UMK plans to further strengthen collaboration with Bernama

BACHOK, July 25 (Bernama) — Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) intends to further strengthen its existing cooperation with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in an effort to brand the university on the global stage.

UMK vice-chancellor Prof Dr Razli Che Razak believes that more cooperation could be established with Bernama, which not only possessed the expertise involving news coverage but also in event management.

He said that UMK and Bernama are currently collaborating through the Faculty of Languages and Humanities and hoped that the planned cooperation could be carried out in the near future.

“Through discussions held today, we see that a lot of collaboration can be forged with Bernama. In fact, Bernama’s report of UMK’s recent agreements with two universities in Istanbul, Turkiye, received extensive coverage abroad.

“I also received positive feedback from friends in the two universities regarding how they too intend to collaborate with universities in Malaysia and receive extensive coverage from local and foreign media,” he said.

He said this after a Bernama delegation, led by acting chief executive officer Roslan Ariffin, visited the UMK Bachok Campus here today.

Also present was Bernama head of Broadcasting TV and Radio D. Arul Rajoo.

Dr Razli also expressed appreciation and gratitude for Bernama’s willingness to offer opportunities to UMK students to undergo industrial training at the news agency.

“We welcome Bernama’s offer to give UMK students the opportunity to undergo industrial training. In fact, we also admit that our students face difficulties getting placement to undergo industrial training,” he said.

Meanwhile, Roslan said Bernama was ready to continue its existing collaboration with UMK as this was among the measures taken by the news agency to approach institutions of higher learning and help them to penetrate the international level.

“This collaboration has been long established, but we wish to see how this cooperation can be further enhanced. We are also looking at efforts to enable UMK lecturers to contribute articles to Bernama and, thus, share knowledge with the people.

“We will come up with more collaboration. Bernama will also assist UMK students to get placements for industrial training. It is hoped that this will assist the students to get the best exposure so that the training and experience gained will help them in their careers later on,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Maternity leave with full allowance for KAFA teachers, Jakim awaits decision on appeal

BUKIT GANTANG, July 25 (Bernama) — The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has made an appeal to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) regarding the postponement of maternity leave with full allowance for Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) teachers which was announced yesterday.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Idris Ahmad said he had met the Minister of Finance Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz to inform him about the matter for his consideration.

“InsyaAllah we will try to address it but need to follow the rules.  It’s not that we don’t want to take care of KAFA teachers,” he said in a press conference at the ‘Bantu Rakyat’ Sales programme at Surau Ahmadi, Sungai Petai here today.

Jakim director-general Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff announced the postponement as recommended by the MOF.

In January, Jakim announced that female KAFA teachers would be eligible for 60-day maternity with full allowance.

In another development, Idris said the government will not compromise with any act aimed at insulting the sanctity of Islam, adding that police have given good cooperation in arresting those involved.

He denied the allegations that the government did not act decisively in this matter and that those involved in committing the offence had been subjected to legal actions.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

National sprint athletes train with aid of False Start Detection System

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) — The country’s best sprinters and national junior athletes trained for the first time with the help of the false start detection system during a simulation session at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, today.

The national athletes who participated in the simulation session were SEA Games gold medallists Khairul Hafiz Jantan (2017 edition) and Muhammad Haiqal Hanafi (2019 edition), Muhammad Arsyad Md Saat and rising star Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi.

National athletics squad head Mohd Manshahar Abdul Jalil said the initiative aimed to provide exposure to the athletes in order to improve their response time, besides reducing the risk of early starts.

“I would like to thank Innotex for helping to run a very good simulation, whereby this is very important to help athletes understand how this advanced equipment works.

“We know that at the starting line of the 100 or 200m (race), reaction time is very important to determine whether (athlete’s run) can be disqualified or not,” he said when met here.

National 100m record holder Khairul Hafiz (10.18s) , Muhammad Haiqal and Muhammad Arsyad are expected to take part in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkiye from Aug 9 to 18, while Muhammad Azeem will participate in the Under-20 World Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia from Aug 1 to 6.

“I am very grateful to Innotex for providing me with this opportunity to help with my starts. During this (simulation) session, there were improvements made from the first to the final set, and what I have gained today I will use during the actual races,” said Muhammad Azeem.

In the meantime, Khairul Hafiz said the technology provided him with a better understanding of factors that could disqualify an athlete’s run.

“I once experienced (disqualification) when I was at the Asian Track and Field final, at the time, I didn’t know what was the reason for the disqualification, because in the video replay, it looked like the person next to me started first but I was the one who was disqualified.

