Investor Relations

Digital Domain Obtains Distribution Rights of XPG Products in Greater China and the Americas

Hong Kong, August 8, 2024 – Digital Domain Holdings Limited (“Digital Domain”, stock code: 547), a global leader in Hollywood VFX and AI virtual human development technologies, announced a partnership with XPG, the gaming lifestyle brand under ADATA, a global leader in DRAM modules and flash memory. Digital Domain will obtain distribution rights for XPG products in Greater China and the Americas while both companies are set to collaborate with the intention of ushering in new milestones in industries such as gaming, fashion, film & television, and other forms of digital entertainment.

Today (August 8), both ADATA Chairman, Mr. Simon Chen, and Digital Domain CEO, Mr. Daniel Seah, attended a joint press conference to announce a greater partnership between the two companies. After the unveiling of XPG’s brand ambassador, Mera, as an AI virtual human, developed in collaboration with Digital Domain for COMPUTEX 2024, Mr. Chen saw the potential of leveraging the advantages of Digital Domain in the global entertainment industry to comprehensively advance XPG’s gaming products. Additionally, Mera will continue to evolve with the help of Digital Domain’s future advancements in AI virtual human applications. The partnership between two behemoths in their respective industries will undoubtedly pioneer the next phase of entertainment experiences in the era of AI.

Digital Domain Connects ADATA to the Global Entertainment Industry

ADATA’s gaming lifestyle brand, XPG, has strived to surpass industry boundaries by consistently launching innovative products and services that allow players to enjoy new and fantastic gaming experiences. ADATA’s pursuit of innovation and facilitation of the ultimate entertainment experience coincides with the principles and technological advantages held by Digital Domain. A partnership between these companies will unlock never-before-seen potential for products and applications across a wide spectrum of markets and industries. With more than 30 years of experience in Hollywood entertainment, Digital Domain has participated in the production of several hundred films and TV series as well as thousands of commercials, video games, and both experimental and immersive experiences. Through the fields of VFX, AI virtual humans, and digital visualization, Digital Domain has achieved global recognition and an incomparable foundation of highly competitive technologies, skills, creative minds, and connections to the largest entertainment IPs in the world.

Mr. Chen expressed his positive outlook on Digital Domain’s strong portfolio and broad range of clients with the following statement:

“I’m very excited about the broad, diverse operational benefits this partnership with Digital Domain will bring to ADATA. In addition to greater sales performance for XPG in Greater China and the Americas, we look forward to an expanded partnership in the future to drive powerful growth and profitability for our family of companies.”

ADATA to Assist Digital Domain with Technology Implementation

After recognizing AI virtual humans as an indispensable factor in the next phase of entertainment, Digital Domain has taken the strategic initiative by iterating the AI virtual human implementation process through real-time capturing and rendering to drive rich emotional expressivity and interaction in digital characters. This achievement has allowed Digital Domain to expand applications outside the silver screen into fields such as video game development, travel, education, and financial services. Through partnership with ADATA, this technology will be further expanded and integrated through both gaming hardware and service software applications.

During today’s press conference, the AI virtual human version of Mera, XPG’s brand ambassador, jointly developed by Digital Domain and ADATA originally for COMPUTEX 2024, participated in the event to demonstrate innovative AI integration with virtual human technology through real-time crowd interaction. Staying true to the theme of “Entering a New Domain of Gaming Lifestyle,” ADATA’s future products can be expected to offer breakthrough innovative experiences through AI virtual assistants and AI partners in both hardware and software products to revolutionize the gaming experience.

Digital Domain CEO, Mr. Daniel Seah, stated:

“Digital Domain strives to innovate and expand the diverse applications and business models of AI virtual humans. The era of AI application across sectors is upon us and it is an honor to partner with ADATA for the opportunity to integrate the technological breakthroughs that both companies have made in software and hardware. With Digital Domain’s capabilities and connections in licensing IP from Hollywood, products from ADATA and XPG will enjoy revolutionary innovation as well as support Digital Domain in the implementation of AI virtual human technology.”

