Lincotrade Delivers Strong Performance for FY2023 with Revenue Surging 78.0% to S$69.9 Million

Lincotrade & Associates Holdings Limited, (“Lincotrade” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), a specialist in interior fitting-out services, is pleased to announce its full year financial results ended 30 June 2023 (“FY2023”), following the completion of the reverse takeover (“RTO”) of Fabchem China Limited on 3 August 2022.

Highlights:
– Excluding the one-off non-cash RTO-related expenses, the Group’s profit before tax in FY2023 was S$2.8 Million, a year-on-year increase of 168.2%
– Strong performance from the Group’s commercial and showflats business segments, which posted revenue growth of 58.7% and 357.3% respectively, propelled the Group’s revenue growth in FY2023
– Generated net cash flow of approximately S$4.7 million from operations during FY2023
– Total assets increased 26.5% to approximately S$35.1 million, of which cash and cash equivalents increased by 104.5% to approximately S$12.7 million as at 30 June 2023
– The Group’s order book stood at approximately S$58.0 million as at 30 June 2023
– Aiming to expand its order book with a healthy pipeline of new projects, the Group expects the demand for its interior fitting-out services in 2023 to remain strong in view of the projections of Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (“BCA”), where the total construction demand in 2023 is projected to range between S$27 billion and S$32 billion

Commenting on its FY2023 results, Managing Director of Lincotrade, Mr. Tan Jit Meng said: “FY2023 marks a new milestone in Lincotrade’s history as we completed our RTO and transition into a listed company in our corporate journey.

We look back on a strong first year of listing with good performance across the Group, both operationally and financially, which reflects our core competencies in project management and execution.

With diversity in our business model that has three different business categories, Lincotrade is well-positioned to continue our momentum of organic growth that aligns, and we aim to supplement that growth with a disciplined financial approach.

The positive outlook of Singapore’s construction market reaffirms Lincotrade’s positive trajectory and reinforces our belief in our ability to achieve a stronger growth profile ahead.”

Propelled by higher revenue contribution from the Group’s commercial and showflats business segments, the Group’s revenue surged by approximately S$30.6 million or 78.0%, to approximately S$69.9 million in FY2023: Lincotrade is engaged in the provision of interior fitting-out services, additions and alterations (“A&A”) works and other building construction services primarily for three business segments, commercial, residential and showflats.

As part of the Group’s strategic plans to increase revenue contribution from its commercial segment, the Group has been focused on securing more commercial projects in Singapore and as a result, there was a higher percentage of revenue contribution from some of the Group’s larger commercial projects in FY2023. There was also increased revenue from larger showflats projects in FY2023 while majority of the Group’s residential projects were substantially completed before 30 June 2022.

As a result, revenue contribution from the Group’s commercial and showflats business segments increased by approximately S$17.9 million or 58.7% and approximately S$14.1 million or 357.3% respectively in FY2023.

Gross profit increased by approximately S$2.6 million or 55.0% in FY2023 to S$7.3 million despite lower gross profit margin: Corresponding to increased revenue growth in FY2023, the Group’s gross profit increased to approximately S$7.3 million in FY2023. However, the Group’s gross profit margin dipped 1.5 percentage points to 10.4% in FY2023 (FY2022: 11.9%), mainly due to higher proportion of revenue contribution from the showflats business segment, which registered lower gross margin in FY2023.

One-off non-cash RTO expenses of approximately S$10.8 million includes the deemed RTO expenses of approximately S$9.6 million, share-based payment to the Sponsor and Arranger of approximately S$1.2 million: With the completion of the RTO on 3 August 2022, the Group recognised the one-off non-cash RTO expenses in accordance with the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (International) in FY2023.

Excluding the one-off non-cash RTO expenses, Lincotrade would have recorded an adjusted profit before tax of approximately S$2.8 million for FY2023, representing a growth of 168.2% as compared to FY2022.

Generated net cash of approximately S$4.7 million from operations during FY2023: The Group recorded operating cash flows before working capital changes of approximately S$3.5 million and net cash of approximately S$4.7 million generated from operating activities during FY2023.

During FY2023, the Group used net cash of approximately S$0.3 million in investing activities and there was net cash outflow of approximately S$0.6 million from financing activities.

Overall, the Group registered a net increase of approximately S$3.8 million in cash and cash equivalents during FY2023.

Total assets increased 26.5% to approximately S$35.1 million, of which cash and cash equivalents increased 104.5% to approximately S$12.7 million as at 30 June 2023: The Group’s total assets comprise non-current assets of approximately S$4.4 million and current assets of approximately S$30.6 million as at 30 June 2023.

The key components of non-current assets are property, plant and equipment of approximately S$1.4 million and non-current portion of trade and other receivables of approximately S$3.0 million. The key components of current assets are cash and cash equivalents of approximately S$12.7 million, contract assets of approximately S$5.3 million and current portion of trade and other receivables of approximately S$11.2 million.

As at end June 2023, the Group’s total equity stood at approximately S$8.8 million and total liabilities amounted to approximately S$26.3 million, of which total non-current liabilities is approximately S$1.7 million and current liabilities is approximately S$24.6 million. The key components of current liabilities are trade and other payables of approximately S$11.7 million and other financial liabilities of approximately S$11.6 million.

