RHTLaw Asia strengthens Real Estate Practice with appointment of new partner

SINGAPORE, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore-headquartered regional law firm RHTLaw Asia has appointed Mr Yeong Wai Cheong as partner in the firm's Real Estate practice.


Mr Yeong Wai Cheong, Partner at RHTLaw Asia and Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner at RHTLaw Asia [L-R]


Wai Cheong brings extensive experience in real estate, banking and finance, representing Singapore-listed companies and banks, purchasers and vendors, developers, landlords and tenants across a range of domestic and cross-border financing and real estate matters.

He has been consistently ranked as a "Recommended Lawyer" for Real Estate in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for seven consecutive years. Dual-qualified in Singapore and Hong Kong, Wai Cheong has represented parties for the sale and purchase and financing of industrial, commercial and residential properties in Singapore and Hong Kong.

In addition to his prior stint at RHTLaw Asia, Wai Cheong was also previously the General Counsel for Asia for an European bank and the Head of Legal for Singapore for two European banks.

RHTLaw Asia Managing Partner, Mr Azman Jaafar, said, "Real Estate will continue to be an important sector for us given Singapore's position as a global financial centre. We will continue to strengthen our practice with the addition of new talent to support our clients. Mr Yeong is a welcome addition to our team as we roll out our new ONERHT Client UX strategy together with our core multidisciplinary capabilities."

About RHTLaw Asia LLP

RHTLaw Asia LLP is a leading regional law firm headquartered in Singapore with a network of offices in 15 jurisdictions in Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa under the ASEAN Plus Group (APG) comprising over 2,000 lawyers. We help clients understand the local challenges, navigate the regional complexity to deliver the competitive advantage for their businesses in Asia. We are also the Singapore member of the Interlex Group, a global network of leading law firms.

RHTLaw Asia collaborates with ONERHT, an integrated network of multidisciplinary professional services, through entities which are not affiliates, branches, or subsidiaries of RHTLaw Asia LLP. For more details, please visit www.rhtlawasia.com

For Mr Yeong Wai Cheong's profile, please visit:
https://www.rhtlawasia.com/people/yeong-wai-cheong/

About ONERHT

ONERHT is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional and specialist services. Since 2011, RHTLaw Asia's founding team has developed a second engine of growth through ONERHT, an independent ecosystem of professional and specialist services, and networks, complementing RHTLaw's full service legal offerings. For more details, please visit www.onerht.com

For media queries, please contact:
Elliot Siow / elliot.siow@rhtgoc.com / +65 8375 0417

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Mitrade Launches Mitrade Academy: A Fun and Engaging Way to Learn Trading

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Mitrade, the leading online CFD trading platform, has announced the launch of Mitrade Academy. Mitrade Academy is designed to cater to traders of all levels, providing them step-by-step guidance in their respective learning journeys. Users are able to access a wide range of interactive courses, tutorials, and resources that cover all aspects of trading. The academy can be accessed via web and mobile browser.

Mitrade Academy is accessible via both mobile and web browsers, providing a convenient and flexible way to learn trading anytime, anywhere.

Mitrade Academy is accessible via both mobile and web browsers, providing a convenient and
flexible way to learn trading anytime, anywhere.

Mitrade Academy’s key feature offers the ability to save progress and resume anytime anywhere. This feature enables learners to continue their studies from where they left off, regardless of the location or the device they are using. On top of that, users are able to use one account to transition seamlessly between education to application. Enabling them to reinforce their learning by putting theory into practice immediately.

The development of Mitrade Academy is led by a team of trading experts, with their experience and dedication to helping traders succeed in the markets, the team is committed to achieving Mitrade’s goal of offering a simplified trading experience through the academy. You can start learning about trading here.

A sneakpeak of Mitrade Academy's platform

A sneakpeak of Mitrade Academy’s platform

Wide range of trading courses available

Mitrade Academy offers an extensive range of courses that cover various aspects of trading, including technical analysis, risk management, and trading psychology for all levels. The courses are interactive and feature practical examples and case studies to help traders apply what they have learned to real-world trading scenarios. Mitrade Academy plans to release new courses every month, providing traders with a consistent stream of fresh learning materials.

Learn at your own pace

Mitrade Academy recognizes the difficulty of finding the time to finish an online course. That’s why the platform is designed for utmost accessibility and allows users to save their course progress and pick up where they left off at any time, anywhere. Individuals can conveniently revisit course materials, making it the ideal solution for those with limited free time.

How To Start Learning With Mitrade

  1. Create an account with Mitrade by clicking here.
  2. Head over to Learn > Academy
  3. Hit “Start Learning” and view the wide range of trading courses that Mitrade offers.

About Mitrade

Mitrade offers access to a wide range of financial instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The platform is user-friendly, intuitive, and features advanced trading tools and features that cater to the needs of traders of all levels. Mitrade is committed to providing its users with a secure and reliable trading environment and offers 24/5 customer support to assist with any queries or issues.

To start learning with Mitrade Academy and experience the fun and engaging way to trade, please visit Mitrade Academy.

Social Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MitradeOfficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitradeOfficial
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mitradecom/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitrade_official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mitradeglobal/

Media Contact
Brand: Mitrade
Contact: Media team
E-mail: branding@mitrade.com
Website: https://www.mitrade.com/

SOURCE: Mitrade



Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Society Pass’ (Nasdaq: SOPA) Thoughtful Media Group Launches The Creator Economy in the Indonesian Market

JAKARTA, Apr 4, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia (SEA)'s next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, announces the official launch of its digital advertising platform, Thoughtful Media Group Inc (TMG), in the Indonesian market. TMG will introduce its new Indonesia management team and business model at a media presentation in Jakarta on 05 April 2023.

Established in 2021 as an international caliber design and branding agency serving innovative Indonesian companies in the beauty, F&B, e-commerce, and logistics sectors and acquired by TMG in December 2022, More Media has been integrated into Thoughtful Media Group Indonesia (TMGI) connecting content creators and brands in the world's fourth most populous country. By rapidly deploying value-added services, possessing an intimate understanding of local market trends, focusing on the art of storytelling, TMGI has quickly onboarded a diverse list of local clients such as Langsre, Emilia, Kei Dining, and Allino.

Pamela Aw-Yeung, TMG Vice-Chairwoman, states, "We are very pleased to welcome More Media into the TMG ecosystem. By combining TMGI's market-leading design and branding capabilities in Indonesia with TMG's influencer advertising-focused social commerce business model, we leverage our storytelling capabilities for local, regional and international advertisers seeking to market in Indonesia. TMG now operates in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia."

