Categories
Health

Workshop offers vision to implement Defense Order. 20

The Ministry of Health carried out a joint workshop targeting inspection teams tasked with implementation of Jordan’s monitoring campaign on economic businesses to ensure their compliance with anti-COVID-19 Defense Order No. 20.

 

The workshop, which was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and World Health Organization (WHO), dealt with the foundations of implementing Public Health Law No. 47 of 2008 and its amendments on the prevention of smoking in public places and verifying compliance with public safety protocols in force, especially wearing face masks and exhibiting physical distancing.

 

Another procedure, which was also discussed during the event, was using flagship e-government service gateway app Sanad to verify that workers in economic establishments have received Covid-19 vaccine, according to a health ministry statement.

 

The workshop also aimed to unify and intensify national efforts to ensure implementation of health protocols launched by the Ministry of Labor in cooperation with Ministry of Health, and verify field compliance of economic establishments, said the statement.

 

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
General

Jordanian-European Parliamentary Friendship Association stresses importance of Jordan’s partnership with Cyprus

Jordanian-European Parliamentary Friendship Association stressed the importance of building on the outcomes of the tripartite summits that brought together His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Cypriot President and Greek Prime Minister.

 

Speaking during talks with the Cypriot Ambassador to Jordan, Michalis Ioannou, on Thursday, the association’s head, MP Khaldoun Haina, stressed the importance of the Jordanian-Cypriot-Greek partnership, which contributes to expanding cooperation horizons in all fields, and achieving peace and enhancing security and stability in the region and the world.

 

The lawmaker said the three countries’ keenness to maintain coordination, deepen cooperation, and form positions ” sends messages in all directions on their resolve to work jointly for peace and stability in the region.”

 

Jordan and Cyprus, he said, have “close” bilateral relations, based on common visions on various issues, which urge efforts to strengthen ties at various levels, particularly at the parliamentary, tourism, educational and commercial levels, to serve common interests.

 

The Cypriot envoy, for his part, reviewed the “distinguished” relations between the two countries in all fields, which are the outcome of efforts of the two countries’ leaderships made at the tripartite summits and mutual visits at various levels.

 

The diplomat affirmed his country’s keenness to further strengthen bilateral cooperation at various levels, especially at the parliamentary, educational, investment and trade levels, and sign agreements and memoranda of understanding, in a manner that achieves common interests.

 

With regard to the need to strengthen joint efforts to stimulate tourism, Ioannou said Cyprus will be Jordan’s gateway to Europe, pledging to make all efforts to facilitate tourism flow between the two countries.

 

Source: Jordan News Agency

 

Categories
General

Fayez: Tourism contribution to GDP plunged JD3 bln in 2020

Tourism and Antiquities Minister, Nayef Fayez, said contribution of Jordan’s tourism sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) last year stood at JD1 billion, compared to more than JD4 billion in 2019.

 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the scientific day of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Al al-Bayt University, entitled: “Tourism and its Role in the Renaissance of the National Economy amid Centennial of Jordanian state,” Fayez said the tourism situation is “expected to improve in 2021,” given the stability of the Kingdom’s epidemiological situation and several countries worldwide, especially in light of the ministry’s programs and plans launched to attract more tourists.

 

Fayez added that a ministry’s specialized team, in coordination and cooperation with the concerned ministries, is entrusted to study the 2021 tourist programs and examine possibility of their continuation to 2022.

 

Indicators signal “a gradual” improvement of Jordan’s tourism sector, especially with the launch of the foreign tourism season, which will start mid-September, Fayez told the participants.

 

On the feasibility of the university’s scientific day, he noted the ministry seeks to harness its outcomes to support the gov’t efforts to advance the tourism sector.

 

Fayez said the ministry seeks to contain Covid-19 pandemic-induced effects on the tourism sector by creating an “exceptional” response to the crisis, to accelerate Jordan’s tourism industry by adopting a “unified” tourist approach and making the Kingdom a “leading” travel destination.

 

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
General

Arabian Horse Show for Local Breeders 2021 launched

Activities of Arabian Horse Show for Local Breeders 2021 (Breeders’ Show) kicked off Thursday, at the Amman Equestrian Center (AEC) in Al Hussein Youth City.

 

President of the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation (RJEF), Princess Alia Bint Al Hussein, attended the opening activities.

 

A large number of local stables, which are stacked of purebred Arabian horses, will participate in the championship that concludes on Friday, according to a RJEF statement.

 

In his interview with “Petra,” on Thursday, RJEF Secretary-General, Nour Al-Rifai, said the event is the first show of locally bred Arabian horses, stressing the RJEF’s endeavor to continue supporting equestrian sport at all levels and back breeders of purebred Arabian horses in Jordan.

 

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
General

House panel: Campaign to affirm return to Palestine garnered over than 1 mln signatures

Head of the Lower House Palestine Committee, MP Mohammad Zahrawi, said “Return is my Right and my Decision, ” a campaign aimed to confirm right of return of the Palestinian refugees to their homeland, which was launched by the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London, a UK-based advocacy group, has achieved its “desired” goal of garnering more than one million signatures.

 

Zahrawi , in a press statement on Thursday, said the campaign, launched in cooperation with the House Palestine panel, has kicked off in Jordan and brought under its umbrella 200 countries around the world against the “Deal of the Century” to affirm that the Palestinian cause will remain the Kingdom’s “top issue” and that the right of return is “unalerted,” guaranteed by the international legitimacy resolutions.

 

The lawmaker said the PRC and and the House Palestine Committee are in the process of making arrangements to submit the signature petition to the United Nations, with the aim of forming a public opinion to activate UN resolutions related to Palestinian refugees, foremost is Resolution 194 through the PRC, which has obtained consultative membership in the United Nations since 2015.