Positive industry outlook in Singapore: According to a media release by BCA issued on 12 January 2023, it projects the total construction demand in 2023 (i.e. the value of construction contracts to be awarded) to range between S$27 billion and S$32 billion.

The public sector is expected to contribute about 60 per cent of the total construction demand, between S$16 billion and S$19 billion. Private sector construction demand is projected to be between S$11 billion and S$13 billion in 2023.

Over the medium-term, BCA expects the total construction demand to reach between $25 billion and $32 billion per year from 2024 to 2027. Private sector construction demand is projected to remain steady over the medium-term, reaching approximately S$11 billion to S$14 billion per annum from 2024 to 2027, in view of healthy investment commitments amid Singapore’s strong economic fundamentals.

As at 30 June 2023, the Group’s order book stood at approximately S$58.0 million which generally will be fulfilled during the next two years.

With an aim to expand its order book with a healthy pipeline of new projects, the Group continues to proactively tender for new projects in Singapore, particularly those that are larger in terms of scale and contract value. In January 2023, the Group secured an Asset Enhancement Initiative (“AEI”) for an integrated development in Singapore with a contract value of approximately S$35.0 million, the largest single contract secured by the Group to date.

About Lincotrade

Established in 1991 and based in Singapore, Lincotrade has over 30 years of experience in the interior fitting-out industry and have established a proven business track record since its inception. Since 2006, Lincotrade has had its own in-house processing facility to process, assemble and manufacture Carpentry Products to support and complement its interior fitting-out services.

Lincotrade’s interior fitting-out projects encompass space planning and lay-out, interior construction and finishing works on floorings, ceilings, partitions, doors, fixtures and fittings, mechanical, electrical and plumbing works such as air-conditioning installation, water and sewage fit-outs, lighting, power and other works. Lincotrade also provide A&A works include minor alterations, extension, conversion and upgrading of buildings as well as minor repair and improvement works. In addition, Lincotrade provide building construction services which mainly consist of the construction of showflats and sales galleries.

For more information, please visit http://www.lincotrade.com.sg.

Media & Investor Contacts:
Mr. Alex TAN
Mobile: +65 9451 5252
Email: alex.tan@8prasia.com

The 15th Annual Global CSR & ESG Awards Honours 2023 Winners

The 15th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards ended on a high note before a full house in Da Nang, Vietnam, on August 28. Organized at the Novotel Danang Premier Han River, this years conference was held under the theme “Driving Transformational Change Beyond Greenwashing”, and focused on inspiring participants to discuss and discover transformational ESG & CSR strategies, beyond conventional thinking. The conference also addressed the challenges and need for climate-friendly solutions and technologies, including electric vehicles, high tech farming, sustainable supply chains, and nature-based solutions.

Among the notable speakers, Prof. Dr. Richard Hames, Founder & Executive Director, Centre for the Future and Fellow of the World Academy of Art & Science, gave a powerful speech on “Beyond ESG: From The Impossible To The Inevitable”, encouraging the move from the degenerative practices of the industrial era, through the many delusions of sustainability and lies about ‘green growth’, to regenerative systems globally.

In view of 20 Years of Building, Implementing and Supporting ESG in Vietnam, Ms. Kim Francois, Executive Director of BeLuxCham Vietnam presented “Localising and Creating Positive Impact for Foreign Businesses in Vietnam – Successful ESG stories of BeluxCham Blending Eastern and Western Cultures.” She shared how BeLuxCham provides an eco-system that shares expertise in ESG and provides a platform to which companies can learn from each other and be part of each other’s circular system. She believed that more work is needed to ensure that SMEs are learning and implementing ESG, to contribute together to the goals set by Vietnam, but mainly to be sure we are living in a healthy environment and protecting our people.

Prof. Dr. Martin Blake, the Conference Chairman announced that the Organisers are planning to hold The 16th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The summit ended with the The Global CSR & ESG Awards, graced by Guest of Honour, Mr Nguyen Anh Phong, Deputy-Director-General of Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), and Ms. Kim Francois, Executive Director of BeLuxCham Vietnam. The evening award ceremony was marked with a stunning audio and light display show.

The Award Categories for 2023:

– Best Environmental Excellence Award
– Best Community Programme Award
– Excellence In Provision Of Literacy & Education Award
– Empowerment Of Women Award
– Best Workplace Practises Award
– CSR & ESG Leadership Award
– Product Excellence Award
– Best Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
– Best Corporate Comms & Investors Relations Team

And Award Categories 2023 recognizing companies at the forefront of their countries:

– Best In Singapore
– Best In Thailand
– Best In Indonesia
– Best In Cambodia
– Best In Viet Nam
– Best In Philippines

THE WINNERS

Best Environmental Excellence Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Bronze: SM Investments Crk Softex Indonesia, PT Astra International TBK
— Gold: PT Adaro Indonorporation
— Silver: Kimberly-Claesia, PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical TBK, Central Department Store Limited (Head Office)
— Platinum: PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam
o USD 500 Million To USD 1 Billion Market Capitalization
— Platinum: Manila Water
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Capitalization
— Bronze: PT Diageo Indonesia
— Silver: Schneider Electric Indonesia
— Gold: GeoComply Viet Nam
— Platinum: PT Kilang Pertamina International

