Fintech PR
BEA Marks the Inauguration of BEA Tower in Qianhai
BEA Tower signifies the Bank’s dedication to supporting the development of the GBA
HONG KONG, Jan. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Bank of East Asia, Limited (“BEA” or the “Bank”) today celebrated the inauguration of BEA Tower in Qianhai, its strategic hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (“GBA”). The occasion coincides with the Bank’s 105th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in BEA’s century-long development on the Chinese Mainland and its dedication to the GBA’s development.
BEA Tower is located in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone. The inauguration was officiated by Mr. Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”); Mr. Wang Qiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (“CPC”), Director-General of the United Front Work Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC; Mr. Lv Feng, Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Dr. Tong Shi-qing, Deputy Director General of the Guangdong Financial Supervisory Authority; Mr. Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Mr. Kuok Khoon-hua, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kerry Properties Limited, the Bank’s joint-venture partner for the development of BEA Tower; Dr. David Li, Executive Chairman of BEA; Professor Arthur Li, Deputy Chairman of BEA; and Mr. Adrian Li and Mr. Brian Li, Co-Chief Executives of BEA. Also joining the inauguration were the board of directors and executives of the Bank and Bank of East Asia (China) Limited (“BEA China”), and officials of Qianhai Authority and other Chinese Mainland government bodies.
In a pre-recorded video message, Mr. John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said, “The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to strengthening and leveraging Hong Kong’s competitive edge in financial services. Hong Kong’s internationalised market, product offerings and talent pool can make proactive contributions to the financial liberalisation and innovation of the GBA not only in such established sectors as securities, banking, insurance, and asset management, but also in the emerging fields of green finance and fintech. I encourage BEA to capitalise on the immense opportunities presented by the development of Qianhai to continue to play an active role in the development of the GBA and contribute to our nation’s high-standard opening up as a home-grown Hong Kong business.”
Mr. Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, said, “Qianhai is a major cooperation platform for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, holding a frontier position for national reform and opening up. It is an important national initiative to support Hong Kong’s economic and social development, enhance the level of cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and construct a new layout of opening up. In this new era and journey of China’s modernisation for building a strong nation, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao are strengthening their co-development and speeding up the formation of a new system for good-quality, highly efficient modern service industry.
Mr. Wang Qiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC, said, “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and is also a crucial year for achieving the objectives and initiatives outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan. Shenzhen will focus on driving economic development and high-quality growth to spur the creation of an economic hub with greater global influence and a modern international metropolis. We hope BEA will continue to play an increasing role in the economic and social development of Shenzhen, fully leveraging the synergies of cross-boundary collaboration.”
Mr. Adrian Li, Co-Chief Executive of BEA, commented, “The official inauguration of BEA Tower represents a milestone for our business development in the region. This building will serve as our strategic hub for the GBA, facilitating closer collaboration between members of the BEA Group and enabling us to provide more seamless cross-boundary services to our customers.”
Mr. Brian Li, Co-Chief Executive of BEA, said, “BEA has always been a supporter of the continuous development of Qianhai. Among our key business segments in the GBA, we have established our presence in securities, investment, asset management, and fintech in Qianhai. BEA Tower demonstrates our unwavering confidence in the prospects of the economy and business in the Chinese Mainland.”
BEA Tower has 18 floors and 5 underground levels. It houses BEA China’s flagship Shenzhen Branch, a fintech innovation centre cum startup collaboration platform – BEAST (which stands for BEA + Startups), a Data Lab and other BEA subsidiaries.
With a recognised presence across all 9 GBA cities in the Mainland, BEA offers a comprehensive range of cross-boundary banking services by leveraging its onshore and offshore platforms to meet the needs of personal and corporate customers.
In addition, BEA is committed to advancing innovation and supporting a vibrant fintech ecosystem in the region. BEAST, BEA’s fintech platform that was first established in Hong Kong in September 2022, has expanded its reach to Qianhai. Launched in October 2023, Qianhai BEAST enables the Bank to connect with the wealth of talent and expertise in Shenzhen’s thriving fintech community. BEAST Qianhai benefits BEA and its customers with co-created solutions, while also facilitating broader regional collaboration.
BEA continues to strengthen its capabilities with innovative solutions. Its refreshed brand identity reflects the sustainable, digital-led and customer-centric bank that BEA is today and its commitment to empowering its customers to manage their financial well-being.