 

To amass more than a million signatures amid Covid-19 pandemic is “clear” evidence that the Palestinian right of return is “firmly established and cannot be abandoned,” and that the Palestinian cause is “well-entrenched” worldwide, the MP pointed out.

 

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
MENA Press Releases

KalGene Pharmaceuticals Inc. an Alzheimer’s focused company using a next generation engineered drug candidate, has appointed new leadership

Mr. Anthony J. Giovinazzo joins as Executive Chairman; and Dr. Nickolay V. Kukekov, Ph.D. as President and CEO

KalGene also announced that concurrent with the appointment of new leadership, the Company has closed on a substantial amount of capital from US institutions and family offices to progress KG207 to clinical testing

MONTREAL and TORONTO, Aug. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — KalGene Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that Anthony J. Giovinazzo, MBA, C. Dir. & A.C.C. has joined the Board of Directors of the company as an Executive Chairman. Mr. Giovinazzo is an internationally recognized expert in drug development and commercialization, with more than 25 years of experience in Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases, primarily Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Most recently, he was a co-inventor and CEO of Cynapsus Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceutical company that developed an FDA approved drug today known as Kynmobi for Parkinson’s disease. At Cynapsus, Mr. Giovinazzo built the leadership team, raised US $ 136 million including an oversubscribed IPO to NASDAQ and eventually sold the company for a Cad. $841 million all cash acquisition.

Mr. Giovinazzo commented on his new role “I’ve followed the development of KalGene and its lead KG207 program for many years. I am truly impressed by the quality of the science and the composition of the drug candidate as a carefully engineered entity, selective for Toxic Oligomers, to potentially become the best-in-class therapy over existing drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s disease.”

KalGene’s  Board also announced today that Nickolay V. Kukekov, Ph.D. has joined as company’s President and CEO. Dr. Kukekov received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City. The focus of his research was the molecular mechanisms underlying programmed cell death of neuronal cells exposed to various pro-apoptotic conditions such as hypoxia, cytotoxic stress, amyloid-beta, etc. After his thesis defense and post-doctoral position at Columbia, he spent 15 years on Wall Street, where he held a number of healthcare investment banking, healthcare private equity and merchant banking positions.

“I am extremely excited about joining KalGene’s team where together we are focused on developing a solution to such a devastating and complex disease like Alzheimer’s. Our lead drug candidate KG207 holds great promise to truly become the best-in-class disease-modifying agent for this disease. The team of over 40 brilliant scientists from the leading scientific institutions in Canada are behind this unique molecule. It integrates all of the cutting-edge features, such as enhanced blood brain barrier penetration, highly specific binding to toxic beta-amyloid oligomers, no observed dose-limiting toxicity and lack of neuro-inflammatory side effects; all that makes it a highly attractive candidate for the human clinical trials.”

Dr. Kukekov continued ” I am very grateful to our wonderful partners; the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), McGill University, Lumira Ventures and a number of agencies and foundations that continue to support us including the Weston Brain Institute, Consortium Québécois sur la Découverte du Médicament (CQDM), Brain Canada and Ontario Brain Institute.”

Mr. Giovinazzo and Dr. Kukekov bring an outstanding combination of CNS, drug development and capital markets expertise to KalGene”, said Jacki Jenuth, Partner at Lumira Ventures.  “We identified KG207 early as a best-in-class therapeutic which targets the safe removal of toxic beta-amyloid oligomers which are thought to be one of the major contributing factors leading to Alzheimer’s disease. The unique profile of KG207 and quality of the preclinical data has enabled KalGene to attract and assemble a world class team which is poised to bring this important therapeutic to patients suffering from this devastating disease.”

About KalGene Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

KalGene Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a pre-clinical stage company focused on the development of a precision engineered drug candidate KG207 to slow the progression and potentially reverse Alzheimer’s. KG207 targets the direct cause of Alzheimer’s disease toxic beta-amyloid oligomers with reduced risk of potentially serious side effects caused by all emerging anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody therapeutics, including the recently FDA-approved Aduhelm (aducanumab; Biogen).

The molecule was designed to address several critical components: a chaperone binding motif to facilitate active transport across the blood brain barrier, allowing for a multi-fold greater concentration of the drug to enter the brain when compared to conventional monoclonal antibody; an active structural element to increase the half-life of the molecule and a Toxic Oligomer species specific binding peptide fragment that potentially slows neuronal loss and reverses the effect of Alzheimer’s disease

https://www.kalgene.com/

Categories
MENA Pakistan Press Releases

Bombardier Raises Full Year Guidance Following Solid First Half Execution and Market Momentum, Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

  • Raised FY2021 guidance: (i) aircraft deliveries expected to reach ~120 units, revenues to exceed $5.8B; (ii) profitability increased to greater than $175M adjusted EBIT(1) and adjusted EBITDA(1) expected to be greater than $575M vs previously announced $100M and $500M, respectively; (iii) Free cash flow usage(1) now expected to be better than $300M for the year vs $500M(2)
  • Business jet revenues continue positive trend; second quarter year-over-year revenues up 50%, totalling $1.5B, mainly driven by a 45% increase in deliveries and greater contribution from services as flight hours continue industry-wide climb. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter up by $112M year over year to $143M. Reported EBIT from continuing operations for the quarter was $36M
  • Strong free cash flow generation for the quarter of $91M from continuing operations, including the negative impact of approximately $60M non-recurring cash items(3), representing an improvement of $841M year over year. Reported cash flows from operating activities – continuing operations for the quarter was $155M and net additions to PP&E and intangible assets – continuing operations for the quarter were $64M
  • Second quarter unit book-to-bill(4) climbing to ~1.8 on strong sales activity throughout the portfolio and increased interest in business aviation
  • Pro-forma liquidity(5) at quarter end was ~$2.1B and pro-forma net debt(5) was ~$5.3B, including $1.0B maturing in the next 3 years. The Corporation continues to evaluate various options to address other debt maturities in an opportunistic manner

All amounts in this press release are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Amounts in tables are in millions, unless otherwise indicated.

