Leveraging New Partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts for Launch of New Garner Hotel Brand Outside of North America

Acquisition and repositioning of hotel properties, bringing in new design and branding concepts targeting untapped customer groups, to maximize asset value and return on investment

Launch platform for Garner‘s expansion in Japan and Asia-Pacific, focusing on rapidly growing midscale traveler segment looking for high-quality well-priced accommodation in prime locations

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – Axe Management Partners (“Axe Management”), a Pan-Asia real estate investment firm, today announced the completion of the acquisition of three hotel properties from CapitaLand Ascott Trust (“CLAS”) for JPY10.7 billion (approx. US$75 million).

Axe Management and IHG Hotels & Resorts (“IHG”) will work closely to launch the new Garner hotel brand outside of North America, including establishing design and branding concepts as well as refurbishment work. With targeted sales, marketing and operational strategies, the partners plan to provide differentiated, enhanced guest experiences, creating unique long-lasting impressions of the hotels. Targeting to open in Q4 2024, each of the three hotels will have its own design character with convenient amenities, offering guests a comfortable stay and the go-to option in the premium midscale segment.

The three hotel properties, currently known as WBF Honmachi, WBF Kitasemba East and WBF Kitasemba West, have a total of over 500 rooms and GFA of approximately 10,000 sqm. They are centrally located in the prime district of Honmachi Osaka with close proximity to Osaka Metro stations, and within walking distance to commercial districts and the renowned Shinsaibashi tourism area. The two largest terminal stations of Namba and Umeda are within two stops on the Midosuji line, with the Shin-Osaka Shinkansen station only five stops away. Future World Expo 2025, Japan’s first integrated resort and casino, and Universal Studios are approximately 25 minutes away by train.

Gary Kwok, Founder and CEO of Axe Management, said: “We are very excited about the acquisition of this exceptional hotel portfolio with immense value-add potential. With flexibility in repositioning strategies, we will further invest capex and utilize our development and operational capabilities to transform these assets, creating a product that goes beyond expectations, driving performance and unlocking their true potential.”

Sam Lau, Founder and Managing Partner, Axe Management, said: “We foresee attractive opportunities to emerge in selected regions across Japan and Asia in the coming months. Japan has had strong momentum and we expect this will continue in the foreseeable future. This investment underscores our commitment to Japan, where we plan to deploy more capital and make further acquisitions in the near future.”

Due to their excellent location with proximity within a key CBD and tourist areas, the hotels are primed to capture both business and leisure demand from domestic and international visitors alike. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of inbound tourists in Q4 2023 has surpassed that of pre-pandemic levels, despite travel by Chinese tourists remaining more than 60% below the same period in 2019, where they were the largest inbound visitor group. Continued steady increase in demand is expected in 2024 and 2025 supporting future demand growth. Additionally, CBRE and STR show both ADR and RevPAR^[1] have surpassed 2019 levels demonstrating strong industry momentum. These key factors amongst others propelled record investment volumes into the Japanese hospitality sector in 2023, from both domestic and international investors.

Hashtag: #AxeManagementPartners

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About Axe Management Partners

Axe Management Partners, with offices in Tokyo and Hong Kong, is a Pan-Asia multi-asset class real estate investment firm specializing in development, value-added and special situations opportunities. Axe Management was founded by visionary leaders forming a team equipped with decades of real estate experience based on a proven multibillion-dollar track record in projects and investments across geographies. Axe Management is dedicated to seeking out unique investment opportunities, leveraging deep regional insights to provide investors with access to high-potential ventures that are often beyond the reach of the broader market. With long-term trends driving growth in unique regional market segments, Axe Management creates significant value from its targeted strategies and partnerships throughout Asia.

Innovation and Sharing Drive High-Quality Development Net Profit Increases by 11%, Dividend Payout Increases by 15.7%

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – The world’s largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”, or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 0788.HK) is pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Performance Highlights

The Company’s operating revenue maintained stable growth. During the year, our operating revenue grew by 2.0% to RMB94,009 million, after excluding the impact of the Commercial Pricing Agreements, revenue increased by 6.0% to RMB97,723 million on a comparable basis over the same period last year. EBITDA[1] reached RMB63,551 million, an increase of 1.1% year-on-year, with an EBITDA margin[2] of 67.6%. Profit attributable to owners of the Company was RMB9,750 million, representing 11.0% year-on-year growth with a net profit margin of 10.4%, demonstrating further enhanced profitability.