Best Community Programme Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Bronze: BHG Retail Trust Management Pte Ltd
— Silver: PT Asmin Bara Bronang
— Gold: PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Jawzation
— Bronze: PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure TBK, FPT Corporation,
— PT Pertamina – Patra Niaga Fuel Terminal Rewulu
— Silver: Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, Badak LNG, RHB Bank Berhad
— PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Fuel Terminal Boyolali
— Gold: Sarawak Energy Berhad, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson PTTEP Indonesia,
— PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk,
— Platinum: PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam
o USD 500 Million To USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Bronze: Bagian Tengah DPPU Ahmad Yani
— Platinum: PT Meares Soputan Mining
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Capitalization
— Bronze: Price Waterhouse Coopers, IDP Education (Cambodia) Limited
— Silver: Diageo Viet Nam, Prince Holding Group
— Gold: PT Diageo Indonesia, GeoComply Viet Nam,
— PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Integrated Terminal Semarang
— Platinum: PT Kilang Pertamina International

Excellence In Provision Of Literacy & Education Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Bronze: Adaro Energy Indonesia
— Silver: Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad
— Gold: PT Samsung Electronics Indonesia
— Platinum: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
o USD 500 Million To USD 1 Billion Market Capitalization
— Silver: Samsung Electronics Viet Nam Co. Ltd
— Gold: PT Asmin Bara Bronang
— Platinum: Manila Water
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Capitalization
— Gold: MegaWorld Foundation
— Platinum: IDP Education (Cambodia) Limited

Empowerment Of Women Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk Ulubelu
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Capitalization
— Gold: GeoComply Viet Nam
— Platinum: Thanh Thanh Cong – Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (TTC AgriS)

Best Workplace Practises Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure TBK
o USD 500 Million To USD 1 Billion Market Capitalization
— Platinum: Manila Water
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Capitalization
— Gold: GeoComply Viet Nam
— Platinum: Diageo Indonesia

CSR & ESG Leadership Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Bronze: PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure TBK
— Silver: Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
— Gold: PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, ACEN Corporation
— Platinum: KLCC Property Holdings Berhad
o USD 500 Million To USD 1 Billion Market Capitalization
— Bronze: BHG Retail Trust Management Pte Ltd
— Silver: Home Credit Vietnam Finance Company Limited
— Gold: Samsung Electronics Vietnam Co. Ltd
— Platinum: PT Asmin Bara Bronang
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Capitalization
— Bronze: Diageo Indonesia
— Silver: Thanh Thanh Cong – Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (TTC AgriS)
— Gold: GeoComply Viet Nam
— Platinum: DEEP C Industrial Zones

Product Excellence Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Best CEO Award

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Gold: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson
— Platinum: PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk

Best Corporate Comms & Investor Relations Team Award

o USD 500 Million To USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: BHG Retail Trust Management Pte Ltd
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Cap
— Platinum: Viettel Construction Joint Stock Corporation

Best Country Award – Best In Indonesia

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Gold: PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore North West Java
— Platinum: PT Astra International TB
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Cap
— Silver: PT Kilang Pertamina International
— Gold: Diageo Indonesia
— Platinum: Schneider Electric Indonesia

Best Country Excellence – Best In Cambodia

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: NagaWorld Limited
o Less Than USD 500 Million Market Cap
— Platinum: Prince Holding Group

Best Country Excellence – Best In Thailand

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance Public Company Limited

Best Country Excellence – Best In Philippines

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: ACEN Corporation

Best Country Excellence – Best In Singapore

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: Tata Consultancy Services Limited

Best Country Excellence – Best In Vietnam

o Above USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: FPT Corporation
o USD 500 Million to USD 1 Billion Market Cap
— Platinum: Samsung Electronics Viet Nam Co. Ltd,
o Less than USD 500 Million Market Cap
— Platinum: Diageo Viet Nam

For media enquiries please contact:
Cyan Lee, Pinnacle Group
E: marketing@pinnaclegroup.global
T: +65 8222 2344

As International Revenue Soars to $650M with 45% from SEA; Chiratae Expands SEA Regional Advisory Board with the addition of Mr. Puneet Pushkarna

Chiratae Ventures, a leading venture capital firm, announces the appointment of Mr. Puneet Pushkarna to its esteemed Regional Advisory Board, reinforcing its commitment to the Southeast Asia (SEA) market.

The announcement comes soon after Chiratae’s significant milestone -its active portfolio companies surpass $650 million in revenue. Companies focusing on SEA or headquartered now contribute about 45% of the total international revenue across the company’s diverse portfolio. Companies such as Active.ai, Kristala.ai, and Lenskart have driven growth in the SEA market, with Lenskart’s strategic acquisition of Japan’s Own Days last year as a recent highlight.

Given the growing significance of SEA as an investor base and a burgeoning market, Chiratae Ventures has been active in the region, particularly in Singapore and Japan. The appointment of Puneet Pushkarna to the Regional Advisory Board reinforces Chiratae’s dedication to its growth and success in SEA. Puneet will provide strategic guidance to Chiratae’s international operations in this role.

Sudhir SethiFounder and Chairman of Chiratae Ventures, shared, “With a strong foothold in the SEA market and our portfolio companies, either focusing on the region or being headquartered there, contributing over 45% of the total revenue, we are thrilled to welcome Puneet Pushkarna to our Regional Advisory Board. Puneet’s addition further bolsters our already formidable Advisory Board, whose collective efforts have significantly established Chiratae as one of India’s premier venture capital funds. His exceptional expertise and diverse background will undoubtedly guide our ventures to even greater heights within the Asian market while fostering stronger connections with our esteemed investors.”