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bombardier (TSX: BBD.B) announced today its financial results for the second quarter of 2021 and raised its full year guidance, confirming that aircraft deliveries, revenues, profitability and cash usage are all expected to outperform previously communicated targets.

“Bombardier’s raised guidance stems from all-around solid execution in the first half of 2021, greater confidence in market momentum, and our ability to accelerate initiatives supporting our recurring savings objective,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier. “Our team’s concerted efforts have already supported stronger full year margins and have allowed us to focus diligently on our priorities of maturing the Global 7500 aircraft program, executing our aftermarket growth strategy and deleveraging our balance sheet.”

“We are well on our way to reposition Bombardier as the world’s business jet manufacturer of choice, and confident our passenger-experience-centric aircraft portfolio and expanding service offerings are well suited to meet growing interest, demand and utilization in private aviation,” added Martel.

Raised 2021 Full Year Guidance

2021 PREVIOUS REVISED
Business jet deliveries (in units) 110 – 120 ~120
Revenues >$5.6 billion >$5.8 billion
Adjusted EBIT >$100 million >$175 million
Adjusted EBITDA >$500 million >$575 million
Free cash flow usage Usage better than $500 million
(including ~$200 million of non-
recurring outflows)(6)
Usage better than $300 million
(including ~$200 million of non-
recurring outflows)(3)


Second Quarter 2021 Financial Performance

Business jet revenues during the second quarter of 2021 climbed to $1.5 billion, up 50% year over year, fueled by increases in both aircraft deliveries and services. Aircraft deliveries totaled 29 in Q2, up 45% year over year, reflecting strong demand for large-category jets. Worldwide business jet utilization continued to rise, nearly reaching pre-pandemic levels in North America and Europe, buoying revenue contribution from services activities to $295 million, up 29% year over year. Aircraft sales equally accelerated, reaching a unit book-to-bill ratio of approximately 1.8 for the quarter, further highlighting strong interest in business aviation.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was up $112 million year over year to $143 million, reflecting favourable aircraft deliveries and mix, improved cost structure, disciplined implementation of cost-reduction programs and consistent progression through the Global 7500 aircraft’s learning curve. In addition, the increase was boosted by a higher contribution from business aircraft services, mainly due to increased fleet flight hours resulting from easing travel restrictions and progress on vaccinations consistent with the increase in revenues. Reported EBIT from continuing operations for the quarter was $36 million.

The second quarter notably saw strong free cash flow (FCF) generation. The positive $91 million from continuing operations FCF total for the quarter represents an improvement of $841 million year over year and included a negative impact of approximately $60 million in non-recurring cash items.

Continuing Balance Sheet Deleveraging Actions

Pro-forma liquidity at quarter end was ~$2.1 billion and pro-forma net debt was ~$5.3 billion. Over the quarter, Bombardier successfully implemented a series of actions to reduce net debt as well as pay out, or refinance, nearer-term maturities, all as part of the company’s previously announced plan to create debt maturity runway. With $1.0 billion maturing in the next three years, the company can more effectively focus on the execution of its strategy, including learning curve progression for the Global 7500 aircraft and other operational improvements, and will continue managing debt in a pragmatic yet opportunistic manner.

Progress on Strategic Priorities

While progress on the Global 7500 aircraft unit costs and on overall recurring savings initiatives begin to yield bottom line benefit, Bombardier remains focused on expanding its service network and diversifying top-line revenue streams. During the second quarter, the Singapore Service Centre expansion project completed the construction phase and the teams will now focus on maintenance capacity ramp up to fully utilize the facility’s quadrupled footprint.

As construction also progresses on new or expanded facilities in Miami, USA, Melbourne, Australia and Biggin Hill, U.K., Bombardier introduced its Certified Pre-owned Aircraft program to further diversify customer offerings. Under the program, Bombardier will offer a “like-new” experience backed by a one-year warranty(7) and manufacturer-recommended aircraft modifications and updates. This program will deepen Bombardier’s involvement in the fast-moving pre-owned market, which is seeing strong demand coupled with a supply shortage of high-quality, sought-after aircraft.

