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Hang Seng Encourages Hong Kong’s Youth to start “Trial mode*” with “Trial & Error”

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 May 2022 – Hang Seng Bank understands the importance of nurturing the youth and is committed to launching new services and products for all young customers to meet their financial needs at different stages of life and supporting them to move towards their dreams and thrive together. To help them take the first steps in financial management, Hang Seng invited Neo Yau, Hui Yin and So Chi Ho, the founders of the YouTube Channel “Trial & Error” to produce and participate in a special TV commercial to encourage the young millennials to extend their knowledge of wealth management and investment with “Trial mode*” while enjoying a variety of attractive offers.

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Ms Rannie Lee, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at Hang Seng Bank

Ms Rannie Lee, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at Hang Seng Bank said, ‘Young millennials are full of dreams and ideas, and financial planning is an important part of setting and achieving their life goals. Members of “Trial & Error” are young and dynamic with strong ideals and high levels of creativity, which represents Hang Seng’s culture of being creative and pursuing business innovation for a better future. We are delighted to collaborate with “Trial & Error” this time. With their humorous and creativity, we accompany our young customers to easily take their first steps in their lifelong wealth journeys.’

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Ms Rannie Lee, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at Hang Seng Bank (2nd left) and founders of Trial & Error Neo Yau (2nd right), Hui Yin (1st right) and So Chi Ho, encourage young millennials to take the first steps into financial management.

Hang Seng Bank has a long, well-regarded history of listening to their customers and recognising the changing needs of the millennials and other young generations early on. The Bank offers digital banking approaches that match the habits of the younger generations. These included innovative services like starting your fund investment with just HKD 1 via SimplyFund, being the first bank in the city to adopt Near Field Communication (NFC) technology that allows a mobile phone connecting with an ATM for cash withdrawals and the first in the market to offer a Mobile Cheque Deposit service. In addition, the Bank enabled young customers to access financial education information and resources. As a result of these insightful approaches, the number of younger customers opening Preferred Banking accounts has increased by over 20% year-on-year.

Neo Yau, the Creative Director of the “Trial & Error” said, ‘This is our first attempt to produce a TV commercial since we have started our channel more than a year ago. It has been a great pleasure to take up the role of Preferred Banking’s ambassadors together with Hui Yin and So Chi Ho. After dressing up in a classic suit and tie, we already feel we have become a more mature person.’ Yau also mentioned that the creative idea was that the three of them were travelling between classic movies and their channel’s movies, to encourage the young audience to take their first steps to activate “Trial mode*” into financial management through the Hang Seng Bank services.

Set up a Preferred Banking account to receive “Trial & Error” limited-edition gifts

Upon opening a Preferred Banking account and completing a number of designated “Trial mode*” tasks, customers can receive exclusive limited-edition “Trial & Error” gifts, including a set of “Trial & Error” promotional poster, a 3D Lenticular Card and a Thermochromic Mug as a symbol of opening a new chapter in lives. Check out more details at hangseng.com/trial.

Set up “Trial mode*” and receive a selection of exclusive offers:

New customers who open a Preferred Banking account through Hang Seng Bank Personal Banking Mobile App may set up “Trial mode*” to enjoy an array of exclusive offers from applying credit cards, opening investment account, trading stocks, funds and foreign exchange.

Product Product feature and Offerings Terms and Conditions
Preferred Banking
  • Cash rewards of up to USD100
  • A HKD Savings Deposit bonus interest rate of 2%p.a.
Terms and Conditions apply. Please refer to hangseng.com/trial for promotion details.
Funds · 0% fund subscription fee Investments involve risks. Terms and Conditions apply to the offer. Please refer to hangseng.com/invoffer for promotion details.

Risk Disclosure of Investment Funds:

· Investors should note that all investments involve risks (including the possibility of loss of the capital invested), prices or value of investment fund units may go up as well as down and past performance information presented is not indicative of future performance. Investors should read carefully and understand the relevant offering documents of the investment funds (including the fund details and full text of the risk factors stated therein) and risk disclosure statements of the relevant investment funds before making any investment decision. Investors should carefully consider whether an investment is suitable for them in view of their own investment objectives, investment experience, preferred investment tenor, financial situation, risk tolerance abilities, tax implications and other needs, etc., and should understand the nature, terms and risks of the investment products. Investors should obtain independent professional advice if they have concerns about their investment.

Hang Seng Invest Express · Trade Hong Kong stocks, A-shares and US stocks with just one app

· $0 brokerage for buy/sell of stocks plus a chance to win 2 lots of HSCEI ETF (2828)

(1) Promotion period of $0 brokerage offer is from 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022. The offer is applicable to the designated transaction amount of HK stocks/A-shares for new securities customers and that for Preferred Banking customers is the first HKD500,000 transaction amount. For US stocks, the offer applies to the first 30 transactions. (2) Promotion period for the lucky draw offer of 2 lots of HSCEI ETF (2828) is from 10 May 2022 to 30 June 2022. This offer is provided by the Bank. However, please note that [HSCEI ETF (2828)] (the “ETF”) is managed by Hang Seng Investment Management Limited (which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hang Seng Bank), the ETF’s Trustee, Index Provider, one or more of the Participating Dealers and/or market makers currently also include members of the HSBC Group. Please refer to the Hong Kong Offering Document of the ETF for details of the conflicts of interest in respect of the ETF that may arise. New securities customers (including all the account holders of the new securities account) must not hold any securities account (personal/ joint) with the Bank within a period of 6 months preceding the account opening date. Investment involves risk. New securities customers (including all the account holders of the new securities account) must not hold any securities account (personal/ joint) with the Bank within a period of 6 months preceding the account opening date.