Puneet Pushkarna brings a wealth of experience, currently serving as a General Partner at Solmark, a prominent private equity fund based in Singapore. Throughout his career, Puneet has excelled in nurturing and scaling companies in the competitive global landscape. He previously held the position of President at Headstrong, driving transformative initiatives in the Capital Markets domain through cutting-edge digital technology services. Additionally, Puneet co-founded TechSpan, backed by the prestigious institution Goldman Sachs, where he successfully led business solutions consulting and design thinking ventures, earning recognition as one of the fastest-growing companies in Silicon Valley.

Beyond his business acumen, Puneet is deeply involved in various Boards and Advisory Boards, including his role as Chairman of Core Committee, RIE2025, National Research Foundation, Singapore, Chairman Emeritus of TiE Singapore, and as a Board member of IIM Nagpur and Industry Advisory Board of SP Jain School of Management. Additionally, Puneet serves as a Catalyst at SMART (Singapore MIT Alliance for Research & Technology) and actively engages in philanthropic efforts, supporting initiatives such as the Indian Foundation for the Arts (IFA), the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS), and the South Asian Heart Society.

Puneet Pushkarna shared his excitement for the new role, adding, “I am honoured to join Chiratae Ventures and contribute to the growth of the platform they have built over close to two decades and its dynamic portfolio in Asia region. There are strong benefits for the Asian block to partner, invest and grow exponentially by understanding each other’s strengths and hope to bridge the gap. The Indian model of solving for population-scale problems using technology-led business models has relevance for the larger region and hoping to help Chiratae and its portfolio expand its regional footprint”

Anoop Menon, Principal-Investments who also leads Investor Relations in the East Asian region, says, “With the changing geo-political environment and India’s blistering economic growth, India has become a strong contender for increased investments and business partnership within Asia. Along with this, there is a strong need to contextualise the India narrative by a leader who has seen both sides closely, and Puneet helps us do that. Having him on our Advisory Board provides a valuable sounding board for our team and founders as we navigate the markets in Singapore, Japan, and other regions of Asia Pacific.”

Chiratae Ventures, recently announced the final close of its first Growth fund at $122 M, oversubscribed by 34% and is in the market for its next flagship Venture capital fund. It will continue looking to cement its presence in SEA and the larger Asian region, and Puneet will help strengthen the firm’s position as a leader in the Venture capital landscape.

About Chiratae Ventures:

Chiratae Ventures is a 16-year-old Indian technology venture capital fund advisor, having advised funds that collectively (across six funds) have $1.1 Bn AUM, 130+ investments, 48 exits, 8 Unicorns, 3 IPOs and a track record of having returned capital to LPs in each of the last 12 years. The funds advised by Chiratae Ventures have investments across sectors such as Consumer-Tech, SaaS, Fintech, and Healthtech and have been early backers of companies such as Bizongo, Fibe, FirstCry, Flipkart, Lenskart, Myntra, Pixis, PolicyBazaar and Uniphore, amongst many others.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tanvi Dubey
Chiratae Ventures
+91-8792059986

Neha Chaturvedi
Adfactors PR
+65- 87098749

Exciting New Chapter Unveiled as YanaTV a YouTube Channel Takes Off Amidst Glitz and Glamour

The digital entertainment landscape just got a whole lot more intriguing with the much-anticipated launch of the YanaTV YouTube channel. On this auspicious occasion, a star-studded gathering of local celebrities, friends, and well-wishers converged at the Retro Bar, Lofty Peaks to celebrate the beginning of an exciting new journey in the realm of online content. Present for the launch party were Yana Fry, Host and Founder of YanaTV, David Bachmann, Austrian Trade Commissioner for Singapore, business leaders, diplomats and ambassadors, famous writers, speakers, partners, and friends. The link to the channel is https://www.youtube.com/@yanatvsg.

YanaTV, spearheaded by visionary content creator Yana Fry promises to be a dynamic and captivating addition to the YouTube universe. Offering a unique blend of entertainment, education, and inspiration, the channel aspires to become a haven for viewers seeking quality content that resonates with a global as well as ASIA audience.

Amidst a live talk show and some fun roasts with guests,attendees were treated to an enchanting evening filled with joy, laughter, and a palpable sense of anticipation. Distinguished local celebrities, known for their contributions to various facets of the entertainment industry, graced the event and shared their excitement for YanaTV’s promising future. The gathering was a testament to the wide-ranging support and anticipation that the channel has garnered even before its official launch.

As guests mingled around sharing their experiences Yana Fry took to the stage to express gratitude to everyone who had supported the channel’s journey from inception to this remarkable milestone. “YanaTV is more than just a channel; it’s a community where ideas, stories, and experiences converge to create something truly extraordinary. We are committed to delivering content that engages, enlightens, and entertains, and we can’t wait to embark on this adventure with all of you,” Yana Fry, Host and Founder stated passionately.

The event featured a sneak peek of some of the captivating content that viewers can expect from YanaTV. Ranging from thought-provoking documentaries to light-hearted entertainment, the channel promises to cater to diverse interests and age groups. The launch of YanaTV marks a significant step in the digital entertainment arena, highlighting the power of innovative content and community engagement. With a strong emphasis on fostering a sense of connection among viewers, the channel aims to be a go-to destination for anyone seeking enriching and engaging content on YouTube.

