64% aged 40 and below are experiencing moderate to extreme stress over last year

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 October 2023 – AXA Hong Kong and Macau (“AXA”) today released the third phase of its annual AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing 2023 (“the Study”), which assessed the state of mind health[1] across the globe. According to the Study, only 19% of female respondents in Hong Kong are flourishing, lower than the 23% of men surveyed.

The Study sheds light on the mind health and all-round wellbeing of women in Hong Kong, uncovering important insights into the challenges they face both professionally and personally. According to the Study, nearly two-thirds (61%) of female respondents in Hong Kong agreed that all genders are treated equally in their workplace.

Despite that, the Study revealed a gap in gender equality in the workplace, nearly half of female respondents in Hong Kong reported that their abilities have been doubted or undervalued because of their gender, while 25% said they have experienced unwanted gender-related comments.

Andrea Wong, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, AXA Hong Kong and Macau, remarked, “Women tend to face a unique set of challenges having to balance multiple roles and responsibilities stemming from the workplace and at home. At AXA, we believe that being a woman shouldn’t be a risk and are determined to support them with innovative products and services that better protect women’s health and wellness. We also believe that it is essential to create avenues for women to prioritise their physical health to achieve better mind health. We do so through organising our annual signature events such as AXA Better Me Weekend and Green Power Hike to create a brighter and healthier future not only for just women but the general public as a whole.”

Hashtag: #AXA

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

About AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing (AXA Mind Health Study)

AXA Mind Health Study is an annual study of mind health and wellbeing to assess the current state of mind health across the globe, and to provide individuals and businesses with the insights and advice needed to foster positive mind health.

AXA Mind Health Study 2023 was conducted in collaboration with IPSOS between September and October 2022 by means of online survey and online interviews among a total of 30,000 respondents aged between 18 to 74 years old across 16 European, American and Asian regions, namely France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, US, Mexico, mainland China and Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Philippines.

In Hong Kong, a total of 2,336 respondents aged between 18 and 74 were surveyed.

About AXA Hong Kong and Macau

AXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 51 markets and serving 93 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters.

As one of the most diversified insurers in Hong Kong, we offer integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance. We are the largest General Insurance provider and a major Health and Employee Benefits provider. Our aim is to not only be the insurer to provide comprehensive protection to our customers, but also a holistic partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve. At the core of our service commitment is continuous product & service innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers’ needs and leveraging and investing in technology and digital transformation.

We embrace our responsibility to be a driving force against climate change and a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first to address the importance of mental health through different products and services and thought leading iconic research. Our overall Sustainability Strategy, with emphasis on climate strategy and biodiversity commitment, is developed based on TCFD recommendations. We are committed to integrating environmental, social and governance factors across our business and strive to contribute to a sustainable future through 3 distinct roles – as an investor, insurer and an exemplary company.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA’S WEBSITE: AXA.COM.HK

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 – “Risk factors and risk management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.

Results are based on feedback and ratings from end-user professionals

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 October 2023 – Trend Micro (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, today announced that it has been recognized as Customers’ Choice in the 2023 Gartner Voice of the Customer for Endpoint Protection Platforms by customers on Gartner Peer Insights™.

To read more about the Gartner® report, Voice of the Customer for Endpoint Protection Platforms, please visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/explore/gartner-voc-endpoint

“The Trend Vision One platform takes modern endpoint protection to a new level by enabling customers to manage policies and bridge the gap between threat protection and cyber risk management across endpoints, servers and cloud workloads all from a single location,” said Shannon Murphy, Global Security and Risk Strategist at Trend. “We’re delighted this approach is resonating with the market. There’s no more important validation for us than from the cybersecurity community through the voices of our customers.”

The Gartner® Peer Insights™ report for Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPPs) is based on 4,210 published reviews over an 18-month period ending 30 June 2023. To be recognized as a Customers’ Choice, vendors must meet or exceed both the average Overall Experience and the average User Interest and Adoption.

Of 275 customer reviews for Trend Micro, the vast majority (62%) were five-star, with over a third more (35%) four-star reviews. Trend received an overall rating of 4.6 from its customers and a 93% willingness to recommend for its EPP offering as of June 2023.

Trend Vision One™ – Endpoint Security goes beyond typical EPP by offering protection, detection and response across hybrid environments: physical servers, virtual machines, cloud and containers.

