Jeton Ranks #75 on the Financial Times List of Europe’s 1,000 Fastest-Growing Companies

LONDON, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Global payment provider Jeton found its place among the top 1000 largest growing companies in Europe, ranked by Financial Times (FT) and compiled in collaboration with data provider Statista. It placed #75 on the FT1000 list, showing some of Europe’s rapidly expanding businesses, many of which are now global industry leaders.

This recognition comes after years of diligent work and expansion for Jeton, which has grown significantly since its establishment in 2018. The company has since been providing a comprehensive range of services, offering a wider selection of products, and becoming a reputable partner to individuals and corporations. As a result of its global expansion, the company currently holds operational licences in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and the Commonwealth of Dominica. These achievements have merited them prestigious awards such as the AIBC Dubai Awards 2022 and the Online Payment Service Provider of Year Award at Sigma 2023.

Their reach is extensive; their wallet covers over 70 currencies across more than 100 countries, has over 50 payment methods, and has multiple checkout options with banks and wallets. Users can easily transact using various international and local payment methods, highlighting their global presence. Furthermore, the company has unique financial solutions and products such as Jeton Card, by VISA, available in 31 countries and enabling payment options such as Google and Apple Pay. Jeton’s solutions include an e-voucher, Jeton Cash, helping users make payments without leaving sensitive information behind. This method is a quick, easy, and safe way to conduct online transactions. Jeton also has successfully managed strategic partnerships, including its ongoing collaboration with West Ham United and past agreements with prominent Premier League football teams (related link: https://tinyurl.com/yes2u794).

Saaly Temirkanov, Executive Director of Jeton, expressed gratitude for the company’s inclusion on this esteemed list, emphasising the team’s commitment, hard work, and varied expertise. “We are excited about our recent achievement and the opportunities it presents for our future,” he remarked. “This acknowledgement also underscores the unwavering support and confidence of our partners in our capacity to pioneer new ventures and deliver exceptional results daily.”

The eighth annual edition of the FT Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies, associated with Statista, is published in the FT and on FT.com in March 2024. Regarded as one of the entrepreneurial world’s most valued league tables, it ranks the 1,000 European companies with the most substantial revenue growth across 31 European territories.

About Jeton

Jeton Wallet provides a wide range of financial solutions for online and offline purchases. For more information, please visit www.jeton.com.

Social Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jetonwallet/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063704912597
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Telegram: https://t.me/jetonwalletofficial

Media contact
Jeton Wallet
Contact: media team
Email: marketing@jeton.com
Website: https://www.jeton.com/

SOURCE: Jeton Wallet

Inkeverse Announces 2023 Annual Results

HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Inkeverse Group Limited (“Inkeverse” or “the Group”, stock code: 3700) has announced its annual results for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Reporting Period”).

During the Reporting Period, the Group achieved revenue of RMB 6,845 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.3% as compared with that of 2022; Net profit was RMB 401 million, turning around from a loss in the previous year; Adjusted net profit was RMB 426 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.9% as compared with that of 2022. The value-added service revenue is RMB 5,220 million yuan, accounting for 76.3% of the Group’s overall revenue; The content services revenue is RMB 959 million, accounting for 14.0% of the Group’s overall revenue.

Live streaming and social networking businesses remain steady, with platform advantage expanding

In 2023, Inkeverse maintained a healthy momentum in its live streaming and social networking businesses through refined operational strategies. The flagship product “Inke App” improved the commercial monetization capabilities by optimizing resource management and incentive policies. The platform advantage accumulated over the years in the live streaming field has effectively supported the Group’s strategic multi-product plan. These measures have effectively promoted the healthy development of the live streaming social networking ecosystem, creating a healthy and vibrant live broadcasting ecosystem, and contributing stable cash flow to the Group.

The social networking business has continued to leverage the advantages of the Group’s product matrix. By continuously optimizing the monetization logic of the social product matrix, adjusting user matching mechanisms, and upgrading member benefits, the overall market competitiveness of the Group has been constantly enhanced. Over the years, live streaming and social networking businesses have become the core businesses of the Group. The steady growth momentum has provided stable and substantial cash flow support to the Group, effectively driving deep expansion and continuous innovation.

Innovative businesses such as playlets have become the second growth driver, once again confirming the Group’s innovative mechanism

In the second half of 2022, the Group swiftly deployed resources to capitalize on the thriving trend in the playlets market. Leveraging its first-mover advantage in live streaming and social networking businesses, along with a mature support system and efficient internal management mechanisms, the Group thoroughly analyzed the industry chain and rapidly launched hit products. Thus, the Group quickly emerged as one of the leading companies in this sector, attracting a large number of users and occupying a prominent position in the market.

The Group has incubated a number of phenomenal products, demonstrating its ability to rapidly leverage the innovative methodologies. Based on years of experience accumulation and astute market insight, the Group consistently seizes market opportunities and continues to innovate in an ever-evolving environment.

The strategy of seizing global opportunities to go overseas has achieved results

Seizing global development opportunities and implementing an effective overseas strategy, the Group has rapidly expanded into overseas markets and promoted product localization. Leveraging extensive experience in the audiovisual networking field, the Group continuously optimizes its products and operational strategies. Some social networking products have topped the best-selling social applications in countries like Vietnam. Furthermore, the Group has expanded its presence beyond Vietnam to include other Southeast Asian nations, as well as venturing into emerging markets such as the Middle East. The success validates the Group’s ability to achieve business model loop through international expansion and establishes a solid foundation for its future overseas development.

The rapid verification of the overseas expansion strategy highlights the Group’s exceptional proficiency in global market deployment and product localization. Through in-depth understanding of local user needs, establishment of localized teams and close collaboration with local partners, the Group has successfully extended its operational experience to international markets and achieved remarkable sales performance. The accomplishment not only demonstrates the Group’s strategic vision in international operation, but also underscores its leading position in industry chain extension and global market competition.

Looking ahead, the Group will continue to consolidate its core business, expanding its platform advantages by enriching the live streaming social ecosystem to meet the evolving needs of global users. Meanwhile, the Group will actively expand its presence in overseas markets, leveraging its accumulated market expansion experience to expedite the consolidation of its core markets’ competitive advantage and explore emerging markets in order to fully tap into the international markets. The Group will closely monitor the pace of technological innovation, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and Web 3.0, while increasing investment and actively embracing new technologies to facilitate seamless integration with diverse business scenarios. Through optimizing product experiences, strengthening user relationship chains, developing tailored products for different markets, and enhancing technology integration capabilities, the Group aims to establish a more advanced and intelligent internet ecosystem that leads the industry towards high-quality and comprehensive intelligence-driven development. Looking ahead, the Group will continuously enhance its core competitiveness to provide users with richer, more convenient, and personalized service experiences while achieving sustained and steady growth.