Our net cash generated from operating activities for 2023 was RMB32,840 million. Capital expenditures stood at RMB31,715 million, with free cash flow[3] reaching RMB1,125 million. As of 31 December 2023, our total assets reached RMB326,007 million, with interest-bearing liabilities of RMB94,626 million and a gearing ratio[4] of 31.4%. Our capital structure remained healthy.

We remain committed to providing consistent and stable returns to shareholders. After considering our profitability and cash flow during the period under review, and future needs for development and capital, the board of directors of the Company has recommended a final dividend of RMB0.03739 per share (pre-tax) for the year ended 31 December 2023, equivalent to a payout ratio of 75% of our annual distributable net profit for the year under review.

Further strengthened market leadership in TSP business on a solid foundation

5G network penetration and coverage in China continued to expand in 2023 and we were able to capture the opportunities this presented. By strengthening resource coordination and sharing, and enhancing operational efficiencies, we were able to meet customer network construction needs in an intensive and effective manner. By doing so, we have further strengthened the foundation for high-quality development. In 2023, our TSP business recorded revenue of RMB82,163 million, a decrease of 1.0% year-on-year.

Tower business. Focusing on 5G network construction, we harnessed public policy support to unleash and share public and cross-sector resources. These initiatives helped reduce entry barriers and costs, therefore reinforced our competitiveness in resource coordination. Through increased sharing of existing site resources, wider use of social resources and greater effort in promoting the adoption of our integrated wireless communications coverage solutions, we have been able to effectively support the accelerated 5G network extension. We completed approximately 586,000 5G construction demand in 2023, of which more than 95% were achieved by sharing existing resources. We proactively captured the new construction demand for low-frequency network and network optimization, as well as stepping up our efforts in tackling difficult sites. This has effectively supported the stable growth of our Tower business. Leveraging our knowledge of construction features for comprehensive 5G coverage, we continued to launch innovative solutions for low-cost construction, products and services to satisfy customer demand economically and effectively. In 2023, our revenue from our Tower business was RMB75,023 million, a decrease of 2.8% from the previous year. However, after excluding the impact of the Commercial Pricing Agreements, our revenue increased by 2.0% year-on-year to RMB78,737 million on a comparable basis. As of 31 December 2023, the Company was managing a total of 2.046 million tower sites, a decrease of 9,000 from the end of the year before. We have gained 62,000 new TSP tenants since the end of 2022, bringing the total number of TSP tenants to 3.424 million. Our TSP tenancy ratio increased from 1.65 at the end of 2022 to 1.68 as a result of further improvements achieved through co-location.

DAS business. The implementation of “co-build and co-share” policies by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and 13 other departments has given rise to an enabling business environment for our industry. We furthered the integrated and coordinated development of “resources + demands”, with unified site entry and coordinated construction, focused on key business scenarios. Extended 5G coverage also enabled us to provide better service to support the segment for DAS construction demand. We continued to enhance product and solution design and quality control to strengthen our competitive advantages in cost, service quality, and green and low-carbon operations. Through innovation in products and application of integrated solutions, we were able to provide customers with differentiated passive and active DAS sharing solutions, which helped satisfy the demand for 5G upgrading of existing DAS while further exploring shared value and scaling up the business. In 2023, our revenue from DAS business reached RMB7,140 million, up by 22.5% year-on-year. As of 31 December 2023, we had covered buildings with a cumulative area of 10.15 billion square meters, up by 37.3% year-on-year, while high-speed railway tunnel and subway coverage reached a cumulative length of 24,072 kilometers, up by 20.1% year-on-year.

Strengthened core competencies to sustain rapid growth of Two Wings business

In 2023, we continued to seize the opportunities brought by the development of the digital economy and the “Dual Carbon” goals. By focusing on key sectors and promoting innovation-driven development, we strengthened our core competencies and competitive advantages to sustain rapid growth of the Two Wings business, which recorded revenue of RMB11,497 million in 2023, accounting for 12.2% of our overall operating revenue, an increase of 2.5 percentage points from the previous year.

