Market Newsdesk

HOUSTON and LONDON, April 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB), one of the largest plastics and chemicals companies in the world, today announced Anthony Chase, chairman and chief executive officer of ChaseSource L.P., and Robert Dudley, former group chief executive and director of BP, have been nominated to stand for election to its board of directors at the company’s annual general meeting of shareholders on May 28, 2021.   

“We are excited to nominate Tony and Bob to serve on the board of directors,” said Jacques Aigrain, LyondellBasell’s board chair. “Tony’s entrepreneurial mindset and extensive professional background, combined with his board experience and community service will greatly benefit our company. Bob’s international oil and gas experience, as well as expertise in complex strategic issues will also further inform our approach going forward. Together, Tony and Bob’s skills and diverse perspectives will be valuable assets for LyondellBasell.”

“We are pleased that Tony and Bob will join our board. As we look to build upon the strengths of our company to deliver for our stakeholders, their broad experience and thoughtful guidance will be helpful,” said Bob Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell.  

In addition, the company announced that director Bella Goren has decided not to stand for re-election at the 2021 annual general meeting.  “We are very grateful for Bella’s service to our company. She has been an important part of our success over the last seven years and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” said Mr. Aigrain.

About Anthony Chase
Mr. Chase is the chairman and CEO of ChaseSource, L.P., a Houston-based staffing, facilities management, and real estate development firm that he founded in 2008. ChaseSource has been recognized as one of the nation’s largest minority-owned businesses by Black Enterprise Magazine. He currently serves as a director of Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., a financial holding company, Nabors Industries Ltd., an operator of drilling rig fleets and provider of offshore platform rigs, and Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc., a provider of full-service parts cleaning, waste, and used oil collection services. Mr. Chase is also a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center and serves on the boards of Houston-based non-profits including the Houston Endowment, the Greater Houston Partnership, the M.D. Anderson Board of Visitors, and the Texas Medical Center. He previously served as Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership.

About Robert Dudley
Mr. Dudley currently serves as Chairman of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), an international industry-led initiative established in 2014 and as the Chair of the Accenture Global Energy Board. Previously, Mr. Dudley served as the group chief executive and director of BP plc, a global energy provider, from 2010 to 2020. Under his leadership, BP rebuilt from the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon accident and focused on one of the most pressing issues of our time: the dual challenge of providing more energy with fewer GHG emissions. Over the course of a more than 40-year tenure with BP, Mr. Dudley, a chemical engineer, held a variety of engineering, commercial, and strategy posts in the United States, the UK, Russia, and China. Mr. Dudley is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. In 2018, Mr. Dudley was named the Petroleum Executive of the Year by Energy Intelligence. As the former CEO of a multinational oil and gas company, he has acquired extensive executive management experience and knowledge of chemical industry feedstocks.

About LyondellBasell
LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road, and ensuring the safe and effective functionality in electronics and appliances. LyondellBasell sells products into more than 100 countries and is the world’s largest producer of polypropylene compounds and the largest licensor of polyolefin technologies. In 2021, LyondellBasell was named to FORTUNE Magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” for the fourth consecutive year. More information about LyondellBasell can be found at www.lyondellbasell.com. 

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SOURCE LyondellBasell Industries

CANTON, Conn., April 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Kelyniam Global (OTC:KLYG), a maker of custom cranial implants, today announced results for its year ended December 31, 2020. 

“I am pleased to announce that Kelyniam returned to profitability in 2020, reaching a significant milestone in the third year of our five year plan.  Despite a 2^nd wave of elective surgery restrictions in the fourth quarter, Kelyniam, customers embraced our unique ability to reliably deliver custom, well designed implants overnight,” said Ross Bjella, Kelyniam’s CEO.  “Our focus on specific markets and the increase in new surgeons (or facilities) using our products, along with – aggressive expense management in the last half of the year resulted in record Sales Revenue and Profitability.”

Financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended 2019 includes:

• Total revenue of $2,512,101 in 2020 compared to $2,183,215 in 2019 an increase of 15.1% in sales revenue.
• Gross margin of $1,183,651 compared to $1,087,172.
• Operating income of $157,309 compared to a loss of ($317,047)
• Net Income of a profit of $168,753 compared to a loss of ($363,533) over the prior year

The resultant turnaround in profitability is substantively attributable to the growth in sales and reduced general & administrative expenses, primarily travel and legal fees. Forgiveness of the federal Payment Protection Plan loan also contributed to profitability during the year.

“I could not be more proud of the Kelyniam team and our distributor partners.  The fact that we had 15% sales growth this year when others in the custom implant market experienced declines is a testament to our sales representatives,” said Laura Reed, National Director of Sales. “The sales growth that we saw in Q1, and again in Q3 is a strong indicator that we are well positioned for continued growth once the pandemic is over.”      

“The Covid-19 infection rate in Q4 caused significant uncertainty in regions and certain providers across the country, with many health care systems voluntarily curtailing elective surgeries.  Nevertheless, on a full-year basis, Kelyniam rose to the occasion with record units and revenues” said Bjella.   “The gradual opening of the economy has left us cautiously optimistic about our performance in 2021.  Quarter on quarter comparisons in 2021are not going to be meaningful due to pandemic related sales fluctuations.”

Kelyniam is the market leader in delivering complex custom cranial implants across the United States within 24 hours.  

The complete financials can be found on the company’s website at www.Kelyniam.com.

Kelyniam Inc., specializes in the rapid production of custom prosthetics utilizing computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing of advanced medical grade polymers.  The Company develops, manufactures, and distributes custom cranial and maxillo-facial implants for patients requiring the reconstruction of cranial and certain facial structures.  Kelyniam works directly with surgeons, health systems and payors to improve clinical and cost-of-care outcomes. Kelyniam’s web site address is www.Kelyniam.com.

As a cautionary note to investors, certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company’s ability to execute its service and product sales plans; changes in the status of ability to market products; and the risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports.

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SOURCE Kelyniam Global, Inc.

SALINAS, Calif., April 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Scheid Vineyards Inc. (dba Scheid Family Wines) (OTC Markets: SVIN) announced today that it sold three of its vineyard parcels for $33,000,000 in consideration, which includes the buyer assuming $20,000,000 of the Company’s debt that was secured by the properties.  The disposition of these parcels, which comprise 1,193 acres of leased and owned vineyards, is part of Scheid Family Wines’ overall strategy to better align its asset holdings and debt with its growing premium bottled wine business.

Mr. Scott Scheid, President and CEO of the Company, stated, “We are pleased to complete this transaction and continue to focus our attention and resources on the growth of our branded goods portfolio, which includes our recently launched entrant in the trending ‘better for you’ category, Sunny with a Chance of Flowers, as well as other national and global brands.”

About Scheid Family Wines

Scheid Family Wines is a family-owned and operated, estate-driven wine company founded in 1972. Based in Monterey County, California, Scheid is uniquely integrated to bring high quality estate grown wines to the marketplace from its sustainably certified vineyards and innovative luxury level winery. Scheid’s winery and bottling operations are powered by 100% renewable wind energy generated by a 400-foot tall wind turbine, which also supplies energy to many homes in the local community. The Scheid Family Wines globally distributed portfolio includes Scheid Vineyards, Sunny with a Chance of Flowers, District 7, Ryder Estate, Metz Road, VDR, and Stokes’ Ghost. Scheid Family Wines also produces many regionally distributed brands for specific clients and distributors.

Please visit www.scheidfamilywines.com and www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SVIN/quote for more information.