About Inkeverse:

Inkeverse (3700.HK) is a leading interactive social platform in China. In May 2015, the core product Inke APP was launched, creating the trend of domestic mobile live streaming broadcasting. Inke was listed in Hong Kong in July 2018, making it the first entertainment livestreaming enterprise on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and continues to deepen its efforts in the field of audio and video streaming. After its listing, Inke is focusing on the strategy of “matrix products” for the development layout of the Group. Based on the mature industrial mid-stage system, aiming at the needs of many vertical markets and individuals, it has successively created a number of phenomenon products and has rolled out a rich matrix of social products. After undergoing multiple online and offline scenarios, and establishing a presence in overseas markets, it has transformed from a single product line into a matrix of products to drive performance growth. Reflecting this shift, in 2022, Inke changed its name to Inkeverse, aiming to create a multidimensional social matrix combining reality and virtual reality based on a new technology model. In 2023, the Group’s newly developed playlets swiftly rose to the top tier in the industry, once again validating its innovative capabilities and solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

For more information, please visit the IR website: https://ir.inkeverse.com/sc/ir_overview.php

For enquiry, please contact Intelligent Joy Limited:

Jaon Guo / Willa Xie

Jason.Guo@intelligentjoy.com / Willa.Xie@intelligentjoy.com

Umob partners with CleverTap to deliver personalised customer experiences

Mountain View, Calif, & Mumbai, India, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform, announced its selection by Umob, the Netherlands’ premier super-mobility platform; Umob combines all-electric e-mopeds, scooters, bikes, cabs and public transport within one app. Through CleverTap’s cutting-edge offerings, they will be able to harness the power of data-driven insights and personalised engagement. This will enhance user experiences, drive user retention, and optimise their overall business operations.

Umob’s innovative approach to sustainable urban mobility has positioned it as a prominent name in the Netherlands market. They have simplified how people navigate cities with a seamless app experience. Umob was looking for a platform to enhance customer engagement and retention strategies, provide data-driven decision-making, personalise experiences, and increase customer lifetime value.

CleverTap’s all-in-one platform, which includes advanced analytics, multi-channel communication capabilities, and seamless integration options, will play a pivotal role in helping Umob meet its requirements. With CleverTap, Umob can deliver highly targeted and personalised user experiences, driving increased engagement, loyalty, and lifetime value.

“As Umob continues on its high-growth trajectory, we must focus on maximising customer lifetime value early on. In a period of rapid expansion, retaining high-quality customers and driving return on investment are paramount to our business sustainability,” said Raymon Pouwels, Co-Founder of Umob. “CleverTap emerged as the ideal fit for us, offering an all-in-one platform that aligns perfectly with our objectives. With CleverTap’s suite of cutting-edge offerings, we are confident in our ability to deliver personalised experiences, foster strong customer relationships, and ultimately drive long-term business success.”

Pravin Laghate, Vice President, Europe, CleverTap, said, “Umob’s strides in the mobility-as-a-service space are nothing short of remarkable. This partnership signifies the fusion of two forward-thinking entities aiming to revolutionise the industry. As Umob embarks on a phase of exponential growth, CleverTap’s innovative solutions will play a pivotal role in empowering their journey. Together, we envision a future where mobility-as-a-service is redefined, offering unparalleled convenience, maximising the lifetime value of each user.”

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the all-in-one engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value by helping them create personalised experiences to retain their most valuable customers. The platform empowers businesses to orchestrate experiences for individuals across their lifecycles and design personalised journeys that span a lifetime. It offers analytics encompassing every aspect of the lifecycle, enabling businesses to measure and optimise each experience in real-time. Its unique AI capability is insightful, empathetic, and prescriptive, facilitating smarter and faster decisions. The all-in-one platform unifies experiences from every touchpoint, paving the way for a new era of customer engagement.

The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.

CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.

Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, and Jakarta.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/
X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events. They may be forward-looking statements or future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.

Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, the impact of a pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any

representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.

For more information:
SONY SHETTY
Director, Public Relations, CleverTap
+91 9820900036
sony@clevertap.com

IPSHITA BALU
Consultant
Archetype
+91 9590111798
ipshita.balu@archetype.co

Rockbird media Rocks the Debut of Customer Experience Summit Asia, Uplifting Philippine CX Scene

Manila, Philippines, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Rockbird media proudly announces the successful debut of its first-ever Customer Experience Summit Asia (CESA) on March 21, 2024, at Shangri-La The Fort, BGC. The summit, themed “Trailblazing The Future of Philippine Customer Experience,” addressed the critical challenges facing businesses in delivering exceptional customer experiences amidst the region’s burgeoning digital transformation.

Notable event highlights included engaging sponsor booths, keynote addresses, interactive breakout sessions, one-to-one meetings, and a compelling closing panel discussion. Additionally, there was a gamification sponsored by Winery.ph, where attendees had the chance to win wine through a raffle, adding an exciting and interactive element to the event.

Cynthia Mamon, COO of Enchanted Kingdom stated, “We all know that the experience is that every attraction should appeal to our senses, even spiritual senses,” which perfectly captures the essence of Rockbird media’s CESA 2024. This quote resonates throughout the event, emphasizing the importance of engaging all aspects of human experience. In the Philippine customer service landscape, businesses often struggle to keep up with changing customer needs. CESA 2024 aims to change that by bringing together industry leaders to share ideas and find new ways to improve customer experiences.

The success of CESA 2024 is underscored by the enthusiastic testimonials of attendees, such as:

“Reflecting on the inspiring discussions at the #CESA2024, where we explored new avenues for elevating customer satisfaction. Many thanks to Rockbird media for hosting such an engaging event! Leveraging this knowledge at Payments Consulting Network for us to build stronger business connections and relationships,” said Joan Ko, Payments Consulting Network.

“Honoured to stand as the representative of our company at the groundbreaking 1st Customer Experience Summit Asia (CESA) 2024, thoughtfully organized by rockbird media. Attended by Presidents, VPs, AVPs, COOs, CEOs, and CFOs from across different industries,” said Eddiewin Pineda, (California Clothing, Inc.).

Rockbird media extends its sincerest appreciation to all attendees, sponsors, speakers, and media partners whose unwavering support was instrumental in making the inaugural CESA 2024 a resounding success. Their contributions have paved the way for meaningful transformations within the Philippine CX landscape.

CESA 2024 has emerged as a pivotal milestone in driving transformative change, offering actionable insights to empower businesses in navigating the complexities of an increasingly customer-centric era. As organizations embrace innovation and collaboration, they are poised to thrive and succeed in meeting the evolving needs of today’s consumers.

