The PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty launch 11th edition with exciting new honours for ESG

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 6, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Organisers of the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty today unveiled new dates and details for the programme’s 2024 edition during an exclusive gathering attended by business leaders.

Malaysia’s finest development companies and real estate projects are set be honoured at the celebration of the 11th Annual PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty on Friday, 25 October 2024. Around 400 executives and senior professionals are expected to be in attendance at the highly anticipated awards presentation and gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur.

Entries are now accepted via awards.propertyguru.com until 31 May 2024. With a professionally run and supervised judging system, an independent panel of experts will provide their fair, credible perspectives on entrants during the Live Judging Days, set for July 2024.

Consumers in Malaysia will also get the opportunity to voice their preferences through the People’s Choice Awards. For a limited period in July, property seekers will be able to vote for their favourite developers to win the Awards, showcasing the pulse of the Malaysian consumers.

(left to right: Jules Kay, Angela Ong – Head of Sales & Marketing from Malton Berhad, Datuk Zaini Yusoff – Chief Operating Officer from SP Setia Berhad, Kenny Wong (Chief Marketing Officer) from UEM Sunrise, Sheldon Fernandez)

(left to right: Tong Chee Leng (PropertyGuru), Grace Tan (PropertyGuru), Ashraf Othman- Group Director from JL Projects Sdn Bhd)

Entries are now accepted via awards.propertyguru.com until 31 May 2024

Key dates for the 2024 edition:
31 May 2024 – Entries close
1-14 July 2024 – People’s Choice Awards voting period
15-17 July 2024 – Live Judging Days
25 October 2024 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13 December 2024 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

Championing ESG

This year’s Awards hold special significance as they introduce five new categories recognising achievements in ESG: Low Carbon Champion, Energy Efficient Champion, Sustainable Design Champion, Sustainable Construction Champion, and Social Impact Champion.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “We are delighted to distinguish the finest real estate in Malaysia across a broad spectrum of categories this year. Supported by the leading property portals in Malaysia, PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my, the Awards have expanded in 2024 to include new categories, honouring the property developers that are championing environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) throughout the country. These accolades acknowledge the sustainability endeavours and positive impact of premier developers, in line with Malaysia’s push towards attaining the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Our Awards not only set the Gold Standard of real estate but also elevate the industry’s commitment to environmental, social, and corporate responsibility, leading to a better future for stakeholders in the property sector.”

The inclusion of the new categories coincides with GreenRE and Malaysia Green Building Council’s (MGBC) appointment as the Official ESG Knowledge Partners of the 2024 Awards. As Malaysia’s leading green building certification bodies, GreenRE and MGBC are instrumental in the development of the judging framework and criteria for the Awards’ ESG categories.

A staunch advocate for a sustainable built environment, GreenRE’s Executive Director Ir. Ashwin Thurairajah joins the 18-member, professional judging panel of the Awards for the first time this year, along with returning judge, MGBC President Ar. Dr. Serina Hijjas.

Datuk Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail, chairperson of the independent panel of judges of the Awards and president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects: 2020-2022, said: “It is important for developers to set a high standard in real estate to push the boundaries of conventional design and introduce innovations that set them apart. Participating in the Awards motivates architects and developers to explore novel materials, cutting-edge technologies, and new construction methods that inspire new architecture with a fresh perspective on the possibilities of the built environment. A great development shapes and influences the world we live in, leaving a lasting legacy for years to come, and brings the developer ahead of others.”

HLB, the global network of independent professional accounting firms and business advisers, is entrusted with overseeing the entire judging process and ensuring that it is conducted with integrity and transparency.

Representation for Malaysia

Top winners of the Awards in Malaysia will qualify to compete for regional accolades at the 19th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand on 13 December. Malaysia’s best developers, developments, and designs will contend for the Best in Asia honours with their counterparts from Australia, Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Greater Niseko (Japan), India, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Malaysia was represented with four regional wins at the Grand Final in 2023, led by Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS), winner of the Best Affordable Homes Developer (Asia) award. Projects by Eastern & Oriental Berhad, Eupe Corporation Berhad, and Sime Darby Property also garnered Best in Asia titles.

As the property market gradually rebounds and environmental awareness spreads among prospective buyers and investors, developments that meet the standards of energy efficiency, functionality, and sustainability are set to spearhead the future Malaysian market.

Informed decisions, economic optimism

According to the PropertyGuru Malaysia Consumer Sentiment Study H1 2024, 77% of property seekers believe that climate change is influencing their purchase decisions while 30% are willing to pay more for a green home.

Despite uncertain expectations for the property market this year, service sectors are expected to continue spearheading economic expansion, according to PropertyGuru’s Malaysia Property Market Outlook 2024. Areas with a robust presence of service sectors are likely to remain appealing to home seekers while infrastructural developments, such as those in Johor and Penang, are expected to drive demand.

The PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty.com.my are the most respected and most sought-after real estate industry awards programme in the country. The event is part of the regional PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards series, which marks its 19th year in 2024. The Awards series covers key markets across the region, spanning Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania, with exclusive gala dinners and awards ceremonies that represent the most anticipated property events of the year.

Organised by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, the 11th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty are supported by official portal partners PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my; official ESG knowledge partners GreenRE and Malaysia Green Building Council; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; media partners Kopi & Property, Marketing In Asia, Niaga Times, Penang Property Talk, The Malaysia Voice, and Top 10 Malaysia; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS:

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair, and transparent.

Since launching in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards have been presented to outstanding developers, developments, and designs in the region’s most dynamic property markets. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during PropertyGuru Week in December 2024.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP:

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia’s leading PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 37 million property seekers to connect with almost 59,000 agents monthly3 to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 2.9 million real estate listings4, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in Singapore in 2007 and since then, PropertyGuru Group has made the property journey a transparent one for property seekers in Southeast Asia. In the last 15 years, PropertyGuru has grown into a high-growth PropTech company with a robust portfolio including leading property marketplaces and award-winning mobile apps across its core markets; mortgage marketplace, PropertyGuru Finance; home services platform, Sendhelper; a host of proprietary enterprise solutions under PropertyGuru For Business including DataSense, ValueNet, Awards, events and publications across Asia.

For more information, please visit: PropertyGuruGroup.com; PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn.

Footnotes & Citation:
(1) Based on SimilarWeb data between April 2023 and September 2023.
(2) Based on Google Analytics data between April 2023 and September 2023.
(3) Based on data between July 2023 and September 2023.
(4) Based on data between April 2023 and September 2023.

Group: Key Statistics as of November 2023
* Property seekers: 37 million
* No. of agents: 59,000
* Real estate listings: 2.9 million

Strong Category Leadership Drives Long-Term Growth Opportunities
As of September 30, 2023, PropertyGuru continued its Engagement Market Share*
* Singapore: 83% – 6.2x the closest peer
* Malaysia: 92% – 12.8x the closest peer
* Vietnam: 80% – 4.0x the closest peer
* Thailand: 51% – 1.7x the closest peer

*Based on SimilarWeb data between April 2023 and September 2023.

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
June Fong, Events Director & Head of Awards (Malaysia)
M: +6019-319 0127
E: june.fong@iproperty.com.my

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2519
E: nate@propertyguru.com

BW Digital and Citramas Group forge strategic partnership to build end-to-end digital ecosystem in Batam

SINGAPORE/ INDONESIA, Mar 4, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – BW Digital and Citramas Group today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the joint development of a carrier-neutral digital ecosystem in Batam’s Nongsa Digital Park (NDP), Indonesia.

This strategic partnership follows BW Digital’s acquisition of more than 55,000 square meters of land at the Citramas-owned Nongsa Digital Park in Batam, to build its inaugural data centre in South-East Asia and strengthen its Asia-Pacific digital infrastructure portfolio.

