Tag: RELX

  • China’s Boton Group Divests 51% Stake in Bubblemon

    China’s Boton Group Divests 51% Stake in Bubblemon

    Kate Wang / Credit: RELX

    China Boton has sold its Bubblemon Vape Brand to the founder of RELX vaping products, Kate Wang.

    According to an announcement, the company has signed a sale agreement with the Han Holding SPV.

    Han Holding is an investment holding limited company registered under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sunnyheart Inc.

    Sunnyheart Inc. is a limited liability company registered under the laws of the Cayman Islands, primarily engaged in the sale of e-cigarettes.

    According to the directors, based on the information provided by Sunnyheart Inc., the ultimate beneficial owner of Sunnyheart Inc. is Wang Ying (also known as Kate Wang, CEO and founder of Relx Technology), who holds 50 percent voting rights of Sunnyheart Inc. and is the sole director of Sunnyheart Inc.

    Upon completion of the transaction, the buyer and Han Holding SPV will respectively hold 81 percent and 19 percent of the target company’s equity.

    After the reorganization, Boton Holding SPV and Han Holding SPV will respectively hold 51 percent and 49 percent of the target company’s equity, making the Korean target company a wholly-owned subsidiary of the target company, according to 2FIRSTS.

    China Boton is an investment holding limited company registered in the Cayman Islands, mainly engaged in the research and development, production, trading, and sale of extracts, essences, and spices. The company is also involved in the design and manufacture of high-quality e-cigarettes and related products.

  • RELX Again Warning Consumers of Fake Goods

    RELX Again Warning Consumers of Fake Goods

    RELX is again warning consumers in the Philippines against buying counterfeit e-cigarettes that are being offered in markets. The use of fake vaping products may result to serious health consequences, warns the company.

    Through one of its initiatives, RELX has already had more than 100,000 illicit e-cigarette products removed from the market to date, emphasizing the massive reach of these unregulated goods, according to media reports.

    The e-cigarette manufacturer’s statement also comes after it successfully won a court case in China against a company which infringed on the registered design of one of RELX’s high-selling products, RELX Essential.

    “Preventing the production and sale of counterfeit e-cigarette products is one of the main challenges currently facing the e-cigarette industry. Counterfeit e-cigarette products pose serious potential health risks to consumers,” said Patrick Drilon, RELX International head of External Affairs – Philippines.

    “While governments and local authorities work to implement stronger enforcement methods to rid the market of these harmful products, international e-cigarette companies can and should do more to aid them in this global fight to offer consumers products that abide by safety standards by undergoing stringent quality checks.”

  • RELX Stops Offering Flavored Vapes in Philippines

    RELX Stops Offering Flavored Vapes in Philippines

    Photo: Aliaksandr Barouski

    RELX International is no longer selling flavored vape products in its outlets throughout the Philippines, according to the Manilla Standard.

    Republic Act No. 11467 and Joint Memorandum Circular No. 003-2020 prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale, and distribution of vapor products with flavoring other than tobacco or menthol in the country.

    Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Jan. 22, 2020, the act increases the excise tax rates on alcohol, heated tobacco, and vape products to generate funds for the government to deliver quality and affordable health care services. 

    RELX said the move reflects its commitment to support important reforms that will benefit the collection of tax revenues while catering to legal-age adult smokers, preventing access of e-cigarette among minors, and ensuring responsible and standard-compliant e-cigarettes in retail points across the country. 

  • RLX Technology Net Revenue Sees Growth in 2021

    RLX Technology Net Revenue Sees Growth in 2021

    Net revenues of RLX Technology increased by 123.1 percent to RMB8.52 billion ($1.34 billion) in fiscal year 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net revenues from sales to offline distributors, which was mainly attributable to the expansion of the company’s distribution and retail network (China banned internet sales of vapor products in October 2019).

    Gross profit increased by 140.4 percent to RMB3.67 billion while gross margin increased to 43.1 percent from 40 percent in the prior year.

    For the fourth quarter of 2021, RLX Technology reported net revenues of RMB1.9 billion, up 17.7 percent from the comparable 2020 quarter. Gross margin was 40.2 percent, compared with 42.9 percent in the same period of 2020.

    “We are pleased with our operational and financial performance in the fourth quarter, ending 2021 on a strong note. Despite the evolving industry regulatory framework and challenging backdrop of recurrent Covid-19 outbreaks, we remained focused throughout the year on optimizing our distribution and retail channels, investing in scientific research, new product development, and digitalization upgrades,” said Ms. Ying (Kate) Wang, co-founder, chairperson of the board of directors and CEO of RLX Technology, in a statement.

