﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><?xml-stylesheet href="https://www.acnnewswire.com/rss/rss2full.xsl" type="text/xsl" media="screen"?><?xml-stylesheet href="https://www.acnnewswire.com/rss/itemcontent.css" type="text/xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>ACN Newswire</title><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com</link><description>ACN Newswire press release news - Recent Press Releases</description><item><title>Neautus Files for Hong Kong Listing, Highlighting Sustained Growth and Strengthening Cash Flow Quality</title><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 11:21:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><strong>HONG KONG, May 6, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction pieces sector continues to expand steadily, while its industry structure evolves toward greater standardization and consolidation.</p><p>Against this backdrop, Sichuan Neautus Traditional Chinese Medicine (Pieces) Co., Ltd. (&ldquo;Neautus&rdquo;) has completed its filing with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) for overseas issuance and submitted its listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on April 30, 2026. The development marks a meaningful step in bringing a traditionally fragmented industry closer to capital markets, with increasing investor focus on sustainable growth, operational discipline, and cash flow quality.</p><p><strong>Scale and Standardization Position Leaders to Benefit</strong></p><p>Despite its large market size, estimated at around RMB 300 billion, the TCM decoction pieces industry remains relatively fragmented, leaving substantial room for consolidation. As regulatory standards continue to improve and healthcare procurement systems become more structured, competition is increasingly centered on supply chain capability, production standardization, quality control, and distribution efficiency.</p><p>In this environment, companies with established scale and standardized production systems are well positioned to benefit from ongoing industry upgrades. As standardization deepens and regulatory oversight strengthens, these advantages are expected to translate into gradual and sustained market share gains.</p><p><strong>Sustained Growth with Strengthening Profitability</strong></p><p>Neautus has delivered sustained revenue growth in recent years, with revenue increasing from RMB 1.146 billion in 2023 to RMB 1.335 billion in 2025.</p><p>Profitability has also improved alongside revenue expansion. Net profit for 2025 reached approximately RMB 106 million, while adjusted net profit, excluding listing-related expenses, rose to around RMB 127 million.</p><p>In the TCM decoction pieces sector, margins are generally stable rather than high, with profitability primarily driven by scale efficiency, cost control, and operational execution. Neautus&rsquo; performance reflects effective expansion under this model, supporting more sustainable and consistent profit growth while maintaining a well-balanced alignment with the needs of the healthcare system and ensuring stable and reliable supply to medical institutions.</p><p><strong>Cash Flow Improvement Reinforces Earnings Quality</strong></p><p>The company&rsquo;s operating cash flow has improved significantly, rising from RMB 74.85 million in 2023 to RMB 154 million in 2025.</p><p>This trend highlights strengthening cash generation and improving earnings quality. The ability to translate revenue growth into operating cash flow is a key indicator of operational efficiency and financial discipline, and provides a solid foundation for future expansion.</p><p>Enhanced cash flow also supports greater financial flexibility, enabling the company to invest in capacity, quality systems, and channel development while maintaining balance sheet stability.</p><p><strong>Disciplined Financial Structure Supports Sustainable Growth</strong></p><p>Neautus maintains a balanced and disciplined financial structure. Accounts receivable have grown broadly in line with revenue and remain predominantly short-term in nature, with minimal long-aging exposure, indicating strong collection capability and customer quality.</p><p>At the same time, payables have remained stable, suggesting that the company has not relied on extending supplier credit to support growth. This reflects a measured and sustainable approach to working capital management.</p><p>Leverage levels have also improved, with the gearing ratio declining to 47% in 2025. Overall, the company&rsquo;s financial profile demonstrates prudent risk management while supporting continued business expansion.</p><p><strong>Cost Management Capability Enhances Resilience</strong></p><p>In recent years, elevated raw material prices have increased cost pressure across the TCM decoction pieces industry, placing greater emphasis on procurement capability and operational efficiency.</p><p>Companies with stronger scale advantages are typically better positioned to manage such volatility, benefiting from improved bargaining power and cost control. Neautus&rsquo; ability to sustain growth during periods of higher input costs reflects operational resilience and effective cost management.</p><p>As raw material prices gradually stabilize, the industry may enter a phase of margin recovery, with companies that have established scale and efficiency advantages potentially seeing further improvement in profitability.</p><p><strong>Leadership and Strategic Positioning</strong></p><p>Neautus&rsquo; management team combines deep industry experience with technical expertise. Founder Jiang Yun has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical sector and was an early participant in advancing GMP-based production systems for TCM decoction pieces.</p><p>He has also been actively involved in industry standard-setting, including serving on the 10th Chinese Pharmacopoeia Committee. His contribution to the development of a DNA-based identification system for Chinese medicinal materials, now incorporated into the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, reflects a long-term focus on standardization and quality control.</p><p>At the management level, Jiang Ercheng, with a biochemistry background from the University of California, Los Angeles and Hong Kong Baptist University, is involved in research and strategic initiatives.</p><p>This combination of operational depth and standardization expertise may support the company&rsquo;s strategic positioning as the industry continues to consolidate and move toward higher regulatory and quality standards.</p><p><strong>Capital Market Progress Signals Industry Momentum</strong></p><p>The TCM decoction pieces sector is supported by stable demand fundamentals, significant market size, and increasing regulatory standardization. At the same time, relatively low industry concentration continues to provide room for leading enterprises to expand.</p><p>In this context, Neautus&rsquo; listing progression represents not only an important corporate milestone but also a broader signal of the sector&rsquo;s accelerating integration with capital markets.</p><p>Looking ahead, the company appears to be building a balanced development profile across growth, profitability, and cash flow. As industry consolidation advances and standardization deepens, companies with scale, operational discipline, and financial strength are expected to play an increasingly prominent role, with long-term value gradually becoming more visible to the market.</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106876/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106876/</guid><category>Healthcare &amp; Pharm, Funds &amp; Equities</category><stock_tickers /><summary>The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction pieces sector continues to expand steadily, while its industry structure evolves toward greater standardization and consolidation.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>Pacific Avenue Capital Partners Enters into Exclusive Negotiations to Acquire ESE World, Amcor&apos;s European Waste Container Business</title><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 15:30:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.acnnewswire.com/images/company/PacificAvenueCapitalPartners.jpg" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>LOS ANGELES, CA AND PARIS, FR, May 4, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>Pacific Avenue Capital Partners ("Pacific Avenue"), a global private equity firm focused on corporate carve-outs and other complex transactions in the middle market, announced today that an affiliate of Pacific Avenue has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire ESE World (the "Company" or "ESE") from Amcor, one of the world's leading global packaging companies.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/accesswire/featureimages/1163253.jpg?v=a1f98252-9033-4147-b983-0aa0ae739332" alt="" width="550" height="84"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">ESE is the foremost European manufacturer of both plastic and steel waste containers and a provider of associated waste management services. The Company generates approximately &euro;300m of revenues and serves customers across the world from its three manufacturing facilities in Germany (Neuruppin and Olpe) and France (Crissey).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Under Pacific Avenue's stewardship, ESE will focus its efforts on meeting the needs of its customers and executing several growth initiatives tied to operational improvement, geographic expansion, and strategic add-on acquisitions. Pacific Avenue will work in close partnership with ESE's existing management team to pursue these initiatives and accelerate the Company's next phase of growth.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"This transaction marks an exciting next phase of growth for ESE. The business is a strong fit within our portfolio of industry-leading companies, and a testament to Pacific Avenue's position as a trusted partner for corporate sellers in the EU and globally seeking a seamless execution of complex carve-outs. With a strong brand, industry leading innovation, and a defensible market position, we look forward to providing the resources and expertise needed to drive long-term value creation."