Gaotu Techedu Inc. Provides Update on Regulatory Development

BEIJING, Aug. 19, 2021 — Gaotu Techedu Inc. ("Gaotu" or the "Company") (NYSE: GOTU), a leading online large-class after-school tutoring service provider in China, announced that the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Beijing Municipality Government jointly issued the "Beijing Municipality’s Measures to Further Reduce the Burden of Homework and After-School Tutoring on Students in Compulsory Education in Beijing" (the "Beijing Measures") on August 14, 2021, and published the full text of the Beijing Measures on August 18, 2021. The Beijing Measures were adopted to implement the Opinions on Further Alleviating the Burden of Homework and After-School Tutoring for Students in Compulsory Education, published in July 2021 by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council of the PRC, and aim to ensure that "the excessive burden upon students from school homework and after-school tutoring, the education expenditures from their families and the burden on their parents’ energy will be effectively reduced by the end of 2021, with significant impact achieved within two years."

With respect to after-school tutoring services, among other things, the Beijing Measures contain the following provisions:

  • Previously registered online providers of after-school tutoring services on academic subjects in China’s compulsory education system ("Academic AST") will be subject to review and re-registration, and the registration and ICP license of any unqualified online Academic AST providers will be rescinded.
  • After-school tutoring providers are strictly prohibited from providing Academic AST during any national holiday, weekend, winter and summer break period; Online Academic AST classes cannot be offered after 9:00 p.m. during weekdays.
  • Academic AST providers are prohibited from (i) offering classes over contents outside of or in advance of the school curriculum, (ii) offering classes based on any foreign curriculum, (iii) soliciting and recruiting school teachers by offering excessive compensation, or (iv) employing foreign personnel to carry out training activities from overseas.  Non-Academic AST providers are prohibited from offering Academic AST classes.
  • Prices for Academic AST will need to follow the guidelines from the government to prevent "any excessive charging or excessive profit-seeking activity."
  • Academic AST providers are prohibited from financing by way of listing its securities or conducting other capital market activities; listed companies may not invest in Academic AST providers through capital markets fundraising activities, and may not acquire assets of Academic AST providers by paying cash or issuing securities; foreign capital is prohibited from controlling or participating in Academic AST providers through mergers and acquisitions, entrusted operations, joining franchises, using variable interest entities or other structures.
  • Enhancing oversight of AST advertising, including restricting the channels for deploying AST advertisements.
  • Institutions providing after-school tutoring services on academic subjects in high schools (which do not fall within China’s compulsory education system) will be supervised in accordance with relevant national regulations and local regulations of Beijing.

The Company’s compliance with the Beijing Measures will have a material adverse impact on its business, results of operations and financial condition. Specifically, in compliance with the Beijing Measures, the Company has stopped and will stop offering online Academic AST classes over weekends, national holidays and school break periods.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s reports filed with, or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Gaotu undertakes no duty to update such information or any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About Gaotu Techedu Inc.

Gaotu is a technology-driven education company and online large-class after-school tutoring service provider in China. The Company offers foreign language, professional and admission courses, and also offers K-12 courses covering all primary and secondary grades through the brand Gaotu K12. Gaotu adopts an online live large-class format to deliver its courses, which the Company believes is the most effective and scalable model to disseminate scarce high-quality teaching resources to aspiring students in China. Big data analytics permeates each aspect of the Company’s business and facilitates the application of the latest technology to improve teaching delivery, student learning experience, and operational efficiency.

For further information, please contact:

Gaotu Techedu Inc.
Ms. Sandy Qin, CFA, CMA
E-mail: ir@gaotu.cn  

Christensen

In China
Ms. Vivian Wang
Phone: +852 2232 3978
E-mail: gotu@christensenir.com  

In US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
Email: lbergkamp@christensenir.com   

Related Links :

http://ir.gaotu.cn

MicroConstants to Join BioAgilytix Family


Highly complementary transaction strengthens BioAgilytix’s ability to support bioanalytical services across all major therapeutics in development; adds LC/MS/MS capabilities; and expands team of seasoned scientists

DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 19, 2021 — BioAgilytix Labs, LLC (BioAgilytix), a leading global contract research laboratory focused on supporting its pharmaceutical and biotech partners in all stages of large molecule drug development, announced today that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire MicroConstants, adding it to its family of companies.

