapping and sampling of the Cisco Project will also be a priority this summer as we’ve explored less than 10 percent of our total land package, leaving a significant amount of the prospective 30-kilometre-long greenstone belt still to be tested.”

Summary of Spodumene-Bearing Pegmatite Intervals
The pegmatite intervals (greater than 2 m) of drill holes CS-25-028 to 37 are reported below in detail (Table 1 & 2):

Table 1. Summary of Spodumene-Pegmatite Intervals at the Main Zone, Cisco Project
Table 2. Summary of Spodumene-Pegmatite Intervals at the CO2 Outcrop Area, Cisco Project

The mineralized intervals in all the holes are not necessarily representative of the true width and the modelled pegmatite zones are being refined with every additional hole.

Cautionary Statement: The presence of pegmatites does not confirm the presence of lithium (spodumene or other lithium minerals). Pegmatites are fractionated coarse grained igneous rocks commonly associated with lithium mineralization; however, many pegmatites do not contain mineralization. The presence of any mineralization can only be confirmed with assaying.

The geological team has completed the core cutting and logging of holes CS25-028 to CS25-037 and the samples have been dispatched to the SGS Canada preparation laboratory located in Val-d’Or, QC for mineral analysis to confirm the presence of lithium.

Discussion of Drilling Results
Three holes (CS25-029, 031 and 033) targeted the southern extension of the main mineralized zone. With the 200-metre spacing, and only a few holes per section line, wide (>100 metre) pegmatite intervals were not intercepted. It is expected that the wide pegmatite intervals are present, however additional testing work is required. It is noted that the pegmatite intervals are somewhat deeper in the drill holes at the south and further work will be carried out during the summer exploration season to test the potential up-dip location of the pegmatite towards the west. In summary, the main zone remains open to the south.

Hole CS25-030 targeted the deeper portions of the northern extent of the main mineralized zone and has demonstrated that the zone is open in that direction.

Hole CS25-028 tested the eastern portion of the main mineralized zone and provided additional information in that area. Combined with the other holes drilled to the east, the zone remains open in that direction as well.

Hole CS25-036 was not completed prior to the start of this year’s goose-hunting season and ended before the intended completion depth. Despite this, the objective of the hole was accomplished with several wide pegmatite intervals intercepted that will assist in resolving the geometry of the pegmatite as well as providing guidance on definition-scale drilling. Drilling on this hole will re-commence as soon as possible after the goose-hunting season.

Drill holes CS25-032, 034, 035 and 037 were drilled to define the subsurface expression of the prominent mineralized CO2 outcrop. Additional work is needed to follow up this area as several potential orientations have not yet been tested.

Figure 1. Map of Drilling Area, Cisco Project
Figure 2. Cross Section B (Looking Northeast)
Figure 3. Long Section of the Main Zone

Metallurgical Testing
During the 2025 Winter Program, representative samples were assembled and dispatched to SGS Canada for additional preliminary metallurgical test work, including heavy liquid separation (HLS), dense media separation (DMS), magnetic separation, and flotation.

The primary objective of the preliminary metallurgical program will be to evaluate the beneficiation of the currently defined mineralized zone at the Cisco Project with a traditional lithium pegmatite flowsheet. The goal of the proposed metallurgical work is to produce a spodumene concentrate of greater than 6% Li2O with low iron content, at a maximum lithium recovery.

Initial metallurgical testing on 16 drill core analytical pulp samples of pegmatite collected across seven (7) drill holes at the Cisco Project indicated that spodumene is the primary lithium-bearing mineral within all pegmatite samples (see news release from Q2 on February 12, 2025).

Optical Televiewer Survey Work
During the 2024 drill program conducted at the Cisco Project, optical televiewer survey work was conducted on 13 of the 17 holes drilled by the Company to confirm the pegmatite contact relationships at depth (see news release from the Company on February 3, 2025).

Following the compilation and review of the data points collected, it was determined that the orientation of the pegmatite aligns with the surface measurements, and that the drill azimuth is appropriate for this stage of the Company’s drilling campaigns. Additionally, the dip of the pegmatite varies between 25- and 80- degrees (relative to the surface), indicating that the current drill angle of -45 degrees is the most appropriate angle.

The Company continued to collect downhole televiewer data during the 2025 Winter Program. Additional drill holes from the 2024 drill program were surveyed as well as several of the holes drilled in the 2025 Winter Program (drilling at hole CS25-036 was in process). Data collected will continue to refine the Company’s most appropriate drilling approach.

Sampling, Analytical Methods and QA/QC Protocols
All drilling was conducted using diamond drill rig with NQ sized core and all drill core samples are shipped to SGS Canada’s preparation facility in Val D’Or, Quebec, for standard sample preparation (code PRP92) which includes drying at 105°C, crushing to 90% passing 2 mm, riffle split 500 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. The pulps are then shipped by air to SGS Canada’s laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples are homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (code GE_ICM91A50). The reported Li grade will be multiplied by the standard conversion factor of 2.153 which results in an equivalent Li2O grade. Drill core was saw-cut with half-core sent for geochemical analysis and half-core remaining in the box for reference. The same side of the core was sampled to maintain representativeness.

A Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the sampling program. Measures include the systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials (CRMs) into sample batches at a rate of approximately 5% each. Additionally, analysis of pulp-split and reject-split duplicates was completed to assess analytical precision. The QP has verified the QA/QC results of the analytical work.

Drill Hole Collar Information
The summary of drill holes completed to date, including basic location and dip/azimuth is detailed below (Table 3):

Table 3. Summary of Drill Hole Collar Information, Cisco Project (CS25-028 to CS25-037)

Upcoming Events
121 Mining Investment Conference
Q2 Metals will be attending the 121 Mining Investment Conference in London, UK from May 12-13, 2025. For more information, click here.

Canaccord Genuity Global Metals & Mining Conference
The Company will be attending the Canaccord Genuity Global Metals & Mining Conference in Henderson, NV from May 20-22, 2025. For more information, click here.

THE Mining Event of the North
Q2 will be attending and exhibiting at THE Mining Event of the North in Quebec City, QC from June 3-5, 2025. For more information, click here.

About Q2 Metals Corp
Q2 Metals is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the Cisco Lithium Project located within the greater Nemaska traditional territory of the Eeyou Istchee, James Bay, Quebec, Canada where drilling is currently underway.

The Cisco Project is comprised of 767 claims, totaling 39,389 hectares. The main mineralized zone is just 6.5 kilometres (“km”) away from the Billy Diamond Highway and transects the Project. The town of Matagami, which features direct rail link to much of James Bay, is approximately 150 km to the south.

Cisco has district-scale potential with an already identified mineralized zone and 2024 discovery drill results that include:

120.3 metres at 1.72% Li2O (hole CS-24-010);
215.6 metres at 1.69% Li2O (hole CS-24-018);
347.1 metres at 1.35% Li2O (hole CS-24-021); and
188.6 metres at 1.56% Li2O (hole CS-24-023)

The Cisco Project is situated along the Frotet Evans Greenstone Belt, comprised of a volcanic package dominated by mafic to felsic metavolcanic rocks, of the southern James Bay Lithium District, the same belt that hosts the Sirmac and Moblan lithium deposits, located 130 km and 180 km away, respectively.

image

www.Q2Metals.com

Click to follow us online:
XLinkedInFacebook, and Instagram

Qualified Person
Neil McCallum, B.Sc., P.Geol, a registered permit holder with the Ordre des Géologues du Québec and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 (“QP”), has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. Mr. McCallum is a director and the Vice President Exploration for Q2.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “will”, “potential”, “scheduled” or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Accordingly, all statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, any statements or plans regard the geological prospects of the Company’s properties and the future exploration endeavors of the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, drilling results on the Cisco Project and inferences made therefrom, the potential scale of the Cisco Project, the focus of the Company’s current and future exploration and drill programs, the scale, scope and location of future exploration and drilling activities, the Company’s expectations in connection with the projects and exploration programs being met, the Company’s objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same. Readers are cautioned that mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business and accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors are discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis for its recently completed fiscal period, which is available under Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Q2 Metals Corp.

Wintermar Offshore (WINS:JK) Reports 1Q2025 Results

Wintermar recorded a 31.4%YOY increase in Gross Profit to US$6.6 million for 1Q2025, with US$4.1 million Operating Profit (+52.5% YOY), driven by Owned Vessels gross margin expansion.

Margin expansion in the Owned Vessel Division continued to boost profitability, despite a slow quarter where Total Revenue fell by 9.2%YOY from US$18.4 million in 1Q2024 to US$16.7 million in 1Q2025. The lower revenue stemmed from a slower than expected start after the monsoon season which primarily affected the Chartering Division.

Owned Vessel Division

The Owned Vessel Division continued to perform well as the high tier vessels and mid-tier DP vessels saw improved utilization. Gross Profit from Owned Vessel jumped by 55.8%YOY to US$6.1 million for 1Q2025 as compared to 1Q2024, generated from revenues of US$14.8 million (+6.1%YOY). With more PSVs working, Owned Vessel gross margin has continued to increase to 41.2% in 1Q2025 from 28.1% in 1Q2024. Average charter rates for 1Q2025 were 31% higher than 1Q2024, due to a larger number of high yielding vessels in the Company’s fleet.

The lower end of the mid-tier segment did not fare as well in 1Q2025, as some mid-tier vessels came off spot contracts. OSV demand was slow during the quarter, with some project delays, even though there were some ongoing tenders. Fleet utilization dropped to 57% in 1Q2025 as compared to 63% in 4Q2024. Two additional HLBs were delivered in February and March 2025 which only commenced operations in April 2025.