BW Digital is a subsidiary of BW Group, a global energy and maritime group headquartered in Singapore and which includes seven listed companies with a combined market capitalisation of around US$11 billion. Indonesian-based Citramas Group operates multiple businesses spanning shipping and logistics, drilling services, port and ferry terminal infrastructure development, oilfield equipment manufacturing, hotels, animation and film as well as hospitality and leisure.

With a capacity of up to 80MW, the next-generation data centre will be designed to meet high density requirements. It will provide scalable solutions for enterprise, cloud and AI workloads, while helping customers to achieve their goals for carbon neutrality and general sustainability.

As joint partners, BW Digital and Citramas Group will work together to deliver a comprehensive suite of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions co-located within BW Digital’s data centre. Customers will have access to a unique portfolio of technology assets and services, including landing infrastructure for new submarine cables, international and domestic connectivity, data storage facilities, and computing power for the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Ludovic Hutier, Chief Executive Officer of BW Digital said: “BW Digital is pleased to forge a strategic alliance with Citramas Group, underpinned by our shared vision to drive business success with best-in-class digital solutions for the fast-growing South East Asian economy. We hope to accelerate the growth of Nongsa Digital Park as an emerging hub for innovation and technology. This new step anchors BW Digital’s long-term vision to create a neutral and trusted digital ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region, in tandem with the development of Hawaiki Nui, our new subsea cable, which will first connect South East Asia and Australasia”.

Mike Wiluan, Chief Executive Officer of Citramas Group said: “Citramas is honoured to have BW Digital join the Nongsa Digital Park Ecosystem to further develop its data centre and connectivity infrastructure. BW Digital’s expertise and experience in this area adds immense value in furthering NDP as a strategic data centre hub in the region, connecting Indonesia to key global markets. This partnership will enhance NDP’s status as a centre of excellence in the digital arena, providing more opportunities to our multinational tenants and partners to evolve their digital ambitions in Indonesia and beyond.”

Herman Loh, Senior Vice President and Head, Southeast Asia and Oceania region, Singapore Economic Development Board, said: “We welcome BW Digital and Citramas Group’s collaboration in Nongsa which highlights the strong growth and partnership opportunities available in Southeast Asia. BW Digital’s investment in Nongsa will support the increased demand for digital infrastructure and services in the region.”

About BW Digital

BW Digital, a member of BW Group and headquartered in Singapore, develops, funds and operates digital infrastructures in the Asia-Pacific region. Privately-owned and carrier-neutral, BW Digital is the owner and developer of the Hawaiki and Hawaiki Nui submarine cables. For more information, please visit www.bw-digital.com

About Citramas Group

The Citramas Group was founded in 1980 and is predominantly based in Indonesia with a diversified range of businesses ranging from Infrastructure, Energy, Oil and Gas offshore services, Industrial and digital parks, Resort and residential developments, Media entertainment, Education, Food and Chemicals. The group has extensive strategic investments in Batam with operations across Indonesia. For more information, please visit www.citramas.com

Media contact:
David Binning – Brand Comms Bureau
+61.406.397.033
David.binning@bcbureau.com.au

Q&M Dental Group recorded growth in both Revenue and Net Profit after tax attributable to parent of S$182.7 million and S$11.5 million respectively for FY2023

Total EBITDA for 2H2023 beats 2H2022 by 39% to S$18.6 million. FY2023 EBITDA is 5% higher at S$37.0 million vs FY2022.
FY2023 Core Healthcare Business Revenue and EBITDA higher at S$$176.2m and S$39.6 million respectively.
2nd interim dividend of 0.53 cent per share to be paid on 26 March 2024. Total FY2023 annual dividend is 0.69 cent per share with a payout ratio of 57%.
Group gearing reduced from 0.83 to 0.78 as at 31 Dec 2023 from one year ago.

GROUP FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

	6 months ended 31 December			12 months ended 31 December
	2H2023 S$’000	2H2022 S$’000	Change %	FY2023 S$’000	FY2022 S$’000	Change %
Total Revenue	95,578	90,304	6	182,723	181,214	1
Core Healthcare Business Revenue	92,895	88,402	5	176,204	172,131	2
Other Business	2,683	1,902	41	6,519	9,083	(28)

Total EBITDA	18,557	13,349	39	37,034	35,220	5

Core Healthcare Business EBITDA	21,439	19,143	12	39,601	39,473	–

Total PATMI	6,183	1,460	323	11,517	11,309	2
Core Healthcare Business PATMI	8,788	7,657	15	14,763	17,068	(14)

Earnings Per Share (SG Cent)	0.65	0.16	306	1.22	1.20	2

SINGAPORE, Mar 1, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Mainboard listed Q & M Dental Group Limited (“ the Group” or “the company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) reported total revenue of S$182.7 million and profit after tax attributable to parent of S$11.5 million for the 12 months ended 31 December 2023 (“FY2023”).

Dr Ng Chin Siau, Group Chief Executive Officer of Q & M, said, “We are heartened by the improvement in the numbers overall for FY2023 despite the macroenvironment impact of relatively high inflation rate, high interest rates and a generally challenging business environment. The resilience of Q&M’s Core Healthcare Business is once again being well-demonstrated and is a testament to strategies and processes we have put in place. We will continue to focus on organic growth within the Group’s strong network in Singapore and Malaysia and also optimising our existing clinics to obtain better outcomes in service and overall productivity.

FY2023 Financials

Core Healthcare Business Revenue increased from S$172.1 million for FY2022 to S$176.2 million for FY2023, mainly from higher revenue contribution from Singapore dental clinics that was offset by lower revenue contribution from Singapore medical clinics, deconsolidation of the Shanghai Chuangyi in June 2023 and the impact of the weakening Malaysian Ringgit for the Group’s operations in Malaysia. The Group’s medical laboratory business was also impacted by lower demand for Covid-19 testing now that the Covid-19 virus has entered the endemic stage.

Aoxin Q & M Dental Limited (“Aoxin Q &M”), a 32.8% owned associate’ company of Q & M reversed from a loss in second half of 2022 to a profit in second half financial year of 2023 (“2H2023”), resulting in Q & M recording a share of profit from equity-accounted associate of S$0.1 million in 2H2023. Comparing FY2023 with FY2022, share of loss in Aoxin Q & M, decreased by S$0.5 million for the same reason give above.

Net cash flow generated from operating activities was S$33.5 million for FY2023. This is mainly attributable to operating cash flow before changes in working capital offset by increase on working capital. Net cash used in investing activities in FY2023 amounted to S$7.2 million, mainly due to purchase of plant and equipment for the existing dental clinics and cost of developing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) guided clinical decision support system. Net cash used in financing activities in FY2023 was S$32.0 million, mainly due to repayment of lease liabilities arising from right-of-use assets, repayment of bank loans, dividend payment to shareholders.

As at 31 December 2023, Q & M has cash and cash equivalents of S$34.0 million and bank borrowings plus finance leases amounting to S$80.3 million.

Net Aset Value attributable to owners of parent is S$99.1 million as at 31 December 2023 compared to S$96.5 million a year ago, an increase of 3%. Net assets value per ordinary share increased to 10.5 Singapore cents as at 31 December 2023 from 10.2 cents a year ago.

Dividend

The Board of Directors of Q & M declared a second interim dividend of 0.53 Singapore cent per ordinary share for 2H2023. The Group paid a 0.16 Singapore cent dividend for 1H2023. The total dividend thus works out to 0.69 Singapore cents for FY2023, with a payout ratio of 57%. The dividend will be paid on 26 March 2024.