MicroConstants, to be known as BioAgilytix San Diego, provides industry-leading services in method development, validation, and sample analysis for small and large molecule therapeutics and biomarkers using LC/MS/MS, HPLC, immunoassay (including multiplexing and high sensitivity SIMOA) and qPCR techniques. Since 1998, MicroConstants has supported 290+ biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

"We are excited to welcome the MicroConstants team to BioAgilytix and to work with them to integrate the business," said Jim Datin, President and CEO of BioAgilytix. "We believe that by joining forces, BioAgilytix and MicroConstants will not only create significant scientific and performance synergies, but also we are better able to serve the growing biotechnology community on the West Coast. Most importantly, our customers and their patients will benefit from the leading-edge science the combined company will bring to market."   

MicroConstants, which serves clients across the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, has deep expertise in bioanalytical testing services with over 20+ years of experience performing GLP compliant bioanalytical services. The business will complement BioAgilytix’s already impressive contract research services for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. MicroConstants China remains a separate business entity and is not part of this transaction.

About BioAgilytix
BioAgilytix is a leading bioanalytical testing laboratory specializing in large molecule bioanalysis. With laboratory locations in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area, the Cambridge area of Massachusetts, and Hamburg, Germany, BioAgilytix provides PK, immunogenicity, biomarkers, and cell-based assay services supporting the development and release testing of biologics across a number of industries and disease states.

BioAgilytix offers assay development, validation, and sample analysis under non-GLP, GLP, and GCP, as well as GMP quality control testing (i.e., product release testing, stability testing, etc.). BioAgilytix also offers diagnostic testing services at its CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited Boston laboratory.

BioAgilytix’s team of highly experienced scientific and QA professionals ensures high-quality science, data integrity and regulatory compliance through all phases of clinical development. BioAgilytix is a trusted partner to many top global pharmaceutical and biotech companies. For more information, visit www.bioagilytix.com.

About MicroConstants, Inc.
MicroConstants Inc., is one of the largest bioanalytical LC/MS/MS service providers in the United States, with headquarters in San Diego, California for over 20 years.  MicroConstants helps its clients develop novel therapeutics by supporting clinical and preclinical regulated bioanalysis studies. Since 1998, MicroConstants has supported 290+ clients in 45 countries, completed over 8,200 projects, and developed more than 2,400 methods. For more information on how MicroConstants fulfills its purpose, please visit www.microconstants.com.

Media Contact:
Pam O’Connor
BioAgilytix
(919) 621-1230
pam.oconnor@bioagilytix.com

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BioAgilytix – Leading Provider of Bioanalytical Services

Gaming Meets Music with ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition

ASUS unleashed their ROG Zephyrus G14 with updated internals earlier this year in May, at least in Malaysia. The new powerhouse took over from where its predecessor left off. It packs AMD’s latest Zen 3 packed Ryzen 9 5900HS processor that maxes out at 4.3GHz. You also get NVIDIA’s power in a GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU platform. The package is more than capable of powering the 14-inch QHD IPS display at 120Hz.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 platform may not be the highest-end gaming laptop you can find in ASUS ROG’s arsenal of gaming notebooks. Obviously, it is also not the most expensive you can find. But it is one of the most versatile one to have. It is the perfect size for an ultra-light and thin laptop, and it fits in most bags with little fuss. You will not be craving for more power when you need to be productive too with a powerful and efficient AMD Zen 3 architecture. Paired to NVIDIA’s GPU, editing 4K videos on-the-go is a breeze. You can even colour correct with the highly accurate display at 100% sRGB coverage.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 then is the perfect notebook for both work and play. It is a formidable laptop in a production setting. It is the perfect notebook to bear the Alan Walker name.

If you do not know who Alan Walker is, you are in for a treat. A Google search of Alan Walker should be all you need to get introduced to the popular artist. But before you start wondering if Alan Walker has anything to do with gaming, let us introduce you to Live Fast, a song he produced for PUBG Mobile, and Ghost, a soundtrack from the game Death Stranding.

  • 00 Zephyrus G14 AW SE 5
  • 00 Zephyrus G14 AW SE 8
  • 00 Zephyrus G14 AW SE 7
  • 00 Zephyrus G14 AW SE 6
  • 00 Zephyrus G14 AW SE 0KV

The Alan Walker edition of the ROG Zephyrus G14 has to be special though. That is why ASUS shoehorned an even more powerful AMD Ryzen 5900HS that packs 8 processing cores with up to 16-threads. The Zen 3 processor should be more than enough for aspiring content creators to work with. Its superior multi-threaded performance will make short work of any creative software you can throw at it.