For more event updates or interested in having tailored events kindly visit: https://rockbirdmedia.com/

About rockbird media

Rockbird media is an international business media company that produces B2B events and offers business solutions.

Whether it is through online media and content, must-have business intelligence and analytics, effective networking, and partnering solutions, we help businesses and professionals learn more about the latest trends, and know more about their customers, peers, and competition, to make that decision that allows them to grow.

For more information, contact lyra@rockbirdmedia.com.

Nissin Foods Announces 2023 Annual Results, Net Profit Up 5.6% to HK$330.2 Million

HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Nissin Foods Company Limited (“Nissin Foods” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) has announced its annual results today for the year ended 31 December 2023.

The Group recorded revenue at HK$3,833.2 million. Gross profit was HK$1,303.1 million, with gross profit margin increased by 2.0 percentage points to 34.0% in 2023 from 32.0% (restated) in 2022. The increase in gross profit margin was mainly attributable to the price adjustments implemented in both Hong Kong and Mainland China in 2022 to offset the surge in manufacturing costs, as well as the easing of the key raw material costs.

Profit attributable to owners of the Company increased by 5.6% year-on-year to HK$330.2 million, improving the net profit margin from 7.7% (restated) in 2022 to 8.6%. The Group’s basic earnings per share for the reporting period increased to 31.64 HK cents.

The Board recommends the payment of a final dividend of 15.82 HK cents per share, representing a dividend payout ratio of 50.0% for the year. The financial position of the Group remained healthy, with net cash of approximately HK$1,310.4 million and HK$820.0 million in available banking facilities as at 31 December 2023.

Review & Prospects of Instant Noodles and Non-Noodles Businesses

During the year, revenue from the Hong Kong and other Asia operations for the year was HK$1,513.2 million. The segment results was at HK$85.1 million as reduced sales volume diminished the optimisation of certain fixed costs and expenses. Meanwhile, for the Mainland China operations, revenue of HK$2,320.0 million was recorded for the year, and its segment results increased by 11.8% to HK$350.6 million, mainly attributable to the implementation of price adjustment in 2022 and the easing of raw material costs during the year.

The Group adhered to its premiumisation strategy during the year and launched new products to expand its portfolio to drive the growth of its instant noodles business. During the year, the Group continued to add new flavours to the “Cup Noodles”, “Demae Iccho”, “Nissin Raoh”, “Nissin U.F.O”, “Fuku” and “Doll” brands to encourage and stimulate consumer spending. The Group also introduced rice noodles and plant-meat products with non-allergic and non-meat ingredients, as well as implemented various collaborations with different parties. These collaborations include the launch of two flavours of instant bowl noodles with an apparel company, the introduction of “Cup Noodles Bucket” to consumers with a membership warehouse club in Shenzhen and a collaboration with Japanese anime “BLEACH” and “Onmyoji” to launch collaborative “Cup Noodles” products in Mainland China. In addition, the performance of Nissin Vietnam improved during the year which is primarily engaged in the production and sale of bag-type instant noodles under brands including “Mi Cay Nissin”, “365 Non-fried Noodles” and “Nissin Raoh”.

The Group has continued to expand its non-noodle business to diversify its portfolio. During the year, the Group extended its focus on its premium frozen food products offerings and further expanded its exposure in various sales channels to increase sales volume. The distribution business in Hong Kong recorded a rebound during the year owing to the subsidence of the pandemic and the revival of economic activities. In addition, due to the completed acquisition of Hong Kong Eastpeak Limited, which wholly owns Shanghai Eastpeak Trading Limited, the Group’s distribution network in Mainland China was further expanded.

The Group also continued to expand the sales channels of the “Kagome” business in different regions. Meanwhile, the Group replicated the success of “Nissin Granola” in Hong Kong and Mainland China to the new markets in Southeast Asia, and saw both sales value and volume grow in Singapore. Also, the Group has strategically added “Aojiru”, a Japanese vegetable drink made from kale, to its product portfolio and enriched the product line with the “Nissin Yogurt Series” to capture opportunities arising from the healthy lifestyles of consumers. In addition, “Nissin Crisp Choco”, the baked corn flakes chocolate snack, has received a highly positive response from the market. The distribution channels of the fresh-cut vegetables business were also expanded, with both sales value and volume recording growth in 2023.

Mr Kiyotaka ANDO, Executive Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nissin Foods, said, “Although the global economy has shown a resilient and better-than-expected recovery, there are various opportunities and challenges in the consumer market. We are delighted to see that the implementation of our premiumisation strategy for our core instant noodles products, along with the regular introduction of new flavours, continues to excite our consumers and yield results. The further diversification of our product portfolio in the non-noodles business has broadened our income base, strengthening our foundation to develop the mainstay of our business and overcome challenges.

“We remain cautiously optimistic about the future business operating environment. Nissin Foods will continue to strengthen its overall competitiveness based on a well-diversified product portfolio and the premiumisation strategy. We will strive to expand into new business territories leveraging the increasing brand recognition in Hong Kong and Mainland China so as to drive continuous revenue and profit growth.”

About Nissin Foods Company Limited

Nissin Foods Company Limited (“Nissin Foods”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) is a renowned food company in Hong Kong and Mainland China with a diversified portfolio of well-known and highly popular brands, primarily focusing on the premium instant noodle segment. The Group officially established its presence in Hong Kong in 1984 and is the largest instant noodle company in Hong Kong. The Group primarily manufactures and sells instant noodles, high-quality frozen food products, including frozen dim sum and frozen noodles, and also sells and distributes other food and beverage products, including retort pouches, snacks, mineral water, sauce and vegetable products under its two core corporate brands, namely “NISSIN” and “DOLL” together with a diversified portfolio of iconic household premium brands. The Group’s five flagship product brands, namely “Cup Noodles”, “Demae Iccho”, “Doll Instant Noodle”, “Doll Dim Sum” and “Fuku” are also among the most popular choices in their respective food product categories in Hong Kong. In the Mainland China market, the Group has introduced technology innovation through the “ECO Cup” concept and primarily focuses its sales efforts in first-and second-tier cities.

Nissin Foods is a constituent of five Hang Seng Indexes, namely: Hang Seng Composite Index, Hang Seng Composite SmallCap Index, Hang Seng Composite Industry Index – Consumer Staples, Hang Seng SCHK Consumption Index and Hang Seng SCHK Consumer Staples Index. Nissin Foods is eligible for trading under Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect. For more information, please visit www.nissingroup.com.hk.