Recent Developments

Investment by EM2AI Professionals Holdco Pte. Ltd. Into EM2AI Pte. Ltd. as an Interested Person Transaction

On 25 January 2024, Q & M entered into a joint venture agreement with EM2AI Professional Holdco Pte. Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, EM2AI Pte Ltd., in which EM2AI Professional Holdco Pte. Ltd. has agreed to invest S$1.6 million of fresh funds into EM2AI for an effective shareholding interest of 51% in EM2AI. In additional, EM2AI Professional Holdco Pte. Ltd. has also agreed to provide an interest free loan of S$3.7 million to EM2AI Pte Ltd.

The investment was undertaken to derive the following benefits for the Group:

a) Strengthen the Group’s financial position and improve its cash flow as EM2AI is a loss-making company and its activities require significant capital investment, specifically in the area of research and development (R&D). With this investment, the primary responsibility for providing cash flow to EM2AI will be shifted to the EM2AI Professional HoldCo Pte Ltd. Funds saved by the Company in respect of further funding requirements of EM2AI can be deployed by the Group to its core activities;

b) By divesting majority control of EM2AI, the Group will effectively minimise its capital investment in EM2AI during its growth stage. The Group, with its minority stake, will benefit from the growth of EM2AI without having to invest substantially into EM2AI;

c) There are certain risks and uncertainties associated with AI-empowered solutions and businesses along with intensive working capital requirements. It is thus difficult to estimate when the business will become ultimately profitable. The investment will allow the Group to mitigate some of the associated risks and at the same time continue to participate in the growth of EM2AI.

Looking ahead

While we are focused on sustainable growth for the Group, we are also mindful of the values and philosophy by which the organisation abides by. Fundamental to this is a responsibility to be the very best in all we do when it comes to the care we offer and the smiles that we create because of our commitment to our stakeholders to the saying:

We strive to build a strong and holistic platform upon which our future growth can be firmly established with particular emphasis on the following strategic thrusts:

1. Strengthening the basics

The Group has always placed strong emphasis on conducting business based on the long term outlook that is ethical and sustainable for both our patients and the Group.

2. Improving efficiency- reducing costs and wastage

Starting in 2023, Q&M is now organised with area management teams that include dentists, nurses, operations and finance personnel to improve overall cost and operational efficiencies, reduce overlaps while also empowering Area Managers to make improvements on the ground. We believe this will improve staff motivation and morale throughout the organisation.

3. Q&M College

As of 4th quarter of 2023, the Group has made it mandatory to attend certain technical training courses for our dentists at the Q.& M College as part of our continuous effort to always maintain the highest standards of skill and expertise and at the same time, refresh the skills of our dentists to improve the overall standard of care throughout the organisation.

4. Artificial Intelligence and Dentistry 3.0

In the dynamic landscape of dentistry, embracing the ethos of a learning organization is paramount for continued growth and innovation. Q & M is a learning organisation made up of employees skilled at creating, acquiring, and transferring knowledge. This is very much part of our Company DNA since day one. With technological advances alongside a fast-changing world, any firm that remains stationary is doomed to oblivion.

Just as Dentistry 3.0 heralds a new era of patient-centric care and technological advancement, so too must our organisation evolve into a hub of continuous learning and adaptation. Imagine a collaborative ecosystem where dental professionals engage in interdisciplinary dialogues, harnessing the latest research and technological breakthroughs to refine their craft and elevate patient outcomes. In this vision, our company becomes not merely a provider of dental healthcare, but a catalyst for industry-wide transformation. By fostering a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and knowledge-sharing, we not only stay ahead of the curve but actively shape its trajectory.

Our investment in Artificial Intelligence is not merely paying lip-service to an emerging trend but yields real world benefits in terms of ethical dentistry that will ultimately result in positive outcomes and experiences both for the dentists and also our patients. Patients armed with more knowledge can also make better informed decisions in consultation with their dentists and dentists can leverage on the data-centric recommendations for the most appropriate treatment plans every time.

5. Expanding our brand- Singapore and Southeast Asia

Q & M is embarking on an intensive strategy for organic growth in our network of dental clinics, bolstering its team of dentists to support future operations in Singapore and Malaysia. Concurrently, we will enhance our digital clinical decision support system to deliver ethical and optimal treatment plans for patients.

With rising standards of living and increased expectations for dental healthcare, particularly in Singapore, the Group is poised to meet the growing demand for both primary and specialised dental services.

Expanding beyond Singapore, the Group seeks to establish a sustainable growth pillar through organic expansion within the burgeoning private dental healthcare market of Southeast Asia. We aim to extend the reach of the Q & M brand and expertise beyond current borders, leveraging our premium reputation and brand for quality products and services. This expansion will be executed with careful and decisive precision, positioning us to export our proficiency regionally.

6. Giving Back through serving the community- Free Dental Clinic @Chai Chee

The Free Dental Clinic which was launched in July 2023 has become a tremendous platform for Q & M to give back to the community, serving to cement the bond between dentists and nurses with the community from all over Singapore. The Group is heartened by the willingness of so many to step up to volunteer their time and expertise to help and benefit those who might otherwise have limited access to good quality dental healthcare.

Since its opening in July 2023 to 31 Dec 2023, the Free Dental Clinic has had the privilege of serving around 220 patients in the community. Of these, more than 90 patients were over 60 years old as well as young children under 12 years of age. We look forward with excitement to serving a larger number of our community in the year ahead.

This press release is read in conjunction with Q & M’s FY2023 results release on SGXNET.

Footnotes:

1. Core Healthcare Business excludes contributions from the Group’s medical laboratory, other gains, other losses and expenses incurred on the development of the Group’s digital Artificial Intelligence (AI) guided clinical decision support system as well as rental rebates received from the Singapore Government.

2. EBITDA refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.

3. PATMI refers to profit after tax and minority interest (aka Profit attributable to parent).

About Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (QC7.SI)

Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (QC7.SI) (“Q & M” or together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) is a leading private dental healthcare group in Asia.

The Group owns the largest network of private dental outlets in Singapore, operating 105 dental outlets across the country. Underpinned by about 270 experienced dentists and over 350 supporting staff, the Group sees an average of 40,000 patient visits a month in Singapore. The Group also operates 5 medical clinics and a dental supplies and equipment distribution company.

Outside of Singapore, the Group has 44 dental clinics and a dental supplies and equipment distribution company in Malaysia. Q & M is also the substantial shareholder of Aoxin Q & M Dental Group Limited, a dental Group listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange that operates dental clinics and hospitals primarily in the north-eastern region of the PRC. The Group aims to expand its operations geographically and vertically through the value chain in Malaysia, the PRC and within the ASEAN region.

The Q & M College of Dentistry was established in 2019 to offer postgraduate dental education as part of its commitment to continual education and professional development of dentists. It offers Singapore’s first private postgraduate diploma programme in clinical dentistry.

In 2020, the Group expanded into the medical laboratories and research industry with the strategic investment into Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. (“Acumen”). Currently, Acumen focuses on developing its range of medical research, tests and solutions to secure viable patents and to achieve successful commercialisation of the medical products in the near future.

The Group was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX- ST”) on 26 November 2009.

For more information on the Group, please visit www.QandMDental.com.sg

Media queries, please contact:
Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd
Wayne Koo: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg (+65) 9338-8166
Derek Yeo: derek@waterbrooks.com.sg (+65) 9791-4707
General: query@waterbrooks.com.sg

Proud Investor Relations partner: https://www.waterbrooks.com.sg/ and https://www.shareinvestorholdings.com

HEKTAR REIT Receives Two Inaugural Honors at Malaysia Top Achievers 2023 Award

“Sustainable Company of the Year”, highlighting Hektar REIT’s excellence in sustainable practices and community engagement
“Leadership Excellence in REIT Management”, recognising domestic top achievers and their contributions towards Malaysian economy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 29, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Hektar Asset Management Sdn Bhd (“Hektar Asset Management”), the Manager for Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (“Hektar REIT”) is pleased to announce that the Company is a proud recipient of two Awards at the esteemed Malaysia Top Achievers 2023 (MATA 2023), Sustainable Company of the Year Award to Hektar REIT, and Leadership Excellence in REIT Management Award to Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Johari Shukri Jamil.