Getting your games on is important though, especially when you need a quick break to get the creative juices going again. The brand-new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU ensures that you have great gaming experiences on-the-road especially on the 14-inch IPS display that refreshes at 120Hz. The fun does not stop here though when it comes to Alan Walker.

Alan Walker designed the packaging of the ROG Zephyrus G14 himself. The packaging is not the regular box that merely protects the notebook though. You can connect the box to the Zephyrus G14 via a USB Type-C cable and the box turns into a unique accessory. It becomes an ROG Remix sampler that houses 18 of Alan Walker’s own sound effects. It comes complete with conductive pads on the surface for users to trigger the sound effects.

  • Zephyrus G14 AW SEROG Remix lighting
  • Zephyrus G14 AW SE Package ROG Remix

The integration goes even deeper with a custom software developed and designed with Alan Walker and his team. The custom software allows users to start creating their own tracks or create remixes based on Alan Walker’s famous tracks.

It is an ROG product still though. You get an ROG x Alan Walker inspired animations on the ROG Zephyrus G14’s main display and its AniMe Matrix panel at the back. The animations will play accordingly based on the MIDI inputs that is selected from the Remix sampler. The notebook also comes with a custom boot animation and an exclusive Alan Walker wallpaper.

  • 00 Zephyrus G14 AW SE 1
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  • Zephyrus G14 AW SE Laptop 01 KB Lighting
  • Zephyrus G14 AW SE Laptop 16 Lighting
  • Zephyrus G14 AW SE Laptop 19
  • Zephyrus G14 AW SEROG Sleeve 01 Lighting
  • 00 Zephyrus G14 AW SE All bundled
  • Zephyrus G14 AW SE ROG x AW Cap 01
  • Zephyrus G14 AW SE ROG x AW Socks 01

On the surface, the Alan Walker ROG Zephyrus G14 is laced with Alan Walker’s signature colours. The ‘A’ and ‘W’ keys features the producer’s logo too. The AniMe Matrix panel comes in a unique Spectre Blue shade on this special edition. Lining the AniMe Matrix panel are two fabric belts with one belt featuring reflective texts that compliments the Matrix LED panel.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker edition is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia in September 2021. There are no official pricing for the special edition gaming notebook at this time. The ROG Zephyrus G14 comes with a few special edition goodies in the package too like the baseball cap, a pair of socks, and an ROG laptop sleeve. More information on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker edition can be found on their website.  

Ninja Survey Finds Gen Z and Millennial Parents Are Bored with Their Recipe Rotation and Looking to Spice Things Up


Ninja launches Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ to make cooking easier, faster, juicier and crispier results in one Multicooker+

NEEDHAM, Mass., Aug. 18, 2021 — Ninja (HKEX: 1691.HK), the brand in small kitchen appliances*, announced findings from its recent survey surrounding what people look for when cooking and sources of cooking inspiration. While people have been cooking more over the past year, the survey found that a majority of Gen Z and Millennial parents wish they knew more recipes (79%)** and most feel like they cook the same meals all the time (77%).

The survey also found that:

  • 74% of Millennials want to feel more confident in the kitchen, including 80% of Millennial parents
  • Nearly half of Millennials say they are bored with the recipes they know; this boredom increases to 56% when looking at Gen Z and Millennial parents
  • 73% of Gen Z and Millennial parents are looking for recipe inspiration
  • One third of Gen Z and Millennial parents prioritize meals that are quick to make
  • 40% of Gen Z and Millennial parents have trouble following recipes (compared to only 25% of total surveyed)

To help combat kitchen fatigue, today, Ninja unveils its newest innovation, the Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ which offers an efficient way of cooking with its SteamCrisp™ Technology and SmartLid™.  It has three different cooking modes – pressure cook, air fry, and SteamCrisp™ – and 14 cooking functions all under one SmartLid™. Using the SteamCrisp™ Technology, unlock the juiciest way to air fry, prepare 1-touch meals up to 40% faster++, and bake artisan breads and cakes up to 25% faster***.

The Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ offers three cooking modes and 14 cooking functions under one lid. It is available in an 8-qt capacity for $329.99 at NinjaKitchen.com.
The Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ offers three cooking modes and 14 cooking functions under one lid. It is available in an 8-qt capacity for $329.99 at NinjaKitchen.com.