Responsible for driving sales and onboarding Indonesian clients onto TMG's regional digital advertising platform, Ms. Eugenia Agnes Gusti, the Co-Founder of More Media and VP of Business Development of TMGI, comments, "Our local team's unique advantage is that we are led by amazing heroines with significant experience in the fields of branding and media in this country". Ms. Erlinda Gutami, TMGI Indonesia Country Manager, expounds, "With the explosion of influencer advertising and social commerce across SEA, especially in Indonesia, TMGI emphasises the importance of theme of "Connection" for brands and influencers to build loyal audiences/users over time".

TMGI is uniquely positioned to become Indonesia's premier regional digital advertising agency offering a significant value proposition to advertisers, merchants, and influencers in SEA's largest economy. Well positioned to benefit from Indonesia's forecast soaring digital advertising revenues over the next decade as increasingly more consumers make direct purchases on social media platforms, TMGI collaborates with social media platforms, advertisers and influencers to develop the entire creator economy in Indonesia.

About Thoughtful Media Group (TMG)

Founded in 2010, Thoughtful Media Group is a leading digital advertising platform in SEA. Through our network of talented creators across multiple industries in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, we help brands maximise marketing budgets and achieve business objectives through some of the most innovative marketing campaigns in the region.

In 2022, Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA), the next generation acquisition-focused fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in SEA, acquired Thoughtful Media Group. Since then, TMG has fully evolved into a digital-first and fully integrated advertising powerhouse.

For more information, please visit:
Website at www.thoughtfulmedia.com
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoughtful-media-group-inc or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thoughtfulmedia/ or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thoughtfulmediaasia or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/ThoughtfulMedia.

About Society Pass

Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please visit:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Media Contact:
Ms. Eugenia Agnes Gusti
agnes@thoughtfulmedia.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Global Corporate Reputation Scores Continue to Decline According to the 2023 Global RepTrak(R) 100 from The RepTrak Company

BOSTON, MA, Apr 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The RepTrak Company™, the world’s leading reputation data and insights company, announces the results of its 2023 Global RepTrak® 100. The report is the world’s most comprehensive study of corporate reputation, compiled for the past 13 years using RepTrak’s in-depth analysis and ranking of the top 100 companies worldwide by Reputation Score.

Utilizing its advanced reputation monitoring software, RepTrak gathered data from more than 230,000 ratings globally to understand the public’s perceptions of the most important elements of corporate reputation: ESG (Environmental/Social/Governance), workplace fairness, leadership, innovation, branding, and more.

Available today is the complete 2023 Global RepTrak 100® ranking and report, with comprehensive analysis of global, industry, and demographic trends, at https://www.reptrak.com/rankings/

This data shows how people think, feel and act towards particular companies and ranks those companies based on the RepTrak Reputation Score.

The continued downfall of corporate reputation

In 2022, the global RepTrak Reputation Score went down for the first time since 2018. In 2023, this decrease continued on a global scale, with global Reputation Scores settling at an average of 73.2, down from 74.2 in 2022.

“Even with corporate reputation down in 2023,” says RepTrak CEO Mark Sonders, “Top 100 companies are exceptional in their efforts, rising up to intense and complex stakeholder expectations on ethical, supply chain, and workplace issues globally. There’s always room for improvement, but Top 100 companies are leading the way.”

ESG remains important but expectations are unmet

The global ESG score was also down this year. Each individual driver saw a significant decrease, with Environmental experiencing the biggest decline. RepTrak data has shown that perceptions of a company’s leadership in ESG have a direct impact on purchase intent – the public’s willingness to buy from a company goes from 20% with a weak ESG score to 60% with a high score.

“This year’s ESG results serve as a reminder: it’s not just about what you do, it’s about how you do it,” says Sonders. “ESG is only increasing in importance, affecting how we buy, trust, and recommend the brands we interact with.”

Financial concerns are top of mind

As part of its reputation measurement and monitoring platform, RepTrak also measures the actions stakeholders are willing to take when considering, supporting, and engaging with a company, referred to as Business Outcomes. Business Outcomes Willingness to Buy, Willingness to Invest, and Willingness to Work For all experienced significant decreases in 2023 demonstrating a clear frustration with the current economic state. Inflation is being felt on a global scale.

“The combination of a global decrease in reputation paired with an unpredictable financial landscape has stakeholders nervous to interact with brands,” warns Mark Sonders. “How organizations manage their approach to a potential recession will impact stakeholders beyond 2023.”

2022’s Reputation Leaders

The top 10 companies by Reputation Score, as ranked in the 2023 Global RepTrak® 100, are:

The LEGO Group
The Bosch Group
Rolls-Royce Aerospace
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Canon
Rolex SA
Miele
Sony
Nintendo
Mercedes-Benz

The LEGO Group is the World’s Most Reputable Company in 2023, but this is not their first #1 ranking. They achieved RepTrak’s #1 spot in 2020 and 2021, dropped to #3 in 2022, and now they’ve returned. Although their Reputation Scores have decreased, a well-rounded approach to supporting the world of play, combined with a dedicated focus to ethical practices makes them a global reputation favorite.

“I am very honored that the LEGO Group has been named the World’s Most Reputable Company in 2023,” says Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group. “This reflects the unwavering passion and commitment of our colleagues to help keep our promises during a year shaped by significant challenges. Children are our role models and inspire us to make choices that make their future world better. This means not only innovating LEGO play but also constantly striving to have a positive impact on environment and society.”

The IKEA Group experienced a notable increase rank in 2023, landing at #24 on this year’s list, up from #52 in 2022. With a 0.9-point increase in Reputation Score and a 1.0-point increase in their Products & Services Score, an indicator of their price-friendly utility in the face of inflation. Inflation remains a top concern internationally, with global average Products & Services Scores down from 1.0-point from 2022, with particular concern on quality for value.

Workplace concerns persists

As a Reputation Driver, Workplace decreased to the lowest Score amongst Drivers in 2023. Widespread layoffs have individual RepTrak Reputation factors including “equal opportunities in the workplace,” “rewards employees fairly,” and “concerned for employee well-being,” decreasing significantly.

When respondents were asked What actions do you want companies to prioritize during a recession? Their top priority was “[Avoiding] staff layoffs.”

But layoffs haven’t lowered employment standards established during the Great Resignation. As part of our Business Outcomes, RepTrak measures Willingness to Work For. In 2023, Work For Scores have decreased. Even in the face of unemployment, worker scrutiny has not let up. It is important for employers to maintain fair and attractive employee benefits, especially as inflation erodes workers’ purchasing power.