Venturi Partners invests $25 million in DALI Discount, Philippines’ leading chain of discount grocery stores

SINGAPORE, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Venturi Partners (“Venturi”), a prominent growth equity firm specialising in consumer investments across India and Southeast Asia, today announced its recent investment in DALI Discount (“DALI”), a rapidly expanding hard discount chain operating in the Philippines. The investment will further accelerate DALI’s ambitious expansion plans to fulfill its mission to sell high-quality, affordable groceries of everyday consumption at lowest possible price in its local neighborhood stores.

Founded in 2020, DALI has quickly established itself as #1 discounter in the Philippines’ retail landscape offering a core range of the 400 most needed consumer goods – food and non-food. Known for its commitment to everyday low prices for its carefully curated selection of quality essentials, DALI offers significant value to customers seeking to stretch their grocery budgets without sacrificing quality but also to those just buying smarter. DALI vision is to improve daily lives of all Filipino households by providing good quality product at lowest possible price next door.

Venturi Partners’ $25 million investment in DALI underscores the firm’s confidence in the company’s hard discounter business model, strong management team, and the large market opportunity to disrupt the retail landscape in the Philippines. Leveraging its deep consumer industry expertise and extensive network, Venturi is well-positioned to support DALI in accelerating its expansion initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency, and further strengthening its market presence across the Philippines.

Investing out of its $180 million maiden fund, Venturi joins Navegar, Creador, the Asian Development Bank and other institutional investors and family offices on DALI’s cap table. “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with DALI, a company that is democratising access to high quality groceries in the Philippines,” said Nicholas Cator, Founding Partner at Venturi. “DALI’s commitment to maximising value for its customers aligns seamlessly with our consumer-first investment philosophy, and we see tremendous potential for the company to expand its reach and improve the lives of even more households across the Philippines.”

The transaction represents Venturi’s second investment in the Philippines, following its investment in Pickup Coffee last year, a fast-growing grab-and-go coffee chain that provides high-quality coffee at disruptively low-price points.

DALI will join Venturi Partners’ portfolio of consumer-focused investments in India and Southeast Asia which includes Livspace, Country Delight, Believe, and Pickup Coffee.

About Venturi Partners

Founded in 2019 by veteran consumer investor Nicholas Cator, Venturi Partners is an Asia-focused investment platform that enables consumer-facing business startups to build disruptive brands in India and Southeast Asia. The firm provides growth funding to customer-centric, purpose-driven brands in India and Southeast Asia, with a focus on education, healthcare, and fast-moving consumer goods, which have a shared desire to create a positive impact on the world. Venturi has built a unique investment platform for families wanting to participate in the long-term consumer growth trends in Asia. The platform is built around shared values and long-term partnerships and aims to bring operational value-add to entrepreneurs building tomorrow’s leading brands in Asia.

Media Contact:
Namrata.sharma@adfactorspr.com
Mobile: +6581383034

Fashion Hong Kong 2024 pop-up store in Paris draws strong response

HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) launched a series of Fashion Hong Kong 2024 campaigns this month, introducing the global fashion industry to the unique charm of Hong Kong’s designer brands. The such promotion campaign overseas, Hong Kong Pop-up Design à Paris successfully concluded in France on 25 March, having drawn support from Parisian consumers, fashion journalists, trade buyers and bloggers. Curated by the HKTDC and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, the campaign’s pop-up shop showcased 11 emerging Hong Kong designer brands, bringing a wide range of fashion products such as clothing, leather goods, jewellery, and accessories to Parisian consumers and trade buyers, promoting cultural and business exchanges between France and Hong Kong.

Fashion Hong Kong has joined renowned events such as international fashion weeks since 2015 to showcase Hong Kong’s unique and diverse designers. Campaign visits have included New York, London, Paris, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai. In parallel with the Paris pop-up store, Fashion Hong Kong will also hold promotional campaigns in Thailand and Shanghai, and will continue to promote Hong Kong brands, supporting their expansion into markets in Mainland China and overseas.

Wide range of fashion creations showcased in Paris

The Paris pop-up store featured 11 Hong Kong designer brands and brought a series of personalised designs focusing on sustainable fashion, art, culture and craftsmanship to global fashion capital Paris. Sustainable fashion products have become popular in recent years, with brands such as ARTY:ACTIVE, Coat Tote, OLEADA and SOULMATTE demonstrating commitment to the environment by using sustainable design concepts, materials and processes. The pop-up also showcased a range of art and culture design brands, such as ditto ditto, JARDIN DES FONTAINES and Pair Pair Full. Highlights included Victoria Harbour magnets made with letterpress techniques, printed accessories with urban and animal motifs, and funky, mismatch- socks with patterns of Hong Kong anecdotes. The pop-up store also highlighted the craftsmanship of KKLUE, La Serenidad, LOUISE CASTLE and WHY brands, combining traditional craftsmanship and innovative design to create one-of-a-kind items of jewellery, bow ties and clothing.

Fashion Hong Kong launched around the world

To help Hong Kong sports and leisure brands seize booming e-commerce opportunities in the ASEAN market, Fashion Hong Kong has partnered with lifestyle e-commerce platform Pinkoi to set up a dedicated page on its Thailand-specific e-commerce platform, promoting eight Hong Kong sports and leisure brands, helping the brands deploy cross-border e-commerce to sell in Thailand and explore overseas markets. The promotion will run until 9 April.

From 23 March to 13 April, Fashion Hong Kong will showcase a range of new products from Hong Kong fashion brands in a promotional event at RESEE, a trendy boutique in Huaihai 755 Shopping Mall in Shanghai, helping the brands capture business opportunities brought by Shanghai Fashion Week. From 24 to 29 March, Fashion Hong Kong will also participate in DADA Showroom, the official B2B showroom partner for Shanghai Fashion Week, to arrange business matching meetings between brand designers and fashion professionals, helping the designers network and find business opportunities.

Fashion Hong Kong: https://fashionhongkong.com.hk/en

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/4csLLgD

11 Hong Kong brands in Paris:


ARTY:ACTIVE	Coat Tote	OLEADA

SOULMATTE	ditto ditto	JARDIN DES FONTAINES

Pair Pair Full	KKLUE	La Serenidad

Louise Castle	Why	Hong Kong Pop-up Design à Paris

Media enquiries
For enquiries, please contact:
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: :snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

ICDM and IoD UK Unite to Drive Board Excellence

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (“ICDM”) today announced its collaboration with the Institute of Directors (IoD) in the United Kingdom (“UK”) the first institute of its kind, as part of its commitment to elevate governance standards, drive ethical leadership, and provide support to organisations with business relations in Southeast Asia (“ASEAN”) and UK.

This strategic partnership is part of ICDM’s goal to build a strong network of governance professionals, both locally and internationally, to further promote the professionalising of boards and directors in Malaysia. By fostering this alliance between the two organisations, ICDM and IoD UK are looking to leverage their shared resolve to advance corporate governance and board leadership excellence as well as to promote best practices and knowledge exchange to achieve several goals to benefit their respective members.