“Now that we know this system better, we can fix the weaknesses and avoid such an incident recurring,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Management of GLC-owned shopping malls to be reviewed – PM

PETALING JAYA, July 25 (Bernama) — The government will review the management of shopping malls owned by government-linked companies (GLC) to ensure they are managed by local companies so that Bumiputera traders can run their businesses there, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this was aimed at raising Bumiputera’s socio-economic status and the involvement of Bumiputera entrepreneurs at shopping malls.

“The involvement of Bumiputera now must not only be in the informal sector but also in the formal sector, such as running businesses in shopping malls, that is targeted under the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said at the gala dinner in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of UDA Holdings Berhad (UDA) here today.

According to the Prime Minister, since the country entered the Transition to Endemic Phase, entrepreneurs, including Bumiputera, could breathe again and carry out businesses which directly helped to re-mobilise the country’s economy.

“At a time that the country is facing the pressures of inflation, Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sales value once again registered a new record in May, with a growth of 19.9 per cent, amounting to RM129.8 billion, which is the highest since 2013,” he said.

Despite that, he said the socio-economic status of Bumiputera was still at a low level, and their involvement in entrepreneurship needed to be improved.

Thus, he suggested that UDA be able to sell or rent existing business spaces at rates affordable to Bumiputera entrepreneurs who have the potential to expand their businesses.

“This is to enable Bumiputera entrepreneurs to do business in a more comfortable environment and, at the same time, enhance their status as successful entrepreneurs,” said Ismail Sabri.

He said the government was always committed to empowering Bumiputera, with an allocation of RM11.4 billion in Budget 2022.

The Prime Minister also expressed his pride in UDA reaching half a century on Nov 12, 2021, as well as its 50 years of success in helping to develop the country.

“I hope that this achievement will fuel the determination of the current generation to continue to achieve success as enjoyed by UDA,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri also reminded UDA not to be complacent with its achievements so far, because the real estate and business sectors were continuously growing and evolving.

At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister announced a RM100 million fund for UDA to help Bumiputera commercial centres and entrepreneurs.

He also expressed hope that UDA would continue to shine in creating an inclusive and sustainable community and work together with the government in restoring the national economy.

Ismail Sabri also prayed that UDA continues to progress and move in line with the government’s desire to bridge the Keluarga Malaysia economic gap.

During the event, the Prime Minister also launched the book ’50 Years of UDA, Continuing the Legacy Together’.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

UDA Holdings poised for another 50 years of success with ‘LIFE’

PETALING JAYA, July 25 (Bernama) — UDA Holdings Berhad (UDA) is poised for success through the ‘LIFE’ brand to advance property development, asset and facilities management and hospitality in efforts to contribute to the empowerment of Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

‘LIFE’ (Legacy, Integrated, Finesse and Enrich) was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob tonight and will be the main pillar of the company in creating success for the next 50 years.

Its chairman Datuk Norliza Abdul Rahim said UDA will continue to be committed to modernising the country’s development landscape as well as providing a conducive and competitive commercial space to produce more ‘Keluarga Usahawan’ (entrepreneurs).

“This new branding is an initiative of UDA to step into the ‘from shy to shine’ phase. In addition, based on the goal of continuing the legacy, I, together with the Board of Directors, the management and UDA employees will ensure that UDA is better known and always close to people’s hearts.

“I believe that with the new branding, UDA will continue to play its role of creating an inclusive community in its business and development regions,” she said at UDA’s 50th-anniversary dinner, here, today.

Meanwhile, the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said he hoped UDA will continue to strengthen its role in producing more entrepreneurs and achieve success in all business segments it is involved in.

In conjunction with the anniversary, the company organised several contests including the contest to create the anniversary logo, a virtual race and UDA 50 Golden Offers.

The winner of the Golden Offers contest, Ahmad Shahrul Mohamed, 52, took home a Proton X50 car.

Ahmad Shahrul had bought a residential unit at 38 Bangsar Residensi, UDA’s latest real estate product in Kuala Lumpur.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Latest CBDC Recommendations From the BIS, IMF, World Bank, US Treasury & Bank of Japan Mirror the Existing Structuring & Functionality of Webtel.mobi’s Fully-Operational TUVs

WM’s TUVs are full Digital Currency and CBDC equivalents

WM’s TUVs are full Digital Currency and CBDC equivalents

Existing Capacities & Functionality of Global Telco Webtel.mobi’s fully-operational TUV Digital Currency + CBDC equivalent mirrors all CBDC Requirements identified by the world’s foremost Macroeconomic & Financial Organizations. Indicates that potential worldwide adoption of the WM TUVs and Global Clearing System by Central Banks and other Foundational Economic and Financial Organizations is possible

LONDON and NEW YORK, July 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

The most recent Research Reports and Publications of proposed CBDCs and their potential reforms of the Global Financial System issued by:

  • The BIS (Bank for International Settlements – the Central Banks’ Central Bank),
  • The IMF (International Monetary Fund),
  • The World Bank,
  • The US Treasury’s Office of Financial Research, and
  • The Bank of Japan

all carry recommendations for proposed CBDCs that mirror the existing capacities and functionalities of Webtel.mobi’s (“WM’s”) Globally tested and due diligenced, fully proven in eight years of global operations and fully-operational TUV Digital Currency-equivalent and CBDC-equivalent.

