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Value Partners launches Hong Kong’s first asset management App — “Value Partners Invest”

Bringing the city’s asset management services to a new era: Make investing much faster, simpler and more convenient

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 13 December 2022 – Value Partners Group Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “Value Partners” or “the Group”, Hong Kong Stock Code: 806) is pleased to announce that the group has launched its first mobile application – “Value Partners Invest”, which helps users to easily build their own portfolios using Value Partners’ diversified range of funds to capitalize investment opportunities in Asia.

The new “Value Partners Invest” App enables users to build and rebalance their portfolios using any Value Partners’ public funds and trade anytime. The App can also help users to monitor portfolios’ performance, stay ahead of fast-moving markets and make better investment decisions by accessing the latest market insights and analysis.

As an asset management company rooted in Hong Kong for 29 years, Value Partners constantly innovates to bring more values to our clients and to advance the development Hong Kong asset management industry. With the launch of “Value Partners Invest”, the Group is the first asset management firm in the city to bring users a digital investment experience through a mobile App.

Ms. June Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Value Partners, said: “We are very excited to launch “Value Partners Invest” today as part of the Group’s long-term strategy to capture the opportunities from increasing digital wealth management needs in Asia. We believe that the App can help investors to better leverage Value Partners’ nearly 30-year investing experience in Asia to grow their wealth, and also help the Group to develop a broader and younger customer base. This is only our first step – we will continue to enhance the application with more functions and digital services to provide an enjoyable experience for our clients to create successful investment results.”

“Value Partners Investment” app is officially launched on Apple Store and Google Play, please visit https://www.valuepartners-group.com/vp-invest-app/en/index.html for details of plans and offers.

Hashtag: #ValuePartners

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

About Value Partners Group Limited

Value Partners, one of Asia’s leading independent asset management firms, seeks to offer world-class investment services and products. Since its establishment in 1993, the Company has been a dedicated value investor in Asia and around the world. In November 2007, Value Partners Group became the first asset management firm to be listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock code: 806 HK). In addition to its Hong Kong headquarters, the firm operates in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and London. Value Partners’ investment strategies cover equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternatives, real estate and quantitative investment solutions, for institutional and individual clients in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States. Value Partners is also one of the leaders in ESG investing in Greater China and is committed to developing its ESG capabilities further. For more information, please visit .

Key risk trends for directors and officers in 2023: potential recession, cyber and ESG concerns

  • Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) highlights macroeconomic risks such as inflation and insolvency and their impact on Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance
  • Cyber and ESG-related risks are driving an increasing number of lawsuits and litigation against companies and their boards
  • US remains a securities class action hotspot, despite downward trend in new filings
  • D&O insurance market seeing a favorable shift for buyers, but inflation and current risk environment means the potential for more frequent and severe losses remains

MUNICH, GERMANY – Media OutReach – 13 December 2022 Which are the main factors driving the possibility that a company and its board of directors may be sued by investors or other stakeholder groups in 2023? A poor financial performance or even insolvency amid economic uncertainty and the prospect of a global recession, a lack of robust cyber security and governance processes, or an inadequate or non-compliant response to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are among the key risk trends in the Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance space, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). Despite a downward trend in new filings, US class action securities litigation remains a key concern, particularly around mergers, while cryptocurrency companies and exchanges are subject to increasing activity, the insurer’s annual D&O report also notes.

“The recent decline in the number of filed securities and class actions in the US, coupled with an influx of new entrants, has created a more favorable market for corporate buyers of D&O insurance after double-digit percentage premium increases across key markets in 2021,” says Vanessa Maxwell, Global Head of Financial Lines at AGCS. “However, there is still a lot of risk facing insurers as macroeconomic issues and a potential slowdown loom, conditions which typically lead to an uptick in D&O claims. Inflation is likely to influence future claims through larger settlements. Cyber risk remains at an elevated level and is now seen as a core duty of D&Os, with increasing scrutiny on how they respond. Meanwhile, ESG-related liabilities – whether it is inadequate action on climate change or diversity and inclusion issues – can potentially become significant exposures for D&O insurance as well.”

From the energy crisis to stock market volatility, it’s a gloomy economic environment

For many countries, the economic outlook for 2023 is doom-laden with recession risk rising. Plunging growth rates, surging inflation, the energy crisis, continuing stock market volatility and ongoing supply chain issues are monitored closely by D&O underwriters as they could cause liquidity and profitability squeezes in many sectors and fuel rising insolvencies.

