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Black Spade Capital Aims to Build an SPAC-themed Portfolio

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 February 2021 – 2020 proved to be a great year for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs). The market saw more high-profile investors joining the party while a record number of companies went public through this unique structure. With a whopping US$80 billion raised by over 230 blank-cheque companies, SPAC IPOs not only represented approximately 50% of total IPO issuance in the US in 2020, the massive amount raised by SPACs even eclipsed traditional IPOs last year.

Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO

SPAC Trend Continues To Heat Up

While SPACs continue to be favoured by institutional and private investors alike in the US, they are also gaining momentum in Asia. Savvy investors in the East are catching up fast with the trend and among them is Black Spade Capital Limited, the family office of casino magnate Lawrence Ho Yau Lung.

“We aim to be one of the first Asian family offices to build an SPAC-themed portfolio,” said Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO of Black Spade Capital. He added that “of course, we have to be selective — only high-quality SPACs with great potential are considered”.

One catalyst, Two Criteria

Mr. Tam considers the current close-to-zero or, in some cases, negative interest rate environment as one of the catalysts that contribute to the success of SPAC IPOs. “Loose monetary policy means lower cost of funds and greater incentive for investors to look for new investments. SPACs enjoy a great start this year with over US$45 billion raised by more than 140 new SPACs to-date — the fact that both the number and size of SPAC deals in the first two months of 2021 represent some 56% of the full-year performance in 2020 reflects just how buoyant the SPAC market is. The whole SPAC trend has to do to a certain extent with the abundance of capital in the market seeking return. When the interest rate picks up, the trend may slow down” said Mr. Tam.

Mr. Tam commented that the family office places importance on the sponsors in terms of selection criteria. “There are two main criteria — sponsors’ reputation and their track record. Sponsors are the face of an SPAC. They set out the road map of the investment vehicle. Their track record gives us a glimpse of what the sponsors are capable of. I always find one-on-one investor meeting a good way to learn about the vision and strategy that the sponsors have for their SPACs. A reputable sponsor boosts investor confidence. Some people point out that sponsors typically receive 20% of the equity in the SPAC; in my opinion, this mechanism helps align sponsors’ interest with that of investors which is actually positive — as long as the sponsors deliver, they deserve a matching reward. After all, if the sponsors successfully acquire or merge with a promising target (i.e. de-SPAC), everybody wins” explained Mr. Tam.

The relatively straightforward structure of SPACs also begins to appeal to many family offices. “As the name suggests, an SPAC has the sole purpose of merging with a private company and taking it public. The tenor is usually capped at two years and the sector from which the SPAC identifies its acquisition target is announced before the SPAC is listed. The fund raised by an SPAC usually serves as a good indication of the size of the future target, which is typically 3x to 4x the size of the SPAC. This is the kind of clarity that investors appreciate,” explained Mr. Tam. “Also, SPAC issuers offer to redeem the shares from investors at a call price equivalent to the IPO price if they do not like the acquisition target. This capital protection mechanism affords greater assurance to investors” added Mr. Tam.

Mr. Tam believes that investor education will encourage more Asian family offices as well as other investors in the region to participate in this SPAC trend. “We had several rounds of in-depth discussions with various investment banks and private banks before making our first SPAC investment last year,” recalled Mr. Tam. “In the process, our bankers get to understand our investment appetite and selection criteria and are able to introduce different SPAC opportunities to us” said Mr. Tam.

In terms of Black Spade Capital’s target return with regard to SPACs, “We have seen some truly impressive performance of certain star SPACs, such as QuantumScape and Draft Kings, which have realized a return of close to 10x and 4x, respectively, in 2020. Naturally, we look for above average return and we believe the key to achieve this is to invest in quality SPACs at the time of IPO” said Mr. Tam.

About Black Spade Capital Limited (黑桃資本有限公司)

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


Kerry Logistics Network Extends Winning Streak at the Quamnet Outstanding Enterprise Awards for Sixth Year Running

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 February 2021 – Kerry Logistics Network Limited (‘Kerry Logistics Network’; Stock Code 0636.HK) is honoured to be named the Outstanding Global 3PL for the fourth time running at the Quamnet Outstanding Enterprise Awards (‘QOEA’) 2020. This was the sixth consecutive year that Kerry Logistics Network has been a winner of QOEA, which were announced in Hong Kong today.