As consumers are eager for new food ideas and gaining kitchen confidence, Ninja released its inaugural SmartLid™ SmartList, a quintessential compellation of modern recipes and food prep techniques to enable home cooks to keep their bustling kitchen bursting with delicious inspiration and cook more efficiently.

Ninja also partnered with Eitan Bernath, a chef, digital content creator and principal culinary contributor for the "Drew Barrymore Show" on CBS, to share tips on how to make cooking easier and more fun with Ninja’s latest product innovation.

"I’m excited to partner with Ninja to share cooking tricks and highlight the new Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™," said Eitan Bernath. "It makes cooking easier, more efficient and fun, which people are craving as they’re busy returning to the office and kids are going back to school."

The Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ is available in an 8-qt capacity for $329.99 at NinjaKitchen.com. Its 14 functions include:

  • Pressure Cook
  • Steam & Crisp
  • Steam & Bake
  • Air Fry
  • Broil
  • Bake/Roast
  • Dehydrate
  • Sear/Sauté
  • Steam
  • Sous Vide
  • Slow Cook
  • Yogurt
  • Keep Warm
  • Proof

SmartLid™ represents the latest example of the synergies found between SharkNinja and Joyoung engineering teams, (under the parent company, JS Global Lifestyle) whose collaboration on this project have allowed us to bring this exciting new product to the world.

**All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1260 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st – 22nd July 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+) with a margin of error of +/- 3% at 95% confidence.

++ Versus traditional cooking methods

***Versus traditional oven

+ Vesus Ninja Foodi OL601 in Dry Mode Only

About Ninja: 

What we believe 

You can make it. 

Ninja believes that if you want to cook at home, you can. If you want to experiment more with recipes and ingredients, you can. If you want to cook dinner every single night, you can. If you want to be proud of what you’re serving your family, you, without a doubt, can. We design tools and appliances that help you achieve endless opportunities with food, regardless of how much experience you have. It is our belief that if you have the desire to cook, that you can make it, and we’re here to help you do it in ways that are fast, easy, and delicious.

Perkbox reimagines global reward and benefits for the post-pandemic world


LONDON, Aug. 18, 2021Perkbox, the global benefits and reward platform, today announces its new offering to help employers care for, connect with, and celebrate their people around the world.

The new location agnostic Perkbox platform enables employers to harmonise their global employee experience and create cost and time efficiencies, while delivering bespoke wellbeing, recognition, and engagement offerings to each employee. Perkbox already supports over 5,000 businesses and more than 600,000 users across more than 34 countries.

The new platform launch comes as HR leaders worldwide grapple with a unique set of circumstances, brought about, or accelerated, by the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Employee wellbeing is in freefall. Nine in ten employees faced new wellbeing challenges in 2020[1], as burnout from balancing work and life becomes a greater issue
  • The employee/employer relationship is changing. Work from home-induced introspection has left many people looking for more from their employer and work.
  • International, distributed working models are on the rise. Hybrid and remote working are making it more difficult to create a clear and attractive organisational culture across multiple locations.
  • There’s a new talent landscape. New ways of working have also unlocked a truly international pool of talent, giving businesses the option to recruit from anywhere in the world.

In response, Perkbox’s reimagined, unified platform helps HR leaders create a stronger employee value proposition, built around caring for, connecting with, and celebrating employees, wherever they’re based.

Employees can access the platform via web or a powerful single app. It’s organised into four ‘hubs’, each offering support in a key area, and integrates seamlessly with existing single sign on (SSO) and human resources information systems (HRIS) – creating a frictionless experience for both employees and HR administrators.

Wellness hub. Supporting employees’ wellbeing is vital in itself, and it boosts retention and engagement.[2] The Wellness hub enables employers to meaningfully support this area by providing access to carefully curated, constantly updated wellbeing content. Employees can choose what works for them – from hypnosis and therapy audios to HIIT workouts and meditation guides.

Perks hub. Perks hub enables employers to overcome the stifling complexity of the global benefits market, while providing employees with the huge variety of global deals, discounts and benefits needed to fulfil individual requirements. There is also the option for employers to offer a monthly ‘Flexi points’ allowance. Employees can redeem these, at no cost to themselves, against a wide range of ‘Flexi Perks’, from coffees and entertainment subscriptions to mindfulness apps – and much more.