It integrates EDR/XDR across endpoints, datacenters and cloud workloads to drive enhanced detection and response. And it features comprehensive multi-layered capabilities including anti-malware and ransomware protection, device control, host-based intrusion prevention, application control, file integrity monitoring, log inspection, machine learning/AI and more.

In addition to this recognition, Trend Micro has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) report 17 times since the report was published for the first time in 2002. Trend has also been ranked #1 for Cloud Workload Security Market Share (IDC) for five years in a row.

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms, Peter Firstbrook, Chris Silva, 31 December 2022

The report Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms was published as Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Antivirus in 2005-06, as Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Antivirus, 1H03 in 2003 and as Enterprise Antivirus 2Q02 MQ: Room for Improvement in 2002.

Gartner is a registered trademark and service mark, Peer Insights and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks, of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences with the vendors listed on the platform, should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose

Hashtag: #trendmicro #trendvisionone #visionone #gartner #peerinsight

https://www.linkedin.com/in/trend-micro-hong-kong-96353768/
https://www.facebook.com/TrendMicroLimited

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

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,500+ employees across 70 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.trendmicro.com.hk.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 October 2023 – On October 7, the exhibition of Giacometti’s Le Nez (The Nose), co-sponsored by TRON and APENFT Foundation, was unveiled in Paris. Justin Sun, founder of TRON and member of the HTX Global Advisory Board, graced the occasion with his edition of the masterpiece, capturing the attention of the industry.

This exhibition brings together, for the very first time, all editions of Le Nez by Alberto Giacometti, a Swiss surrealistic artist of immense national significance. In addition to Sun’s collection, the exhibition also encompasses three plaster editions and a virtual representation of the bronze sculpture edition, accompanied by all its drawings and archives from the Giacometti Foundation and the Center Pompidou.

Industry professionals in attendance affirmed that this exhibition showcases the profound influence of Le Nez on contemporary art in all dimensions. They also praised the timeless vigor of Giacometti, a pivotal sculptor of the 20th century. And the presence of Justin Sun, a leading light in the Web3 realm, undoubtedly made this event even more special. Meanwhile, the partnership between the Giacometti Foundation, TRON, and APENFT is a groundbreaking cooperation in the art industry that signifies the accelerated fusion between digital art and traditional art.

Offline debut of Justin Sun’s Le Nez collection puts digital art on a fast track to fame

In the exhibition, the 1964 version of Le Nez from Justin Sun’s personal collection, also one of the highlights of the event, made its debut offline for the first time. This artwork was acquired by Sun at the 2021 Sotheby’s New York Fall Auction for $78.4 million and was then donated to APENFT Foundation. Some industry insiders believe that although the artwork was previously displayed through metaverse art galleries and other similar platforms, its physical presence in this exhibition still offers a rare chance for art enthusiasts. It brings top-tier artworks closer to the general public, allowing them to closely observe this exceptional piece, appreciate its distinctive artistic allure, and find inspiration from it.

Regarding the debut of this top-tier collection, Sun expressed his immense honor in a tweet, and he eagerly anticipates the future possibilities that blockchain technology could bring to art. In a collaborative video with Douyin influencer Cai Luoli, Sun showcased this collection while giving her a tour of his “private art gallery”.

As a dedicated proponent and innovator in the realm of art, particularly digital art, Sun has attended many prominent digital art summits. He has also made substantial investments in acquiring artwork pieces from globally celebrated artists as well as esteemed digital artists. Covering works by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Alberto Giacometti, Beeple, and Pak, his collection has topped 1 billion yuan in value. Sun also donated several famous pieces in his collection, including Femme nue couchée au collier and OCEAN FRONT, to APENFT Foundation to support the growth of digital art.

The Giacometti Foundation extolled Sun’s efforts, which it believes are a testimony to the determination of this blockchain, digital, and VR pioneer to protect physical artworks and reconcile the conflicts between the virtual and physical worlds in the course of nurturing modern artistic masterpieces and contemporary digital artworks.

TRON and APENFT co-organize the exhibition to fuel the fusion of Web3 and traditional art

TRON and APENFT, partners of this exhibition, have always been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of digital art. With a sponsorship of $1 million, TRON will continue its partnership with the Giacometti Foundation, along with APENFT, to fund artwork research and grow relevant projects, according to official sources.

Sun once predicted that 50% of the world’s top 100 artists and artworks would be recorded as NFTs in the following decade, during which blockchain technology would build a bridge to merge traditional art and emerging technologies.

