Latest news with #Snowball
Business Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Audience Analytics eyes growth in Vietnam, M&A opportunities
[SINGAPORE] Audience Analytics, an organiser of regional business awards and career fairs, is seeking growth in Vietnam with its recent investment in a business partner there, while looking out for merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities. On May 15, the company inked a deal to acquire 30 per cent of Snowball, a Vietnam-based management consultancy, for 17.5 billion dong (S$870,000). Snowball has partnered Audience Analytics to organise business awards since 2018, said the Catalist-listed company's chairman and managing director William Ng. 'It's a natural progression of what has already been a great partnership… We see a lot of potential to grow further in Vietnam,' he said, adding that he shares knowledge and resources with Snowball, while retaining its 'entrepreneurial spirit'. Snowball is next set to organise a new career fair in June – called the Vietnam Career and Training Fair – as a licensee of Audience Analytics. The event is modelled after Audience Analytics' signature event, the Malaysia Career and Training Fair, which the company has organised since its founding in 2002. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Audience Analytics' expansion in Vietnam is in line with its broader pursuit of growth in what Ng dubs the 'CLMV market', comprising Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. 'These markets are all very young. We see a fast-growing workforce and a lot of opportunities to expand (our) reach there via our existing partnership in Vietnam,' said Ng. Audience Analytics is also on the lookout for M&A opportunities. The company is sitting on S$21.6 million in cash as at Dec 31, 2024, with S$2.8 million in current liabilities. 'It makes a lot of sense for us to convert some of this cash holding into more revenue and more profit via the M&A route. We are currently in active discussion with a number of potential partners,' he said. Proxy to business sentiment Audience Analytics' growth plans come amid challenging economic conditions, with the US' tariff war dampening the growth outlook for South-east Asia. The company's main revenue driver is its business awards segment, through which it earns participation fees. Its key awards include SME100, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia, CXP Best Customer Experience Awards, and the Golden Bull Award. These awards are held in 15 markets across the region, spanning South-east Asia, India, China and South Korea. Besides exhibitions and awards, Audience Analytics is also a publisher of business-to-business digital and print media. The company is a 'proxy' to overall business sentiment, noted Ng. 'If businesses do well and they're happy about it, the likelihood of them investing in our products – whether it's the exhibitions, media or business analytics – will be higher,' he said. He acknowledged that sentiment has been uncertain this year, but with the recent tariff truce between US and China, Ng is more sanguine about the outlook. 'We no longer see the reciprocal tariffs to be a major impediment to our revenue this year.' He also sees Audience Analytics' geographical breadth as a 'major hedge' against volatility. Ng pointed to how the company fared well in FY2024 despite a 'very difficult' year, thanks to continued growth and cost discipline. Audience Analytics posted a 28.8 per cent rise in net profit to S$6 million for the year ended Dec 31, 2024. This was on the back of a 6.5 per cent rise in revenue to S$15.6 million. The top-line expansion was driven by the awards segment, where revenue rose 7.7 per cent to S$14.5 million. 'What I found was our real achievement in 2024 was that we managed to reign in the incremental cost, and we delivered a very strong bottom line,' said Ng. That said, performance was weaker in other segments. Revenue from the exhibitions business was down 6.6 per cent to S$1 million, due to softer demand. The business media and analytics segment's sales fell even more steeply – by 31 per cent – to S$46,165. Acknowledging that media is a tough business, Ng said that this vertical is 'not just about the money', but also about brand-building. He cited how the 18-year-old SME Magazine in Malaysia 'is almost a household name'. The company's SME-related awards and events gain more recognition when people associate it with the magazine, Ng said. Plenty of runway Despite the market volatility in the past few years, Audience Analytics' share price has risen 31.1 per cent since its 2021 listing. It is also up 10.8 per cent since the start of the year to S$0.295 as at May 23. Ng is not too concerned about the share price, but hopes to attract investors with a long-term view and reward them. One sweetener is the company's new dividend policy – it aims to pay out at least 50 per cent of profits as dividends for FY2025 to FY2027. He is also 'constantly on the lookout for new strategies' to improve liquidity for investors. The company recently issued investors one bonus share for every three ordinary shares, which has made 'the stock a lot more liquid now than a year ago', noted Ng. Asked how investors should view Audience Analytics, he said: 'This is a young company with plenty of runway, and a company that truly values investors.'
Extra.ie
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Luck strikes twice as second Telly Bingo punter from same county scoops HUGE win
There were big celebrations for one Irish punter after lightning struck twice and saw the same county get its second Telly Bingo win of the week. During the May 16 draw, one lucky player from the west struck gold in scooping the Snowball prize worth an incredible €65,005. The winning ticket in question was purchased in Tesco's Roscommon Town branch. This closely follows another Roscommon success just last week when a player scooped €50,005. There were big celebrations for one Irish punter after lightning struck twice and saw the same county get its second Telly Bingo win of the week. Pic: Derick P. Hudson/Shutterstock. The winning ticket on that occasion was bought at Newsround, Barrack Street, Ballaghaderreen. Meanwhile, there was EuroMillions Raffle joy for another Irish punter earlier this week, with the lucky customer hauling in a tidy €255,000. The Telly Bingo Snowball draw starts at a set amount of €10,000 and increases with each draw until someone wins it by marking off all numbers on their bingo card within a specific number of calls. During the May 16 draw, one lucky player from the west struck gold in scooping the Snowball prize worth an incredible €65,005. Pic: Shutterstock. Players who achieve a Full House on or before the 45th call are awarded an extra €10,000. If there is no winner, the Snowball number increases by one and €5,000 is added to the prize until it is won. National Lottery spokesperson Emma Monaghan said: 'What a fantastic way to kickstart your weekend with a €65,005 win! 'Following last week's Roscommon win, the National Lottery topped up the Telly Bingo prize fund by €30,000, so players were in for an extra treat. A huge congratulations to our latest winner.'