Celebration hub. Building a culture of appreciation can help drive motivation and engagement.  Celebration hub helps strengthen the connections between all employees and employers, regardless of location, by enabling leaders to visibly recognise and reward their people in a personalised way. Recognitions can also be linked to company values – helping businesses reward behaviours that embody what they stand for.

Culture hub. This helps create cultural alignment and a greater sense of togetherness across all parts of the business, by providing a single source for news and company initiatives.  It reduces reliance on leaders in each location to cascade information – saving their time and that of HR leaders.

Gautam Sahgal, CEO, Perkbox comments: "Organisations are becoming increasingly diverse – with people of different demographics spread across different geographies. This is presenting HR leaders with a two-pronged challenge: how to create a clear, common, and compelling culture for the evolving, international workforce. And how to create a reward and benefits offering that provides genuine value to everybody, wherever they are.

"We want Perkbox to be the simple, cost-effective answer to the global challenges and opportunities the new age of work poses. The platform is the result of an incredibly in-depth investigation into what our clients truly want from us. We took the time to ask HR leaders why they chose Perkbox and, in today’s working world, the ability to harmonise wellbeing, recognition and engagement across markets was seen as vital. This is the strategic imperative to help organisations attract, retain and inspire the talent they need to succeed."

About Perkbox

Perkbox is the global benefits and rewards platform that allows companies to care for, connect with and celebrate their employees, no matter where they are and what they want. Location agnostic, it supports over 5,000 businesses and more than 600,000 users across 34 countries and counting. 

[1] Unleash employee happiness in 2021. Access via: https://www.perkbox.com/new-working-world

[2] The Science of Care. Access via: https://www.limeade.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LimeadeInstitute_TheScienceOfCare_Whitepaper_Web.pdf

VVDN Technologies Joins NVIDIA Partner Network to Expand Opportunities for Advanced AI-Enabled Camera & Vision Applications


SAN JOSE, California, Aug. 18, 2021VVDN Technologies, a premier electronic product engineering and manufacturing company, announced that it has joined the NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN) as a provider of AI-enabled computer vision solutions powered by the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform.

 

 

The NPN program is designed to help partners expand the usage of NVIDIA-based solutions, platforms, and technologies, and provide end customers with a world-class solution and support experience. As part of the NVIDIA Jetson partner ecosystem, VVDN can leverage the powerful GPU-accelerated edge computing capabilities of the NVIDIA Jetson lineup including Jetson AGX Series, Jetson TX2 series, Jetson Xavier NX and Jetson Nano to develop and manufacture next-gen innovative AI/ML based camera and vision solutions for its customers.

NVIDIA Jetson is the leading AI-at-the-edge computing platform with over half a million developers and a strong partner ecosystem. With pre-trained AI models, developer SDKs and support for cloud-native technologies across the full Jetson lineup, manufacturers of intelligent machines and AI developers can build and deploy high-quality, software-defined features on embedded and edge devices targeting robotics, AIoT, smart cities, healthcare, industrial applications, and more. Cloud-native support helps manufacturers and developers implement frequent improvements, improve accuracy, and use the latest features with Jetson-based edge AI devices.

Joining the NPN positions VVDN to provide a host of enhanced services including product engineering, AI/ML algorithm development, as well as manufacturing services to customers/OEMs/System Integrators/ISVs with accelerated time to market. VVDN is offering AI-based vision solutions powered by the NVIDIA Jetson platform, including carrier boards, edge gateways as well as edge AI cameras which are production-ready solutions available for customers.

VVDN’s design and manufacturing capabilities of world-class cameras and vision products includes edge AI boxes, system on modules (SOM) and boards, 360-degree high-end multi-imager cameras, NVRs/DVRs and thermal cameras with video analytics for use in automotive ADAS, traffic safety, security, smart cities, industrial vision, video conferencing, retail applications and more.

Arun Kumar PB, Sr. Director – Vision, VVDN Technologies said: "VVDN’s Vision Business Unit has invested heavily on AI/ML and computer vision algorithms targeting industries including security, smart cities, retail, automotive, medical as well as industrial. Joining the NPN as an NVIDIA Jetson ecosystem partner further helps our efforts as we get access to all the SDKs as well as exposure to new platform introductions. This will help us cater to our customers’ need for more complex AI-enabled applications across the globe."

VVDN possesses strong expertise in Image/ISP Tuning, Video Stitching, Sensor Integration, AI/ML Integration, Video Analytics, Voice Integration and Video Cloud. VVDN’s manufacturing facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art SMT lines, product assembly areas, ISO Class 6 and 8 Clean Room and R&D, Testing and Video labs for Next-gen product innovation.