It was for this cause that APENFT came into being. Leveraging TRON’s underlying technology, APENFT is committed to catalyzing the creator economy and bridging the virtual and real worlds. It sponsored an assortment of art summits held by Christie’s New York and the likes, making itself the first-ever art foundation that collects artworks across different industries and offers a gateway for traditional art maestros to enter the NFT world.

TRON also strives to boost the uptake of blockchain technologies in the art scene. The TRC-721 standard for on-chain NFTs charges smaller amounts of transaction fees whilst processing transactions at a higher speed. Its standardized specifications and endpoints for NFT creation, issuance, and transaction also make it an ideal choice for developers and users alike. This exhibition is another landmark in TRON’s cooperation with top-notch art institutions, which marks a new model for the integration between Web3 and artworks. It unlocks a myriad of opportunities for artists and art collectors while offering more transparent options with a broader reach and enhanced security to trade and spread the art.

The opening of the Le Nez exhibition celebrates the advent of a new epoch in art, in which the marriage between digital art and traditional art heralds extraordinary art experiences unseen before. The display of Justin Sun’s collection adds more color to the event, and TRON and APENFT’s ongoing cooperation with the Giacometti Foundation will continue to energize the art sector with new possibilities.
Hashtag: #TRON

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

Register online to participate in “Club Care Million Clubpoints Lucky Draw” for a chance to win a share of Clubpoints totalling 1 million and “earn your health rewards”

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 October 2023 – Club Care, a registered licensed insurance agency under HKT, is partnering with FWD Hong Kong (“FWD”) to launch the Club Care online insurance platform¹ (https://clubcare.theclub.com.hk, the “Club Care Platform”), enabling customers to easily apply for insurance online while accumulating Clubpoints in the form of premium rebates to redeem health rewards under the Group’s loyalty programme, The Club.

The Club Care Platform distributes an array of online insurance products from FWD, such as life, medical (including Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme) and accident, on top of arranging and providing promotional offers from time to time. The Club members who successfully apply for designated FWD insurance plans can get one Clubpoint for every dollar of the premium paid for the first year, equivalent to an additional 20% premium rebate^2&3 which can be used to redeem products and health experiences on The Club. Meanwhile, from now until 31 October 2023, customers who successfully apply for designated FWD insurance plans via the Club Care Platform can enjoy a discount of up to 50% on the first-year premium⁴.

Monita Leung, CEO, HKT Digital Ventures, said, “HKT Digital Ventures strives to combine its membership rewards with e-commerce and fintech businesses with the aim of addressing our customers’ all-round needs within a single digital ecosystem to become an integral part of their everyday life. We are pleased to partner with FWD to fuse our strengths in digital commerce and insurtech through Club Care and further expand the scope of our ecosystem to health protection. We will continue to explore different partnerships to provide more curated products and experiences for our members.”

Paul Tse, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer, FWD Hong Kong & Macau, said, “FWD is committed to fulfilling its vision of ‘changing the way people feel about insurance’. With an aspiration to provide more convenient protection and services through digital innovation, we revamped the FWD online insurance platform in 2021, introducing brand-new functions to help users easily understand their self-protection needs alongside health and wealth protection products. Through partnering with HKT’s Club Care to launch the Club Care Platform, FWD is able to leverage The Club’s extensive network to offer an online insurance experience to even more customers. It is a significant milestone for FWD as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. We will continue to expand FWD’s online insurance product range to provide relevant protection to the public with easy access and good value for money.”

In celebration of the platform’s launch, Club Care is hosting the “Club Care Million Clubpoints Lucky Draw”⁵. Customers who meet specified requirements and register on the designated website from now until 24 November 2023 stand a chance to win a share of Clubpoints totalling 1 million.

• The Club members can register on the Club Care Platform for one chance
• Earn Clubpoints through step-counting rewards app Club Wellbeing to get five bonus chances
• Make a purchase through The Club shopping and rewards platform to get 10 bonus chances
• Make an insurance application via the Club Care Platform to get 20 bonus chances

For details, please visit https://clubcare.theclub.com.hk/EarnYourHealthRewards/en.

On top of that, a brand-new Wellness section has been introduced on The Club mobile app. Members can use their Clubpoints to redeem a great variety of physical and mental wellness products and services spanning leisure, sports, dining and travel to enjoy a relaxing and joyful experience.