Smart Tower business. We focused on supporting spatial digital intelligence governance of different industries and continued to expand the mid-to-high point site resources to cover broader areas of the national economy and people’s livelihood. As of 31 December 2023, approximately 217,000 “telecommunication towers” had been upgraded into “digital towers”, covering more than 40 industry segments concerning state planning and people’s livelihood. These included forestry and grassland, environmental protection, water resources, agriculture, transportation, land, and emergency response. We maintained our market leadership in various scenario-based solutions including straw-burning prohibition, farmland protection, fishing law enforcement and bushfire prevention. We forged ahead innovation to further enhance our five major competitive advantages – platform, data, algorithm, application, and operation, establishing a unified nationwide network to achieve distributed deployment on our platform and centralized data operations. As a result, our multi-source data access capability and AI algorithm accuracy have been significantly improved, and our leading capabilities in products developed for different industries and scenarios have been further consolidated. We have built a “companion” service system and completed the building of professional network management platform for our Smart Tower business, equipped with the ability to accurately diagnose incidents occurring in the terminal devices, dispatch for tasks in real time and handle the incidents in a timely manner. We have strengthened our localized technical support capabilities, helping us promptly respond to customer requirements thus consistently enhanced customer experience and customer loyalty. In 2023, the Smart Tower business generated revenue of RMB7,283 million, up by 27.7% year-on-year. Of which, revenue from Tower Monitoring business reached RMB4,727 million, accounting for 64.9% of our revenue from Smart Tower business.

Energy business. We worked towards achieving the “Dual Carbon” goals through our core business areas such as battery exchange and power backup. We continuously improved the quality of operations and business by consolidating our product, service, and platform advantages. In the battery exchange business, we accelerated product iteration and upgrades and strengthened our service system. We reinforced our presence in the consumer battery exchange market while increasing our efforts to expand the battery exchange market of business customers. These initiatives have helped us achieve a rapid increase in user scale. As of 31 December 2023, the number of battery exchange users reached 1.145 million, with an addition of 243,000 since the end of 2022. We have further strengthened our leading position in the battery exchange market for light electric vehicle. In the power backup business, we optimized the intelligent monitoring platform for visualized, managed, and controlled operation, and improved the integrated four-in-one solution covering power backup, power generation, monitoring and maintenance while stepping up our efforts in promoting standardized power backup products. We focused on key industries such as communications, healthcare and finance by introducing the “energy butler” service to drive the rapid growth of our power backup business. In 2023, our Energy business achieved revenue of RMB4,214 million, a year-on-year increase of 31.7%, of which the revenue from battery exchange business accounted for RMB2,067 million, with its contribution to the Energy business reaching 49.1%.

Mr. Zhang Zhiyong, Chairman of China Tower said, “In view of the strategic opportunities presented to us, we will deepen our ‘One Core and Two Wings’ strategy to achieve high-quality operations. We will continue to grow our business around sharing, service, innovation, technology, and value creation, built upon an operating system that is professional, intensive, delicate, efficient, and digitalized. We seek to further enhance our core competitiveness, in order to achieve steady growth in our enterprise value, while reaching a new level of high-quality development.”

Hashtag: #ChinaTower

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

About China Tower (Stock Code: 0788.HK)

China Tower is the world’s largest telecommunications tower infrastructure service provider, and the Company always adheres to the philosophy of shared development and implements the “One Core and Two Wings” strategy. The Company is principally engaged in the construction, maintenance and operation of base station ancillary facilities such as telecommunications towers, public network coverage in high-speed railways and subways, and large-scale indoor Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). Meanwhile, relying on unique resources to provide energy application services such as information application and intelligent battery exchange and power backup to the society, the Company strives to build itself into a world-class information and communications infrastructure service provider, and a highly competitive information and new energy applications provider. As of the end of December 2023, the Company’s total assets amounted to RMB326,007 million. China Tower operated and managed 2.046 million tower sites across 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the PRC, and served over 3.658 million tenants with the tenancy ratio of 1.79.

“In the face of challenging global macroeconomic conditions, including rising interest rates and persistent inflation, our portfolios continued to demonstrate resilience and adaptability over the past year. This outperformance hinges on our core strategy of bottom-up stock-picking which is underpinned by our investment philosophy of combining fundamental research with relative value approach in order to produce risk adjusted returns,” says Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis.