About VVDN:

VVDN is a leading Product Engineering & Manufacturing company focused on designing & manufacturing end-to-end products across several technology vertical markets (5G, Data Center, Vision, Networking and Wi-Fi, IoT, Cloud & Apps). VVDN’s India HQ is located at Global Innovation Park, Manesar, India and its North America HQ is located in San Jose, CA, USA. VVDN serves global customers across several regions including US, Canada, Europe, India, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. With more than 6000 employees, VVDN has 10 advanced Product Engineering Centers in India, which are fully equipped to design & test the complete hardware & software required to develop a complete product or solution. VVDN’s 5 Manufacturing facilities are located at Manesar, Gurgaon, India, which includes in-house best-in-class SMT Factory, Molding & Tooling Factory, Product Assembly Factory, Die Casting facility and Product Certifications labs. VVDN’s Engineering & Manufacturing facilities are fully complied to develop & manufacture Enterprise, Consumer, Industrial, and Automotive-grade products.

Visit www.vvdntech.com for more information.

Kunwar Sinha, kunwar.sinha@vvdntech.in  

HH Global acquires Adare International


Merge completion of global marketing services providers, HH Global and Adare International 

LONDON and CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2021 — HH Global is pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition of Adare International (including Purple Agency), from the private equity firm Endless LLP, following the signing of an agreement on Monday 21 June 2021. The combined business will generate approximately $2.1bn in annual sales.  

This deal will create a combined global business with over 4,000 employees and a presence in more than 65 countries, cementing HH Global’s position as market leader. It will also allow stronger in-country operations, helping to propel seven of our local markets to achieve local annual run rates of over $50m revenue for the first time. 

Mike Perez, Group CEO of HH Global, expressed: "Following on from the successful integration of InnerWorkings in October last year, we are thrilled to join forces with Adare International. Welcoming new clients and colleagues on board is always an exciting process, and the strength of Adare International in these areas was a key motivation for our interest in acquiring them. I’m also particularly excited to enhance our capabilities in creative services in the healthcare and B2B sectors with Purple Agency, and to take advantage of the enhanced geographical reach and local revenue within their regional operations. 

The complementary nature of our business models and our shared passion for innovation, sustainability, and commitment to delivering outstanding services, assures me that this acquisition will allow us to continue to boost the growth momentum we have built over the last few years. On behalf of everyone at HH Global I would like to wish both employees and clients alike from Adare International a very warm welcome to the HH Global family." 

Andrew Dutton, Group CEO of Adare International, is also excited for what the merge will mean for the future, stating "Having been the CEO of Adare International since 2016, I have had the privilege of helping to grow our business into the exceptional marketing services provider it is today. Our dedication for delivering innovative, integrated marketing solutions to clients around the world aligns perfectly with the strengths of HH Global, making us confident that this partnership represents the best path for our company going forwards." 

About HH Global  
Founded in 1991, HH Global is a global outsourced marketing execution provider. Applying proven processes, industry-leading technology, and the deep expertise of over 4,000+ employees, we develop innovative solutions that drive down the cost of our clients’ physical marketing procurement and content development, while improving quality, sustainability, and speed to market. For more information, please visit hhglobal.com 

About Adare International  
Adare International is a British-headquartered provider of marketing services with strong procurement, creative and data offerings. From digital content and print management to logistics and point of sale, Adare International provide a full suite of services. Adare International also has an excellent procurement offering, as well as innovative content and interactive service lines. For more information please visit – Adare | Harmonise Your Marketing (adareinternational.net) 

About Purple Agency  
Owned by Adare International, Purple Agency is a global marketing agency, who specialise in healthcare, B2B and dedicated studios. The company have a global reach, with offices across the UK, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Brazil, and presence in over 40 countries. Their service offerings include Purple Health, which covers the full healthcare marketing spectrum, from sickness to wellness, intervention to prevention, and animal to human. They also offer Purple B2B, bringing fresh insight into companies’ business marketing communications, as well as Purple Studios which allows companies to build dedicated studios for their targeted needs. For more information please visit – Purple Agency | About us 

Strategic Motivation  
As with the recent merge with Innerworkings, the rationale behind this latest acquisition is centred on the strategic fit and complementary nature of the businesses, ultimately allowing HH Global to further consolidate its leading position within market. The acquisition will allow HH Global to expand capacity and reach, particularly in Europe and Latin American markets, in which our combined presence will grow our in-country capabilities. Furthermore, Adare International’s impressive solution offerings, as well as expanded agency and interactive service lines, will allow HH Global to significantly diversify and increase our proposition. Along with improving upon current services, the acquisition will also establish an increased capability in market sectors such as healthcare and B2B marketing.  