“More than ever, D&O underwriters are focused on the financial strength of a company, particularly around liquidity. With global economic uncertainties progressing, carriers are closely monitoring if the trend of increased Chapter 11 filings (in the US), which impact both public and private companies will continue in 2023,” says Katie Fioretti, Global Head of Management Liability Commercial at AGCS.

Half of the countries analyzed by Allianz Research recorded double-digit increases in business insolvencies during the first half of 2022, with the SME sectors in the UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland accounting for two thirds of the rise. Overall, insolvencies are expected to increase by +19% in 2023 globally. An economic downturn typically brings a higher risk of D&O claims: A study by broker Marsh found that between 2005 and 2007 the firm received an average of 200 to 300 D&O claims in the UK. With the onset of the financial crisis, claims notifications rose by 75% to around 500 in 2008, peaking in excess of 1,600 in 2012. In the US, filings and enforcement actions – a proxy for claims frequency – doubled to over 2,000 at their 2011 peak, compared to around 1,000 in 2006, according to Advisen.

“The likelihood that a public company will be sued in a securities class action increases when financial performance is poor, a company’s share price drops or there is a risk of bankruptcy. In such scenarios, investors may argue that the company failed to disclose the challenges it was facing to maintain its earnings guidance, driving a potential increase in D&O claims,” says David Van den Berghe, Global Head of Financial Institutions at AGCS.

Cyber risk management as a board responsibility and ESG exposures

Issues such as data security and information protection are now core areas to watch for directors, the report notes. Investors increasingly view cyber security risk management as a critical component of a company’s board risk oversight responsibilities. As fiduciaries, board members are therefore expected to develop and maintain accountabilities for IT security before, during and after any cyber incident. Alleged failures can be seen as a breach of duty.

“Around the world, directors have already been called to account, including in derivative and direct litigation, due to their alleged failures to institute appropriate governance and protection against cyber security risk. Moreover, major breaches experienced by publicly traded firms have damaged investor confidence, causing share price drops, and thereby becoming ‘events’, which again can give rise to costly class action securities litigation. Boards therefore need to initiate and implement a cyber risk management structure that covers the entire organization,” says Rishi Baviskar, Global Cyber Experts Leader at AGCS’ Risk Consulting team.

Regulatory action or litigation risks due to ESG-related issues are another major concern for boards, driven by increasing reporting and disclosure requirements around such topics, which could trigger claims in case of an inadequate response or non-compliance. In addition, companies and their boards also face the prospect of increasing litigation from environmental or climate groups, activist investors or even their own employees. Climate change litigation is increasing, with over 1,200 cases filed internationally in the last eight years, compared with just over 800 cases between 1986 and 2014. Most of these were filed in the US, but there are increasing filings at international courts or tribunals: 2021 saw the highest annual number of recorded cases outside the US. Another risk is misrepresenting ESG credentials or achievements – so-called greenwashing – which can also lead to regulatory action, litigation, and shareholder suits.

“ESG-related information is increasingly becoming a key checkpoint for insurers when it comes to the risk assessment of a company. Those companies with strong ESG frameworks and governance will likely find insurers more willing to offer capacity,” says Maxwell.

Litigation in the US market

Litigation exposures are especially high for companies domiciled or doing business in the US and merger objection suits persist. While the frequency of US filings has declined since 2019 and 2022 is expected to continue this downward trend, the aggregate quantum of damages potentially at issue has skyrocketed. While there has been no general rise in alleged investor loss valuation for all cases, a few very large losses in 2022 have represented a disproportionately higher share of aggregate alleged shareholder losses than the historical averages over the past 20 years. According to Cornerstone Research, lawsuits filed against only three communications industry companies account for as much alleged investor loss as the aggregate of all securities class action lawsuits filed in 2021.

Cryptocurrency sees increasing litigation

Another new trend includes the increasing targeting of cryptocurrency companies and exchanges (10 suits filed in the first half of 2022 as compared to 11 for all of 2021, 13 in 2020 and four in 2019). This may not be surprising given the recent roiling fluctuations in the valuation of digital currencies, which continued in November 2022 with the collapse of the world’s second largest cryptocurrency exchange, FTX – authorities around the world are investigating for potential breaches of securities laws – and the fact that regulatory oversight has increased.

Hashtag: #Allianz

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

About Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

is a leading global corporate insurance carrier and a key business unit of Allianz Group. We provide , and for a wide spectrum of commercial, corporate and specialty risks across nine and .