From analysing industry dynamics and trends to individual company business models, Datuk Wira De Alwis says the firm was able to gain valuable insights thereby enabling informed decision-making. “By monitoring most of the key companies within each sector, we were able to size positions effectively across portfolios. The construction, utilities and regional technology sectors were particularly successful, playing a crucial role in our achievement,” he explains.

On the current economic outlook for this year, Chief Investment Officer Lee Sook Yee says “We are adopting a tactical overweight position in equities, driven by a positive outlook. We will remain ready to readjust our allocations depending on market conditions. Our strategy remains consistent by focusing on bottom-up stock-picking.”

Globally, she sees some opportunities in the semiconductor sector due to increased AI demand. “AI adoption is in its early stages, with corporations and governments looking to ramp up deployments this year. We are also positive on sectors such as construction, property and renewable energy domestically due to an encouraging momentum in policy execution,” Lee elaborates. Additionally, she states that an anticipated recovery for global smartphones and PCs leading to a positive sentiment towards the local tech and manufacturing sectors, has contributed to the firm’s overweight position on Malaysia this year.

KMIF picks up its fourth title at the Awards by delivering returns of 111.53% (10 years) and 64.70% (5 years) as at 31 December 2023. For the same period, KDF’s returns stood at 70.35% (10 years) and 47.01% (5 years).

For more than three decades, the Awards have recognised funds and fund management firms for their consistently strong risk-adjusted three-, five-, and ten-year performance relative to their peers. Based on Lipper’s quantitative, proprietary methodology, the Awards reflect a truly independent and uncompromised assessment of fund performance.

For more information about Kenanga Investors, please visit www.kenangainvestors.com.my

Hashtag: #Kenanga

https://www.kenangainvestors.com.my/

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

About Kenanga Investors Berhad 199501024358 (353563-P)

We provide investment solutions ranging from collective investment schemes, portfolio management services, and alternative investments for retail, corporate, institutional, and high net worth clients via a multi-distribution network.

The Hong Kong-based Asia Asset Management’s 2024 Best of the Best Awards awarded KIB under the following categories, Malaysia Best Impact Investing Manager, Best Impact Investing Manager in ASEAN, Malaysia Best Equity Manager, Malaysia CEO of the Year, Malaysia CIO of the Year, Malaysia Best House for Alternatives, Malaysia Most Improved Fund House and Malaysia Best Investor Education.

At the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards Malaysia 2024, KIB received awards for the Kenanga Malaysian Inc Fund (“KMIF”) under the best Equity Malaysia Diversified – Malaysia Pension Funds over 10 Years and the Kenanga Diversified Fund (“KDF”) under the best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible – Malaysia Pension Fund over 10 Years.

The FSMOne Recommended Unit Trusts Awards 2023/2024 named Kenanga Growth Fund Series 2 as “Sector Equity – Malaysia Focused”, Kenanga Shariah Growth Opportunities Fund as “Sector Equity – Malaysia Small to Medium Companies (Islamic)” and Kenanga Shariah OnePRS Growth Fund as “Private Retirement Scheme – Growth (Islamic)”.

For the seventh consecutive year, KIB was affirmed an investment manager rating of IMR-2 by Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad, since first rated in 2017. The IMR rating on KIB reflects the fund management company’s well-established investment processes and sound risk management practices. As at end-June 2023, most of KIB’s funds had performed better than benchmarks and were comparable to peers.

This Press Release was issued by Kenanga Group’s Marketing, Communications & Sustainability department.

Disclaimer: Investors are advised to read and understand the Master Prospectuses (“MPs”), the Supplemental Master Prospectus (“SMP”) (if any), Information Memorandums (“IM”) (if any), Product Highlights Sheets (“PHS”) as well as consider the fees, charges and risk factors involved before investing. The MP, SMP (if any), IM (if any) and PHS have been registered and/or lodged with the Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”), who takes no responsibility for its contents and related advertisement or marketing materials, does not indicate that the SC has recommended or endorsed the product/service. The advertisement has not been reviewed by the SC. Investors have the right to request for a copy of PHS and other relevant product disclosure documents which are available at our office, at any authorised distributors and our corporate website before making investment decisions. If you are in doubt when considering the investment or any of the information provided, you are advised to consult a professional adviser. A Fund’s track record does not guarantee its future performance. Kenanga Investors Berhad is committed to prevent conflict of interest between its various businesses and activities and between its clients/director/shareholders and employees by having in place procedures and measures for identifying and properly managing any apparent, potential and perceived conflict of interest by making disclosures to Clients, where appropriate. Kenanga Investors Berhad 199501024358 (353563-P).