About YanaTV

YanaTV is a groundbreaking YouTube channel by Yana Fry dedicated to delivering a diverse range of content that entertains, educates, and inspires audiences around the world. With a commitment to quality storytelling and innovative ideas, YanaTV seeks to create a global community united by the power of digital content. Yana has been a coach, speaker and facilitator in the field of human development for more than a decade and has helped leaders worldwide to unlock and embody their highest goals. She runs a company Awaken Human which has been running successfully for 11 years now. Yana has been hosting Timeless Teaching podcast which focuses on human advancement for the last 2.5 years. The podcast was one of the top 3 trending podcasts which garnered an organic follower base.

Contact:
Email- yana@yanafry.com

Sri Trang Agro-Industry (STA) joins GPSNR

Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (STA) has joined the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) in the producers, processors and traders category.

STA, a prominent natural rubber company founded in 1987, is dedicated to promoting sustainable and fair production of natural rubber on a large scale. Operating extensive rubber plantations spanning nearly 7,000 hectares in 19 provinces of Thailand, STA holds a significant position in the global natural rubber market. By joining GPSNR, STA demonstrates its strong commitment to advancing a more sustainable and ethical natural rubber sector.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited to GPSNR,” said Stefano Savi, Platform Director of GPSNR. “Given the company’s scale and outreach, we look forward to their insights and contributions to important industry-wide processes on sustainable and equitable production currently underway at GPSNR, like our assurance model and shared investment mechanism.”

Nattee Thiraputhbhokin, Chief Marketing Officer of STA, stated, “Joining GPSNR reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable practices in the natural rubber industry. In addition, in the ever-evolving world of rubber production, STA emerged as a trailblazer with its groundbreaking Sri Trang Ecosystem. This digitalized, transparent, and sustainable framework showcased STA’s unwavering commitment to advancing sustainability in the natural rubber industry. With traceability ingrained in every step, from rubber tree cultivation to the delivery of traceable products, the ecosystem sets a new standard for better accountability. Joined by other industry leaders under the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), STA aimed to forge a more sustainable and equitable future for all stakeholders, inspiring a transformation that resonated far beyond their business borders.”

Released by Public Relations Dept., MT Multimedia Co., Ltd. for Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL
For additional information, please contact: Wasana “Jeab” Wongsiri
Tel: +66 84 359 0659, +66 2 612 2081 ext.131; E: wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com

Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL, www.sritranggroup.com/en/home
[SET: STA] [SGX: NC2] [FRA: YTAA] [OTCPK: SLJUY]

BayWa r.e. sells Karadoc Solar Farm and enters into Strategic Development Agreement with Atmos Renewables

Global renewable energy developer, service provider, and solar distributor BayWa r.e. announces the sale of the Karadoc solar farm and the strategic development partnership with Atmos Renewables (Atmos) for a series of wind projects, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to renewable energy development in Australia. BayWa r.e. is committed to the redeployment of resources from the sales proceed and further investments in its existing pipeline of 5GW in the Australian renewables market.

The Karadoc solar farm represents BayWa r.e.’s first owned and built solar plant in Australia, and it stands as one of Australia National Electricity Market (NEM)’s largest operating solar projects in terms of capacity. Situated around 25 km south of Mildura, Victoria, Karadoc has a capacity of 112.5 MWp and became operational in 2019. Featuring over 346,000 solar panels, this facility generates sufficient energy to cater to 47,000 households.

The partnership between BayWa r.e. and Atmos, a prominent player in the Australian renewable energy landscape, underscores BayWa r.e.’s dedication to fostering sustainable growth in Australia. It leverages Atmos’ local expertise and BayWa r.e.’s global experience, creating a formidable force for developing a series of wind projects across the country.

Daniel Gaefke, Director of Projects APAC, BayWa r.e. AG., said, “At BayWa r.e., we are committed to advancing the global transition towards clean energy. The sale of Karadoc combined with the strategic development partnership with Atmos as well as our growing renewable pipeline are a testament to this commitment. Our strategic partnership for a series of wind development projects with Atmos exemplifies our efforts to synergize local insight and international expertise for the betterment of Australia’s renewable energy landscape.”

BayWa r.e. sees Australia as an important market and is committed to growing the renewable energy sector in the region. The renewable energy developer continues to contribute to Australia’s future of clean energy with a strong pipeline of projects.

The transaction stands as a remarkable achievement in BayWa r.e.’s portfolio, which has completed more than 300 MW of installed capacity in the country and symbolizes the company’s progress in the renewable energy domain.

BayWa r.e. AG (BayWa r.e.)

At BayWa r.e. we r.e.think energy – how it is produced, stored and can be best used to enable the global renewable energy transition that is essential to the future of our planet.

We are a leading global developer, service supplier, distributor and solutions provider and have brought over 5.5 GW of energy online and manage over 10 GW of assets. We are also an Independent Power Producer with an expanding energy trading business.

BayWa r.e. works with businesses worldwide to provide tailored renewable solutions. Operating 100% carbon neutral, we are also committed to our own sustainability journey.

Every day, we are working hard to actively shape the future of energy in a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.

Our shareholders are BayWa AG, a EUR27.1 billion global business, and Energy Infrastructure Partners, a leader in energy infrastructure investment.