SELECTED RESULTS

Results of the Quarter
Three-month periods ended June 30 2021 2020 Variance
restated(8)
Revenues(9) $ 1,524 $ 1,223 25 %
Adjusted EBITDA $ 143 $ 31 361 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin(1)(9) 9.4 % 2.5 % 690 bps
Adjusted EBIT $ 32 $ (44 ) nmf
Adjusted EBIT margin(1)(9) 2.1 % (3.6 ) % 570 bps
EBIT(9) $ 36 $ 403 (91 ) %
EBIT margin(9) 2.4 % 33.0 % (3060) bps
Net income from continuing operations $ 139 $ 150 (7 ) %
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations $ —  $ (373 ) 100 %
Net income (loss) $ 139 $ (223 ) 162 %
Diluted EPS from continuing operations (in dollars) $ 0.05 $ 0.06 $ (0.01 )
Diluted EPS from discontinued operations (in dollars) $ 0.01 $ (0.19 ) $ 0.20
$ 0.06 $ (0.13 ) $ 0.19
Adjusted net loss(1)(9) $ (137 ) $ (248 ) 45 %
Adjusted EPS (in dollars)(1)(9) $ (0.06 ) $ (0.11 ) $ 0.05
Cash flows from operating activities
Continuing operations $ 155 $ (692 ) nmf
Discontinued operations $ —  $ (265 ) 100 %
$ 155 $ (957 ) nmf
Net additions to PP&E and intangible assets
Continuing operations $ 64 $ 58 10 %
Discontinued operations $ —  $ 21 (100 ) %
$ 64 $ 79 (19 ) %
Free cash flow (usage)
Continuing operations $ 91 $ (750 ) nmf %
Discontinued operations $ —  $ (286 ) 100 %
$ 91 $ (1,036 ) nmf %
As at June 30, 2021
December 31, 2020 Variance
Cash and cash equivalents excluding Transportation $ 2,288 $ 1,779 29 %
Cash and cash equivalents from Transportation $ —  $ 671 (100 ) %
$ 2,288 $ 2,450 (7 ) %
Available short-term capital resources(10) $ 2,288 $ 3,203 (29 ) %
Aviation order backlog (in billions of dollars)
Business aircraft(11) $ 10.7 $ 10.7 %


About Bombardier

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of more than 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Bombardier, Global and Global 7500 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For information

Francis Richer de La Flèche Anna Cristofaro
Vice President, Financial Planning Manager
and Investor Relations Communications
Bombardier Bombardier
+1 514 855 5001 x13228 +1 514 855 8678

The Management’s Discussion and Analysis and the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements are available at ir.bombardier.com.

bps: basis points
nmf: information not meaningful
(1) Non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the Non-GAAP financial measures section in Overview for definitions of these metrics and to the Analysis of consolidated results section and Liquidity and capital resources section in Overview for reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measures.
(2) See the forward-looking statements disclaimer.
(3) Non-recurring cash items include the impact of payments of residual value guarantee liability, consent fee with respect to the Consent Solicitations process conducted by the Corporation and restructuring costs.
(4) Defined as net new aircraft orders in units over aircraft deliveries in units.
(5) Non-GAAP measures. Pro-forma liquidity is defined as cash and cash equivalents as at June 30, 2021 of $2.3 billion, plus $0.4 billion of short-term restricted cash as collateral for bank guarantees, and less $0.6 billion paid to repurchase certain of outstanding Senior Notes in July 2021. Pro-forma net debt is defined as long-term debt as at June 30, 2021 of $8.0 billion, less $0.6 billion paid to redeem certain outstanding Senior Notes in July 2021, and less pro-forma liquidity of approximately $2.1 billion.
(6) Non-recurring items include legacy outflows related to credit and residual value guarantee liabilities and reverse factoring, and approximately $50 million of restructuring costs for the full year of 2021.
(7) One-year warranty on the airframe. Certain conditions apply.
(8) Restated for the sale of Transportation, refer to Note 17 – Disposal of business to our Interim consolidated financial statements for more details.
(9) Includes continuing operations only. Results from CRJ and aerostructure businesses for 2020 were part of continuing operations under IFRS.
(10) Defined as cash and cash equivalents as at June 30, 2021; defined as cash and cash equivalents including cash and cash equivalents from Transportation plus the undrawn amounts under Transportation’s revolving credit facility and our senior secured term loan as at December 31, 2020.
(11) Includes order backlog for both manufacturing and services.


CAUTION REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release is based on reported earnings in accordance with IFRS and on the following non-GAAP financial measures:

Non-GAAP financial measures
Adjusted EBIT EBIT excluding special items. Special items comprise items which do not reflect the Corporation’s core performance or where their separate presentation will assist users of the consolidated financial statements in understanding the Corporation’s results for the period. Such items include, among others, the impact of restructuring charges, impact of business disposals and significant impairment charges and reversals.
Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBIT plus amortization and impairment charges on PP&E and intangible assets.
Adjusted net income (loss) Net income (loss) excluding special items, accretion on net retirement benefit obligations, certain net gains and losses arising from changes in measurement of provisions and of financial instruments carried at FVTP&L and the related tax impacts of these items.
Free cash flow (usage) Cash flows from operating activities less net additions to PP&E and intangible assets.

Non-GAAP financial measures are mainly derived from the consolidated financial statements but do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. The exclusion of certain items from non-GAAP performance measures does not imply that these items are necessarily non-recurring. Other entities in our industry may define the above measures differently than we do. In those cases, it may be difficult to compare the performance of those entities to ours based on these similarly-named non-GAAP measures.

Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss)
Management uses adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) for purposes of evaluating underlying business performance. Management believes these non-GAAP earnings measures in addition to IFRS measures provide users of our Financial Report with enhanced understanding of our results and related trends and increases the transparency and clarity of the core results of our business. Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) exclude items that do not reflect our core performance or where their exclusion will assist users in understanding our results for the period. For these reasons, a significant number of users of the MD&A analyze our results based on these financial measures. Management believes these measures help users of MD&A to better analyze results, enabling better comparability of our results from one period to another and with peers.

Free cash flow (usage)
Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities less net additions to PP&E and intangible assets. Management believes that this non-GAAP cash flow measure provides investors with an important perspective on the Corporation’s generation of cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long-term value creation. This non-GAAP cash flow measure does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity generation.

Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable IFRS financial measures are provided in the table hereafter, except for the following reconciliations:

  • adjusted EBIT to EBIT – see the Consolidated results of operations section; and
  • free cash flow usage to cash flows from operating activities – see the Free cash flow usage table in the Liquidity and capital resources section in the MD&A.
   Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to EBIT(1)
Three-month periods
ended June 30

Six-month periods
ended June 30

2021 2020 2021
2020
EBIT $ 36 $ 403 $ 55 $ 508
Amortization 111 75 205 152
Impairment charges on PP&E and intangible assets(2) 8 3 19
Special items excluding impairment charges on PP&E and intangible assets(2) (4 ) (455 ) 3 (562 )
Adjusted EBITDA $ 143 $ 31 $ 266 $ 117

 

(1) Includes continuing operations only.
(2) Refer to the Consolidated results of operations section for details regarding special items.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which may involve, but are not limited to: statements with respect to our objectives, anticipations and outlook or guidance in respect of various financial and global metrics and sources of contribution thereto, targets, goals, priorities, market and strategies, financial position, financial performance, market position, capabilities, competitive strengths, credit ratings, beliefs, prospects, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions; general economic and business outlook, prospects and trends of an industry; customer value; expected demand for products and services; growth strategy; product development, including projected design, characteristics, capacity or performance; expected or scheduled entry-into-service of products and services, orders, deliveries, testing, lead times, certifications and execution of orders in general; competitive position; expectations regarding revenue and backlog mix; the expected impact of the legislative and regulatory environment and legal proceedings; strength of capital profile and balance sheet, creditworthiness, available liquidities and capital resources, expected financial requirements, and ongoing review of strategic and financial alternatives; the introduction of, productivity enhancements, operational efficiencies, cost reduction and restructuring initiatives, and anticipated costs, intended benefits and timing thereof; the anticipated business transition to growth cycle and cash generation; expectations, objectives and strategies regarding debt repayment, refinancing of maturities and interest cost reduction; expectations regarding availability of government assistance programs, compliance with restrictive debt covenants; expectations regarding the declaration and payment of dividends on our preferred shares; intentions and objectives for our programs, assets and operations; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the foregoing and the effectiveness of plans and measures we have implemented in response thereto; and expectations regarding gradual market and economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As it relates to the sale of the Transportation business to Alstom, this press release also contains forward-looking statements with respect to the benefits of such transaction, the use of the proceeds derived from the transaction and its impact on our outlook, guidance and targets, operations, infrastructure, opportunities, financial condition, business plan and overall strategy.

Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “shall”, “can”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “foresee”, “believe”, “continue”, “maintain” or “align”, the negative of these terms, variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are presented for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding certain key elements of our current objectives, strategic priorities, expectations, outlook and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of our business and anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

By their nature, forward-looking statements require management to make assumptions and are subject to important known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecast results set forth in forward-looking statements. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable and appropriate based on information currently available, there is risk that they may not be accurate. The assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release include the following material assumptions: the deployment of the proceeds from the sale of the Transportation business to Alstom on terms allowing the Corporation, when combined to other financing sources and free cash flow generation, to repay or otherwise manage its various maturities for the next three years; growth of the business aviation market and increase of the Corporation’s share of such market; proper identification of recurring cost savings and executing on our cost reduction plan; optimization of our real estate portfolio, including through the sale or other transaction in respect of real estate assets on favorable terms; and access to working capital facilities on market terms. For additional information, including with respect to other assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release, refer to the Forward-looking statements — Assumptions section in the MD&A of our financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Given the impact of the changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the related response from the Corporation, governments (federal, provincial and municipal), regulatory authorities, businesses, suppliers, customers, counterparties and third-party service providers, there is inherently more uncertainty associated with the Corporation’s assumptions as compared to prior years.

Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks associated with general economic conditions, risks associated with our business environment (such as risks associated with the financial condition of business aircraft customers; trade policy; increased competition; political instability and force majeure events or global climate change), operational risks (such as risks related to developing new products and services; development of new business ; order backlog; the transition to a pure-play business aviation company; the certification of products and services; the execution of orders; pressures on cash flows and capital expenditures based on seasonality and cyclicality; execution of our strategy, productivity enhancements, operational efficiencies, restructuring and cost reduction initiatives; doing business with partners; product performance warranty and casualty claim losses; regulatory and legal proceedings; environmental, health and safety risks; dependence on certain customers, contracts and suppliers; supply chain risks; human resources; reliance on information systems; reliance on and protection of intellectual property rights; reputation risks; risk management; tax matters; and adequacy of insurance coverage), financing risks (such as risks related to liquidity and access to capital markets; retirement benefit plan risk; exposure to credit risk; substantial debt and interest payment requirements; restrictive debt covenants; reliance on debt management and interest cost reduction strategies; and reliance on government support), market risks (such as foreign currency fluctuations; changing interest rates; increases in commodity prices; and inflation rate fluctuations). For more details, see the Risks and uncertainties section in Other in this MD&A. Any one or more of the foregoing factors may be exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and may have a significantly more severe impact on the Corporation’s business, results of operations and financial condition than in the absence of such outbreak. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic conditions and financial markets and the resulting impact on our business, operations, capital resources, liquidity, financial condition, margins, prospects and results; uncertainty regarding the magnitude and length of economic disruption as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting effects on the demand environment for our products and services; uncertainty regarding market and economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic; emergency measures and restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments and financial institutions; disruptions to global supply chain, customers, workforce, counterparties and third-party service providers; further disruptions to operations, orders and deliveries; technology, privacy, cyber security and reputational risks; and other unforeseen adverse events.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future growth, results and performance is not exhaustive and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth herein reflect management’s expectations as at the date of this report and are subject to change after such date. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we expressly disclaim any intention, and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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Arabic MENA Press Releases

‫منصة إدارة الأصول الرقمية Aspen Digital تضخ 8.8 مليون دولار في التمويل التمهيدي بقيادة شركتي RIT Capital Partners و Liberty City Ventures