The move reflects the company’s journey from telco to a dual force in connectivity and cybersecurity

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – ViewQwest, a leading telecommunications and managed security services provider (MSSP) in SEA, recently rolled out a comprehensive brand refresh, accompanied by a revamp of its headquarters by award-winning sustainable interior design firm, ipse ipsa ipsum. The initiative underscores ViewQwest’s dedication to fostering a digitally safer and more environmentally conscious future for both its customers and the world.

Established as a Business Internet Service Provider (ISP) in 2001, ViewQwest has matured into a network and cybersecurity powerhouse driven by a relentless spirit of disruption and innovation to solve customer problems and challenges.

To mark this chapter, the company has refined its visual identity to mirror this maturity and mandate. Its brand refresh introduced a new logo and wordmark featuring a modern, forward-looking design that honors the company’s original brand colors. It boasts a strongly identifiable look across digital and physical touchpoints, with prominent use of its initials. The refresh has also created distinct and cohesive visual and verbal expression for each of ViewQwest’s business segments, including an expanded color palette assigned to each. This facilitates connections between the brand and its consumer and business customers, and promotes more meaningful communication and conversations.

At the core of the brand refresh lies the company’s vision of “a world made better powered by safer internet”. In response to the pressing need for comprehensive digital protection for businesses and the global call to secure online experiences, ViewQwest expanded its capabilities in the cybersecurity domain while leveraging its network-building DNA. The strategic move yielded a powerful set of capabilities and network services that are secure by design, gaining both recognition and a rapidly growing enterprise base across the region.

The expansion to cybersecurity was not merely an addition of services. For ViewQwest, it was a fundamental rethinking of a telecommunications company’s role in the digital age, both as a responsible service provider and corporate citizen.

This commitment to corporate responsibility extended beyond cybersecurity to sustainability. The recent revamp of its headquarters in Singapore, completed in December 2023, embodied a deep belief in sustainable practices. Working with ipse ipsa ipsum, ViewQwest has breathed new life into discarded materials, turning them into functional and artistic pieces for the workplace.

Embracing a “high-tech office in a garden” concept, the headquarters’ interior design incorporates lush greenery and innovative use of reclaimed and renewable materials. From carpets hand-woven with 100% PET yarn in India to side tables and workstations crafted from recycled tech components, and even the nose of an airplane repurposed as the front desk, every element reflects ViewQwest’s commitment to sustainability and employee well-being.

“At ViewQwest, we believe that technology as a force for good, a powerful tool to solve customer problems, and make a positive impact on the world. We try to make good on these beliefs every day through our work, our services, and our commitment to our customers. Our brand refresh and office revamp reflect this ethos,” said Vignesa Moorthy, CEO of ViewQwest.
Hashtag: #ViewQwest

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

About ViewQwest

ViewQwest is an award-winning Telecommunications and Managed Security Services Provider driven by a vision to make the world a better place, powered by safer, better internet. Founded and headquartered in Singapore since 2001, it has expanded operations and market coverage in Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries in North and Southeast Asia.

ViewQwest builds and manages high-performing network and security infrastructure for the digital enterprise, securely connecting corporate sites and workforces wherever they are needed. It is a trusted partner of global and regional multinational corporations (MNCs) and top companies across Asia, delivering fit-for-purpose connectivity and security to power their digital future. ViewQwest also provides market-leading Residential and SME broadband connectivity and cybersecurity services in Singapore and Malaysia.

ViewQwest received the 2024 Network and Security Integration of the Year Award – Singapore and, in 2023, was named Singapore Broadband Telecom Provider of the Year by the Asian Telecom Awards, recognizing its innovation and excellence in network and security. From 2018 to 2022, ViewQwest was recognized as Fastest Fixed Network in Singapore by Ookla Speedtest Awards.

The Hong Kong & Macau business being the largest contributor to AIA Group’s VONB in 2023

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – AIA Hong Kong achieved 10 market share No. 1 in the 2023 Provisional Statistics on Hong Kong Long Term Insurance Business¹, leading the industry as the undisputed market champion. Meanwhile, AIA Hong Kong & Macau delivered exceptional business performance with growth on multiple fronts in 2023 – Value of New Business (VONB) up 82 per cent, Annualised New Premiums (ANP) up 123 per cent², making it the largest contributor to AIA Group’s VONB.

