Day: June 29, 2022

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Business School Graduates Enter White-Hot Job Market as Employers Signal Growth, Confidence in Their Credentials

MBA and business master’s degrees remain hot commodity despite recession fears and COVID challenges

RESTON, Va., June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a global association of leading graduate business schools, today released its annual hiring report, the GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey – 2022 Summary Report. The report explores the state of employer demand for graduate business school talent (MBA and business master’s degree recipients) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and includes responses from nearly 1,000 corporate recruiters and staffing firms around the world. While rising inflation and the war in Ukraine were just at the onset during the time when the survey was conducted in February and March 2022, hiring projections of graduate management education (GME) graduates remain bullish this year, with 92 percent of corporate recruiters expecting to hire newly minted MBAs. Promisingly, 2 in 3 responding corporate recruiters describe the current direction of their organization as expanding or growing (67%) and a similar proportion plan to increase their overall headcount (65%). Also, most recruiters (63%) project that demand for new business school talent will increase in the next five years, with business master’s hiring intention the highest among recruiters for East and Southeast Asia and Middle East companies.

“The latest GMAC findings of the Corporate Recruiters Survey show that nearly 9 out of 10 corporate recruiters feel confident or highly confident in the ability of business schools to prepare students to be successful in their organizations,” said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. “That’s an extraordinary figure. It shows that despite the pandemic and the limitations it brought on student mobility, public and mental health, and remote learning, business schools managed to find ways to build an impressive cohort whom corporate recruiters and staffing agencies worldwide continue to bank on as prime sources for talent.”

Other Key Findings

MBA starting salaries continue to provide a premium and Business master’s median starting salaries are on the rise

Recruiter responses suggest companies in the United States plan to offer increased starting salaries to business master’s graduates in 2022 compared to last year. In addition, median MBA starting salary levels eclipse those being offered to bachelor’s graduates by 22 percent to 40 percent across the world regions for which there is sufficient sample to report. Median starting salaries are largest in the United States, where the median starting salary offered to new MBA hires this year ─ US$115,000 — has remained unchanged for the past three survey years. In the current inflationary environment, the relative stability of median MBA salaries suggested by the survey findings means the real value of MBA salaries is declining.

In a likely response to combat the effect of inflation, corporate recruiters look to benefits packages—including educational assistance—to meet the changing needs of new graduates. Educational assistance like tuition reimbursement and scholarships has become an increasingly common benefit, with 54 percent offering it in 2022—up from 35 percent last year.

U.S. international hiring bounced back to pre-pandemic levels with potential of continued growth for 2022

The world regions with the highest percentage of recruiters affirming that they plan to hire international candidates in 2022 are the Middle East (52%) and Western Europe (40%). In the United States, this year’s survey results suggest an improving situation for international MBA and business master’s graduates. Looking back at last year’s actual hiring, 43 percent of U.S. recruiters confirmed they hired international talent in 2021—a bounce back from 35 percent in 2020 and 41 percent in 2019. In this year’s survey, 56 percent of U.S. recruiters say that they either plan to make international hires in 2022 (35%) or are willing to (21%), up from 48 percent that said the same in the 2021 survey. Furthermore, 83 percent of U.S. tech companies say they either plan to make international hires in 2022 (62%) or are willing to (21%)—the most of any U.S. industry.

“As travel restrictions ease around the world and student mobility continues to bounce back, we are thrilled to have more international students back on campuses across the country. Our mission is to help our students find success and our graduates reap the benefits of the strong job market in the U.S.,” said incoming GMAC Board Member and Dean of Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou.

Global corporate recruiters appear to be becoming more accepting of online degrees—with the noteworthy exception of the United States

The percentage of global recruiters who view graduates of online and in-person GME programs equally increased from 34 percent in 2021 to 60 percent in 2022, suggesting a significant growth in the acceptance of online programs. However, the notable outlier is corporate recruiters in the United States—where the lion’s share of the world’s online MBA enrollments are. Among responding U.S. corporate recruiters, just 29 percent agree that they view graduates of online and in-person GME programs equally, the lowest of any world region and down from 33 percent of respondents from the 2021 sample.

“The growth of online MBA programs has been so strong in the United States that for the first time, the total number of enrollments in online programs exceeded that of full-time, in-person MBA enrollments in the 2020-21 academic year, according to data from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB),” said Sabrina White, vice president of school and industry engagement at GMAC. “Business schools are presented a unique opportunity to align expectations and outcomes for graduates and employers as online delivery emerges from the pandemic as an important part of the graduate management education industry.”