 

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SOURCE Scheid Family Wines

SHENZHEN, China, April 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — KONKA Group Co. Ltd. (“the Company”; 000016.SZ), a leading technology company, has released its financial results for 2020. The Company’s net profit last year expanded by 125.26% year-on-year, driven by its environmental technology, semiconductors, new materials and electronics businesses.

KONKA is committed to investing in technological innovation, and last year the Company focused on the development of semiconductors and artificial intelligence, with its spending on research and development increasing by 36.57% year-on-year.

Specifically, KONKA has optimized its business in the semiconductor industry, especially in the optoelectronic field. For example, the Company built the world’s first Micro LED full-process R&D production line, allowing it to carry out trial production.

In 2020, KONKA also continued to drive the development of Micro LED- and Mini LED-related development, obtaining nearly 700 core patents. The Company rolled out products such as the Micro LED Watch – the APHAEA Watch and a series of Micro LED and Mini LED 8K televisions. In terms of storage, KONKA primarily designs and markets master storage chips, and has been producing and selling its storage main control chips.

“KONKA categorizes technologies that are in line for more development as Micro LED and categorizes those that have been marketized as Mini LED,” Li Hongtao, vice president of KONKA, said. “KONKA will continue to carry out the ‘dual wheel’ development strategy to aim the Company’s R&D power at areas that have yet to see technological breakthroughs and put those that have seen breakthroughs on the market,” he said.

A well-rounded R&D system lays a critical foundation for technological breakthroughs. KONKA has formed a research alliance that connects prestigious universities, technology companies, and scientific and technology research institutes, to establish labs dedicated to artificial intelligence, internet of things, 5G, data imagery and communication applications.

Such strong R&D capacity has helped diversify KONKA’s product lineup. The Company has rolled out smarter electronics and appliances such as its K2 smart TV, APHAEA A5 TV and refrigerators. Meanwhile, KONKA has sold its products through livestreaming in collaboration with its offline stores, to accommodate consumers’ changing shopping habits.

As for KONKA’s white goods business, the segment has grown with the “KONKA + Frestec” dual brand operation after the acquisition of Frestec Electrical Appliances, further amplifying the Company’s influence in the market. Last September, the Company acquired Beko Changzhou Plant and entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Arcelik, the parent company of Beko, marking the beginning of a new phase for the Company’s drum washing machines — a shift from OEM to independent R&D, design, production and manufacturing.

In a bid to build a more integrated mechanism, KONKA has vigorously developed new projects to construct a number of industrial parks. Last year, the Company completed construction of Dongguan Konka Smart Industrial Park, Yibin Konka High-Tech Park, Frestec Smart Home Park, Chengdu Konka Smart Terminal Park, providing new momentum for its smart industrial transformation.

In 2021, KONKA aims to pour more efforts into R&D and innovation. On one hand, it will continue to increase its investment in R&D this year. On the other hand, it is set to focus on core technology in the field of semiconductors, seeking for breakthroughs in chip and mass transfer technologies, and to further develop Micro LED. Meanwhile, KONKA will gradually step up its efforts in acquiring intellectual property rights and strengthen its technological advantages in areas such as 5G, 8K, internet of things, Micro LED, semiconductors and storage, aiming to transforming the Company from an electronics company to an even more tech-centric company.

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SOURCE KONKA

ERIE, Pa., April 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — While the pandemic cancelled vacation plans in 2020, cooped-up travelers are planning more road trips this year, according to a new national survey from Erie Insurance conducted to support Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April.

More than half of respondents plan to take at least one road trip this year. Another 30% say they would like to but it depends on the status of the pandemic. Of those planning to pack up their car, truck or SUV, more than half plan to travel more than 500 miles from home.

“We commissioned this survey to better understand how the pandemic has impacted road travel, and  what distractions are  impacting driver safety,” said Jon Bloom, vice president of personal auto, Erie Insurance. “Based on data collected, there will likely be more people traveling by car who may be distracted by a number of factors, both inside and outside their vehicle. We want this to serve as a reminder for drivers to be safe and aware on the roads at all times.”