10 market share No.1 in the 2023 Provisional Statistics on Hong Kong Long Term Insurance Business¹:

• Annualised New Premiums³
• Number of Inforce Policies
• Number of New Business Policies
• Number of Onshore New Business Policies
• Annualised New Premiums from Agency Channel³
• New Office Premiums from Agency Channel⁴
• Number of New Business Policies from Agency Channel
• Annualised New Premiums from Brokerage Channel³
• Number of New Business Policies from Brokerage Channel
• Linked Annualised New Premiums³

Exceptional VONB performance, largest AIA Group VONB contributor²

• VONB of US$1,430 million, up 82 per cent
• ANP of US$2,407 million, up 123 per cent
• Agency VONB up 57 per cent, supported by active agents up 12 per cent, new recruits up 59 per cent, and the Company’s focus on Premier Agency strategy
• Partnership distribution channel VONB more than trebled year-on-year

(Growth rates are shown on a constant exchange rate basis)

AIA Hong Kong & Macau’s excellent performance was supported by growth in both its domestic and Mainland Chinese visitor (MCV) businesses and across its agency and partnership distribution channels. The Hong Kong & Macau business was the largest contributor to the Group’s VONB in 2023 as it successfully captured the very strong demand of the MCV segment following the full resumption of normal travel in February 2023. The Company continued to increase the number of active financial planners and work closely with its distribution partners to leverage the sustainable and growing opportunities from the MCV segment, which contributed around half of AIA Hong Kong & Macau’s VONB in 2023.

Mr Alger Fung, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Hong Kong & Macau, said, “​I am delighted to see AIA Hong Kong being the undisputed market champion in the industry with 10 market share No. 1¹, while the Hong Kong & Macau business being the largest contributor to AIA Group’s VONB in 2023². Our sincerest gratitude to our customers for their support and trust; and our frontline and supporting teams for their dedication.

“The exceptional performance reflected AIA’s commitment to customer centricity, our differentiated health and wealth propositions that truly meet our customer needs, the outstanding corporate solutions we offer including our stellar MPF performance, our service excellence and digital innovation through consistent investment in Technology, Data and Analytics, and the professionalism of our teams from financial planners, distribution partners and our corporate colleagues. ​

“What makes us truly proud is, besides the great financial performance, we have also contributed to the community through diverse activities and ESG. By hosting our signature AIA Carnival, being the Principal Sponsor of Oxfam Trailwalker for the 9th consecutive year, supporting youth development through AIA Scholarships and AIA Healthiest Schools Programme, we strive to make a positive difference to the community. Going forward, we will continue with our customer-centric approach, going beyond for our customers as we aspire to be their No. 1 choice and help everyone live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.”

Notes:

¹ Provisional statistics of the Insurance Authority on Hong Kong long-term insurance business from January to December 2023. The policies refer to Direct New Business and Direct Inforce Business of Individual Life, Annuity and Linked Individual (Classes A & C) and Other Individual Business (Classes B, D, E&F). “Agency channel” refers to “Agents” as classified by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority under Distribution Channel. “Brokerage channel” refers to “Brokers” as classified by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority under Distribution Channel.

² Source: AIA Group Limited 2023 Annual Results’ “Results highlights” and “Announcement”.

³ “Annualised New Premiums” represents 100% of annualised first year premium and 10% of single premium.

⁴ “New Office Premiums” represents 100% of annualised first year premium and 100% of single premium.
Hashtag: #AIAHongKong

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

About AIA Hong Kong & Macau

AIA Group Limited established its operations in Hong Kong in 1931. To date, AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau have over 16,000 financial planners¹, as well as an extensive network of brokerage and bancassurance partners. We serve over 3.5 million customers², offering them a wide selection of professional services and products ranging from individual life, group life, accident, medical and health, pension and personal lines insurance to investment-linked assurance schemes with numerous investment options. We are also dedicated to providing superb product solutions to meet the financial needs of high-net-worth customers.