</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>-Chris Sznewajs, Founder and Managing Partner of Pacific Avenue</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">"ESE is a high-quality business with a proven track record of product innovation and a strong, loyal customer base. Pacific Avenue is excited to partner with the ESE management team and reinvest in the business, both organically and through strategic add-on acquisitions. Building on a strong operational foundation, we see significant opportunity to support ESE's next phase of growth and long&#8209;term value creation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>-Xavier Lambert, Managing Director - Head of Europe, Pacific Avenue Capital Partners</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The acquisition of ESE represents a significant milestone for Pacific Avenue, marking the Firm's third European transaction, and the first European investment out of Fund II and its dedicated European sidecar. It is another example of Pacific Avenue's ability to partner with corporate sellers globally to successfully execute complex carve-outs of non-core businesses.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"This acquisition is a direct result of Pacific Avenue's commitment to expanding our global footprint in Europe. Since establishing our European presence, Pacific Avenue is focused on identifying exactly this type of opportunity; a high-quality, market-leading business being divested by a large corporate seller. We look forward to partnering with the ESE management team to write the next chapter of the Company's story."</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Chris Sznewajs, Founder and Managing Partner of Pacific Avenue</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The transaction is subject to the completion of the works council consultation process, following which the sale and purchase agreement can be signed. The transaction is targeted to close in Q2 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Pacific Avenue was advised by Willkie Farr &amp; Gallagher LLP, Accuracy, and PwC.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Amcor was advised by Greenhill, a Mizuho affiliate, and Latham &amp; Watkins.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>About Pacific Avenue Capital Partners</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is a global private equity firm, headquartered in Los Angeles with an office in Paris, France. The firm is focused on corporate divestitures and other complex situations in the middle market. Pacific Avenue has extensive M&amp;A and operations experience, allowing the firm to navigate complex transactions and unlock value through operational improvement, capital investment, and accelerated growth. Pacific Avenue takes a collaborative approach in partnering with strong management teams to drive lasting and strategic change while assisting businesses in reaching their full potential. Pacific Avenue has more than $3.7 billion of Assets Under Management (AUM) as of December 31, 2025. The members of the Pacific Avenue team have closed over 120 transactions, including over 50 corporate divestitures, across a multitude of industries throughout their combined careers. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://pr.report/l81e" rel="nofollow">www.pacificavenuecapital.com</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>About Amcor</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Amcor is the global leader in developing and producing responsible consumer packaging and dispensing solutions across a variety of materials for nutrition, health, beauty and wellness categories. Amcor's global product innovation and sustainability expertise enables the company to solve packaging challenges around the world every day, producing a range of flexible packaging, rigid packaging, cartons and closures that are more sustainable, functional and appealing for its customers and their consumers. Amcor is guided by its purpose of elevating customers, shaping lives and protecting the future. Supported by a commitment to safety, over 75,000 people generate $23 billion in annualized sales from operations that span over 400 locations in more than 40 countries. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://pr.report/l81f" rel="nofollow">www.amcor.com</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONTACT:</strong><br>Chris Baddon<br>Managing Director<br><a href="mailto:cbaddon@pacificavenuecapital.com" rel="nofollow">cbaddon@pacificavenuecapital.com</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>SOURCE:</strong> Pacific Avenue Capital Partners</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106818/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106818/</guid><category>Daily Finance, Chemicals, Spec.Chem, Print &amp; Package, Funds &amp; Equities</category><stock_tickers /><summary>Pacific Avenue Capital Partners (&quot;Pacific Avenue&quot;), a global private equity firm focused on corporate carve-outs and other complex transactions in the middle market, announced today that an affiliate of Pacific Avenue has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire ESE World (the &quot;Company&quot; or &quot;ESE&quot;) from Amcor, one of the world&apos;s leading global packaging companies.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>Fosun Subsidiaries Post Solid Q1, Core Businesses Fuel Growth</title><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:28:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 30, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>Since April, Fosun International (HKEX: 0656)&rsquo;s A-share listed subsidiaries have released their Q1 2026 results. The market views this reporting season as a key window to gauge Fosun&rsquo;s capacity to restore earnings and deliver profits following risk clearance.</p><p>In accordance with the principle of prudence, Fosun made one-off non-cash impairment provisions in the 2025 financial year on certain real estate projects with impairment indicators, as well as goodwill and intangible assets of non-core business segments. This move was aimed at sharpening focus on core businesses and high-growth areas. Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International, described the above strategic decision as &ldquo;repairing the roof on a sunny day&rdquo;, steering the Company toward a &ldquo;leaner, healthier, and more sustainable direction&rdquo;.</p><p>According to the Q1 results, Fosun Pharma, a core subsidiary in Fosun&rsquo;s Health segment, achieved operating revenue of RMB10.073 billion in Q1 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.93%, while net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent reached RMB871 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.87%. Excluding non-recurring gains and losses, net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent increased by 21.96% year-on-year.</p><p>Yuyuan, a core subsidiary in Fosun&rsquo;s Happiness segment, achieved operating revenue of RMB9.649 billion in Q1 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 10%, while net profit attributable to the parent company reached RMB157 million, representing a significant increase of 203% year-on-year. In addition, Shede Spirits and Hainan Mining recorded notable earnings growth, with net profits reaching RMB232 million and RMB201 million, respectively, in Q1 2026.</p><p>Market analysis indicates that the subsidiaries&rsquo; Q1 results reflect an overall improving trend, underscoring Fosun&rsquo;s clear growth trajectory following risk clearance in 2025. Fosun&rsquo;s fundamentals across pharmaceuticals and healthcare, insurance and finance, and cultural tourism remain solid, while steady recovery in the consumer segment is expected to further sustain growth momentum.</p><p><strong>Innovative drugs show robust growth momentum, unlocking potential for rapid growth</strong></p><p>&ldquo;We have always been committed to pharmaceutical innovation. By continuously strengthening our innovation pipeline, we are accelerating the clinical translation and commercialization of innovative technologies and products. We currently have multiple blockbuster candidates in the pipeline,&rdquo; said Guo Guangchang. In his 2026 Letter to Shareholders, he repeatedly emphasized the Group&rsquo;s strategic focus on innovative drugs.</p><p>Entering 2026, commercialization of Fosun&rsquo;s innovative drugs is accelerating. On 28 April, Fosun Pharma announced its Q1 2026 results. During the reporting period, the new drug application (NDA) for 4 innovative drugs were accepted, and 14 clinical trial applications for innovative drugs (calculated by approval) were approved by domestic and overseas regulatory authorities. Among them, denosumab injection (HLX14) secured approval in Canada, the NDA for bevacizumab injection (HLX04) was accepted in the United States, and the NDA for foritinib succinate capsules, methoxyetomidate hydrochloride injection, and one additional indication for FUMAINING were accepted by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).</p><p>Overall, these results continue the robust growth momentum of innovative drug recorded in 2025. Results show that in 2025, Fosun Pharma had 16 indications of its 7 innovative drugs approved for marketing in China and overseas markets, while marketing applications for 6 innovative drug candidates were accepted. Revenue from innovative drugs reached RMB9.893 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 29.59%, bringing the proportion of total pharmaceutical business revenue to 33.16%. As of the end of 2025, nearly 40 innovative drug clinical trials were approved by regulatory authorities in China, the United States and Europe, while multiple core products entered key clinical phases, laying a solid pipeline foundation for future commercial growth.</p><p>As a benchmark enterprise for Fosun&rsquo;s innovative drugs, Henlius has achieved rapid progress in innovative drug research and development (R&amp;D) and commercialization since early 2026. In terms of R&amp;D, HANSIZHUANG and HLX07 have both achieved breakthrough advances, and multiple potential &ldquo;first-in-class&rdquo; drugs are accelerating into clinical validation stages. Regarding global commercialization, Henlius entered into an exclusive commercialization and co-exclusive development and manufacturing license agreement with Eisai Co., Ltd. for HANSIZHUANG in Japan, with an aggregate potential consideration exceeding USD300 million. Meanwhile a subsidiary of Henlius obtained a Type I Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) License for Pharmaceuticals from Tokyo Metropolitan Government, laying a solid foundation for further expansion into major Asian and global pharmaceutical markets.</p><p>Fosun&rsquo;s innovative pipeline has entered a phase of frequent approvals and accelerated commercialization. R&amp;D investment and market returns are reinforcing each other in a virtuous cycle, providing strong support for sustained earnings growth and enhancing global competitiveness.</p><p><strong>Fosun subsidiaries across segments post solid results, reinforcing RMB10 billion profit target</strong></p><p>The growth momentum of innovative drugs signals Fosun&rsquo;s improved performance. Meanwhile, Yuyuan, which was previously affected by impairments on real estate projects, has successfully navigated through the industry adjustment period, strengthening Fosun&rsquo;s weakest segment.