Organised annually by leading Hong Kong financial news platform Quamnet, the QOEA aim to appraise and recognise the distinguished enterprises in Hong Kong and its spirit. Themed “Sagacity Built to Business Perfection” this year, the QOEA 2020 commended enterprises’ outstanding sagacity in times of challenge and change. Winning companies were nominated and selected by the judging committee made up of the Quamnet editorial team, the Quam Research team and independent financial analysts.

William Ma, Group Managing Director of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “2020 was a trying year filled with unprecedented challenges, which we strived to navigate and adapted to with ingenuity and flexibility. Therefore, we are particularly delighted to be awarded the Outstanding Global 3PL title again for the recognition of our efforts during the year. Logistics will continue to serve a crucial function globally in the times ahead. We will remain dedicated to excellence and innovation as we work hard to ensure smoothly-run supply chains.”

Kerry Logistics Network has been offering innovative solutions and expanding its geographic coverage to strengthen its service capability and diversify its business portfolio. It has launched new multimodal transport products to Mongolia, through its member Globalink Logistics, to provide alternative solutions to customers, as well as announced recently its development of a bonded logistics centre in the Hainan Free Trade Port in China to tap into the growing duty-free and inbound e-commerce market.

About Kerry Logistics Network Limited (Stock Code 0636.HK)

Kerry Logistics Network is an Asia-based, global 3PL with a highly diversified business portfolio and the strongest coverage in Asia. It offers a broad range of supply chain solutions from integrated logistics, international freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal), industrial project logistics, to cross-border e-commerce, last-mile fulfilment and infrastructure investment.

With a global presence across 59 countries and territories, Kerry Logistics Network has established a solid foothold in half of the world’s emerging markets. Its diverse infrastructure, extensive coverage in international gateways and local expertise span across China, India, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Middle East, LATAM and other locations.

Kerry Logistics Network generated a revenue of over HK$40 billion in 2019 and is the largest international logistics company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

About Quamnet Outstanding Enterprise Awards

Instituted in 2009, QOEA is organised by Quamnet, a leading financial website in Hong Kong, to identify and praise the excellent performance of Hong Kong enterprises. It has developed into an annual event with wide recognition and support from independent investors, media and industries.

Mekong River Levels See Slight Increase, Monsoon Rains to Begin Earlier

MRC - Mekong Countries Urged to Address Low Water Flows
Mekong River upstream from Vientiane Capital, January 2019 (Photo: Jason Rolan)

Water levels in some sections of the Mekong River have increased slightly over the last seven days, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat said today.

Citibank Officially Launches Citi Plus®

Co-creating With Target Clients to Suit Their Banking and Investment Needs

Fostering Financial Education to Level-Up Digital Natives Through Mobile Banking

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 February 2021 – Citigroup Inc. (NYSE symbol: C) – Citibank announced today the official launch of Citi Plus®, a digital value proposition offering financial education and a novel banking experience to level-up digital natives through mobile banking. Citi Plus® clients can obtain personalized wealth management information and knowledge kits to accumulate their wealth and earn more through accomplishing fun tasks.

Having its pilot launch in early December 2020, Citi Plus® accumulated nearly 5,000 registrants, who are interested in the new service, in the first three weeks. “Citibank Hong Kong has shown strong determination in the development of digital banking in recent years. Citi Plus® is our latest initiative to bring digital natives a banking experience they admire,” said Mr Lawrence Lam, Consumer Business Manager of Citibank Hong Kong. “Millennials were invited to participate in research and the co-creation process, through which we could better address target clients’ pain points, and help them grow their wealth via the new service.”

Citi Plus® offers a range of investment products to clients including stocks, money market funds as well as an array of mutual funds primarily from Aberdeen Standard Investments, Allianz Global Investors and Franklin Templeton.