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

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

For more information please visit our website

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This document includes forward-looking statements, such as prospects or expectations, that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance figures, or events may differ significantly from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Deviations may arise due to changes in factors including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the general economic and competitive situation in Allianz’s core business and core markets, (ii) the performance of financial markets (in particular market volatility, liquidity, and credit events), (iii) adverse publicity, regulatory actions or litigation with respect to the Allianz Group, other well-known companies and the financial services industry generally, (iv) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, including those resulting from natural catastrophes, and the development of loss expenses, (v) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (vi) persistency levels, (vii) the extent of credit defaults, (viii) interest rate levels, (ix) currency exchange rates, most notably the EUR/USD exchange rate, (x) changes in laws and regulations, including tax regulations, (xi) the impact of acquisitions including and related integration issues and reorganization measures, and (xii) the general competitive conditions that, in each individual case, apply at a local, regional, national, and/or global level. Many of these changes can be exacerbated by terrorist activities.

No duty to update
Allianz assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, save for any information we are required to disclose by law.

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Allianz SE is committed to protecting your personal data. Find out more in our privacy statement.

ROSEN, TOP RANKED GLOBAL COUNSEL, Encourages Compass Minerals International, Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important December 20 Deadline in Securities Class Action – CMP

New York, New York – Newsfile Corp. – December 12, 2022 – WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP) between October 31, 2017 and November 18, 2018, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important December 20, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Compass Minerals securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Compass Minerals class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8924 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 20, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants repeatedly assured investors that the continuous mining and continuous haulage (“CMCH”) upgrade at the Goderich mine, the largest underground rock salt mine in the world located in Ontario, Canada, was on track to materially reduce costs and boost Compass Minerals’ operating results starting in 2018. However, defendants’ statements were misleading because they failed to tell investors that costs at the Goderich mine were increasing rather than decreasing. The Compass Materials class action lawsuit further alleges that defendants also misrepresented the amount of salt Compass Minerals was able to produce at Goderich using the new CMCH equipment and failed to disclose how the known and ongoing production shortfalls it was experiencing were reasonably expected to reduce its future operating income. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Compass Minerals class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8924 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

——————————-

Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com

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

Industry Giants Ranked against Competitors by Resilience: IMD’s New Report

The latest report ranks 89 of the world’s largest Pharma, Tech, and Retail companies against their competitors released today in the latest Future Readiness Indicator 2022 by IMD

  • Brands with purpose win, but a purpose-driven company is not necessarily an ESG-compliant one
  • China’s regulatory crackdowns have reshaped the global tech industry and sees China losing to U.S big tech
  • “One trick pony” startups or companies won’t survive long-term unless they diversify

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – Media OutReach – 13 December 2022 – Nike, Google, and Roche topped the global rankings in their respective industries in the latest edition of the Future Readiness Indicator released today.

Burberry, Alibaba, and Meta fared much worse than expected, dropping 4, 9, and 2 spots respectively. Amazon loses its winning spot to Microsoft and Twitter surprisingly gained six places while Netflix crashed down 22 spots.

This year’s ranking benchmarks the resilience of the highest-grossing companies in three industries: Technology, Pharmaceuticals, and Retail (fashion, luxury & retail). According to the study, the pharmaceutical industry is forecasted to be the most recession-proof among the three sectors.

IMD released its first Future Readiness Indicator last December to benchmark the highest-revenue companies against their competitors by how future-ready they are for the post-pandemic economy and their likelihood of thriving in a world marked by fast and frequent change.

“Recessionary headwinds and other crises over the last year have ushered a reversal of fortune for Chinese companies losing ground to the U.S, “explains Professor Howard Yu, author of the Future Readiness Indicator report. “The big learning for companies this year? Diversity is king. Be it gender, race, or business diversity, single-mindedness may have brought them this far, but will won’t be as forgiving through 2023.”

View Technology Industry rankings here

The Indicator examines 39 top tech companies based on $5.1 billion to $469.8 billion in revenue, with data from 2015 to November 2022. The tech sector measures against the following criteria: financial fundamentals, investors’ expectation of future growth, employee diversity/ESG, research and development, business diversity, early innovation results, and cash and debt.

Continuing its strong streak, Google ranks #1 again this year, followed by Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Apple. Apple rose dramatically in the rankings this year as Meta lost ground. Chinese Alibaba plunges nine spots, and Netflix tumbles down 22 places while Twitter climbs six spots.