</p><p>In Q1 2026, Yuyuan recorded net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent of RMB157 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 203%. Although the Q1 net profit remains modest, the strong growth momentum marks a positive turning point in Yuyuan&rsquo;s operating fundamentals, with subsequent earnings recovery expected to further unfold.</p><p>Shede Spirits, another subsidiary in Fosun&rsquo;s consumer segment, has also successfully returned to a growth trajectory. In Q1 2026, it achieved operating revenue of RMB1.481 billion, representing a quarter-on-quarter increase of 106.45%. Meanwhile, its net profit reached RMB232 million, surpassing the net profit of RMB223 million for the full year of 2025.</p><p>It is worth noting that Hainan Mining in the Intelligent Manufacturing segment delivered remarkable results. Driven by rising downstream demand for energy storage and power batteries, Hainan Mining achieved operating revenue of RMB1.193 billion and a net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent of RMB201 million in Q1 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 25.13% and a significant quarter-on-quarter increase of 69%. The integrated lithium resource value chain operated steadily, contributing RMB99 million in net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent in Q1 and emerging as a core earnings growth driver. Additionally, the oil and gas business achieved stable production with improved efficiency. During the reporting period, the attributable oil and gas output amounted to 3.1865 million barrel equivalents, representing a year-on-year increase of 15.78%.</p><p>Profit growth at subsidiaries across multiple segments is accelerating, strengthening market confidence in the certainty of Fosun&rsquo;s future earnings momentum.</p><p>Previously, Fosun&rsquo;s management team clearly set out its medium-term financial roadmap at the 2025 annual results presentation: aiming to gradually restore a profit to the RMB10 billion level, targeting RMB60 billion in cash returns at the group level, bringing group-level total debt down to under RMB60 billion, and striving to achieve an &ldquo;investment-grade&rdquo; rating.</p><p>To illustrate its plan to achieve the &ldquo;RMB10 billion profit&rdquo; target, Fosun&rsquo;s management team explained the &ldquo;8424&rdquo; restructuring framework. The &ldquo;8&rdquo; corresponds to RMB8 billion in profit from the four core subsidiaries&mdash;Fosun Pharma, Yuyuan, Fosun Insurance Portugal, and Fosun Tourism Group; the first &ldquo;4&rdquo; reflects RMB4 billion in profit from second-tier subsidiaries such as Hainan Mining and Peak Reinsurance; the &ldquo;2&rdquo; represents approximately RMB2 billion in profit from investment-oriented enterprises; and the final &ldquo;4&rdquo; refers to a cap of RMB4 billion on group-level costs, including financing expenses. After these &ldquo;additions and subtractions&rdquo;, the Group aims to restore a profit level of RMB10 billion.</p><p>Fosun&rsquo;s Q1 results across business segments not only met market expectations following its &ldquo;repair the roof on a sunny day&rdquo; efforts, but also reinforced confidence in restoring the RMB10 billion profit level. Analysts note that continued innovative drug commercialization, rapid growth in insurance, and stabilization in cultural tourism and consumer businesses position Fosun to further unlock growth momentum. Investors are advised to closely monitor full-year earnings growth and valuation recovery.</p><p>Backed by confidence in its long-term prospects, Fosun is actively repurchasing shares. Between 30 March, the date of the 2025 annual results announcement, and 27 April, Fosun International cumulatively repurchased 25.41 million shares. According to company announcements, the share buyback program is expected to continue.</p><p>Recently, leading domestic and international securities firms such as Citi, UBS, Guotai Haitong, and China Securities have published research reports expressing optimism about Fosun&rsquo;s outlook. Citi highlighted that, based on the improving fundamentals, Fosun International is expected to deliver strong results in 2026.</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106751/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106751/</guid><category>Healthcare &amp; Pharm, Funds &amp; Equities</category><stock_tickers>HKG:656, HKG:0656, OTCMKTS:FOSUF, OTCMKTS:FOSUY</stock_tickers><summary>Fosun International (HKEX: 0656)&apos;s A-share listed subsidiaries have released their Q1 2026 results.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>FWD Group reports strong first quarter new business update, adding to its consistent track record of financial performance</title><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:06:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.acnnewswire.com/images/company/FWD220px.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 30, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - </strong>FWD Group Holdings Limited (&ldquo;FWD Group&rdquo; or &ldquo;FWD&rdquo;) today announced strong first quarter new business highlights for the three months ended 31 March 2026.</p><p><strong>- New business sales were up four per cent to US$720 million compared to the same period in 2025 on an annualised premium equivalent (APE) basis.</strong></p><p><strong>- New business contractual service margin was US$556 million, with year-on-year growth of 18 per cent.</strong></p><p><strong>- Introduced 11 new products around the region; the FWD Group consumer outlook survey released in February 2026 showed that the majority of Asia&rsquo;s middle-class feel financially anxious and underprepared for retirement.</strong></p><p><strong>Huynh Thanh Phong</strong>, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of FWD Group, said, &ldquo;This is another strong set of results, reflecting our consistent track record of performance, growth, and the diversified pan-Asian footprint and distribution model of FWD Group. Japan and our Expansion Markets in Southeast Asia were key drivers of growth, alongside another solid performance from Hong Kong SAR, despite the high base effect from a record first quarter comparison in 2025.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;At FWD Group, we have confidence over the long-term that the rising middle-class trend in Asia will continue, despite the near-term impacts of external shocks on economies and consumers in the region. The outlook for the high-net-worth segment, served by FWD Private, remains positive, particularly given the strength and confidence in financial hubs in the region like Hong Kong SAR where we are headquartered,&rdquo; added Huynh Thanh Phong.</p><p>The Hong Kong SAR &amp; Macau SAR reporting segment delivered continued growth in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the record high first quarter in 2025, reflecting both domestic and financial hub related demand.</p><p>Japan reported strong growth, reflecting the boost from its strategic expansion into the retirement and savings segment in mid 2025, alongside its long-standing protection business.</p><p>The Expansion Markets segment &ndash; comprised of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam &ndash; posted excellent growth, driven by the broker and independent financial advisor channel and solid bancassurance results.</p><p>In the Thailand &amp; Cambodia segment, the focus on developing quality new business continued, given sustained growth headwinds from the lower rate environment in Thailand. As previously announced, Khun Knattapisit Krutkrongchai (KK) will join FWD as Chief Executive Officer, Thailand, effective 11 May 2026, subject to relevant regulatory approvals. KK is a seasoned insurance executive with almost 30 years of experience, including most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Krungthai-AXA.</p><p><strong>About FWD Group</strong></p><p>FWD Group (1828.HK) is a pan-Asian life and health insurance business that serves approximately 40 million customers across 10 markets, including BRI Life in Indonesia. FWD&rsquo;s customer-led and tech-enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products and a simpler insurance experience. Established in 2013, the company operates in some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world with a vision of changing the way people feel about insurance. FWD Group is listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 1828. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.fwd.com">www.fwd.com</a></p><p>For media inquiries, please contact:&nbsp;<a title="mailto:groupcommunications@fwd.com" href="mailto:groupcommunications@fwd.com" data-linkindex="0">groupcommunications@fwd.com</a></p><p>Source: FWD Group Holdings Limited</p><p>*The unaudited results are for the three months ended 31 March 2026 and are compared to the same period in 2025. Growth rates are represented on a constant exchange rate basis. New business sales are calculated on an APE basis, based on 100 percent annualised first year premiums and 10 percent single premiums.</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106745/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106745/</guid><category>Funds &amp; Equities, Banking &amp; Insurance</category><stock_tickers>HKG:1828, HKG:01828, ETR:O62</stock_tickers><summary>FWD Group Holdings Limited (&apos;FWD Group&apos; or &apos;FWD&apos;) today announced strong first quarter new business highlights for the three months ended 31 March 2026.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>51WORLD Grants 940,200 RSUs for the First Time via Share Repurchase</title><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:01:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.acnnewswire.com/images/company/51world220px.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="justify"><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 28, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>Beijing 51WORLD Digital Twin Technology Co., Ltd. (&ldquo;the Company&rdquo;, Stock Code: <a href="https://6651.HK">6651.HK</a>) announced on 27 April 2026 the first grant of 940,200 restricted share units (RSUs) to 303 employees&nbsp;under its 10-year RSU Scheme, representing approximately 0.23% of the Company&rsquo;s total issued shares.</p><p align="justify">The underlying shares will be sourced from existing H Shares acquired by the Trust on the secondary market and/or treasury H Shares repurchased by the Company using its own funds. Vesting of the award shares shall be 25% after 12 months from acceptance, and the remaining 75% shall vest in 12 quarterly instalments at 6.25% each until fully vested.</p><p>The RSU Scheme is intended to align the interests of the core team with the long-term development of the Company and enhance the incentive mechanism for talent attraction and retention.