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Kaspersky unveils latest APT trends for Q2

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 4 August 2023 – In Kaspersky’s latest report on Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) trends for the second quarter of 2023, researchers analyze the development of new and existing campaigns. The report highlights APT activity during this period including the updating of toolsets, the creation of new malware variants, and the adoption of fresh techniques by threat actors.

A significant new revelation was the exposure of the long-running “Operation Triangulation” campaign involving the use of a previously unknown iOS malware platform. Experts also observed other interesting developments that they believe everyone should be aware of. Here are key highlights from the report:

Asia-Pacific witnesses a new threat actor – Mysterious Elephant

Kaspersky uncovered a new threat actor belonging to the Elephants family, operating in the Asia-Pacific region, dubbed “Mysterious Elephant”. In their latest campaign, the threat actor employed new backdoor families, capable of executing files and commands on the victim’s computer, and receive files or commands from a malicious server for execution on the infected system. While Kaspersky researchers have observed overlaps with Confucius and SideWinder, Mysterious Elephant possesses a distinctive and unique set of TTPs, setting them apart from these other groups.

Toolsets upgraded: Lazarus’ develops new malware variant, BlueNoroff attacks macOS, and more

Threat actors are constantly improving their techniques, with Lazarus upgrading its MATA framework and introducing a new variant of the sophisticated MATA malware family, MATAv5. BlueNoroff, a financial attack-focused subgroup of Lazarus, now employs new delivery methods and programming languages, including the use of Trojanized PDF readers in recent campaigns, the implementation of macOS malware, and the Rust programming language. Additionally, ScarCruft APT group has developed new infection methods, evading Mark-of-the-Web (MOTW) security mechanism. The ever-evolving tactics of these threat actors present new challenges for cybersecurity professionals.

Geopolitical influences remain primary drivers of APT activity

APT campaigns remain geographically dispersed, with actors concentrating their attacks on regions such as Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and various parts of Asia. Cyber-espionage, with a solid geopolitical backdrop, continues to be a dominant agenda for these endeavors.

Adrian Hia, Managing Director for APAC at Kaspersky said “Kaspersky has been monitoring all the active APT actors in the region that infect mobile devices and are slowly targeting businesses and infrastructure. Our researchers focuses on APT activities to uncover the most sophisticated cyber-attacks. By publishing our findings from our investigation, we hope to be able to help organisations be aware of the latest activities and remain secure in our bid to build a safer world.”

“While some threat actors stick to familiar tactics like social engineering, others have evolved, refreshing their toolsets and expanding their activities. Moreover, new advanced actors, such those conducting the ‘Operation Triangulation’ campaign, constantly emerge. This actor uses a previously unknown iOS malware platform distributed through zero-click iMessage exploits. Staying vigilant with threat intelligence and the right defense tools is crucial for global companies, so they can protect themselves against both existing and emerging threats. Our quarterly reviews are designed to highlight the most significant developments among APT groups to help defenders combat and mitigate related risks,” comments David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT).

To read the full APT Q2 2023 trends report, please visit Securelist.
In order to avoid falling victim to a targeted attack by a known or unknown threat actor, Kaspersky researchers recommend implementing the following measures:

  • Ensuring the security of your system, it is crucial to promptly update your operating system and other third-party software to their latest versions. Maintaining a regular update schedule is essential in order to stay protected from potential vulnerabilities and security risks
  • Upskill your cybersecurity team to tackle the latest targeted threats with Kaspersky online training developed by GReAT experts.
  • Use the latest Threat Intelligence information to stay up-to-date with the actual TTPs used by threat actors.
  • For endpoint level detection, investigation, and timely remediation of incidents, implement EDR solutions such as Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response.
  • Dedicated services can help combat high-profile attacks. The Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response service can help identify and stop intrusions in their early stages, before the perpetrators achieve their goals. If you encounter an incident, Kaspersky Incident Response service will help you respond and minimize the consequences, in particular – identify compromised nodes and protect the infrastructure from similar attacks in the future.

Hashtag: #Kaspersky

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

KASPERSKY

Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help over 220,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at .

Authorities at Second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Investigated for Collecting Unofficial Passport Fees

Cross border bus trips restart today between Mukdahan and Savannakhet.
Cross border bus trips restart between Mukdahan and Savannakhet in 2022.

Residents have raised the issue of corruption at the second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge that connects Savannakhet with Mukdahan, after officials were reported collecting unofficial fees for entry and exit passport stamps.