Important Risk Warnings

· Investors should note that investment involves risks. The prices of securities fluctuate, sometimes dramatically. The price of a security may move up or down, and may become valueless. It is as likely that losses will be incurred rather than profit made as a result of buying and selling securities.
· Investors should note that investing in different Renminbi-denominated securities and products involves different risks (including but are not limited to currency risk, exchange rate risk, credit risk of issuer / counterparty, interest rate risk, liquidity risk (where appropriate)). The key risks of investing in A-shares of Stock Connect Northbound Trading include:

  • Transactions under the Northbound or Southbound Trading of Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect / Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect will not be covered by the Investor Compensation Fund in Hong Kong.
  • Once the respective quota is used up, trading will be affected or will be suspended.
  • Stock Connect Northbound Trading will only operate on days when both markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. Investors should take note of the days the Stock Connect Northbound Trading is open for business and decide according to their own risk tolerance whether or not to take on the risk of price fluctuations in securities during the time when Stock Connect Northbound Trading is not trading.
  • When some stocks are recalled from the scope of eligible stocks for trading via Stock Connect Northbound Trading, the stocks can only be sold but NOT bought.
  • Investors will be exposed to currency risk if conversion of the local currency into RMB is required.

· Foreign securities carry additional risks not generally associated with securities in the domestic market. The value or income (if any) of foreign securities may be more volatile and could be adversely affected by changes in many factors. Client assets received or held by the licensed or registered person outside Hong Kong are subject to the applicable laws and regulations of the relevant overseas jurisdiction which may be different from the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571) and the rules made thereunder. Consequently, such client assets may not enjoy the same protection as that conferred on client assets received or held in Hong Kong

SimplyFund
  • Invest in fund with just HKD1
  • HK$0 monthly fee for fund subscription and a chance to win value of HK$20,000 fund units^
  • Complete first fund subscription of HK$3,000 with promo code “TRYSIMPLYFUND”, to enjoy HK$50 cash reward#
^For details of SimplyFund promotion offer, please visit hangseng.com/simplyfundoffer. The Bank will draw one fund from the funds provided in the SimplyFund Account as the lucky draw gift. The product risk level of the funds (“Lucky Draw Funds”) to be drawn will be equal to or smaller than the Winner’s risk tolerance level as of 30 June 2022. For details of Lucky Draw Funds and the respective product risk level provided in the SimplyFund Account, please refer to the Terms and Conditions at hangseng.com/simplyfundoffer. The fund won by the Winner does not represent any investment advice from the Bank.

#Eligible customers must complete the first fund subscription of at least HKD3,000 with the designated promotion code via SimplyFund Account on Hang Seng Personal Banking mobile app successfully to enjoy cash reward of HKD50. If any customer failed to input the designated promotion code or provided a promotion code other than the designated promotion code in his/her fund subscription via SimplyFund Account during the Promotion Period, no cash reward will be offered.

Risk Disclosure of SimplyFund Account:

· Investors should note that all investments involve risks (including the possibility of loss of the capital invested), prices or value of investment fund units may go up as well as down and past performance information presented is not indicative of future performance. Investors should read carefully and understand the relevant offering documents of the investment funds (including the fund details and full text of the risk factors stated therein) and risk disclosure statements of the relevant investment funds before making any investment decision. Investors should carefully consider whether an investment is suitable for them in view of their own investment objectives, investment experience, preferred investment tenor, financial situation, risk tolerance abilities, tax implications and other needs, etc., and should understand the nature, terms and risks of the investment products. Investors should obtain independent professional advice if they have concerns about their investment.

· Not all of the investment funds that are distributed by Hang Seng Bank Limited (the “Bank”) are available in SimplyFund Account. Only specific funds are available for subscription with the SimplyFund Account. If you are looking for other investment funds or investment products, please visit our branches or our websites for more information.

· In respect of the investment funds available for subscription with the SimplyFund Account, they are provided either by the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, Hang Seng Investment Management Limited, or by the Bank’s affiliate HSBC Global Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited.

    Hang Seng Foreign Exchange
    • A Time Deposit interest rate of up to 13% (applicable to exchange designated currencies along with setting up one-week time deposit)
    • The foreign currency time deposit interest rate offer is from now to 30 June 2022, applicable to exchange of designated currencies and set up of 1-week time deposit at the same time. The above interest rate is quoted with reference to the interest rates offered by the Bank on 5 May 2022 and is for reference only. Foreign exchange involves exchange rate risk. Terms and Conditions apply.
    MPOWER card
    • A welcome offer of up to $900 Cash Dollars
    • Up to 9% Cash Dollars Rebate on Designated Mobile Payment/ Online Spending
    • To borrow or not to borrow? Borrow only if you can repay!

    “Trial mode*” refers to the theme of the promotion where offers can be enjoyed including the “Trial & Error” Limited-Edition Gifts.

    Terms and Conditions apply to all the offers, for detail please refer to hangseng.com/trial. The promotion is intended for persons in Hong Kong.

    Link to download photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lV3Dc5k4S5G52RTIkXxRhJlKJUYm0_2A

    Photo Captions:

    • Ms Rannie Lee, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at Hang Seng Bank (2nd left) and founders of Trial & Error Neo Yau (2nd right), Hui Yin (1st right) and So Chi Ho, encourage young millennials to take the first steps into financial management.
    • Hang Seng invited Neo Yau, Hui Yin and So Chi Ho, the founders of the YouTube Channel “Trial & Error” to produce and participate in a special TV commercial to encourage the young millennials to extend their knowledge of wealth management and investment with “Trial mode*” while enjoying a variety of attractive offers.
    • Customers who successfully applied through the Hang Seng Bank Personal Banking Mobile App and completed the specified tasks will receive a “Trial & Error” limited-edition gifts.

    Deloitte: CFOs in China expected to play more diverse roles in driving sustainability

    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 May 2022 – As indicated by The Sustainability Imperative for CFOs, 1st issue of Deloitte China CFO Survey 2022, more than half of the respondents remain optimistic about China’s current economic situation, despite lingering impacts of the pandemic and geopolitics at the start of 2022.

    Deloitte China CFO Program Leading Partner Norman Sze says, “Results of the survey show that the optimism of CFOs has continued from a year earlier. Though impacted by the pandemic and geopolitical issues, China maintained a world-leading GDP in 2021. More than half of the respondents are optimistic about China’s economy, and they expect China’s economic development will outpace other economies globally. Anticipation that China would post stronger post-pandemic economic growth also continues from the same period a year ago, as shown by the survey.”

