Category: Featured

Brainhole Technology Limited (“Brainhole Tech” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (stock code: 2203) is committed to diversifying its business portfolio. While strengthening its research and development (“R&D”) and innovation capabilities in the semiconductor and hardware businesses, the Group has seized market opportunities for expanding to the smart living sector to generate cross-business synergies.

Proactively expands to smart living sector
At present, China is a world leader in 5G network technology, and has commenced full implementation of a 5G network for commercial and civilian applications in 2020. As technological innovation and development are highly encouraged and supported under China’s state policies, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud computing and big data processing will be benefited continuously. In view of such developments, the Group seeks to capitalize on fast-growing demand for technological applications in the smart living sector.

The Group completed the acquisition of Guangzhou Weaving Communications Telecommunications Technology Limited (“Guangzhou Weaving”) in 2019. Guangzhou Weaving is principally engaged in broadband infrastructure construction and the provision of integrated solutions for smart domain applications in China, including smart home, smart campus and smart communities. Its smart domain solution includes hardware for security and identification purposes, software for residential management, energy saving, and community services. The Group will continue seeking other acquisition or investment targets, primarily focusing on areas of smart living related technologies and electronic parts for artificial intelligence and Internet of Things, which could have potential business synergy with Guangzhou Weaving and the semiconductor business.

Strong and experienced management team
To support the various business expansion and development plans, Brainhole Tech has hired Mr. Tong Wen-hsin (former Chairman of the Board of FIH Mobile Limited) to join the Board and management team of the Group. He possesses extensive operation and management experience in the investment banking, finance and information technology fields. On the other hand, Mr. Liu Yi (former General Manager of Huawei product line), the new CEO of Guangzhou Weaving, has been leading the company to exceptional results. At present, the company has partnered with high technology brandname such as Huawei etc., and is preparing to collaborate in various projects.

Strengthen R&D and innovation capabilities for semiconductor and hardware businesses
Last year, the Group’s semiconductor business encountered many challenges especially in the impact arising from the Sino-American trade war and the coronavirus disease. Due to gradual control of the epidemic in China, the Group’s production and operation have promptly been resumed. The Group understands that the semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid technological changes and evolving industry standards, and an effective quality assurance system is critical to its success. The Group therefore intends to continue its R&D efforts so as to strengthen production processes and quality controls.

Looking ahead, the Group will vigorously explore other business opportunities in order to initiate and build a diversified business landscape and enhance corporate strengths. Those opportunities include developing smart campus in China, an all-in-one technological innovation industrial parks that supports and pilots the application of innovative solutions, drives new technology developments and enhances collaborations of high-technology companies. By leveraging the management team’s expertise and ties in the mobile telecommunication, networking and smart city sectors, as well as the Group’s well-established relations with telecom carriers and property developers, together with support from the local government in the form of preferential policies, the Group believes that it can effectively assist the local government in configuring the infrastructure and providing technological support for developing and building a complete smart campus. The smart campus can be used as an incubator for attracting talent and companies from nationwide and worldwide to start their R&D and production lines of smart technologies within the campus.

About Brainhole Technology Limited (stock code: 2203)
Brainhole Technology Limited (“Brainhole Tech”), formerly known as Top Dynamic International Holdings Limited, is intent on exploring and leveraging advanced technologies in order to become a world leading provider of technology products and solutions for smart domain applications that enhance the quality of life of the individual and contribute to the wellbeing of the community. Brainhole Tech operates as a semiconductor manufacturer and smart domain solution service provider based on smart communication infrastructure. The Company offers products and solutions surrounding the smart home, smart community, and smart city, including but not limited to intellectual communication devices and applications for security-related software and hardware, among other purposes. Brainhole Tech has customers from around the world, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Europe.

Global Green Chemicals PCL (SET:GGC) Managing Director, Mr. Witoon Suewatanakul discusses the company’s strategy and outlook in The Executive Talk (TET) by ShareInvestor.com.

TET: Please explain GGC’s business model.

GGC’s aspiration is to become a leading Green Chemical Company. Being a listed company on the Stock Exchange of Thailand since 2017, GGC has embarked on investing in our products and capacity. Currently our two main businesses are biofuels and biochemicals which include Methyl Esther (ME), Fatty Alcohols (FA) and Glycerine. These products are commonly used in the automotive industry, personal care, home care, and pharmaceuticals. With our current investment projects, GGC will be expanding into bioplastics which is an exciting industry and we will be able to provide higher value-added products to the global marketplace and ultimately achieve our company’s aspiration.