Creativities Unfold 2023 : Symposium of ideas and creativity

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 4 August 2023 – Creativities Unfold 2023 (CU 2023), one of Thailand’s most anticipated international symposiums, is back to serve as a platform to showcase ideas and visions by contemporary thought leaders from Thailand and all over the world. This year, there are 5 Thai and International creative visionaries who will take the stage to share their new perspectives on creativity under the theme “VISIONAIRE : Reminisce -The Way Forward” as follows:

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Jaime Hayon : A Spanish designer who is regarded as one of the contemporary world’s creative visionaries. Topic: Design Follows Function, and Then What?

PP – Pat Pataranutaporn : A technologist, researcher and student at MIT Media Lab who is fascinated by the creative synergy of human power and AI. Topic: Human + AI for the Future of Entertainment & Storytelling

Kentaro Kimura : A Japanese creative visionary in the world’s leading advertising & media industry. An avid traveler who often brings back home new ideas to be transformed into sharp and phenomenal advertising strategies. Topic: Unimagined Cultural Solutions: A Global Journey into The Next Creativity

Stephen Jenner : One of the world’s foremost mass communications expert and a revered advisor in the world film industry and a thought-leader in creative media and film industry. Topic : Mission Possible: The Rise & Rise of the Asia Pacific Screen Industry

Lyndon Neri : An Asia’s architectural marvel who has graced the world with intriguing designs through fascinating architectural designs. His thoughtful process derived from creative in-depth research to transform ideas into forms that respect either functions or contextual references. Topic – Liminality

Creativities Unfold is one of the activities in CREATIVE BUSINESS CONNEXT as an inspiring event to unfold future visions, ignite your creative spark, and expand business opportunities organized by The Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization), or CEA. Besides Creativities Unfold, there are other interesting activities including Creative Business Space – Creative business matching, and CE awards – The first-ever award ceremony to honor creative excellence by CEA.

CEA invites you to join us on an exciting journey of creative businesses and those interested in participating in the Creativities Unfold 2023 event can find out more on Facebook : Creativities Unfold. Tickets can be booked at 1,200 THB for Public and 900 THB for TCDC Member from today – August 24, 2023 via Zipevent or creativebusiness.cea.or.th

Hashtag: #CEA #CreativitiesUnfold2023 #CREATIVEBUSINESSCONNEXT #Creative #Symposium #CreativeIndustry #CreativeBusiness #AI #Architecture #Design #Film #Motion #Creativity #AdvetisingAgency #Media

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Creative Economy Agency

The Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization), or CEA, was elevated from the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) in 2018. CEA is a public organization under the direct supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister. Our key mission is to promote and develop Thailand’s creative economy by working in close cooperation with both the private and public sectors to drive our mission and policy forward. CEA also works to develop creative areas and the creative industry by providing knowledge-based resources and creating opportunities for developing creators in both local and regional areas. CEA also strengthens cooperation between different.

MoneyFitt™: Redefining Personal Finance for Singaporeans

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 August 2023 – MoneyFitt™, a Singapore-based FinTech, are excited to announce its official launch in Singapore. MoneyFitt™ aims to empower individuals to take control of their financial well-being by offering personalised tips, a network of trusted experts, and a wealth of educational resources. The launch follows a successful proof of concept project in collaboration with Prudential.

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MoneyFitt™ recognises that each person has unique financial needs and goals. By leveraging advanced algorithms, the app provides users with actionable steps to improve five foundational areas of financial well-being: Spending, Credit Card, Emergency Fund, Protection, and Investments. Through the app’s intuitive interface, users understand what to do, which steps to prioritise, and why they are essential.

One of the standout features of MoneyFitt™ is its access to a matching service of Singapore’s trusted financial experts. Users can complete their profiles with relevant financial information and objectives, and then select a licensed financial advisor who users feel they can relate to and understand their needs. MoneyFitt™ does not charge users for connecting with advisors, nor does it take any commission from action taken through experts, for a transparent and hassle-free experience. It’s the perfect platform for individuals seeking expert guidance without the risk of a hard sell.

“Our primary focus is to help individuals address multiple areas of personal finance, ultimately improving their financial, mental, and physical well-being,” stated Lim Ka-ming, CEO of MoneyFitt™. The platform leverages content and customised suggestions to push action in every aspect, whether creating a budgeting template, developing an emergency fund, building an investment portfolio, or contacting a human advisor.

MoneyFitt™’s target audience for the Singapore launch comprises Gen Z and Millennial Singaporeans and working professionals who desire financial security but may lack the knowledge or confidence to attain it. The app caters to individuals who want to take action and are not afraid to ask for help from an expert.

