SIROCCO BY LEBUA AWARDED TWO FORKS BY GAMBERO ROSSO
BANGKOK, June 23, 2025 /CNW/ -- Sirocco by lebua, the sky-high alfresco restaurant located at the iconic lebua Hotels & Resorts in Bangkok, has been awarded Two Forks by the prestigious Gambero Rosso International. Led by Chef Brian Rodriquez who honed his culinary skills in Italy and brings Mediterranean expertise to Sirocco by lebua, this latest recognition from the globally esteemed Italian program signifies the restaurant as a leader in culinary excellence.
Gambero Rosso annually selects the best restaurants, wine bars, and pizzerias with Italian influence around the world to distribute their sought-after fork accolades. Sirocco by lebua has been awarded two out of the three forks in total provided by Gambero Rosso's distinguished list of dining highlights. The elevated dishes, services, and setting have allowed Sirocco by lebua to exceed expectations and meet the criteria of providing a fine dining experience required by this global program.
"It is an incredible honor to be recognized by Gambero Rosso," says Narawadee Bualert, President and CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts. "Sirocco by lebua's culinary team continues to create a unique connection between fresh menu items, ambiance, and impeccable service. This latest award is a testament to the team's work and culinary innovation."
Holding the title of one of the world's highest alfresco restaurants, Sirocco by lebua elevates the culinary experience through delectable Mediterranean dishes in an open-air setting. Flavorful dishes are designed to celebrate seasonal produce with bold coastal tastes and expert pairing options for both wine and cocktails. Curated menu options include a special Chef's Tasting, an exclusive Oyster & Caviar selection, and an A La Carte menu that all take inspiration from European roots while weaving in the elegance and excellence the restaurant has gained a reputation for providing.
Further elevating the gourmet experience, Sirocco by lebua is set to undergo a complete redesign later this year. Expanded seating and lounge areas, an enlarged bar, and raised flooring in the fountain section will enhance sightlines to the city and river.
Sirocco by lebua is joined by an array of 11 restaurants and bars in total that create the culinary journey available at lebua Hotels & Resorts. The vertical destination's world-class dining venues include two two-Michelin-starred restaurants, the only hotel in Thailand to offer this level of gastronomy.
For more information on lebua Hotels & Resorts, the culinary experiences, onsite offerings, and to book your stay visit www.lebua.com.
About lebua Hotels & Resorts
lebua Hotels & Resorts is a renowned international luxury brand that operates distinctive hotels, fine restaurants, and exclusive bars in the Asia-Pacific region. Consisting of the prestigious Tower Club at lebua and lebua at State Tower in Bangkok, the world's first vertical destination features an impressive collection of 314 elegant suites ranging from one to three bedrooms, 11 iconic restaurants and bars, bespoke experiences, and scenic viewpoints of the bustling city. Delectable and award-winning dining options include Sirocco by lebua, Breeze, two-Michelin-star Mezzaluna, two-Michelin-star Chef's Table, Sky Bar, Flute Champagne Bollinger Bar, Alfresco 64, Lebua No. 3, Distil Bar and Pink Bar. Globally influenced menus allow diners to select from Mediterranean cuisine, authentic Chinese dishes, contemporary French features, Thai specialties, and more. lebua Hotels and Resorts is the only hotel in Thailand that is home to two two-Michelin-starred restaurants. Offering a sophisticated stay with exceptional views and access to major attractions including Chao Phraya River, lebua at State Tower and the ultra-luxe Tower Club at lebua offers couples, friend groups, business travelers, and more the opportunity to take in all that Bangkok has to offer in an elegant setting. For more information on the premier hotel and experiences in the heart of Bangkok visit www.lebua.com or stay up to date with the latest news and promotions on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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Specific forward-looking information in this presentation include, but are not limited to: expectations regarding certain of Neo's future results and information, including, among other things, revenue, expenses, growth prospects, capital expenditures, and operations; risk factors relating to national or international economies, geopolitical risk and other risks present in the jurisdictions in which Neo, its customers, its suppliers, and/or its logistics partners operate; statements with respect to current and future market trends that may directly or indirectly impact sales and revenue of Neo, including but not limited to the price of rare earth elements; expected use of cash balances; continuation of prudent management of working capital; source of funds for ongoing business