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Novena Global Lifecare completes US$350 million merger with China’s Xingkeduo to expand the NOVU and Xingkeduo brands in China and beyond

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Novena Global Lifecare (the “Company”), one of the world’s largest integrated medical healthcare and aesthetic companies with over 100 clinics in 20 cities mainly in the Asia Pacific region, has completed its US$350 million (S$476 million[1]) merger with Xingkeduoan express haircut business with nearly 100 stores in high foot-traffic prime locations in China’s first- and second-tier cities and a China-wide e-commerce platform.

The merger provides Singapore-owned Novena Global Lifecare with access to Xingkeduo’s internet technology and physical network of nearly 100 stores, which will now be complemented by the Company’s medical aesthetic expertise through its NOVU Aesthetics (NOVU) brand. This merger will also see an accelerated expansion of NOVU and Xingkeduo brands in China, as plans are underway for the creation of a one-of-a-kind hybrid store format offering complementary medtech-based aesthetic and hairdressing solutions driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as generate cross-selling opportunities for both brands.

The new company‘s English name will remain as “Novena Global Lifecare”. Evolve Capital Asia and InsightX Capitalare the financial advisers for Novena Global Lifecare and Xingkeduo, respectively, for this merger funded by cash and shares in Novena Global Lifecare. In addition, the merged entity will manage the expansion of the NOVU and Xingkeduo brands in China and in the Asia Pacific region.

Following the merger, DORR Group and Novena Global Lifecare’s Executive Chairman and co-founder Nelson Loh will serve as Novena Global Lifecare’schairman, while DORR Group and Novena Global Lifecare’s CEO and co-founder Terence Loh and Xingkeduo’s founder Willy Chuangwill be appointed co-CEOs of Novena Global Lifecare.

AI-based Beauty OS platform to drive growth

Founded in Beijing in 2015, Xingkeduo is the first company in China that combines hairdressing with online-to-offline commerce using Internet technology for online order, queue reservations in the cloud, with the actual hairdressing services provided in the shop. To date, Xingkeduo has served more than 3 million customers, with over 6 million sales made online, and maintained a 99.54% positive rating online.

Xingkeduo’s founder Willy Chuang said: “China has the most developed and active e-commerce retail system in the world. With our proprietary AI-based Beauty OS system, Xingkeduo has been able to evolve and scale up from a hair salon offering express haircuts to one offering its own brand of professional scalp care and hair styling products to target customers’ needs, not only in stores but also on e-commerce platforms. With Novena Global Lifecare’s participation, we are confident that we can grow our combined business exponentially in China and beyond.”

Mr Chuang added: “We analysed the prospects of the service industries and the healthcare sector, and we believe that the future unicorns will be multi-brand matrices, and the customer experience will not be limited to the store, but consist of a seamless online-to-offline experience, covering a full range of on-demand products and services, including customised aesthetic and medical solutions.”

As part of the business integration, Xingkeduo plans to implement version 3.0 of its growth plans and expand into the provision of medical care services, such as scalp management and hair transplants. This builds on Xingkeduo’s successful transformation from version 1.0 (purely haircut services) into the current version 2.0, through the integration of offline and online services in a short span of just three years.

Growing footprint in China

Novena Global Lifecare is one of the successful portfolio companies in DORR Group, which is a privately held investment holding company managing over US$4 billion of assets across various industries from consumer, healthcare, technology and media. The DORR Group is also in the process of setting up a new US$150 million Sino-Singapore Healthcare Fund for the tri-party of Novena Global Lifecare, Sinopharm Capital and Cedarlake Capital to invest in a portfolio of companies involved in Southeast Asia’s medical services, biomedical projects, mature drugs and precision medicine sectors.

DORR Group’s Nelson Loh said: “Through this merger, Novena Global Lifecarewill immediately reinforce our leading presence in the aesthetics beauty and wellness industry in Asia Pacific. More significantly, it would further improve our retail and service quality, and disrupt the current industry model and cost structure. We strongly believe that in the future, whether in SingaporeChina, or even in Asia and Latin America, we can use this model to empower customers to have more customised products and services.”

“As an investor in the medical industry, and with our experience in operating a global chain of aesthetic healthcare stores, both data and intuitive experience tell me that this industry is a field where consumers need more affordable and convenient services, and has very broad growth prospects. With the experience of Xingkeduo in China’s beauty market, the resources of the company’s shareholders and the Beauty OS system built for the company’s business, we are confident that we will continue to be a trailblazer in China’s medical beauty and medical care markets, bringing more choices for Chinese consumers,” Mr Nelson Loh added.