“As the Great Resignation concluded and massive layoffs began, both workers and customers want their favorite brands to be good employers,” explains Sonders. “RepTrak data demonstrates a lot is wrong in the world of work, but avoiding layoffs in the face of recession is key in the eyes of stakeholders.”

Additional notable findings:

  • Reputation was down across industries and across organizations. Results at the individual company level show the same: company scores in the Global RepTrak Top 10 and Top 100 have lower scores than in 2022.
  • Brand Scores have also decreased, suggesting that branding efforts are losing their way.
  • Notable increases in rank include Booking.com (+43), Hewlett Packard (+42), Novartis (+32), Honda Motor Company (+31), and Aldi GmbH & Co. KG (+31)
  • Baby Boomers are the most optimistic generation studied, while Millennials experienced the largest YoY Reputation Score decrease, and Gen Z seems to have settled further into their corporate pessimism

Report and Methodology

RepTrak helps companies understand how stakeholders feel, think, and act towards them, measuring Reputation using a 0-100 scale and tracking how a company is perceived across several Reputation drivers: Products & Services, Innovation, Citizenship, Performance, Governance, Leadership and Workplace. RepTrak’s proprietary measurement system has been developed to allow worldwide application on a normative scale, which enables direct comparison regardless of sector, size, or geography.

For consideration in the 2022 Global RepTrak® 100, a company had to meet the following criteria:

  • Be a corporate brand with global revenue above USD $2 billion
  • Achieve a global average familiarity threshold above 20 percent in all fourteen countries measured and a familiarity threshold above 20 percent in seven or more of the fourteen countries measured
  • Reach a qualifying Reputation Score above the median score (i.e., 67.3 points)

To determine the ranking, The RepTrak Company analyzed Reputation data for several thousand companies which was collected between December 2022 and January 2023 using world-class survey methodology and was enriched by RepTrak’s historical database. Companies that met these criteria were then ranked based on their global Reputation Scores. A company’s corporate Reputation is determined using RepTrak’s proprietary and patent-pending Reputation Score – a score from 0-100 that measures how people feel towards a particular company. Reputation Scores demonstrate a strong positive relationship with business outcomes, such as an audience’s willingness to buy, recommend, or trust a company. The top 100 companies with the highest Reputation Scores made the final ranking.

The Global RepTrak® 100 ranking is based on more than 230,000 ratings collected across the 14 largest economies globally using online surveys. For access to the report, visit https://www.reptrak.com/rankings/

About RepTrak

The RepTrak Company™ is the world’s leading Reputation data and insights company. We provide the only global platform for data-driven insights on Reputation, Brand, and ESG. Our proprietary RepTrak® model is the global standard for measuring and analyzing the sentiment of the world using proven data science models and machine learning techniques across industries and geographies.

Subscribers to the RepTrak® Program use our predictive insights to protect business value, improve return on investment, and increase their positive impact on society.

Established in 2004, The RepTrak Company owns the world’s largest Reputation benchmarking database of over 1 million company ratings per year used by CEOs, boards, and executives in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.reptrak.com.

Contact:

Ali Jawin
pr@reptrak.com

SOURCE: The RepTrak Company



Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Black Spade Capital Fully Supports the Development of Family Office Businesses in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Apr 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Hong Kong is being actively promoted as a base for family offices, with many global tycoons considering setting up their offices here. Hong Kong's mature financial market and sound legal system provide a reassuring level of protection for family offices. To attract more family offices to the city, the Hong Kong SAR Government has introduced a range of favourable policies, including tax concessions and professional training, as well as consulting services to assist entrepreneurs and their family offices in managing and operating their wealth and assets more efficiently.


Ms. Jane Fraser, CEO Citigroup (left) and Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO Black Spade Capital (right)

Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO Black Spade Capital (left) and Mr. Iqbal Khan, President Global Wealth Management & Member of the Group Executive Board UBS (right)


Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO of Black Spade Capital, said: "As a family office headquartered in Hong Kong, Black Spade Capital believes that Hong Kong is an ideal destination for establishing family offices. We welcome the series of initiatives and policies introduced by the Hong Kong SAR Government to cement Hong Kong's position as a world-leading family office hub. Black Spade Capital will continue to support the development of family office businesses and will participate in ventures and investments that provide enhanced services and support for family office businesses."

"As the destination of choice for family offices, we are confident that family offices from all over the globe will appreciate the ample development opportunities and room for growth that Hong Kong has to offer." added Mr. Tam.

Recently, Black Spade Capital had the opportunity to meet with top leaders from the financial sector including Citigroup's CEO, Ms. Jane Fraser, and UBS's President Global Wealth Management & Member of the Group Executive Board, Mr. Iqbal Khan. Mr. Tam said: "Hong Kong's role as a bridge between the East and West makes it an ideal asset and wealth management centre for family offices. Its comprehensive financial-legal ecosystem attracts professionals and talents from different industries and parts of the world, making it an asset and wealth management centre that family offices need for long-term development. Black Spade Capital will maintain close collaborations with other family offices and related institutions to promote the development of family office businesses in Hong Kong."

About Black Spade Capital Limited
Black Spade Capital Limited is an established family office that manages the private investments of Mr. Lawrence Ho. Headquartered in Hong Kong, its global portfolio consists of a wide spectrum of cross-border investments as it consistently seeks to add new projects and opportunities to its investment mix. Black Spade's investment strategy maximizes coverage of geographic regions and sectors whilst maintaining a portfolio of diversified asset classes, ranging from equity, fixed income, medical technology, leisure and culture, green energy, real estate to Pre-IPO investments.



Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

ACROMETA Signs Sales & Purchase Agreement for Additional 40% of Life Science Incubator

SINGAPORE, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – ACROMETA Group Limited, an established specialist engineering service provider in the field of controlled environments serving mainly the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia sectors, has entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement ("the Agreement") for an additional 40% of the outstanding shares of Life Sciences Incubator Pte Ltd ("LSI") for a total consideration of S$1.6 million payable in tranches, based on the realisation of agreed milestones in its immediate expansion plan. Upon completion of the purchase, the Group will control 70% of LSI, up from the current 30%.

The Agreement updates and follows from the Letter of Intent ("LOI") announced to SGXNet on 20 February 2023 for the proposed acquisition of an additional 40% stake in LSI.

A site visit to Brisbane and the due diligence carried out by ACROMETA Management have shortlisted the location of the proposed co-working laboratory in Australia as it found it suitable.