From Left: Dato’ Sohaimi Shahadan, Deputy President, ASEAN Chamber of Commerce Inc.; Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia; Johari Shukri Jamil, ED & CEO of Hektar Asset Management; and Hema Kandy, CEO, My Events International (Link)	From Left: Mohamad Othman Mail, Senior Manager, Finance; Lim Kek Siang, Senior General Manager, Finance; Johari Shukri Jamil, ED & CEO of & spouse; Martin Chen, General Manager, Legal; and Muhammad Fahmi Rasni, Senior Manager, Business Strategy of Hektar Asset Management (Link)

En. Johari Shukri Jamil, Executive Director & CEO of Hektar Asset Management said, “We are truly humbled and honoured to receive both the Sustainable Company of the Year award and Leadership Excellence in REIT Management award from MATA 2023. We owe the recognitions to our incredible team, whose commitment and tireless dedication led us to these awards. It reaffirms our dedication to integrating sustainability into every aspect of our operations.”

He further added, “The conferment of the Sustainable Company of the Year award to Hektar REIT is a testament to the REIT’s industry-leading initiatives and its steadfast commitment to sustainability and community support. This prestigious recognition is expected to further solidify Hektar REIT’s reputation as a socially responsible entity and a key player in Malaysia’s journey towards sustainable development.

“At Hektar REIT, we believe in the power of responsible business practices to create shared value for all our stakeholders, from our tenants and employees to our shareholders and the communities we serve. Today’s awards serve as both an honour and a motivation for our team to continue pushing the boundaries in sustainability and corporate social responsibility. We remain committed to our vision of not only achieving business growth but also making a positive impact on society and the environment.”

A joint venture between The Leaders Online and My Events International, the MATA 2023 celebrates the commendable achievements of local businesses and individuals who have showcased excellence and exceptional performance across various sectors.

This year’s event places a strong emphasis in promoting home-grown talents and inspiring local enterprises to achieve international recognition through their outstanding products and services in 28 categories. Some of the distinctive awards of the night included Icon of The Year, Masterclass Woman Achiever of The Year and Entrepreneur of The Year.

HKTDC welcomes Hong Kong SAR’s 2024-25 budget

HONG KONG, Feb 28, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) welcomes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) 2024-25 budget.

The budget introduces a number of measures to boost Hong Kong’s economic growth and promote the continued development of SMEs and start-ups. These measures offer wide-ranging support to help SMEs manage their cash flow and accelerate their transformation, attract high-value added industries, capital and international talent to Hong Kong as well as promote green and digital transformation.

HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam said: “At the HKTDC, our mission is to support SMEs and provide them with opportunities to grow and transform. We welcome the HKSAR Government’s initiative to extend the application period and increase the total guarantee commitment for the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme, and make continuous enhancements and inject more funds to the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (“BUD Fund”). Aside from these initiatives, the introduction of enhancement measures for profit tax will also assist SMEs to tackle their capital flow challenges and accelerate their transformation.”

The HKTDC will work closely with the HKSAR Government to further promote Hong Kong’s strengths and eight centre advantages, move towards a green and digital future and create opportunities for Hong Kong’s industries to ensure the continued growth of the city’s economy. We will also reinforce Hong Kong’s important role as a two-way business and investment hub.

The budget reiterated Hong Kong’s role as a leading business platform for the Belt and Road Initiative. The HKTDC’s global network of 50 offices covers the Belt and Road’s main markets, from ASEAN to Africa, from Europe to South America. This year, we will set up two additional consultant offices along the Belt and Road to connect Hong Kong businesses with arising opportunities.

Dr Lam added that the next 10 years will be a “golden decade” for the Belt and Road. The HKTDC will continue to be guided by the eight major steps of the Belt and Road Initiative, as announced by President Xi Jinping in 2023, and leverage our global network and major events to help Hong Kong businesses explore the Belt and Road market.

The HKTDC supports SMEs’ development and expansion via a range of support programmes, including the Transformation Sandbox (T-box), GoGBA one-stop platform and Digital Academy.

In the 2024-25 financial year, we will provide support to SMEs according to four main directions:

Assist SMEs to seize opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan;
Capture arising opportunities in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and other emerging markets, especially ASEAN and the Middle East;
Help SMEs achieve digital and green transformation; and
Enrich international business people’s stay in Hong Kong, enhance digital offerings in HKTDC exhibitions and conferences, and provide a seamless online and offline experience for event participants.

Media enquiries

Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Agnes Wat	Tel: (852) 2584 4554	Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org
Sam Ho	Tel: (852) 2584 4569	Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

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

Genetec Sets the Stage for Higher Growth Following a Strong Q3FY2024 Performance

Key Financial Performance Highlights for Q3FY2024:

Strong RM76.9 million revenue, with margins jumping to high double-digits.
PBT for the quarter stands at RM25.2 million, with a margin of 32.7%.
PAT for the quarter stands at RM22.9 million, with a margin of 29.8%.

BANGI, Malaysia, Feb 27, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Technology leader in providing fully customised, intelligent manufacturing automation solutions, GENETEC TECHNOLOGY BERHAD (“Genetec” or the “Company”) recorded another strong quarter for their third quarter financial year 2024 (“Q3FY2024”), continuing the strong business and execution momentum highlighted at the beginning of the FY2024. The Company recorded a higher revenue vis-à-vis the preceding quarter, with all major financial indicators showing significant double-digit growth. This is notable despite the year-on-year (“YoY”) decrease in revenue for the quarter to RM76.9 million from Q3FY2023’s RM85.1 million. Genetec’s profit before tax (“PBT”) and profit after tax (“PAT”) stood at RM25.2 million and RM22.9 million for the quarter under review versus RM13.9 million and RM12.5 million a year ago.

The Company delivered a high gross profit margin of 46.8%, which reflects a 16.2% increase on a YoY basis. This increase is attributed to higher margins in its product mix for the quarter under review. Genetec reiterated that the lower turnover for Q3FY2024 was not reflective of the pipeline strength or sentiment, but the project progressions and billings, as is typical in industries with large project values. The Company said the Electric Vehicle (EV) and Energy Storage segments continued to maintain its dominance as Genetec’s primary revenue stream, contributing nearly 100% of total revenue, accumulated over the last nine months.

Genetec Co-founder and Managing Director Chin Kem Weng highlighted, “Our efforts in 2023 are paying off as Genetec continues our momentum into New Year 2024. As a Group, the teams have been working hard on our product and business development to secure our pipeline and to build new leads across all our business segments, especially in renewable energy with MYBESS. As such, our performance for this quarter remains strong and consistent with our outlook at the beginning of our financial year 2024 (FY2024). In addition, all key financial metrics show double-digit growth, reinforcing the Group’s discipline and management of our supply chain. Moving forward, we are optimistic on the Company’s performance and the timelines in translating the projects secured to be reflected in the remaining quarters for the financial year ending 2024.”

Chin emphasised that, countries globally are ramping up efforts in RE although the timeline of the shift will be for the long-term. Likewise for Malaysia, the shift to RE and EVs continue to gain traction due to increasing pressure from governments and consumers. “The S&P Global Commodity Insights forecast nearly USD 800 billion in clean energy investments for 2024, which is 10% – 20% higher than 2023 levels[1]. Following many years of policy discussions and framework launches, 2024 is a year of execution. This is a time for infrastructure planning, spending and set up to support the shift away from fossil fuel to electric. Companies in the ecosystem, especially EVs are ramping up their production capacities to cater to future demand. As Genetec is in the business of capital expenditure (CAPEX), we have been working hard to position ourselves as the go-to end-to-end turnkey solutions provider for intelligent automation for EV and as of 2023, for RE.”