    The ‘dual carbon’ goals set forth by China last year has imposed higher requirements for companies from certain industries in pursuing sustainability. Driving sustainable development under this trend would bring positive financial impacts for the company. In this issue, we included the widely discussed topic of ‘sustainability’ in the CFO Survey to assess the progress of the companies’ sustainability plans, understand their work in process and major challenges, and explore the role of CFOs in driving sustainable development within their organization.

    The report finds that, while the a large proportion respondents believe that sustainability strategies will have a positive impact and many of them have started to implement sustainability-related work, the level of emphasis on sustainable development differs across industries given the varying degrees of impact from the ‘dual carbon’ goals. Traditional sectors, especially the energy, resources and industrials sector, are the most impacted, while financial services and technology, media and communications sectors also experience major impacts. With increasing regulatory requirements for climate risk information disclosure, the current responsibility for CFOs centres around the disclosure of financial information related to sustainable development. The expansion of China’s green finance market and the increasing demand for corporate carbon emissions audit is expected to broaden CFOs’ role in the field of sustainable development. They need to be more proactive in addressing the challenges they are facing, such as the lack of complete data to assist decision-making; the absence of a clear and unified carbon emissions-reduction strategy and accountability system for the management; and the shortage of professional talents with “climate literacy”.

    “The diffusion of China’s carbon peak, carbon neutral and ESG visions to all regions and businesses presents both challenges and opportunities for companies, ” says Allan Xie, Deloitte China Climate and Sustainability Leader, “Their achievements in addressing climate change and driving green development will become a core competitive edge for each of them. Deloitte’s advice is that companies should assess their own climate and sustainability strategies as early as possible, and seize the opportunity to reshape their strategies from the perspective of long-term development.”

    “CFOs need to make concrete decisions and establish their organizations’ positioning to adapt to future development. With multi-level support from external environment and their organizations, CFOs will play an even greater role in the future,” Norman Sze adds.

    In terms of the external and internal risks of greatest concern for CFOs, the survey shows that the tightening of industry regulation in 2021 has raised companies’ concerns over policy and regulatory issues. The proportion of respondents who are worried about it increased significantly from 27% to 50%, making it the top factor of greatest concern. Inflation and rising commodity costs caused by the recurring impact of the pandemic and prevailing geopolitical issues remain a factor of major concern for CFOs. Compared to the previous year’s survey results, concerns about the pandemic and subsequent economic recovery as well as geopolitical issues decreased by 12 and 8.6 percentage points respectively, but remained the second and fourth most worrying external risk factors among respondents. Concerns about inflation and commodity price fluctuations increased by 16.3 and 10.4 percentage points respectively.

    Related to the external risks mentioned, the top two internal risks worrying CFOs are cost pressures due to inflation (45.1%) and the inability to drive growth amid concerns over post-pandemic recovery (39.2%). These are followed by talent acquisition/retention (35.3%). Respondents’ views echoed those of their peers in other parts of the world – as seen in other CFO surveys we conducted at the end of 2021 – that talent remains one of the top concerns. According to our 2021 Q4 North America CFO survey, talent/ labor was one of the top three enterprise priorities, even outweighing financial performance and growth.

    Since 2011, Deloitte has conducted CFO surveys in different markets around the world, regularly collecting and tracking CFOs’ perspectives on major issues such as the business environment, company strategy and financial priorities, in order to understand the views and opinions of CFOs in China as well as business priorities for Chinese companies, and provide financial decision-makers with relevant insights. The respondents of this issue are CFOs from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, of whom 47.1% work in private enterprises, 24.5% in foreign/multinational enterprises, and 22.6% in state-owned enterprises. These companies span across a wide range of industries, including energy, resources and industrials; technology, media and telecommunications; financial services; life science and healthcare; consumer; and government and public services, with revenue ranging from less than RMB1 billion to more than RMB40 billion for the last fiscal year. As the survey was completed in January 2022, the results do not reflect the significant political and economic events that have occurred since.

    Please click here to download the full report.

    About Deloitte

    Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte organization”). DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms and related entities are legally separate and independent entities, which cannot obligate or bind each other in respect of third parties. DTTL and each DTTL member firm and related entity is liable only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of each other. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more.

    Deloitte is a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services. Our global network of member firms and related entities in more than 150 countries and territories (collectively, the “Deloitte organization”) serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies. Learn how Deloitte’s approximately 345,000 people make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.

    Deloitte Asia Pacific Limited is a company limited by guarantee and a member firm of DTTL. Members of Deloitte Asia Pacific Limited and their related entities, each of which are separate and independent legal entities, provide services from more than 100 cities across the region, including Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo.

    The Deloitte brand entered the China market in 1917 with the opening of an office in Shanghai. Today, Deloitte China delivers a comprehensive range of audit & assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory and tax services to local, multinational and growth enterprise clients in China. Deloitte China has also made—and continues to make—substantial contributions to the development of China’s accounting standards, taxation system and professional expertise. Deloitte China is a locally incorporated professional services organization, owned by its partners in China. To learn more about how Deloitte makes an Impact that Matters in China, please connect with our social media platforms at www2.deloitte.com/cn/en/social-media.

    This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte organization”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser.

    No representations, warranties or undertakings (express or implied) are given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in this communication, and none of DTTL, its member firms, related entities, employees or agents shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever arising directly or indirectly in connection with any person relying on this communication. DTTL and each of its member firms, and their related entities, are legally separate and independent entities.

    ©2022. For information, contact Deloitte China.

    #Deloitte

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

    Crushing Single-Use Plastic With Bubbles Refillery Vending Machines

    The first smart refillery vending machine in Malaysia

    KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 10 May 2022 – A study by Plastic Ocean stated we are producing 380 million tonnes of plastic yearly, and some report indicates that up to 50% of that is for single-use purpose. Malaysia ranks second in Asia (behind the Philippines) for annual per capita plastics use, as stated by WWF for Nature in a 2019 study.