Chartering Division and Other Services

A longer than expected hiatus for the monsoon season led to a 70%YOY drop in Chartering Division Revenues to US$0.9 for 1Q2025 compared to 1Q2024. Revenue from Other Services also recorded a decline of 30.5%YOY to US$1.0 million upon the completion of a contract.Direct Expenses and Gross Profit

Owned Vessel Direct Expenses reduced by 13.3%YOY to US$8.7 million from US$10.1 million in 1Q2024. There were savings in maintenance costs (-28.2%YOY), which fell from US$2.4 million in 1Q2024 to US$1.7 million in 1Q2025, due to the absence of some one-off preparation costs in 2024 for international contracts. Owing to the sale of 3 vessels during 2024, Operations cost fell by 31.0%YOY, from US$1.1 million in 1Q2024 to US$0.8 million in 1Q2025 while Crewing expenses also decreased by 7%YOY, from US$2.5 million in 1Q2024 to US$2.4 million. Bunker costs were maintained at US$0.5 million (+1.8%YOY), reflecting a stable oil price and a low number of vessel mobilizations.

As a result of a higher concentration in Dynamic Positioning (DP) vessels which has enjoyed a stronger charter rate increase, the Gross Profit margin has risen from 27.1% in 1Q2024 to 39.3% in 1Q2025, demonstrating the underlying resilience of the fleet despite the near-term delays in project commencements.

Indirect Expenses and Operating Profit

Total Indirect Expense rose by 6.5%YOY to US$2.4 million in 1Q2025 as compared to US$2.3 million in 1Q2024. This increase was primarily driven by the increase in marketing expenses and staff salaries.

With the growing participation in international tenders, Marketing Expenses in 1Q2025 doubled to US$0.17 million (+125.3%YOY) from US$0.08 million in 1Q2024. Staff Salary contributed US$0.09 million to the increase, rising 5.2%YOY to US$1.8 million in 1Q2025, due to an expansion of permanent employees and higher salaries.

Operating Profit for 1Q2025 was US$4.1 million, which increased 52.5% compared to the same period in the previous year. The operating margin rose to 24.7% in 1Q2025 from 14.7% in 1Q2024.

Other Income, Expenses and Net Attributable Profit

Interest expenses doubled to US$0.5 million in 1Q2025 as the Company obtained new loans to refinance the PSV and HLBs purchased last year. On the other hand, interest income rose by 32.0%YOY to US$0.1 million in 1Q2025, following strong cash flow generation.

Interest expenses doubled to US$0.5 million in 1Q2025 as the Company obtained new loans to refinance the PSV and HLBs purchased last year. On the other hand, interest income rose by 32.0%YOY to US$0.1 million in 1Q2025, following strong cash flow generation.

Equity in net earnings of associates recorded a loss of US$0.04 in 1Q2025 compared to a gain of US$0.2 million in 1Q2024, reflecting the lower utilization experienced by our associated companies.

The sale of fixed assets contributed a gain of US$0.2 million from the disposal of low tier vessels in 1Q2025, effectively capturing the fleet’s monetary value. The Company recorded a FX loss of US$0.4 million from Rupiah denominated trade receivables, impacted by the strengthening of the USD.

Non-controlling interest was significantly higher at US$1.5 million compared to US$0.4 in 1Q2024, reflecting the share of minority interest in earnings from the PSV business, in which Wintermar holds a 51% stake. Net Attributable Profit for 1Q2025 amounted to US$1.6 million, a decrease by 25.6%YOY from US$2.2 million in 1Q2024.

The group’s EBITDA jumped by 20.2%YOY for 1Q2025, reaching US$7.6 million.

Industry Outlook 

The long term outlook for offshore support vessels (OSV) is still positive, albeit in the near term, the industry has not escaped the uncertainty affecting global business sentiment that has emerged from policy fluctuations in the US.  As a result of the imposition of tariffs, oil demand growth for 2025 has been revised down while geopolitical risks have risen amidst fears of escalating trade wars.

In 1Q2025, the global caution added to the seasonal slowdown in Asia which resulted in some delays to project commencements. However, planning is underway for several offshore drilling projects which are expected to ramp up towards the end of the year, which provide support for charter rates. The second-hand market has been active with higher prices being offered for used OSVs in operating condition, indicating that there is still strong demand in the coming years.           

Business Prospects

The year has started on a slow footing, which has impacted utilization in 1Q2025 as 60% of the fleet is still exposed to short term spot contracts.  Gross margins, which have been climbing, will be maintained due to the better fleet mix, as can be seen in the strong growth in gross profit and operating profit.   The Company has taken delivery of 2 units of Heavy Load Barges in 1Q2025 which are expected to commence operations in 2Q2025 and secured additional high tier vessel contracts, thus supporting continued profitability in the latter part of the year. Looking ahead to 2026, we are still positive on the demand for DP vessels which will be needed for several new deepwater drilling projects which are in development this year. 

Total contracts on hand as at end March 2025 has risen to US$71.9 million.

About Wintermar Offshore Marine Group

Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.

Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com .

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA
Investor RelationsPT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk
Tel (62-21) 530 5201 Ext 401
Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com