Contact information:

Mark Cooper
Head of Global Communications
Tel: +49 89 383932 3611
E-mail: mark.cooper@baywa-re.com

Salim Pathan
Marketing Manager, APAC
Tel: +66 62 698 7162
E-mail: salim.pathan@baywa-re.com

PRecious Communications for BayWa r.e. APAC
Tel: +65 6303 0567
E-Mail: baywa-re@preciouscomms.com

Healthcare Hiring on the rise in the Philippines: foundit Insights Tracker

foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), one of the leading talent platforms, today published the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for June 2023, formerly published as Monster Employment Index (MEI). According to the Philippines fit report, job roles in the Healthcare and Retail sector have impressively grown by 26% and 12% respectively over the past year.

The tracker also reveals a marginal dip of 2% in e-recruitment activity, as the index climbed down from 127 in June 2022 to 124 in June 2023. Despite this drop in recruitment activity, sectors such as Healthcare, Retail, and BPO/ITES witnessed progressive annual hiring growth in June’23. Amidst the ongoing pursuit of cost-cutting measures by global businesses, call centers and outsourcing companies in the Philippines have exceeded revenue and hiring targets and managed to maintain a positive outlook for the BPO job market. These promising numbers confirm a gradual but continuous improvement in the labour market, implying that demand for online recruitment will continue to climb in the coming months.

Commenting on the Philippines job trends for June 2023, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit, said“Hiring is picking up pace in the Philippines. We are hopeful that jobs will rebound in the upcoming months as certain sectors such as Healthcare, Retail, and BPO/ITES are showing a positive growth trajectory. The Philippines government has also shown support for gig & hybrid jobs, boosting hiring for service. This is crucial for job seekers, as it gives them more flexibility and opportunities to work in different sectors and locations.”

Healthcare, Retail, and BPO/ITES sectors lead in hiring activity, while the IT, Telecom, Logistics, Courier/Freight, and Advertising industries witness a drop in recruitment.

The fit reveals that the Healthcare industry continued to dominate the job market in June 2023, with a YoY increase of 26% hiring in the sector. Despite the shortage of skilled nurses and doctors, there has been a promising upward trend in hiring efforts to meet the country’s healthcare demands. Also, the Retail industry (+12%) witnessed double-digit growth in hiring demand this month owing to the increased number of customers visiting physical stores. Given that the Filipino government had allowed BPO companies with work-from-home arrangements to retain tax incentives, the hiring in the BPO/ITES sector (+11%) saw sequential annual growth in June ’23.

The Logistics, Courier/Freight/Transportation, and Shipping industry along with IT and Telecom/ISP has recorded a dramatic decline in hiring activity, with a YoY decrease of 34% and 20% respectively. Logistics has always presented a major challenge in the Philippines due to inadequate infrastructure, frequent weather-related disasters, and scattered demand. Consequently, the industry has struggled to thrive, resulting in sluggish hiring trends within the sector. The growth momentum for other industries such as Advertising, MR, PR, Media & Entertainment (-18%), Engineering, Construction and Real Estate (-1%), Hospitality (-3%), BFSI (-13%), Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary (-14%), and Education (-17%) saw a consecutive dip annually in June’23.

Roles in Healthcare, Sales & Business Development, and Customer Service lead the hiring trends

There continues to be a high demand for Healthcare (+21%) professionals marking the steepest annual growth in June’23. With the sudden jump in the retail sector, the jobs in Sales & Business Development (+17%) went up leading to increase in demand for candidates Customer service and software, hardware, and telecom functions are also experiencing positive and steady growth of 11% and 3%, respectively, due to the improving economy.

Jobs in Purchase/ Logistics/ Supply chain (-24%) have been facing some challenges since Jan’23 and showed the lowest growth in hiring this month among all monitored functions. Hiring for Marketing & Communications (-21%) and HR & Admin (-21%) roles too dipped substantially in June’23. Other industries to witness a subsequent drop in hiring activity include – Hospitality & Travel (-1%) Engineering/ Production, Real Estate (-2%), and Finance and Accounts (-10%).

The foundit Insights Tracker is a comprehensive monthly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by foundit. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of online career outlets, the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide.

Period for the report

The period considered for the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) data is June 2022 vs. June 2023.

About foundit – APAC & Middle East

foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME), is a leading talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. Since its inception, the company has assisted over 75 million registered users to find jobs, upskill, and connect with the right opportunities across 18 countries. Over the last two decades, the company has been a catalyst in the world of recruitment solutions with advanced technology, seeking to efficiently bridge the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalized job searches, and precision hiring. foundit strongly believes that a job title doesn’t define one’s potential and leverages technology to dig deeper to curate opportunities central to the needs and aspirations of each user.

To learn more, about foundit in APAC & Gulf,

Visit: www.foundit.com.ph | www.foundit.my | https://www.foundit.in | https://www.founditgulf.com | https://www.foundit.sg | www.foundit.com.hk | https://www.foundit.id

Contact:
Namrata Sharma
Namrata.sharma@adfactorspr.com
+6581383034

ATTIA Announces the Travel Changemakers Awards Judges Panel

The Asia Travel Technology Industry Association (ATTIA) and Web in Travel (WiT) announce who is participating on the Judges Panel for the inaugural Travel Changemakers Awards 2023.