The merge will ultimately result in an unparalleled marketing and execution firm that will provide our clients with meaningful opportunities to increase the value they receive from our services. Being chosen as Adare International’s acquisition partner reflects the reputation and status HH Global has managed to achieve in recent years. We will ultimately be in a stronger position to transform and grow our long-term client relationships as their trusted solutions partner.

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SKF to service Berlin underground carriages in long-term agreement

Service agreement for U-Bahn trains includes original part supply and service for at least 606 carriages – and will last for a 32-year period minimum

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Aug. 17, 2021 — SKF has signed a long-term agreement with Stadler Rail to equip and service rolling stock for the Berlin underground (U-Bahn) in Germany.

The contract, with Swiss rail vehicle manufacturer Stadler Rail, is worth several million Euros. It includes a number of SKF solutions ranging from wheel set bearings and axle boxes to lubrication systems. Over the more than 32-year duration of the contract, SKF will cover spares supply. The contract is covered by a performance agreement, which is measured against a set of KPIs to ensure high customer confidence.

"This contract will provide reliability and safety of spare parts over the entire period," says Thomas White, Key Account Manager for Railways at SKF. "This aims to reduce logistics efforts and raise reliability for both the train operator and Stadler Rail."

Under the agreement, SKF will service more than 606 rail carriages, to be built between 2022 and 2026. This may extend to a total of 1,500 carriages. Berlin U-bahn operator, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), has said that this is the largest vehicle purchasing programme in its history – with a budget of around €3 billion for up to 1,500 carriages.

Overall, the SKF contract will involve the supply and servicing of more than 12,000 wheelset bearings, among other services. The wheelset bearings are insocoated – so have a plasma coating to prevent electrical damage.

SKF’s long-standing relationship with Stadler, its ability to offer a broad service package and its technical expertise were key factors behind winning the contract. SKF was also involved in the very early phase of development – developing product solutions that were tailored to the customer’s needs.

The service contract aims to help to improve the reliability and uptime of trains on the U-Bahn.

SKF can support rail manufacturers to meet their RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) and LCC (Lifecycle Costing) responsibilities, a key factor in modern rail stock performance.

For further information, please contact:

Press Relations: Nia Kihlström, +46 31-337 2897; +46 706 67 28 97; nia.kihlstrom@skf.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skf/r/skf-to-service-berlin-underground-carriages-in-long-term-agreement,c3397363

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OPPO Reno6 Pro Available In Malaysia Exclusively on LAZADA

OPPO’s Reno6 series was recently announced. However, the series was a little incomplete without the Pro variant. Joining the OPPO Reno 6Z and the Reno 6 is the Reno 6 Pro which will be available exclusively via LAZADA.

The OPPO Reno6 Pro is the most powerful Reno yet coming with the Snapdragon 870 mobile platform. The processor is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Display-wise it comes equipped with a 6.5-inch AMOLED 3D curved display. This is enhanced with a 90Hz refresh rate and up to 180Hz touch sampling.

OPPO Reno6 Pro with box

Of course, being a Reno flagship, the Reno6 Pro comes with a quad-camera setup. The main camera is a Sony IMX766 sensor which OPPO has co-developed. This is complemented with a 16-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 13-megapixel telephoto camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The OPPO Reno 6 Pro also comes with a dedicated colour temperature sensor which allows it to capture more realistic colours.

Keeping with other Reno flagships, the OPPO Reno6 Pro also focuses on camera performance. OPPO has augmented the camera setup on the OPPO Reno6 Pro with AI algorithms which allow it to capture higher quality images with more detail than before. The smartphone’s camera comes with a new Bokeh Flare Portrait Video which allows users to capture video with the much sought after blurry background effect. In addition, it also has AI highlight video which allows the phone to optimize videos according to the ambient lighting of the surroundings. It also has focus tracking to keep your subject in focus throughout your video.

The smartphone is powered by a 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging. This will allow you to get from 0 to 100% in just 31 minutes.