Mr Levin Lee Keng Weng, ACROMETA Chairman, said, "Brisbane is a booming hub for the Life Sciences sector in Australia. According to Global Australia[1], a government-industry development agency, Queensland is home to more than 250 life sciences organisations, 85 core biotech companies, and more than 100 biotech-related research organisations.

A whole ecosystem has emerged with clusters of dynamic and innovative SMEs and start-ups either conducting their R&D or supporting the multinationals and research centres focusing on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and specialist healthcare such as gerontology and neurology."

Mr Lee added, "The demand for co-working laboratory space is strong. The performance milestones for the payment in tranches agreed to by the Vendor indicate that both the Purchaser and the Vendor have confidence in the co-working laboratory business in Australia and Singapore.

The proposed additional co-working laboratory space in Singapore is to cater for expected growth in demand. In addition, as Singapore transforms its economy towards high-value sectors, more and more SMEs and start-ups conducting their R & D will require co-working laboratory space."

This Media Release is to be read in conjunction with the announcement on SGXNet on 31 March 2023.

[1] https://www.globalaustralia.gov.au/industries/health-and-life-sciences

About ACROMETA Group Limited (SGX Stock Code:43F)

ACROMETA (Previously known as ACROMEC Limited) is an established specialist engineering services provider with more than 25 years of experience in the field of controlled environments.

The Group has, over the years, acquired expertise in the design and construction of facilities requiring controlled environments such as laboratories, medical and sterile facilities and cleanrooms.

ACROMETA's business is divided into three main business segments: (i) Engineering, procurement, and construction services, specialising in architectural, and mechanical, electrical, and process works within controlled environments; (ii) Maintenance and repair services of facilities and equipment of controlled environments and their supporting infrastructure. (iii) Co-Working Laboratory business; currently operates a 6,500 sq feet co-working laboratory space at The German Centre in Singapore serving SMEs and start-ups.

The Group mainly serves the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia, and electronics sectors. ACROMETA's customers include hospitals and medical centres, government agencies, research and development companies or agencies, research and development units of multinational corporations, tertiary educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor manufacturing companies, and multinational engineering companies.

The Company has been listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange since 2016. For more information, please visit www.acrometa.com

Media and Analysts Contact:

ACROMETA Group Limited
Mr. Jerry Tan
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +65 6415 0574
Email: jerry.tan@acromec.com

Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd
Mr. Wayne Koo
Tel: +65 6958 8008 / +65 9338 8166
Email: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg
Email: query@waterbrooks.com.sg

This media release has been reviewed by the Company's sponsor, Evolve Capital Advisory Private Limited (the "Sponsor"). It has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "Exchange"), and the Exchange assumes no responsibility for the contents of this document, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this document.

The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr. Jerry Chua, 138 Robinson Road, #13-02 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906, jerrychua@evolvecapitalasia.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Expand Investment in Science and Technology and Empower Industry Development, Legend Holdings Realized Revenue of RMB483.7 billion by 2022

HONG KONG, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Legend Holdings Corporation (stock code: 3396.HK) announced its audited annual results for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the "Reporting Period") on March 31, 2023. During the Reporting Period, Legend Holdings achieved revenue of RMB483.7 billion and net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company of RMB1.167 billion.

In 2022, uncertainties in the international situation continued to increase, including rising global inflation and significant volatility in international financial markets and commodity markets, which also had a significant impact on the Company's performance. The industrial incubations and investments segment successfully promoted the listing of over 60 enterprises in the last three years, among the best in the industry. However, as these investments were measured at fair value, the segment's performance was affected by the volatility of the capital market; in addition, Joyvio Group made a provision for goodwill and asset impairment in 2022 year due to factors such as rising operating costs caused by the increase in raw material prices and the interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Facing the challenges, the company carefully studied the layout and solidly promoted its strategy to strengthen its competitive ability while stabilizing its fundamentals and ensuring sustainable profitability.

Mr. Li Peng, Executive Director and CEO of Legend Holdings, said that during the reporting period, the company's performance recorded a considerable decrease, but the company insisted on the goal of achieving high-quality development, with "industrial operation and technological innovation" as the core of its long-term development strategy. The company's fundamentals are sound, and certain enterprises in the industrial operations and incubations & investments sectors have good long-term growth potential. The main task now is to further strengthen the existing business foundation and enhance industrial competitiveness, while actively adjusting the business portfolio and optimizing the business model to improve shareholders' returns. During the reporting period, the industrial operations segment overcame various unfavorable factors and continued to promote management improvement and operation enhancement; the industrial incubations and investments segment focused on national key fields, supporting independent innovation and industrial chain upgrades, promoting the development of specialized and innovative enterprises, and linking economic chains in line with the dual circulation strategy. At the same time, the company continued to increase investment in scientific research and frontier layout, grasp green opportunities, promote energy saving and carbon reduction, and make positive progress in various businesses.

Driven by Technological Innovation, Continuously Expand R&D Investment in Frontier Technologies

In the current context of China's implementation of science and technology innovation to lead high-quality development, Legend Holdings grasps the opportunities of the times and has been constantly improving its enterprise-led innovation system based on partnership among industry, academia and research institutes, and shaping a collaborative and efficient innovation pattern with specialized and innovative enterprises to promote the sustainable development of the enterprises.

In 2022, R&D expenses within the Legend Holdings system increased 21% year-on-year to RMB15.3 billion, with total R&D expenses of RMB37.8 billion in the past three years, representing a compound annual growth rate of 27%, with over 20,000 licensed patents, maintaining a leading position among large Chinese enterprises. Lenovo Group boosted its R&D investment by 21% year-on-year and has nine labs including artificial intelligence and enterprise cloud computing. The investment in R&D of Levima Advanced Materials increased by 21% year-on-year, and applied for 53 patents and obtained 58 granted patents during the reporting period. It focused on investment in the layout of high-end new materials, and achieved a breakthrough in the domestic production of electronic-grade hydrogen chloride and chlorine products after taking the lead in achieving the local substitution of photovoltaic film materials. The "20,000 tons/year UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene) project" is expected to be put into operation in mid-2023, with the aim of reducing the UHMWPE import over-dependence. Fullhan Microelectronics' R&D investment increased by 20% year-on-year, mainly in chip R&D field, with R&D staff comprising 85% of its workforce.

At the same time, Legend Holdings also promoted its funds to closely follow China's national industrial plans and policy guidance and to intensively invest in national strategic industries, such as next-generation information technology, chips, new energy, new materials and AI. In 2022, the funds invested in almost 150 technology companies, and a total of 95 have been selected for the national list of specialized and innovative enterprises.