Renowned producer and actress, Ms. Ruby Lin, veteran TV writer and producer, Mr. Wang Wei-zhong, and Vice Chairman and fashion tastemaker, Mrs. Teresa Chen, of Eelin Entertainment were also in attendance to show support of the meaningful partnership. Both companies also announced ADATA’s authorization of Digital Domain to distribute XPG products in Greater China and the Americas to develop new markets and fields across sectors. Both companies will leverage the partnership and work closely in the future to integrate tech innovations in AI, software, and hardware into industries such as immersive entertainment, gaming, film & television, and fashion to pioneer the ultimate entertainment experiences in the era of AI.

Hong Kong, 24th July, 2024 — Digital Domain Holding Limited (“Digital Domain”, stock code: 547), a global leader in Hollywood visual effects, is announcing the establishment of a state-of-the-art Research & Development (R&D) Center in Hong Kong Science Park at the “Digital Domain lands in Hong Kong Science Park” launching ceremony. Leveraging virtual human technology to transform entertainment industry, Digital Domain will join forces with Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) to lead innovation and set new industry standards.

The R&D Center will serve as a hub for collaboration, attracting top talent from around the globe and fostering partnerships with leading academic institutions, industry experts, and technology innovators, shaping the future of digital entertainment, life and culture, as well as innovation and technology industries, and advancing the creative frontier through uniting diverse expertise and cutting-edge technology in different aspects, including:

1. Virtual Human (VH): Developing an advanced AI-driven virtual human that can engage in natural and complex interactions to enhance the user experience in service-oriented environments. This interaction will introduce a brand-new concept that highlights the potential of AI-powered virtual human hospitality services for travelers to interact with in the near future.
2. Visual Effects (VFX): Utilizing AI technology to create more dynamic, cost-effective, and high-quality visual effects for the production of films, TV series, and commercial advertisements.
3. AI-Powered Video Production (AVP): Developing innovative tools that leverage AI to produce 3D asset-based video content, in order to streamline the content creation workflow in media production.

At the launch ceremony, honored guests, including Professor Dong SUN, JP, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Dr GE Ming, the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology); Mr. Albert WONG, the CEO of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; and Mr. Daniel SEAH, the CEO of Digital Domain, attended the event. To showcase the innovation of AI technology during the launch ceremony, Digital Domain invited a special guest, Virtual Human Teresa Teng to the event for a real-time interactive dialogue with Prof. Dong SUN, JP.

Professor Dong SUN, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry shared at the ceremony, “As we know, AI has revolutionised the film and entertainment industry, transforming film-making, visual effects, and animation. Digital Domain is a testament to this, with its groundbreaking use of AI technology as a tool for better storytelling and immersion.  By harnessing the power of AI, we can create truly exceptional products that push the boundaries of imagination. This is the future we envision for the film and entertainment industry, where humans and AI work hand-in-hand to create unforgettable experiences. The Hong Kong Government has been well-prepared for both the opportunities and challenges brought by AI revolution. We are dedicated to supporting the AI industry, along with other I&T industries of strategic importance, to develop in Hong Kong.”

Digital Domain Establishes an International R&D Center to Strengthen Hong Kong’s Status as the “Oriental Hollywood”

With over 30 years of development experience, Digital Domain has been involved in the production of hundreds of films and TV series, thousands of commercials, game visuals, as well as experimental and immersive experiences. By combining with deep learning and virtual reality technologies, Digital Domain has iterated the construction process of AI virtual humans to create digital characters with emotional expressiveness and interactive capabilities. By driving the prosperous development of “Made in Hong Kong” films, Digital Domain aims to further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as the “Oriental Hollywood”. In addition, Digital Domain also plans to extend the breakthrough of AI Virtual Human technology beyond the big screen. Leveraging AI virtual humans to transcend the limitations of language, geography, and time, it will promote and apply this technology across four key areas: the banking industry, the education sector, the elderly care industry, and the tourism industry.