Moreover, all the capacities and functionalities within WM’s TUV Digital Currency and CBDC equivalent were examined and validated by the former Chief Rapporteur, Commission of Experts of the President of the UN General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System – Professor Jan Kregel – in over a year of research and review.

The conclusion reached from the comparison of:

  • the stated prerequisites for CBDCs issued by many of the world’s leading Macroeconomic, Economic and Financial organizations with
  • the existing, tested, due diligenced, proven and fully-operational TUV CBDC-equivalent
Global Financial Systems – Structures and Flows

Global Financial Systems – Structures and Flows

is that the WM TUVs can already be adopted and used by Central Banks and other Foundational Economic and Financial Organizations worldwide as an existing and functioning Wholesale and Retail CBDC Instrument – in all their respective currencies, and in multicurrency format.

The salient point recommendations – and the existing WM TUV capacities and functionalities that mirror and validate these recommendations – from the joint Report to the G20 published by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are as follows (with the Report’s recommendation in italics and the WM capacities and functionalities bullet-pointed thereunder) –

BIS, IMF and World Bank Joint Report to the G20:
“Options for access to and interoperability of CBDCs for cross-border payments”

CBDCs can help to enhance cross-border payments in various ways.

First, is the opportunity to start with a “clean slate”. CBDC infrastructures could be made available 24/7, allowing for instant cross-border settlement and overcoming mismatches of operating hours between different jurisdictions. Interoperability of CBDC systems could facilitate cross-border CBDC payments between financial institutions, corporates and consumers by reducing the costs for PSPs and shortening transaction chains, which might eventually result in a higher transaction speed and lower end user fees.

  • WM’s TUVs already provide 24/7/365 global operation worldwide, shorten Transaction Chains to be directly P2P / P2B / B2P / B2B, exponentially reduce transaction times to 1/100th of a second and reduce cost to either zero cost or close-to-zero cost. This already facilitates global payments between financial institutions, corporates and consumers by reducing the costs for all participants and shortening transaction chains. This again already results in higher transaction speeds and lower end user fees.

Second, cross-border CBDC arrangements would improve the safety of cross-border payments since CBDCs are a direct liability of the central bank, there is no need for PSPs to act as liquidity providers, which could increase the number of PSPs. However, those PSPs acting as FX providers must have CBDC accounts with the central banks to hold and transact both currencies. A common FX trading venue could enhance competition and bring additional benefits. An increased number of PSPs and direct access to central bank money could then shorten cross-border transaction chains, simplify processes and address current frictions in cross-border funding arrangements.

  • WM’s TUVs already improve the safety of global payments as WM has a 100% reserve (Full Reserve) system with participants providing full liquidity. This exponentially increases the numbers of WM’s VSMPs. All VSMPs work through WM and its Full Reserve system at a common FX trading venue. This already shortens cross-border transaction chains, simplifies processes and addresses current frictions in cross-border funding arrangements.

Third, CBDCs, as a new means of cross-border payment, would increase payment diversity, thereby stimulating resilience, competition and efficiency in a cross-border context. The potential programmability features of CBDCs enabled by smart contracts and APIs could facilitate faster and better interoperability with other CBDCs and non-CBDC systems. This would allow payments to be tightly linked to business processes enabling self-triggered and conditioned transactions, leading to vast improvements to payment speed, and hence promote efficiency. CBDCs could also specifically be designed to improve individuals’ and businesses’ access to affordable cross-border payment products and services, for example through simplified onboarding allowing remote registration or electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) processes and through low-cost and easy-to-use instruments.

  • WM’s TUVs for global payments have already increased and stimulated efficiency in a global context. The programmability features of WM’s Smart TUVs facilitate faster and better interoperability between the WM System and other Legacy Systems. This already allows payments to be tightly linked to business processes enabling self-triggered and conditioned transactions, and already results in vast improvements to payment speed, heightening of payment security, lowering of payment costs and exponentially increased efficiency. TUVs are also already specifically designed to improve individuals’, businesses’ and all 2+Billion Unbanked Persons worldwide access to affordable cross-border payment products and services. This includes WM’s fully-operational simplified onboarding via its remote registration and electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) processes and through low-cost and easy-to-use instruments.