In the future, Legend Holdings will further focus on technological innovation when exploring new industrial areas and allocating resources, and will make long-term commitments in selected industries. The Company has set up the innovation and development center and planned to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with top universities and international institutions on early-stage technologies in key innovation areas.

Solidly Consolidate the Real Industry and Take Measures to Enhance the Quality and Efficiency of Real Economy

In 2022, Legend Holdings consolidated its business fundamentals, and withstood external challenges through management improvements and operational enhancements to ensure the steady progress of all businesses.

In the industrial operations segment, Lenovo Group continued to top the global PC business and was the world's No. 1 supercomputing maker, while at the same time, it fully promoted the transformation of its business to intelligent services, with the revenue share of non-PC business exceeding 40%. Among them, the Infrastructure Solutions Group has achieved rapid growth by grasping the trend of accelerated transformation of the global digital economy and the opportunity of the new computing revolution; the Solutions & Services Group, as the core business of digital and smart transformation, continues to maintain growth momentum.

Levima Advanced Materials maintained its leading edge in the new materials niche market, and expanded into new business areas to seize the opportunity of green development. During the Reporting Period, it completed the technical upgrade and capacity expansion of its EVA devices to further enhance operational efficiency, and several key projects were progressing ahead on track. The project covering lithium battery electrolyte materials completed its interim delivery and is about to be put into operation. Levima also entered the field of electronic materials by investing in electronic specialty gas. Construction of projects covering new energy materials for battery and biodegradable materials are progressing into the construction phase. The "New Energy Materials and Biodegradable Materials Integration Project" has obtained approval and is now under construction in an orderly manner.

Banque Internationale a Luxembourg ("BIL") has responded well to the challenges of the European economy and achieved good growth in all business indicators, while continuing to vigorously promote its business in China, helping Chinese enterprises issue overseas green bonds and contributing to the development of green finance; the bank's CET-1 ratio was 13.35% and its international credit ratings remained high. Joyvio Group's fruit business continued to reinforce its vertically integrated supply chain and core product strategy, and stepped up the development of new e-commerce retail channels.

On the other hand, a number of companies in the industrial incubations and investments segment have maintained their leading positions and steady development in their respective industries.

At the same time, Legend Holdings is also committed to promoting its portfolio companies to give full play to their advantages to empower the real economy.

Lenovo has been named to Gartner's Global Top 25 Supply Chain ranking for eight consecutive years and was the only Asia-Pacific high-tech manufacturer on the list, with more than 850 manufacturing suppliers, promoting mutual development with SMEs along the industrial chain. In 2022, its manufacturing bases in Tianjin and Shenzhen commenced operations, and its Hefei base was recognized as a "lighthouse" factory by the World Economic Forum. Its new IT solutions to intelligent transformation were successfully deployed by nearly 1,000 companies across various sectors.

Promote Green Development, Help Rural Revitalization and Increase Investment in Public Welfare of Science and Technology

As a company growing up under the system of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Legend Holdings has been actively focusing on public welfare investment in the field of science and technology. In 2022, the company entered into a donation agreement with University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Education Foundation (UCASEF) to donate RMB60 million to set up the Scientific and Technological Innovation Project Fund of Legend Holdings, specifically for nurturing of the talents and basic researches in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, new materials and biotechnology of UCAS. Legend Capital has also set up the " Legend Capital Scholars Program" to help the construction of China's innovative talents; Lenovo Group has reached cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tsinghua University and initiated donations to help the cultivation of R&D talents in universities.

Rural revitalization is an important part of Legend Holdings' corporate social responsibility. In terms of industry, the company has cooperated with the China Women's Development Foundation since 2018 to help women from low-income rural families to start businesses with local features through the "Revolving Fund for Mothers Project", helping the local community to move towards the development path of quality-boosting agriculture, green-boosting agriculture and benefit-first. In terms of talents, the company has established Legend Holdings Rural Education Fund since 2004 to focus on rural education on an ongoing basis, helping students with limited family financial conditions realize their dreams of attending university.

The company continued to promote the focus on green and low-carbon development within the system, in active respond to the carbon peak and carbon neutrality strategy of the country. Lenovo is the first domestic high-tech manufacturer to pass the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) net-zero target validation, its Wuhan manufacturing base obtained the ICT industry's first zero-carbon factory certificate, while its Tianjin industrial park completed a pilot project that met the ICT industry's zero-carbon factory standard. As the "National Green Factory", Levima Advanced Materials has improved self-sufficiency in terms of core raw materials in the photovoltaic industry, and landed its new biodegradable material PPC project. In addition, a number of portfolio companies of Legend Holdings have also helped to achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality through green finance.

In addition, the public welfare program "Legend Star Entrepreneurial CEO Training Course" established by the company in 2008 has trained more than 1,000 innovative and entrepreneurial talents, and 50 of the enterprises founded by the trainees have been successfully listed and 73 have been selected as national specialized and innovative enterprises.

Grasping the opportunities of the times and working hard to make contributions to high-quality development

In 2023, Legend Holdings will continue to actively improve asset quality and solidify business fundamentals through substantive investment management and services. Focusing on the long-term development, it will improve the business to position it for steady growth. In the industrial incubations and investments segment, technological innovation remains a key area. While safeguarding against potential volatility in the capital markets, the company will be creative and strive to discover new values. At the same time, the company will also take a positive attitude and innovative approaches to further adjust its business portfolio, realize returns, and find new opportunities for strategic layout, especially in the field of science and technology innovation. Meanwhile, it will further optimize the organization development, increase the introduction of scientific and technological talents, and improve and enhance the human resource structure.

Despite the evolving international situation, China's long-term positive fundamentals will not change, and Legend Holdings' prospects are promising in deploying the country's major strategic initiatives. The company will closely follow the national strategy of achieving high-quality development driven by technological innovation, carry out "Industrial operations and technological innovation", and continue to fulfill the corporate social responsibility at a strategic level, advancing the ESG work in the system.

Mr. Ning Min, Chairman and Executive Director of Legend Holdings, said that in 2022, facing the great uncertainties and challenges brought about by global changes, Legend Holdings, while consolidating its business fundamentals, insisted on strengthening investments in science and technology innovation and promoting the development of real economy, to overcome difficulties with toughness and ride out the storm, further consolidating the foundation for long-term corporate development. 2023 is the opening year of the comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. With the successful convening of the Central Economic Work Conference and the gradual emergence of the effects of various policies, China's economy once again is enjoying a broader space for development. Legend Holdings will work together to seize the opportunity, continue to give full play to the enthusiasm and creativity of all employees, adhere to innovation orientation, promote industrial upgrading, work hard, actively participate in the overall high-quality national development, and continuously contribute to the construction of Chinese path to modernization.