About the Report
First launched more than two decades ago, the Corporate Recruiters Survey of 2022 was conducted by GMAC, together with survey partners EFMD and the MBA Career Services and Employer Alliance (MBA CSEA), in association with the career services offices at participating graduate business schools worldwide. In a change from previous years, GMAC Research worked with a market research firm to recruit additional participants to make the overall sample more globally representative. In total, 941 respondents from 38 countries completed this survey, including 539 corporate recruiters and 402 from staffing firms. Recognizing that nearly all responses in previous years came from corporate recruiters, only 2022 responses from corporate recruiters were leveraged to create multi-year comparisons. However, the robust sample of corporate recruiters and staffing firms allowed us to develop geographical snapshots in 2022 that were less apparent in previous years.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC provides world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test™ (GMAT™) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

More than 12 million prospective students a year trust GMAC’s websites, including mba.com, to learn about MBA and business master’s programs, connect with schools around the world, prepare and register for exams and get advice on successfully applying to MBA and business master’s programs. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202-390-4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com

A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/3388f75b-1d4e-4329-be0c-ca4a494b76ce

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AGC Biologics Named Manufacturing Company of the year by American Business Awards

Global CDMO honored for Growth in Mammalian, Microbial and Cell and Gene Manufacturing capabilities at Seattle, Boulder and Longmont sites

SEATTLE, June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGC Biologics, a leading global Biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), today announced it was named Company of the Year in the “Large – Manufacturing” category in the 20th Annual American Business Awards®.

The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards were presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Monday, June 13. More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s American Business Award winners.

AGC Biologics has a global pharmaceutical manufacturing network with seven sites across three continents. Over the last two years, the company has expanded its capabilities and reach within the U.S. and now boasts strong campuses in Seattle, Boulder, Col., and Longmont, Col. Through these investments, AGC Biologics is establishing a reputation as one of the fastest-growing and innovative companies within the life science field.

The global CDMO added more microbial and mammalian manufacturing lines to its Seattle site, increasing production efficiency. The expansion project eliminated bottlenecking and strengthened services for customers seeking support during the pre-clinical, clinical, and commercial phases of drug production; it also included the addition of a new 500-liter mammalian cell bioreactor to expand manufacturing capacity. The advancements at the Seattle site coincided with AGC Biologics securing more customers at the campus. For example, in 2020, the Seattle site was chosen by Novavax Inc. to produce materials for the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. The campus was also chosen to manufacture materials for a late-stage project for China-based I-MAB Biopharma.

After acquiring and developing manufacturing sites in Boulder and Longmont over the last two years, AGC Biologics is now one of the largest biotech companies in Colorado. The Boulder facility offers one of the biggest mammalian-drug manufacturing lines in the U.S. and houses two 20,000-liter stainless steel cell bioreactors.

The Longmont campus is the newest manufacturing site in the company’s global network and serves as AGC Biologics’ North American hub for cell and gene therapy manufacturing. The 622,000-square-foot facility offers cell therapy and viral vector development and manufacturing capabilities.

At each of its seven global sites, AGC Biologics offers immediate and significant manufacturing capacity for small startup developers and large pharmaceutical companies bringing new biologics products and advanced therapies to market.

To learn more about AGC Biologics’ global facilities and capabilities, visit https://www.agcbio.com/.

About AGC Biologics
AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan and we currently employ more than 2,000 employees worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the technical creativity to solve our clients’ most complex challenges, including specialization in fast-track projects and rare diseases. AGC Biologics is the partner of choice. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com.

About the Stevie Awards 
Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Attachments

Nick McDonald
AGC Biologics
4254193555
nmcdonald@agcbio.com
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Dematic Virtual Tech Center Wins Global Award Recognitions

The immersive virtual platform and guided tour technology received awards in North America and Europe, including a Gold Stevie®, Bronze Stevie®, Platinum Hermes, and German Brand Award

Dematic Virtual Tech Center

Dematic Virtual Tech Center

ATLANTA, June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intelligent automation specialist Dematic and its innovative virtual tech tours have recently received a number of awards for web achievement, strategic marketing, business, and design in both North America and Europe. These awards include:

  • Gold Stevie Winner in the 2022 American Business Awards®, Web Achievement: Manufacturing Industry category
  • Bronze Stevie (Germany) Award, Best Event for Brand Experience
  • 2022 Platinum Hermes (U.S.) Creative Award, Strategic Marketing Campaigns: Interactive Brand Experience category
  • German Brand Award for excellence in brand strategy and creation, Brand Communication: User Experience category

The Dematic Virtual Tech Tours use an immersive digital platform and host-guided technology which allows participants to explore its tech centers in the U.S. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and Heusenstamm, Germany. The tours aid companies in learning more about Dematic technology and solutions without travel expenses and include embedded video conferencing. They feature 36 product and content videos and 46 360° panoramic photos to create a fully interactive online experience.