About The Bank of East Asia, Limited
Incorporated in 1918, The Bank of East Asia, Limited (“BEA”) is a leading Hong Kong– based financial services group listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, with total consolidated assets of HK$872.1 billion (US$111.3 billion) as of 30th June, 2023.
BEA provides a comprehensive range of corporate banking, personal banking, wealth management, and investment services to customers through an extensive network of about 150 outlets covering Hong Kong, the rest of Greater China, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For more information, please visit www.hkbea.com.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bea-marks-the-inauguration-of-bea-tower-in-qianhai-302033718.html
- Work is more important to professionals in ‘Global South’ countries than it is to their peers in Western countries.
- They also place more value on working longer hours, with a significant percentage of professionals in China and India willing to work more than 40 hours a week.
- Westerners lack leadership ambition – only 42% of respondents express a desire to lead or establish a business. In the Global South 65% hold this aspiration.
- Global executive search & leadership advisory firm Amrop surveyed 8,000 people in Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the UK, and US on the meaning of work.
BRUSSELS, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Professionals in Western countries are less ambitious and less interested in work than their ‘Global South’ peers, a new global study by Amrop, a leading global executive search and leadership consulting firm, reveals.
“The drive and ambition in India, Brazil, and China highlight a contrast with the aging societies in the West. As Western nations also face a scarcity of qualified professionals, the ambition of their workforce becomes a decisive factor for growth, economic success, and wealth preservation,” states Annika Farin, Global Chair at Amrop. “Stakeholders should encourage entrepreneurship and foster interest in both professional and personal growth in workers.”
Notably, 92% of Indians and 87% of Brazilians say they enjoy working, while the sentiment is lower in Germany (71%), the US (69%), and the UK (68%), as well as other European countries. Significant variations emerge in how respondents prioritize their careers: 84% in India assert that a successful career is crucial for a good life, with high agreement also in China (71%) and Brazil (70%). Conversely, only 43% in Germany, 40% in France and 37% in Poland share this perspective. In other Western countries such as the US and UK, over half of respondents consider their careers vital for a good life.
India Leads with Impressive Work Ethic and Work-Life Balance
However, divergent work ethics surfaced among Western countries as well, with 70% in the US prioritizing hard work, contrasting starkly with the 35% in France who share the same belief. In this context, India leads at 75%, surpassing Brazil (55%) and China (63%). Chinese professionals also lean more towards career over private life. Work hours reveal distinctions: 46% in China and 42% in India are willing to work over 40 hours, while 29% in the UK, 27% in Germany and only 16% in France, are open to longer working hours. At the same time 73% in India and 59% in China assert that they have a healthy work-life balance, contrasting with 45% in France and 49% in Germany.
“This observation is intriguing. Working fewer hours doesn’t necessarily improve one’s perception of work-life balance. If any connection exists, it appears to be the other way around – professionals willing to work longer hours also seem to have a greater sense of work-life balance. In Europe, especially, we need follow-up studies to find out where these sentiments are coming from, so we know how to reignite the passion for work,” says Farin.
The Lack of Leadership Ambition Extends to Politics
Further results from the survey show that the Global South countries demonstrate a higher aspiration for leadership roles and entrepreneurial ventures. Notably, 76% in India express a desire to run or manage a company, followed by 66% in Brazil and 54% in China. In contrast, the UK (52%), the US (49%), France (37%), and Germany (36%) trail in these aspirations. The global lack of leadership ambition extends to politics, with respondents deeming it the least desirable career across most countries. Only 19% express a motivation to make a positive impact, with 51% prioritizing financial stability and 39% aiming for a specific lifestyle.
Looking at these results, Farin emphasizes a further concern, “In surveying individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree across various countries, our results prompt a crucial question: If most professionals lack ambition for high-level leadership, who will shape the future of economies and societies? Our societies rely on people, their expertise, and motivation. Are we approaching a future where we question not only corporate leadership but also national leadership?”
About the Survey
An online survey was conducted and gathered insights from 8,000 participants, with 1,000 respondents from each of the following countries: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the US, and the UK.