What’s driving this year’s travel trends?

The urge to see family and friends is real. When asked where they plan on going during their road trip, the majority (41%) will visit loved ones while many others are beach-bound (21%) or seeking outdoor adventure at a national park (12%). Most (76%) expect to travel with just one other person, typically their spouse or partner. Write-in destinations included many outdoor, socially spaced locations (likely a reaction from the pandemic), including campsites, lakeside resorts, lodges and cabins to partake in fishing, golfing, hiking and overall sightseeing activities.

More than any other age group, the 65+ crowd expects to travel long distances this year — one-third plan to travel more than 1,000 miles. Reasons why? As the first age group to be fully vaccinated, they may feel safer to travel and are eager to finally hug their adult children and grandchildren again.

Driving distractions to consider when road tripping

Nearly half the respondents (44%) said they are distracted by other passengers in their vehicle when driving. Of those, 40% say children distract them the most, followed by a spouse or significant other.

The greatest distraction for drivers in the three older age groups (45-54, 55-64, and 65+) was their spouses or significant others complaining about their driving skills. In the three younger age groups (18-24, 25-34 and 35-44), their greatest distraction was noisy children.

When asked what distracts them the most while driving, here’s a list of the top five distractions:

The older the age group, the less distracted drivers are by things inside their vehicle. Drivers 65+, for example, are distracted seven times more by what they see outside than they are by cell phones.

Males and female responded similarly to all distractions except trying to eat and drink and using their phone’s GPS. Nearly twice as many males (23%) are most distracted by trying to eat or drink compared to females (13%), while twice as many females are distracted by their GPS (nearly 7%) compared to males (nearly 4%).

What are people doing on their phones while driving?

More than one-third (35%) answered that they never use their phone while driving. The remaining 65% admitted to a variety of activities:

If you’re planning a road trip with your family, friends or heading out solo, Erie Insurance can help make sure you’re protected from the unexpected.

For more results from the Erie Insurance auto insurance survey, see this infographic.  

Methodology
This survey was conducted online by Falls on behalf of Erie Insurance, from February 12 through February 25, 2021, among 500 U.S. residents ages 18 and older. Falls established the sampling quotas, designed the questionnaire, tabulated the survey response, and managed the overall project. Falls used Dynata (Plano, TX) to administer the survey via the internet, including mobile devices, to Dynata’s captive U.S. panels who met the age, gender and regional demographic criteria.

About Erie Insurance
According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 11th largest homeowners insurer and 12th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 16th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written.  The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has nearly 6 million policies in force and operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Insurance Group is a FORTUNE 500 company.

News releases and more information about Erie Insurance Group are available at www.erieinsurance.com.

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SOURCE Erie Insurance Group

XIAMEN, China, April 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — KEHUA TECH(002335.SZ) has been ranked 5^th in market share for modular UPS, according to Omdia, a global research leader that serves technology industry. KEHUA is a global technology company providing integrated solutions for power protection and energy conservation.

According to Modular UPS Hardware Market Tracker-2020 Analysis (Report) released by Omdia, KEHUA ranked 5th in the global market, 3rd in the Latin American and Asian markets, and 4th in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions.

With advantages such as reliability, flexibility and energy-saving, modular UPS is gradually becoming the focus of the market. As it said in the Report, Modular UPS technology accounts for 12.2% of the UPS hardware market. By 2024, this proportion is expected to reach 13.3%. Among the top 9 entities, KEHUA is one of the three companies which have expanded market presence.

KEHUA’s performance can be boiled down to its continuous investment in R&D. The company has made several technological breakthroughs in recent years.

In January 2021, KEHUA released the global-first 125kW modular UPS, representing a new level of R&D for UPS. As a world-leading UPS brand, the company has shown strong influence in more than 100 countries and regions.

Besides, KEHUA has constructed seven self-built data centers in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou which covers an area of over 23,000m² with more than 28,000 cabinets.