The Awards seek to recognise innovators that have used technology to build back better, post-pandemic, with the winners to be announced at WiT Singapore, 2-4 Oct 2023. Those awarded will demonstrate how they have had respect for the environment, created meaningful engagement with local communities or unearthed hidden gems for travellers to discover. They laud the repurposing of assets rather than building new, and how they demonstrate that diversity and inclusion are critical to building back better.

The prestigious panel consists of imminent industry leaders, as follows.

  • Aya Aso, CEO, SAVVY Collective
  • Rod Cuthbert, Chairperson, Jayride; Board Member, Veltra (Tokyo); Board Member, Tourism Tasmania; Founder, Viator
  • Loic Dujardin, Head of ESG, Traveloka
  • Fred Barou – Senior VP, Online Travel and Market Strategy, Amadeus
  • Kelly Kolb – VP for Government Affairs, Travelport
  • Steven Liew – Director of Public Policy, APAC, Airbnb
  • Choe Peng Sum, CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group
  • Aloke Bajpai, Co-Founder, Group CEO and Managing Director, ixigo
  • Elaine Tan, Director, AirAsia Foundation
  • Daniel Gelfer, Director of Global Government Affairs, Agoda
  • Kenneth Lim, Assistant Chief Executive of Marketing Group, Singapore Tourism Board

Chis Kerin, Managing Director, ATTIA says, “We are delighted by the support demonstrated by the travel tech industry for these awards, and are equally thrilled to have assembled such an esteemed judging panel. With their collective expertise, we are confident that the submissions will be held to the highest possible standards.”

“We are delighted with the calibre of judges that have embraced these awards in its first year,” says Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder, WiT. “It is an honour to recognise those who turned ideas into action and initiated programmes to build back better during the pandemic. They will deservedly get their heyday with these awards, which will demonstrate exactly how the travel, tourism and hospitality industries has taken lessons learned over the pandemic to plan and create a better future for all travellers”.

To enter the Awards, click here

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sheree Tan
Senior Associate, Pinpoint PR
sheree@pinpointpr.sg
+65 8313 9472

Restaurant.com Partners with Kevin Harrington

Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank fame has a reputation for being fiercely selective in who he lends his name to. So when he partnered up with Restaurant.com, it was presumably because he saw something special in the business. Let’s take a look at what that special something was, and why it could mean Restaurant.com (OTCQB: RSTN) is one of the most undervalued opportunities on the market right now.

When Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington explained why he partnered with Restaurant.com, the announcement contained one key phrase.

“[Restaurant] owners are getting the business they need, and customers get savings, and that’s what they want.”

On the face of it, it’s a relatively innocuous snippet from a speech that touched on grand concepts like trust and innovation. But, if we dig into it just a little, it reveals why Restaurant.com (RDE, Inc. | OTCQB: RSTN) might just be one of the most under-valued, under-the-radar companies right now.

In a moment, we’ll take a look. But first, here’s the man himself, Kevin Harrington.

First, Let’s Talk About Creating Value

There’s a common piece of advice given out in life and business — if you want to make money, create value, then capture it.

But, as everyone knows, that’s easier said than done.

Of course, hard doesn’t mean impossible. That’s why, over the years, common methods for thinking about value have emerged. One of the most common here is the problem-solution framework.

For those who’ve never heard of the problem-solution framework before, the concept is rather simple. Identify a problem, and provide a solution. If you can do that, then people will flock to you. It’s just basic common sense.

Second, Let’s Talk About What Restaurant.com Actually Does

We won’t delve into all the intricacies of the Restaurant.com platform here. But before we move on to dissecting the significance of Kevin Harrington’s statement, we do need to at least understand the fundamentals of what Restaurant.com does.

So let’s take a quick interlude to cover the basics. If you’re already familiar with the platform (millions already are), feel free to skip ahead.

Restaurant.com in a Nutshell: Restaurant.com connects diners with restaurants. It provides restaurants with a comprehensive marketing platform. And it provides diners with discounted restaurant dining experiences.

Restaurant.com For Diners

How this looks in practice for a diner is pretty simple. By simply browsing through the Restaurant.com platform, diners can locate dozens of restaurants in their location. Then, once they find something that appeals to them, they can then proceed to purchase a dining certificate at that restaurant at a steep discount.

Here’s one example offer:

Restaurant.com For Restaurants

As for how this looks for restaurants, that’s a bit more involved. But first, let’s just get one thing clear. Restaurant.com is a lot more than a crude platform for promoting simple one-off discounts.

In reality, once we scratch the surface of the simple discount offers and user interface, what we find in Restaurant.com is actually a sophisticated “Martech” (marketing tech) platform for restaurants.

For now, we’re simply going to gloss over what being a restaurant martech platform means. After all, we’re really here to discuss what Kevin Harrington saw in Restaurant.com. But, to give a brief overview, the Martech side of Restaurant.com includes two key components.

Restaurant Marketing Component #1: The first of these is a remarketing tool. For those who don’t know, remarketing is basically what happens when you browse something on Amazon and suddenly see ads for it everywhere. Restaurant.com provides a similarly powerful tool to restaurants, with the key difference being that its remarketing is conducted through email rather than online ads.

Restaurant Marketing Component #2: The second key component of the Restaurant.com Martech offering is its affiliate marketing platform. Again, to use Amazon.com as an example, affiliate marketing is what drives the thousands of blogs and websites out there recommending products on Amazon.com to do so. If those blogs can successfully convince you to buy something on Amazon.com, Amazon rewards the affiliate with a cut of the sale. Restaurant.com does the same with its affiliates.