Overall, interlinking of CBDC systems through a hub and spoke or single system might bring more improvement to the cross-border payments market than compatibility or single access points, and the same holds for direct access models compared to closed or indirect access.

  • WM’s Global Clearing System and its TUVs already function globally according to a sophisticated “combined direct access with hub and spoke” system. This enables all Central Banks and Foundational Economic and Financial Organizations to retain their own Monetary Policies and Currency Sovereignty while participating in the same system.

As can be seen, every recommendation regarding proposed CBDCs by the BIS, IMF and World Bank to the G20 – and many more aspects – are already existing and fully-operational realities with, and within, WM’s TUVs. The same is the case with the second set of salient point recommendations from the Bank or Japan, as follows (with the Report’s recommendation in italics and the WM capacities and functionalities bullet-pointed thereunder) –

Bank of Japan Interim Report:
“Liaison and Coordination Committee on Central Bank Digital Currency”

As a general purpose money issued by a central bank, CBDC must incorporate the following core features.

First, universal access – that CBDC is available to anyone as a foundational payment instrument.

  • WM’s TUVs already provide global and total “Whole Market” access for all persons in all countries worldwide via Smart Phone and Pre-Smart Phone access and usability regardless of “local” bandwidth or mobile data costs, internet literacy or location. They additionally bring the 30% of the world’s population that is currently Unbanked and/or Underbanked into the 21st Century Global Digital Economy.

Second, for secure CBDC payments, sufficient security needs to be ensured.

  • WM’s TUVs already provide the most secure access and control systems available worldwide from the perspective of users, of monetary authorities, of financial and systemic stability, of global KYC & AML considerations and of user and systemic security.

Third, CBDC system must incorporate resilience so that it can be used anytime, anywhere 24/7/365.

  • WM’s TUVs already function – and enable total functionality for transactions – on a 24/7/365 basis globally, in a fully secured and managed manner, with total resilience.

Fourth, CBDC should offer settlement finality and instant payment capabilities, similar to cash.

  • WM’s TUVs already provide instant processing + FX Conversion + Settlement + Reconciliations + Reporting – within 1/100th of a second, globally, for all transactions. This also includes Real Time Gross Settlement, Payment versus Payment and Deliver versus Payment – regardless of the transaction size – with full FX and Full Reserve guarantees. Moreover, its TUVs are able to – and do – fully replicate and surpass the attributes of cash, and the system is built to accommodate and include countries and communities that favor cash over digital, such as Japan, Germany and the majority of developing countries worldwide.

Finally, it should ensure interoperability with private settlement systems.

  • WM’s TUVs are already fully interoperable with all internal components of its own internal Closed-Loop Global Financial System as well as all external components of the existing / prevailing Global Financial System and all of its private settlement systems. Moreover, private settlement systems can also become part of the WM internal Closed-Loop system, at no cost, by becoming WM VSMPs.

Again, every recommendation by the Bank of Japan’s Liaison and Coordination Committee on Central Bank Digital Currency for their proposed CBDC mirrors the existing functionalities and capacities within WM’s existing and fully-operational TUVs. The same is the case as regards the conclusions reached by the US Treasury’s Office of Financial Research, as follows (with the Report’s recommendation in italics and the WM capacities and functionalities bullet-pointed thereunder) –

US Treasury Office of Financial Research – Working Paper:
“Central Bank Digital Currency: Stability and Information”

However, the introduction of CBDC creates two other key changes. First, it reduces depositors’ need for liquidity insurance and, therefore, leads banks to do less maturity transformation. Second, inflows into the CBDC give policymakers real-time information that can be used to improve the policy response to a crisis. Both of these changes decrease depositors’ incentive to withdraw from weak banks. In some cases, the net effect of introducing a CBDC in our model is to improve rather than undermine financial stability.

  • WM’s TUVs have already proven these views conclusively. The Full Reserve that guarantees the TUVs and the requirement for full cover prior to a transaction taking place provide full security – from the user’s perspective and from a systemic perspective – with regard to the integrity of the instrument and the process. Moreover, the real-time and instant availability of complete systemic data provides permanent full oversight capacity on all aspects of all transaction / liquidity / demand cycles on a global basis, enabling instant response times.

All of the primary and salient-point recommendations of all these entities – as well as many other capacities, structures and requirements that have not been identified by external parties yet – are already existing and fully-operational realities within WM’s TUVs – on a global 24/7/365 basis for all transaction types in all currencies.

Previously, the WM Global Clearing System and WM TUVs were reviewed by one of the world’s leading macroeconomic entities for over a year. The former Chief Rapporteur, Commission of Experts of the President of the UN General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System – Professor J. A. Kregel, who was at that time also the Director of Research at the Macroeconomic Institute – personally headed up the detailed review.