    “The 2021 fiscal year was defined by year-over-year revenue growth of 123.1 percent, further cementing our leadership as a trusted e-vapor brand for adult smokers. Looking ahead, we are confident that the company is well-positioned to further explore the enormous potential of this vast yet growing industry and achieve future growth in 2022 and beyond.”

  • Smoore and Relx Rank Among Top Patent Applicants

    Smoore and Relx Rank Among Top Patent Applicants

    Photo: Smoore

    Smoore and RELX were among the vaping business’ most prolific patent applicants in 2021, according to the Chinese Enterprise PCT International Patent Application Ranking. Smoore topped the list with 84 international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the company announced in a press release. RELX filed 74 international patent applications during the year.

    Based on the number of PCT international patent applications in 2021, the ranking is published by IPRdaily, an intellectual property publication, and incoPat, a global patent database.

    By Dec. 31, 2021, Smoore had more than 3,408 patent applications cumulatively, including 1,674 authorized patent applications. The company’s patent applications relate to atomization and other technologies. In January, the company launched the world’s thinnest ceramic coil vape pod solution. Equipped with a new generation of the Ultra-slim Bionic Film Ceramic Coil, FEELM Air features seven breakthroughs, including in reliability, flavor and interactive experience, according to Smoore.

    To date, the company has hired 1,500 R&D experts from different scientific backgrounds and established 10 centers for cross-disciplinary research. Five additional centers are under construction.

    The company says it’s committed to protecting its intellectual property. In October 2021, Smoore filed a complaint to the United States International Trade Commission against 38 American and Canadian enterprises and individuals for copying certain features of its oil-vaping cartridges and components technologies.

  • RELX Registers its Clinical Research on Vaping in China

    RELX Registers its Clinical Research on Vaping in China

    Photo: RELX

    RELX has initiated China’s first clinical research on vaping safety. The company is studying the acute effects of traditional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes on the human respiratory system and cardiovascular system. This month, RELX registered its clinical research with the China Clinical Trial Registry, a primary registry in the World Health Organization Registry Network.

    In a press release, REXL took the opportunity to highlight its commitment to cross-disciplinary fundamental research into atomization mechanisms, so as to explore the long-term health effects of vaping.

    In March 2021, RELX conducted clinical research on the metabolism and kinetics of nicotine. In both clinical studies, RELX used the vaping devices made by its strategic partner Smoore.

    Moreover, in September 2021, RELX and Smoore took the lead in drafting two industry standards “General Technical Specifications for Electronic Atomization Devices” and “Safety Technical Specifications for E-liquid”, led by the Electronic Cigarette Industry Committee of China Electronic Chamber of Commerce.

    In October 2020, the National Natural Science Foundation of China approved a research program on vaping harm reduction jointly conducted by Smoore and Tongji University. Over the next few years, Smoore and Tongji University will continue to conduct a series of studies on the health effects of vaping.

    In January, Smoore launched the world’s thinnest ceramic coil vape pod solution—FEELM Air—in London. Compared with last generation, FEELM Air boasts an overall harm reduction performance improvement of 80 percent.

    On Dec. 2, 2021, China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued the draft rules governing e-cigarettes following the regulator’s release of the exposure draft of national standards of e-cigarettes on Nov. 30, 2021.

    As China’s national standards of e-cigarettes come into effective, RELX said it will continue to increase its R&D investment and examine the harm reduction of vaping via scientific substantiation.

  • RLX Technology Reports Lower Quarterly Revenues

    RLX Technology Reports Lower Quarterly Revenues

    Photo: Freedomz

    RLX Technology today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2021.

    Net revenues were CNY1.68 billion ($260.2 million), representing a decrease of 34 percent from CNY2.54 billion in the second quarter of 2021.

    Gross margin was 39.1 percent, compared to 45.1 percent in the second quarter of 2021. U.S. GAAP net income was CNY976.4 million, compared with CNY824.3 million in the second quarter of 2021.

    Non-GAAP net income was CNY452.7 million, compared with CNY651.8 million in the second quarter of 2021.

    “In the third quarter, we continued to develop our business through concerted efforts deepening our scientific research abilities, adding to our differentiated product portfolio, and enhancing our sustainability initiatives. We also strengthened our core capabilities by expanding our talent pool, optimizing our retail network and making digitalization upgrades to our operating infrastructure,” said Ying (“Kate”) Wang, co-founder, chairperson of the board of directors and CEO of RLX Technology, in a statement.

    “Looking ahead, with the formal confirmation of the amendment to the implementation rules of tobacco monopoly law announced last week bringing innovative tobacco products including e-cigarettes under the regulatory framework, together with the draft administrative measures for electronic cigarettes and the draft national electronic cigarette product standards announced earlier this week, we believe the sector will enter a new era of development—an era marked by enhanced product safety and quality, augmented social responsibilities, and improved intellectual property protection. These developments will pave way for long-term sustainable growth in this sector.”