One of the key features of Citi Plus® is a series of financial wellness modules specially designed to educate clients and guide their thinking when it comes to making decisions about managing money, building wealth and achieving financial goals. These engaging modules enhance wealth inclusion, allow clients to build healthy financial habits and achieve targets responsibly.

  • Wealth Smart: A financial literacy guide covering a series of easy-to-follow courses and quizzes, with bite-sized content that helps clients level-up and approach investments with greater confidence. Clients can learn at their own pace, whilst keeping themselves abreast of the times and acquiring financial knowledge.
  • Wealth Digest[1]: A personalized series of news, articles and insights on wealth which are updated continually to help clients make informed investment decisions.
  • Money Goal[2]: A personal goal tracking tool that helps clients define financial objectives and track their progress towards these targets.

Alongside this step-by-step guidance providing clients with financial knowledge and resources, Citi Plus® also offers innovative features that engage clients and help them level-up along their financial journey.

  • Deposit: “Citi Interest Booster” enables clients to earn additional bonus interest (up to 1.8% p.a.[3]) on savings by completing simple missions. Beginning with a base interest rate of 0.3% p.a., clients can complete “missions” ­– such as maintaining balance, funding-in, spending with Citi Plus® cards, investment and currency exchange — to boost interest rates up to 1.8% p.a. [3]
  • Investment[4]: Citi Plus® offers a reliable investment platform that allows clients not only to trade stocks, but also to invest in mutual funds. With progressive self-learning resources and low investment thresholds, clients have the flexibility to choose their investment options.

o “Flexi Wealth” allows clients to start investing in money market funds with as little as HK$1, and to conduct transactions at their convenience, without any transaction charges or monthly service fees.

o Our suggested mutual fund portfolios based on clients’ financial goals and risk profiles will also be offered, featuring mutual funds primarily from Aberdeen Standard Investments, Allianz Global Investors and Franklin Templeton at a minimum of HK$100, thus giving clients a hassle-free investment experience.

  • Spending: Citi Plus® Debit Mastercard® and Citi Plus® Credit Card bring clients a world of privileged shopping rewards while spending with these cards also boosts their saving interest rate by 0.3% p.a [3].

o Spending with Citi Plus® Debit Mastercard® offers up to 1% cashback[5], and with Citibank Global Wallet, clients can exchange foreign currencies at preferred rates[6], and then spend with the debit card for online/ in-store shopping and withdraw cash overseas directly with foreign currency accounts. Citi does not charge any handling fees[7] for cash withdrawals made with the card at any overseas ATMs (including Citi and Mastercard® ATMs).

o Citi Plus® Credit Card is tailor-made for Citi Plus® clients and has no annual fee. Payments for online shopping and fitness memberships can earn up to 3X reward points, while clients can also instantly offset spending anytime with Citi Pay with Points and get free purchase protection insurance.

  • One App to do it all: Citi Mobile® App enables clients to transfer funds, invest, spend, and more at their fingertips. In-app messaging is also available 24/7 to offer customer support promptly.

From now until April 30, clients can team up with their families and friends to join Citi Plus® to unlock an additional bonus savings rate of up to 6% p.a. [8] via ‘Citi Interest Booster’. For more information, please visit https://www.citibank.com.hk/english/banking/citi-plus/.

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Investment in derivatives involves risks. Investors should understand the nature of the products before they make investment decisions.

To borrow or not to borrow? Borrow only if you can repay.



[1] “Wealth Digest” will be available soon, please visit citibank.hk/citiplus for updates.

[2] “Money Goal” will be available soon, please visit citibank.hk/citiplus for updates.

[3] Terms and Conditions for Citi Interest Booster: https://www.citibank.com.hk/english/banking/pdf/interest-booster-tnc.pdf

[4] Customer can enjoy the investment services by opening the investment accounts via the app separately.

[5] Enjoy up to 1% cash rebate for every point-of-sale purchase or online purchase for the first 6 months of card issuance, and up to 0.5% thereafter.