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HTSC announces 2022 annual results, Proposes final dividend of RMB 0.45 per share

HONG KONG, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HTSC (stock code: 6886.HK ; "the Company"), a leading global financial services provider, is pleased to announce the Company's annual results for the year ended December 31, 2022.

— Revenue for the year was RMB 46.82 billion
— Profit attributable to shareholders amounted to RMB 11.05 billion
— Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company grew 11.23% year-on-year to RMB 165.09 billion.
— The Company proposed a final dividend of RMB 0.45 per share

The wealth management business reported a revenue of RMB 23.48 billion and continued to account for the majority of the Company's total revenue of 50.15%. Revenues from the institutional services business and investment management business were RMB 8.13 billion and RMB 2.27 billion, accounting for 17.37% and 4.85%, respectively, of the Company's total.

The international business segment posted a record revenue of RMB 9.41 billion despite global economic challenges, growing by 19.28% year-on-year and accounting for 20.10% of the Company's total. During the year, the Company was ranked second as a sponsor amongst Chinese securities companies in Hong Kong by amount.

HTSC's US subsidiary AssetMark – a leading US turnkey asset management platform (TAMP), with total assets under management of USD 91.47 billion as of December 31, 2022, continued to provide a stable stream of revenue for the Company's international business. As of the end of the third quarter 2022, AssetMark's market share in the US TAMP industry was 11.2%, ranking third in the industry. In addition, Huatai International applied to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in Singapore and received a "no-objection" letter from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in September 2022.

The trading volume of stocks and funds in 2022 amounted to RMB 38.76 trillion, as the Company retained the top spot in the industry. Equity and mixed mutual funds and non-money-market mutual funds sold by HTSC amounted to RMB 122.6 billion and RMB 136.7 billion, respectively, both ranking second in the securities industry. HTSC's fund advisory service platform had approximately 617,600 users, with the size of authorized assets reaching RMB 13.91 billion. As of the end of 2022, the balance of the margin financing and securities lending business was RMB 112.35 billion, maintaining a market share of 7.29%. "ZhangLe Wealth", HTSC's wealth management app, remained the top brokerage app in China with 9.27 million monthly active users in average.

In 2022, the Company completed 81 equity underwriting deals, with principal underwriting for equities amounting to RMB 155.37 billion, ranking fourth in the industry for both the number and volume of transactions. Principal underwriting for bonds amounted to RMB 980.40 billion, as the Company retained the third rank in the industry. The Company advised on nine M&A and restructuring projects that were approved by the CSRC, with a total transaction volume of RMB 165.07 billion, ranking second in the industry for both the number of approved transactions and total transaction volume.

The Company continued to advance its ESG initiatives, taking into consideration the needs of all stakeholders within HTSC's ecosystem. Last year, the Company received an A rating for ESG from MSCI for the second year in a row, ranking top among Chinese securities companies. In March 2022, the Company, through Huatai Foundation, launched two philanthropic funds totaling RMB 30 million to support rural revitalization and environmental conservation projects, making positive social impact by giving back to the community and promoting sustainable development.

For enquiries, please contact:
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Benny Liu
Tel: +86 10 6567 5056
Linda Pui
Tel: +852 3103 0118
Email: HTSC@citigatedewerogerson.com


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HTSC reports annual revenue of RMB 46.82 billion in 2022

HONG KONG, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HTSC (stock code: 6886.HK ; "the Company"), a leading global financial services provider, is pleased to announce the Company's annual results for the year ended December 31, 2022.

— Revenue for the year was RMB 46.82 billion
— Profit attributable to shareholders amounted to RMB 11.05 billion
— Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company grew 11.23% year-on-year to RMB 165.09 billion.
— The Company proposed a final dividend of RMB 0.45 per share

The wealth management business reported a revenue of RMB 23.48 billion and continued to account for the majority of the Company's total revenue of 50.15%. Revenues from the institutional services business and investment management business were RMB 8.13 billion and RMB 2.27 billion, accounting for 17.37% and 4.85%, respectively, of the Company's total.

The international business segment posted a record revenue of RMB 9.41 billion despite global economic challenges, growing by 19.28% year-on-year and accounting for 20.10% of the Company's total. During the year, the Company was ranked second as a sponsor amongst Chinese securities companies in Hong Kong by amount.

HTSC's US subsidiary AssetMark – a leading US turnkey asset management platform (TAMP), with total assets under management of USD 91.47 billion as of December 31, 2022, continued to provide a stable stream of revenue for the Company's international business. As of the end of the third quarter 2022, AssetMark's market share in the US TAMP industry was 11.2%, ranking third in the industry. In addition, Huatai International applied to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in Singapore and received a "no-objection" letter from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in September 2022.

The trading volume of stocks and funds in 2022 amounted to RMB 38.76 trillion, as the Company retained the top spot in the industry. Equity and mixed mutual funds and non-money-market mutual funds sold by HTSC amounted to RMB 122.6 billion and RMB 136.7 billion, respectively, both ranking second in the securities industry. HTSC's fund advisory service platform had approximately 617,600 users, with the size of authorized assets reaching RMB 13.91 billion. As of the end of 2022, the balance of the margin financing and securities lending business was RMB 112.35 billion, maintaining a market share of 7.29%. "ZhangLe Wealth", HTSC's wealth management app, remained the top brokerage app in China with 9.27 million monthly active users in average.

In 2022, the Company completed 81 equity underwriting deals, with principal underwriting for equities amounting to RMB 155.37 billion, ranking fourth in the industry for both the number and volume of transactions. Principal underwriting for bonds amounted to RMB 980.40 billion, as the Company retained the third rank in the industry. The Company advised on nine M&A and restructuring projects that were approved by the CSRC, with a total transaction volume of RMB 165.07 billion, ranking second in the industry for both the number of approved transactions and total transaction volume.

The Company continued to advance its ESG initiatives, taking into consideration the needs of all stakeholders within HTSC's ecosystem. Last year, the Company received an A rating for ESG from MSCI for the second year in a row, ranking top among Chinese securities companies. In March 2022, the Company, through Huatai Foundation, launched two philanthropic funds totaling RMB 30 million to support rural revitalization and environmental conservation projects, making positive social impact by giving back to the community and promoting sustainable development.

