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KUALA LUMPUR: Health-oriented and wellness consumer product direct-selling company, DXN Holdings Bhd (DHB) has made its entry into the Brazilian market as the company is optimistic about the growth prospects in the country. Non-independent executive chairman and founder Datuk Lim Siow Jin said his optimism on the growth prospects in Brazil stemmed from the country’s significant population of over 210 million and increasing urbanisation, which presents opportunities for consumer businesses like DXN. “Our strategic entry into Brazil is aimed at leveraging the strong brand presence and success DHB has achieved in other Latin American countries including Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, and more. “DHB’s marketing strategy allows any of our global members to conduct and grow their business in any country where the company operates without geographical constraints. We are confident about the potential our members have in expanding into Brazil,” he said in a recent statement. DHB has set a plan to open its office in Sao Paulo in March 2024. “So far, DHB has successfully registered 10 products which are already approved for the Brazilian market. “Our flagship instant coffee product aligns well with Brazil’s rich coffee culture, enhancing our confidence in capturing market share there,” he said. Lim said the interest in health supplements that improve wellbeing is on the rise globally and DHB’s offerings, which include products formulated with herbs and medicinal plants such as spirulina, and lion’s mane mushroom, are well-positioned within this expanding market. “As the health supplement sector continues to grow, there is a significant opportunity for DHB to accelerate global expansion efforts to capitalise on this rising market,” Lim said. The company is expanding its product portfolio in alignment with dynamic consumer demands. In addition, DHB is actively in the process of establishing another branch office in Brazil as part of its strategic efforts to expand its market presence in the country. To support DHB’s growth in the Latin America region, the company’s second production facility in Mexico is now operational, with a size 2.8 times that of the first, and is involved in manufacturing coffee products, food supplements and beverages. Since DHB entered into the Latin America region in 2004, the company has strengthened its network there to 3.6 million members. Sales from the region have been instrumental in DHB’s revenue growth, accounting for 60 per cent of total revenue in the 9-month financial period ended November 30, 2023. DHB’s entry into the Brazilian market is expected to further enhance this growth trajectory.

KUALA LUMPUR: Danone Specialized Nutrition (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Danone Specialized Nutrition (Singapore) Pte Ltd have become certified B Corporation in Malaysia, further recognising and deepening their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Danone Malaysia and Singapore country manager Koh Kok Meng said becoming a certified B Corporation is putting the flag in the sand to say that Danone Malaysia is committed to the impacts the company has on the environment and communities it serves. “When we started our B Corporation certification, the team was at the forefront of what we could do collectively as an organisation. “Being a B Corporation is the ultimate badge of honour for our organisation to have, and today, we are proud to be part of the sustainable global community movement toward a more equitable future,” he said in a recent statement.Danone underwent a rigorous and extensive review of its environmental, social practices and policies. With this certification, Danone Malaysia and Singapore will be held to high standards of accountability, undergoing a recertification process every three years to update its impact assessment and recertify as a B Corporation. Danone Malaysia and Singapore join among the ranks of 50 purpose-led businesses in Malaysia and Singapore that meet highly verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. As a specialised nutrition company, it has positioned itself as an advocate of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) among Malaysian children. The Iron Strong Study was conducted in a collaborative effort with the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to understand the prevalence of anaemia risk amongst Malaysian young children using a non–invasive screening device. This multi-site clinical study was conducted for six months across selected government clinics in Kelantan, Johor, Selangor, and Sabah. The findings from the clinical study will further help to raise awareness of this critical issue provide a solution to improve the nutrition status in Malaysia and emphasise the importance of early intervention through proactive screening for anaemia by including it as part of primary care health screening programs.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has widened its sophisticated investor categories in a move to increase capital market accessibility. The new Guidelines on Categories of Sophisticated Investors, which took effect recently, reinforce the SC’s commitment to maintaining capital market competitiveness and vibrancy while promoting greater investor participation. SC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin said the growing sophistication of the Malaysian capital market has resulted in varied financing needs and investment risk appetites. “The criteria for sophisticated investors have been broadened to include a wider range of individuals who can contribute to the market’s growth and stability. “In 2023, the domestic capital market grew to RM3.8 trillion from RM3.6 trillion in the previous year. “This presents significant opportunities for the market to attract a more diverse investor base regionally and encourage greater capital flow into sophisticated product and market segments,” he said in a recent statement SC also noted that the key features of the expansion include a new category that takes into account the knowledge and experience of sophisticated investors. In addition, enhancements to current categories are made, allowing flexibilities of existing financial thresholds for high-net-worth individuals. The new Knowledge and Experience category will benefit individuals who do not meet financial tests but can demonstrate financial knowledge sophistication to participate in relevant market offerings. This category assesses potential investors based on their education, recognised financial association membership, and practical experience in relevant sectors such as banking, capital markets or insurance. Another key change is the inclusion of an investor’s primary residence value, up to a cap of RM1 million, in assessing their qualification as a sophisticated investor. The definition of a joint account is also expanded to incorporate accounts with a spouse or child, including total net joint annual income and investment portfolios. This expansion will better depict a family’s collective financial status and investment potential. The Guidelines on Categories of Sophisticated Investors are available on the SC website. Consequently, all relevant guidelines have also been updated regarding sophisticated investors.