    Don.JPG

    Malaysia aims to phase out single-use plastics products by 2030, and we only have less than eight years to achieve this goal. By looking at the current situation, we must work extremely hard. It’s good to see some organizations are switching to using biodegradable and recyclable plastic packaging. However, these packaging are still plastics and will become micro-plastics if not recycled and reused in later years.

    Introducing Malaysia’s first refillery vending machine for household cleaning products.

    EcoVend is a zero-waste solution company based in KL that has two key products; Bubbles machine and Zeffort cleaning products.

    “Our approach is 100% zero-waste which means we are cutting out single-use plastics point-blank using the Bubbles machines. Users only have to reuse their bottles and refill them from the Bubbles machine,” says Don Low, Founder of EcoVend. “We start saving plastics from household cleaning products. One machine can dispense eight products; instant gel sanitizer, handwash liquid, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, fabric softener, floor cleaner, glass cleaner, and toilet bowl cleaner by Zeffort brand. We’ve saved more than 1,000 plastics since Feb 2022, and the numbers will only grow at a compounding rate,” he added.

    Zeffort is a high-quality homegrown cleaning product brand made in Malaysia that uses biodegradable, 100% plastic-free packaging and 100% zero-waste. “Zeffort can offer high-quality products while maintaining competitive price because they are packaging & labelling-free. It has a low operating cost, and there is no retail listing fee too,” Don explained.

    Expand to more locations and states to save more plastics.

    All six machines are currently located in Klang Valley, and according to Don, they have received many requests from plastic-free and zero-waste products supporters to place the Bubbles machines across Malaysia. Still, Bubbles is a new and self-funded company, which means they have limited funds to expand to more locations in quickly. “We want to use the power of people, and we urge more like-minded people who share the belief that we can make a change together in this country,” he shared.

    EcoVend is launching an investment package for people who want to invest in green and sustainable businesses. “The total investment cost is RM20,693 which includes a Bubbles machine (RM18,188), a 2-month operation deposit (RM580), and working capital (RM1,925). To make the investment plan more accessible, we allow a maximum of three people to co-share the investment at 0% interest for 6-12 months instalment,” he shared.

    He also said that the market size for the household care segment is projected to reach RM 609.84 million in 2022. How much revenue and profit a machine can generate depends mainly on the location and time. “Unlike drinks and snacks vending machines, a refillery vending machine concept is new, and it may take a longer time to get a return, but it is here to stay, and we will continue to save plastics daily. We strongly believe Malaysians are genuinely environmentally friendly, and given an option, they would want to save plastics for a better future,” he explained.

    Moving on, he hopes brands will join the zero-waste movement to offer their products through refillery concept on their own or through Bubbles machines. By far, the refillery is the best solution to stop single-use plastics. We’ve seen some global brands testing out the refillery and zero-waste concepts in the UK, India, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Pakistan, and locally.

    EcoVend is open to investment opportunities to expand Bubbles and Zeffort to more states and countries. To find out more about Bubbles, visit their website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. For Zeffort, visit the website, Instagram and Facebook. You can reach out to Don at don@ecovend.co and +601126281080.

    #Bubbles

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

    Quiet at Laos Border Checkpoints on First Day of Full Reopening

    Quiet day at borders in Laos after reopening to tourism
    A Thai tourist gives an interview to Lao media after crossing the Friendship Bridge into Laos (Photo: Lao Phattana).

    Immigration officials reported a quiet day at international border checkpoints on the first day of Laos’ full reopening to tourism.

    Prudential makes insurance more accessible by broadening the concept of family

    Policies to cater to non-traditional and extended families

    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 May 2022 – Prudential is making insurance more accessible and inclusive by broadening the concept of family, allowing health and protection solutions to cover different types of family.

    Ms Lilian Ng, Chief Executive, Insurance, Prudential

    Ms Lilian Ng, Chief Executive, Insurance, Prudential

    Insurance policies today tend to be designed around the nuclear family, recognising only the spouse and children as financial dependents. There is an opportunity to meet the protection needs of more diverse types of families such as single parents, cohabitants or adopted children. Additionally, coverage can also be offered to extended family members such as grandparents, parents-in-law as well as nieces and nephews.

    Ms Lilian Ng, Chief Executive, Insurance, Prudential, said today’s protection solutions are not adequately addressing the health and wealth needs of families of different shapes and sizes. Prudential wants to equalise access to insurance solutions by taking a more progressive and inclusive approach in defining a family.

    “With eight in 10 people across Asia having no insurance cover, we want to make healthcare and financial security more accessible to more people to help them get the most out of life. By being more inclusive, we can protect more families and in doing so, we can help narrow the health and protection gap which is estimated at US$1.8 trillion,” said Ms Ng.

    To support the needs of more diverse family types, Prudential is innovating the way it designs products and services.

    For instance, customers can now nominate a wider range of family members who are financially dependent on them as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy.

    Additionally, customers can buy insurance for family members beyond those who are directly related. There is also more flexibility to choose which family member can pay for the policy.

    Developing inclusive products and services across Asia

    Many of Prudential’s markets across Asia have started to broaden its view of family in the way it serves its customers.

    In Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, existing products are being enhanced to cover more family members beyond spouse, children and legal guardian.

    Pru Life UK in the Philippines has introduced its latest solution PRUHealth Fam Love that enables customers to share protection coverage against critical illnesses for up to four family members. This is the first of its kind product in the market.

    In Indonesia, Prudential Syariah recently introduced PRUSolusi Kondisi Kritis Syariah, a critical illness sharia plan that allows customers to purchase life insurance for siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or son/daughter-in-laws.

    ‘Made For Every Family’ brand campaign signifies Prudential’s commitment to protecting all types of families

    In line with embracing a more progressive view and inclusive definition of family, ‘Made For Every Family’ is Prudential’s brand expression that signifies its commitment to protect families of every shape and size across Asia.

    Ms Mabel Leung, Chief Officer Brand and Strategic Marketing, Prudential said, “Life insurance is the greatest proof of love one can give to their family and loved ones. At Prudential, we strive to be relevant to the lifestyle and needs of our customers by providing innovative and targeted solutions covering different types of families.”