The tech company that has seen the most growth is NVIDIA at #3. This isn’t only thanks to shortages in semiconductor chips (their main competitor, Intel, was at #15 in contrast). NVIDIA nearly dominates the advanced chipset market regarding artificial intelligence. Google, Tesla, Amazon, and Meta are customers of NVIDIA. It’s also one of the few tech companies that continues to operate in both China and the US. At a time when the tech war is forcing brands to choose sides – NVIDIA and Microsoft are exceptions.

This year sees 12 new entrants in tech: eight semiconductor companies and Chinese giants Baidu, with JD.com, eBay, and Autodesk from the USA.

Microsoft jumped to 2nd place as Apple shot up four spots from 9th to 5th. Compared to other big techs, Microsoft and Apple have a balanced product portfolio, making them more resilient to the economic shocks leading to dominance over their competitors.

China’s reversal of fortune is an effect of the repercussions of its regulatory crackdown, which as a result, has reshaped the tech industry. Although Tencent held on to its 11th spot, Alibaba dropped nine places to 17th. JD.com, Alibaba’s competitor.

With less access to data, Meta cannot target its audience precisely as it used to. This affects not only Meta but Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok – except for Google, not only for the world’s dependency on Gmail and YouTube, but because it operates Android. This is how Alphabet is consolidating the advertising industry where others are splintering. Only Alphabet has enough essential product offerings to counterbalance Apple’s move. While other big tech companies are barred from China, Microsoft has more than 9,000 full-time employees, 80% of which are R&D specialists and engineering technicians – an exception to the tech rule in the US-China tech war.

View Fashion & Retail Industry rankings here

The Indicator examines the 27 biggest fashion & luxury brands and sports apparel, based on $3.8 billion to $72.7 billion revenue, drawing data from 2015 to November 2022. This year, new entrants include Prada, Capri, Tapestry, and department stores, Macy’s, Foot Locker, Ross Stores, TJX companies, Nordstrom, and fashion brand Gap. The retail sector is measured against financial fundamentals, investors’ expectations of future growth, business diversity, cash and debt, employee diversity/ESG, brand value, and early results of innovation efforts for the fashion industry.

This year, Nike steals the #1 winning spot from Lululemon (2nd), followed by Kering, Hermes, and LVMH (5th). The biggest plunges were seen from Adidas, Under Armour, UK high street retailer Next, and Burberry who dropped four spots. The only non-luxury companies that break into the top ranks are sportswear brands Nike and Lululemon, primarily due to their stellar direct-to-consumer channel and by leveraging technology apps, digital supply chain, and omnichannel strategies to build a personalized community of influencers.

Luxury brands, however, have remained strong. Kering dropped from fifth to third place, followed by Hermes, LVMH, and Richemont. On the contrary, Burberry dropped four spots to 8th, followed by VF and Prada.

The results show department stores experiencing an underwhelming performance for Macy’s (22nd), TJX (23rd), Foot Locker (24th), Ross Stores (25th), and Nordstrom (26th), primarily due to the meteoric rise in e-commerce in the wake of the pandemic. High-street fashion also continues to lose appeal, further exacerbated by a lack of e-commerce.

View Pharmaceutical rankings here

The Indicator examines the top 23 pharmaceutical companies based on $1.3 billion to $93.8 billion revenue, ranked using data from 2016 to November 2022. The pharma sector is measured against the following criteria: financial fundamentals, investors’ expectation of future growth, employee diversity/ESG, research and development, business diversity, early innovation results, cash and debt, and pharma pipeline. The last criteria is crucial in the pharmaceutical industry as it indicates drug-producing companies’ value and prospects.

The top three pharmaceutical companies in the ranking are Roche, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca. The research finds that pharma does not mirror the struggles of other industries and predicts that the healthcare industry will be recession-proof next year. The challenge in pharma is not about cash, but more about social responsibility and declining trust among the public. For pharma, ESG is not just about the carbon footprint but how the drugs are priced and made. Top pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Roche invest more in R&D and less in marketing or central administration. Compared to the bottom companies in the ranking, they are more short-sighted and look more at marketing and money, which is detrimental in the long term.

ESG

The market has seen a substantial influx of investment into ESG funds — over $1 trillion in the last two years – proving that brands increasingly recognize the business value of sustainability. Yet, ESG still lacks universal reporting standards or robust third-party verification.

This year, the higher-ranking Tech brands on ESG values are IBM, Netflix, Adobe, Spotify, and Autodesk. In Fashion, Richemont, Lululemon, and Zara. Finally, in Healthcare, it’s BioNTech, Roche, and Novo Nordisk.