Moving forward, Novena Global Lifecarewill continue to provide consumers with convenient, efficient and cost-effective products and services, based on both parties’ common vision and consistent development goals for the lifecare and medical industries.

The Company will also accelerate the development of both brands, NOVU and Xingkeduo, and launch the development of multi-stores in China and Asia Pacific, as well as introduce NOVU’s skincare technology to consumers in China and leverage on the Beauty OS system to accelerate the service upgrade of NOVU stores around the world.

DORR Group’s co-founder Terence Loh said, “Asia has become the capital of the world’s beauty industry, with China and Southeast Asia recording the fastest development and the most promising market for Asian beauty and medical care. China is a huge market and we believe we are well positioned to seize opportunities especially in its highly fragmented aesthetic healthcare market. There’s definitely room for a well-run, well-funded integrated practice that provides affordable and accessible healthcare and medical aesthetics services to the mass market.”

 

SOURCE Novena Global Lifecare

Artificial Intelligence

Slovenian Tourist Board Unveils Innovative Projects to Enhance Tourism and Sports Visibility: Audio Stories, AI-Powered Virtual Assistant, and “Slovenia – Sports Destination” Website

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LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Slovenia is a land of countless natural beauties, cultural treasures, top health and wellness resorts and superb gastronomy, which the Slovenian Tourist Board aims to showcase to visitors in an innovative and attractive way. To achieve this, the Board continually analyzes current marketing trends and develops projects designed to excite tourists, spark their curiosity and inspire them to explore further.

By staying at the forefront of marketing strategies, the Slovenian Tourist Board ensures that the country’s unique attractions are presented in the most engaging and appealing manner possible. The most recent projects to boost Slovenia’s visibility include three new projects: Sounds Like Slovenia, a series of audio stories, an AI-powered virtual assistant named Alma on slovenia.info and the “Slovenia – Sports Destination” website.
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Meet Alma, an AI-powered virtual assistant
Alma, named after the adventurous traveller and writer Alma M. Karlin, operates using advanced AI technology, filtering content to suit user interests. She sources reliable information from the slovenia.info database and over 50 verified websites of Slovenian tourist destinations and providers. As one of the first AI assistants in Slovenian tourism, and among the few AI assistants integrated in national tourism organizations’ websites in Europe, Alma positions slovenia.info as a reliable source of information and inspiration for international visitors.
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Slovenia – Sports Destination Website
The Slovenia–Sports Destination website serves as a comprehensive resource for organizing sports activities and events, conferences, rehabilitation and inspiration, available in both Slovenian and English. Sports agencies, clubs, and event organizers can use the portal to connect directly with relevant partners in Slovenia. The website also provides direct contacts for specialized sports agencies and federations, assisting with the organization of preparatory matches and other logistical needs. Information on sports accommodations is also available.
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Sounds Like Slovenia 
Thematic playlists on Spotify and sound stories on slovenia.info provide an immersive audio experience of Slovenia’s landscapes and cultural offerings. Themes are categorized into five categories: the Sounds of Nature, Thrilling Outdoor Adventures, Cities and Culture, Health and Well-Being, and Gastronomy. Crafted for the global digital campaign, the audio list aims to captivate travelers worldwide.
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Together, these projects demonstrate Slovenia’s dedication to innovation and sustainability in tourism, offering visitors unforgettable experiences in this vibrant European destination with a green heart.
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Artificial Intelligence

Winners of Huawei ICT Competition 2023-2024 Global Final Announced

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SHENZHEN, China, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On May 26, the closing and awards ceremony of the Huawei ICT Competition 2023–2024 Global Final was held in Shenzhen. This year’s competition attracted more than 170,000 students from over 2,000 universities and colleges across more than 80 countries and regions, making it the largest offline competition since its launch. More than 160 teams, adding up to a total of 470 contestants from 49 different countries and regions, made it through national and regional competitions to reach this year’s global final, held in Shenzhen May 23-26.