Aligning with the objectives outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, which aims to establish Hong Kong as an “Eight Centres” city (including as an international innovation and technology centre as well as being an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange), Hong Kong plays a vital role helping enterprises in “Bring-in” and “Go-global”. It presents favorable conditions for Digital Domain rooting in Hong Kong as a base to gather talents from the Greater Bay Area and globally. Mr. Daniel SEAH, CEO of Digital Domain, stated, “Hong Kong is a vibrant city with a diverse culture. As an international financial center and a global trade hub, Hong Kong attracts a wide range of cultures and influences from around the world. This unique blend of East and West fosters a thriving creative ecosystem, driving development of industries including entertainment, culture, and technology-driven lifestyle innovation. The goal is to further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as the ‘Oriental Hollywood’ and explore even more innovative frontiers.”

Expanding R&D Scale by Recruiting Local and Overseas Talents to Accelerate the Development of Hong Kong’s Entertainment and Creative Technology Industries

As the largest innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem in Hong Kong, HKSTP is home to more than 14,000 research professionals and 1,800 tech ventures from around the world, with a strong network of over a thousand investors. HKSTP strives to recruit and nurture I&T talents through a series of initiatives, such as the “Technology Leaders of Tomorrow” programme and the “I&T Career Expo”, to support tech ventures in offering world-class research infrastructure, professional guidance and developing investment networks to promote collaboration. HKSTP will continue to act as a super-connector in the industry, helping Digital Domain to expand its R&D teams and strengthen the local talent pool while driving the innovative development among entertainment and cross-industry.

With the support of HKSTP, Digital Domain plans to invest approximately HK$204 million by the end of 2029 to recruit and develop over 40 professional talents, in order to expand its team. Through continuous talent recruitment, Digital Domain aims to further develop technologies of AI virtual humans, visual effects, and AI-powered video production as well as file a total of 5 patent applications in Hong Kong to promote technological innovation and intellectual property protection. This will contribute to the commercialization of AI virtual human, visual effects, and AI-powered video production in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Digital Domain also helps push forward Hong Kong to become an international hub for AI and AI virtual human technology R&D. Looking ahead, Digital Domain hopes to leverage the R&D of innovative technologies in Hong Kong to apply these technologies to the local entertainment industry. This will create more internationally-renowned entertainment experiences for Hong Kong citizens, and attract more overseas visitors to the city, thereby supporting the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry.

Innovative Partnership Aims to Revolutionize Global Hospitality and Airport Services Through Advanced Digital Solutions with First Launch Event at Taoyuan International Airport

July 5, 2024— Digital Domain Holdings Limited (“Digital Domain”, stock code: 547) and Mr. Song Hoi See, Founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group, are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking joint venture to initiate the business of digital human hospitality services. This new entity aims to redefine the global hospitality and airport services landscape with innovative digital human technology and AI.

The joint venture will function as a separate entity, utilizing the strengths of its parent company’s core business in Hollywood visual effects technologies to provide industry leading innovations. This venture combines Digital Domain’s cutting-edge digital human technology with Mr. Song’s extensive expertise in global hospitality and airport services through Plaza Premium Group. Together, they will offer intelligent, interactive, and highly personalized services to meet the various aspects of changing needs for modern travelers.

Today, Digital Domain held the “The Next Frontier in Travel” press conference at Taoyuan International Airport. Distinguished guests, including Taoyuan City Mayor, Mr. Chang San-Cheng, Digital Domain CEO, Mr. Daniel Seah, Plaza Premium Group Founder and CEO, Mr. Song Hoi See, and Taoyuan International Airport Corporation Ltd. Chairman, Mr. Yang Weifuu attended the event and delivered speeches.

Strategic Vision and Expertise Unite

This collaboration represents the convergence of two industry leaders:

• Digital Domain: With over 30-years experience in creating some of the most breath- taking visuals for Hollywood films, the veteran VFX studio is now ready to take some of its innovative technologies, originally developed over the years for film, beyond the big screen. This joint venture cements the company’s first significant branch into the commercialization of VFX technologies outside the realm of media and entertainment. Specifically, the studio’s Oscar winning digital human technologies refined over decades of expertise and Hollywood film-making experience will be further refined and perfected to provide real-time services in hospitality and travel industry through expert guidance and collaboration with Plaza Premium Group.

