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
- EQT to sell Melita to Goldman Sachs Alternatives
- Under EQT’s ownership, Melita strengthened its position as a leading digital infrastructure owner and operator through strategic investments in its network and customer experience, while building a successful international Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity business
- Today, Melita is the only operator in Malta providing both nationwide Gigabit fixed and nationwide 5G mobile services, and is well-positioned to expand its footprint in the fast-growing IoT connectivity sector
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Infrastructure IV fund (“EQT”) has signed an agreement to sell Melita (“the Company”) to Goldman Sachs Alternatives.
Founded in 1992, Melita is today a leading digital infrastructure owner and operator in Malta with a fully invested fiber-powered fixed network as well as a nationwide 5G mobile network with its own towers, backhaul and small cell footprint. With the largest data center in Malta, Melita delivers a full suite of digital services, including Gigabit broadband and 5G mobile connectivity, premium TV offerings, and data center solutions to households and businesses across the country.
Since EQT acquired Melita in 2019, the Company has made substantial investment in its infrastructure and enhanced its operations and service offering. For example, it has successfully developed Generative AI tools to support customers with billing, sales and technical queries which had a positive impact on customer satisfaction. The Company has also expanded internationally, establishing its presence in the rapidly growing IoT connectivity market via its proprietary platform and agile, customer-centric go-to-market approach.
Sustainability has been a core focus for Melita, becoming the first EQT portfolio company to have its near-term targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. The Company is investing in solar farms to produce renewable energy and has already replaced almost half of its car fleet with electric vehicles. It also established the Melita Foundation which supports impactful community initiatives.
Ulrich Köllensperger, Partner in the EQT Value-Add Infrastructure Advisory team, said: “Building on EQT’s long track record of investing in digital infrastructure, we supported Melita through strategic investments including in its 5G coverage and an upgrade of its fiber-powered network. We are proud of the rapid progress of Melita’s IoT business which, in just a few years since inception, has grown significantly and through add-on acquisitions, established a promising new business line with a pan-European reach. We believe the Company is well-positioned for further growth and would like to thank Harald and the entire team for their dedication and wish them continued success.”
Harald Rösch, CEO of Melita, said: “Thanks to EQT’s support, the past five years have been transformational, enabling us to make substantial progress across all aspects of our business and becoming the first operator in the European Union to deploy both a nationwide Gigabit broadband network and a nationwide 5G network. This transaction reflects the achievements of our entire team and the loyalty of our customers. With Goldman Sachs Alternatives’ support and expertise, we are excited to continue our journey sustainably, investing in our infrastructure, enhancing our services in Malta and driving further innovation.”
The transaction is subject to conditions including regulatory approvals.
EQT was advised by UBS (financial), Milbank and Camilleri Preziosi (legal).
Contact
EQT Press Office, [email protected]
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eqt-to-sell-melita-the-digital-infrastructure-owner-and-operator-in-malta-302314084.html
LONDON, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Space NK reveal growth during the last financial year, as turnover rose 34 per cent to £196.5 million in the year to the end of March, compared with the previous 12 months. Pre-tax profit rose from £1.5 million to £7.5 million during the same period.
This growth has continued into the current financial year, with half year figures up 38% per cent year-on-year. Diving deeper into this performance, it’s clear Space NK is truly an omnichannel business with shop sales rising 24 per cent and online sales increasing 35 per cent during the first six months of the year.
Performance has been fuelled by Space NK’s growth in customers, with its active base experiencing double-digit growth across all age categories, from Gen Z through to millennials and Gen Alpha. The fastest-growing category being the under-25s, at 164 per cent.
Andy Lightfoot, CEO, explained “We are delighted to report another record-breaking half of sales (April 24 – Sept 24) up 38% on last year, continuing our run of greater than 30% growth every year since 2020. Since then, the business has more than doubled its revenue and with our customer first mindset and expertly curated brands, we are delighted with our consistent and continuous growth”.
Plans to increase Space NK’s store portfolio by a further 10 additions to the existing estate are in flight – Meadowhall (Sheffield) opened November 17th 2024, a new store in Milton Keynes will open this weekend (23[rd] November) with further openings in Bluewater and other locations scheduled for 2025.
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565331/Space_NK.jpg
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-beauty-boom-figures-from-space-nk-reveal-continuing-3-year-growth-trend-302314074.html
Fintech PR
Cultural Finance Empowers New Quality Productive Forces in the Greater Bay Area’s Cultural Industry
GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — From November 20 to 22, the 2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural Industry Investment Conference took place in Guangzhou. The event was attended by representatives from financial and securities institutions, industry associations, over 100 leading investment firms, more than 40 listed companies, as well as over 100 unicorn and gazelle companies, and cultural technology innovation companies.
This year’s conference centered on the theme “Cultural Finance Empowering the Greater Bay Area: Industry and Technology Reinforcing Each Other.” Several impactful cultural investment projects were launched, alongside a series of forward-looking and in-depth high-quality research findings in the cultural industry. The event showcased cutting-edge cultural technology achievements with independent intellectual property rights and practical application potential. Notable cultural projects and products, including the film Fall Into the Mortal World, virtual digital humans for museums, and “Humanoid Robot+,” made their debut, attracting significant interest from attendees. Core cultural industry cities within the Greater Bay Area, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao, are abundant in cultural resources and presented diverse offerings. Many enterprises in these cities are focusing on areas such as AIGC, digital creative production, smart cultural manufacturing, and new forms of cultural consumption, leading to the rapid formation of a vibrant digital cultural industry ecosystem.
During the conference, the “2024 Cultural Industry Investment Report” and the “2024 Report on the Trends of Cultural Industry Investment in the Greater Bay Area” were released, providing insights and strategic guidance for financing and investment development of the cultural sector from various perspectives, hotspots, and trends. The reports indicated that the total financing amount for the cultural industry in the Greater Bay Area reached approximately 52.82 billion yuan over the past five years. Guangdong’s cultural industry’s added value has ranked first in the country for 20 consecutive years, achieving an average annual growth rate exceeding 10 percent. In 2023, the revenue of culture and culture-related enterprises above a designated size in Guangdong reached 2.2483 trillion yuan, the highest in the nation. The province is home to 10,800 culture and culture-related enterprises above a designated size, accounting for one-seventh of the national total. Notably, Shenzhen’s culture and culture-related enterprises above a designated size generated over 1 trillion yuan in revenue, accounting for 8.5 percent of the national total. Revenue from the cultural manufacturing industry accounts for nearly half of the revenue from culture and culture-related enterprises, reflecting the strength of Guangdong’s manufacturing industry.
Guangdong produces four-fifths of the nation’s gaming and amusement equipment, with Guangzhou’s gaming machines capturing 20 percent of the global market share and one-quarter of global animation derivatives originating in Dongguan. The province exhibits distinct advantages in niche segments, such as films and TV programs, video games, animation, and creative design. The gaming industry’s revenue accounts for over 80 percent of the national total, while revenues from digital music, digital publishing, and animation account for approximately one-quarter, one-fifth, and one-third of the national total, respectively.
Contact：Zi Xiang
Tel.: 0086-15099961640
E-mail: [email protected]
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565290/Guangdong_Province_Conference.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cultural-finance-empowers-new-quality-productive-forces-in-the-greater-bay-areas-cultural-industry-302314075.html
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