“Seeing Dematic’s technology in action is a crucial part of the buying journey for a typical customer, many of whom visit our sites in-person. But bringing a whole team for in-person visits to our sites can be a challenge,” said Erin Dillard, Dematic Vice President, Marketing Communications. “Virtual tours of our tech centers provide the same quality experience as an in-person visit — this has been a key business differentiator that has allowed us to showcase our technology to a wider range of potential customers at their convenience.”

Added Dominic Fischer, Dematic Manager Global Events and Sponsorship, “The virtual tech tours mark the beginning of a new era in the customer experience where the audience – both internal and external – can easily access what they need, and what they were perhaps unaware of, in a gamified way. In the future, these tours will deliver insights into key market brands, provide multi-language assistance and include special features such as augmented reality and interactive showcase tools, making for an educational but also seriously fun experience!”

Currently, more than 200 trained tour guides (Dematic employees) have conducted over 110 tours in nine languages to more than 1,100 participants. For more information about Dematic, or to request a virtual or in-person tour for your company, visit https://www.dematic.com/en-us/news-and-events/events/tech-tours, check out the Dematic Connections blog, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

About Dematic

Dematic designs, builds, and supports intelligent automated solutions empowering and sustaining the future of commerce for its customers in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. With research and development engineering centers, manufacturing facilities, and service centers located in more than 35 countries, the Dematic global network of over 11,000 employees has helped achieve approximately 8,000 worldwide customer installations for some of the world’s leading brands. Headquartered in Atlanta, Dematic is a member of KION Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial trucks and supply chain solutions.

Media Contact:

Mandi Baronas
Senior Communications Manager, Americas
mandi.baronas@dematic.com
dematic.com

Disclaimer:

This release and the information contained herein are for information purposes only and do not constitute a prospectus or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, for example, changes in business, economic, and competitive conditions (including with respect to further developments in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic), regulatory reforms, results of technical studies, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. We do not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.

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Image 1: Dematic Virtual Tech Center

Dematic Virtual Tech Center wins global award recognitions.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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ITA Airways Participates at the Business Travel Show Europe in London

Andrew Bunn, Country Manager UK, Ireland and Nordics at ITA Airways

Andrew Bunn, Country Manager UK, Ireland and Nordics at ITA Airways, speaks at a press event at the Italian Chamber Of Commerce and Industry ahead of their participation at the Business Travel Show Europe on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in London. Bunn was announced as the new Country Manager for the UK. (Michael Knief/AP Images for ITA Airways)

More Than 90 Weekly Roundtrips Between London and Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate

Andrew Bunn is the New UK Country Manager

ROME, June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITA Airways will participate in the Business Travel Show Europe on the 29th and 30th of June. The event will take place in the ExCel exhibition centre in London, United Kingdom, and will be the occasion for the Italian flagship carrier to affirm its position in the British market by exposing together with the biggest travel companies in Europe.

During the show, ITA Airways will be present in the Airline Pavilion with a branded area and activities. For the occasion Pierfrancesco Carino, Vice President International Sales ITA Airways, will introduce to business partners and local media the new UK country manager Andrew Bunn.

One of the main themes of ITA Airways’ attendance will be the company’s commitment to sustainability. In fact, ITA Airways’ goal is to become one of the greenest European airlines by 2025 with 75% of the fleet featuring new generation aircraft. It has already started with the new Airbus A350. These aircrafts are 70% lighter thanks to a new range of materials, and the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by 25%.

The Business Travel Show Europe was founded more than 28 years ago and has always represented an important occasion to give visibility to the European continent’s most important travel companies and agencies. The organisation anticipates bringing together up to 14,000 corporate travel, travel meetings and travel technology professionals to the event, in addition to more than 3,000 pre-scheduled hosted buyers appointments with exhibitors.