For enquiries, please contact:
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Benny Liu
Tel: +86 10 6567 5056
Linda Pui
Tel: +852 3103 0118
Email: HTSC@citigatedewerogerson.com


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

GF Securities Announced 2022 Annual Results

HONG KONG, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – GF Securities Co., Ltd. ("GF Securities" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; HKSE: 1776; SZSE: 000776), one of the most influential securities companies in the Chinese capital market, announced its annual results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2022 (the "Reporting Period"). In the face of the complicated internal and external situation, embracing the working philosophy of "making positive changes and promoting the high-quality development of the Company to a new level" and "firmly focus on principal duties and businesses and improve core business", GF Securities continued to maintain a good momentum with its operating performance at the forefront of the industry, realizing a total revenue and other income of RMB33,256 million and a net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company of RMB7,929 million. As of 31 December 2022, the Group's total asset amounted to RMB617,256 million, representing an increase of15.19% compared to the end of 2021.

Lin Chuanhui, Chairman and General Manager of GF Securities, said, in 2022, the Company actively explored new business development models and made remarkable progress in various areas of work. Through firmly focusing on its principal duties and businesses, the Company improved its core businesses. The Company implemented the "research + N" business model to empower high-quality development of its core businesses through research. Meanwhile, the Company adhered to the principle of customer first, promoted ecosystem construction of ecosystem, continued to expand its customer base, and injected new impetus into the Company's reform and development through continuing to strengthen its foundation. The year of 2023 is the first year to fully implement the spirit of the Party's 20th National Congress. GF Securities will embrace the new development pattern, follow national strategies, strengthen its core capabilities, build a solid customer base, optimize the construction of its platform, effectively serve the real economy, promote common prosperity and the preservation and appreciation of residents' wealth, and embark on a new journey of high-quality development in the tide of serving Chinese modernization.

As one of the first full-service securities companies in China, GF Securities possesses licenses for a full range of services involved in four business segments, including investment banking, wealth management, trading, and institution and investment management. The Company has successively set up futures subsidiaries, public fund subsidiaries, private fund subsidiaries, alternative investment subsidiaries and asset management subsidiaries etc.. With its value concept and pragmatic entrepreneurial style, the Company has built a full business chain with comprehensive layout and strong strength. The Group has maintained top ranking among the securities companies in China for many consecutive years in terms of main operating indicators, established its leading advantages among securities companies in the core businesses of wealth management, asset management and research, and developed its investment banking business steadily.

Wealth Management Business Maintained Leading Position and Continued to Deepen Transformation

GF Securities has taken the lead in proposing wealth management transformation in the country. It is equipped with excellent financial product research and sales capabilities, and professional asset allocation capabilities. GF Securities has more than 4,200 securities investment consultants, ranking No. 1 in the industry (in terms of parent company caliber). By continously deepening transformation in the area of wealth management, GF Securities is committed to providing precise wealth management services for different types of customers and becoming a first-class trustworthy wealth management institution.

In 2022, the Company continued to expand and optimize its customer base and made achievements in the operation management of high-net-worth customers, professional institutions, listed companies and other customer groups, with the net income from agency sales of financial products and the market share in terms of the balance of public and private funds hitting a new record high. The balance maintained by the agency sales of financial products of the Company recorded a year-on-year increase of 0.77%, and the Company ranked third amongst the securities dealers in terms of the balance of public fund maintained in the agency sales of non-monetary market (Source: Asset Management Association of China, 2023). The sales and transfer amount of financial products on the Yitaojin E-commerce platform (including Cash Return and Taojin Market) amounted to RMB216.6 billion.

At the end of 2022, the Company had 338 branches and business departments nationwide, with presence in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across the PRC. The number and coverage ratio of business outlets in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and in the nine cities of the Pearl River Delta ranked No. 1 in the industry, providing wide market reach for the Company's business and important support for customer accumulation and service.

Meanwhile, in the regions outside of the PRC, the Group's indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary GF securites (Hong Kong) continued its transformation towards wealth management, with a year-on-year growth in both the net sales income and balance of its financial products in spite of the increasing fluctuations in the global market. The number of enterprise customers continued to increase, and the revenue grew gradually.

Investment Management Business Steadily Ranked at the Forefront of the Industry and Brand Influence Improved Continously

In 2022, relying on the advantage of financial group structure, GF Securities has coordinated the superior resources of its asset management institutions, established comprehensive product supply system and provided customers with strategically excellent and diversified products to build a leading asset management brand in the industry. The Company's business includes the three major fields of asset management, public fund management and private fund management, and covers domestic and overseas markets. In respect of asset management business, GF Asset Management continued to consolidate its core capabilities such as active management, product design and innovation, channel marketing, compliance risk control and financial technology, strengthened infrastructure construction, continuously improved its operation mechanism, managed client assets which are invested in various asset categories with various investment strategies, including fixed-income investment, equity investment, quantitative investment and cross-border products.

In respect of public fund management business, as of the end of 2022, the size of the public funds managed by GF Fund, a controlling subsidiary of the Group, in aggregate reached RMB1,249.737 billion, representing an increase of 10.63% as compared to the end of 2021, and the total fund size excluding money market funds amounted to RMB705.290 billion, ranking third in the industry (Source: Statistics of the Company, WIND, 2023). The public funds managed by E Fund, an invested subsidiary of the Group, in aggregate reached RMB1,572.810 billion, representing a decrease of 7.83% as compared to the end of 2021, and the total public fund size excluding money market funds was RMB1,025.544 billion, ranking first in the industry (Source: Statistics of the Company, WIND, 2023).

In respect of private fund management business, in 2022, the Group's wholly-owned subsidiary GF Xinde focused on industries as biomedicine, intelligent manufacturing and corporate services. As of the end of 2022, the total size of funds managed by GF Xinde was over RMB15 billion.

In the regions out of the PRC, the Group's indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary GF Investments (Hong Kong) and institutions thereunder have completed investment mainly in fields of high-end manufacturing, TMT, big consumption and biomedical. Several investment projects have exited by way of mergers and acquisitions, or have been listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong, the United States and other regions.

"Research+N" Business Model Empowered Entire Business Chain Development with Strengths Gradually Stood Out

The outstanding research capacity of GF Securities enjoys a high reputation in the industry, with equity research covering over 840 A shares listed companies across 28 industries in the PRC, and nearly 160 companies listed in Hong Kong and overseas. From 2017 to 2022, the Company received the "New Fortune Domestic Best Research Team" and the "New Fortune Most Influential Research Institution", and "Top 5 Golden Bull Research Institution" award by "China Securities Industry Analyst Golden Bull Award" for consecutive years. Meanwhile, it ranked in the forefront in the selection of "Sell-side Analyst Crystal Ball Award", "Best Analyst of Shanghai Securities News" and "Golden Kirin Best Analyst of Sina Finance".