• Mr. Song Hoi See (Founder & CEO of Plaza Premium Group): A visionary in global airport and travel hospitality, Mr. Song Hoi See brings unparalleled leadership and insight from his role as Founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group. With over two decades experience in the industry, Mr. Song and his expert team in travel hospitality are based in Hong Kong and operates in over 80 airports with over 250 locations. They are not only the largest independently run pay-in lounge operation in the world but also white labeling for 13 other brands globally. Mr. Song brings not only his extensive knowledge in the travel and hospitality industry to the table, but also his vast network of connections for opportunities of digital human services to expand to, both within and in surrounding industries.

Revolutionizing Hospitality and Airport Services

The collaboration will establish new industry standards by combining cutting-edge real-time digital human technologies with traditional hospitality services in the areas of travel, hotels, tourism offices, duty-free and other concessions, call centers etc. Through enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency, the joint venture will aim to create a seamless combination of digital innovation and personalized service across all hospitality sectors.

Leadership and Innovation at the Helm

Mr. Song Hoi See’s involvement is a significant asset to the joint venture. His visionary leadership and extensive experience with Plaza Premium Group will guide the partnership toward achieving its goal of revolutionizing the hospitality and travel sectors around the world. Daniel Seah, CEO of Digital Domain, stated, “Mr. Song Hoi See’s expertise will be key in identifying and executing upon industry leading opportunities with our technologies, but equally if not more importantly, Mr. Song’s values and passion are what I believe will be the foundation of this successful partnership and the success of this venture.”

In partnering with award winning VFX house, Digital Domain, Mr. Song Hoi See remarks, “Digital Domain, as a Hollywood based studio, is considered by many, to be a pioneer in Digital Human Technology. Through their proven experience and leadership in Digital Human Technology, we aim to leverage their experience in delivering an innovative, and immersive customer service in airports and hospitality sectors world-wide.”

Driven by shared commitment to excellence and innovation, this strategic collaboration marks a new chapter in the hospitality and airport services industry. The joint venture is dedicating itself to transforming customer experiences and setting new standards for service and efficiency.
Notably, today’s press conference featured a surprise appearance by the virtual Teresa Teng along side Daniel Seah, CEO of Digital Domain. Their interaction leads to the introduction of a brand new proof of concept highlighting the potential of AI powered virtual human services for travelers to interact with in the near future.

Aligned with the theme “Next Stop, the Future,” the conference showed a glimpse of what an airport VIP lounge equipped with a virtual ambassador informational kiosk could be like for future travelers. Driven by artificial intelligence-related technologies, the virtual human kiosk provided essential assistance such as elaborating PPL lounge offerings, route navigation, and airport vicinity inquiries, all while adding a personable response to human-computer interaction in real-time situations.

Embracing the added value of AI in the tourism and travel service industry, Taoyuan City Government and Taoyuan International Airport also provided co-organizational support for this press conference. Mr. Chang San-Cheng, Mayor of Taoyuan City, emphasized: “Currently, Taoyuan Airport has developed an ecosystem spanning from production and manufacturing, data
storage, and now to AI applications, beyond advancing AI services at Taoyuan Airport, this collaboration aims to enhance global awareness of Taoyuan International Airport using AI technology, for instance, using virtual technology to showcase local celebrities welcoming guests at the concierge desk or recreate famous Taiwan attractions at the airport, creating an immersive experience that leaves visitors with a deeper appreciation of Taiwan and Taoyuan International Airport, this initiative seeks to elevate Taoyuan International Airport’s global ranking.”