After fierce competition, 19 teams from nine countries (Algeria, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, the Philippines, Tanzania, Türkiye, and Uganda) won the Grand Prizes of the Practice and Innovation Competitions. The Best Social Media Popularity Award was won by a team from Pakistan. The Green Development Award was won by two teams from China and Morocco. The Women in Tech Award was granted to four teams from Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, and Uganda. And the TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Award was won by two teams from China and the Philippines.
Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, said: “To make sure everyone can truly enjoy the benefits of digitalization while such technologies are making radical progress, Huawei believes it is crucial to guarantee that digital technologies are accessible to all.”
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, said in a video message:,”UNESCO works to uphold the basic rights and agency of every learner and teacher when using digital technology and AI, and promote an inclusive, equitable, open, and secure digital future for all. Many thanks to our partners like Huawei for their longstanding support.”
Ritchie Peng, President of Huawei’s ICT Strategy and Business Development Department, stated: “ICT is the cornerstone of the intelligent world. Through the Huawei ICT Competition, we aim to provide students with a global platform to compete and exchange ideas.”
On the same day, Huawei also held the ICT Accelerating Education Transformation Summit. At the summit Huawei awarded 24 instructors the title “Huawei ICT Academy Global Most Valuable Instructor.” The awards, given out for the first time this year, aims to show gratitude for the important contributions the instructors have made to talent development, and mark them as role models showing how the brightest minds can grow even brighter. These role models will help drive sustainable development of the ICT talent ecosystem.
The Huawei ICT Competition is an annual contest held by Huawei for global university and college students. Through the competition, Huawei aims to provide students with an international platform for healthy competition and exchange of ideas. Since its launch in 2015, the competition has helped students enhance their ICT knowledge and practical skills, while also increasing their ability to innovate by using new technologies and platforms. The ultimate goal is to advance technological development and facilitate digital inclusion around the world.
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NEXCOM, CTOne, and Vertex Join Forces to Enhance Private Network Security

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TAIPEI, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NEXCOM, a leading supplier of network solutions, CTOne, a global cybersecurity leader in communication technology, and Vertex, a professional system integrator of 5G private network, join forces for groundbreaking POC targeted to advance 5G private network security within semiconductor manufacturing site framework. Designed to address the specific cybersecurity challenges common in OT networks, collaborative solution offers unparalleled protection, and seamless integration into existing network architectures with minimal disruption to operations during deployment.

Improved Network Security
NEXCOM’s 1U Edge server, the TCA 5170, delivers scalable performance and advanced cybersecurity features, empowering manufacturers with robust OT network protection. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, the TCA 5170 accelerate encryption and decryption processes, ensures authentication and real-time threat detection, safeguarding private networks against evolving cyber threats. Its scalability makes it ideal for deployments of all sizes, from smaller production lines to semiconductor giants, providing comprehensive security solutions for diverse industrial needs.
More Visibility, Easier Management
The integrated solution simplifies the management of complex OT networks, enabling IT teams to efficiently monitor and manage network security while optimizing resource utilization. CTOne’s virtualized private 5G security software, installed on TCA 5170 and deployed at strategic points at the semiconductor manufacturing site, integrates seamlessly across IT and CT networks to deliver full visibility with real-time monitoring of data traffic. Combined with CTOne’s built-in 5G protection capabilities, the solution enable immediate interception and isolation of threats while supporting a Zero Trust strategy.
“This collaboration has been pivotal in delivering a comprehensive cybersecurity solution for semiconductor manufacturing sites,” said Ming-Yang, Yi, senior manager of AMEA business development group of CTOne. “By integrating our advanced 5G visibility and security capabilities with NEXCOM’s TCA 5170, we’ve created a robust solution that enhances data protection and optimizes operational efficiency of private 5G networks.”
“Working alongside NEXCOM and CTOne has allowed us to deliver a truly comprehensive cybersecurity solution for private 5G network,” said Willis Fu, Technical Director at Vertex. “Bringing together NEXCOM’s TCA 5170 and CTOne’s Mobile Network Security solution ensures seamless protection of the private 5G network, providing our end customer with peace of mind and confidence in their operations.”
“The TCA 5170 is a compact 1U server that offers different configurations and scalable performance, allowing our ecosystem partners to easily adapt and run their applications for deployments of all scales,” said Jennifer Lan, Sales & Marketing Director of Network & Communication Solutions at NEXCOM. “Our successful collaboration with CTOne and Vertex underscores our commitment to providing top-tier security and operational efficiency for our clients.”
Read full Case Study: Security-Solution-to-Protect-Private-Networks-at-Semiconductor-Facilities.pdf (nexcom.com)
This joint solution can be experienced firsthand at upcoming exhibitions:
May 29 – May 31, 2024, CommunicAsia 2024, Singapore, Singapore EXPO, Hall 4, booth 4E3-14June 26  – June 28, 2024, COMNEXT, Japan, Tokyo, Tokyo Big Sight, South Hall, Booth 9-14About NEXCOM
Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, NEXCOM integrates its diverse capabilities and operates six global businesses, including the Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit. NCS focuses on the latest network technology and helps to build reliable network infrastructure, by delivering professional design and manufacturing services for customers all over the world. NCS’s network application platform is widely adopted in Cyber Security, Load Balancing, 5G uCPE, SD-WAN, SASE, Edge Computing, OT Security, Storage, NVR, and other network applications for businesses of all sizes.
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