    Prudential will launch the brand campaign in 11 markets in Asia with a launch video and a platform that allows people to express and share what makes their family special. Famvatar is a digital experience created by Prudential that lets people build a group avatar starring their family for them to use as fun-filled chat stickers and more.

    For more information of “Made For Every Family”, please refer to www.prudentialwedo.com.

    “Made For Every Family” launch video

    About Prudential plc

    Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in Asia and Africa. The business helps people get the most out of life, by making healthcare affordable and accessible and by promoting financial inclusion. Prudential protects people’s wealth, helps them grow their assets, and empowers them to save for their goals. The business has more than 18 million life customers and is listed on stock exchanges in London (PRU), Hong Kong (2378), Singapore (K6S) and New York (PUK).

    Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

    #Prudential

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

    SEO Agency Stridec Recommends Top 3 SEO Strategies for B2B Companies in 2022

    Businesses need to be strategic about how they go about their SEO so that they can achieve impactful results fast.

    SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 May 2022 – Stridec Worldwide (“Stridec”), named by Clutch as a top SEO Singapore agency for 2021, is helping more B2B brands and companies get found online to generate more traffic, customers and revenue, by recommending the top 3 SEO strategies for 2022.

    Against the backdrop of a global economy struggling to recover from 2 years of pandemic and continued challenges caused by the ongoing conflict in Europe, B2B companies definitely have the odds stacked against them with rising operational costs and reduced access to markets and resources.

    On the marketing front, B2B companies can’t afford to waste unnecessary time and money on “spray and pray” methods that yield little to no prospective interest nor conversion. More and more enterprises are realising this and have started to look increasingly towards search engine optimisation (SEO) as a primary driver of business acquisition moving forward.

    However, the practice of search engine optimisation has always been shrouded in myths, half-truths and misconceptions; and it is easy for businesses to get distracted by fancy techniques or “hacks” and spend their energies on activities that don’t move the needle on their SEO goals.

    To help B2B companies stay focused and work on the key elements that will deliver the most significant impact on their search engine rankings, Stridec recommends the following top 3 strategies:

    1. Answer questions directly on key web pages

    The primary purpose of a search engine such as Google is to return the most relevant results to a user’s query and most B2B queries are questions or problems in need of an answer or solution.

    By providing clear and precise answers straight up on their websites, businesses are signalling to search engines that they are better informed, knowledgeable and prepared than the competition to provide answers to what searchers are asking, thereby deserving to be rewarded with a higher ranking and visibility on search results.

    The best thing about this strategy is that an overwhelming majority of B2B companies don’t do it; preferring to just give minimal and often times abstract sounding marketing fluff text on their websites, and depending on the sales team to do the heavy lifting of acquiring leads.

    So any business that bothers to do it would be rewarded with an immediate bump in relevance and authority and in the eyes of the search engines and prospective customer audience respectively.

    This is an effective quick win that produces results fast and is usually a cornerstone of the overall SEO strategy that Stridec recommends to any business right from the beginning.

    Using this strategy, Stridec was able to help a service provider offering corporate training in Singapore get its website picked up by Google and start ranking within days after implementation.

    2. Optimise the titles of key pages

    The title of a webpage is the most important onpage element as it signals to the search engines what the webpage is about. Its significance in achieving a strong SEO performance cannot be overstated.

    However, because it is not displayed directly on the webpages themselves and is barely noticeable on the web browser tab, most companies fail to even realise that they exist, much less go about optimising them for SEO.

    It is recommended that the main keyword related to the webpage should be included in the title text, and placed as close to the start of the title as possible. A secondary keyword can be added to the title, but avoid making it sound unnatural, repetitive or suspect of keyword stuffing, a practice frowned upon by Google that can result in a ranking decline.

    By this approach, Stridec was able to help a security company gain higher ranking and more search visibility for its cctv camera surveillance system and safe deposit box solutions.

    3. Invest in a disciplined link building process

    Backlinks, defined as links from other websites pointing back to one’s website, have been and continue to be one of the most important factors when it comes to ranking well on Google.

    Generally, the more links pointing back to one’s website, the likelier the website can rank higher and above the competition on its target keywords.

    But not all backlinks are equal, and some can even do more harm than good. Whether the backlink comes from a website in a related or relevant industry, an authoritative and well-regarded site, or a popular and well-trafficked blog, has implications on the effectiveness and extent of pushing SEO ranking.

    Link building success requires proper research and planning with a clear and actionable acquisition roadmap, but B2B companies generally lack the expertise and resources to perform link building on their own in a strategic and sustainable manner.

    It is recommended that businesses should leave link building activity to the experts and engage proven SEO agencies such as Stridec to take care of the process on their behalf.

    This strategy was instrumental in breaking a Singapore forklift rental company into the top rank positions on the first page of Google search results for its target keywords within 3 months and continued to stay at the top.

    Play it smart and play it strategically

    “There are many factors that influence SEO success, but not all factors create significant impact,” explained Mr. Alva Chew, lead SEO consultant at Stridec. “It is important that companies play it smart and focus their energies and resources on the select few factors that truly make a difference to their search visibility so that they can achieve their goals in the most effective and efficient manner possible”.

    About Stridec Worldwide

    Stridec is a digital marketing agency that specialises in SEO and Ecommerce solutions with a mission to help brands Get Found Online. Using its proprietary “Awesome in B.E.D.” framework, Stridec helps businesses acquire more traffic, customers and revenue to stay ahead of the competition and dominate their markets.

    Stridec focuses on helping clients build long-term, strategic online assets that deliver sustainable Return on Investment (ROI) for years to come.

    For more information on Stridec, visit .

    #Stridec

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

    SEO Agency Stridec Recommends Top 3 SEO Strategies for B2B Companies in 2022

    Businesses need to be strategic about how they go about their SEO so that they can achieve impactful results fast.

    SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 May 2022 – Stridec Worldwide (“Stridec”), named by Clutch as a top SEO Singapore agency for 2021, is helping more B2B brands and companies get found online to generate more traffic, customers and revenue, by recommending the top 3 SEO strategies for 2022.

    Against the backdrop of a global economy struggling to recover from 2 years of pandemic and continued challenges caused by the ongoing conflict in Europe, B2B companies definitely have the odds stacked against them with rising operational costs and reduced access to markets and resources.

    On the marketing front, B2B companies can’t afford to waste unnecessary time and money on “spray and pray” methods that yield little to no prospective interest nor conversion. More and more enterprises are realising this and have started to look increasingly towards search engine optimisation (SEO) as a primary driver of business acquisition moving forward.

    However, the practice of search engine optimisation has always been shrouded in myths, half-truths and misconceptions; and it is easy for businesses to get distracted by fancy techniques or “hacks” and spend their energies on activities that don’t move the needle on their SEO goals.

    To help B2B companies stay focused and work on the key elements that will deliver the most significant impact on their search engine rankings, Stridec recommends the following top 3 strategies:

    1. Answer questions directly on key web pages

    The primary purpose of a search engine such as Google is to return the most relevant results to a user’s query and most B2B queries are questions or problems in need of an answer or solution.

    By providing clear and precise answers straight up on their websites, businesses are signalling to search engines that they are better informed, knowledgeable and prepared than the competition to provide answers to what searchers are asking, thereby deserving to be rewarded with a higher ranking and visibility on search results.

    The best thing about this strategy is that an overwhelming majority of B2B companies don’t do it; preferring to just give minimal and often times abstract sounding marketing fluff text on their websites, and depending on the sales team to do the heavy lifting of acquiring leads.

    So any business that bothers to do it would be rewarded with an immediate bump in relevance and authority and in the eyes of the search engines and prospective customer audience respectively.

    This is an effective quick win that produces results fast and is usually a cornerstone of the overall SEO strategy that Stridec recommends to any business right from the beginning.

    Using this strategy, Stridec was able to help a service provider offering corporate training in Singapore get its website picked up by Google and start ranking within days after implementation.

    2. Optimise the titles of key pages

    The title of a webpage is the most important onpage element as it signals to the search engines what the webpage is about. Its significance in achieving a strong SEO performance cannot be overstated.

    However, because it is not displayed directly on the webpages themselves and is barely noticeable on the web browser tab, most companies fail to even realise that they exist, much less go about optimising them for SEO.

    It is recommended that the main keyword related to the webpage should be included in the title text, and placed as close to the start of the title as possible. A secondary keyword can be added to the title, but avoid making it sound unnatural, repetitive or suspect of keyword stuffing, a practice frowned upon by Google that can result in a ranking decline.

    By this approach, Stridec was able to help a security company gain higher ranking and more search visibility for its cctv camera surveillance system and safe deposit box solutions.

    3. Invest in a disciplined link building process

    Backlinks, defined as links from other websites pointing back to one’s website, have been and continue to be one of the most important factors when it comes to ranking well on Google.

    Generally, the more links pointing back to one’s website, the likelier the website can rank higher and above the competition on its target keywords.

    But not all backlinks are equal, and some can even do more harm than good. Whether the backlink comes from a website in a related or relevant industry, an authoritative and well-regarded site, or a popular and well-trafficked blog, has implications on the effectiveness and extent of pushing SEO ranking.

    Link building success requires proper research and planning with a clear and actionable acquisition roadmap, but B2B companies generally lack the expertise and resources to perform link building on their own in a strategic and sustainable manner.

    It is recommended that businesses should leave link building activity to the experts and engage proven SEO agencies such as Stridec to take care of the process on their behalf.

    This strategy was instrumental in breaking a Singapore forklift rental company into the top rank positions on the first page of Google search results for its target keywords within 3 months and continued to stay at the top.

    Play it smart and play it strategically

    “There are many factors that influence SEO success, but not all factors create significant impact,” explained Mr. Alva Chew, lead SEO consultant at Stridec. “It is important that companies play it smart and focus their energies and resources on the select few factors that truly make a difference to their search visibility so that they can achieve their goals in the most effective and efficient manner possible”.

    About Stridec Worldwide

    Stridec is a digital marketing agency that specialises in SEO and Ecommerce solutions with a mission to help brands Get Found Online. Using its proprietary “Awesome in B.E.D.” framework, Stridec helps businesses acquire more traffic, customers and revenue to stay ahead of the competition and dominate their markets.

    Stridec focuses on helping clients build long-term, strategic online assets that deliver sustainable Return on Investment (ROI) for years to come.

    For more information on Stridec, visit .

    #Stridec

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

    Allianz: Shipping losses fall, but Ukraine war, costly issues with large vessels, the shipping boom, and sustainability concerns muddy the waters

    • Safety & Shipping Review 2022: 54 large ships lost worldwide last year. Total losses down 57% over past decade. South China, Indochina, Indonesia, and the Philippines top loss location.
    • Ukraine invasion has multiple impacts: loss of life/vessels, exacerbation of crew crisis, trade disruption, sanctions burden, and cost and availability of bunker fuel.
    • Fires, container ship and car carrier incidents leading to oversized losses and ‘general average’ process becoming more frequent. Sustainability concerns driving up costs of salvage and wreck removal. Decarbonization of shipping industry creating new risks.
    • Shipping boom safety impact: growing use of non-container vessels to carry containers, working life of vessels being extended, port congestion putting crews and facilities under pressure.

    JOHANNESBURG/LONDON/MUNICH/NEW YORK/PARIS/SAO PAULO/SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 May 2022 – The international shipping industry is responsible for the carriage of around 90% of world trade, so vessel safety is critical. The sector continued its long-term positive safety trend over the past year but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the growing number of costly issues involving larger vessels, crew and port congestion challenges resulting from the shipping boom, and managing challenging decarbonization targets, means there is no room for complacency, according to marine insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2022.