requirements and capital investments; expectations regarding sufficiency of the allowance for uncollectible accounts and inventory provisions; analysis regarding sensitivity of the business to changes in exchange rates and changes in rare earth prices; impact of recently adopted accounting pronouncements; risk factors relating to intellectual property protection and intellectual property litigation; expectations regarding demand for fan motors and superalloys; expectations regarding the growth of superconductor materials; anticipated completion and launch of Neo's new PM facility in Europe and related commercial production estimates, forecasted budget, commissioning and costs associated with the facility; targeted reductions in SG&A Neo's requalified product portfolio, including the NAMCO product portfolio, and continued product qualification expected in 2025; anticipated final costs associated with the NAMCO project; expectations regarding tariffs and export controls; securing new automotive customer agreements for PM and emissions control facilities; expectations concerning the continued growth of the Magnequench project and improvements in C&O expectations concerning any remediation efforts to Neo's design of its internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; and Neo's 2025 guidance, including Neo's 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance and the assumptions relating thereto. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Additionally, Neo's 2025 guidance reflects Neo's expectations as to financial performance in 2025 based on assumptions which Neo believes to be reasonable as of the date of this presentation, including but not limited to continued Magnequench growth, significant improvements in C&O, exiting lower-margin separation assets, strong hafnium demand despite pricing moderation, continued reduction in SG&A expenses, expectations regarding tariffs and export restrictions; securing new automotive customer agreements for PM and emissions control facilities; expectations concerning the continued growth of the Magnequench project and improvements in C&O. Neo believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this discussion and analysis should not be unduly relied upon. For more information on Neo, investors should review Neo's continuous disclosure filings available under its profile at Information contained in forward-looking statements in this presentation is provided as of the date hereof and Neo disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or results, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. HIGHLIGHTS OF SECOND QUARTER 2025 CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE ($000s, except per share information) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30 2025 2024 2025 2024 Revenue Magnequench $ 50,468 $ 42,096 $ 94,740 $ 87,576 C&O 29,443 34,478 76,944 74,991 Rare Metals 35,948 31,909 68,653 69,187 Corporate / Eliminations (1,159) (1,435) (4,027) (2,110) Consolidated Revenue $ 114,700 $ 107,549 $ 236,310 $ 229,644 Operating Income (Loss) Magnequench $ 1,611 $ 2,257 $ 3,504 $ 5,641 C&O 3,959 198 9,687 (1,906) Rare Metals 10,127 8,573 18,278 17,373 Corporate / Eliminations (7,487) (5,204) (13,670) (9,336) Consolidated Operating Income $ 8,210 $ 5,824 $ 17,799 $ 11,772 Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") Magnequench $ 7,558 $ 6,168 $ 14,217 $ 12,280 C&O 5,439 2,651 12,282 2,271 Rare Metals 10,756 8,786 19,397 18,024 Corporate / Eliminations (4,785) (4,213) (9,794) (8,423) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA $ 18,968 $ 13,392 $ 36,102 $ 24,152 Net Earnings $ 5,688 $ 883 $ 4,301 $ 1,732 Earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Neo Basic $ 0.14 $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.04 Diluted $ 0.13 $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.04 Cash spent on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets $ 8,889 $ 10,677 $ 20,317 $ 26,656 Cash taxes paid $ 2,960 $ 5,790 $ 8,166 $ 13,303 Dividends paid to shareholders $ 3,159 $ 3,127 $ 6,080 $ 6,211 Dividend paid to Buss & Buss minority shareholder $ — $ — $ 7,343 $ — Repurchase of common shares under Normal Course Issuer Bid $ 2,342 $ — $ 2,342 $ 2,250 As at: June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 Cash and cash equivalents $ 80,343 $ 85,489 Short-term debt, bank advances & other $ — $ 2,740 Current & long-term debt $ 93,595 $ 68,796 Unaudited; ($000s) June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 ASSETS Current Cash and cash equivalents $ 80,343 $ 85,489 Accounts receivable 83,116 61,232 Inventories 146,692 139,321 Income taxes receivable 6,539 4,108 Assets held for sale — 40,949 Other current assets 18,652 22,389 Total current assets 335,342 353,488 Property, plant and equipment 190,317 178,925 Intangible assets 31,960 33,580 Goodwill 64,776 64,029 Equity method investments 16,705 16,330 Other investments 3,154 217 Deferred tax assets 3,876 4,045 Other non-current assets 6,342 2,640 Total non-current