The report finds purpose to be an important factor in determining a company’s preparedness for the future. But a purpose-driven company is not necessarily an ESG-compliant one. A purpose-led brand makes choices that prioritize more than profit: meaningful innovation and more diverse talent lead to more substantial investor expectations and fewer reputation risks. As a result, companies are better positioned to innovate, be resilient, and be more future-ready.

Asian companies

Asian companies, specifically the ones in Tech, have been historically strong in manufacturing; be it in Taiwan, South Korea, or Southeast Asia. A classic example is TSMC – A Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturing firm that has consistently moved upwards in the ranking, resulting from the chips shortage crisis.

The rankings show this isn’t the same for Asian companies in pharma and retail. Highly ranked healthcare companies are the ones that have a legacy or have been industry leaders for decades. Entry into the pharma industry is challenging for latecomers; there aren’t any Asian companies making it to the list. Today’s Pharma industry is mainly about the rapid shift of core capabilities and observing a race towards integrating computational science and machine learning into classic chemistry and biology.

In the Asian retail market, the focus needs to shift from distribution to brand building. These brands need to become a powerhouse of brand building while learning the art of incorporating global designs, global leaders as influencers, and international work into their work. Akin to the tech sector, retail in Asia is known for its manufacturing and distribution capabilities rather than brand-building abilities. Future-ready fashion brands are learning and embracing the cultural phenomenon worldwide.

The Future Readiness Indicator draws four lessons for corporations

1. Diversify your business or become a “one-trick pony”: In the tech sector, having one winning product innovation makes a large number of existing unicorns a “one-trick pony”, which puts the startup economy at significant risk of failure next year. Companies with diversified offerings have a much stronger chance of survival, as displayed in the report by Microsoft and Google. This is relevant for pharma, too. A broader portfolio ensures resilience through the diversification of risks. mRNA vaccines were a game-changer, but what they reveal is something more profound. Those who have mastered genetic therapy – whether through manipulation of mRNA to create a vaccine or unleashing our immune system to fight cancer – are most prepared for the future. Given this, Roche at #1 might be a surprise, unlike Pfizer #2 and AstraZeneca #3, as Roche doesn’t create vaccines. Instead, Roche heavily invested in new capabilities such as biotechnology and computational science to constantly improve how drugs can be discovered.

2. Partner, partner, partner: The volatile economic environment and capital expenditure are incredibly challenging. Hence, the future readiness of a firm is all about strategic partnerships. Intel tumbles down the ranking as they lack the manufacturing capacity of TSMC. Unlike NVIDIA and AMD, they outsource their manufacturing to TSMC. Today, an organization cannot and should not do everything in-house. It is about collaboration, alliances, and winning together.

3. Purpose (ESG) is a brand’s best friend: The top spots of the ranking are dominated by purpose-led pharma brands such as Roche, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca, enabling their growth engine. These companies increasingly invest in R&D than marketing, legal, or administration. The idea is not to overspend on marketing and central administration. Firms need to be careful about mortgaging their future by cutting on R&D. For future readiness, the management teams of drug companies need to have people with deep knowledge of science. This is reflected in the readiness ranking as well. The drug company continues to put purpose at the center of growth to be able to run ground-breaking research. Pharmaceutical companies must move to new knowledge or capabilities, especially artificial intelligence. An independently owned biotech startup might excel in only one of these areas but being future-ready requires excellence in multiple categories.

4. Create stronger consumer connections in Retail & Fashion: The pandemic witnessed the rise in e-commerce and saw radical shifts in consumer behavior. The leading brands in the industry are the ones to demonstrate the strength of personalization and rely strongly on omnichannel marketing strategies.

Even as the economy heads for inflation and recession, future-readiness won’t be about curtailing expenses. Bracing for the recession today means investing toward building core capacities: R&D, diversification, and strong alliances while building enough cash reserves. Nike’s top position is an example of how, despite falling share prices, they have maintained their position by investing heavily in direct consumers. Winning firms stay true to their purpose. The top-ranking pharmaceutical companies all embrace purpose as the center for growth.

Methodology

The Indicator bases its results on objective measurements to reach a composite score via an AI-driven algorithm and methodology to compare against the industry average. It uses hard data to rank companies against critical drivers of innovation: financial fundamentals, investors’ expectations of future growth, employee diversity/ESG, research & development, early results of innovation, business diversity, and cash and debts.