Digital Domain is refining its virtual human solutions for use in smart kiosks. The company plans to collaborate with local manufactures through cross-border licensing and remote technical support. This effort aims to promote and expand AI virtual human technology across various settings such as airports and hotels. Taoyuan International Airport is optimistic about the potential of integrating such technologies and supports the development and implementation. Mr. Yang Weifuu, Chairman of Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, stated: “Through the collaboration between Digital Domain and Plaza Premium Group, a new AI virtual assistant service has made its global debut at the Plaza Premium Lounge at Taoyuan International Airport. This innovation not only enhances the passenger experience but also marks a significant step toward Taoyuan Airport becoming a smart airport. I believe that with every new smart service that has been introduced it will progressively improve the user experience, making travel more convenient. Thank you to Digital Domain and our strategic partner Plaza Premium Group for selecting Taoyuan Airport for this launch and to everyone for their trust and support of Taoyuan International Airport. Let’s look forward together to the advanced travel experiences that AI virtual customer service will bring!”

On June 6, 2024, in Hong Kong, Digital Domain Holdings Limited (“Digital Domain”, stock code: 547) announced a collaboration with Star Plus Legend Holdings Limited (“Star Plus Legend”, stock code: 6683) through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Tower Talent. Digital Domain has partnered with Star Plus Legend, leveraging Star Odyssey, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the latter, to establish a joint venture. Each company will own 40% of the joint venture, and 20% by the Management Team Company. This strategic initiative signifies the beginning of both parties’ entry into the competitive market as they explore the integration of diverse business models through AI Generated Content (AIGC) and Intellectual Property (IP).

In the era of artificial intelligence advancements, digitalization has become crucial for top-tier enterprises aiming to integrate various business models. With a rich legacy spanning over 30 years, Digital Domain has produced numerous feature films, episodes, advertising, game cinematics, and experimental immersive experiences, resulting in a vast asset library. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, Digital Domain has developed proprietary virtual humans with capabilities for real-time capture, rendering, emotional expressiveness, and intelligent interaction. Star Plus Legend possesses a robust celebrity IP portfolio and a comprehensive IP operation model. By customizing unique character and content IPs for artists, it maximizes their influence. For instance, Star Plus Legend has created official Nijigen-style personalities and virtual humans for artists such as Jay Chou and Liu Keng-hung, licensing them for use in the metaverse/AI content creation domain. This partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter in combining digital content with diverse technologies for both parties.

The joint venture aims to capitalize on their strengths by developing an AI-driven copyright library using artificial intelligence. They also intend to create immersive entertainment experiences for platforms such as the Metaverse. Additionally, as the exclusive digital content production and distribution agent for Star Plus Legend, the joint venture is dedicated to advancing the digitization of its IP matrix and creative content production.

The advent of artificial intelligence has revolutionized the consumer market, making it more interactive and interconnected than ever before. According to Daniel SEAH, CEO of Digital Domain, consumers are embracing digitalization with a new mindset and behavior. Digital Domain’s advanced technology and creative expertise in virtual humans and visual effects can create valuable synergies with the influential IP matrix and operation model of Star Plus Legend. This collaboration can enhance the monetization of celebrities’ digital avatars and their commercial value, opening up a wider range of application scenarios.

Ms. Michelle MA, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Star Plus Legend said, “Through this collaboration, we aim to maximize our expertise in IP operation and creation, driving the innovative development of ‘AIGC+IP’. This marks a crucial step in expanding our global market presence. Looking ahead, we anticipate collaborating closely with Digital Domain to create an intelligent, interactive, and personalized digital ecosystem, fostering further innovation and development of the industry.”

JAKOTA Capital AG played a crucial role in brokering the joint venture deal between Digital Domain and Star Plus Legend and will remain the strategic adviser to the joint venture going forward.

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About Digital Domain

Digital Domain Holdings Limited (“Digital Domain”) is the pioneer of creating transportive experiences. Throughout the last 30 years, Digital Domain has grown to lead the visual effects industry, expanding globally the arm of virtual humans and visualization. Digital Domain’s rich legacy consists of hundreds of feature films and episodes, thousands of advertisements, game cinematics, and experimental immersive experiences. A creative force in cutting-edge technologies, Digital Domain has brought exceptional artistry to Academy Award-winning blockbusters of “Titanic,” “What Dreams May Come,” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Marvel Cinematic Universe titles crushed all-time worldwide box office, such as the “Avengers” franchise, and “Stranger Things” made a splash with Season IV.