</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106674/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106674/</guid><category>HR, Funds &amp; Equities</category><stock_tickers>HKG:06651, HKG:6651</stock_tickers><summary>Beijing 51WORLD Digital Twin Technology Co., Ltd. (&apos;the Company&apos;, Stock Code: 6651.HK) announced on 27 April 2026 the first grant of 940,200 restricted share units (RSUs) to 303 employees under its 10-year RSU Scheme, representing approximately 0.23% of the Company&apos;s total issued shares.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>CTF Life Launches MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan</title><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:43:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.acnnewswire.com/images/company/CTF_Life220.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="justify"><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 27, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>CTF Life announced today the launch of the <strong>MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan</strong> (the Plan) a robust, one-stop wealth management solution offering long-term wealth accumulation potential with flexibility. The plan offers both single-premium and regular-premium payment options, with an expected total internal rate of return (IRR) of up to 6.5% in the 20th policy year for a single-premium USD policy &ndash;the fastest and highest in the Hong Kong market&sup1; &ndash; enabling customers to realise attractive potential returns earlier.&nbsp;</p><p align="justify">The Plan also features the special-in-market2 &ldquo;<strong>Wealth Accumulation Switching Option</strong>&rdquo;3, allowing customers to flexibly adjust their wealth management strategy by switching among three options (Advance, Balanced and Conservative) &ndash; to align with their evolving financial goals. Product features such as the &ldquo;<strong>Currency Switching Option</strong>&rdquo;4,5 and &ldquo;<strong>Policy Split Option</strong>&rdquo;6, <strong>as well as multiple product advantages</strong> are designed to comprehensively address customers&rsquo; financial needs and global wealth-planning objectives across different life stages.</p><p align="justify">Harnessing its sound investment strategy and strong financial strength, CTF Life has maintained a non-guaranteed accumulation interest rate of 4.25% p.a.7 on participating USD policies for the 14th consecutive year. In addition, the three signature product series8 have achieved a 100% or more fulfilment ratio for ten consecutive years9, demonstrating the Company&rsquo;s consistency and reliability in delivering customer returns. As of 31 December 2025, CTF Life&rsquo;s solvency ratio under the Hong Kong Risk-Based Capital (HKRBC) regime stands at 282%10, leading the market11 and well above the minimum regulatory requirement of 100%, providing solid assurance for customers&rsquo; long-term wealth accumulation.</p><p align="justify">Customers who successfully apply for the Plan within the designated period can enjoy a maximum <strong>premium discount of up to 24% on the total premiums for the first two policy years, together with a guaranteed interest rate offer on prepaid premiums</strong>. *</p><p align="justify">The new MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan reflects CTF Life&rsquo;s deep understanding of customer needs. In addition to offering market-leading wealth accumulation potential, the Plan incorporates a range of flexible and innovative legacy planning features, empowering customers to manage their wealth with confidence at every stage of life. Key features and dedicated services of the Plan include:</p><p align="justify"><strong>1. Wealth Accumulation Switching Option</strong>3: While the policy is in force, customers may leverage the special-in-market&sup2; switching options with artisanal design to manage their wealth. On the 10th policy anniversary and every policy anniversary thereafter, customers can flexibly switch among the &ldquo;Advance&rdquo;, &ldquo;Balanced&rdquo;, and &ldquo;Conservative&rdquo; switching options. Each option is equipped with different ratio of the &ldquo;Stable Asset Account&rdquo;&sup1;&sup2; value to the cash value of Reversionary Bonus&sup1;&sup3; (if any) and Terminal Bonus&sup1;&acirc;'&acute; (if any).</p><p align="justify"><strong>2. Free Policy Currency Conversion</strong>: From the 3rd policy anniversary and any policy anniversary thereafter and while the policy is in force, customers may apply to exercise the Currency Switch Option&acirc;'&acute;,&acirc;'&micro;, changing the policy currency of the basic plan of the policy to a different currency (like US Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Chinese Yuan, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Euro, British Pound Sterling or Singapore Dollar) without having to provide any evidence of insurability.</p><p align="justify"><strong>3. Policy Split Option</strong>6: While the policy is in force and the Insured is still alive, after the end of the 3rd Policy Year or the end of the premium payment period (whichever is later), customers may split the original policy by allocating part of the Units of the basic plan to one or more separate policy(ies). This option also applies to the split policy(ies), enabling enhanced flexibility in asset allocation.</p><p align="justify"><strong>4. Multiple innovative legacy edges</strong>: After the 6th policy monthly anniversary, customers may change the Insured for unlimited times&sup1;&acirc;'&micro;. The plan specially provides the Policy Continuation Option&sup1;&acirc;'&para;, allowing designated beneficiaries to become new Policy Owners and Insureds upon the death of the original Insured. Upon exercising either of these two options, the coverage will be adjusted to the age of 128 for the new Insured, providing greater flexibility for customers' inheritance arrangements and enabling wealth to be passed on to future generations.</p><p align="justify"><strong>5. Flexible policy value withdrawal arrangements</strong>: In addition to setting up standing instructions for regular withdrawals17 for the Policy Owner, he/she may also arrange for payments to be directly credited to designated payee(s), such as family members, hospitals, residential care homes for the elderly or charitable institutions. The &ldquo;Artisanal Default Policy Service&rdquo; further complements the Plan through a range of dedicated arrangements, offering customers greater flexibility and convenience in withdrawal arrangements.</p><p align="justify"><strong>6. Premium Holiday18 of up to 8 years</strong>: If the Policy Owner is unfortunately diagnosed with a specified Covered Illness, including cancer, severe heart attack or stroke, the Premium Holiday period may be extended free of charge, giving customers additional financial buffer and peace of mind.</p><p align="justify"><strong>7. Flexible settlement options for Death Benefit&sup1;&acirc;'&sup1; / Full Surrender</strong>&sup2;&acirc;'&deg;: Customers can choose from a wide range of Death Benefit Settlement Options for each beneficiary, including a lump-sum payment, regular installment payment&sup1;&acirc;'&sup1;, or increasing installment payments&sup1;&acirc;'&sup1;. Customers can also choose to receive part of the benefit as a lump sum with the remaining balance paid for increasing installments or customise the payment to start at a specified year or at a specified age of the beneficiary with fixed or increasing installments, ensuring each beneficiary receives the most appropriate arrangement.</p><p align="justify"><strong>8. Market-First Customised Life Event Option</strong>21: In conjunction with the applicable instalment Death Benefit Settlement Options and the &ldquo;Life Event Option&rdquo;, customers may choose to arrange death benefit payouts upon any of the nine preset life events of the Primary Beneficiary, such as marriage or home purchase. Through the first-in-market &ldquo;Customised Life Event&rdquo; Option21, customers can also freely customise lump-sum payouts at meaningful life milestones. More than one Life Event Options can be assigned for each primary beneficiary, making protection even more thoughtful and flexible.</p><p align="justify"><strong>9. Flexible premium payment options</strong>: MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan offers a choice of single-premium, 5-year and 12-year premium payment periods. For the 5-year premium payment period, customers may also choose to prepay the premiums22 by lump sum payment upon application, thereby enjoying the benefit of paying up the Plan at a lower cost. Interest23 (if any) will also be earned on the prepaid premiums22.</p><p align="justify"><strong>Notes</strong>:</p><table border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">*</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Application submission period is from&nbsp;27&nbsp;April 2026 to 30 June 2026 (both dates inclusive). For details, please refer to the promotional leaflet:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctflife.com.hk/pdf/en/home/premium_offer_flyer.pdf">https://www.ctflife.com.hk/pdf/en/home/premium_offer_flyer.pdf</a>&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">1</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">An expected total internal rate of return (IRR) of 6.5% by the 20th policy year applies to single-premium USD policies that meet the minimum premium requirement, assuming no withdrawals, surrender or exercise of any policy options. As of 31 March&nbsp;2026, the &ldquo;fastest and highest in the Hong Kong market&rdquo; refers to the highest expected total IRR of 6.5% and a total return multiple of 3.5 times by the 20th policy year (being the expected total cash value divided by the total premiums paid). These figures are calculated based on the current assumed investment returns, are not guaranteed, are shown on a rounded basis, and are the result of the Company&rsquo;s comparison among major savings insurance products of major life insurance companies in Hong Kong.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">2</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">&ldquo;Special-in-market&rdquo; is the result of comparing similar major life insurance savings products of major life insurance companies in Hong Kong as of 27 April 2026.