The survey aimed for representativeness across these diverse nations, capturing perspectives from individuals aged 20 to 60 (Gen Z: 20-26, Young Millennials: 27-34, Old Millennials: 35-42, Gen X: 43-60), all possessing at least a bachelor’s degree. Where applicable, reported results represent the top two answer sets (strongly agree/agree).
About Amrop
Amrop is a global leadership consulting firm, offering retained executive search, Board and leadership advisory services. We advise the world’s most dynamic, agile organizations on identifying and positioning Leaders For What’s Next – adept at working across borders, in markets around the world. Established in 1977, Amrop operates in Asia, EMEA and the Americas across 69 offices in 57 countries.
Contact:
The Amrop Partnership SC
Rue Abbé Cuypers 3
1040 Brussels, Belgium
T. +32 471 733 825
E. [email protected]
Brigitte Arhold, COO
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1755576/Amrop_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-report-what-rises-in-the-east-and-goes-down-in-the-west-ambition-to-lead-302337266.html
Fintech PR
Siraj Finance PJSC signs an agreement with Azentio for iMAL core and digital financial services solution subscription optimization
SINGAPORE, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Siraj Finance PJSC, a leading Islamic Finance Company in the UAE, has signed an agreement with Azentio, a pioneer in the core banking technology service provider. The agreement represents the collaboration for implementation of the core and digital banking solution to further enhance the operational capabilities and digitization of Siraj Finance’s product and service offerings. The step is directly in line with Siraj Finance’s goal of providing diversified Islamic financial products and services via channels that are innovatively utilizing latest technology while remaining customer centric and regulatory compliant.
Mr. Amjad Hijazi – Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Joseph Daniel – Chief Business Intelligence & Strategy Officer, Mr. Syed Moosa Kaleem Al Falahi – Chief Business & Investment Officer and Mr. Fazal Nassim – Chief Governance & Compliance Officer represented Siraj Finance, whereas Mr. Rahul Arora – Chief Sales Officer, Mr. Harkaran Singh – Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Mr. Zaher El Khatib – Vice President Global Islamic Banking Sales, Mr. Alfred Quertier – Director Global Sales Engineering and Mr. Bhushan Kelkar – Vice President Sales represented Azentio, in the signing ceremony.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Amjad stated, “We are delighted to be working with Azentio as our technology partner of choice to empower our ongoing business growth. For us, iMAL and its comprehensive functionality coupled with the adherence to Islamic principles, align with our goals, allowing our team to streamline processes, enhance productivity and elevate the omnichannel customer journey.”
Mr. Rahul added, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Siraj Finance to deliver a user-friendly digital financial services experience to both their retail and corporate customers. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering financial institutions in the region with cutting-edge technology designed to meet both current and future needs.”
About Siraj Finance
Siraj Finance is a private joint stock company based in Abu Dhabi and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Established in 1999, it proudly offers a multitude of financial products, designed in compliance with the Sharia principles. It caters to Corporates, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and individuals, with the objective of providing a variety of tailored product and service options that are best fit for their aspirations and needs.
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2584254/Azentio_Siraj_Finance_PJSC_signing.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2423342/Azentio_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/siraj-finance-pjsc-signs-an-agreement-with-azentio-for-imal-core-and-digital-financial-services-solution-subscription-optimization-302336280.html
Fintech PR
DAZN ADVANCES GLOBAL EXPANSION WITH ACQUISITION OF FOXTEL, A LEADING AUSTRALIAN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA GROUP
- Milestone deal for DAZN’s position as the global home of sport.
- This acquisition establishes DAZN’s sports platform in Australia, one of the world’s most attractive sports markets.
- Foxtel Group will leverage DAZN’s global reach, industry-leading technology and extensive content portfolio to further enhance the viewing experience for Australian sports fans.
LONDON, NEW YORK, and SYDNEY, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DAZN, a world-leading sports entertainment platform, has today announced an agreement to acquire Foxtel Group (‘Foxtel’) from its majority shareholder News Corp and minority shareholder Telstra at an enterprise value of US$2.2 billion, subject to regulatory approval.
The acquisition establishes DAZN as a leader in sports entertainment in Australia – a highly attractive sports market – while also expanding DAZN’s global footprint and enhancing the group’s standing as the global home of sport. The addition of Foxtel to DAZN brings the Group’s pro-forma revenues towards US$6 billion and provides the additional content, expertise, and expansion opportunities to accelerate DAZN’s growth trajectory.