To fully uterlize the Company's strengths in research, GF Securities proactively implemented the "research+N" business model and strengthened research on the promotion and support of the Company's core businesses, and empowered the development of the entire business chain of the Company. During the Report Period, by leveraging on its profound insights into the industry and focusing on supporting scientific and technological innovation, the Company coordinated resources to establish an industrial fund to achieve industry researches and promote development of the industry; made efforts to improve its pricing capabilities and facilitate the steady development of the investment banking business; as well as targeted an industrial research institute as a think tank to provide advice and suggestions for regional economic development. Its strengths in research gradually stood out.

Investment Banking Business Developed Steadily with Deployments in Key Industries and Regions

In 2022, GF Securities leveraged the advantages of its platform, reinforced management empowerment, strengthened the quality control of its investment banking business, and made focused deployments in semiconductor, medical and healthcare, new energy vehicle and other industries and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to promote specialized and regionalized development. Besides, the Company continued to promote its internal coordination and further improve its comprehensive financial service capabilities to meet the service demands of customers in all aspects. The equity financing business of the Company developed steadily, and the project reserve of the Company increased significantly. In 2022, the Company completed 17 equity financing projects for which the Company acted as a lead underwriter, and the lead underwritten amount was RMB18.407 billion.

In respect of debt financing business, the Company fully integrated its platform resources and put more efforts to develop customers in key regions. As a result, the project reserve of the Company maintained a steady growth and the bond business of the Company grew steadily. By the end of 2022, the Company acted as the lead underwriter for 188 tranches of bonds, representing a year-on-year increase of 370.00%, with a lead underwritten amount of RMB142.076 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 358.38%. Meanwhile, the Company implemented the concept of green development, proactively served the development strategies of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" and the "Belt and Road Initiative" and strengthened the undertaking of responsibility, with a view to making contributions to the high-quality development of the economy and the capital market. During the year, the Company completed the issuance of 15 tranches of green bonds, low-carbon transformation-linked bonds, science and technology innovation bonds, Belt and Road bonds and innovation and entrepreneurship bonds. Among which, the Company underwrote and issued 8 tranches of green bonds and 3 tranches of low-carbon transformation-linked bonds with a total issuance size of RMB121 billion.

Furthermore, the Company adhered to the core principle of discovering value. Leveraging on its outstanding research capabilities, the Company strengthened business synergy and provided highquality integrated services for valued customers. As of the end of 2022, the Company supervised a total of 31 companies listed on the NEEQ as the lead broker, of which 61% were "specialized, sophisticated, distinctive and innovative" enterprises (Source: NEEQ, Statistics of the Company, 2023).

In respect of the overseas investment banking business, the Company's indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, GF Capital (Hong Kong) completed 24 projects in which it acted as lead underwriter (including IPO, refinancing and bond offering) and financial adviser.

With Outstanding Core Competitive Strengths, Introduce Talents And New Impetus Into Corporate Culture

Looking back at GF Securities' development for more than 30 years, it has always been in the forefront of the industry. Among the first batch of brokers established from the end of the 1980's to the early 1990's, GF Securities is one of the few major brokerage companies which have not accepted investment or undergone restructuring due to operating losses. This is inseparable from GF Securities' core competitive strengths such as excellent corporate culture, forward-looking strategic doctrine, stable shareholding structure, scientific business layout, outstanding location advantage, and philosophy of compliance and steady development.

GF Securities always maintains a strong sense of family and country, upholds its mission of "creating values to realize the dream of serving the country with financial services", makes continuous progress in developing its corporate values of "inquisitiveness and integrity" and carries forward its excellent cultural genes of an "army of doctors". With knowledge as the guarantee and professionalism as the cornerstone, the Company will continue to explore new prospects for development, and actively serve the country's real economy to improve both in quantity and quality.

The Company has attached great importance to the construction of the cadre and talent system, insisted on its staff-oriented philosophy and professional development, adhered unwaveringly to its concept, and has been successful in action for a long term. Since 1999 when the Company established the first post-doctoral workstation for financial enterprises in China, the Company has been training and exporting professionals for 24 years. In 2022, the Company initiated a new round of strategic planning for the Company's medium- and long-term development, of which talent team building was an important part.

At the same time, in accordance with the principles of "implementing a sound business philosophy, ensuring the bottom line of compliance, promoting the formation of positive incentives, and enhancing the Company's long-term value", the Company promoted the optimization of the remuneration system, further encouraged deferred compensation, and reflected the internal allocation orientation of giving remuneration resources to frontline employees. Under the premise of complying with laws and regulations, practicing with integrity, and abiding by the bottom line, employee remuneration was related to the performance of individual, team and the Company overall. The Company emphasized the balance between incentives and risks, avoided excessive and short-term incentives, and focused on the combination of short-term incentives and medium- and long-term incentives, material incentives and spiritual incentives, and personal growth and team ability development, to ensure the long-term sustainable development of the Company and business.

As of the end of 2022, the operation and management team of the Company has an average of approximately 26 years of experience in securities, finance and economics-related fields and has served an average term of over 17 years in the Company with extensive experience in business and management.

Looking forward, GF Securities will adhere to the combination of goal-oriented and problem-oriented approaches, focus on bringing breakthroughs in key areas to drive overall progress, promote the development of institutional business and operation reform in key areas and regions, promote domestic and overseas linkages in investment banking business and wealth management business, concentrate resources to deepen its operations in key regions such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta, enhance industrial investment cooperation to achieve effective breakthroughs, carry out our core businesses with higher standards, deploy a long-term strategy to ensure stability and long-term development, to make contributions in serving the real economy.

About GF Securities Co. Ltd
Established in 1991, GF Securities Co., Ltd. is one of the first, full-service securities companies in China. The Company was successfully listed on the main boards of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (Stock code: 000776.SZ), and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock code: 1776.HK), in 2010 and 2015, respectively. With excellent business performance, continual optimised risk management and quality services, the Company has successfully achieved sustainable and steady development, and has become one of the most influential securities companies in China for years. As of December 31, 2021, the Company operated 338 branches and business departments, covering 31 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions throughout China. Its capital strength and profitability remain at the top among all listed securities companies in China. GF Securities has been at the forefront of "Hurun's Top Brands List" amongst listed Chinese securities companies for six consecutive years from 2015 to 2020. The Company actively fulfils its social responsibilities through "GF Securities Social Charity Foundation", with its focus on poverty relief and provision of financial support for education, and practises social responsibilities on a voluntary basis, thus leading to the continuous increase in its reputation and brand influence.


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com