To better adapt to the market trend of modular UPS, KEHUA would continue to develop advanced technology and enhance its core technology competitiveness. Upholding rigorous standards of safety and reliability, KEHUA will offer more reliable, efficient and high-quality solutions for IDC construction in the digital era.

About KEHUA

Established in 1988 and went public in 2010, KEHUA is a leading power conversion expert, with the commitment to provide cutting-edge solutions in Critical Power, Renewables Energy and Cloud Infrastructure. Business involves UPS, solar inverter, energy storage, IDC construction and O&M.

For more information:
Web: www.kehua.com 
Email: [email protected]
Name: Jon Zhang
Tel: +86 (0592) 516 5883

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SOURCE Kehua Hengsheng Co., Ltd

SHENZHEN, China, April 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Music Entertainment Group (“Tencent Music,” “TME,” or the “Company”) (NYSE: TME), the leading online music entertainment platform in China, today launched a collaborative charity album with pop singer and TME Music Care Ambassador Chen Linong, and a select group of autistic children. Dubbed “Stars and Wishes”, this album was launched on World Autism Awareness Day as part of TME Music Care FM, which continues the efforts of TME Music Charity Projects.

In China, children with autism are commonly referred to as “children of the stars”. In the album “Stars and Wishes”, Chen Linong uses music to give an encouraging voice to autistic children, with the warm lyrics in the song “Ten Thousand Sparkles”: “We will guard the love in our hearts, and radiate warmth every minute. Lighting up a colorful life for you and accompanying you, getting through this together.”  Universal Music Group, the music publishing company under which Chen Linong is signed, will publish and promote this single worldwide.

“I believe that music has the power to heal hearts,” said Chen Linong. “I am pleased to join TME’s charity project and work with talented children, leveraging music to contribute to social welfare. Autism requires long-term rehabilitation, and thus we should give more care, patience and love to these children.” 

TME has invited several young autistic music artists from around the world to take part in the production of this charity album, including Zhou Bohan from China, Clarence Kang from Malaysia, and Takuto Koyanagi from Japan. The album, as part of TME Music Care FM, is available on Tencent Music’s QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music, and WeSing.

In addition to the release of the “Stars and Wishes” charity album, TME also launched a variety of online activities, including an online art exhibition that features artwork from autistic children, and a collection of ‘I feel good’ stories, and more. At the same time, TME has worked with many brands to increase awareness and contribute to the public good.

During the four consecutive years from 2017 to 2020, Tencent Music released four charity albums, to provide support and education for special needs groups such as autistic children, while at the same time raising awareness of music therapy and how it can improve mental health.

TME Music Care FM has expanded its focus on autistic patients to society as a whole, committing to the use of music to remedy mental health issues prevalent in the world today. On March 20, Music Care FM partnered with various global artists to launch a “World Sleep Day” playlist on TME’s platforms. The goal was to use the rejuvenating power of music to enhance sleep quality and relieve mental pressure. On March 26, Music Care FM launched a long-form audio program, “Healing with Music”, for its users.

As the leading player in China’s online music entertainment industry, Tencent Music is tapping the many benefits of music, using its vitality to bring care and warmth to its audiences. In the future, Tencent Music will introduce more charity music projects to draw attention to social issues and better engage music fans.

About Tencent Music Entertainment

Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE: TME) is the leading online music entertainment platform in China, operating the country’s highly popular and innovative music apps: QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music and WeSing. Tencent Music’s mission is to use technology to elevate the role of music in people’s lives by enabling them to create, enjoy, share and interact with music. Tencent Music’s platform comprises online music, online karaoke and music-centric live streaming services, enabling music fans to discover, listen, sing, watch, perform and socialize around music. For more information, please visit ir.tencentmusic.com.

Media Relations Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +86 13810791408

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SOURCE Tencent Music Entertainment