Michele Kythe Lim, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICDM said, “Since we started in 2018, the ICDM has been working hard to build a vibrant, dynamic and progressive community of governance professionals. From setting up the ASEAN IOD Network and our ASEAN Directors Registry to today’s milestone collaboration with IoD UK, we want to continue creating new opportunities and growth pathways, in addition to bringing fresh, new perspectives towards professionalising boards. This is a great opportunity to gain insight from an industry pioneer, and we are looking forward to the impact it will have on our members. The access that ICDM members will have to the services and offerings by the IoD UK through this partnership will prove invaluable and we foresee a significant influence in corporate director and leadership excellence.”

This collaboration with IoD UK will also create significant networking opportunities for members of both organisations to connect, collaborate, and share experiences – strengthening the global community of governance professionals. ICDM will further build upon the strong ties with Institutes of Directors across the ASEAN region to spark seamless international collaboration and increased business avenues. Members will have access to virtual or in-person events and educational trips as well as other board opportunities through the ASEAN Directors Registry within the scope of this partnership. This would further allow board talents on the ASEAN Directors Registry to offer themselves to interested organisations from ASEAN as well as the UK.

Jonathan Geldart, the Director General of IoD UK shared, “I am delighted that the Institute of Directors will now be working closely with our counterparts in Malaysia. Our two countries have a long, shared economic history and this partnership will help to facilitate further growth in our business and trading relations. Both of our organisations share a vision for professionalising directorship, promoting best practices for ethical leadership and elevating governance standards for a positive impact on businesses and wider society. As we reinforce the global community of governance professionals, we look forward to unlocking opportunities for our members and the broader business community in Malaysia, the UK and ASEAN.”

The alliance marks the commitment of the organisations to elevating governance standards, driving ethical leadership, and creating a positive impact on organisations worldwide. It is particularly advantageous as it can help support those with business relations in Malaysia (& ASEAN) and the UK, through the reciprocal membership benefits between ICDM and IoD UK. Members of both organisations will enjoy a special rate to join the other party’s membership.

Together, both institutions hope to inspire knowledge transfer that facilitates board and leadership development through the exchange of insights, research findings, and best practices in corporate governance. These efforts will be bolstered by membership engagement activities, joint training programmes, bespoke workshops, and educational resources that will enhance both members’ skills and competencies in governance, leadership, and board effectiveness.

For further details on the special rate, please click here.

For more details, please contact us at:
membership@icdm.com.my | +603 2202 2022 | www.icdm.com.my

About the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM):

Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) is the one-stop centre for all board and director needs, dedicated to empowering boards and directors with the right skills, knowledge, and mindset to enhance their professionalism and effectiveness. Spearheaded by the Securities Commission Malaysia and supported by Bank Negara Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, and the Capital Market Development Fund, ICDM serves as the national institute of directors and aims to be the leading influence of excellence in governance. For more information on ICDM, please visit our website at https://icdm.com.my/.

ALO Collaborates with The Education University of Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – ALO Parent Education App/Digital Platform (ALO) is collaborating with The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) to provide greater support for students with special educational needs (SEN) and their parents. Celebrating its one-year anniversary, ALO has announced significant system updates and an expansion of its content, including collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force to promote child protection messages. To mark this momentous occasion, ALO organized the “ALO and EdUHK Collaboration ” Launch Ceremony and Inaugural Seminar. The event not only unveiled the scope and direction of the collaboration with EdUHK but also featured accomplished professionals from the education sector sharing insights on different topics, including the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of education. Representative from the Hong Kong Police Force was also present to promote child protection messages. Distinguished guests in attendance included Mr. Jeff SZE Chun Fai, JP, Under Secretary for Education; Professor Kenneth SIN Kuen Fung, MH, EdUHK; Ms. YU Hoi Kwan, Chief Superintendent of Police (Crime Support); Mr. Eugene FONG Yick-jin, Chairman of Committee on Home-School Co-operation; Mr. Henry TONG Sau-Chai, MH, JP, Vice Chairman of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute; Dr. Kevin YUNG Wai Ho, EdUHK; and Mr. CM CHUNG, Principal of Shanghai Alumni Primary School, among others.

CHOI Man-Kwan, JP, District Officer (Kowloon City); Mr. Fletch CHAN Wai-wai, Director of Information Service; Mr. Percy LEUNG Tsz-Kin, District Commander (Shatin) of Police; Professor Kenneth SIN Kuen Fung, MH, EdUHK; Mr. Peter TSANG Cheung, JP, the founder of ALO; Mr. Jeff SZE Chun Fai, JP, Under Secretary for Education; Ms. YU Hoi Kwan, Chief Superintendent of Police (Crime Support); Mr. Wong Chin Ho, Deputy Division Chief of the New Territories Sub-office of the LOCPG; Mr. Stephen Law Cheuk Kin, JP, CPPCC National Committee Member; Mr. Henry Tong Sau-Chai, MH, JP, Vice Chairman of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute

The officiating guest, Mr. Jeff SZE Chun Fai, JP, Under Secretary for Education, expressed, “I am pleased to attend the ‘ALO and EdUHK Collaboration’ Launch Ceremony and Inaugural Seminar, and also celebrate ALO’s first anniversary. It is gratifying to witness the continuous improvement of the ALO Parent Education App/Digital Platform over the past year, as well as its efforts to connect with more schools to expand services and enhance the quality of parental education in Hong Kong. Additionally, I am delighted to see the collaboration between ALO and EdUHKm that enables parents to systematically learn effective parenting methods and knowledge through the digital platform. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the ALO team and EdUHK for their ongoing efforts and contributions to parental education.”

“ALO utilises artificial intelligence technology and combines it with the expertise and experience of the EdUHK team. For parents of students with special educational needs, the journey of parenting is never smooth. The Education Bureau attaches great importance to parental education. The care and love of parents, along with the guidance and support of schools, are crucial for nurturing children’s growth. The Education Bureau is committed to supporting parents with diverse needs, including initiatives such as the “Smart Parent Net” information platform and the “SENSE” website. These platforms provide essential information for supporting students’ physical and mental development, as well as practical information and videos to assist parents in caring for children with special educational needs, helping them establish a positive parent-child relationship and promote children’s overall development. The successful implementation of parental education relies on the support and collaboration from various stakeholders. The collaboration between ALO, EdUHK, and the Hong Kong Police Force serves as a testament to the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-professional cooperation. In the days ahead, I hope that we can continue to work together to enhance society’s emphasis on parental education, creating a joyful and healthy learning and growth experience for children, enabling them to enjoy learning, unleash their potential, and fully develop their strengths,” Jeff added.