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">3</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Wealth Accumulation Switching Options and its portfolio ratio:</p><table border="1" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="147"><p align="justify">Switching option(s)</p></td><td valign="top" width="236"><p align="justify">&ldquo;Stable Asset Account&rdquo; allocation</p></td><td valign="top" width="596"><p align="justify">Allocation of the cash value of Reversionary Bonus (if any) and cash value of Terminal Bonus (if any)</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="center" width="147"><p align="justify">Advance</p></td><td valign="center" width="236"><p align="justify">0%</p></td><td valign="center" width="596"><p align="justify">100%</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="center" width="147"><p align="justify">Balanced</p></td><td valign="center" width="236"><p align="justify">40%</p></td><td valign="center" width="596"><p align="justify">60%</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="center" width="147"><p align="justify">Conservative</p></td><td valign="center" width="236"><p align="justify">80%</p></td><td valign="center" width="596"><p align="justify">20%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="justify">&ldquo;Stable Asset Account Allocation&rdquo; = the value of &ldquo;Stable Asset Account&rdquo; &divide; (cash value of Reversionary Bonus (if any) + cash value of Terminal Bonus (if any) + value of Stable Asset Account) x 100%. Within 30 days before or after the 10th policy anniversary or every policy anniversary thereafter, customers may, subject to the prevailing rules of the Company, exercise the Wealth Accumulation Switching Option to adjust the Switching Option of the basic plan of the policy to achieve Stable Asset Account Allocation at customers&rsquo;&nbsp;desire. Subject to specified conditions. Please refer to the Policy Provisions for more details of the Wealth Accumulation Switching Option.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">4</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">On the 3rd&nbsp;policy anniversary or any policy anniversary thereafter and while the policy is in force, customers may change the policy currency of the basic plan of the policy to a different currency (&ldquo;New Policy Currency&rdquo;) through converting the existing basic plan of the policy to a designated new plan (&ldquo;Designated Plan&rdquo;) denominated in the New Policy Currency that is available and determined by the Company without providing any evidence of insurability.&nbsp;Subject to specified conditions. Please refer to the Policy Provisions for more details of the Currency Switch Option.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">5</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Upon the effective date of Currency Change, the basic plan of the policy will be converted to the Designated Plan denominated in the New Policy Currency. Policy Effective Date and Policy Years of the policy will remain unchanged after the Currency Switch. The existing and future amounts of Unit, Guaranteed Cash Value, premium(s) due and payable (if any), total premiums paid, face value and cash value of Reversionary Bonus and Terminal Bonus (if any), accumulated value of Stable Asset Account (if any) of the basic plan of the policy will be determined and adjusted by the Company at its sole discretion. Any complementary policies and riders under the policy will remain in force under the original policy after the Currency Switch. If any complementary policies and riders are not accepted to retain under the original policy, such complementary policies and riders shall be automatically terminated from the effective date of Currency Switch.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">6</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">While the policy is in force and after the end of the 3rd Policy Year, the Policy Owner may exercise the Policy Split Option to create one or more separate policy(ies) (the &ldquo;Split Policy(ies)&rdquo;), allocating a portion of the Units from the basic plan of the original policy to the Split Policy(ies) without providing any evidence of insurability, subject to specified conditions. The Split Policy(ies) will be effective only after its Policy Provisions and policy specifications are issued. Please refer to the Policy Provisions for more details of Policy Split Option.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">7</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">The interest rate is not guaranteed and may be adjusted from time to time.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">8</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">The three signature product series include: (i) "Regent" Series (similar products as "MyWealth" Series), (ii) "HealthCare 168" Series (similar products as "FamCare 198"), and (iii) "Fortune Saver" series (similar products as &ldquo;Ever Shine").</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">9</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">For policies under the above product series issued during the years from 2015 to 2024, the dividend fulfilment ratio of the Annual Dividend / Reversionary Bonus / Terminal Dividend / Terminal Bonus for each policy issue year reached 100% or above. Please visit CTF Life&rsquo;s website for the latest dividend fulfilment ratio information of the above or other products.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">10</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Source: CTF Services Limited Interim Report 2025&ndash;2026. As of 31 December 2025, CTF Life&rsquo;s solvency ratio under the Hong Kong Risk-Based Capital regime was 282%.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">11</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Based on an analysis and comparison of the solvency ratios of the 15 insurance companies with the highest total gross premiums for 2024, as announced in September 2025. Such information is based on the data disclosed by the relevant insurance companies as of 31 December 2024 in accordance with the public disclosure requirements of the Insurance Authority.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">12</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Account determined in accordance with the Wealth Accumulation Switching Option provision in which its long-term target asset allocation is 100% in fixed income type securities. The value in the Stable Asset Account will be accumulated at such interest rate as may be declared by the Company from time to time. However, interest rates on the Stable Asset Account are not guaranteed and may even be 0% in any year.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">13</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">The face value and cash value of Reversionary Bonus are non-guaranteed. However, once declared, the declared face value of Reversionary Bonus will become guaranteed and forms a permanent addition to the policy. Please refer to the Policy Provisions for details of Reversionary Bonus.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">14</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">A non-guaranteed Terminal Bonus may be declared for this Plan by the Company starting from the 1st policy anniversary. Non-guaranteed Terminal Bonus and its amount may be paid at the sole discretion of the Company. The cash value of Terminal Bonus should be either equal to or less than the face value of Terminal Bonus.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">15</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Change of the Insured is subject to the prevailing administrative rules and designated requirements. The Unit, Guaranteed Cash Value, the face value of accumulated Reversionary Bonuses (if any) and the face value of Terminal Bonus (if any), any accumulated value of Stable Asset Account, Policy Date and Policy Years will remain the same on the Insured-Change Effective Date while the Plan End Date will be adjusted to the date of policy anniversary on the 128th birthday of the Changed New Insured or following the 128th birthday of the Changed New Insured (whichever is applicable). Please refer to the Policy Provisions for details of Change of Insured Option.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">16</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Upon the death of the Insured, if the Policy Owner (still alive) and the Insured are different persons, the beneficiary will become the Continued New Insured; if the Policy Owner died at the same time or the Policy Owner and the Insured is the same person, subject to the prevailing administrative rules of the Company, the beneficiary will become the new Policy Owner and Continued New Insured of the policy. After this option has been exercised, all Units, total premiums paid, Guaranteed Cash Value, the face value of accumulated Reversionary Bonuses (if any), the face value of Terminal Bonus (if any) and any accumulated value of Stable Asset Account (if any), Policy Date and Policy Years will remain unchanged on the Policy Continuation Effective Date, while the respective plan end date of the basic plan of the policy will be adjusted to the date of policy anniversary on the 128th birthday of the Continued New Insured or the immediately following policy anniversary (whenever is applicable).&nbsp;Please refer to the Policy Provisions for details of Policy Continuation Option.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">17</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Policy value withdrawal is subject to the Company&rsquo;s minimum Unit requirement and the relevant terms and conditions. For regular withdrawals to designated payee(s), the relationship of eligible designated payee(s) must meet the Company&rsquo;s requirements. The Company reserves the right, at its discretion, to request proof of relationship and to amend the relevant terms and conditions from time to time as necessary. Policy value withdrawal belongs to other policy services. For details, please refer to the relevant service application form and the &ldquo;Notification of Policy Service Confirmation.&rdquo;</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">18</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Premium Holiday is not applicable to the policy with single premium as the premium payment period. &nbsp;Regardless of whether there has been any change of Policy Owner throughout the premium payment period, if the Policy Owner is diagnosed with the Covered Illness, the Premium Holiday Period may be extended after the Company has received the prescribed form submitted by the Policy Owner together with the medical certificate completed by the attending doctor of the Policy Owner, in accordance with the applicable premium payment period. Please refer to the Policy Provisions for details of Premium Holiday and Covered Illness.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">19</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Subject to specified conditions. Please refer to the Policy Provisions for details of Death Benefit Settlement Option.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">20</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">Subject to specified conditions. Please refer to the Policy Provisions for details of Full Surrender.