assets 317,130 299,766 Total assets $ 652,472 $ 653,254 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current Short-term debt $ — $ 2,740 Accounts payable and other accrued charges 66,556 69,546 Income taxes payable 13,421 10,463 Provisions 584 12,512 Lease obligations 1,043 1,229 Derivative liability 50,011 47,416 Current portion of long-term debt 4,493 4,610 Liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale — 10,254 Other current liabilities 311 647 Total current liabilities 136,419 159,417 Long-term debt 89,102 64,186 Derivative liability 1,436 1,311 Provisions 6,636 6,726 Deferred tax liabilities 9,987 12,646 Lease obligations 3,077 3,244 Other non-current liabilities 713 842 Total non-current liabilities 110,951 88,955 Total liabilities 247,370 248,372 Non-controlling interest 507 2,714 Equity attributable to common shareholders 404,595 402,168 Total equity 405,102 404,882 Total liabilities and equity $ 652,472 $ 653,254 See accompanying notes to this table in Neo's unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as at June 30, 2025 and for the period then ended. ($000s) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30 2025 2024 2025 2024 Revenue $ 114,700 $ 107,549 $ 236,310 $ 229,644 Cost of sales Cost excluding depreciation and amortization 78,770 78,250 167,651 172,998 Depreciation and amortization 2,019 2,004 3,940 3,934 Gross profit 33,911 27,295 64,719 52,712 Expenses Selling, general and administrative 16,326 14,605 31,634 29,247 Share-based compensation 3,513 1,476 4,449 1,380 Depreciation and amortization 1,725 1,876 3,506 3,604 Research and development 4,137 3,307 7,331 6,502 (Reversal of impairment) / impairment of assets — 207 — 207 Total expenses 25,701 21,471 46,920 40,940 Operating income 8,210 5,824 17,799 11,772 Other income (expense) 24 (86) (4,688) 3,593 Finance cost, net (5,717) (1,572) (11,790) (2,912) Foreign exchange gain (loss) 4,700 (544) 8,485 (1,266) Income from operations before income taxes and equity income of associates 7,217 3,622 9,806 11,187 Income tax expense (1,599) (3,042) (5,955) (7,383) Income from operations before equity income of associates 5,618 580 3,851 3,804 Equity income of associates (net of income tax) 70 303 450 (2,072) Net income $ 5,688 $ 883 $ 4,301 $ 1,732 Attributable to: Common shareholders $ 5,772 $ 859 $ 4,292 $ 1,732 Non-controlling interest (84) 24 9 — $ 5,688 $ 883 $ 4,301 $ 1,732 Earnings per share attributable to common shareholders: Basic $ 0.14 $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.04 Diluted $ 0.13 $ 0.02 $ 0.10 $ 0.04 For additional information, refer Neo's MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. RECONCILIATIONS OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA, ADJUSTED EBITDA AND FREE CASH FLOW Unaudited; ($000s, except volume) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30 2025 2024 2025 2024 Sales volume (tonnes) 3,366 3,138 6,691 6,220 Revenue $ 114,700 $ 107,549 $ 236,310 $ 229,644 Net income $ 5,688 $ 883 $ 4,301 $ 1,732 Add back: Finance costs, net 5,717 1,572 11,790 2,912 Income tax expense 1,599 3,042 5,955 7,383 Depreciation and amortization included in cost of sales 2,019 2,004 3,940 3,934 Depreciation and amortization included in operating expenses 1,725 1,876 3,506 3,604 EBITDA 16,748 9,377 29,492 19,565 Adjustments to EBITDA: Other (income) expense (24) 86 4,688 (3,593) Foreign exchange (gain) loss (4,700) 544 (8,485) 1,266 Equity (income) loss of associates (70) (303) (450) 2,072 Share-based compensation 3,513 1,476 4,449 1,380 Project start-up and transition costs 3,501 2,005 6,408 3,255 Impairment of assets — 207 — 207 Adjusted EBITDA $ 18,968 $ 13,392 $ 36,102 $ 24,152 Adjusted EBITDA Margin 16.5 % 12.5 % 15.3 % 10.5 % Less: Capital expenditures $ 3,403 $ 18,571 $ 10,233 $ 36,048 Free Cash Flow $ 15,565 $ (5,179) $ 25,869 $ (11,896) For additional information, refer Neo's MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. RECONCILIATIONS OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME ($000s) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net income $ 5,688 $ 883 $ 4,301 $ 1,732 Adjustments to net income: Foreign exchange (gain) loss (4,700) 544 (8,485) 1,266 Impairment of assets — 207 — 207 Share-based compensation 3,513 1,476 4,449 1,380 Project start-up & transition costs 3,501 2,005 6,408 3,255 Other items included in other expense (income) 20 158 4,828 (2,890) Tax impact of the above items (267) (22) (99) 694 Adjusted net income $ 7,755 $ 5,251 $ 11,402 $ 5,644 Attributable to: Common shareholders $ 7,839 $ 5,227 $ 11,393 $ 5,644 Non-controlling interest (84) 24 9 — Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic (000s) 41,838 41,752 41,806 41,792 Diluted (000s) 43,257 42,343 43,186 42,430 Adjusted earnings per share attributable to common shareholders: Basic $ 0.19 $ 0.13 $ 0.27 $ 0.14 Diluted $ 0.18 $ 0.12 $ 0.26 $ 0.13 For additional information, refer Neo's MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. SOURCE Neo Performance Materials, Inc.