Genetec added that it will continue to capitalise on such factors while also actively exploring other growth opportunities. At the end of the quarter, Genetec’s earnings per share (“EPS”) stood at 3.04 sen (fully diluted) compared to 2.41 sen (fully diluted) in Q2FY2024.

About Genetec Technology Berhad

Genetec Technology Berhad is a technology leader in providing customised full turnkey smart factory automation manufacturing lines. It is a public company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Stock code: 0104). Its principal business focus is in the provision of high-quality, responsive and cost-effective designs, as well as the manufacturing of automated industrial systems, equipment and value-added services for our global customers in the Electric Vehicle (EV), Automotive, Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Consumer Goods and Healthcare sectors. For more information please visit: https://genetec.net/.

Issued by: Narro Communications on behalf of Genetec Technology Berhad

For media enquiries on Genetec Technology Berhad, please contact:
Imelia Kyra
Tel: +6017 848 0977
Email: imelia@narrocomms.com

[1] Source: S&P Global Commodity Insights 2024

Doubleview Gold Corp. Announces Significant Copper and Gold Intervals, Including 6.94% Copper and 8.29 g/t Gold (11.27% Cu Eq[-Sc]) Over 4 meters, from South Lisle and Main Lisle Zones of Hat Porphyry Polymetallic Deposit

Vancouver, British Columbia–(ACN Newswire – February 26, 2024) – Doubleview Gold Corp. (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (FSE: A1W038) (the “Company or “Doubleview”) is pleased to announce analyses from the final five Hat Property drill holes of the 2023 drill campaign. Drill holes H067 and H068 in the South Lisle Zone returned very significant intervals of copper and gold values that add important length and grade dimensions to the porphyry deposit. Drill holes H069 and H070, in the main Lisle zone, were strategically placed to verify and expand our exploration model and have increased the mineralization and shown near-surface continuation. The enhanced volume of mineralization will be reflected in the estimates included in the Maiden Resource Estimate (MRE) currently being prepared.

The Hat Porphyry project is located in the prolific “Golden Triangle” of the Stikine mining district of northwestern British Columbia, Canada, and is in a territory that hosts several large base and precious metal deposits. In addition to copper and gold, the Hat Deposit contains several critical metals, including Cobalt, and Scandium.

Mr. Farshad Shirvani, President and CEO, comments that “The 2023 program of drilling comprised almost 11,000 metres of drilling that explored and extended the Lisle deposit to west, south and southwest, enabled new interpretation of the deposit orientation and model, and revealed a new gold-silver-cobalt-rich area. Several previously unconnected mineral zones were joined and over-all dimensions were increased. A 4 meter section of hole H067 returned a remarkable 6.94% copper and 8.29 g/t gold (11.27% Cu Eq[-Sc] “Cu Eq calculated excluding Sc content”). Data for the Maiden Resource Estimate (MRE) were compiled and forwarded to an outside, arm’s length, consultant. When completed the MRE will be published and mark a very material progression in our development of the Hat deposit”.

South Lisle Zone:

Drill holes H067 and H068 returned strong Copper and Gold mineralization consistent with that reported from hole H034 and confirmed the apparent trend of mineralization to deeper and higher concentrations in the Lisle South area.

Drill hole H067:

Hole H067 intersected significant Gold and Copper mineralization over its entire length from 9 meters depth (see Table 1):

537.8 meters of 0.24g/t Au plus 0.17% Cu (0.34% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including: 210.4 meters of 0.47g/t Au plus 0.47% Cu (0.64% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including: 113.3 meters of 0.75g/t Au plus 0.52% Cu (1.01% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including: 48.0 meters of 1.60g/t Au plus 1.03% Cu (2.01% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including: 25.0 meters of 3.03g/t Au plus 1.95% Cu (3.77% Cu Eq[-Sc])

Drill hole H068:

Hole H068 intersected mineralization from near surface to total 618 meters, including stronger values at depth

103.0 meters of 0.20g/t Au plus 0.38% Cu (0.48% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including: 67.0 meters of 0.27g/t Au plus 0.49% Cu (0.63% Cu Eq[-Sc])

Table 1: Significant South Lisle Zone Hole H067 and H068 assay intercepts

DDH	From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Ag (g/t)	Au (g/t)	Co (g/t)	Cu (%)	Sc (g/t)	Cu Eq (%) incl Sc₂O₃
H067	9	546.8	537.8	0.27	0.24	102.0	0.17	31.8	1.10
Inc.	9.0	366.0	357.0	0.33	0.33	128.5	0.21	30.7	1.18
Inc.	93.7	304.0	210.4	0.48	0.47	170.0	0.32	30.3	1.37
Inc.	110.0	339.0	229.0	0.45	0.48	176.5	0.31	29.6	1.35
Inc.	196.0	309.3	113.3	0.54	0.75	235.0	0.52	26.7	1.65
Or	267.0	315.0	48.0	0.76	1.60	337.5	1.03	23.5	2.57
Inc.	279.0	304.0	25.0	1.41	3.03	571.3	1.95	19.6	4.24
Inc.	298.0	302.0	4.0	3.61	8.29	714.1	6.94	16.0	11.65
H068	21.0	618.0	597.0	0.24	0.10	75.1	0.12	34.4	1.01
Inc.	198.0	362.5	164.5	0.18	0.14	102.9	0.09	31.6	0.97
Inc.	202.0	229.0	27.0	0.47	0.40	278.8	0.25	28.3	1.26
And	488.0	591.0	103.0	0.71	0.20	84.6	0.38	35.3	1.33
Inc.	504.0	571.0	67.0	0.95	0.27	102.9	0.49	32.3	1.41
Notes: – Metal equivalents should not be relied upon for future evaluations. – Drill hole intercepts included in this news release are core lengths that may or may not be true widths of mineralization. It is not possible to determine true widths. **Copper Equivalent [ Cu Eq (%) incl Sc₂O₃] is estimated using the following metal values and equations: – *CuEq(%) =(Ag(g/t) x Price_Ag x Rec_Ag/31.1035 + Au(g/t) x Price_Au x Rec_Au/31.1035 + Co(%) x Price_Co x Rec_Co x 22.0462 + Cu(%)x Price_Cu x Rec_Cu x 22.0462 + Sc(g/t) x Price_Sc x Rec_Sc x Sc_con) / (Price_Cu x 22.0462) – Price_Ag = $22.20/troy oz, Price_Au=$1,812.14/ troy oz, Price_Co = $23.30/lb, Price_Cu = $3.84/lb, Price_Sc = $1.5/g – Rec_Ag = 68% , Rec_Au = 89% , Rec_Co = 78%, Rec_Cu = 84% , Rec_Sc = 88%

Main Lisle Zone:

Drill holes H069 and H070 explored near-surface mineralization and filled a gap between the hole H022-H023 area and hole H034, an area of strong values. Drill hole H071 significantly extended H034 mineralization. Table 2 includes significant intervals.

Drill hole H069: Intersected 411m of mineralization from near surface including several intervals of note:

253 meters 0.14g/t Au plus 0.21% Cu (0.30% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including:
- 135 meters of 0.18g/t Au plus 0.30% Cu (0.40% Cu Eq[-Sc])
- 115 meters of 0.20g/t Au plus 0.33% Cu (0.43% Cu Eq[-Sc])
- 52.4 meters of 0.18g/t Au plus 0.44% Cu (0.50% Cu Eq[-Sc])

Drill hole H070: Intersected long intervals of mineralization with uniformly elevated gold values and sections of strong cobalt.