[6] Citibank Global Wallet supports 12 currencies: AUD, CAD, CHF, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD, THB and USD. Before shopping at overseas shops or online, prepare sufficient foreign currencies in the account and this service will select the corresponding currency and directly debit from the account when the client spends. Citibank will not charge the foreign currency handling fee.

[7] For overseas withdrawals made with Global Wallet, the withdrawal amount, together with any surcharge levied by the overseas ATM operator, will be directly deducted from the relevant foreign currency account. For overseas withdrawals not made with Global Wallet, Citi does not charge any flat handling fee and charges a conversion spread up to 2.4% of the Hong Kong Dollar equivalent amount which includes the withdrawal amount and any surcharge levied by the overseas ATM operator. Please refer to the fees and charges for details.

[8] Terms and Conditions apply.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global Bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube:

www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi |

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi.

Hong Kong Productivity Council and Hong Kong Computer Society Sign Pact to Enhance the Adoption of Emerging Technologies in Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 February 2021 – The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a strategic partnership in driving the adoption of emerging technologies in Hong Kong.

Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC (left), and Ir Dr Ted Suen, MH, President of HKCS, sign a Memorandum of Understanding in which HKPC and HKCS will form a strategic partnership in driving the adoption of emerging technologies in Hong Kong.

Under the two-year arrangement, HKPC and HKCS will collaborate on talent development, education and promotion for emerging technologies to support the industry demand with focus in the areas of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cyber security, data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. This collaboration also signals HKPC’s relentless drive to invest in and build technologies that matter for Hong Kong in areas including reindustrialisation, SME and start-up support, intelligent manufacturing, digitalisation and cyber security, FutureSkills and smart and green living. HKCS members and local IT professionals will definitely benefit from this collaboration.

Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “Being the expert of Industry 4.0 and Enterprise 4.0, HKPC has a team of technical professionals with a good grasp of technology research and development and advanced technologies such as IoT, big data analytics, AI and robotics, smart manufacturing. Our professional knowledge and acute technology sense will certainly help achieve more effective use of this collaboration.”

Dr Ted Suen, MH, President of HKCS, said, “With the continuous expansion of emerging technologies such as 5G and AI, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many enterprises need to accelerate digital transformation to meet actual situation needs. The signing of the MoU will further strengthen collaboration between both parties, especially in the promotion of the application of emerging technologies.”

HKPC will set out a framework with HKCS to promote technology training courses organised by HKPC to its members and offer its government funding advisory support through SME ReachOut. HKCS, in turn, will recognise the relevant technology training courses offered by HKPC as continuing professional development activities and share the insights of the skills demand from the industries for HKPC to design training courses. Both sides also pledge to jointly promote and co-organise events related to emerging technologies such as seminars, webinars and workshops.

To mark the launch of the new collaboration, a webinar was held today with HKPC and HKCS experts sharing their insights of the Agile approach, intelligent automations and how they could enable enterprises to accelerate digital transformation.

About Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a multi-disciplinary organisation established by statute in 1967, to promote productivity excellence through integrated advanced technologies and innovative service offerings to support Hong Kong enterprises. HKPC is the champion and expert in facilitating Hong Kong’s reindustrialisation empowered by i4.0 and e4.0 — focusing on R&D, IoT, big data analytics, AI and Robotic technology development, digital manufacturing, etc., to help enterprises and industries upgrade their business performance, lower operating costs, increase productivity and enhance competitiveness.


The Council is a trusted partner with comprehensive innovative solutions for Hong Kong industries and enterprises, enabling them to achieve resources and productivity utilisation, effectiveness and cost reduction, and enhanced competitiveness in both local and international marketplace. It offers SMEs and startups immediate and timely assistance in coping with the ever-changing business environment, accompanying them on their innovation and transformation journey.


In addition, HKPC partners and collaborates with local industries and enterprises to develop applied technology solutions for value creation. It also benefits a variety of sectors through product innovation and technology transfer, with commercialisation of multiple market-driven patents and technologies, bringing enormous opportunities abound for licensing and technology transfer, both locally and internationally.


For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: www.hkpc.org.