    Allianz-Safety-Shipping-2022-Gra.jpg

    “The shipping sector has demonstrated tremendous resilience through stormy seas in recent years, as evidenced by the boom we see in several parts of the industry today,” says Captain Rahul Khanna, Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting at AGCS. “Total losses are at record lows – around 50 to 75 a year over the last four years compared with 200+ annually in the 1990s. However, the tragic situation in Ukraine has caused widespread disruption in the Black Sea and elsewhere, exacerbating ongoing supply chain, port congestion, and crew crisis issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, some of the industry’s responses to the shipping boom, such as changing the use of, or extending the working life of, vessels also raise warning flags. Meanwhile, the increasing number of problems posed by large vessels, such as fires, groundings and complex salvage operations, continue to challenge ship owners and their crews.”

    The annual AGCS study analyzes reported shipping losses and casualties (incidents) over 100 gross tons. During 2021, 54 total losses of vessels were reported globally, compared with 65 a year earlier. This represents a 57% decline over 10 years (127 in 2012), while during the early 1990s the global fleet was losing 200+ vessels a year. The 2021 loss total is made more impressive by the fact that there are an estimated 130,000 ships in the global fleet today, compared with some 80,000 30 years ago. Such progress reflects the increased focus on safety measures over time through training and safety programs, improved ship design, technology and regulation.

    According to the report, there have been almost 900 total losses over the past decade (892). The South China, Indochina, Indonesia, and the Philippines maritime region is the main global loss hotspot, accounting for one-in-five losses in 2021 (12) and one-in-four-losses over the past decade (225), driven by factors including high levels of trade, congested ports, older fleets, and extreme weather. Globally, cargo ships (27) account for half of vessels lost in the past year and 40% over the past decade. Foundered (sunk/submerged) was the main cause of total losses over the past year, accounting for 60% (32).

    While total losses declined over the past year, the number of reported shipping casualties or incidents rose. The British Isles saw the highest number (668 out of 3,000). Machinery damage accounted for over one-in-three incidents globally (1,311), followed by collision (222) and fires (178), with the number of fires increasing by almost 10%.

    One of the top five causes of reported ship incidents globally is maritime piracy and armed robbery attacks. Of which, the cases have reached the lowest recorded level since 1994 last year (132), according to the International Maritime Bureau.

    The drop can be attributed to successful intervention by authorities but continued coordination and vigilance to is necessary to ensure the long-term protection of seafarers given recent rising numbers of incidents in the Singapore Straits and Southeast Asia and recent reports of incidents in Ivory Coast, Angola and Ghana waters.

    Ukraine impact: safety and insurance

    The shipping industry has been affected on multiple fronts by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the loss of life and vessels in the Black Sea, disruption to trade, and the growing burden of sanctions. It also faces challenges to day-to-day operations, with knock-on effects for crew, the cost and availability of bunker fuel, and the potential for growing cyber risk.

    The invasion has further ramifications for a global maritime industry already facing shortages. Russian seafarers account for just over 10% of the world’s 1.89 million workforce, while around 4% come from Ukraine. These seafarers may struggle to return home or rejoin ships at the end of contracts. Meanwhile, a prolonged conflict is likely to have deeper consequences, potentially reshaping global trade in energy and other commodities. An expanded ban on Russian oil could contribute to pushing up the cost of bunker fuel and impacting availability, potentially pushing ship owners to use alternative fuels. If such fuels are of substandard quality, this may result in machinery breakdown claims in future. At the same time, security agencies continue to warn of a heightened prospect of cyber risks for the shipping sector such as GPS jamming, Automatic Identification System (AIS) spoofing and electronic interference which had already been reported in China and the Middle East, prior to the Ukraine invasion.

    “The insurance industry is likely to see a number of claims under specialist war policies from vessels damaged or lost to sea mines, rocket attacks and bombings in conflict zones,” explains Justus Heinrich, Global Product Leader, Marine Hull, at AGCS. “Insurers may also receive claims under marine war policies from vessels and cargo blocked or trapped in Ukrainian ports and coastal waters.”

    The evolving range of sanctions against Russian interests presents a sizeable challenge. Violating sanctions can result in severe enforcement action, yet compliance can be a considerable burden. It can be difficult to establish the ultimate owner of a vessel, cargo or counterparty. Sanctions also apply to various parts of the transport supply chain, including banking and insurance, as well as maritime support services, which makes compliance even more complex.

    A burning issue: fires on board

    During the past year, fires on board the roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) car carrier Felicity Ace and the container ship X-Press Pearl both resulted in total losses. Cargo fires are indeed a priority concern. There have been over 70 reported fires on container ships alone in the past five years, the report notes. Fires often start in containers, which can be the result of non-/mis-declaration of hazardous cargo, such as chemicals and batteries – around 5% of containers shipped may consist of undeclared dangerous goods. Fires on large vessels can spread quickly and be difficult to control, often resulting in the crew abandoning ship, which can significantly increase the final cost of an incident.

    Fires have also become a major loss driver for car carriers. Among other causes, they can start in cargo holds, caused by malfunctions or electrical short circuits in vehicles, while the open decks can allow them to spread quickly. The growing numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) transported by sea brings further challenges, given existing counter-measure systems may not respond effectively in the event of an EV blaze. Losses can be expensive, given the value of the car cargo and the cost of wreck removal and pollution mitigation.

    When large vessels get into trouble, emergency response and finding a port of refuge can be challenging. Specialist salvage equipment, tugs, cranes, barges and port infrastructure are required, which adds time and cost to a response. The X-Press Pearl, which sank after it was refused refuge by two ports following a fire – the ports were unable or unwilling to discharge a leaking cargo of nitric acid – is one of several incidents where container ships have had difficulty finding a safe haven. Meanwhile, the salvage operation for the car carrier Golden Ray, which capsized in the US in 2019, took almost two years and cost in excess of $800mn.

    “Too often, what should be a manageable incident on a large vessel can end in a total loss. Salvage is a growing concern. Environmental concerns are contributing to rising salvage and wreck removal costs as ship owners and insurers are expected to go the extra mile to protect the environment and local economies,” says Khanna. “Previously, a wreck might have been left in-situ if it posed no danger to navigation. Now, authorities want wrecks removed and the marine environment restored, irrespective of cost.”