As the person who was previously the head of the Commission of international Experts charged with formulating potential means of reforming the international Monetary and Financial System, Professor Kregel has some of the broadest and most in-depth knowledge and experience on all systems, structures and methodologies related to these matters.

The result of the review – for over a year – of the WM Global Clearing System and WM TUVs led to Professor Kregel publishing five Research Papers on the WM System and TUVs. Self-explanatory extracts from two of the five Research Papers are as follows:

Professor Jan Kregel – Former Chief Rapporteur, Commission of Experts of the President of the UN General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System:

Research Paper – “New Dimensions for the TUV in the Webtel.mobi system”

The [WM] system provides for global, multicurrency real time transactions at lower costs and greater efficiency than traditional payments systems, or currently proposed cryptocurrency and other digital currency systems, that carry substantial environmental and security risks.

The result that emerges is a global transfer system, a global payment system, a global credit system and a global foreign exchange system, which emanates from the members’ instructions transmitted from their mobile telephone. This complete clearing house equivalent thus provides the basis for services that are equivalent to a global, multilateral, multicurrency transfer, payment and credit system.

If one considers all of the capacities that already exist and function within the WM system it is clear that the WM system represents and provides virtually all capacities (and/or the ability to replicate virtually all capacities) of the existing global financial system. Moreover, it provides them in a more secure, more rapid, less costly and centrally managed manner. It can therefore be taken that the WM system — including its TUV facilities — is a replication and improvement of the existing global payments system and global financial system.

Research Paper – “Money and Credit – Potential Expansion of the WM System”

The WM TUV system — combined with its Currency Conversion, Currency Swap, ICLM Transfer and Currency Wallets facilities — together already provide all the features of national or international Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs), whether introduced at either the inter central bank or retail level. Indeed, the WM system provides the equivalent of Keynes’s proposed Bancor, without requiring the introduction of an international currency. The current distribution and implementation of this potential of the WM system has allowed the creation of these possibilities as a complement to the current global commercial and central banking systems, and without infringing on central bank or national monetary policy sovereignty – and the WM system is already fully operational worldwide.

The above extracts illustrate once again that the primary recommendations of the world’s foremost Macroeconomic and Financial Organizations are not only correct, but also that they have been existing and fully-operational realities within the WM Global Clearing System and WM TUVs for some time. Moreover, there are no “unknowns” with regard to the WM TUVs, as they – and the WM System in its totality – were fully tested, due diligenced and proven in global operational testing for eight years.

There are very many additional advantages, savings, efficiencies that the WM System and its TUVs have introduced, of which – although very applicable now – its solutions for countering Inflation and Currency Depreciation are only two of dozens of added advantages in respect of global macroeconomic and financial stability.

While Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and other entities have shut down and ended their attempts to develop a functioning digital currency, and Central banks worldwide are struggling to even reach consensus on a roadmap towards CBDCs, WM’s TUV Digital Currency and CBDC equivalent has been going from strength to strength.

It has been globally tested, due diligenced and proven over many years, and is fully-operational worldwide. It provides – in existing reality – all the advantages and solutions postulated in the conclusions of various Research Papers on CBDCs and the Reform of the Global Financial System – and many more that have not yet been realized. Moreover, it has been constructed to enable a worldwide switch to – and utilization of – the TUVs and the entire WM System by:

  • Central Banks, Commercial Banks and other Systemic Entities within the current Global Financial System. This is able to be done by them worldwide, in a short timeframe, at no cost, without having to alter any of their existing systems or structures, while still maintaining 100% control of their own monetary policies / currency sovereignty / other strategic aspects of their national or international financial and economic systems + policies + strategies, and with complete security.
  • Individuals and entities worldwide – at no cost, and without having to stop or change their simultaneous utilization of the existing entities / systems / structures / products that they use within the current Global Financial System.

The final confluence of views from all relevant organizations worldwide now indicates that the requirements, capacities and functionalities within the sought-after CBDC instrument already exist within – and are surpassed by – the WM System and its TUVs.

The stage has therefore now been set for the potential worldwide and systemic adoption of the WM System and its TUVs as the means through which to achieve – in a very rapid timeframe, and by all role-players – the inclusive Global 21st Century Digital Economy that has long been sought.

As was stated by Professor Jan Kregel in the Research Report ‘New Dimensions for the TUV in the Webtel.mobi system’:
“The WM system therefore represents an operational and fully functioning global financial system, which does not reform the existing one, but rather functions in parallel to it, and has the capacity to replace it.”