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- Winnipeg Free Press
The Seine in Paris is open for swimming. Tourists and residents embrace it as temperatures soar
PARIS (AP) — Swimming in the Seine is an increasingly popular tourist attraction in the French capital — and a must-do for Parisians themselves. Thousands of people have enjoyed a dip in the river since three public bathing sites opened last month, the first in over a century. The swimming areas are expected to get even more crowded as a heatwave arrives in the region on Tuesday. Paris has been placed under 'high vigilance' by national weather service Meteo France, with temperatures up to 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) expected. At the Grenelle site in the west of Paris, visitors swim and sunbathe with a unique view of the Eiffel Tower, with small fishes darting near the surface. Water quality is tested daily to conform with European regulations. Swimming in the Seine had been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. The new bathing sites are possible following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.6 billion) cleanup that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year. 'Imagine that,' said Constanze Martens, a tourist from Mexico. 'Swimming with view of the Eiffel Tower and in pure natural water, clean, safe, and with all this lovely people too, you have every age here.' On Monday, the water temperature in the Seine was 22 degrees Celsius (71 Fahrenheit). 'It's quite warm, warmer than the sea, which was quite surprising, and is very pleasant,' said Elisabeth Lorin, from the Paris eastern suburb of Montreuil. Until the end of August, bathing sites are open for free at scheduled times to anyone 10 or older or 14 or older, depending on the location. Details are in the Paris city hall website, in English as well. Each swimmer must be equipped with a yellow buoy, attached to their waist, for safety reasons. There are changing rooms with lockers. The site welcomes between 800 and 1,200 visitors per day, with a limit of 200 at any one time, said the manager of the Grenelle site, Yann Forêt. Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan last week said over 40,000 people had swum at the sites since they opened on July 5. That's despite almost two weeks of closures largely due to rainy weather, which increases water pollution upstream. 'Right now, the water quality is excellent and we have optimal conditions with warm weather,' Rabadan told The Associated Press on Monday. He said the daily decision to open the sites depends on weather conditions and factors including water flow rate and any known pollution. Several lifeguards monitor the sites, occasionally using their whistles to remind swimmers not to jump or leave the perimeter. No major incident has been reported, Rabadan said. Marina Gicquel, a 22-year-old lifeguard at Grenelle, said the main difference from a swimming pool is the river current, along with the murky water. 'You can only see people's heads sticking out. That's why buoys are useful,' Gicquel said. 'And it's also quite deep. It's three to five meters (10 to 16 feet) deep, so people find no foothold.' Some visitors, like Australian Thurkka Jeyakumar, had been skeptical about swimming in the Seine, citing the river's murky color and bacteria issues. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. Unsafe levels of E. coli or other bacteria appear during prolonged periods of rain that overwhelm pipes, leading untreated wastewater to flow into the river instead of a treatment plant. Last year, some Olympic competitions were postponed for that reason. In the end, Jeyakumar gave it a try because she lost a bet. 'For the moment, I have to say that it was much nicer and cleaner than I thought it would be,' she said. 'So the bet worked out for the better!' ___ AP journalist Nicolas Garriga contributed to this report.