1. The Club Care online platform (clubcare.theclub.com.hk) is operated by HKT Financial Services (IA) Limited (“HKTIA”). Club Care is a service brand operated by HKTIA. The life insurance product information is provided by FWD Life Insurance Company Limited (Bermuda) Limited (incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability) (“FWD”). HKTIA is an appointed and licensed insurance agency of FWD (Licensed Insurance Agency Licence No.: FA2474).
2. “Club Care $1 Premium Paid = 1 Clubpoint Rebate” is arranged and brought to you directly by Club Care, and subject to the “Club Care $1 Premium Paid = 1 Clubpoint Rebate” Terms and Conditions (https://links.theclub.com.hk/VnNP).
3. The percentage of rebates and value of Clubpoints are calculated based on the Clubpoint conversion ratio according to the “Spend Less with Clubpoint” function on the Club Shopping platform (currently 5 Clubpoints to HK$1) on 3 October 2023, which is subject to changes from time to time without prior notice. Clubpoints awarded under the Promotion are subject to the Terms and Conditions of The Club (https://www.theclub.com.hk/en/terms-and-conditions.html) and the Terms and Conditions of “Club Care $1 Premium Paid = 1 Clubpoint Rebate”(https://links.theclub.com.hk/VnNP).
4. “Club Care New Platform Launch Promo Code” is provided and operated by FWD, arranged and brought to you directly by HKTIA, and is only applicable to applicant who successfully applies for the designated protection plans via Club Care Platform. The designated protection plans are provided and underwritten by FWD and subject to “Club Care New Platform Launch Promo Code” Terms and Conditions (https://www.theclub.com.hk/content/dam/theclub-spa-react/zh/others/Club_Care_New_Platform_Launch_Promo_Code_Terms_and_Conditions_v2_2023_EN.pdf).
5. “Club Care 1 Million Clubpoints Lucky Draw” is organised by Club Care and subject to “Club Care 1 Million Clubpoints Lucky Draw” Terms and Conditions (https://links.theclub.com.hk/baEv). Promotion Period is between 28 August to 24 November 2023. (Trade Promotion Competition Licence No.: 57583-6, 57587).

Disclaimer

Club Care is a service brand operated by HKT Financial Services (IA) Limited (“HKTIA”). HKTIA, being a registered licensed insurance agency under the Insurance Authority of Hong Kong (“IA”) (Licensed Insurance Agency License No.: FA2474), acts as an appointed licensed insurance agent for FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability) (“FWD Life”). The FWD Life insurance products are underwritten and provided by FWD Life and are distributed and arranged by HKTIA.Club HKT Limited (“The Club”) and all other entities of the HKT Group (other than HKTIA) are not arranging for any contract of insurance or carrying on any regulated activities (as defined under the Insurance Ordinance) in connection with insurance products or insurance related services or promotions on the Club Care Platform . The Club and all other entities of the HKT Group (other than HKTIA) are not the supplier, distributor or provider of insurance products or insurance related services or promotions displayed or referred to on Club Care Platform, do not represent Club Care/HKTIA or FWD Life and make no representations and warranties and accept no liability for any matters arising from, or in relation to, the same. For any enquires in relation to the insurance products on Club Care website, please contact Customer Service Hotline of Club Care at 8209 0098.

Hashtag: #ClubCare #FWD

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

About HKT (SEHK: 6823)

HKT is a technology, media, and telecommunication leader with more than 150 years of history in Hong Kong. As the city’s true 5G provider, HKT connects businesses and people locally and globally. Our end-to-end enterprise solutions make us a market-leading digital transformation partner of choice for businesses; whereas our comprehensive connectivity and smart living offerings enrich people’s lives and cater for their diverse needs for work, entertainment, education, well-being, and even a sustainable low-carbon lifestyle. Together with our digital ventures which support digital economy development and help connect Hong Kong to the world as an international financial centre, HKT endeavours to contribute to smart city development and help our community tech forward.

For more information, please visit www.hkt.com.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hkt

About Club Care

Club Care is a service brand operated by HKT Financial Services (IA) Limited (HKTIA), a wholly owned subsidiary of HKT Limited (HKT Limited is a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability). HKTIA, being registered with the Insurance Authority of Hong Kong as a licensed insurance agency, acts as an appointed licensed insurance agency (Licensed Insurance Agency Licence No. FA2474) for FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability) and other authorised insurance companies to provide a wide range of insurance products and services.