Key features of the MoneyFitt™ app:

The app’s features are designed to address the most important pain points faced by users, providing tangible benefits to enhance their financial well-being:

1. Content Feature: A vast library of financial literacy content, including articles, videos, quizzes, infographics, and tools. Users can choose their interests to access relevant content related to investing, retirement planning, saving, and wellness. The content produced by MoneyFitt™ and trusted third-party sources ensures unbiased and engaging information, free from product sales pitches.

2. Sliders Feature: A personalised feature that provides actionable steps to address the five foundational areas of personal finance. By addressing pain points and providing guidance on prioritising financial actions, MoneyFitt™ helps users take crucial steps toward financial freedom.

3. Expert Matching Feature: MoneyFitt™’s matching service allows users to connect with financial experts who can understand and relate to their unique needs and aspirations with the touch of a button. MoneyFitt™ does not provide investment or insurance advice but arms users with knowledge they can use to address their financial needs.

4. MoneyBott AI Chatbot: MoneyFitt™’s innovative feature transforms how users consume information and enhances the overall experience, acting as an intelligent and interactive guide to answer key personal finance questions. By offering a more targeted content experience, users can learn more about subjects of interest, whether that be MoneyFitt™’s features or personal finance-related questions.

MoneyFitt™ has already received highly positive feedback from early Singaporean users, who noted the app is intuitive, proven effective, and action-driven.

The all-new MoneyFitt™ App is available for download on [August,22,2023] on both iOS and Android platforms.

To learn more about MoneyFitt™ and join the financial revolution, visit our website at www.moneyfitt.co. For more information and media inquiries about MoneyFitt™, please contact: feedback@moneyfitt.co
Hashtag: #moneyfitt #personalfinance #moneymanagement



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

MoneyFitt

MoneyFitt is a financial wellness platform that helps people cultivate good financial habits and achieve financial freedom. It can be hard to know what takes priority, so we provide actionable guidance and tools to help you make better financial decisions. We believe that everyone deserves access to financial education and resources, regardless of their income or background. Let’s get MoneyFitt.

New Partnership In The Hospitality Sector In Gabon

LIBREVILLE, GABON – African Media Agency – 3 August 2023 – The Fonds Gabonais d’Investissements Stratégiques (FGIS), its subsidiaries Façade Maritime du Champ Triomphal (FMCT), an urban development company, Luxury Green Resorts (LGR), a Gabonese tourism operator, on one hand, and the Kasada group, on the other hand, signed a partnership agreement on August 2nd, 2023, to develop hotels in Gabon.

Baie des Rois - Juillet 2023-0257 (1) (1).jpg

Through this agreement, FGIS, FMCT, LGR and Kasada, the independent real estate private equity platform dedicated to hospitality in Africa, are responding to the ambition to strengthen the attractiveness of the territory and boost the Gabonese economy. With a current portfolio of eighteen (18) hotels in eight (8) African markets, Kasada will be involved in identifying, evaluating, structuring, and managing hotel projects in Gabon, from conception to completion.
Among the projects to be analyzed as part of this collaboration is the upscale hotel complex in the northern zone of the Baie des Rois site. It will address the growing needs identified in terms of urban planning, business tourism and leisure, offering innovative services to users looking for unique, local experiences. Architecturally and environmentally innovative, the hotel will feature sustainable materials, water treatment and the use of green energy in line with international standards.
Baie des Rois is part of the urban development program for the Baie des Rois Special Investment Zone (ZIS), led by FMCT. In line with the Plan d’Accélération de la Transformation (PAT), Baie des Rois aims to become an exceptional hub meeting the criteria of a sustainable, innovative, low-carbon city. Situated on Libreville’s waterfront, it stands out for its mixed use of real estate and commercial space for local residents.
Mr. Akim Mohamed DAOUDA, CEO of FGIS, declared: “This project is part of our overall strategy to develop sustainable infrastructures based on the valorization of our natural capital. The construction of an environmentally-friendly hotel complex will showcase Gabon’s low-carbon solutions.”
Mr. Emmanuel EDANE, CEO of FMCT, declared: “The partnership with Kasada effectively demonstrates the investment opportunities offered by the Baie des Rois. This development zone will contribute to the economic influence and tourism growth of the Gabonese capital.”
Mr. Olivier GRANET and Mr. David DAMIBA, Managing Partners of Kasada Capital Management, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with FGIS and its subsidiaries. The Baie des Rois is an ambitious and exciting project. It demonstrates once again our expertise and our role as preferred partner for sovereign entities to carry out complex projects. Our ability to analyze projects of this scale and our agility in terms of financial structuring, enable us to find the right solution for this flagship project in Gabon. Furthermore, through this project, we aim to set a new standard for sustainable development in Gabon, in line with the country’s initiatives to address climate change.”