TET: What is the status and impact of the investment’s projects that GGC?

There are two key projects, the first project is the Refined Glycerine Plant #2, an investment of 363 million baht which is on target to COD by the fourth quarter of 2020. It is an integrated project to enhance the value of by-products from Crude Glycerine from our ME production and allow us to capture the market growth of high-volume industries.

The second project is Nakhonsawan Biocomplex (NBC) Phase1, an investment of 7.5 billion baht which is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2021. It is a joint venture between GGC and Kaset Thai International Sugar Corporation Plc (KTIS). NBC is an integrated complex to produce biofuels, biochemicals, and bioplastics from sugarcane. We will start Phase1 which consists of 1) crushing mill with a nameplate capacity 2.4 million tonnes per year 2) ethanol plant with a nameplate capacity of 185 million litres per year and 3) biomass power plant to generate electricity and steam with a nameplate capacity 85 MW and 475 tonnes per hour, respectively.

TET: What impact does the government policies have upon the industry in Thailand?

The agricultural sector is a crucial industry for Thailand. An example of how GGC works with the Ministry’s is on the implementation of B10 and B20. We are a biodiesel expert in Thailand and understand the end-use of our products. The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the supply side while on the demand side we support the Ministry of Energy the possibilities of the high blending ratio, including the impact and the consequences of using it.

Also, the automotive industry is reluctant to implement the high bio content and we have to cooperate with the Ministry to convince the associations to make adjustments to allow the use of bio-fuels in their engines, further climbing up blending rate close to Indonesia and Malaysia.

Thailand has sufficient raw materials such as cassava, sugar cane and oil palm. The first two are raw materials for ethanol. Brazil today very well adjusts the blending rate as they are at E100 today when sugar prices are low, and when sugar prices increase, they will reduce to E50. This helps balance the demand and supply in their domestic markets. For Thailand we are implementing the same ideas to ensure that agricultural prices can remain relatively stable for the population.

TET: How does GGC manage the volatility of commodity prices?

Commodities are volatile by nature as we cannot control the climate, but we ensure that we are effective with a strong team to manage the costs and revenues efficiently. Also, we employ good technology that provides flexibility of feedstock among Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and other alternatives feedstock.

For Biodiesel the pricing mechanism in Thailand is that the government has laid the foundation that it is a cost plus, and import of external feedstock is not allowed, so we only use the domestic feedstock. Our supply chain management minimise the risk exposure to ensure that the company has a certain margin as we do not want to speculate on the pricing.

Now the CPO price in Thailand is regulated and not 100% correlated to the global prices because of the Government’s regulation. And, Thailand’s CPO price is higher than the global price. This is the hurdle for biodiesel export as feedstock is the major cost of production.

For our second business, Fatty Alcohols, we refer global price, demand and supply, and our performance is based upon our technologies and efficiencies to produce high value-added products.

TET: What differentiates GGC from its peers?

Our technology and focus on operational excellence differentiate us from our peers. As GGC is part of the PTT Global Chemical Plc group, there is a strong focus on operational excellence, this is an important criteria for us and is demonstrated in our operational safety and reliability. With the ME plant #2 expansion and the Biocomplex, we are employing the latest technology resulting in having additional high value-added products and expanding into a new industry.

TET: What do you think investors may misunderstand about your business?

Investors understand our existing business quite well as the current businesses are stable and I believe that they are more interested in our future projects especially the bioplastics. The new technology will not only drive our growth but help the domestic economy as Thailand expands from being a pure agriculturally based economy to combined agricultural knowledge with modern technology.

This will help the farmers and uplift the industries in Thailand with research and development of technologies. This will lead to smart farming in the future. Currently the farming season can be volatile, and the Government’s aim is for Thailand to become the bio-hub of ASEAN by 2027 and GGC is one of the key participants in this goal.

TET: What are the biggest challenges facing your business and industry?

During different periods there are different challenges that appear for the business and industry. In the past there were issues with the demand and supply of CPO, and this was then mitigated when the government changed the mandate from B7 to B10 which reduced the excess supply of CPO and solved a major issue for the country.