About Hong Kong Computer Society


Founded in 1970, the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) is a recognised non-profit professional organisation focused on developing Hong Kong’s Information Technology (IT) profession and industry. Their members come from a broad spectrum of Hong Kong’s IT community, from corporations to like-minded individuals, all coming together to raise the profile and standards of the IT profession and industry. As a well-established IT professional body, the Society is committed to professional and industry development as well as community services to ensure the IT sector continues to make a positive impact on peoples’ lives with three main goals, namely, 1) talent cultivation and professional development, 2) industry development and collaboration, and 3) the effective use of IT in our community.

For more details, please visit HKCS’s website http://www.hkcs.org.hk

Nexstgo comprehensively enhances its range of NEXSTMALL BIZ business solutions

Giving impetus to the development of SMEs with digital strategies to maintain their competitiveness under the ‘new normal’

 

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 February 2021 – As a developer and service provider of innovative digital and technology products, Nexstgo provides PCs, loT innovations, Artificial Intelligence application solutions, Information Technology solutions and more. Stepping into the new year, the “new normal” commercial environment continues to affect business IT purchasing decisions. In order to help SMEs be successful in their digital transformation and adapt to the new reality of remote working, Nexstgo has enhanced its business solutions available through the NEXSTMALL BIZ platform to provide a more comprehensive technology application strategy focusing on the business and commercial field. These include one-stop professional IT services, remote conferencing and VPN security systems, together with a wide range of branded NEXSTGO, VAIO and AVITA mobile computing products. Nexstgo ensures enterprises of any size and industry can find the most suitable software and hardware solutions on NEXSTMALL BIZ, helping businesses maintain the strongest performance under the continuously transforming business environment during the new year.

For more information on NEXSTMALL BIZ business solutions and exclusive offers for corporate clients, please visit:

https://www.nexstmall.com/collections/nexstmall-business-solution

Comprehensively monitoring the network security of customers, providing the most robust backing of IT consulting services at any time

With the routinization of “new normal” working practices, remote-work, WFH, online and cloud-based processes have become ubiquitous. Nexstgo has launched technological solutions specifically for network security management, including the installation of bank-level encryption software by Norton VPN for customers in business areas that require remote-work with a high level of integrated protection. When customers access the Internet on public Wi-Fi hotspots, these systems provide safe and effective online privacy. With the Veeam data encryption backup system, customers can work in any environment confidently. To enhance provision of security technology strategies, the company is also launching further products on NEXSTMALL BIZ, including the latest Targus Docking Station, which supports multiple USB interfaces and screen configurations; Targus Privacy Screen Filter, designed to protect high-value information; and Targus Security Cable Lock that locks the connection end of the transmission line to protect valuable resources on the device. Corporate clients who purchase designated VAIO notebooks on NEXSTMALL BIZ will also get the above-mentioned products and other valuable accessories designed to protect their business privacy. This enables customers to experience the most secure workflows, ensuring business privacy of the whole organization in the era of digital commerce.

As a strategic partner to SMEs, Nexstgo’s elite team also provides customers with professional IT support and technology operation consulting services, helping companies confidently achieve digital transformation and adapt to the “new normal”. These supporting services undertaken by the professional specialist team handle inquiries regarding computer products and software systems, and provide product management and technical support. Customers who purchase any NEXSTGO or VAIO laptop on NEXSTMALL BIZ with a subscription to a one-month IT support service will receive one-time free Data Migration support, allowing corporate clients worry-free activation of new computer equipment without affecting daily operations. Customers benefit from the strongest backing brought by the Nexstgo team whenever they need it, for peace-of-mind and smooth business operations ensuring productivity and performance.

Up-to-date video conferencing and mobile communication solutions: easily connect with customers online, anytime and anywhere

Understanding that many companies and employees have adapted to working at home or working without a fixed workplace, Nexstgo provides online and video conference software and hardware; such as NEXSTGO laptop products with dedicated functionality for online meetings equipped with a high-quality Dolby voice system, and Artificial Intelligence camera lens Huddly-IQ designed for remote video conferencing, etc. This offering provides the most accurate facial recognition and the clearest sound and picture performance, helping customers complete meetings more productively. NEXSTMALL BIZ also offers combination packages of software/hardware available at discounted rates. For example, customers can redeem a Huddly-IQ lens at a discounted price when purchasing a designated VAIO laptop; get 3-year on-site warranty and Jabra headset for free when purchasing a NEXSTGO SU03 laptop, a conference-specific model with FHD IR webcam and Dolby ATMOS. The choice of different combinations of software and hardware help managers select the most effective process strategies according to their business needs.