The air connection between the United Kingdom and Italy has always been a priority to ITA Airways. Therefore, in the last months, the Company has established more than 90 weekly roundtrips between London and its two hubs: Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. Two are the daily flights from Rome and Milan Linate to London Heathrow, offering a total of 28 weekly round-trip flights from Rome FCO and Milan LIN, respectively, and 36 weekly round-trip flights from Milan LIN to London City airport.

The multiple offers of the Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate hubs will allow ITA Airways to be the reference carrier from the UK to Italy and via Rome or Linate to Europe and the Mediterranean for the UK customers, the Italian community, and the main communities of the Mediterranean countries.

From the airport of London Heathrow, connectivity is provided to major Italian destinations: Alghero, Brindisi, Bologna, Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Genoa, Milan-Linate, Naples, Palermo, Lamezia Terme, Trieste, Venice, Pescara and Olbia. Starting in July, the destination of Florence will be added.

From the airport of London City, the domestic destinations that can be reached in Italy are Alghero, Brindisi Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Pescara and Olbia.

In the 2022 summer season, ITA Airways launched 62 new destinations, of which 22 are domestic, 34 are international and 6 are intercontinental, including New York from Rome Fiumicino/Milano Malpensa, and Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, Sao Paolo, and Buenos Aires from Rome Fiumicino. Thanks to codeshare agreements with the major international carriers, ITA Airways is continuing to grow its network via partnerships with other global carriers – giving a privileged access route to the markets of greatest interest for the Company.

Codeshare agreements enable ITA Airways to reach the entire domestic network of other international carriers with direct flights from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate to their hubs. In all, 27 codeshare agreements have been signed so far, for a total of over 360 destinations served on which ITA Airways will use its own codes.

All ITA Airways flights can be purchased on the ita-airways.com website, from the ITA Airways Call Center, or from travel agencies and airport ticket offices.

For more information:

LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director

Barbara Sanicola – barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f55157e1-c8bf-45b3-87cf-0b8d9d54d8c6

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.


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EV Technology Group Company, MOKE France, Partners With GOMECANO to Offer On-Demand After-Sales Services to All Electric MOKE Drivers in France

MOKE France x GOMECANO

Alexandre Nivesse (GOMECANO, co-founder), Willy Gruyelle (MOKE France, CEO), Mathias Boutsen (GOMECANO, co-founder)

TORONTO, June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EV Technology Group Ltd. (the “Company” or “EV Technology Group”) (NEO: EVTG, DE: B96A) announces today that its wholly owned subsidiary MOKE France SAS (“MOKE France”) has partnered with GOMECANO, a company offering on-demand mobile mechanics to perform automotive repairs.

MOKE France’s partnership with GOMECANO offers Electric MOKE owners the opportunity to have access to on-demand mechanics for vehicle repairs in just a few simple steps, from the comfort of their home or office. The nationally recognized on-demand vehicle servicing company offers high-end customer service and has many highly qualified mechanics, making GOMECANO the perfect partner for keeping the Electric MOKE vehicles on the road, for general maintenance and any required repair.

The Electric MOKE is known for its iconic design and versatility when travelling across different terrains, making it the perfect vehicle for warmer climates such as the French Riviera. MOKE France selected GOMECANO as its go-to after-sales service provider, due to their expertise in servicing electric vehicle engines, customer satisfaction levels, and modern service offering that improves upon the traditional model of vehicle repairs.

As the mechanic industry adapts to electric vehicles (“EVs”), and notably the lower EV engine failure rates compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, it is still necessary to regularly service any vehicle on the road and have a quick and conveniently available solution should any repair be required.

MOKE France x GOMECANO

GOMECANO vehicles ready to service the new Electric MOKE

“As demand shifts over time from ICE mechanics to electric vehicle mechanics, entire workforces will be required to re-skill to adapt to the EV revolution,” said Wouter Witvoet, CEO and Founder of EV Technology Group. “We are delighted to be working with GOMECANO as our customers expect state-of-the-art service in line with our technologically advanced brand. It is very important that these vehicles receive the care and attention required to keep them running smoothly, to give them a long and risk-free life.”

“Many of our customers are enjoying the use of their Electric MOKE while on their vacation, and they expect a technology-enabled mechanic service that doesn’t become a bother when having to organise any repairs,” said Willy Gruyelle, CEO of MOKE France. “With GOMECANO, we’ve selected a team of after-sales experts with deep industry knowledge, electric car certifications and a national footprint. Their speedy services are offered to owners of our new Electric MOKE, which definitely adds a layer of comfort and security to those purchasing our vehicles,” added Gruyelle.