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">21</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">&ldquo;First-in-market&rdquo; service feature is the results&nbsp;of comparing similar major insurance policy services of major life insurance companies in Hong Kong as of 4 Dec 2025. For the relevant terms and conditions, please refer to the respective service application forms and &ldquo;Notification of Policy Service Confirmation&rdquo;.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">22</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">The premium prepayment option is only applicable to annual premium payment mode. The prepaid premium will be credited to the premium deposit account and accumulate at the prevailing interest rate offered at that time (the current interest rate offered is 2% p.a.), but it is not guaranteed. The Policy Owner can withdraw the full amount of the prepaid premiums from the premium deposit account. However, any interest credited will be forfeited. If the amount of the premium deposit account is not sufficient to pay the premium and premium levy due to a decrease in interest rate, the Policy Owner is required to make up the relevant premium difference (including premium levy). Otherwise, the policy will be terminated or subject to an automatic premium loan. If the Insured passes away, the premium deposit account balance (if any) will be payable to the Policy Owner without any charge.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="51"><p align="justify">23</p></td><td valign="top" width="1090"><p align="justify">The current interest rate offered is 2% p.a. but it is not guaranteed.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="justify"><strong>Important Notice</strong>:</p><p>- The information contained in this press release is intended as a general summary of information for reference only. For more details, please refer to relevant product brochures, promotion leaflets, and policy documents. For details regarding the CTF Life MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan, please refer to the policy contract for details of the full terms and conditions.</p><p align="justify">- This press release does not contain the full provisions, key product risks, and all exclusions of the MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan, and the full terms can be found in the Policy documents. The MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan may serve as a standalone plan(s) without bundling with other type(s) of insurance product. Please refer to the main product brochure and policy terms and conditions, as well as the explanatory documents provided by your licensed insurance intermediary, to fully understand the details and complete terms and conditions regarding the mentioned definitions, fees, product features, exclusions, and compensation payment conditions related to MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan.</p><p>- Please refer to the product brochure for more information on the MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctflife.com.hk/pdf/en/mywealth-beyond-savings-insurance-plan-brochure.pdf">https://www.ctflife.com.hk/pdf/en/mywealth-beyond-savings-insurance-plan-brochure.pdf</a></p><p align="justify">- For more information on the Artisanal Default Policy Service, please visit:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctflife.com.hk/pdf/en/artisanal-default-policy-service-flyer.pdf">https://www.ctflife.com.hk/pdf/en/artisanal-default-policy-service-flyer.pdf</a>&nbsp;</p><p align="justify">- For further details, please contact CTF Life&rsquo;s Customer Service Hotline on +852 2866 8898.</p><p align="justify">- This press release is intended to be distributed in Hong Kong only and shall not be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or provision of any of our products outside Hong Kong. Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited hereby declares that it has no intention to offer to sell, to solicit to buy or to provide any of its products in any jurisdiction other than Hong Kong in which such offer to sell or solicitation to buy or provision of any product of Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited is illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction.</p><p><strong>About CTF Life</strong></p><p>Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited (&ldquo;CTF Life&rdquo;) is proud of its rich, 40-year legacy in Hong Kong. CTF Life is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CTF Services Limited (&ldquo;CTFS&rdquo;) (Hong Kong Stock Code: 659) and one of the most well-established life insurance companies in Hong Kong. As a member of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited, CTF Life consistently strengthens its collaboration with the Chow Tai Fook Group ecosystem to support customers and their loved ones in navigating life&rsquo;s journey with personalised planning solutions, lifelong protection and diverse lifestyle experiences. By leveraging the Group&rsquo;s robust financial strength and strategic investments across the globe, CTF Life aspires to become a leading insurance company in Asia while continuously creating value beyond insurance.</p><p>Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited (Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106648/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106648/</guid><category>Funds &amp; Equities, Banking &amp; Insurance</category><stock_tickers>HKG:659, HKG:0659, HKG:00659, OTCMKTS:NWSGY</stock_tickers><summary>CTF Life announced today the launch of the MyWealth Beyond Savings Insurance Plan (the Plan) a robust, one-stop wealth management solution offering long-term wealth accumulation potential with flexibility.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>Family Offices in Times of Uncertainty: Boost Cash Positions and Deploy High-Quality Assets</title><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:43:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.acnnewswire.com/images/company/BlackSpade1.jpg" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 20, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>At a private investment summit, Janet Yellen, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and former Chair of the Federal Reserve, noted that the outlook for U.S. interest rate policy remains uncertain. However, citing the current weakness in the labour market, she estimated that if a judgement were to be made today, there is a chance the Federal Reserve might lower interest rates once within this year.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong>Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO of Black Spade</strong>, one of Asia&rsquo;s leading family offices, added that the recent oil price shock has intensified global inflationary pressures. The ripple effects are spreading across the aviation, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and consumer sectors, leaving both businesses and households facing higher costs and greater volatility. Under these circumstances, while interest rate cuts are not impossible, the room for easing is limited.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" align="justify">Against this backdrop, most Asian family offices remain pragmatic and cautious. At this stage, the focus is on increasing cash holdings and allocating to high quality fixed-income products to maintain ample liquidity, while closely monitoring policy and market signals and avoiding excessive leverage. Meanwhile, the U.S. fiscal deficit continues to surge, with the size of debt approaching US$40 trillion, or approximately 120% of the country&rsquo;s GDP. Large fiscal deficits combined with political pressure to maintain low tax rates suggest that market structures and policy directions may undergo repeated adjustments.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" align="justify">Over the next six to 12 months, investors may consider making reference to Berkshire Hathaway&rsquo;s approach of increasing cash holdings to a higher level, as well as raising allocations to strategic and defensive assets with stable returns, notably the recent acquisitions of stakes in Chubb, United Healthcare Group and Tokio Marine. In the brief exchange with Dr. Yellen, Mr. Tam felt that diversifying risk was indeed an important point. Under the current global landscape, a viable strategy in the short term may be to remain vigilant and patiently await clearer signals from the Federal Reserve.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Photo caption</strong>:&nbsp;</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://photos.acnnewswire.com/20260420sc1.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="617"></p><p style="text-align: center;">Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO of Black Spade (right) and Dr. Janet Yellen, former US Treasury Secretary and former Chair of the Federal Reserve</p><p style="text-align: justify;" align="justify"><strong>About Black Spade Capital Limited&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;" align="justify">Black Spade Capital Limited is an established family office that manages the private investments of Mr. Lawrence Ho. Headquartered in Hong Kong, its global portfolio consists of a wide spectrum of cross-border investments as it consistently seeks to add new projects and opportunities to its investment mix. Black Spade&rsquo;s investment strategy maximizes coverage of geographic regions and sectors whilst maintaining a portfolio of diversified asset classes, ranging from equity, fixed income, medical technology, leisure and culture, green energy, real estate to Pre-IPO investments. In August 2023, Black Spade Acquisition Co, a blank check company (SPAC) sponsored by Black Spade, completed a US$23 billion business combination with VinFast Auto Ltd. The second SPAC of Black Spade, Black Spade Acquisition II Co, completed a business combination with global media and entertainment powerhouse The Generation Essentials Group in about 9 months&rsquo; time in June 2025. Black Spade listed its third SPAC, Black Spade Acquisition III Co in January 2026.</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106524/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106524/</guid><category>Daily Finance, Funds &amp; Equities</category><stock_tickers>NASDAQ:BSIIU</stock_tickers><summary>At a private investment summit, Janet Yellen, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and former Chair of the Federal Reserve, noted that the outlook for U.S. interest rate policy remains uncertain.