158.5 meters 0.26g/t Au plus 0.17% Cu (0.35% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including:
- 133.4 meters of 0.31g/t Au plus 0.20% Cu (0.40% Cu Eq[-Sc])
- 96.0 meters of 0.40g/t Au plus 0.25% Cu (0.50% Cu Eq[-Sc])

Drill hole H071: Intersected long intervals of moderate copper, gold and silver values and 1m with very high silver, gold, cobalt and copper.

207.9 meters 0.17g/t Au plus 0.17% Cu (0.29% Cu Eq[-Sc])
Including:
- 24.9 meters of 0.45g/t Au plus 0.13% Cu (0.43% Cu Eq[-Sc])
- 82.0 meters of 0.18g/t Au plus 0.29% Cu (0.39% Cu Eq[-Sc])
- 1.0 meters of 2.31g/t Au plus 2.01% Cu (3.44% Cu Eq[-Sc])

Table 2. Significant South Lisle Zone Hole H069 and H070 and H071 assay intercepts

DDH	From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Ag (g/t)	Au (g/t)	Co (g/t)	Cu (%)	Sc (g/t)	Cu Eq (%) incl Sc₂O₃
H069	39.0	450.0	411.0	0.36	0.12	63.1	0.15	23.1	0.78
Inc.	159.0	412.0	253.0	0.45	0.14	68.8	0.21	22.2	0.83
Inc.	232.0	410.0	178.0	0.57	0.16	64.5	0.25	20.1	0.82
Inc.	232.0	367.0	135.0	0.67	0.18	66.4	0.30	19.9	0.87
Inc.	252.0	367.0	115.0	0.76	0.20	70.8	0.33	19.3	0.89
Inc.	301.0	353.4	52.4	1.15	0.18	47.3	0.44	14.8	0.86
H070	49.0	207.5	158.5	0.44	0.26	88.0	0.17	24.4	0.93
Inc.	58.0	191.4	133.4	0.49	0.31	93.4	0.20	23.8	0.97
Or	24.0	138.0	114.0	0.47	0.30	83.6	0.15	23.5	0.91
Inc.	93.0	189.0	96.0	0.56	0.40	93.4	0.25	23.6	1.06
Inc.	126.0	134.0	8.0	1.90	2.01	332.9	0.78	20.9	2.55
Inc.	288.0	290.0	2.0	7.03	0.47	555.0	2.64	15.7	3.19
H071	141.0	414.0	273.0	0.30	0.15	84.0	0.16	26.5	0.90
Inc.	175.1	200.0	24.9	0.25	0.45	76.9	0.13	26.2	1.05
Inc.	298.0	380.0	82.0	0.49	0.18	82.0	0.29	25.1	0.99
Inc.	304.0	305.0	1.0	4.03	2.31	669.0	2.01	12.7	3.75
Notes: – Metal equivalents should not be relied upon for future evaluations. – Drill hole intercepts included in this news release are core lengths that may or may not be true widths of mineralization. It is not possible to determine true widths. **Copper Equivalent [ Cu Eq (%) incl Sc₂O₃] is estimated using the following metal values and equations: – *CuEq(%) =(Ag(g/t) x Price_Ag x Rec_Ag/31.1035 + Au(g/t) x Price_Au x Rec_Au/31.1035 + Co(%) x Price_Co x Rec_Co x 22.0462 + Cu(%)x Price_Cu x Rec_Cu x 22.0462 + Sc(g/t) x Price_Sc x Rec_Sc x Sc_con) / (Price_Cu x 22.0462) – Price_Ag = $22.20/troy oz, Price_Au=$1,812.14/ troy oz, Price_Co = $23.30/lb, Price_Cu = $3.84/lb, Price_Sc = $1.5/g – Rec_Ag = 68% , Rec_Au = 89% , Rec_Co = 78%, Rec_Cu = 84% , Rec_Sc = 88%

Table 3. Drill Hole Data

Drill Hole ID	UTM – East	UTM – North	Elevation (m)	Max-Depth (m)	Azimuth (°)	Dip (°)	Area
H067	347,866	6,453,619	938.0	549.0	300.0	-60.3	South Lisle (Gold Rich Zone)
H068	347,866	6,453,619	938.0	618.0	310.0	-68.5	South Lisle (Gold Rich Zone)
H069	347,865	6,453,953	956.5	459.0	18.0	-75.0	Main Lisle Zone
H070	347,866	6,453,953	956.5	600.0	55.0	-70.0	Main Lisle Zone
H071	347,866	6,453,953	956.5	411.0	170.0	-70.0	South Lisle (Gold Rich Zone)

Figure 1 : Drill Plan with IP Chargeability (at 700m masl)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/199246_7c4c8004047089fe_001full.jpg

Figure 2A. Vertical Section (A-A’) along the drill holes H067, H068 at South Lisle Zone

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/199246_7c4c8004047089fe_002full.jpg

Figure 2B. Vertical Section (B-B’) along the drill holes H069, H070, H071 at Main Lisle Zone

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/199246_7c4c8004047089fe_003full.jpg

Scandium:

Scandium, one of the rarest metals, is deemed “critical” by Canadian and American federal governments. The Hat deposit is one of a small number of North American deposits that potentially contains significant amounts of scandium:

Scandium is utilized in various industries due to its unique properties, especially when alloyed with aluminum. Applications take advantage of scandium’s ability to enhance the strength, durability, and thermal resistance of aluminum, making the resultant alloy ideal for aerospace, military, and automotive industries. Additionally, scandium finds applications in the manufacturing of solid oxide fuel cells, where it serves as a critical component due to its electrical conductivity and heat resistance. These fuel cells are used in power generation with high efficiency and low emissions. Other industries that benefit from the use of scandium include lighting, electronics, and 3D printing, leveraging its capacity to improve the performance of materials and components within these sectors.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

Core samples were prepared at the North Vancouver facility of ALS Canada Ltd. using their PREP-31, PGM-ICP24, ME-MS61, and ME-ICP06 packages. Each core sample is dried, then crushed to 70% passing a 2mm screen. All material is processed in an automatic Riffle splitter to yield a 250g homogenized, representative sample. This sub-sample is then pulverized to 85% passing a 75-micron screen. All samples are analyzed for Au, Pt, Pd by 50g fire-assay fusion/ICP-ES finish, using PGM-ICP24 package. A separate 0.25g pulp split is analyzed by Four Acid digestion/ICP-MS finish, reporting 48 elements. Over limit elements are analyzed by Ore Grade Four Acid digestion/ICP-ES finish using ME-OG62 assay package. All of Doubleview’s core samples are analyzed or assayed at independent ISO 17025 and ISO 9001- certified laboratories.

Doubleview maintains a website at www.doubleview.ca.

Qualified Persons:

Erik Ostensoe, P. Geo., a consulting geologist, and Doubleview’s Qualified Person with respect to the Hat Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release. He is not independent of Doubleview as he is a shareholder in the company.

Cautionary Note: Although a mineral resource estimation is currently being prepared by an independent engineering firm, no mineral resources have been estimated at the Hat Property and there is no assurance that further work will result in the Lisle Zone, or other zones if present, being classified as mineral resources.