Nexstgo recognizes that companies must be able to achieve instant interaction and clarity of communication with customers as a key to being competitive. Therefore, Nexstgo has collaborated with outstanding customer service cloud platforms to launch cooperative business solutions. For example, corporate clients who buy any NEXSTGO or VAIO laptop on NEXSTMALL BIZ can enjoy a free service trial of customer interaction at Maaiiconnect platform, including free conversations with end customers on its platform for up to 5000 minutes and real-time web conversations. The package helps companies of all sizes to deliver excellent customer service, and to keep pace with fast-changing business environments. By taking advantage of these solutions and transforming into an e-commerce business – with the realities of the ‘new normal’ replacing traditional face-to-face service – companies can greatly increase their revenues, productivity and cost management performance.

About Nexstgo Company Limited

Established in 2016, Nexstgo Company Limited was co-founded by Mr. Wilson Leung, Chairman & CEO, Alco Holdings Limited (SEHK: 0328), and Mr. Alex Chung, out of a shared passion and pursuit of quality tech-innovation. Nexstgo is committed to bringing new revolutionary experiences in technology through introducing a wide product range, which includes PC, Smart home, IoT, artificial intelligence and corporate solutions. Nexstgo is growing steadily in the Asia Pacific region. In August 2016, its Hong Kong headquarters and Taiwan Design Centre were set up. In just four years, the company has expanded its business to 22 areas, and is fully committed to the development of the Tech Market. In June 2018, Nexstgo was authorized by VAIO Corporation to participate in the production, sales, marketing and after-sales services of VAIO notebook products in Asia, covering markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore.

www.nexstgo.com

No New Wheels for Attapeu Officials

Luxury Vehicles in Laos
Luxury Vehicles Laos

Authorities in Attapeu Province cancelled a purchase order for new vehicles under the state budget on Wednesday last week following a stern warning from the PM.

Unique French-English bilingual programme at the Canadian International School (CIS) expanding from August 2021

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 22 February 2021 – The Canadian International School (CIS) in Singapore is delighted to announce the expansion of its unique French-English bilingual programme at the Lakeside campus with the opening of a class in grade 1, 2 and 5 starting in August 2021. Going forward, the programme will now be available to students at its Lakeside campus from grade 1 through to grade 5.

“We are extremely excited about the programme’s expansion as we are the only international school in Singapore to offer a French-English bilingual program fully aligned to the International Baccalaureate PYP framework, ” says CIS Head of School Pete Corcoron. “We are delighted students can now take advantage and enjoy the programme’s unique benefits for a longer period.”

The decision to open up an additional class underscores CIS’ reputation as one of the most experienced and trusted international schools in Singapore to offer bilingual programmes. In addition to CIS’s French-English bilingual programme they also offer a Chinese-English bilingual programme for students in junior kindergarten to grade 6.

The French-English bilingual programme objective

To educate students to become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural in both French and English.

Key features of the French-English bilingual programme

Each class has two qualified teachers — one English speaker and one French speaker. Instruction is inquiry-based and fully aligned to the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). Students have equal exposure to both languages — classes are in English one day and French the next.

CIS’ teaching approach

All learning is done through inquiry. Wherever possible, CIS uses authentic materials (such as songs, stories, TV and websites) instead of textbooks, and engage students in active, hands-on activities like acting out plays, cooking and participating in quizzes. The school places a strong emphasis on creating authentic experiences where learning mirrors real-life activities. CIS don’t do any translating. All learning is done through immersion.

Who can enrol?

While language requirements do apply, CIS welcomes students from all backgrounds. Some students are French native-speakers while others have been educated in a French-speaking school or have a strong connection and passion for the French language.