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>3 Years and 11 Months! &apos;AI+All-in-One PV Storage&apos; Sigenergy Listed on HKEX: Fastest IPO Record for a Chinese Enterprise</title><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:31:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 16, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. (&ldquo;<strong>Sigenergy&rdquo; or &ldquo;the company&rdquo; Stock Code: 06656.HK</strong>) officially commenced trading on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) today. As the first &ldquo;AI + All-in-One PV Storage&rdquo; company to list on the exchange, Sigenergy has set a new record for the fastest IPO by a Chinese enterprise.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The stock showed strong momentum on its debut, opening at HK$&nbsp;581, representing&nbsp;almost&nbsp;an 80% increase over the offer price. Market cap exceeded HK$140 billion. Based on the offer price of HK$324.20 per share, the company raised over HK$4.4 billion in its IPO. If the over-allotment option (greenshoe) is exercised in full, the total proceeds will reach HK$5.06 billion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>A Milestone for the Company, the Beginning for a New Chapter</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Founded only 3 years and 11 months ago, Sigenergy&rsquo;s rapid path to listing reflects its focus on defining new industry standards rather than following short-term market trends. The IPO attracted a prestigious group of cornerstone investors, highlighting the company&rsquo;s strategic value in the 2026 Hong Kong market.</p><p align="center"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://photos.acnnewswire.com/20260416sc1.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="433"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">At the listing ceremony,&nbsp;<strong>Mr. Xu Yingtong, Founder and CEO of Sigenergy</strong>, together with <strong>Mr. Zhang Xianmiao, President of Sigenergy</strong>, witnessed this pivotal milestone in the company&rsquo;s journey.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Mr. Xu Yingtong stated</strong>: &ldquo;Listing marks a new beginning for us. Guided by our &lsquo;AI in All&rsquo; mission, we are doubling down on energy storage and accelerating R&amp;D to fortify our competitive edge. Our goal is to ensure that AI translates into tangible value for our customers. As we advance our global expansion and refine our international network, we are proud to share the story of &lsquo;China&rsquo;s Intelligent Manufacturing&rsquo; in the renewable energy sector. We promise to uphold the highest standards of operational excellence, rewarding your trust with exceptional results and building a legacy as a transparent, reliable, and socially responsible enterprise.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="https://photos.acnnewswire.com/20260416sc2.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="433"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sigenergy&rsquo;s cornerstone investors include world-class sovereign wealth funds and asset managers such as&nbsp;Temasek, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, UBS Asset Management, and BNP Paribas Asset Management. Other notable participants include&nbsp;Hillhouse, CPE, Boyu Capital, Gaoyi Asset Management, and Greenwoods Asset Management, alongside insurance and specialized funds like&nbsp;CPIC, ORIX, and Walden International.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This diverse group of high-caliber investors signals a strong market consensus: Sigenergy is recognized as a unique player in the &ldquo;AI + All-in-One PV Storage&rdquo; sector, underpinned by proprietary technology, high entry barriers, and predictable growth. Beyond a mere endorsement of the company, this capital influx confirms the market&rsquo;s conviction that &ldquo;AI-native&rdquo; architecture is the definitive standard for next-generation energy storage.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Market confidence is supported by Sigenergy&rsquo;s rapid scale-up. According to the prospectus, the company&rsquo;s revenue grew from&nbsp;RMB 58.30 million in 2023 to RMB 9.00 billion in 2025, increased&nbsp;154.4&nbsp;times&nbsp;in two years. During this period, gross margins expanded from&nbsp;31.3% to 50.1%, with an adjusted net margin reaching&nbsp;35.9%. These figures validate the commercial viability of Sigenergy&rsquo;s &ldquo;AI-native&rdquo; technology path.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Differentiation Through &ldquo;AI-Native&rdquo; Technology</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Unlike traditional &ldquo;hardware-first, AI-enabled&rdquo; peers, the company established a more thorough&nbsp;&ldquo;AI-native&rdquo;&nbsp;path&nbsp;by integrating artificial intelligence across product design, manufacturing, and business models, the company has achieved a system that is inherently intelligent and capable of continuous evolution.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Its flagship product,&nbsp;SigenStor, is a five-in-one system that combines an inverter, EV DC charging module, and battery pack into a modular, stackable unit which achieves a deep integration of power electronics, cloud and AI&nbsp;technologies, enhances product performance while delivering a more convenient user experience.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The actual value of system&rsquo;s &ldquo;AI-native&rdquo; capabilities is particularly effective in markets with dynamic electricity pricing. Facing fluctuations on an hourly or even minute-by-minute basis, traditional &ldquo;charge at low, use at high&rdquo; strategies based on fixed rules are no longer sufficient. By analyzing real-time prices, weather forecasts, and consumer habits, the system optimizes energy scheduling. In the Swedish market, SigenStor helped users reduce electricity costs by an average of&nbsp;70.3%, showing the effective translation from AI technology into tangible financial benefits.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sigenergy continuously strengthens its competitive edge through a &ldquo;Data-Intelligence&rdquo;&nbsp;closed-loop. As global install base grows, the system leverages real-world operational data to undergo autonomous learning and optimization. This evolution directly translates into superior economic returns for users, which in turn fosters brand loyalty and higher retention. This data-driven cycle creates a powerful network effect, establishing a formidable, long-term barrier to entry in the Energy AI sector.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since its launch, SigenStor has established a strong global presence through its unique value proposition. According to Frost &amp; Sullivan, Sigenergy has become the world No.1 provider of stackable distributed PV and storage all-in-one solutions in 2024, securing a 28.6% market share. Further data from SunWiz confirms that in 2025, the company ranked first in the under-1000kWh segment across Australia, Ireland, and South Africa, while maintaining a top-tier position in the UK, Sweden, and the Netherlands. This deep penetration into high-value markets has delivered significant commercial returns and reinforced Sigenergy&rsquo;s brand equity. As the company expands into the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions, its growth trajectory remains robust.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To support the trajectory, the company has built a robust manufacturing footprint with production bases in Lingang and Jinqiao, Shanghai, as well as Nantong, Jiangsu. By the end of 2025, the company achieved an annual design capacity of nearly 360,000 inverters and over 5.6 GWh of energy storage batteries. This infrastructure provides a stable foundation for the company&rsquo;s ongoing global expansion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The successful HKEX listing marks a significant milestone in Sigenergy&rsquo;s commitment to innovation and recognizes its substantial growth potential. Entering this new chapter, and with the support of premier institutional investors, Sigenergy will focus on optimizing resource integration and accelerating its global &lsquo;AI + Energy Storage&rsquo; strategy. By solidifying its technological leadership and market presence, the company aims to build a sustainable foundation for long-term value creation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For inquiries, please contact:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">EVER BLOOM (HK) COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS GROUP LIMITED</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ms. Claire Zhang<br>Tel: (852)3468 8171<br>Email: <a href="mailto:project_alps.list@everbloom.com.cn">project_alps.list@everbloom.com.cn</a></p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106397/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106397/</guid><category>Energy, Alternatives, Funds &amp; Equities, Artificial Intel [AI], EVs, Transportation</category><stock_tickers>HKG:6656, HKG:06656</stock_tickers><summary>Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. (&apos;Sigenergy&apos; or &apos;the company&apos; Stock Code: 06656.HK) officially commenced trading on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) today. As the first &apos;AI + All-in-One PV Storage&apos; company to list on the exchange, Sigenergy has set a new record for the fastest IPO by a Chinese enterprise.</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>Heavyweight Endorsement from Top-tier Cornerstone Investors! Sigenergy (06656.HK) Launches IPO: Led by Temasek and Goldman Sachs, the AI Energy Storage Leader Ignites Hong Kong&apos;s New Stock Frenzy</title><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:01:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.acnnewswire.com/images/company/sgxny220px.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 8, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. (&ldquo;Sigenergy&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;, Stock Code: 06656.HK), a phenomenal "fast-track dark horse" in the global AI+ energy storage sector, today officially announced the launch of its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The Hong Kong Public Offering commences on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, and is expected to close at 12:00 noon on Monday, April 13, 2026. Trading of the Company&rsquo;s H shares on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX) is expected to begin on Thursday, April 16, 2026.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">According to the Global Offering documents, Sigenergy (06656.HK) plans to offer a total of 13,573,900 H Shares (subject to the Over-allotment Option). The offering comprises a Hong Kong Public Offering of 10% and an International Offering of 90% of the total offer shares, with an additional Over-allotment Option of 15%. The offer price is set at HK$324.20 per H Share, with a board lot size of 100 H Shares.