يصب حل إدارة الأصول الشامل في الطلب المتزايد على الاستثمار المؤسسي في العملات الرقمية

  • Aspen Digital هي عبارة عن منصة شاملة لإدارة الأصول الرقمية تَجمع العروض الرئيسية من العشرات من مزودي خدمات الأصول الرقمية الرائدين من أجل تمكين المؤسسات المالية التقليدية ومديري الأصول بإمكانات الاستثمار في العملات الرقمية.
  • قاد جولة التمويل التمهيدي مستثمرون رئيسيون مثل RIT Capital Partners (LON: RCP)، وصندوق الاستثمار الذي أسسه اللورد (جاكوب) روتشيلد، وصندوق تمويل المشاريع التكنولوجية الذي يقع مقره في نيويورك Liberty City Ventures.
  • سيتم استخدام رأس المال الجديد من أجل توسيع الفريق وعمليات الإطلاق في السوق في هونج كونج ولندن وسنغافورة من أجل استهداف العملاء عبر آسيا وأوروبا والشرق الأوسط.

هونج كونج, 5 أغسطس 2021  — /PRNewswire/ حصلت Aspen Digital -وهي منصة استثمار للأصول الرقمية موجهة لمديري الأصول والمؤسسات والمستثمرين المحترفين الآخرين- على 8.8 مليون دولار أمريكي في مرحلة التمويل التمهيدي، حيث تتعهد بتطوير الحل الرائد لكي تخدم الطلب المتزايد بشدة على الاستثمار المؤسسي في العملات الرقمية.

Yang He, co-founder and CEO of Aspen Digital, said the company is thrilled to be launching the platform internationally later this year to empower asset managers around the world to better serve their clients in the new digital asset market with confidence.

 وقد قاد جولة التمويل مستثمرون رئيسيون مثل RIT Capital Partners، وهو صندوق الاستثمار الذي أسسه اللورد (جاكوب) روتشيلد من عائلة روتشيلد المصرفية البارزة، وشركة Liberty City Ventures، وهي من أوائل المستثمرين المغامرين في صناعة سلسلة الكتل (بلوكتشين). يشمل المستثمرون الآخرون Cherubic Ventures و Token Bay Capital و Somerley Capital و Chatchaval Jiaravanon & Chaval Jiaravanon. ويتم احتضان Aspen Digital من قِبَل Everest Ventures Group (EVG) و TT Bond Partners (TTB)، وهي مجموعة من خبراء سلاسل الكتل والمخضرمين في الشؤون المالية.

تُقدِّم Aspen Digital حلاً مبتكرًا وكاملاً لمديري الأصول من أجل الاستثمار في الأصول الرقمية وإدارة مَحافظ عملائهم بنقرة زر واحدة. وتهدف المنصة الفريدة من نوعها والشاملة إلى معالجة نقاط الضعف التي تزعج المستثمرين التقليديين الجدد في مجال الاستثمار في الأصول الرقمية – من العملية التي تستغرق وقتًا طويلاً لاختيار عمليات الصرف والمَحافظ المناسبة، إلى إجراءات الامتثال المتكررة، والتتبع الشاق للمَحافظ عبر منصات متعددة.

ومن خلال حساب واحد مع عملية داخلية بسيطة، تجمع Aspen Digital، وتُركِّز العروض الرئيسية من العشرات من مزودي خدمات الأصول الرقمية الرائدين، مثل FTX و Celsius Network و Hex Trust وغيرها. ومن خلال حساباتهم، يمكن للعملاء المؤسسيين تنفيذ الصفقات وتعزيز العائد وأتمتة استراتيجيات الاستثمار. كما تُوفِّر Aspen Digital أيضًا تقارير عن محفظة العملاء، وإدارة المخاطر، ورؤى السوق، وحلول تخزين العملات الرقمية.

وسيتم نشر الأموال الجديدة من أجل توسيع الفريق الأساسي وإنشاء مكاتب جديدة في المراكز المالية الرئيسية.  وبالإضافة إلى مكتبها الحالي في هونج كونج، سيتم إضافة مقر ثانٍ في لندن في وقت لاحق من هذا العام من أجل خدمة العملاء في أوروبا والشرق الأوسط.  كما تخطط Aspen Digital أيضًا لإنشاء مكتب في سنغافورة من أجل استهداف سوق جنوب شرق آسيا.

قال يانغ هي، المؤسس المشارك والرئيس التنفيذي لشركة Aspen Digital، “أنا ممتن لمستثمرينا، الذين يؤمنون بمهمتنا لجعل عالم الأصول الرقمية أكثر سهولة. ويسعدنا إطلاق منصتنا دوليًا في وقت لاحق من هذا العام من أجل تمكين مديري الأصول حول العالم من تقديم خدمة أفضل لعملائهم في سوق الأصول الرقمية الجديد بثقة”.

قال إميل وودز، الشريك المؤسس لشركة Liberty City Ventures، “يسعدنا أن نتشارك مع واحدة من أفضل الفِرَق التقنية والتجارية في مجال سلاسل الكتل والعملات الرقمية. وتُعَد منصة Aspen Digital حلاً جاهزًا لمستشاري الاستثمار من أجل إدارة الأصول الرقمية نيابة عن عملائهم. ويُعَد الإطلاق بمثابة خطوة رئيسية في جعل فئة الأصول القوية والتحويلية هذه متاحة لقاعدة المستثمرين المهمة بشكل خاص”.