About FWD Hong Kong

FWD Hong Kong is part of the FWD Group, a fast-growing pan-Asian life insurer with more than 10 million customers across 10 markets, including some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world. FWD is a top 3 life insurer by new business ­first year premium in Hong Kong^*.

FWD Hong Kong has been assigned strong financial ratings by international agencies. It offers life and medical insurance, employee benefits, and financial planning.

FWD reached its 10-year anniversary in 2023. The company is focused on making the insurance journey simpler, faster and smoother, with innovative propositions and easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD is committed to changing the way people feel about insurance.

For more information about FWD Hong Kong, please visit www.fwd.hk

*Source: Provisional Statistics on Hong Kong Long Term Insurance Business – January to December 2022, Insurance Authority of Hong Kong. The calculation combines individual and group businesses, and non-bank insurers.

Shop with a peace of mind from authentic brands on Shopee Mall

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 October 2023 – Enjoy mega deals and exclusive promotions on a wide assortment of leading brands at Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival!

This 10.10 Brands Festival welcomes new brands to Shopee Mall, including H&M, as well as the launch of Google Pixel 8 Series. Enjoy big savings with 12% off brand vouchers and brand-exclusive perks. Sign up for free brand memberships to enjoy additional savings!

Check out incredible price drops on all-time brand favourites including Apple Airpods Pro 2 at $279 (U.P. $362), Dreame Hair Gleam Hair Dryer at $79 (U.P. $288) and HINOMI H1 Pro Ergonomic Chair at $459 (U.P. $999).

As Shopee’s premium retail space, Shopee Mall guarantees free 15-day returns and promises 100% authenticity or double your money back. Shop with assurance from the official stores of over 4,000 local and international brands on Shopee Mall this 10.10 Brands Festival!

Visit Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival at https://shopee.sg/m/1010.

50% discount on all brand purchases made on Shopee Live

Tune in to Shopee Live and enjoy up to 50% discounts on brand purchases this 10.10 Brands Festival. Purchase a variety of brand products including beauty items, gadgets and household items, all on Shopee Live!

Get ready for an electrifying online shopping experience as Shopee Live presents a star-studded lineup of popular streamers. Join celebrity Irene Ang at 11:30pm on 9 October as she kick-starts the countdown to the 10.10 shopping extravaganza on Shopee Live. Furthermore, catch popular online personalities Runner Kao, Xiaxue and Mayiduo on 10 October at 12:00 noon, 6:00pm and 8.00pm respectively for unbeatable brand deals and entertainment!

Win 1 million Shopee Coins

In addition, open a Mari Savings Account and make a minimum deposit of $1,000 between 27 September and 10 October to receive a $100 Shopee voucher pack, and stand a chance to be one of 100 lucky winners to receive 10,000 Shopee coins each!

Earn 2.88% p.a. interest on deposits made to Mari Savings Account* with no commitment period and no minimum deposit required.

Visit www.shopee.sg/m/marisavings for additional information on this exclusive Mari Savings Account promotion.

*Applicable for Singapore citizens/Permanent Residents, 18 years old and above. Promo T&Cs apply. Insured up to S$75,000 by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Hashtag: #Shopee #1010 #BrandsFestival #ShopeeMall #ShopeeLive #ecommerce #Maribank #banking

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

Shopee

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.

About Shopee Mall

Shopee Mall is the region’s leading online mall offering one-stop access to a wide range of international and local brands and retailers. Shoppers can enjoy three guarantees delivered by Shopee Mall — 100% authentic products, free returns and free shipping. With always-on deals, entertainment and a robust loyalty programme, Shopee Mall offers an unparalleled online shopping experience and best value all year round. Shopee Premium was introduced in 2020 to add greater variety to Shopee Mall. Users can shop from a curated selection of premium fashion, beauty and lifestyle products from renowned luxury brands.

About MariBank

MariBank, a digital bank wholly owned by Sea Limited and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The Bank aims to support the banking needs of digital natives and small businesses in Singapore, through the provision of simple and purpose-built banking products.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 October 2023 – SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI), a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software, commemorates Cybersecurity Awareness Month by highlighting the software industry’s progress toward becoming more Secure By Design. Informed by years of experience from industry-leading cybersecurity experts, the SolarWinds Secure by Design initiative is a gold-plated cybersecurity approach to software build systems and processes that set a new standard in software supply chain security.