Mr. Peter TSANG Cheung, JP, the founder of ALO, delivers welcome speech at the event.

Mr. Peter TSANG Cheung, JP, the founder of ALO, stated, “Since its launch in 2023, ALO has been serving for a year. I would like to express my gratitude to all colleagues for their hard work, as well as the support and encouragement from the society. ALO has achieved significant milestones during this time. We have garnered participation from over 100 schools and received positive feedback from principals and teachers responsible for parent education, who are eager for the speedy activation of ALO. We are committed to continuously gathering feedback and improving the platform’s content quality and quantity, enhancing functionality and user experience, and expanding our range of services. In the upcoming enhanced version, ALO 4.0, we will introduce new categories such as ‘Special Education,’ ‘National Education,’ and ‘Law-abidingness Education.’ Through collaborations with various partners, we aim to provide more authoritative content. Notably, ALO will collaborate with EdUHK to launch the Parent Education and Special Education Certificate Course. We are also grateful for our collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force in promoting child protection messages to the public. Looking ahead, we anticipate ALO’s continued engagement with diverse sectors of society in creating a happier and more nurturing environment for the next generation.”

Collaboration with EdUHK to launch Parent Education and Special Education Certificate Courses, seizing the “golden period” to provide support for SEN Students

To better support SEN students, it is essential to identify and intervene during the critical “golden period” between the ages of 3 and 6. Accessing support services early on greatly enhances their integration into the mainstream education system. However, the demand for SEN support services currently surpasses the available supply in Hong Kong. Consequently, parents face significant pressure and may experience emotional difficulties due to the caregiving responsibilities involved. In this collaboration, EdUHK is supporting ALO to address the unique learning needs of SEN students. Together, they are launching Parent Education and Special Education Certificate Course, which aims to provide tailored support to SEN students and facilitate their seamless integration into the mainstream education system.

Professor John LEE Chi Kin, JP, President of EdUHK, delivers speech on the collaboration with ALO at the event.

Regarding this collaboration, Professor John LEE Chi Kin, JP, President of EdUHK, expressed, “In the process of children’s holistic development, parents play a crucial role. Currently, the EdUHK’s teacher training programs also cover topics related to parent education, including communication with children, parent-school cooperation, and parental support. At the same time, EdUHK is actively developing various educational resources, such as e-learning materials for special education, to assist parents in teaching their children at home. I am delighted that the EdUHK team from the Institute of Special Needs and Inclusive Education (ISNIE) will collaborate with ALO to provide information and training on special education. This collaboration will enable parents to better understand their children’s needs, abilities, interests, and aspirations, fostering their growth in a positive environment. I sincerely wish for the steady development of the collaboration between EdUHK and ALO, jointly promoting parent education and the holistic development of students.”

Seminar centered around two key topics: the application of AI in education and how to create an ideal environment for children’s growth

ALO’s inaugural seminar focused on two key topics: the application of AI in education and creating a better growth environment for children to unleash their potential. The development of AI has brought revolutionary changes to our daily lives, and ALO, as an easy-to-use and digitally-driven interactive platform, keeps up with the times by actively incorporating AI elements to enhance content quality and comprehensively address the challenges of parenting and education in Hong Kong. During the seminar, ALO showcased examples of AI applications, such as the introduction of a virtual teacher avatar function and an AI-powered video generation platform. These innovations significantly reduce teachers’ workload, enhance students’ learning motivation, and greatly increase teaching flexibility. For instance, teachers no longer need to regularly record videos for students learning at home. Instead, they can simply input the content and generate videos using generative AI. Dr. Kevin YUNG Wai Ho from EdUHK demonstrated how artificial intelligence can facilitate self-directed learning at the event.

Guest speakers at the sharing session includes (From left to right): Mr. Henry TONG Sau-Chai, MH, JP, Vice Chairman of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute; Mr SAU Hang-chor, Principal of Sam Shui Natives Association Lau Pun Cheung School; Ms. KAN Shuk-Ching, Principal of ELCHK Ma On Shan Lutheran Primary School; Mr. Paul CHEUK Tak-Kan, Principal of Tung Wan Mok Law Shui Wah School; Mr. CHEN Tak-Nam, Principal of Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary School; Mr. Alan LAI Chun-Wing, Principal of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.3 Secondary School; Mr. CHU Ka-Tim, Principal of Shatin Pui Ying College; Mr. Eddie LAM Tak-Yuk, Principal of Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School; Ms. LI Wai-Man, Principal of S.K.H. Kindly Light Church Holy Carpenter Kindergarten Nursery; and Mr. Eugene FONG Yick-jin, Chairman of Committee on Home-School Co-operation.

Dr. Kevin YUNG Wai Ho, from EdUHK, discussed the role of AI in instructional transformation, stating, “Artificial intelligence brings significant autonomous motivation to students in teaching. Its advantages include providing personalized instruction, adaptive learning, 24/7 availability of services, supporting the role of teachers, meeting the needs of non-mainstream and special education, avoiding human bias, and providing real-time feedback/actions.” Dr. Kevin Yung also mentioned that he has personally witnessed the impressive generation of AI virtual characters, whose lip movements and body gestures are very natural. This has made him look forward to the greater contributions that ALO can make in education in the future.

The AI avatar of Dr. Kevin YUNG Wai Ho, from EdUHK, generated by ALO using artificial intelligence.

Mr. CM CHUNG, Principal of Shanghai Alumni Primary School, shared practical examples of AI integration in teaching and expressed, ” Shanghai Alumni Primary School has been implementing ALO for some time, and indeed, artificial intelligence brings revolutionary new learning modes and educational methods, providing practical assistance for school operations. Teachers can pre-record videos, input text content, and automatically generate videos with teaching presentations, significantly reducing time costs. For students with special educational needs, the teaching pace or replay can be adjusted according to their needs and absorption abilities. Particularly during the peak of influenza season, even if teachers are absent due to illness, substitute teachers can easily access teaching materials from the intranet, ensuring smooth progression of the curriculum.”

Professor Kenneth SIN Kuen Fung, MH, from EdUHK, shared insights on assisting underprivileged students in unleashing their potential, remarking, ” In recent years, Hong Kong adopts a dual-track mode in providing special education, resulting in an increasing number of students with SEN attending mainstream schools. In fact, many SEN students have exceptional talents. For example, a few years ago, an autistic athlete represented Hong Kong in the Special Olympics and won a gold medal. The truth is that many students have untapped talents, and with the use of technology, they can be discovered and nurtured, benefiting more students, schools, and teachers.”