Hashtag: #FGIS

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About FGIS

The Fonds Gabonais d’Investissements Stratégiques (FGIS) is the exclusive trustee of the Fonds Souverain de la République Gabonaise (FSRG) and of the unallocated holdings in the portfolio of the Gabonese State. The Fund invests in the strategic sectors of the national economy, with the aim of creating shared prosperity for the people of Gabon and future generations. As the financial investment instrument of the Republic of Gabon, the Fund supports government action by investing in four strategic sectors: infrastructure financing, support for SMEs, regional development and support for social sectors. FGIS also acts as the exclusive agent responsible for marketing carbon credits belonging to the Gabonese Republic as part of the fight against climate change.

About FMCT

Created in 2015, the Façade Maritime Champ Triomphal (FMCT) is the subsidiary of the Fonds Gabonais d’Investissements Stratégiques (FGIS) dedicated to the sustainable development of the Gabonese territory for the population and future generations. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the company is responsible for the design and development of city infrastructure projects, facilities and real estate, notably on the Baie des Rois site. In 2023, Baie des Rois won two major awards, including Best Sustainable Infrastructure Project for its eco-responsible approach at the Africa Investments Forum & Awards (AIFA) and Best New Mega Development at the Marché International des Professionnels de l’Immobilier (MIPIM Awards).

About LGR

Luxury Green Resorts (LGR) is a tourism operator whose mission is to revitalize the tourism industry in Gabon while promoting the country’s natural heritage. LGR is committed to preserving this heritage through projects carried out in close collaboration with local authorities, technical operators, civil society and communities.

About KASADA

Kasada is an independent real estate private equity platform dedicated to hospitality in Africa, advised by Kasada Capital Management, part of the Kasada group. The firm was launched with the backing of Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of State of Qatar, and Accor, a world leading hospitality group. Kasada’s strategy spans all segments, from economy to luxury, and targets both greenfield and brownfield projects. Kasada’s hotels are operated under the banner of Accor’s wide range of internationally renowned brands. By investing in a region that offers robust growth opportunities, Kasada aims to deliver both attractive risk-adjusted returns to investors and a long positive impact on local economies. In April 2019, Kasada held a close of its maiden fund, Kasada Hospitality Fund L.P., with equity commitments of over US$ 500 million.

For more information:

visit and follow us on LinkedIn.

Correcting and Replacing: AIA Singapore tackles the nation’s growing elder care needs with market’s first personal accident plan to provide coverage for multi-stage dementia

AIA Centurion PA Plan provides comprehensive coverage including value added services such as home care, health screening and teleconsultations. In celebration of Singapore’s 58th Birthday, Onward As One, we are rewarding families who purchase any of AIA’s eligible personal accident plans curated for 3 generations with a shopping voucher.

CORRECTION by AIA Singapore:
The second sentence of the 11th paragraph has been updated from
“Customers with AIA Vitality membership will enjoy a complimentary basic health screening with WhiteCoat.”
to
“Customers can choose to integrate the AIA Centurion PA plan with an AIA Vitality membership, where they will be given a basic health screening with WhiteCoat at no charge for the first year.”

The corrected release reads:

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 3 August 2023 – AIA Singapore will be launching AIA Centurion PA on 10 August, a personal accident (PA) insurance plan that aims to holistically address the growing needs of Singapore’s increasingly ageing population. This comes as part of AIA Health360, a comprehensive suite of solutions that supports consumers in their journey toward holistic wellness.

Singapore is currently one of the most rapidly ageing societies in Asia, caused by increased life expectancy and decreasing birth rates. In 2010, about 1 in 10 Singaporeans were aged 65 and above. A decade later, in 2020, it has risen to about 1 in 6. By 2030, another 10 years later, it would be almost 1 in 4 Singaporeans over 65[1]. These statistics underscore a need to help the rapidly ageing population be protected. With amongst the highest life expectancy in the world, Singaporeans are also expected to live longer[2].

AIA Centurion PA[3] is the first personal accident plan in Singapore that covers neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease/Severe Dementia and Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease, and allows reimbursement of day or home care services that is required for illness management via an optional rider. It provides coverage to age 100, and offers a high entry age of up to 80 years old.

Ms. Irma Hadikusuma, Chief Product Proposition Officer of AIA Singapore, said, “AIA Singapore aims to be a lifelong partner to our customers, enabling them to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives through all life stages. We developed the AIA Centurion PA plan to address Singaporeans’ growing concerns of living longer in ill health amidst rising healthcare costs. Through more holistic and thoughtful solutions, we hope to provide both ageing Singaporeans, and those with ageing parents, with a greater peace of mind.”