Notes to editors:

  1. The Future Readiness Indicator is produced by the IMD Center for Future Readiness, Switzerland. Read about the methodology here.
  2. All data for this year’s ranking is considered from 2010 to November 2022.
  3. View ranking results from last year’s ranking here
  4. Follow IMD on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

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

About IMD

The Institute for Management Development (IMD) develops leaders who transform organizations and contribute to society. IMD is an independent academic institution with Swiss roots and international reach, established by business leaders for business leaders. Led by an expert, diverse faculty, IMD delivers Real Learning, Real Impact through a unique combination of teaching, research, coaching, and advisory services. Challenging what is and inspiring what could be, IMD is the trusted learning partner of choice for ambitious individuals and organizations.

Enthusiastic responses received at Yuntai’s “Taixi Green Energy Special Zone Briefing Session”

Deepening the connection with the local community to develop green energy

YUNLIN, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 12 December 2022 – Yuntai, a subsidiary of Asia-Pacific region premium green independent power producer (IPP) NEFIN Group (“NEFIN”), recently held the “Taixi Green Energy Special Zone Briefing Session”. Invited participants included Yunlin County Government officials and councilors, township representatives, and local citizens. The session explained the planning and vision of Taixi Green Energy Zone’s aim to achieve the generation of a 500MW capacity. In addition, directors of Yuntai, Mr Glenn Lim and Mr Roger Hsu, also responded to any questions landlords had on the spot, demonstrating their sincerity and determination to work with the local community. This brought solid affirmations from the landlords and community locals.

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Event Photo & Speech by Mr. Glenn Lim, Director of Yuntai & CEO of NEFIN Group

Mr. Glenn Lim, Director of Yuntai and CEO of NEFIN Group, explained that NEFIN Group is a high-quality green energy IPP invested by the AC Energy Corporation of the Philippines (“ACEN”), operating and holding more than 3,400 MW of public utility, commercial and industrial renewable energy systems. These figures show that NEFIN and Yuntai have a team of regional and multi-faceted talents who can provide comprehensive assessment and holistic services, reinforced by the long-term expertise of Taiwan’s local investment partners. NEFIN aims to continue expanding and realizing Taiwan’s sustainable development and green energy vision, working with local communities to build a sustainable and positive environment for the economy.

Mr. Hsieh, a local villager who came to the meeting, stated “I am glad that Yuntai took the initiative to hold a briefing, so that local residents can better understand Taixi Green Energy Zone’s development. I was able to clear doubts that were not clear before.” Mr. Ding, a landlord who already signed the land lease contract with Yuntai for PV system installment, also responded: “The local residents in Taixi have great expectations for the development of the green energy industry. Holding a briefing session to communicate with the locals will not only attract more landowners who are willing to participate, but also give more confidence to other landowners who are still on the sidelines.”

Mr Roger Hsu added that the development plan of Taixi Green Energy Special Zone has been supported by Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Yuntai has already sent relevant establishment applications to the Yunlin County Government and has received a positive response. The relevant approval process is now being carried out step by step, and the subsequent follow-up work and development is expected to be successfully completed in the near future.
Hashtag: #NEFIN

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

About NEFIN Group

NEFIN is a premium green independent power producer (IPP) offering bespoke carbon neutral technologies & financing solutions in Asia Pacific. NEFIN, funded by ACEN Corp., has collectively installed over 3,400 MW of utility-scale, commercial and industrial renewable energy systems. ACEN is listed in the Philippines (PSE: ACEN) and is part of the Ayala Corporation, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, founded by the Ayala family in 1834. With its regional and multidisciplinary team, NEFIN offers comprehensive assessments and a full-suite of services to evaluate the ESG impact and commercial viability of projects, utilizing innovative approaches to technology under its unified energy management platform.

With a mission of “Achieving Carbon Neutrality for You”, NEFIN is committed to the global climate goals and aims to accelerate the decarbonization of our client portfolios. NEFIN believes the future of the world is everyone’s responsibility and strives to redefine energy boundaries towards a sustainable future. Please refer to NEFIN’s website for more information and follow us at .

“Power of No” International Photo Contest Celebrates Winners to Combat Drink Driving in Laos

Hundreds of young adults across Southeast Asia entered an international photo contest centered around the theme “friends don’t let friends drive drunk,” part of the “Power of No” campaign against drink driving today.