¹ As at 30 September 2023
² Including AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau’s individual life, group insurance and pension customers (as at 30 September 2023)

The Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2024 marks a decade-long journey of honoring the beauty of Ao Dai, continuing to inspire Vietnamese Ao Dai pride among city citizens and international friends.

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – The Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival is one of the city’s exemplary annual festivals, drawing significant attention from both local and international tourists. After a relentless 10-year dedication to inspiring the traditional values of Ao Dai, the festival has become a driving force in spreading pride in the “national soul, national essence” of Ho Chi Minh City citizens, acting as a conduit for showcasing the beauty, spirit, and heritage of the Vietnamese people to the world.

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

• ECOVACS unveils two new robotic vacuums – the DEEBOT T30 PRO OMNI and DEEBOT X2 COMBO – specially designed to tackle cleaning challenges faced by city dwellers
• First 100 customers to purchase the DEEBOT T30 PRO OMNI through Shopee and Lazada will be able to enjoy free gift and attractive discounts of up to $449, while the first 10 customers to purchase the DEEBOT X2 COMBO on Shopee and Lazada are eligible to redeem an Auto Water Kit + Installation worth $599
• The company has also launched the DEEBOT T20e OMNI, Y1 Pro Plus and Y1 Pro, offering consumers even more choices based on their specific household needs

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – ECOVACS today announced the launch of its latest lineup of advanced robotic vacuum cleaners – the DEEBOT T30 PRO OMNI, DEEBOT X2 COMBO, DEEBOT T20e OMNI, Y1 Pro Plus and Y1 Pro. The DEEBOT T30 PRO OMNI will be available from 25 March 2024, while the DEEBOT X2 COMBO will be available for pre-order from 4 April 2024 through Shopee, Lazada and authorised stores, with special promotional prices and gift-with-purchase for a limited time only. The DEEBOT T20e OMNI is currently available, while the Y1 Pro Plus and Y1 Pro will be available from 4 April.

With over 26 years of experience, ECOVACS Robotics is one of the pioneers in service robots R&D and manufacturing, aiming to independently research and develop, design and manufacture service robots, with the ambition of being a global leader in robotics. ECOVACS’ wide range of service robots include the WINBOT window cleaning robots, GOAT robotic lawn mowers and DEEBOT multi-functional cleaning robots, amongst others. Backed by its wealth of knowledge and insights, ECOVACS continues to be a leader in the robot industry ecosystem.

“As a leading robotics company, ECOVACS aims to develop products to help tackle a multitude of cleaning challenges faced by city dwellers, as pollution and dust tends to settle in many areas, especially in homes. With our new and comprehensive range of products that are backed by extensive research and development, we hope to enhance the lives of busy Singaporeans by helping them keep their homes clean and dust-free with our intelligent and time-saving devices,” said Liu Wenchuan, General Manager, ECOVACS Asia Pacific & Japan.

ECOVACS DEEBOT T30 PRO OMNI: A DEEP CLEANING EXPERT, BORN FOR THE MOST DIFFICULT CLEANING CHALLENGES

The smart, agile and innovative DEEBOT T30 PRO OMNI is capable of tackling top household cleaning challenges such as stains, carpet cleaning and hair removal with ease, thanks to the powerful combination of TruEdge^TM Adaptive Edge Mopping that delivers mopping up to 1mm to the edge, and OZMO Turbo 2.0 technology that work in sync to create a seamless cleaning experience.

The 11000Pa vacuum power ensures deeper carpet cleaning, while the ZeroTangle^TM Anti-Tangle Technology prevents any hairs from getting entangled in the device. The DEEBOT T30 PRO OMNI‘s upgraded Mini OMNI Station hosts a variety of convenient functions such as the 70⁰C Hot Water Mop Washing & Hot Air drying, Smart Auto-Empty, Auto Small-Tank Refill and One-tap Self Cleaning amongst others, making operations, maintenance and hygiene a breeze.

Users are also able to control and customise their cleaning experience easily through the ECOVACS HOME app on their mobile devices or through voice commands with the YIKO Voice Assistant 2.0 function.

ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 COMBO: THE FIRST TWO-IN-ONE ROBOTIC AND HANDHELD VACUUM FOR DIVERSE CLEANING SCENARIOS

The DEEBOT X2 COMBO is the industry’s first two-in-one device that combines the convenience of a robotic vacuum cleaner and the diversity of a handheld vacuum to deliver the best of both worlds in a compact, space-saving OMNI base station that offers a fully-automated Dual Auto-Empty capabilities that empties dust from both devices into an enclosed chamber allowing for easy cleaning and disposal.