    Higher salvage costs, along with the burden of larger losses more generally, are a cost increasingly borne by cargo owners and their insurers. “‘General average’, the legal process by which cargo owners proportionately share losses and the cost of saving a maritime venture, has become a frequency event, as well as a severity event, with the increase in the number of large ships involved in fires, groundings and container losses at sea compared with five years ago,” explains Régis Broudin, Global Head of Marine Claims at AGCS. It was declared in both the Ever Forward and Ever Given incidents. The large container ship Ever Forward ran aground in the US in March 2022, and was stuck for over a month before it was freed, almost a year to the day after its sister vessel, Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal.

    Post-pandemic world brings new risk challenges

    While the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in few direct claims for the marine insurance sector, the subsequent impact on crew welfare and the boom in shipping and port congestion raises potential safety concerns. Demand for crew is high, yet many skilled and experienced seafarers are leaving the industry. A serious shortfall of officers is predicted within five years.

    For those who remain, morale is low as commercial pressures, compliance duties and workloads are running high. Such a work situation is prone to mistakes – 75% of shipping incidents involve human error, AGCS analysis shows.

    “During the pandemic hundreds of thousands of seafarers were unable to leave their vessels or see their families for a prolonged period. What they have endured will have a lasting impact, and it is likely many seafarers will not return. Ship owners in some segments could feel the pinch. We do not want to see dispensations or special considerations being given by flag states,” says Captain Nitin Chopra, Senior Marine Risk Consultant at AGCS Asia Pacific.

    “The pressure on vessels and crew is currently very high. The reality is that some may be tempted to ignore issues or take shortcuts, which could result in future losses.” adds Captain Nitin Chopra.

    The economic rebound from Covid-19 lockdowns has created a boom time for shipping, with record increases in charter and freight rates. While this is a positive for shipping companies, higher freight rates and a shortage of container ship capacity are tempting some operators to use bulk carriers, or consider converting tankers, to transport containers. “The use of non-container vessels to carry containers raises questions around stability, firefighting capabilities, and securing cargo. Carrying containers could also change the maneuvering characteristics of a vessel and affect how it behaves in bad weather and strong winds. Converting a vessel or changing its use would likely be viewed as a material change in risk profile and could be categorized by underwriters as a higher risk,’ adds Captain Nitin Chopra.

    With demand for shipping high, some owners are also extending the working life of vessels. Even before the pandemic, the average age of vessels was rising. Although there are many well-managed and maintained fleets composed of older vessels, analysis has shown older container and cargo vessels (15 to 25 years old) are more likely to result in claims, as they suffer from corrosion, while systems and machinery are more prone to breakdown. The average age of a vessel involved in a total loss over the past 10 years is 28.

    Shipping bottlenecks and port congestion

    Covid-19 measures in China, a surge in consumer demand, and the Ukraine invasion have all been factors in ongoing unprecedented port congestion which puts crews, port handlers and facilities under additional pressure. “Loading and unloading vessels is a particularly risky operation, where small mistakes can have big consequences. Busy container ports have little space, while the experienced labor required to handle the containers properly is in short supply. Add in fast turnaround times and this may result in a heightened risk environment,” explains Heinrich.

    At the same time, repeated outbreaks in China, resulting in the staggered lockdown of Shanghai in March/April 2022 for example, is compounding ongoing supply/ demand pressures for shipping, which have resulted in port congestion, higher freight fees and longer transit times.

    Climate change: transition problems

    With momentum gathering behind international efforts to tackle climate change, the shipping industry is coming under increasing pressure to accelerate its sustainability efforts, the report notes, given its greenhouse gas emissions grew by around 10% between 2012 and 2018.

    Decarbonization will require big investments in green technology and alternative fuels. A growing number of vessels are already switching to liquefied natural gas (LNG), while other alternative fuels are under development, including ammonia, hydrogen and methanol, as well as electric-powered ships. The transition to alternative fuels will likely bring heightened risk of machinery breakdown claims, among other risks, as new technology beds down and as crews adapt to new procedures.

    About Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

    Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) is a leading global corporate insurance carrier and a key business unit of Allianz Group. We provide risk consultancy, Property-Casualty insurance solutions and alternative risk transfer for a wide spectrum of commercial, corporate and specialty risks across nine dedicated lines of business and six regional hubs.

    Our customers are as diverse as business can be, ranging from Fortune Global 500 companies to small businesses. Among them are not only the world’s largest consumer brands, tech companies and the global aviation and shipping industry, but also satellite operators or Hollywood film productions. They all look to AGCS for smart solutions and global programs to their largest and most complex risks in a dynamic, multinational business environment and trust us to deliver an outstanding claims experience.

    Worldwide, AGCS operates with its own teams in more than 30 countries and through the Allianz Group network and partners in over 200 countries and territories, employing around 4,250 people. As one of the largest Property-Casualty units of Allianz Group, we are backed by strong and stable financial ratings. In 2021, AGCS generated a total of €9.5 billion gross premium globally.

    For more information please visit or follow us on Twitter @AGCS_Insurance and .

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. In addition to statements which are forward-looking by reason of context, the words “may”, “will”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “potential”, or “continue” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

    Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to, without limitation, (i) general economic conditions, including in particular economic conditions in the Allianz Group’s core business and core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, and including market volatility, liquidity and credit events, (iii) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, including from natural catastrophes and including the development of loss expenses, (iv) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (v) persistency levels, (vi) the extent of credit defaults, (vii) interest rate levels, (viii) currency exchange rates including the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate, (ix) changing levels of competition, (x) changes in laws and regulations, including monetary convergence and the European Monetary Union, (xi) changes in the policies of central banks and/or foreign governments, (xii) the impact of acquisitions, including related integration issues, (xiii) reorganization measures, and (xiv) general competitive factors, in each case on a local, regional, national and/or global basis. Many of these factors may be more likely to occur, or more pronounced, as a result of terrorist activities and their consequences.

    The matters discussed herein may also be affected by risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Allianz SE’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

    #Allianz #AGCS

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