Foxtel is one of Australia’s leading media companies, with 4.7 million subscribers, who will benefit from DAZN’s extensive portfolio of sports content, platform technology, and global reach.
From its beginnings as Australia’s original pay-TV innovator, Foxtel has evolved to become a digital and streaming leader in sports and entertainment and the proposed transaction positions Foxtel for continued expansion as a digital-first, streaming-focused business. Foxtel will maintain its local character, led by the CEO, Patrick Delany, and his world-class management team.
DAZN, a sports streaming platform with a truly global reach, is committed to growing the global audience for domestic Australian sports across the 200 territories in which it is available.
Under the terms of the transaction, News Corp and Telstra will become minority shareholders in DAZN, enabling them to retain an interest in Foxtel.
Shay Segev, Chief Executive Officer of DAZN, said: “Australians watch more sport than any other country in the world, which makes this deal an incredibly exciting opportunity for DAZN to enter a key market, marking another step in our long-term strategy to become the global home of sport. Foxtel is a successful business that has undergone a remarkable digital transformation in recent years, and we are confident that our global reach and relentless pursuit of innovation will continue to drive the business forward and ensure long-term success.
“We are committed to supporting and investing in Foxtel’s television and streaming services, across both sports and entertainment, using our world-leading technology to further enhance the viewing experience for customers. We are also committed to using our global reach to export Australia’s most popular sports to new markets around the world, and we will continue to promote women’s and under-represented sports.
“We’re looking forward to working closely with Patrick Delany and his team, as well as News Corp and Telstra as shareholders in DAZN, to realise our ambitious vision for the future of sport entertainment.”
Siobhan McKenna, the Chairman of Foxtel, said the agreement with DAZN was international recognition of the transformation of Foxtel from an incumbent pay TV operator to a sports and entertainment digital and streaming leader. “Over the last seven years the Foxtel team, with the strong support of News, have achieved an extraordinary turnaround in an intensely competitive environment.”
Foxtel Group CEO, Patrick Delany, said: “Today’s announcement is a natural evolution for the Foxtel Group, having reinvented the company over the past five years as Australia’s most dynamic technology-led streaming company.
“Kayo and Foxtel provide Australian sports fans with access to the best Australian and international sport and shows, including AFL, NRL and Cricket with 4.7 million subscribers.
“We are excited by DAZN’s commitment to the Australian market. They are experts in the sports media business and can play a significant role in supporting Foxtel as the business grows its streaming capabilities, bringing a bigger and better service to customers across entertainment, news and sport. They are a perfect match for us as we look toward this next era of growth.
“We have been grateful for the support of News Corp while we reimagined the future of Foxtel. In 2019, when we merged Foxtel and Fox Sports we had many people questioning our future.
“After launching Kayo later in 2019 and BINGE in 2020, today we are the largest Australian-based streamer of sport and entertainment, we have stabilised our Foxtel base and launched Hubbl to help consumers find all the streamed content they love all in one place. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support and encouragement of News Corp.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
About DAZN
As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide.
DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, LALIGA, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.
DAZN partners with leading pay-TV operators, ISPs and Telcos worldwide to maximise sports exposure to a broad audience. Its partners include Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Sky, Movistar, Telenet, Vodafone, and many more.
DAZN is a global, privately-owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. The Group generated $3.2bn in revenue in 2023, having grown its annual revenues by over 50% on average from 2020 to 2023, through diverse revenue streams comprising subscriptions, advertising, sponsorship, and transactional. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com.
About Foxtel
The Foxtel Group is one of Australia’s leading media companies with 4.7 million subscribers. Its businesses include subscription television, streaming, sports production and advertising. The Foxtel Group is owned 65% by News Corp and 35% by Telstra.
The Foxtel Group’s diversified business includes Fox Sports, Australia’s leading sports production company, famous for live sports and shows with the best commentators and personalities. It is also the home of local and global entertainment content and continues to be the partner of choice for the widest range of sports and international content providers based on established, long-term relationships, growing streaming audiences, and position as the largest Australian-based subscription television company.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dazn-advances-global-expansion-with-acquisition-of-foxtel-a-leading-australian-sports-and-entertainment-media-group-302337997.html
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