Irish Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Lotto bosses confirm winning location of huge five-figure Telly Bingo win
Roscommon's Telly Bingo players are on a winning streak, with another player celebrating a major win this week. In Friday's draw, one player from the west struck gold by scooping the Snowball prize, worth an incredible €65,005. The winning ticket, which landed the top prize by achieving a full house in 51 calls or less, was purchased at Tesco, Market Yard, Harrison Centre in Roscommon town. This latest win follows closely on the heels of another Roscommon success just last week, when a player took home €50,005. That winning ticket was bought at Newsround, Barrack Street, Ballaghaderreen. The Snowball prize in Telly Bingo is one of the game's most thrilling features. It starts at a set amount of €10,000 and increases with each draw until someone wins it by marking off all numbers on their bingo card within a specific number of calls. Players who achieve a Full House on or before the 45th call win an additional €10,000. If there is no winner, the Snowball number increases by one and €5,000 is added to the prize until it is won. Emma Monaghan, National Lottery Spokesperson said: 'What a fantastic way to kickstart your weekend with a €65,005 win! Following last week's Roscommon win, the National Lottery topped up the Telly Bingo prize fund by €30,000, so players were in for an extra treat. A huge congratulations to our latest winner!' The National Lottery Prize Claims team can confirm that the Roscommon player has already made contact and arrangements are underway for them to claim their prize. Meanwhile, tonight's EuroMillions is packed with chances to win incredible prizes. Not only does the jackpot of an estimated €155 million remain up for grabs, but Irish players are in with a chance of winning an additional €250,000. For the entirety of the month of May, EuroMillions players in Ireland will have the chance to win a massive €250,000 in all nine draws, as well as the existing prizes on offer. Players dreaming of becoming Ireland's newest EuroMillions winner are reminded that tickets for tonight's draw can be purchased in-store, through the National Lottery app or here ahead of the 7.30pm cut off. Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage and the Irish Language. In total, more than €6.5 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 37 years ago. In 2023 alone, €227.9 million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Lucky punter scoops life-changing 50k cash prize in National Lottery's TellyBingo as players urged to check tickets
A LUCKY TellyBingo player is celebrating after winning a life-changing €55,005 prize in today's draw. The punter scored the Snowball Advertisement 1 A lotto player has bagged a €50,0000 top prize Credit: Getty The winning ticket was purchased at Newsround on Barrack Street in Ballaghaderreen The Snowball prize is the most anticipated from the TellyBingo game, starting at €10,000 and increasing with each draw until it's won. To win it, players must mark off all the numbers on their bingo card within 51 calls. And if no winner is found, the number of calls allowed increases by one and the prize grows by €5,000. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY This time, one Roscommon player managed to beat the odds and take "If you're holding the winning ticket, make sure to sign the back of it and keep it somewhere safe. We look forward to seeing you in Lottery HQ!." Players who haven't yet checked their tickets are encouraged to review the draw via RTÉ Player, Advertisement MOST READ IN MONEY The National Lottery added: "Were you playing along live this afternoon? If you have a ticket waiting to be checked, you can watch back today's game on the RTÉ Player or our YouTube channel, @IrishNationalLottery. "Alternatively, you can scan your ticket in-store or online. If you're holding the winning ticket, be sure to contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email to arrange the collection of your prize." 'Gold rush' for Ireland's luckiest shop where Dolores McNamara nabbed €115m ticket after second life-changing Lotto win This comes after an Irish lotto player scooped over €250,000 after winning big in Tuesday's draw. May 6's 'Ireland Only' raffle was hosted by Advertisement Chiefs announced that one Irish player was pulled from the draw with the golden ticket. The winning code was I-SBG-62584. And there were nine other winning tickets, with the codes I-SBF-12102, I-SBF-33610, I-SBF-64776, and I-SBF-66446 pulled. WINNING TICKETS Also in the winning tickets were the figures I-SBF-69365, I-SBG-88563, and I-SBH-20179. Advertisement And I-SBJ-80066 as well as I-SBK-66358 were also winners. The 'Ireland Only Raffle' is a special draw reserved only for Irish players. The new raffle is part of a special series which guarantees players a huge prize for all nine draws. They take place every Tuesday and Friday. Advertisement One lucky player has already won the €255,000 jackpot but Lotto bosses have not confirmed if they made contact to claim their winnings yet. The overall
CBC
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
The Fawn by Etua Snowball, illustrated by Shuggie Crossland
Inspired by a true story! In a surprising and heart-warming story, Etua Snowball shares his childhood experience of meeting and befriending a baby caribou. After a chance encounter with a herd of caribou, a fawn follows a young boy back to his cabin. The boy and fawn spend the summer together exploring the northern landscape, picking berries, and swimming in the lake. Then one day the boy and fawn get an unexpected visitor, and the boy must learn how to say goodbye to his furry friend. (From Inhabit Media) Canadian kids books we are excited to read in spring 2025 Etua Snowball is an Inuk author, musician and poet. His previous books for children include The Wolf Pup and My Pet Hawk. Snowball is based in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik. Shuggie Crossland is an illustrator and animator. They also illustrated The Wolf Pup, written by Etua Snowball.