ROOKIE Racing and TOYOTA Motor Corporation announce participation in the 25-hour endurance race in Thailand

Toyota’s hydrogen engine vehicle runs in a race for the first-time outside Japan to accelerate Carbon Neutral technologies

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 12 December 2022 – ROOKIE Racing Co., Ltd. (ROOKIE Racing) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced their competition in the IDEMITSU 1500 SUPER ENDURANCE 2022 (Thailand 25H Endurance Race) at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand from December 17 to 18, 2022. They will race with the ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept, a hydrogen engine vehicle *1., and the ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF Concept, a carbon-neutral fuel vehicle*2. The participation will not be for the entire 25-hours but will be for the first and last few hours of the race. This will be the first time for both vehicles to compete in a race outside of Japan.

In addition, one of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand’s vehicles is also going to run on carbon neutral fuels. Starting with participation in the Thailand 25H Endurance Race, ROOKIE Racing and Toyota, will continuously strive to increase and accelerate development of carbon neutral technologies in Asia through motorsports.

<ROOKIE Racing challenge in Super Taikyu series in Japan>

ROOKIE Racing and Toyota participated in the Super Taikyu series*3 in Japan midway through the 2021 season, with a hydrogen-powered Corolla, and accelerated efforts towards “producing,” “transporting,” and “using” hydrogen, together with like-minded partners inside and outside the industry with the aim of helping to achieve a true carbon neutral society. From the 2022 season, in addition to the hydrogen engine Corolla, ROOKIE Racing and Toyota are racing the synthetic fuel GR86 and continuing to approach the challenge of expanding clean energy options, including through the use of internal combustion engines.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, is also the founder and team owner of ROOKIE Racing and participates under driver name “Morizo”.

<Expansion of Motorsports activities to Asia>

Recently, during the ninth round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Ypres in August and the 13th round of the WRC in Japan in November, ROOKIE Racing and Toyota ran a demonstration of the GR Yaris H2 hydrogen engine vehicle under test development. This was aimed at demonstrating the potential of hydrogen as a viable option for achieving carbon neutrality under grueling rally conditions. Morizo also drove the vehicle to provide its safety and performance credentials.

Now the demonstration moves to Asia. The Chang International Circuit venue is a major international circuit in Thailand, and hosts the Thailand MotoGP, the world’s most prestigious motorcycle racing series. Since the circuit opened in 2014, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. has been the main sponsor, and has promoted the development of motorsports in Thailand by holding one-make races there. Rookie Racing won the 10-hour “IDEMITSU 600 SUPER ENDURANCE 2019”, its first entry in a race held at the circuit. This year, ROOKIE Racing and Toyota’s first entry in three years, the cars will be tested in an environment different from Japan, to accelerate efforts to expand technology options toward creating a carbon neutral society across the globe.

Team Details

Team name Class Vehicle No.
ORC ROOKIE Racing division3 ORC ROOKIE
GR86 CNF Concept
328
division2 ORC ROOKIE
GR Corolla H2 Concept
232


<Toyota’s Stance towards Carbon Neutrality in Asia Through Multiple Pathways>

Toyota is committed to global carbon neutrality by 2050 in a practical and sustainable manner while also delivering Mobility for All, and Toyota in Asia, is fully aligned with these efforts.

Toyota is developing and bringing a full line-up of electrified vehicles to Asian markets to expand carbon neutral and carbon reducing options for the customer, including hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, battery electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. These options provide choices to meet the diverse economic realities of customers, the available energy sources, charging infrastructure readiness, industrial policies and varied customer mobility needs in each Country.

This approach will help achieve accessible electrification at scale and speed, supporting each country’s prioritized national objectives, including carbon neutrality, air quality improvement, oil import reduction, industrial development and sustainable employment while providing realistic mobility solutions. In this regard Toyota aims to work towards carbon neutrality, based on the fundamental principles of “Mobility for All” wherein there is a goal to “Leave No One Behind”.

ROOKIE Racing and Toyota’s participation in the Buriram race, showcases the new technologies of hydrogen engine and synthetic fuel vehicles within the region. Furthermore, it solidifies Toyota’s commitment to further expand and accelerate the development of carbon neutral mobility options to Asia, through motorsports.

Learn about our mission towards Carbon Neutrality, through this video here.