Additionally, the event invited eight principals from kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, and special schools participate in sharing session. They shared their views on how parents and schools can collaborate to create a better growth environment for children, including Mr. Henry TONG Sau-Chai, MH, JP, Vice Chairman of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute; Mr SAU Hang-chor, Principal of Sam Shui Natives Association Lau Pun Cheung School; Ms. KAN Shuk-Ching, Principal of ELCHK Ma On Shan Lutheran Primary School; Mr. Paul CHEUK Tak-Kan, Principal of Tung Wan Mok Law Shui Wah School; Mr. CHEN Tak-Nam, Principal of Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary School; Mr. Alan LAI Chun-Wing, Principal of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.3 Secondary School; Mr. CHU Ka-Tim, Principal of Shatin Pui Ying College; Mr. Eddie LAM Tak-Yuk, Principal of Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School; Ms. LI Wai-Man, Principal of S.K.H. Kindly Light Church Holy Carpenter Kindergarten Nursery; and Mr. Eugene FONG Yick-jin, Chairman of Committee on Home-School Co-operation.

ALO’s enhanced 4.0 version features a collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force to promote child protection messages and advocate for the well-being of parents.

ALO has continuously gathered feedback and expanded its service coverage, this includes collaborating with different government departments and university institutions to provide authoritative content, aiming to assist parents in various situations within the community. In response to the latest educational needs, ALO enhanced its 4.0 version by introducing the categories of ‘National Education’ and ‘Law-abidingness Education.’ Simultaneously, ALO collaborates with the Hong Kong Police Force to provide the latest information, such as Crime Prevention Alerts, and also promote messages related to child protection to the general public.

Ms. YU Hoi Kwan, Chief Superintendent of Police (Crime Support), expressed her thoughts on the collaboration, stating, “I am delighted to collaborate with ALO through the ‘Crime Alerts Network (CAN)’ and ‘SafeCity Ambassadors’ initiatives, providing the platform with the latest crime prevention and child protection information. ALO’s lively and engaging animations enhance public awareness of law-abidingness, allowing parents to familiarize themselves with legal knowledge and methods of seeking assistance in child protection. This collaboration complements the work of law enforcement agencies, working hand in hand to promote the safety and well-being of children.”

According to the Curriculum Framework on Parent Education by the Education Bureau, the four major categories of parent education include “Understanding of Child Development,” “Promotion of Healthy, Happy and Balanced Development of Children,” “Promotion of Parents’ Physical and Psychological Well-being,” and “Fostering Home-school Co-operation and Communication.” However, the aspect of “Promotion of Parents’ Physical and Psychological Well-being” is often overlooked. Recognizing this, ALO is committed to incorporating content in this category into its platform. Mr. Peter TSANG Cheung, JP, the founder of ALO, also shares his experience in practices such as “Stake-Standing” and Tai Chi Chuan, which he has cultivated over the years, through the ALO mobile application, aiming to promote the physical and mental well-being of the public, including parents, principals, teachers, and students.

Looking ahead, Mr. Peter TSANG Cheung, JP, the founder of ALO, stated, “As an educator, one of the most important principles is to keep pace with the times and ensure that students acquire knowledge and skills that meet the needs of the era when they enter society. ALO, as an educational platform, has never stopped improving the quality and quantity of its content, optimizing functionality and user experience, and expanding its service coverage. We aim to provide the necessary assistance to parents facing various situations in society, enabling the next generation to grow up in a joyful and happy environment. In the future, ALO will stay true to its original mission of ‘Unite Hong Kong to Support Parents ; Build a Prosperous Society Through Positive Parenting,’ contributing to the construction of a prosperous society in Hong Kong!”

Photos download: https://bit.ly/3vf46x6

About ALO

Established in 2021, ALO is Hong Kong’s first parent education digital app/platform system launched by the non-profit organization Children Social Network (CSN). Based on the Curriculum Framework on Parent Education launched by the Education Bureau (EDB) for kindergartens and primary schools, ALO creates authoritative, systematic as well as interesting multimedia positive parenting information, providing a holistic support for the promotion of parent education. The content covers four major aspects “understanding of child development”, “promotion of healthy, happy and balanced development of children, “promotion of parents’ physical and psychological well-being” and “fostering home school cooperation & communication.”

Supported by a team of education professionals responsible for planning, producing, supporting, and supervising the multimedia content for parent education, ALO responds flexibly to the need of modern parents on raising children, and offers a new space for home-school interaction, communication as well as experience sharing for local schools and parents. Together with different industry sectors, ALO is committed to working towards the future of children.

This press release is issued by Strategic Communications Consultants Limited on behalf of ALO. For any enquiries, please contact:

Strategic Communication Consulting Services Limited (SCC)

Andico Tsui

Tel: 2114 4346 / 6902 3831

Email: andico.tsui@sprg.com.hk

Fax: 2114 0880

Analogue Records Net Profit of HK$251.5 Million in FY2023

HONG KONG, Mar 25, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Analogue Holdings Limited (“Analogue” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (stock code: 1977), a leading electrical and mechanical (“E&M”) engineering and technology service provider in Hong Kong, today announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023 (“the Year” or “FY2023”), with net profit more than doubling despite the impact of a variety of challenges.

Highlights

— Total revenue amounted to HK$6,132.9 million

— Profit attributable to owners of the Company increased to HK$251.5 million, a year-on-year growth of 119.5%

— Contracts-in-hand remained at a high level of HK$11,459.6 million

— Annual dividend amounted to HK9.52 cents per share

The Group’s revenue for the Year was HK$6,132.9 million and gross profit was HK$833.3 million. Profit attributable to owners of the Company was HK$251.5 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 119.5%. The Group’s contracts-in-hand remained at a high level of HK$11,459.6 million, providing a solid foundation for the business going forward. The Group has also been proactive in its tendering activities, with a total of 1,079 tenders or quotations each valued at over HK$1 million during the Year.

The Board has resolved to pay a second interim dividend of HK1 cent per share for the Year. Together with the first interim dividend of HK8.52 cents per share, the total dividend for the Year amounted to HK9.52 cents per share.

Dr Otto Poon Lok-to, Founder of Analogue Holdings Limited, said, “Over the past year, we have witnessed the complexity of our times, with economic, geopolitical, and environmental concerns. As for Hong Kong’s construction industry, it has been facing stiff headwinds created in part by imbalances that have led to manpower, quality, efficiency and safety issues, among others. Such issues have resulted in delays, disputes and construction costs that are among the highest in developed economies. Nevertheless, in our commitment to be the preferred E&M engineering and technology service provider, we are addressing these imbalances pragmatically and dynamically, supported by our development strategy comprising the three pillars of ‘New Technology’, ‘New Market’, and ‘New Business Model’. With Dr Mak Kin Wah assuming the position of Chairman of the Board, I believe the Group will set sail for new horizons under his leadership.”