SolarWinds developed Secure By Design to address the evolving threat of highly sophisticated and unforeseeable cyberattacks, including those by advanced nation-state threat actors. As a guiding principle for software security and cyber resiliency, Secure By Design provides an effective and novel defense for thwarting advanced supply chain cyber threats. With a focus on creating more secure environments, the SolarWinds Secure By Design guiding principles were designed to make both the company and the software industry at large safer.

“Security is an ongoing journey with no finish line but, as we reflect on the past year, it’s clear we’ve made great progress on the journey towards a Secure by Design industry,” said Sudhakar Ramakrishna, CEO and President of SolarWinds. “The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats demand a collective response from the cybersecurity community. It is our shared responsibility to come together, collaborate, and innovate to build a more secure future for all.”

The past year has seen significant advancement of the adoption and implementation of a more Secure By Design approach, including new community approaches to support cyber resiliency, more secure software build systems, improved information sharing about threats across the industry, and a stronger cyber workforce.

Building Out a Community Approach to Support Cyber Resiliency

This year marks the 20th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month, in which the President of the United States and Congress dedicate time to work together with the public and private sectors to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. SolarWinds has continually called for transparent and open information sharing across the industry and more robust public-private partnerships to combat increasingly sophisticated nation-state cyberattacks.

SolarWinds recently hosted a panel discussion in Washington, D.C., highlighting several key ways to help the industry stay secure. Ramakrishna was joined by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and CISA Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity Eric Goldstein for a conversation on why stronger public-private partnerships are needed to enhance the security of the nation’s cyberinfrastructure.

Additionally, SolarWinds will be in attendance at GovWare 2023, joined by more than ten thousand other policymakers, tech innovators, and end-users. This year’s theme, “Fostering Trust Through Collaboration in the New Digital Reality,” aims to address the significant link between digital trust and achieving success in today’s cyberspace.

Developing A Resilient Build Environment with The Next-Generation Build System

The SolarWinds Next-Generation Build System, a key component of the company’s Secure By Design approach, leverages a unique parallel build process where software is developed in multiple secure, duplicate, and ephemeral environments. First unveiled by SolarWinds last year, the Next-Generation Build System was developed to make supply chain attacks more difficult to execute by prioritizing cybersecurity throughout the entire lifecycle management process.

As SolarWinds recently announced, the Next-Generation Build System meets or exceeds the Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) updated last year by The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST^®). The build system’s alignment with SSDF and CISA’s Enduring Security Framework has been a continued driver encouraging more organizations to become Secure By Design.

The SolarWinds Next-Generation Build System has received multiple industry recognitions this year, including the CSO50 Award for IT Infrastructure Monitoring and Management, the BIG Innovation Fortress Cyber Security Award and recognition from the Cloud Security Awards. Additionally, SolarWinds Chief Information Security Officer and VP of Security Tim Brown, who has spearheaded the ongoing development of the Next-Generation Build System, was named CISO of the Year by the Globee^® Cybersecurity Awards.

Improving Security Through a Stronger Cyber Workforce

This year, the industry has prioritized growing the cybersecurity workforce, a critical mission as more than 3.4 million positions in the field remain unfilled. The White House recently unveiled a first-of-its-kind National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy to address both immediate and long-term cyber workforce needs. Alongside this announcement, the U.S. National Science Foundation CyberCorps^® Scholarship for Service program will provide more than $24 million over the next four years to support the development of a stronger cybersecurity workforce.

SolarWinds has long advocated additional resources for skill and vocational training. The company has taken on a leadership role in this regard, encouraging software companies to allocate the equivalent of one trained, full-time employee to support CISA and foster information-sharing between companies and government agencies. This collaboration across sectors is necessary to create unified best practices and develop shared threat intelligence.

For more information on the SolarWinds Secure By Design initiative, please visit: https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center

Hashtag: #SWI #SWIproducts #SWIcorporate

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

About SolarWinds

SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI) is a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software built to enable customers to accelerate their digital transformation. Our solutions provide organizations worldwide—regardless of type, size, or complexity—with a comprehensive and unified view of today’s modern, distributed, and hybrid network environments. We continuously engage with IT service and operations professionals, DevOps and SecOps professionals, and database administrators (DBAs) to understand the challenges they face in maintaining high-performing and highly available hybrid IT infrastructures, applications, and environments. The insights we gain from them, in places like our THWACK community, allow us to address customers’ needs now and in the future. Our focus on the user and our commitment to excellence in end-to-end hybrid IT management have established SolarWinds as a worldwide leader in solutions for observability, IT service management, application performance, and database management. Learn more today at www.solarwinds.com.