Currently Thailand is implementing the same regulations as Malaysia and Indonesia, both countries have faced critical problems as they export tremendous amounts to Europe and Europe has announced that Methyl Esther (ME) from both countries will be totally banned by EU community due to environmental concern by 2030.

CPO from Indonesia and Malaysia represent more than 80% of the world production of crude palm oil. Indonesia and Malaysia produce palm oil approximately 40 and 20 million tonnes per year, respectively, and Thailand only produces 3 million tonnes per year. In January 2020 these two countries changed their blending rates, Indonesia increased from B20 to B30 and Malaysia from B10 to B20. Every country will have to solve their own issues.

For Thailand the balance between demand and supply is appropriated and the country can ensure that there is a suitable portion of excess supply as inventory for the country usage. However, if the country shifts to B20 too quickly as a mandate, it will create significant problem as demand will exceed supply. Indonesia and Malaysia both are more efficient in their CPO production, with higher yields leading to low costs and a lower selling price than Thailand. Thus, Thailand has to develop farming process and technology to improve CPO yield.

Our aim is to be competitive and promote sustainable growth through bio-related industries. With the investments and initiatives taken today, GGC’s business portfolio will cover biofuels, biochemicals and bioplastics. This support GGC to become globally competitive in five years as a modern leading Green Chemical Business.

TET: Where do you see GGC in five years from now?

Leading Australian CRO Avance Clinical said there was still strong demand from Asian and US sponsors, and commended Australian sites that had risen to the challenge to deliver for Avance Clinical clients during this difficult time.

Avance Clinical is a medium-sized full-service CRO known for its nimble and collaborative approach, with more than 20-years of experience in managing early phase trials.

Avance Clinical’s Chief Strategist Ben Edwards said a key factor in sponsor demand is the speed and attractive cost of running trials in Australia. In particular, they include:

• The Australian Government financial rebate of more than 40% on clinical trial spend
• No IND required for clinical trials and streamlined regulatory processes
• Advanced medical, research and scientific community, leading investigators and KOLs, and modern medical facilities

Watch video – how we work here https://www.avancecro.com/

Avance Clinical CEO Yvonne Lungershausen, who has a background in pure research, said sponsors saw the value of running studies in Australia.

“In addition, Australia is not as hard hit by the COVID-19 crisis which has meant we can work with sites to deliver studies that might otherwise be put on hold, costing time and money and causing crippling delays to drug pipelines,” said Ms Lungershausen.

“We are pleased to be the Australian CRO of choice for international sponsors,” she said.

“Australia’s reputation for FDA compliant scientific and research excellence, its advanced healthcare, and the opportunity to access patients in a less clinical trial competitive environment further reinforces its advantage as a destination for clinical trials.”

For more information about the benefits of running your next study in Australia contact us: https://www.avancecro.com/contact-us/

About Avance Clinical

Avance Clinical has more than 20-years of experience and is now one of Australia’s leading Contract Research Organisations. Avance Clinical facilitates quality drug development by aligning people, skills, and expertise in the pursuit of drug development for a healthier world.

Avance Clinical is committed to providing high-quality clinical research services with its highly-experienced team. The collective pool of knowledge and experience at Avance Clinical continually grows through the careful selection of experts who also demonstrate passion in their chosen field.

Avance Clinical offers high quality services in an established clinical trial ecosystem, that includes world-class Investigators and Sites able to access specialised patient groups. Other benefits include:

1. The Government R&D grant means more than 40% rebate on clinical trial spend
2. Telehealth pivot during COVID-19 pandemic – speed and continuity
3. Site Initiation Visit (SIV) and Study Start achieved in 5 – 6 weeks
4. No IND required for clinical trials
5. Full GMP material is not mandated for Phase I clinical trials
6. Established clinical trial environment with world-class Investigators and sites
7. Established healthy subject databases and specialised patient populations
8. Five independent Phase 1 facilities across Australia including hospital-based units for critical care
9. Major hospitals with world class infrastructures and dedicated Clinical Trial Units with a long track-record in FDA compliant research
10. Seasonal studies: Northern hemisphere Sponsors can conduct their studies year-round by taking advantage of Australia’s counter-flu and allergy seasons.

Media Contact:
media@avancecro.com
Chris Thompson