Increasing dementia concerns in Singapore

An AIA Personal Accident Insurance Survey[4] was recently conducted to further understand the key concerns of growing old among Singapore residents. Findings revealed that when thinking about old-age ailments, 60% of Singaporeans are concerned about dementia, making it the nation’s top worry. Despite this concern, more than 1 in 2 Singaporeans surveyed shared that they do not own policies that cover neurological diseases. To that end, respondents indicated a demand for such coverage, with 55% sharing an intention to purchase such a policy for themselves, and more than 40% intending to purchase the same for their parents.

In response to these findings, AIA Centurion PA plan was developed to provide people with more accessibility to cover themselves for neurological diseases by offering the first-in-market optional rider attached to a personal accident plan, where lump-sum payouts for the diagnosis of early, intermediate, and late stage Alzheimer’s Disease/Severe Dementia and Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease are available for up to S$100,000. The rider also offers dementia care reimbursement benefits of up to S$20,000, reimbursable for 24 months upon diagnosis of major stage Alzheimer’s Disease/Severe Dementia or Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease for services rendered by registered and licensed day care centres, home care providers, or nursing homes. In addition, the rider provides easy application with two health questions and no medical examination is required.

Strengthening accidental medical reimbursement coverage

The survey also showed that nearly half the Singaporeans surveyed are concerned about physical disabilities due to accidental falls. This is corroborated by the respondents’ top concerns about growing old, in which 53% are worried about permanent disability, while 37% are worried about accident-related injuries.

AIA Centurion PA plan meets these concerns by reimbursing up to S$3,000 in medical costs, including the hiring of licensed or graduate nurses and physiotherapy per accident.

In addition, the plan covers for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or chiropractic treatment, while introducing additional accidental medical reimbursement coverage for treating bone fractures, ensuring that post-accident recovery can be as complete as possible.

A peace of mind

Singapore’s “sandwiched” generations, caring for both ageing parents and children of their own, are faced with immense pressures of life. In addition to the rising cost of living, which includes healthcare and caretaking costs, AIA’s research also shows that caretaking Singaporeans are dealing with the emotional stress of caring for their ageing parents, the lack of time to juggle their many responsibilities, and the fear that they may not have adequate retirement funds for themselves after dealing with the above, thus continuing the cycle of sandwiched generations in their children.

The AIA Centurion PA plan aims to encourage customers to live well with AIA Vitality. Customers can choose to integrate the AIA Centurion PA plan with an AIA Vitality membership, where they will be given a basic health screening with WhiteCoat at no charge for the first year. Thereafter, the insured customer can continue to enjoy the basic health screening at policy renewal if they achieve a gold or platinum AIA Vitality status. As a wellness programme, AIA Vitality supports members to track their health and rewards them with partner rewards and benefit for achieving their health goals.

The plan is also focused on supporting our customers to be well through AIA’s strong and comprehensive health and wellness partner ecosystem by providing them easier accessibility to healthcare services. AIA has partnered with Jaga-Me, a local mobile medical and home care specialist, to provide customers quality homecare services.

Customers can also receive on-demand video teleconsultation with Singapore-registered doctors in the comfort of their home with WhiteCoat.

With it, elderly policyholders may go about enjoying their golden years without the constant worry of burdening their children with large unplanned medical costs, while adults with families of their own to care for, as well as their own retirements to plan for, can go about life with the assurance that their parents are well protected.

Wider and more comprehensive overall protection[5]

In addition to the above features, AIA Centurion PA plan also offers the following in key benefits:

  • Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Burns benefits of up to S$100K.
  • Additional coverage for Accidental Dismemberment and burns resulting from accidents caused by public or private transport, pedestrians, personal mobility device (PMD) users, or building fires.
  • Coverage for Fractures and Loss of Activities of Daily Living due to injury.
  • Provide Daily Accidental Hospital Income and Post Hospitalisation Home Care Benefit in the event of any hospitalisation.
  • Mobility Aids and Home modification benefits to aid senior mobility and safety.


Celebrating Singapore’s 58th Birthday, Onward As One

In the month of August, we are rewarding families who purchase any of AIA’s eligible personal accident plans curated for 3 generations with a shopping voucher. The eligible plans are: AIA Centurion PA plan, AIA Solitaire PA (II)​ and AIA Star Protector Plus​.