Resources:

To contact WM: wm@thoburns.com

To contact Professor J.A. Kregel: wm@thoburns.com

Research Papers on the WM System’s Converged Capacities by Professor Jan Kregel – former Chief Rapporteur, Commission of Experts of the President of the UN General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System:

Attachments:

Details on WM’s TUVs:

Examples of TUVs: https://tinyurl.com/TUV-Examples

Standard TUVs: https://tinyurl.com/Standard-TUVs

Secured TUVs: https://tinyurl.com/Secured-TUVs

Smart TUVs: https://tinyurl.com/Smart-TUVs

Media Articles on WM:
https://webtel.mobi/info/current-media/

WM’s urls:

https://webtel.mobi/pc (Tablets / Laptops / Desktops)

https://webtel.mobi (Smart Phones)

https://webtel.mobi/wap (Pre-Smart Mobile Phones)

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d01fc484-6738-420f-8751-36ae28313962

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b222984-4c5a-425b-8fc7-0cf4de3aa762

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


Copyright © 2022 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Philips’ performance impacted by headwinds; order book strength and improving component supplies expected to deliver growth and profitability improvement from second half of 2022 onwards

July 25, 2022

Highlights

  • Group sales amounted to EUR 4.2 billion, with a 7% comparable sales decline mainly caused by continued supply shortages and prolonged lockdowns in China, on the back of 9% comparable sales growth in Q2 2021
  • Order book remains strong; comparable order intake increased 1% and includes a 5 percentage-points negative impact related to China
  • Income from operations amounted to EUR 11 million, compared to EUR 85 million in Q2 2021
  • Adjusted EBITA of EUR 216 million, or 5.2% of sales, compared to EUR 532 million, or 12.6% of sales, in Q2 2021
  • Operating cash flow was an outflow of EUR 306 million, mainly due to temporarily higher inventories, compared to an inflow of EUR 332 million in Q2 2021
  • In connection with the field action for specific CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilator devices, Philips Respironics has produced 3 million replacement devices and repair kits to date, and published encouraging test results for the first-generation DreamStation devices
  • Comprehensive measures in place to improve supply chain resilience and pricing; productivity program increased to EUR 500 million per year through 2025
  • Company has revised full-year 2022 outlook to 1-3% comparable sales growth and around 10% Adjusted EBITA margin, driven by 6-9% comparable sales growth in the second half of 2022
  • For the 2023-2025 period, Philips has provided a revised performance improvement trajectory of 4-6% average annual comparable sales growth, and an Adjusted EBITA margin of 14-15%, as well as a free cash flow of around EUR 2 billion by 2025

Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips:
“Across our businesses, we have stepped up our actions on productivity, pricing, and strengthening supply chain resilience to mitigate the ongoing headwinds and associated risks. The positive impact of these actions, together with the strength of our order book and improving component supplies, give me confidence that we will resume growth from the third quarter onwards, resulting in 6-9% comparable sales growth and improved profitability in the second half of the year. For the full-year 2022, we expect to deliver 1-3% comparable sales growth and around 10% Adjusted EBITA margin.

Our products remain in good demand, as evidenced by the further growth of our already strong order book, confirming the relevance of our strategy and portfolio of innovations to our customers. In the second quarter, comparable order intake increased 1% and includes a 5 percentage-points negative impact related to China. We partnered with 19 more hospital groups to help them transform the delivery of care and boost staff productivity. In our Personal Health businesses, we delivered a second consecutive quarter of double-digit comparable sales growth in North America.

Our performance in the second quarter was impacted by global, industry-wide challenges including supply shortages, COVID lockdown measures in China, inflationary pressures and the Russia-Ukraine war, resulting in a comparable sales decline of 7%, with an Adjusted EBITA margin of 5.2%. The impact of the COVID lockdowns significantly affected our business in China, where comparable sales and order intake declined almost 30% in the quarter. Production in several of our factories, as well as those of our suppliers in China, was suspended for two months, which exacerbated the global supply chain and cost challenges. The China lockdowns directly impacted the Adjusted EBITA margin of the Group by 120 basis points due to lower sales and a further 110 basis points because of factory under-utilization. Global inflation and cost headwinds had an additional impact of around 290 basis points on Group profitability in the quarter.

Philips Respironics continues to make solid progress with the repair and replacement program for the CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilator devices affected by the June 2021 field safety notice, and published encouraging results related to the comprehensive test and research program to assess the possible health risks. We know how important the affected devices are to patients and are working very hard to get a resolution to them as fast as we can.

Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, while we continue to see risks and a challenging macro-environment, we expect our supply chain measures to take full effect, resulting in a significant improvement in the conversion of our order book to revenue. Our pricing and increased productivity measures will expand margins. Based on these actions, the strong fundamentals of our businesses, and taking our 2022 outlook into account, we now expect to deliver comparable sales growth of 4-6% and an Adjusted EBITA margin of 14-15% by 2025, with further improvement thereafter.”