Pricing & availability

The OPPO Reno6 Pro will be available in Arctic Blue and Lunar Grey. It will be retailing for MYR2,999.

Reno6 Pro Launch KV

Pre-orders start on 17 August 2021. Each pre-order is entitled to freebies worth up to MYR1099 including an OPPO Enco Air, 1 Year of OPPO Care Screen Damage protection and 1 year of HeyTop Cloud with 1TB of Storage space.

Reno6 Pro Lucky Draw

OPPO is also giving early adopters a chance to with Marshall products worth up to MYR5900 during their pre-order period. Every pre-order placed on LAZADA is entitled to 5 entries for this lucky draw.

ASUS ROG Phone 5s – The ROG Phone 5, But Even More Powerful

The ASUS ROG Phone 5 was launched earlier this year and it is the ultimate gaming smartphone with not just the most powerful smartphone processor you can find in a modern smartphone. We are talking about Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 5G platform here. But they squeeze up to 18GB of RAM into a smartphone. You are essentially getting the performance of a modern PC in the palm of your hands, and it still fits in your pockets.

The ASUS ROG Phone 5 packed a fast display too. At 144Hz, it is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, smartphone display you can get in a modern smartphone. It also came with one of the fastest responding displays you can find in a modern smartphone as well at 240Hz of touch sampling rate.

While all of that made the ASUS ROG Phone 5 series one of the most powerful and desirable smartphones in the market, the recipe is not unique to ASUS’ ROG Phone 5 series. Other flagship smartphones started using the same recipe in their smartphones. You still will not get RAM sizes as big as 18GB in most flagships from major manufacturers. But you will get the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G platform and even up to 512GB of storage onboard. You also get up to 240Hz touch sampling rate with displays that refreshes at up to 120Hz in most cases.

Screenshot 2021 08 17 at 18 18 03 ROG Phone 5s Gaming Phones|ROG Republic of Gamers|ROG Global
Source: ASUS

The ASUS ROG Phone 5s series takes things up a notch in power though. It now packs a specially tuned Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset. They call it the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ platform and it is marginally more powerful that its Plain Jane counterpart.

That is not all they improved though. They also made the 144Hz display a little faster to the touch. Instead of 240Hz in touch sampling, it now responds at 360Hz for an even faster 24ms latency from touch to action. It is still a Full HD+ display that measures at 6.78-inc though.

You also get mostly the same hardware as the current ASUS ROG Phone 5. The behemoth 6,000 mAh battery is still present to ensure you can work with it the entire day. You still get the high-resolution 64-Megapixel shooter supported by a 5-Megapixel macro camera and 13-Megapixel ultra-wide camera. Out front is a 24-megapixel shooter still.

  • Screenshot 2021 08 17 at 18 16 16 ROG Phone 5s Pro Gaming Phones|ROG Republic of Gamers|ROG Global
  • Screenshot 2021 08 17 at 18 18 03 ROG Phone 5s Gaming Phones|ROG Republic of Gamers|ROG Global
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  • Screenshot 2021 08 17 at 18 16 49 ROG Phone 5s Pro Gaming Phones|ROG Republic of Gamers|ROG Global

We said that there is a series in the new line-up. That is because there will be two devices from the series – a regular ROG Phone 5s and an extreme ROG Phone 5s Pro. The difference between the two devices, at least in terms of visual, is found at the backplate. The regular ROG Phone 5s only packs the dot matrix RGB graphics at the back. The ROG Phone 5s Pro has the small OLED display that trickle down from the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate. Of course, the Pro also gets the 18GB RAM + 512GB storage treatment that was signature to the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate. Because the new ROG Phone 5s series shares similar dimensions with the original ROG Phone 5, you can use accessories that you have from the older ROG Phone 5 series.

ASUS says that the devices will launch on the 30th of September 2021 in Taiwan. The ASUS ROG Phone 5s (16GB + 256GB) starts at NTD 29,990 (MYR 4,559*). You can get the ROG Phone 5s in 512GB storage flavour too at NTD 33,390 (MYR 5,167*). The ROG Phone 5s Pro will set you back NTD 37,990 (MYR 5,773*) at launch. There are no specific dates for an international launch at this time. Considering that the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate just arrived in Malaysian shores, we think the ROG Phone 5s series might not come all that soon.

* Approximately based on exchange rate of NTD 100 = MYR 15.20 on xe.com as of 17/08/2021