[1] https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/PM-Lee-Hsien-Loong-at-the-Singapore-Ageing-Issues-and-Challenges-Ahead-Book-Launch
[2]
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/public-sector-report-life-expectancy-spor-covid-19-570646
[3] AIA Centurion PA Plan is eligible for customers aged between 40 to 80 years old. Rider is available for customers aged between 40 to 70 years old.
[4] AIA Personal Accident Insurance Survey was conducted from June-July 2023, with 500 Singapore residents aged 30 to 80 via an online self-completed questionnaire.
[5] Insured Amount for some of the benefits will be reduced by 50% with effect from the Renewal Date falling on or immediately following the 81st birthday of the Insured.

Hashtag: #AIASingapore

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$303 billion as of 31 December 2022.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 41 million individual policies and over 17 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).

1. Hong Kong SAR refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Macau SAR refers to the Macau Special Administrative Region.

Announcing profit of almost USD 232.4 million and adopting Basel III, HDBank continues moving forward with its sustainable business plan

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 3 August 2023 – Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank – HOSE: HDB) has announced its first half results with pre-tax profits of nearly VND 232.4 million, which extended its growth track record in the 10th consecutive year.

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“Overcoming many unprecedented challenges in the first half of this year, the operating results of HDBank in the first six months of 2023 once again confirm that the strategy and goals set by the Board of Directors are on the right track. HDBank remains steadfast in its sustainable development strategy, focusing on retail and digitalization, enhancing customer experience and values, with a focus on agriculture and rural areas, serving individual customers, households, SMEs, and value chains,” said Mr. Kim Byoungho, Chairman of HDBank’s Board of Directors.

ROE and many financial indicators are at the market-leading levels

According to the financial statement, as of June 30, 2023, HDBank’s total assets reached USD 20.4 billion, up 26% year-over-year (YoY).

Total funding reached USD 18.17 billion, up 17.4% year-to-date (YTD), with customer deposits reaching USD 13.08 billion, up 44%.

Total credit balance exceeded USD 12.36 billion, up 9.3% YTD.

These indicators reflect the bank’s solid growth momentum, primarily driven by its strategic focus on agriculture, rural areas, SMEs, small household businesses, and supply chains, in line with the “Sustainable Development – Pioneering Spirit” strategy embraced at its Annual General Meeting.

HDBank’s digital transformation efforts are bearing fruit, with the number of customers using digital channels in the first six months of 2023 increasing by nearly 70% YoY.

The number of transactions on digital platforms increased by 116% YoY, corresponding to a 132% increase in transaction value.

Digital transformation has also improved productivity, cost-to-income ratio (CIR) was optimized to 34.77%, from last year’s 36.98%, which is among the banks with lowest CIR in the market.

The Return on Equity (ROE) exceeded 22%, which further solidified its position among the most profitable banks in the system.

In the first half of 2023, in line with the State Bank’s guideline for reducing lending rates and restructuring repayment schedule for those customers facing with difficulties to support their recovery, HDBank reduced lending interest rates for its customers whose total outstanding loan balance was over USD 2.7 billion.

The Bank’s subsidiary – HD SAISON also promotes the disbursement of a preferential loan package of VND 10 trillion for factory workers and laborers.

Fully implemented Basel III standards, room for growth remains ample

Basel III standards were first studied for implementation since 2019, by June 2023, HDBank has completed the adoption of the most stringent international risk management standards in Vietnam.

Moreover, HDBank’s prudential indicators at June 30, 2023, are significantly ahead of the regulatory requirements of the State Bank of Vietnam.

Specifically, the Loan-to-Deposit Ratio (LDR) of the bank was kept at 70.96%, below the prescribed limit of 85%.

The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) reached 12.3%, belonging to the top group in the market, and over 50% higher than the minimum requirement of 8%.

The ratio of short-term funds used for medium and long-term loans was at 11.2%, only one-third of the current 34% ceiling ratio.

“By maintaining high risk management standards under Basel III, as well as adhering to good operational safety ratios compared to the regulations of the State Bank of Vietnam, HDBank has the necessary capacity to continue pursuing growth values in the future and contribute to promoting strong economic recovery alongside its customers,” Mr. Kim Byoungho – Chairman of the Board added.

With a focus on sustainable development, building and spreading human values to the community alongside its business activities, in the first six months of 2023, HDBank actively implemented numerous community and social welfare activities through more than 20 programs nationwide.

HDBank’s outstanding efforts and achievements during the first six months of 2023 has been further decorated with prestigious international awards including awards from CitiBank and Wells Fargo for its Excellent International Payment Service, and the recognition for the Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in 2022 from The Asset.