قال مات تشنغ، الشريك المؤسس لشركة Cherubic Ventures،  “في Cherubic Ventures، نبحث عن المشاريع والشركات الناشئة التي تقوم بالارتقاء بالصناعات. وتُعَد Aspen Digital بمثابة شركة تقوم بتغيير سوق إدارة الأصول الرقمية، ونؤمن بأنها الحل الأقصى لهذا السوق”.

قال مارتن سابين، رئيس مجلس إدارة شركة Somerley Capital، “كانت Somerley Capital مستشارًا ماليًا موثوقًا به للشركات المدرجة في بورصات هونج كونج والصين لأكثر من 30 عامًا. ونحن نتفهم احتياجاتهم ونرى الطلب المتزايد على الخدمات في العالم الجديد للأصول الرقمية. كما نعتقد أن البصمة الوراثية الرقمية الأصلية لفريق Aspen Digital ستقوم بتمكيننا من الانضمام إلى اتجاه التحول الرقمي الذي تتبناه المؤسسات المالية السائدة”.

حول شركة Aspen Digital

Aspen Digital هي شركة رائدة في مجال التكنولوجيا والخدمات المالية، وتتمثل مهمتها في تسريع التبني الجماعي للأصول الرقمية. وتُوفِّر الشركة حلاً لإدارة الأصول الرقمية لمديري الأصول والمؤسسات والمستثمرين الراقيين. وقد تم تأسيس Aspen Digital بشكل مشترك من قِبَل مبتكري الأصول الرقمية وخبراء إدارة الأصول المخضرمين فيEverest Ventures Group (“EVG”)  و TT Bond Partners (“TTB”) في عام 2021.

لمزيد من المعلومات، يُرجى زيارة https://www.aspendigital.co/

حول شركة ( Everest Ventures Group (EVG  

EVG هي مجموعة أصول رقمية عالمية لها جذور قوية في آسيا والمحيط الهادئ وجنوب شرق آسيا وأفريقيا. ومع تأسيسها في عام 2018 بدعم من تحالف مكون من العائلات والتكتلات الآسيوية الشهيرة، كانت EVG مستثمرة نشطة وبنَّاءة مشاريع في صناعة الأصول الرقمية. وقد شاركت EVG في تأسيس منصات الاستثمار في العملات الرقمية Kikitrade و Vibra، كما أنها أيضًا أكبر مساهم في وسيلة الإعلام الصينية الخاصة بالعملات الرقمية والتي تُدعى BlockTempo.

حول شركة TT Bond Partners (TTB)

TTB هي شركة استشارية واستثمارية متخصصة أسسها خبراء ماليون يتمتعون بخبرة تزيد عن 15 عامًا في شركات Goldman Sachs و Merrill Lynch و RBS و CLSA، مع خبرة واسعة للغاية في الهيكلة والاستثمار عبر آسيا والغرب.ويقع المقر الرئيسي لشركة TTB في هونج كونج، وهي متخصصة في تقديم خدمات تمويل الشركات ورأس مال النمو وحلول الثروة، وتستثمر بشكل استراتيجي من ميزانيتها العمومية.

للاستفسارات الإعلامية

روبيو تشان
Culture Lab
rubio@culturelab.hk
9223 6102 852+

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‫عملية زرع MitraClip تُجرى في مستشفيات أبولو تنقذ حياة مزارع يبلغ من العمر 41 عامًا انتظر لمدة 91 يومًا للخضوع إلى عملية زرع قلب

يقول الدكتور ساي ساتيش – “يمكن استبعاد 1 من 5 مرضى من قائمة انتظار عمليات زرع القلب إذا تمكن من الخضوع إلى هذا العلاج”

تشيناي، الهند، 5 أغسطس/آب 2021 /PRNewswire/ — أعلنت مستشفيات أبولو، أبرز مجموعات الرعاية الصحية وأكثرها موثوقية في قارة آسيا، اليوم عن إجراء عملية زرع MitraClip ناجحة لمزارع يبلغ من العمر 41 عامًا انتظر لما يزيد عن ثلاثة أشهر ضمن قوائم انتظار مستشفيات مختلفة للخضوع لعملية زرع قلب. وقد عاد المريض لحياته الطبيعية خلال بضعة أيام بعد إجراء العملية، وربما لن يحتاج إلى زرع قلب على الإطلاق.

MitraClip implant at Apollo Hospitals saves 41-year-old farmer who waited 91 days for heart transplant

صرحت السيدة Preetha Reddy (بريثا ريدي)، نائب الرئيس التنفيذي بمجموعة مستشفيات أبولو قائلة “باعتبارنا واحدة من المستشفيات القليلة المعتمدة في الهند لإجراء عمليات زرع MitraClip، فإن نجاحنا في إنقاذ حياة مريض ينتظر للخضوع إلى عملية زرع قلب يساعدنا على منح الأمل للعديد من المرضى الآخرين. وقد أثبتت الأبحاث أن استخدام إجراء MitraClip تمهيدًا لعمليات زرع القلب لا يشكل أي خطورة ويمكن أن يؤدي إلى تحسينات وظيفية تسمح باستبعاد المرضى من قوائم الانتظار للخضوع إلى عمليات زرع القلب. ويشرفنا أننا قد تمكنّا من إثبات هذه النظرية في مستشفيات أبولو من خلال حالة مريض يبلغ من العمر 41 عامًا كان ينتظر دوره للخضوع لعملية زرع قلب منذ أكثر من ثلاثة أشهر. وساعد نجاح هذه العملية على تجديد التزامنا بتطبيق هذا الابتكار الطبي المتطور على الأفراد ممن هم في أمس الحاجة إليه.”