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sigenergy&rsquo;s IPO is underpinned by a powerhouse ensemble of world-class capital, featuring a prestigious cornerstone lineup of 19 investors. This A-list roster includes Temasek Holdings, UBS Asset Management (Hong Kong), Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Hillhouse Investment, BNP Paribas Asset Management, Barings, ORIX Group, CPE, Perseverance Asset Management, Greenwoods Asset Management, Boyu Capital, Fullgoal Fund, China Pacific Insurance (Group), and AXA.&nbsp;This diverse group of top-tier global sovereign wealth funds, international asset managers, leading private equity firms, and major insurance giants underscores the profound confidence global investors have in Sigenergy&rsquo;s leadership within the AI-native energy storage sector, its superior product capabilities, and its highly certain growth trajectory.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As of December 31, 2025, the Company&rsquo;s revenue skyrocketed from RMB 58 million in 2023 to RMB 9 billion in 2025, a phenomenal increase of over 150 times that marks a landmark growth trajectory in the industry. Meanwhile, Sigenergy&rsquo;s profitability has seen significant improvement, achieving a turnaround to profit in 2024. The gross margin climbed steadily from 31.3% in 2023 to 50.1% in 2025. With an adjusted net margin reaching 35.9% in 2025, both core indicators rank among the highest in the global distributed energy storage sector. Sigenergy is poised to become the youngest Chinese enterprise to achieve the fastest listing on the HKEX.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sigenergy focuses on the integrated innovation of "AI + New Energy," building a systematic competitive advantage centered on its "AI in All" strategy, which deeply integrates hardware with intelligent technology. The Company's flagship product, SigenStor, is the world's first "5-in-1" integrated solar-storage-charging system, redefining distributed energy product standards through its ultra-integrated architecture. The Company has established an all-scenario product matrix covering residential, commercial and industrial (C&amp;I), and utility-scale power station applications. Furthermore, Sigenergy deeply integrates AI capabilities across the entire value chain - from R&amp;D and smart manufacturing to system operations -&nbsp; creating a truly "thinking and evolving" smart energy ecosystem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Leveraging its international development strategy, Sigenergy has secured leading positions in several core markets. In 2024, the Company ranked first globally in the stackable distributed all-in-one energy storage segment with a 28.6% market share. It also holds the top market share in Australia, Ireland, and South Africa; notably, it has remained at the top of the Australian market for 11 consecutive months&nbsp;in 2025. To date, the Company has built a sales network covering 85 countries and established strategic partnerships with 172 industry-leading distributors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To support the rapid expansion of its global business, Sigenergy has strategically established three production bases in the Lingang Special Area and Jinqiao in Shanghai, as well as in Nantong, Jiangsu. The Nantong Smart Energy Center, representing an investment of approximately RMB 500 million, achieves significant improvements in production efficiency and process quality by deeply integrating AI technology into the manufacturing system. As of the end of 2025, the Company's annual design capacity for inverters approached 360,000 units, while the annual design capacity for energy storage batteries exceeded 5.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The net proceeds from this IPO will be primarily used for the research and development of next-generation AI energy systems, the expansion of the global sales network and overseas branding, and for general working capital. The Global Offering is jointly led by a prestigious group of investment banks. CITIC Securities and BNP Paribas are acting as the Joint Sponsors, Overall Coordinators, and Joint Global Coordinators. CICC serves as the Other Overall Coordinator, Joint Global Coordinator, Joint Bookrunner, and Joint Lead Manager. Together, these top-tier institutions are safeguarding Sigenergy&rsquo;s debut in the capital markets.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Media Inquiries:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">EVER BLOOM (HK) COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS GROUP LIMITED</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ms. Claire Zhang</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Tel: (852) 3468 8171</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Email: <a href="mailto:project_alps.list@everbloom.com.cn">project_alps.list@everbloom.com.cn</a></p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106235/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106235/</guid><category>Energy, Alternatives, Funds &amp; Equities, Artificial Intel [AI]</category><stock_tickers>HKG:6656, HKG:06656</stock_tickers><summary>Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. (&apos;Sigenergy&apos; or the &apos;Company&apos;, Stock Code: 06656.HK), a phenomenal &quot;fast-track dark horse&quot; in the global AI+ energy storage sector, today officially announced the launch of its Initial Public Offering (IPO).</summary><featuredimage /></item><item><title>Shoucheng Holdings (0697.HK) Combines Dividends and Share Buybacks in Tandem, Returning Approximately HK$6.877 Billion to Shareholders Over Eight Years</title><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0800</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.acnnewswire.com/images/company/sckglogo2220px.jpg" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>HONG KONG, Apr 8, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) -&nbsp;</strong>Shoucheng Holdings (0697.HK) has continued to step up returns to shareholders. Data shows that since Chairman Zhao Tianyang took office in 2018, the company has returned approximately HK$6.877 billion to shareholders in total, including HK$5.98 billion in cumulative dividends (including announced but not yet distributed dividends for 2026) and HK$897 million in cumulative share buybacks. The parallel implementation of dividends and buybacks demonstrates that, while continuously improving its operating quality, the company is also steadily strengthening its tangible cash returns to investors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Behind Shoucheng Holdings&rsquo; high level of shareholder returns lies the support of solid business fundamentals. Looking over a longer time horizon, since Chairman Zhao Tianyang assumed office in early 2018, the company&rsquo;s total assets have grown from HK$8.186 billion to HK$15.57 billion, representing an approximately 1.9-fold increase over eight years and a compound annual growth rate of about 8.37%. Net profit attributable to shareholders increased from HK$57 million to HK$310 million, or about 5.4 times. This indicates that during the company&rsquo;s strategic transformation, its profitability, asset depth, and capital market value have all improved continuously, laying a solid foundation for sustained dividends, buybacks, and business expansion. Meanwhile, the company&rsquo;s financial structure has continued to improve. The latest annual report shows that in 2025, the ratio of net cash flow from operating activities to total assets increased by 98% year-on-year, while the asset-liability ratio fell to 28.4% and the interest-bearing debt ratio declined to 6.2%. This means that the company&rsquo;s current high level of shareholder returns is not built on high-leverage overextension, but rather on proactive returns supported by an improved asset structure, stronger cash flow, and steady growth in its core businesses.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As its operating fundamentals continue to strengthen, Shoucheng Holdings has also been increasing the intensity of its shareholder returns. According to the latest annual report, the board has decided to declare total annual dividends of HK$780 million, corresponding to a dividend yield of about 5.6% based on the company&rsquo;s average annual market capitalization. As a cross-market reference, the dividend yield of the Hang Seng Index stood at 2.94% as of February 27, 2026. Shoucheng Holdings&rsquo; payout level is therefore clearly above this market benchmark, making it particularly attractive in the current Hong Kong stock market environment, where investors are placing greater emphasis on certainty of returns.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to continuous dividend payments, Shoucheng Holdings has also noticeably accelerated its share buyback efforts recently. According to the company&rsquo;s latest disclosure, as of April 2, 2026, it had conducted 28 buybacks during the year, repurchasing a total of approximately 119 million shares for an aggregate amount of about HK$223 million. Since March 30 alone, the company has implemented buybacks on four consecutive trading days, with a cumulative repurchase amount of about HK$94.74 million. The clearly accelerated pace of recent buybacks not only reflects management&rsquo;s recognition of the company&rsquo;s long-term value, but also further reinforces the company&rsquo;s proactive commitment to continuously rewarding shareholders and stabilizing market expectations.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the current market environment, listed companies capable of sustaining high-level dividends while simultaneously carrying out share buybacks are relatively rare. On the one hand, Shoucheng Holdings continues to enhance shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks; on the other hand, it is steadily consolidating its operating foundation through its dual core businesses of asset operations and industrial funds, gradually forming a virtuous cycle of &ldquo;improving operations, deepening cash resources, and enhancing shareholder returns.&rdquo; As the company continues to deliver on its shareholder return mechanism, its long-term investment value is expected to become increasingly evident.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><BR /><BR /> Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com]]></description><link>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106204/</link><guid>https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/106204/</guid><category>Daily Finance, Funds &amp; Equities</category><stock_tickers>HKG:0697, HKG:00697, FRA:SHVA, OTCMKTS:SCGEY, OTCMKTS:SHNHF, HKG:697</stock_tickers><summary>Shoucheng Holdings (0697.HK) has continued to step up returns to shareholders.</summary><featuredimage /></item></channel></rss>