Business segment performance
The Diagnosis & Treatment businesses’ comparable sales decreased 4% on the back of 16% comparable sales growth in Q2 2021. High-single-digit growth in Enterprise Diagnostic Informatics and mid-single-digit growth in Image-Guided Therapy was more than offset by a decline in Ultrasound and Diagnostic Imaging, due to specific electronic component shortages. Comparable order intake increased 3% on the back of 29% comparable order intake growth in Q2 2021, with growth across all businesses, reflecting ongoing solid demand for Philips’ portfolio. The Adjusted EBITA margin was 6.2%, mainly due to the decline in sales, cost inflation and an unfavorable mix impact, partly offset by productivity measures.

The Connected Care businesses’ comparable sales decreased 13%, mainly due to the consequences of the Respironics field action and the impact of supply chain headwinds. Comparable order intake showed a 2% decrease, while demand for Hospital Patient Monitoring and Connected Care Informatics remains robust. The Adjusted EBITA margin amounted to 1.1%, mainly due to the decline in sales and cost inflation, partly offset by productivity measures.

The Personal Health businesses’ comparable sales decreased by 5% on the back of 33% comparable sales growth in Q2 2021. Double-digit growth in North America was more than offset by double-digit declines in China and Russia. The Adjusted EBITA margin amounted to 12.4%, mainly due to the decline in sales and cost inflation.

Philips’ ongoing focus on innovation and customer partnerships resulted in the following key developments in the quarter:

  • Philips signed 19 new long-term strategic partnerships with hospitals in Europe, Asia, and North America, including a 10-year patient monitoring agreement with a large hospital in Germany. Through Philips’ advanced enterprise monitoring offering, the hospital will transition from stand-alone devices towards a scalable enterprise-wide patient monitoring solution that keeps care teams connected and informed for enhanced patient care management.
  • Philips received FDA clearance to market its new 7700 3.0T MR system, featuring an enhanced gradient system for Philips’ highest image quality to support a precision diagnosis. Philips also received FDA clearance for its SmartSpeed MR acceleration software, adding AI data collection algorithms to Philips’ existing Compressed SENSE MR engine for higher image resolution with three times faster scan times and virtually no loss in image quality.
  • Philips received clearance from the Chinese National Medical Products Association (NMPA) to launch its helium-free operations MR Ingenia Ambition, which is produced in China for the Chinese market. Philips is joining forces with B-Soft, a Chinese healthcare informatics company, to develop a healthcare informatics solution tailored to the needs of Chinese hospitals. This highlights the continued progress of Philips’ strategy in China to drive market-relevant offerings through its local footprint as well as partnerships with the local innovation ecosystem.
  • Demonstrating the clinical benefits of Philips’ minimally invasive therapy options, the company announced positive results from its Tack Optimized Balloon Angioplasty below-the-knee clinical trial. The results show that the Tack endovascular system provides a sustained treatment effect for patients with critical limb ischemia, a severe stage of peripheral arterial disease.
  • Building on Philips’ leadership in interventional cardiology solutions, the company launched the latest version of its EchoNavigator image-guidance tool, which seamlessly integrates live ultrasound, interventional X-ray imaging and advanced 3D heart models to help interventional teams treat structural heart disease with greater ease and efficiency.
  • Philips signed a long-term agreement with the Rijnstate hospital in the Netherlands to deliver a wide range of advanced ultrasound devices for 17 different departments at multiple locations of the hospital. The agreement involves ultrasound devices and services for cardiological, vascular or radiological examinations, OB/GYN, as well as mobile devices for the emergency department.
  • Building on the successful strengthening of the company’s innovative power toothbrushes portfolio, ranging from entry-level to premium propositions, as well as targeted advertising and promotion campaigns, Philips Oral Healthcare recorded continued strong double-digit comparable sales growth and market share gains in North America in the quarter.

Philips Respironics field action related to specific CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilators
Philips Respironics continued to make solid progress with the repair and replacement program for the CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilator devices affected by the June 2021 field safety notice, as well as the comprehensive test and research program to assess the possible health risks. To date, 3 million replacement devices and repair kits have been produced. Philips Respironics aims to further increase capacity and complete around 90% of the production and shipments to customers in 2022. The test results to date for the first-generation DreamStation devices, which represent the majority of the registered affected devices, are very encouraging. They show a very low prevalence of visible foam degradation, and new and used first-generation DreamStation devices passed volatile organic compound and respirable particulate emission testing.

Following the FDA’s inspection of certain of Philips Respironics’ facilities in the US in 2021 and the subsequent inspectional observations, the US Department of Justice, acting on behalf of the FDA, recently began discussions with Philips regarding the terms of a proposed consent decree to resolve the identified issues.