______________________________________________________________________________________________


*1
The hydrogen engine generates power through the combustion of hydrogen using fuel supply and injection systems that have been modified from those used with gasoline engines. Except for the combustion of minute amounts of engine oil during driving, which is also the case with gasoline engines, hydrogen engines emit zero CO2 when in use.
Combustion in hydrogen engines occurs at a faster rate than in gasoline engines, resulting in a characteristic of good responsiveness. While having excellent environmental performance, hydrogen engines also have the potential to relay the fun of driving, through sound and vibrations
Short movie link:
https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/35209996.html

*2: Carbon Neutral Fuels/ Synthetic fuels are liquid fuels produced artificially from carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen. The fuels are considered carbon-neutral because of the amount of CO2 generated when combusting them equals that recovered in producing the fuels. Synthetic fuels made from hydrogen produced with renewable energy are known as “e-fuels”. These synthetic fuels and plant-derived fuels are both “carbon-neutral fuels”.

*3: The Super Taikyu Series is a car endurance racing series for commercially available vehicles that launched in Japan in 1991. Commonly known as “S-Tai” in Japan, the race has come to be known as one of the foremost open-format endurance race series in Asia and has been loved by many fans over the years. It has also seen a growing number of drivers from neighboring Asian countries participate in it during recent years.

Hashtag: #ToyotaMotorAsiaPacific

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

About Toyota Motor Asia Pacific

Toyota Motor Asia Pacific [TMAP] is incorporated in Singapore and is the regional corporate headquarters and subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. TMAP leads and supports the Asia Pacific region in sales and marketing activities, service parts, accessories and customer services, thus contributing to the overall development of auto industry and the growing economies in the region.

Toyota envisions the future mobility society to bring freedom of movement to all. Moving forward, Toyota will provide a diverse range of mobility services and transportation solutions to people around the world as we transform Toyota into a mobility company.

SoFi, WeLab, Syfe – 3 Top Robo-Advisors Join MoneySmart

Robo-advisors SoFi, WeLab and Syfe are now on MoneySmart. Compare their features and fees and learn about the latest discounts for opening an account now.

HONG KONG SAR- Media OutReach – 12 December 2022 – [SoFi, WeLab, Syfe] 3 Major Robo-Advisors Now on MoneySmart. Many brokerages in the market offer smart investment services powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These include robo-advisory, rapid market data organisation and price movement analysis that help users build the optimal investment portfolio. MoneySmart has recently launched a Robo-Advisor comparison service that allows users to compare different robo-advisors on MoneySmart. AI robo-advisors such as SoFi, WeLab GoWealth, and Syfe have their respective unique features that enable users to invest and trade with greater ease.

Introducing Robo-Advisors

Robo-advisor is both an AI robo-advisory platform and a stock trading platform. Robo-advisors run data analysis on customers’ investment goals, risks, and other factors using precise computer algorithms and help users build the optimal investment portfolio.

Comparison of 3 Major Online AI Trading Platforms: SoFi vs WeLab vs Syfe

Online AI Trading Platform Features Fee
SoFi Hong Kong Brokerage Account Diversified investment portfolio, over 13,000 stocks across 35 countries HK$30/month
WeLab GoWealth Digital Wealth Advisory Services Digital wealth advisory services, market conditions smart alert, no lock-up period Subscription fee of 1.5%, minimum investment HK$100
Syfe Hong Kong’s first globally diversified portfolio with direct indexing 0.35% – 0.65% per annum


The main advantages of Robo-Advisors

Robo-advisors operate round-the-clock and charge a lower fee than traditional investment advisory services. Their systems also automatically allocate, manage, and optimise user assets according to market conditions. This helps users save on the effort, time and money required in manually managing their portfolios. For investors seeking a reliable and simple means of managing their portfolios, robo-advisors make the ideal choice.

Visit MoneySmart’s Robo-Advisor comparison page today to find the robo advisory services available in the market!

MoneySmart Head of Commercial Marcus Chan said, “We often ask, ‘How can I increase my wealth? Where do I start?’ With advanced technology like robo-advisor, it is akin to having a professional financial advisor, and you don’t have to think about how best to start. At MoneySmart, we empower people to manage their wealth and make smarter decisions. We’re excited to launch a product category like robo-advisors and to have leading teams on board to help our users kickstart their investment journey. We welcome WeLab GoWealth, Syfe and SoFi to MoneySmart.”

Hashtag: #MoneySmart

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

About MoneySmart

MoneySmart HK is part of the MoneySmart Group, founded in Singapore in 2009. We are a one-stop portal for comparing financial products offered by multiple institutions, such as credit cards, personal loans, insurance, investment accounts, saving accounts and mortgages. At MoneySmart, we endeavour to help our users make smarter financial management decisions. Visit for more information.