As the first independent visual effects studio to successfully enter Greater China, Digital Domain has further paved the way towards virtual race since 2016. Leaning into technologies of artificial intelligence and virtual reality allows Digital Domain to create photorealistic and emotionally expressive virtual humans, all in real-time, as well as provides an advanced medium for human-computer and human-human interactions in diverse virtual scenarios.

Digital Domain is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 547). Digital Domain has locations including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai and Hyderabad.

Digital Domain’s official website – WWW.DIGITALDOMAIN.COM

About Star Plus Legend

Star Plus Legend Holdings Limited (6683.HK) was founded in 2017 and is a publicly listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, primarily focusing on IP creation and operation and new retail business. In December 2023, the company received the “ListCo Excellence Awards” from IFENG.COM and AM730. It was approved for inclusion in the Hang Seng Composite Index in February 2024, and formally entered the Hong Kong Stock Connect in March, and was included in the MSCI Global Small Cap Index in May.

The IP creation and operation business comprises IP content creation and management business, including provision of media content creation, event planning, celebrity IP management services, and IP licensing and sales of related products. The company has rich experience in IP creation and operation, maximizing the influence of celebrities by creating unique character IPs and media content IP for different artists, and the cumulative number of fans of the existing celebrity IP portfolio has reached 200 million.

In the new retail segment, the company focuses on developing and selling health management and skincare products, including its owns health management brands MODONG and Bonggie, and skincare brand Dr.mg. According to CIC, MODONG Coffee ranked first in China’s bulletproof drink market by gross merchandise value (GMV) for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023. Bonggie Matcha Powder became the best-selling product in the Douyin natural powder market in 2023. In addition, the MODONG brand received the “Jiangsu Highly Famous Trademark” award in 2024. The company’s products have been highly recognized in the health and wellness sector. Looking ahead, Star Plus Legend aims to leverage the synergy between its new retail and IP creation and operation businesses to drive sustained growth.

Star Plus Legned’s official website – www.6683.hk

Sept 25, 2023, Hong Kong – The School of Creative Media at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) successfully held the “Hong Kong Film Series Opening Night”. During the event held in celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the School, Digital Domain Holdings Limited (stock code: 547) announced the launch of the “Digital Domain Scholarships” at CityU. The scholarship scheme marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Digital Domain and aims to cultivate the next generation of film and television pioneers. With its expertise in virtual humans, visual effects, and visualization, Digital Domain is committed to providing strong support for this scholarship scheme, which will begin in the 2023/2024 academic year and will last for three years.

Throughout the past three decades, Digital Domain has established a rich legacy of delivering exceptional artistry to numerous feature films, including blockbuster hits like Titanic, What Dreams May Come, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. They have also worked on episodic shows, thousands of advertising projects, game cinematics, and experimental immersive experiences. Digital Domain’s proprietary virtual humans are brought to life through the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies, allowing them to be captured, rendered, and driven in real-time. They have created Virtual Teresa Teng, Virtual Martin Luther King Jr., and Virtual David Beckham, all of whom can intelligently interact in various scenarios. Digital Domain is committed to introducing cutting-edge technology and valuable Hollywood experience as a social responsibility and providing local creative talents and technological elites with ample opportunities for self-development. These advantages align with the educational philosophy of CityU.

Mr. Daniel Seah, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Domain, highlighted that CityU is an ideal place for nurturing creative talents and technological elites. Digital Domain is proud to collaborate with the School of Creative Media at the university to provide students with opportunities to unleash their potential. In the current era, where artificial intelligence is rapidly progressing, it is crucial to identify young generations with innovative consciousness and a fearless spirit to build an interdisciplinary talent pool for the industry.

Professor Lee Chun-sing, Provost and Deputy President of CityU, said, “CityU is pleased to receive the generous support from Digital Domain, so that both of us own an opportunity to work with the industry to cultivate outstanding talents and contribute to the creative landscape in Hong Kong and even the world.”

In addition to funding scholarships, Digital Domain is also planning to launch a series of practical activities with the School of Creative Media of CityU, including hosting master forums and arranging studio visits.