Hashtag: #HDBank

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

China Tower Furthered “One Core and Two Wings” Strategy

Revenue Growth Supported by Multiple Pillars
Net Profit Increased Rapidly

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 3 August 2023 – The world’s largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”, or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 0788.HK) is pleased to announce its interim results for the year ended 30 June 2023.

Performance Highlights

RMB Million 1H 2023 1H 2022 Change
Operating revenue 46,461 45,479 2.2%
EBITDA 32,021 31,958 0.2%
Profit attributable to owners of the Company 4,841 4,224 14.6%
Basic earnings per share (RMB yuan) 0.0277 0.0242 14.5%
Key operating data
Number of tower sites (thousand) 2,061 2,049 0.6%
Number of tower tenants (thousand) 3,647 3,521 3.6%
Tenancy ratio (tenants / tower site) 1.77 1.72 2.9%

Our revenue grew steadily in the first half of 2023, reaching RMB46,461 million, an increase of 2.2% year-on-year. After excluding the impact of the Commercial Pricing Agreements, revenue increased by 6.2% on a comparable basis over the same period last year. EBITDA[1] amounted to RMB32,021 million with an EBITDA margin[2] of 68.9%. Profit attributable to the owners of the Company was RMB4,841 million, up by 14.6% year-on-year, with a net profit margin of 10.4%, marking a further improvement in profitability.

In the first half of 2023, our net cash generated from operating activities amounted to RMB11,555 million, and capital expenditure was RMB12,822 million. As of 30 June 2023, our total assets amounted to RMB318,063 million, with interest-bearing liabilities of RMB92,223 million, with a gearing ratio[3] of 31.6%. Our financial position remained stable.

Core advantages drove steady progress in TSP business

5G network penetration and coverage in China continues to expand and we seized the opportunities this presented. By strengthening resource coordination and sharing and operational efficiencies, we were able to meet customer network construction needs in an intensive and effective manner. We steadily implemented the new phase of the Commercial Pricing Agreements with the TSPs. In the first half of 2023, the revenue from our TSP business was RMB40,905 million, a decrease of 1.1% compared to the same period last year; however, when the impact of the Commercial Pricing Agreements is excluded, revenue reached RMB42,762 million on a comparable basis, an increase of 3.4% year-on-year.

Tower business. Centering around 5G network construction, we harnessed policy support for unleashing and sharing of public and cross-sector resources. These initiatives have helped reduce the entry barrier and social costs of reinforcing our competitiveness in resource coordination. A higher level of sharing of existing site resources, wider use of social resources and more effort in promoting the adoption of our integrated wireless communications coverage solutions has enabled us to comprehensively satisfy customer demand for 5G construction. We completed approximately 325,000 5G construction demand in the first half of 2023, of which more than 95% were fulfilled by sharing existing resources. We proactively captured the increased demand for low-frequency network construction and for new construction arising from network optimization. As a result, the number of new projects increased rapidly, effectively supporting the stable growth of our Tower business. Leveraging thorough knowledge of the construction features of comprehensive 5G coverage, we continued to launch innovative low-cost construction solutions, products and services to satisfy customer demand in an economical and effective manner. In the first half of 2023, our tower business revenue accounted for RMB37,481 million, down by 2.9% over the same period last year. After excluding the impact of the Commercial Pricing Agreements, our revenue reached RMB39,338 million on a comparable basis, an increase of 1.9% year-on-year. As of 30 June 2023, the Company was managing a total of 2.061 million tower sites, representing a net increase of 6,000 sites from the end of 2022. During the same period, we gained 61,000 new tenants, bringing the total number of TSP tenants to 3.423 million. Our TSP tenancy ratio increased from 1.65 at the end of 2022 to 1.67, showing a continuous increase in the level of site co-location.

DAS business. Our DAS business benefited from continued enhancements to design and quality management while leveraging the advantages of low cost, service quality, and low energy consumption. We further integrated and better coordinated “resources + demands”, fully leveraging unified site entry and coordinated construction, enabling us to expand 5G coverage in key industries such as education, cultural tourism, transportation, and healthcare, and to offer better service to support the newly established DAS market segments. Innovation in DAS products and comprehensive service solutions allowed us to provide customers with differentiated passive and active DAS sharing solutions, satisfying the demand for 5G upgrading of existing DAS. By further exploring shared value and expanding the scale of the business, we have consolidated DAS business as the “second engine” for development of our TSP business. In the first half of 2023, our DAS business recorded revenue of RMB3,424 million, an increase of 24.4% compared to the same period last year. As of 30 June 2023, we had covered buildings with a cumulative area of 8,820 million square meters, up by 47.7% year-on-year, while the coverage in high-speed railway tunnels and subways totaled a cumulative length of 22,135 kilometers, an increase of 21.1% over the same period last year.