Capital allocation
In the second quarter, Philips issued EUR 750 million fixed-rate notes due 2027, EUR 650 million Green Innovation Notes due 2029 and EUR 600 million Sustainability Innovation Notes due 2033 under its Euro Medium Term Note program, and entered into a series of transactions to extend and optimize the company’s debt maturity profile. See here for more information on Philips’ current debt structure.

Following the issuance of 14,174,568 new shares related to the share dividend, and the cancellation of 8,758,455 shares that were acquired as part of the EUR 1.5 billion share repurchase program for capital reduction purposes, Philips’ current issued share capital amounts to 889,315,082 common shares. As communicated earlier, Philips intends to have 19,571,218 shares delivered through the early settlement of forward contracts (entered into as part of the same share repurchase program) and to cancel those as well, which would result in 869,743,864 issued common shares at year-end 2022 (2021: 883,898,969).

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For further information, please contact:

Ben Zwirs
Philips Global Press Office
Tel.: +31 6 1521 3446
E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com

Derya Guzel
Philips Investor Relations
Tel.: +31 20 59 77055
E-mail: derya.guzel@philips.com


About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 79,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Forward-looking statements and other important information

Forward-looking statements

This document and the related oral presentation, including responses to questions following the presentation, contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about our strategy, estimates of sales growth, future Adjusted EBITA*), future restructuring and acquisition- related charges and other costs, future developments in Philips’ organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. Forward-looking statements can be identified generally as those containing words such as “anticipates”, “assumes”, “believes”, “estimates”, “expects”, “should”, “will”, “will likely result”, “forecast”, “outlook”, “projects”, “may” or similar expressions. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.

These factors include but are not limited to: Philips’ ability to gain leadership in health informatics in response to developments in the health technology industry; Philips’ ability to transform its business model to health technology solutions and services; macroeconomic and geopolitical changes; integration of acquisitions and their delivery on business plans and value creation expectations; securing and maintaining Philips’ intellectual property rights, and unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property rights; Philips’ ability to meet expectations with respect to ESG-related matters; failure of products and services to meet quality or security standards, adversely affecting patient safety and customer operations; breaches of cybersecurity; Philips’ ability to execute and deliver on programs on business transformation and IT system changes and continuity; the effectiveness of our supply chain; attracting and retaining personnel; COVID and other pandemics; challenges to drive operational excellence and speed in bringing innovations to market; compliance with regulations and standards including quality, product safety and (cyber) security; compliance with business conduct rules and regulations; treasury and financing risks; tax risks; reliability of internal controls, financial reporting and management process. For a discussion of factors that could cause future results to differ from such forward-looking statements, see also the Risk management chapter included in the Annual Report 2021. Reference is also made to Risk management in the Philips semi-annual report 2022.

Third-party market share data

Statements regarding market share, contained in this document, including those regarding Philips’ competitive position, are based on outside sources such as specialized research institutes, industry and dealer panels in combination with management estimates. Where information is not yet available to Philips, market share statements may also be based on estimates and projections prepared by management and/or based on outside sources of information. Management’s estimates of rankings are based on order intake or sales, depending on the business.

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This press release was distributed at 07:00 am CET on July 25, 2022.

Use of non-IFRS information

In presenting and discussing the Philips Group’s financial position, operating results and cash flows, management uses certain non-IFRS financial measures. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed in isolation as alternatives to the equivalent IFRS measure and should be used in conjunction with the most directly comparable IFRS measures. Non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. A reconciliation of these non-IFRS measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures is contained in this document. Further information on non-IFRS measures can be found in the Annual Report 2021.

Use of fair value information

In presenting the Philips Group’s financial position, fair values are used for the measurement of various items in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. These fair values are based on market prices, where available, and are obtained from sources that are deemed to be reliable. Readers are cautioned that these values are subject to changes over time and are only valid at the balance sheet date. When quoted prices or observable market data are not readily available, fair values are estimated using appropriate valuation models and unobservable inputs. Such fair value estimates require management to make significant assumptions with respect to future developments, which are inherently uncertain and may therefore deviate from actual developments. Critical assumptions used are disclosed in the Annual Report 2021 In certain cases independent valuations are obtained to support management’s determination of fair values.

Presentation

All amounts are in millions of euros unless otherwise stated. Due to rounding, amounts may not add up precisely to the totals provided. All reported data is unaudited. Financial reporting is in accordance with the accounting policies as stated in the Annual Report 2021 except for the adoption of new standards and amendments to standards which are also expected to be reflected in the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2022.

Prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-period presentation; this includes immaterial organizational changes.

*) Non-IFRS financial measure. Refer to the Reconciliation of non-IFRS information