Apollo_Hospitals_Logo

ومن جهته، قال الدكتور ساي ساتيش، اختصاصي أول لأمراض القلب التداخلية في مستشفيات أبولو إن MitraClip (مشبك الصمام التاجي) هو إجراء مقبول عالميًا لمرضى قصور القلب. ونُجري هذا الإجراء على المرضى على مدار ثلاث سنوات حتى الآن، وشهدنا نتائج مذهلة في نوعية الحياة التي يمكنهم الرجوع إليها. وقد مكنتنا خبرتنا في هذا المجال من تحقيق العديد من الإنجازات بما في ذلك عمليات زرع متتالية لجهاز MitraClip لدى أربعة مرضى في حالة حرجة في يوم واحد فقط. واليوم نحن في الصدارة، حيث تم إجراء 70% من عمليات MitraClip كافة في الهند حتى الآن في مستشفيات أبولو، ونسعى لتحقيق إنجازات أكبر في مسيرتنا المقبلة.

وقد صدر أول بحثين علميين في الهند عن MitraClip من مستشفيات أبولو. ويُشارك الدكتور ساي ساتيش في تأليف دليل APAC لعمليات زرع MitraClip. وقد أجري أول برنامج تدريبي حول MitraClip في آسيا تضمن النظرية وأربع حالات على مدار يومين في مستشفيات أبولو، مما عزز مكانتها كمركز للتميّز في أمراض القلب التداخلية.

للتواصل:

سوراب بوز

saurabh_bose@apollohospitals.com

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‫جيف ستيلماك ينضم إلى GES بوصفه رئيسًا عالميًا لتجارب العلامات التجارية

قائد جديد يأتي بخبرة استثنائية في تنمية الوكالات الناجحة من خلال ثقافات الشركات الراسخة

لاس فيغاس, 5 أغسطس/آب 2021 /PRNewswire/ — أصدرت GES، مؤسسة تسويقية عالمية تتمتع بخبرة واسعة وتقيم شراكات مع العديد من كبرى العلامات التجارية في العالم، قرارًا بتعيين Jeff Stelmach (جيف ستيلماك) رئيسًا عالميًا لتجارب العلامات التجارية. ولأنه يتمتع بخبرة عميقة في تنمية الوكالات الناجحة في مجال تسويق الفعاليات، فإن تعيين ستيلماك يعزز الممارسات التجريبية المتنامية للشركة إلى حد كبير.

Jeff Stelmach, Global President Brand Experiences

 أشار Steve Moster (ستيف موستر) رئيس Viad Corp قائلًا “يسرنا توسيع فريق قادتنا بانضمام جيف إلينا. فإنه سيمثل إضافة رائعة لمؤسسة GES، إذ إنه يجلب معه خبرة وفيرة في مجال خدمة العلامات التجارية العالمية من خلال الارتقاء بإستراتيجيات التسويق التجريبي الخاصة بها. كما أنه يتمتع بسجل حافل بإنجازات إطلاق وبناء وكالات فائقة المستوى باستخدام ثقافات الشركات الراسخة. ولديه مجموعة فريدة من مهارات تشكيل فِرَق رائدة في الصناعة والعمل جنبًا إلى جنب مع بعض من أبرز العلامات التجارية على مستوى العالم ستساعد على دفع التوجه الإستراتيجي لمؤسسة GES في مجال التسويق التجريبي وتقديم قيمة أكبر لعملائنا وجماهيرهم المستهدفة.”

ومن جانبه قال ستيلماك “يسرني الانضمام إلى فريق GES. فإن مؤسسة GES تحظى باحترام كبير في مجال الفعاليات المباشرة، كما تتمتع بتاريخ حافل وتضم فريقًا من الموهوبين. وتتميز الشركة أيضًا بموقعها الفريد الذي يتيح لها الاستفادة من الإقبال الكبير على التسويق التجريبي الذي يجلب إلى العملاء رؤى حياتية من خلال ربط علاماتهم التجارية بجماهيرهم المستهدفة بطرق فعالة تعلق في الذاكرة.”

 يتمتع ستيلماك بأكثر من 30 عامًا من الخبرة في إنشاء وكالات ناجحات، بما في ذلك وكالات Mosaic وOpus وGeometry وEMI. وفي الآونة الأخيرة شغل منصب رئيس وكالة Opus. وقد عمل مع بعض من أكبر العلامات التجارية في المجال خلال مسيرته المهنية المتميزةـ بما في ذلك شركات Samsung وCoca-Cola وAnheuser-Busch وOracle. وقد نال ستيلماك جائزة Grand Ex المرموقة لأفضل حملة تسويقية تجريبية لهذا العام – مرتين، وهو واحد من شخصين في العالم فاز بهذه الجائزة. ويُذكر أنه تخرج في جامعة نوتردام وحصل على درجات علمية في مجال الأعمال والتسويق.

GES logo

نبذة عن GES
GES هي شركة عالمية تُعنى بالفعاليات المُباشرة، وتستند إلى إرث يمتد لأكثر من 90 عامًا في مجال تقديم خدمات المعارض والتجارب التسويقية وخدمات أماكن الفعاليات المباشرة في جميع أنحاء الولايات المتحدة، وكندا، وأوروبا، والشرق الأوسط. وتعمل مجموعتنا الشاملة من الخدمات الحائزة على جوائز على إحياء رؤى العملاء من خلال توفير تجارب تسويقية غامرة، وتقديم فعاليات مؤثرة تحشد الجماهير، وتشجع على نجاح الشركات. ولمزيدٍ من المعلومات عن GES، شركة Viad Corp‏ (المؤشر في بورصة نيويورك “NYSE“: VVI)، يرجى زيارة GES.com.

للتواصل:
أوتيليا آياتس-ماس
oayatsmas@ges.com

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