Forged capabilities to maintain strong growth of Two Wings business

To maximize new opportunities brought by the development of the “Digital Economy” and the “dual carbon” goals, we continued to enhance our innovative development capabilities, improve core competitiveness, and promote rapid growth of the Two Wings business. In the first half of 2023, the revenue of the Two Wings business reached RMB5,361 million and accounted for 11.5% of our overall operating revenue, an increase of 2.7 percentage points over the same period last year, further reinforcing the Company’s multi-pillar structure for business development.

Smart Tower business. Our Smart Tower business took advantage of our mid-to high-point positions and continued to build digital towers. We fully leveraged our digital governance capabilities in fields such as farmland protection, forestry fire prevention, and the protection of the Yangtze River’s ecosystem, which contributed to national strategies and major projects while concurrently promoting digital economic development. We continued to increase research and development investment in Smart Tower business to develop product leadership in five areas – platform, data, algorithm, application, and operation. We focused on seven industry applications, covering the smart management of forestry, straw burning, fishery, farmland, blue skies, reservoirs, and villages, accelerating product development to meet customers’ specialization and

customization requirements. We supported these product developments with customer service that deepened a “one-on-one, face-to-face, and round-the-clock” companion service system, helping us to understand better our customers, efficiently meet their requirements, and respond promptly to their needs.

In the first half of 2023, the Smart Tower business achieved revenue of RMB3,386 million, a year-on-year increase of 31.0%, of which RMB2,076 million or 61.3% was generated from Tower Monitoring business.

Energy business. We actively grasped the development opportunities in the field of new energy. Adhering to the principles of sharing and collaboration, we fully utilized the company’s core strengths, such as abundant site resources, a visualizable and controllable monitoring platform, and specialized power maintenance and support service capabilities in the Energy business. We focused on key business segments such as battery exchange and power backup, exercising delicate operation, consolidating product, service, and platform advantages, building core competitiveness, and enhancing quality. For the battery exchange business, we utilized the advantages of our battery exchange networks and services, strengthened the consumer segment battery exchange market, while vigorously expanding our customer base in the business segment. As of 30 June 2023, we have attained a cumulative total of approximately 998,000 battery exchange users, with an increase of 96,000 from the end of 2022, further consolidating our leading position in the market for battery exchange for light electric vehicles. For the power backup business, we focused on key industries such as communications and finance by developing standardized backup power products, offering an integrated four-in-one solution covering power backup, power generation, monitoring and maintenance. This helped to drive the growth of the power backup business. In the first half of 2023, the Energy business achieved revenue of RMB1,975 million, a year-on-year increase of 38.5%, of which the battery exchange business accounted for RMB982 million, with its contribution to the Energy business reaching 49.7%.

Mr. Zhang Zhiyong, Chairman of China Tower said, “In the future, the Company will continue to place technological innovation at the center of driving high-quality corporate development. We will build a strong enterprise through technology innovation in order to forge new development momentum. We will continue to increase research and development in key core technologies such as intelligent operations and maintenance, edge computing networks, video AI algorithms, mid-to high-point IoT, and energy interconnection, enhancing original innovation capabilities in key areas. We will optimize and improve the technological innovation system, increase research and development investment, enhance the overall efficiency of technological innovation, accelerate the transformation of technological achievements into practical productivity, and continue to enhance technological innovation capabilities. We will also respect our talent and advocate innovation, increase rewards and incentives, allowing the creativity and innovation of our technological talent to flourish to the fullest extent.”


Note 1: EBITDA is calculated by operating profit plus depreciation and amortization.

Note 2: EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by operating revenue, and multiplying the resulting value by 100%.

Note 3: Gearing ratio is calculated as net debt divided by the sum of total equity and net debt, then multiplied by 100%.

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About China Tower (Stock Code: 0788.HK)

China Tower is the world’s largest telecommunications tower infrastructure service provider, and the Company always adheres to the philosophy of shared development and implements the “One Core and Two Wings” strategy. The Company is principally engaged in the construction, maintenance and operation of base station ancillary facilities such as telecommunications towers, public network coverage in high-speed railways and subways, and large-scale indoor Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). Meanwhile, relying on unique resources to provide energy application services such as information application and intelligent battery exchange and power backup to the society, the Company strives to build itself into a world-class information and communications infrastructure service provider, and a highly competitive information and new energy applications provider. As of the end of June 2023, the Company’s total assets amounted to RMB318,063 million. China Tower operated and managed 2.061 million tower sites across 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the PRC, and served over 3.647 million tenants with the tenancy ratio of 1.77.