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 October 2023 – Hong Kong has recovered steadily throughout 2023. However, the HKSAR government should increase its efforts to respond to new circumstances globally. To navigate Hong Kong towards a prosperous future, we believe the government should implement further reforms to strengthen the economy.

CPA Australia has therefore proposed a range of ideas to the Hong Kong Government for the Chief Executive’s second policy address today. These ideas are focused under eight themes, including bolstering the city’s position as an international financial centre (IFC), attracting enterprises and investments, and turning Hong Kong into an international centre for innovation and technology (I&T).

These ideas were developed following consultation with member experts and the broader CPA Australia membership in Hong Kong. This included a poll of 208 accounting and finance professionals. The poll captured their expectations and opinions for the Policy Address.

In response to our poll question on where the government should prioritise the allocation of resources in this Policy Address, the most popular option was strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an IFC (84 per cent). This was followed by the development of Hong Kong as an international I&T centre (47 per cent), and an international trade centre (41 per cent).

Mr Robert Lui, CPA Australia’s Greater China Divisional President 2023 said: “Hong Kong’s position as an IFC is a key competitive advantage for the city. However, in the face of growing competition, action is needed to sustain and enhance that advantage.

“With the stock market facing significant pressure this year, we suggest the government consider reforms that increase market liquidity and attract investment. These should include reducing stamp duty on stock transactions. One option is to align Hong Kong’s stamp duty rate with mainland China’s rate of 0.05 per cent imposed on the seller only, a cut from the current rate of 0.26 per cent.

“To bring Hong Kong into line with other international bourses, we suggest that the HKEX’s trading hours be extended by 1.5 hours from the current 5.5 trading hours.

“To support the development of non-traditional and emerging asset classes, the government should consider initiatives that advance investor education and financial literacy in these asset classes.”

To attract talent, most respondents (67 per cent) said that the Policy Address should include initiatives to improve the working environment such as implementing work-life balance policies. Lui stressed that better working conditions and improvements to Hong Kong’s environment and cultural scene will help lure and keep talent.

In light of the current weakness in the property market, Ms Karina Wong, Deputy Chair of the Greater China Taxation Committee at CPA Australia, suggested the government expedite the implementation of the new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) and reduce the ad valorem stamp duty (AVD).

“To support the property sector and encourage new investment into Hong Kong, we suggest the government consider providing eligible CIES applicants with the same Buyers Stamp Duty (BSD) rate as local residents for their first property purchase. Permissible assets under the scheme should be expanded to include immovable properties in Hong Kong with a minimum threshold of at least HKD20 million.

“The property market could be further supported by reducing the ad valorem stamp duty of 15 per cent on the acquisition of a second residential property. Should the property market remain weak for an extended period, the government should consider phasing out the AVD.”

To enhance closer collaboration with the mainland, Wong suggests the government works with Mainland authorities to enhance the Hong Kong-Mainland of China double tax agreement (DTA) and help distinguish Hong Kong from regional competitors, “This could include discussions on reducing the dividend withholding tax rate to say 2.5 per cent from the existing of 5 per cent.”

Many members want the government to prioritise allocating resources to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Strengthening the city’s digital infrastructure, including its cybersecurity and data protection infrastructures should be a key part of that vision.

Dr Paul Sin, Greater China Divisional Councillor of CPA Australia says “Data is the bridge connecting the real and virtual worlds, and drives artificial intelligence (AI) and web3. We suggest that the government release more of its valuable data to enable the extension of the Open Application Programming Interface (API) beyond the banking sector.

“Further developing and supporting such digital infrastructure could speed up information exchange and innovation. It could for example allow connecting a property token with Land Registry record or allow eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) of SME through Company Registry record.”

“We also suggest the government initiate the development of a standardised ESG grading system. This would enable banks and other investors to effectively assess the ESG performance of a green project, benefiting the development of green finance,” he further suggested.

Hashtag: #CPAAustralia

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About CPA Australia

CPA Australia is one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world, with more than 172,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 22,200 members in Greater China. CPA Australia has been operating in Hong Kong since 1955 and opened our Hong Kong office in 1989. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. Find out more at cpaaustralia.com.au