The robot vacuum cleaner’s ultra-thin, square-shaped design conveniently slips under standout dirt traps like underneath sofas, tables, chairs and beds. Coupled with its powerful hurricane suction of 8700Pa, it is capable of cleaning dirt and dust that often accumulates in these hard-to-reach areas, providing a thorough cleaning experience. Meanwhile, the OZMO Turbo 2.0 Rotating Mopping System keeps a consistent pressure when deep cleaning different floor types. The robot vacuum cleaner also utilises AI technology, such as the ECOVACS AINA model for strategic navigation which allows for faster navigation planning and accurate obstacle avoidance.

The handheld vacuum cleaner has an ultra-powerful four-stage HEPA filtration system that removes 99.97% of 0.3μm fine dust particles, allowing owners with sensitivities to breathe easily. It also has multi-cyclone technology which separates air and dust to prevent clogging, with the suction power remaining strong over time. The lightweight and portable handheld vacuum cleaner comes with 4 brush fits to ensure an all-around clean.

ECOVACS DEEBOT T20e OMNI, Y1 PRO PLUS AND Y1 PRO: DIVERSE SOLUTIONS FOR DIVERSE NEEDS

The DEEBOT T20e OMNI is an intelligent robotic vacuum cleaner with an auto-lift mopping function that is capable of detecting and cleaning carpets with extraordinary accuracy and a variety of cleaning modes. Its unique OZMO Turbo 2.0 Rotating Mopping System rotates up to 160 times per minute and applies consistent pressure to the floor for deep cleaning, effectively removing the most stubborn stains. The newly upgraded Housekeeper Mode 2.0 can intelligently and dynamically adjust its cleaning parameters according to different home environments and cleaning preferences, ensuring fuss-free cleaning.

The DEEBOT T20e OMNI uses real-time 3D scanning and detection to achieve strategic avoidance, ensuring smooth and peaceful cleaning practice. The TrueDetect 3D 3.0 Technology can enable millimeter level avoidance, capable of identifying and avoiding potential hazards on the ground such as small toys and wires, allowing for faster and more accurate cleaning.

ECOVACS has also launched the Y1 Pro Plus and Y1 Pro to provide more diverse cleaning solutions for diverse needs. The Y1 Pro Plus is a compact robotic vacuum and mop solution for hands-free daily home cleaning. It boasts a powerful suction power of 6500Pa, intelligent capabilities and discreet design elements, transforming mundane daily cleaning tasks with a harmonious blend of innovation and style. The Y1 Pro Plus comes equipped with an Auto Empty Station (AES).

AVAILABILITY, PRICING & LAUNCH PROMOTIONS

Media kit available here.

https://www.ecovacs.com/sg

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ECOVACS ROBOTICS

Innovating Since Day One. ECOVACS Robotics is one of the pioneers in service robots R&D and manufacturing, aiming to independently research and develop, design and manufacture service robots, with the ambition of being a top tier robotics company in the world. ​ECOVACS Robotics upholds its mission of “Robotics for All”. Over the past 26 years since its establishment in 1998, ECOVACS has led insights and research for service robot usage and experiences, successfully launching a complete range of robot service solutions globally, including DEEBOT, household robotic vacuum cleaners, WINBOT, window cleaning robots, AIRBOT, air purification robots as well as commercial service robot solutions, GOAT, robotic lawn mowers, DEEBOT PRO, multi-functional cleaning robots for small and medium commercial facilities, and “AI+ service robots” for public areas. In addition, ECOVACS is a leader in the robot industry ecosystem, establishing an Artificial Intelligence Engineering Institute, and focusing on intelligent sensor research, continuously leading the development of cutting-edge technologies in the industry. ​ ECOVACS has earned worldwide user recognition for its determination to break through the boundaries of products and services. The company is committed to advancing robotic technologies to serve the world by creating a holistic ecosystem between humans and robotics in lifestyle and production, bringing a new intelligent, convenient, and humanized experience to all of humanity. User needs are at the core of ECOVACS’ R&D, driving industry and industrial development with innovation and empowering humankind to share a better future in the world of intelligent technology. ​