“We are delighted at the prospect of working on exceptional and iconic cars like MOKE. Besides the fun factor, they are very well-made and robust cars that require expert attention. We are pleased that MOKE has chosen our team of qualified mobile mechanics to take care of their little treasures wherever the adventure takes them,” said Alexandre Nivesse, CEO of GOMECANO.

EV Technology Group
EV Technology Group was founded in 2021 with the vision to electrify iconic brands – and the mission to redefine the joy of motoring for the electric age. By acquiring iconic brands and bringing beloved motoring experiences to the electric age, EV Technology Group is driving the EV revolution forward. Backed by a diversified team of passionate entrepreneurs, engineers and driving enthusiasts, EV Technology Group creates value for its customers by owning the total customer experience — acquiring and partnering with iconic brands with significant growth potential in unique markets, and controlling end-to-end capabilities. To learn more visit: https://evtgroup.com/

MOKE
MOKE and the MOKE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of MOKE International Limited (“MOKE International”) in the European Union and other territories. MOKE International, a company registered in England, is the only manufacturer of genuine MOKE vehicles worldwide. The mark was acquired from Casti S.p.A. and derives from the original 1964 British Motor Corporation registration. MOKE France is the official French licensee. For more information visit:  https://mokeinternational.com

Media
Rachael D’Amore
rachael@talkshopmedia.com
+1519-564-9850

Investor Relations
Dave Gentry
dave@redchip.com
+14074914498

EV Technology Group
Wouter Witvoet
CEO and Chairman of the Board
wouter@evtgroup.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to: MOKE France’s partnership with GOMECANO, GOMECANO and its after-sales service, adoption of EVs, MOKE France and EV Technology Group’s operations, expectations, and future actions. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as “estimated”, “potential”, “open”, “future”, “assumed”, “projected”, “used”, “detailed”, “has been”, “gain”, “planned”, “reflecting”, “will”, “containing”, “remaining”, “to be”, or statements that events, “could” or “should” occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements, including those factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the filing statement of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except where required by law. There can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

THE NEO STOCK EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19ff747c-21be-4896-87b6-b3cc42667d69

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f9e4ac47-49d3-41e6-ba25-3c0646ece159

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Fighting intensifies near Kayin state’s Myawaddy city

Military council forces and allied militia have been fighting for four days against Kayin National Union (KNU) forces in Kayin State’s Myawaddy township, leading to heavy casualties on both sides, according to the KNU and Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO).

The exact number of casualties is still unknown as the fighting continues, said Bo Salone, an officer from the KNDO which is an ally of the KNU. He told RFA that KNU, KNDO and People’s Defense Force (PDF) fighters have been targeting the military council stronghold at the Ukrithta camp. Junta forces are fighting alongside the Border Guard Force (BGF) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), carrying out major attacks and air raids against their opponents.

“They have been bombing [us] with military aircraft for three days. Nine times yesterday and 10 more times today,” he said. “We have casualties on our side and there have been many casualties on the regime’s side too. The number of casualties is still unknown because the fighting has not finished yet.”.

RFA’s calls to the military council spokesman, inquiring about the ongoing fighting and the number of junta casualties, went unanswered on Wednesday.

A PDF member, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, told RFA the military council has reinforced troops near its camp due to heavy casualties.

“We are still fighting and the military aircraft are still overhead. The battle is still going on. The military council troops fled their camp yesterday and came back with reinforcements,” he said, adding that military council soldiers from the 77th Brigade were involved in the fighting.

The PDF group affiliated with the KNU/KNDO, said on its social media site on Tuesday that eight members were killed during the four-day battle, which they are calling ‘Venom’.

Ei Kyar Kway, a comedian turned revolutionary who joined the armed insurgency after the February 2021 military coup, and Civil Disobedience Movement participant, Deputy Sergeant Wai Lin Aung (nicknamed Zaw Win Htut), were among the dead, according to the statement.

The Ukarithta stronghold is located south of Myawaddy city which is controlled by the KNU’s Brigade-6.

In December 2021, about 200 fully armed junta troops arrived at the new town of Lay Kay Kaw near Myawaddy and arrested several CDM staff and PDF members sheltering in a KNU-controlled area. Several days of fighting ensued between junta forces and the KNU, leading more than 70,000 residents to flee the area..