What’s Any of This Got to Do With Kevin Harrington and Restaurant.com?

If you’ve been paying attention, there’s a good chance you’ve picked up on why that one innocuous phrase Kevin Harrington made means so much.

But just to make sure we’re all on the same page, let me spell it out for you.

Problem: Every restaurant owner wants more customers. But most marketing is difficult, expensive, and comes with zero guarantees.

Solution: Provide a zero-risk marketing platform that drives diners to their tables and only charges them for successful conversions.

And there you have it — the value-generating problem-solution statement for Restaurant.com. Except, there’s just one problem. We’re forgetting the back half of the Kevin Harrington statement. The part about customers getting what they want.

As a reminder, here’s Harrington’s key phrase once again: “[Restaurant] owners are getting the business they need, and customers get savings, and that’s what they want.”

If you break this statement down, there are actually two possible problems and two possible solutions hidden in there. The first, we already touched on.

As for the second problem-solution, here it is.

Problem: Most people would love to dine out more often, but not everyone can afford it.

Solution: Offer a way to dine out for less.

In a nutshell, Restaurant.com has essentially hacked the value-generating equation in a way we rarely see. By effectively killing two birds with one stone, Restaurant.com has tapped into two both sides of an absolutely massive market (we’re literally talking about hundreds of billions a year in the US alone, and trillions globally).

Guess there’s no surprise now why Kevin Harrington chose to partner with Restaurant.com.

Now Here’s Why Restaurant.com Is Deeply Undervalued

By now, it’s pretty clear that Restaurant.com has tapped into an extreme value-creating proposition. But if you cast your mind back to the start of the article, I also mentioned that Restaurant.com is deeply undervalued.

Here’s why.

When RDE, Inc. (OTCQB: RSTN) acquired Restaurant.com back in March 2020, the timing could not have been worse. After all, that was right about the time Covid-19 started decimating the restaurant trade, along with everything else.

Over the course of that year, the company traded for around the $1 a share mark, give or take. By 2021, that had picked up to about the $3 a share mark. As a reminder, the restaurant trade was still in a full-blown crisis at this stage, with many states still imposing harsh sanitary measures.

Fast forward to today, and RDE, Inc. is still trading at, you guessed it, around about the $3 a share mark. And that’s despite business more or less returning to normal, a full-blown cost of living crisis driving more consumers than ever to seek out discounted options, and a substantial growth in traffic to the platform (just last month alone, Restaurant.com jumped 21 places in its category ranking on similarweb.com).

And let’s not forget there are revenue figures to back this up (RDE, Inc. grew its annual revenues by almost 34% between 2021 and 2022).

In other words, in Restaurant.com we find:

  • Extreme value creation by addressing two sides of a massive market at once.
  • A deeply undervalued company given the current lack of a full recovery in its post-Covid stock price.
  • An enduring cost of living crisis which has resulted in substantial growth in consumer demand for Restaurant.com.

Essentially, what we have is one of those rare opportunities to capture an undervalued asset at an opportune moment.

For more information on RED, Inc. and Restaurant.com, visit:

About Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com offers marketing incentives for more than 20,000 restaurants across the United States, including multiple coupon options and is owned by RDE Holdings (OTCQB: RSTN)

Media Contact:
Plato Data Intelligence
144 E44th St
New York NY 10017
PlatoAiStream.com
Zephyr@platodata.io

(Featured image by Spencer Davis via Unsplash)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Born2Invest, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

A Resounding Success at the 2-Day Retail & E-commerce Summit Asia

In a noteworthy feat, rockbird media organized a resounding success with its esteemed 2-day event, the Retail & E-commerce Summit Asia: Scaling Digital Strategies Towards Growth, held on July 12-13, 2023, at the Shangri-La The Fort, BGC. The summit drew industry leaders and pioneers from across the region to forge a brighter, more prosperous future for retail and e-commerce sectors.

The 2-day-event witnessed an impressive gathering of over 155 attendees on Day 1 and 124 on Day 2 including prominent industry leaders, including the esteemed CMO, CEO, COO, VP, Director, Head, Managers and Marketing Executives. The occasion was enriched by the presence of 25 thought-provoking speakers who shared their invaluable insights across various industries. Additionally, the event garnered support from 7 media partners, as well as esteemed brands and sponsors that played a crucial role in making this event a resounding success. Special thanks go to our valued sponsors, including Shopify Plus, Clevertap, Dotdigital, Braze, VTEX, Lexer, Rush, Inquiro, Digimind, Vinculum, Gcash, and Una Cash, whose unwavering support made this event possible.

Keep yourself informed about all the latest event updates by staying connected with us through our website, https://rockbirdmedia.com/. For more exciting news and updates, don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/14633772/admin/feed/posts/. We look forward to keeping you informed and engaged!

About Rockbird media

Rockbird media is an international business media company that produces B2B events and offers business solutions.

Whether it is through online media and content, must-have business intelligence and analytics, effective networking, and partnering solutions, we help businesses and professionals learn more about the latest trends, and know more about their customers, peers, and competition, to make that decision that allows them to grow.

For press-related concerns, please contact:
Imee Mariano
Marketing Department
im.mariano@rockbirdmedia.com