    “In the past quarter, we placed even more focus on investments in R&D, organizational upgrades and operational efficiency improvements in existing channels, shifting from the efforts on distribution network expansion in previous quarters,” said Chao Lu, chief financial officer of RLX Technology. “As a result, we have a richer product portfolio in the pipeline and healthier inventory levels across our value chain.”

    “We believe our quarterly revenue drop was temporary, and the investments we made in products, talents, research, and compliance in the third quarter and beyond will place us in advantageous positions under the new regulatory paradigm. We expect these investments to yield steady and sustainable growth soon,” Lu added.

  • RELX Announces Distribution Partnership in Saudi Arabia

    RELX Announces Distribution Partnership in Saudi Arabia

    Photo: viperagp

    RELX International has announced a partnership with SAF Trading Agencies for the exclusive distribution of RELX products throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    “This is an incredibly important partnership for RELX International, and we’re thrilled to be working with SAF Trading Agencies who will leverage their extensive KSA distribution network to make the brand widely available nationwide for our adult consumers,” said Fouad Barakat, general manager, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait & Algeria at RELX in a statement.

    “Our aim is to drive awareness and sales, as well as our corporate messaging to our target audience, adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking, across the region.”

    Since its establishment in the late 1980s, SAF Trading Agencies has grown into an extensive group of companies covering a diversified range of activities and markets including pharmaceuticals, e-cigarettes and food production.

    According to RELX, the Middle East and North Africa region is one of the vapor business’ fastest growing markets, expanding at a rate just short of 10 percent until 2024.

  • RELX Launches Infinity, Nano2 Vapes in Saudi Arabia

    RELX Launches Infinity, Nano2 Vapes in Saudi Arabia

    RELX International announced it has launched two e-cigarette products in Saudi Arabia. The move expands the vaping manufacturer’s Middle East presence where products are already available in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The company also announced it plans to expand into the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region this year.

    Saudi Arabia recently announced new regulations, similar to Europe’s TPD, following the EU standard for e-cigarette packaging and labeling which was introduced in Sept. 2020.

    “The MENA region is one of our category’s fastest growing markets, growing at a rate just short of 10 percent until 2024,” said Fouad Barakat, KSA general manager at RELX International. “Saudi Arabia is one of the region’s largest and most prosperous markets, hence the need for any brand to launch there if it wants to thrive and grow bigger.”

    The company introduced two products into the Saudi Arabian market. Both the RELX Infinity and Nano2 devices are available. The Infinity, RELX’s flagship product, comes with wireless charging and clicks into place with a built-in pogo pin. The charging case delivers up to three full charges with its dual system in just 45 minutes, according to RELX.

    The Nano2 is a disposable device which features a user-friendly design. “The RELX Nano2 offers RELX’s quality and technology standards at the lowest price point,” a release states. “This device is perfect if you’re a first-time e-cigarette user or if you’re looking for a compact and discreet vape pen.”

  • RELX Warns Consumers of Growing Counterfeit Sales

    RELX Warns Consumers of Growing Counterfeit Sales

    Example of a fake RELX website selling unofficial RELX products

    RELX International has warned consumers against purchasing its products through unofficial or unlicensed websites. “It has recently come to the attention of RELX International that a number of unlicensed persons or companies are attempting to profit off of the good and responsible reputation of the RELX brand in a number of markets, including Australia and Philippines,” the company stated in a press release.

    “In addition to selling unlicensed and potentially fake products, these websites and social media channels have been disseminating a variety of unfounded claims about our products or e-cigarette products in general. RELX International only provides science-based information about our products and only sells products to adult smokers or vapers. Furthermore, RELX International never uses any cartoons or ‘kid-friendly’ images or videos in our branding.

    “RELX International established the Golden Shield Program in 2019 to help prevent the production and sale of illicit e-cigarette goods such as those mentioned above. With the goal of safeguarding adult e-cigarette users’ right to access quality products, members of RELX International’s Golden Shield Program utilize large amounts of data and other technologies to track down illicit e-cigarette products sold online and offline. The Golden Shield team actively works with online social media platforms, online e-commerce platforms as well as Customs authorities to eliminate illicit vaping products from the market.

    “The Golden Shield team has already helped authorities launch 28 criminal cases related to the illegal production and sale of illicit or copyright-infringing e-cigarette products. Over 77,000 websites and over 6,000 social media accounts have been taken down due to the Golden Shield team’s efforts, and 550,000 illicit products have been removed from the market.

    “Moving forward we are committed to getting even more counterfeit products off the market.”

    The release lists all the official RELX websites as well as provides an email address to confirm third-party websites that are selling authentic RELX products.