About Doubleview Gold Corp

Doubleview Gold Corp., a mineral resource exploration and development company, is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is publicly traded on the TSX-Venture Exchange (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (GER: A1W038) (FSE: 1D4). Doubleview identifies, acquires and finances precious and base metal exploration projects in North America, particularly in British Columbia. Doubleview increases shareholder value through acquisition and exploration of quality gold, copper and silver properties and the application of advanced state-of-the-art exploration methods. The Company’s portfolio of strategic properties provides diversification and mitigates investment risks.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Farshad Shirvani, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information please contact:
Doubleview Gold Corp
Vancouver, BC Farshad Shirvani
President & CEO

T: (604) 678-9587
E: corporate@doubleview.ca

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute “forward-looking information.” In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/199246

HKTDC’s major focus areas promote Hong Kong’s advantages

HONG KONG, Feb 21, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today announced its major focus areas for 2024-2025, which strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a leading global business and investment hub and convention and exhibition (C&E) centre. The HKTDC is committed to promoting Hong Kong’s advantages internationally and creating opportunities for Hong Kong businesses.

HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam said: “With the record-breaking attendance at our Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in January, it is clear that international business leaders and investors have returned to Hong Kong. Looking ahead, we will further consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, trade and international C&E centre and promote Hong Kong’s strengths internationally. We will redouble our efforts to highlight Hong Kong’s unique role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and further integrate into the overall development of Mainland China, while actively exploring other rapidly growing markets, such as ASEAN and the Middle East. We will also continue to focus on the key growth drivers of innovation, sustainability and wellness.”

Since full reopening in March 2023, the HKTDC has stepped up efforts to attract business people across the globe to return to Hong Kong, and the Council’s trade events have welcomed visitors from Asia, the Middle East to Africa and Europe to the Americas, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a business and investment hub.

Last year, we staged some 40 major events, attracting over 22,000 exhibitors and over 430,000 physical buyers and participants from Hong Kong, the mainland and around the world, with particularly notable growth in visitors from Mainland China, ASEAN and the Middle East. Indeed, exhibitor and buyer participation at last year’s HKTDC trade fairs has returned to 70-80% of pre-pandemic levels, with some even reaching 90%. Our anchor conferences, such as the AFF and the Belt and Road Summit, also attracted record-breaking attendance and strong international participation.

HKTDC’s 2024-2025 major work focus is:

1. Strengthen Hong Kong’s position within the GBA and its integration into national development

The HKTDC will open two new GBA business support centres in Huizhou and Zhaoqing in March. With these additional centres, we will have a physical presence in all mainland GBA cities to provide stronger on-the-ground support to businesses that are interested in tapping GBA opportunities.
Version 2.0 of the HKTDC’s offline and online business support programme GoGBA will be launched to provide more comprehensive support for businesses keen to access the GBA. It will include a five-in-one support plan for different industries, comprising seminars, group and one-on-one consultations, GBA business visits and industry information kits.
We will enhance the promotion of infrastructure and real estate services (IRES), legal and other professional services and arrange trade delegations to mainland GBA cities to facilitate collaboration.
We will stage SmartHK in Nanjing to boost collaboration between Hong Kong and Yangtze River Delta in trade, innovation and green finance.
The HKTDC will launch a new innovation and technology (I&T) zone at the Hong Kong Services Pavilion at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai to promote Hong Kong’s I&T strengths.
We will expand product offerings at the Hong Kong Pavilion at the China International Consumer Goods Expo in Hainan to cover niche sectors in high demand.

2. Connect Hong Kong with opportunities in RCEP and beyond to reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a resilient and connected business hub

HKTDC’s mega promotion Think Business, Think Hong Kong will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia to showcase Hong Kong’s world-class services.
We will launch a Hong Kong Professional Plus campaign to help local service providers understand the ASEAN market and seize opportunities.
A fundraising roadshow to ASEAN or the Middle East will be organised to connect corporates with imminent fundraising needs and reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a fundraising hub.
We will also lead a delegation to the Middle East to help Hong Kong IRES providers strengthen ties with their Middle Eastern counterparts.
The HKTDC will launch the New Market Navigator Series, which consists of exploratory study missions and participation in trade fairs in targeted regions to highlight Hong Kong’s competitive edge across industries.
In terms of the ASEAN market, we will stage a Hong Kong product showcase at the FHA-HoReCa in Singapore, one of the largest events in Asia in the sector. For the Middle East market, we will participate in regional trade fairs, such as Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East. Partnerships with relevant industry associations will be explored to arrange missions consisting of company visits, business matching meetings and networking.

3. Accelerate the development of Hong Kong’s pillar and new sectors with a focus on I&T, sustainability and wellness

The HKTDC will continue to facilitate international cooperation through signature events, such as Think Business, Think Hong Kong in overseas markets and AFF, Belt and Road Summit and Eco Expo Asia, to highlight Hong Kong’s role as an international centre for green finance and greentech.
An ESG seminar series will be launched at our anchor fairs to address the needs of different industries transitioning towards a more sustainable, low-carbon future.
The HKTDC will strengthen deal-making at AFF and target projects related to agritech, food tech, greentech, renewable energy and climate change mitigation, working closely with the Hong Kong Green Finance Association.
We will deepen collaboration with R&D and innovation centres of Hong Kong-based universities to promote technology commercialisation with a focus on healthtech.
The HKTDC will collaborate with start-up communities across Asia to position the Start-up Zone at HKTDC’s exhibitions as the ideal launchpad for start-ups to showcase their products and solutions.
Following last year’s introduction of a new ESG stream within the HKTDC’s Transformation Sandbox (T-box) business support programme, we will continue to expand T-box’s partnerships with global technology companies to support SMEs’ digital transformation.

4. Reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a global business hub and a C&E centre

The HKTDC will stage some 40 large-scale international exhibitions and conferences, ranging from Eco Expo Asia and InnoEx to AFF and Asia Summit on Global Health.
We will enrich the experience of business visitors by working with partner organisations to organise mega events around our anchor trade exhibitions and conferences. The linking of the Asian Financial Forum and the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in January this year was a good example.
We will debut two new trade fairs, DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong and Smart Lighting Expo, in April to meet market demand and facilitate opportunities in these industries.
We will continue to enhance the digital offerings of our exhibitions and conferences to provide a seamless online-to-offline experience for our participants and champion Hong Kong as a leader in innovation and digital transformation in the C&E industry.

Media enquiries
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Agnes Wat, Tel: (852) 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: (852) 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

About HKTDC

HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 now open for nomination

HONG KONG, Feb 21, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Hong Kong Investor Relations Association (HKIRA) is pleased to announce that public nomination is now open for the HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 (the ‘Awards’). This will be the tenth consecutive year of the Awards at which best IR and corporate governance practices are recognized among Hong Kong listed companies.

Dr Eva Chan, Founding Chairman of HKIRA, said, “This is the 10th year of the IR Awards launched since 2015. The IR professionals is facing with a high inflation, high interest rate and volatile geopolitical environment, which is a challenging year for financial markets around the world. During such times is when effective communication between companies and its stakeholders becomes increasingly important. Rising concerns over ESG, health and wellness issues have also been changing the ways in which investors value listed companies. We look forward to recognizing IR professionals that have been dedicating immense efforts in adapting to these changes and excelling in such challenging environment at this year’s IR Awards.”

Last year, 126 award entries were received from listed companies, over 740 eligible voters and over 290 voting institutions participated in the voting. 41 winners from various categories were recognized at the Awards. Among the winners, China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (stock code: 00291) and Xtep International Holdings Limited (stock code: 01368) were awarded Overall Best IR Company by company size – Large Cap and Mid Cap – respectively. The Judging Panel concurred to withhold the Overall Best IR Company Award for Small Cap last year, and looked forward to ongoing efforts in the adoption of IR best practices by Small Cap listed companies in Hong Kong.

The HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 is once again honoured to have Professor Louis Cheng, Dr. S H Ho Professor of Banking and Finance and the Director of Research Centre for ESG at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, as the Chairman of the Judging Panel. Being an advocate and a researcher of best practice of IR, Professor Cheng has in recent years been promoting the idea of integrating ESG into investors’ decisions. ESG-related awards have been added to the HKIRA IR Award categories since 2020. In addition, Professor Cheng has been working with HKIRA to continuously fine-tune the award criteria and categories to better recognise the latest development of IR activities and strategies in Hong Kong and Asia.

Public nomination for the HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 is now open to Hong Kong-listed companies. Nominated individuals and companies will be placed on the online voting list upon confirmation of their participation. The investment community, including buy-side and sell-side analysts, and fund managers, are eligible to vote. Nominees with the highest votes (weighted) in each award category will be shortlisted and then undergo a final assessment by the judging panel. Finally, the Most Progress in IR, IR Committed Company, Overall Best IR Company and Grand ESG Awards will be selected by the judging panel. Facilitating a fair and balanced evaluation, the judging panel comprises academics, representatives from professional associations and the investment community.

The HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 scheme has a total of 16 award categories honouring best IR practices of individuals and companies. Among these awards, 12 categories are open for nomination and voting, while the other 4 awards are selected by the judging panel. The award winners are to be announced at a ceremony to be held in Hong Kong in June/July 2024. For more information, please visit www.hkira.com/awards.

Strategic Public Relations Group is once again proud to be the Official Public Relations Partner and the Diamond Sponsor for the HKIRA IR Awards this year. Please find key dates relating to the Awards with its categories and criteria for selection listed in the Appendix.

Professor Louis Cheng, Dr. S H Ho Professor of Banking and Finance and the Director of Research Centre for ESG, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Chairman of the Judging Panel; Dr Eva Chan, Founding Chairman of HKIRA; and Mr Kevin Leung, Investor Relations Director & Company Secretary of China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (From left to right).

About HKIRA

Hong Kong Investor Relations Association (HKIRA) is a non-profit professional association comprising investor relations practitioners and corporate officers responsible for communication between corporate management and the investment community. HKIRA advocates the setting of international standards in IR education, advances the best IR practices and meets the professional development needs of those interested in pursuing the investor relations profession.

HKIRA is dedicated to advancing the practice of IR as well as the professional competency and status of its members. To date, HKIRA has over 1,300 members most of whom are working for companies primarily listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. About 68 of the Hang Seng Index Constituent Stock companies are currently members of HKIRA. HKIRA’s members are from a wide spectrum of professions including IR, finance, accounting, company secretarial to corporate investment and hold positions at different corporate levels, including top executives responsible for IR and management of listed companies. For more information about HKIRA details, please visit our website http://www.hkira.com.

About the IR Awards

The HKIRA Investor Relations Awards (the “IR Awards”) is an annual campaign that aims to encourage, recognize and reward the excellence in investor relations practices by individuals and companies listed in Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Since the launch in 2015, each year the Awards seeks out and highlights the incredible achievements of individuals and companies with high standards in investor relations through their role modelling to the investment community.

The Awards ceremony, consisting of a conference in the morning and presentation in the afternoon, is a spectacular gathering of IR specialists and industry professionals that applauds and publicizes the year’s achievements in investor relations. For details of the Awards and online nominations, please visit http://www.hkira.com/awards.

Media enquiries:

Strategic Public Relations Group

Cindy Lung Tel: +852 2864 4867 Email: cindy.lung@sprg.com.hk

Holly Szeto Tel: +852 2864 4859 Email: holly.szeto@sprg.com.hk

Michelle Shiu Tel: +852 2864 4861 Email: michelle.shiu@sprg.com.hk

Website: www.sprg.asia

Hong Kong Investor Relations Association

Scarlet Cheng Tel: +852 2117 1846 Email: irawards@hkira.com

Website: www.hkira.com

Appendix

Key Dates

Nomination period: 21 February to 26 March 2024

Online voting period: 8 April – 15 May 2024

Judging Panel Meeting: Second half of May 2024

Award Presentation: June /July 2024

Award Categories

Award Categories	Recognition	Selection Method
Best IR Company	Company’s Achievements	Open for nomination and online voting
Best IR Team
Best ESG (E)
Best ESG (S)
Best ESG (G)
Best Investor Meeting
Best Investor Presentation Material
Best Annual Report
Best IR Company for an IPO*
Best IR by Chairman/CEO	Individual’s Achievements
Best IR by CFO
Best IRO (Investor Relations Officer)
Most Progress in IR	Demonstration of the most progress in IR in the above areas during 2023	Selected by Judging Panel
IR Committed Company	Demonstration of substantial efforts and allocated valuable resources towards enhancing their IR functions
Overall Best IR Company Awards	Outstanding and all-round excellence in the above areas
Grand ESG Award	Overall excellence in all the three areas across ESG

* Companies which were listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2022 and 2023 are eligible to be nominated for this award.

Remarks: All awards will be further categorised by company market capitalisation into Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap, except Best IR Company for an IPO, Most Progress in IR and IR Committed Company Awards.

Judging Panel (Arranged in alphabetical order of last name)

Name	Title	Firms / Organizations
Professor Louis Cheng (Chairman of Judging Panel)	Dr. S H Ho Professor of Banking and Finance, Director of the Research Centre for ESG	The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
Dato’ Seri CHEAH Cheng Hye MAoF	Co-Chairman And Co-Chief Investment Officer	Value Partners Group
Mrs Amy Donati	Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer	EDICO Holdings Limited
Ms Ashley Khoo, CFA, CPA	Ex- Board Director	CFA Society Hong Kong
Mr Stephen Law	Vice-President	Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Mr Andrew Look	Independent Non-Executive Director	CITIC Resources Holdings Limited
Ms Victoria Mio, CFA, FRM	Portfolio Manager, Head of Greater China Equities	Janus Henderson Investors
Dr Maurice Ngai	General Committee and the Chairman of Membership Services of the Sub-Committees	The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies

E Fund & Saudi Riyad Capital Enter Partnership to Share Local Investment Expertise, Enhancing Mutual Investment Capabilities

HONG KONG, Feb 21, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – On February 20, 2024, E Fund Management Co., Ltd. (“E Fund”) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Riyad Capital, to enter into an agreement to collaborate on sharing local investment expertise. The MoU was signed at the Saudi Capital Market Forum 2024 in Riyadh.

E Fund, the largest fund manager in China, is pleased to announce a new cooperation with Riyad Capital, a leading asset manager in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration aims to combine the strengths and expertise of both organizations to enhance investment opportunities and create long-term, sustainable value for clients.

The cooperation will leverage both firms’ extensive knowledge of respective local markets and investment strategies. Through this cooperation, clients of both E Fund and Riyad Capital will have access to a broader range of investment products and services.

Xiaoyan Liu, Co-Chairman of the Board and CEO of E Fund stated, “The high level of openness of China’s capital market provides opportunities for the international development of Chinese fund management companies. E Fund has been consistently advancing its global development strategy, and this partnership with Riyad Capital represents a significant step forward. With this partnership, we will enhance our investment capabilities in Saudi Arabia and the broader region and expand our product offerings and services, while also establishing a bridge for investors in Saudi to understand and allocate to China.”

“We are pleased to partner with E Fund Management,” said Abdullah Alshwer, Riyad Capital’s CEO. “This collaboration allows us to tap into their extensive Asia network and access to their products, while also sharing our local investment expertise. In line with the KSA Vision 2030 through the Financial Sector Development Program we will be able to offer global investors access to Saudi capital markets and similarly offer our local clients a wider range of investment opportunities in different global markets.”

Both companies are confident that this cooperation will foster financial innovation, strengthen investment capabilities, and ultimately benefit their clients, who will gain access to a more comprehensive suite of investment solutions. By combining their local expertise and presence, E Fund and Riyad Capital are poised to create a mutually beneficial relationship.