Contracts-in-hand in the Building Services segment increased by 6.9% to HK$5,815 million as at 31 December 2023. The segment generated revenue of HK$3,736 million during the Year. The recurring revenue was strengthened with new maintenance contracts of HK$600 million secured during the Year. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, the Group won a major Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (“MEP”) package contract of a prime commercial project in Causeway Bay with its innovative commercial building solutions, demonstrating its outstanding expertise in Building Information Modelling (“BIM”) and Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (“MiMEP”). Quality, safety, cost and project management have been improved through the adoption of ATAL Building Services Prefabrication and Modularisation (“ABSPM”) construction technology and digitalisation. The Group’s data centre project team secured and commenced a number of large-scale data centre projects, including one of its largest Management, Operation and Maintenance (“MOM”) service contracts for a government data centre.

Revenue of the Environmental Engineering segment grew by 9.9% to HK$1,356 million year-on-year, with contracts-in-hand amounting to HK$4,165 million as at 31 December 2023. During the Year, the Group won seven major new contracts or significant variation orders, underscoring its expertise in quality water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure project management services. It also introduced innovative models for the reinforcement, protection, and operation and maintenance (“O&M”) of wastewater treatment plants to extend their lifespan and ensure they provide optimal service to Hong Kong. In particular, the major operation and maintenance project for electrical and mechanical works at the water recycling and solid waste management facility in Shatin commenced in November 2023. Beyond Hong Kong, the Group’s first project in Nepal is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2024, with testing and commissioning scheduled to begin in 2024. Other tendering and quotation activities outside Hong Kong and Mainland China included water and wastewater treatment projects in Batangas and Pasig in the Philippines, and wastewater treatment plants in Sallaghari, Kodku and Dhobighat in Nepal.

Information, Communications and Building Technologies (“ICBT”) segment had contracts-in-hand amounting to HK$843 million as at 31 December 2023, with revenue up by 5.1% year-on-year to HK$663 million. Committed to driving Hong Kong’s transformation into a “Smart City” and “Smart Economy”, the green and intelligent building solutions offered by the ICBT segment integrate a wide range of information and communications technologies, including AI-enabled Digital Twin, energy management technologies, ESG dashboards, Indoor Environment Quality (“IEQ”) Management, robotic solutions, and Smart Lampposts. The Group’s cutting-edge technologies continued to make waves in Hong Kong’s prestigious buildings in prime business districts. Its integrated Building Management System (“BMS”), Internet of Things (“IoT”), Extra Low Voltage (“ELV”) and Information and Communications Technology (“ICT”) systems have been adopted in a world-class smart office and commercial building currently under construction in Causeway Bay. In addition, the Group secured its second IoT-based smart hostel solution at one of Hong Kong’s universities, solidifying its position as a leading provider of smart solutions in the education sector. The Group’s BMS and energy optimisation solution was also selected for two prestigious commercial buildings above West Kowloon Station, as well as two commercial buildings and a laboratory focused on innovation and technology in the Lok Ma Chau Loop area.

Revenue from the Lifts and Escalators segment increased by 7.2% year-on-year to HK$378 million, with contracts-in-hand amounting to HK$637 million as at 31 December 2023. Maintenance contracts for both commercial and government buildings were major profit contributors during the Year. The Group’s renowned Anlev brand serves millions of users in Asia, the Americas and Europe through its lifts, escalators and moving walkways, while its Hong Kong arm is one of the leading lift and escalator contractors in the region. Strategic orders secured by Anlev in 2023 included a wide range of mixed-use residential buildings in Canada, public transportation in Mexico, private housing in Singapore, prestigious government offices in Hong Kong, and orders in Mainland China. In the United States (the “US”), the Group has widened its focus through Transel Elevator & Electric Inc. (“TEI”) in commercial properties to include residential market, and has expanded operations to the Southern States of the US, because in this area the property development is showing a greater growth. In the United Kingdom (the “UK”), the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary Anlev (UK) Limited finalised order for the iconic and prestigious projects in Manchester, Birmingham and London. To expand its global network and further its strategy, Anlev has recently completed two acquisitions – JCW Lifts Ltd (“JCW”) and Precision Lift Services Limited (“Precision”) – both successful lift businesses in the UK. It will also seek new distributors in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

“Having established footholds in the US and the UK, followed by our acquisition of two lift companies in the UK in the Year, we are able to provide comprehensive one-stop lift and escalator services and fortify our position in Europe. In achieving the latter and bolstering our presence in the US, we will seek to offer our Group’s full range of E&M engineering and technology services in these markets incrementally to broaden our income streams and expand our footprint,” added Dr Poon.

Driven by high market demand and growth opportunities in various market segments, as reflected in its strong tender activity throughout 2023, the Group is positive about its business outlook. Its continued success in securing new business opportunities and winning contract tenders provides a good foundation for the Group to remain competitive in the industry and expand its revenue, customer base and market reach. In preparation for the future and further business growth and development, operating units have been re-organised. The Group will continue to explore potential synergistic business opportunities and equity partnerships, including expansion into East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Dr Mak Kin Wah, Chairman of Analogue Holdings Limited, said, “I would like to express our gratitude for the contributions that Dr Poon has made and will continue to make. With my new position as Chairman of the Group, I will continue to contribute my leadership to the Group’s strategy, operations and governance to take the Group to new heights. Our Group has a solid foundation for future business, with a large number of contracts-in-hand, active tendering, and ample opportunities in the market, with Hong Kong alone offering HK$300 billion per annum of construction business opportunities. Our priority is to carefully safeguard our core business to capitalise on these opportunities and our broad portfolio of construction and O&M business. We will invest in the continuous enhancement of our leadership in MIC, MiMEP, IoT, energy and selected areas of technology. With an established presence in the UK and US, we aim to integrate these operations to take advantage of global market opportunities.”

For further details of the 2023 Annual Results, please refer to the announcement filed with The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

About Analogue Holdings Limited

Established in 1977, Analogue Holdings Limited is a leading electrical and mechanical (“E&M”) engineering and technology service provider, with headquarters in Hong Kong and operations in Macau, Mainland China, the United States and the United Kingdom. Serving a wide spectrum of customers from public and private sectors, the Group provides multi-disciplinary and comprehensive E&M engineering and technology services in four major segments, including Building Services, Environmental Engineering, Information, Communications and Building Technologies (“ICBT”) and Lifts & Escalators.

The Group also manufactures and sells Anlev lifts and escalators internationally and has entered into an alliance with Transel Elevator & Electric Inc. (“TEI”), one of the largest independent lifts and escalators companies in New York, the United States. The Group’s associate partner, Nanjing Canatal Data Centre Environmental Tech Company Limited (603912.SS), specialises in manufacturing of precision air conditioners.