Author: Marie Jones

NANJING, CHINA — House of Fraser, the UK and Ireland’s premium department store group,formally opens its first store in China, Nanjing on December 21. The House of Fraser Nanjing store is located at Xinjiekou Sanpower Plaza (International Financial Centre), offering customers over 1,500 brands to shop from both online and in store.It is covering a total building area of approximately 28,500 m2 with six floors in total. Design of the building is neoclassical style, which is decorated with British style clock installation, Frasers glass roof and surrounded with world’s class light show. Additionally, there are around 50 video screens in…

NEW YORK, NY — qbeats has announced the addition of articles from Morningstar, Inc., one of the leading providers of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia to its publishing platform. For the first time, qbeats customers (investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors) will be able to access Morningstar content on a pay-per-view basis, powered by qbeats’ ‘QMV’*. Morningstar provides data on nearly 540,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on approximately 18.5 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in…

HONG KONG — China All Access (Holdings) Limited (“China All Access” or “the Company”; stock code: 633.HK) today has published a clarification announcement in response to a number of allegations made in a report (the “Allegation Report”) issued by Triam Research (“Triam”). For example, the discrepancy in revenue from the Communication Application Segment that was reported in the 2015 Financial Statements and SAIC filing is due to 1) the difference in the practice used for the SAIC filing of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the accounting treatments adopted in the 2015 Financial Statements, and 2) some of the Company’s revenue in…

HONG KONG — Legend Strategy International Holdings Group Company Limited (“Legend Strategy” or the “Group;” stock code: 1355) announced the appointment of Lu Zefeng as the Group’s Non-executive Director, with effect from 15 December 2016. Lu worked at the China Securities Regulatory Commission and held several positions, including the Head of Legal Department and the Head of Institution Regulatory Department, Assistant to Director and Deputy Director of the Shandong Branch. He was also Deputy Officer of the Listed Company Regulatory Department. Lu holds a doctorate degree in law from Wuhan University, and has a wealth of knowledge in China’s Financial Law…

Further Broaden of Shareholder Base and Raise Funds for Future Acquisitions HONG KONG — Sino Energy International Holdings Group Limited (“Sino Energy” or the “Company”; HKSE stock code: 1096) announced the issuance of convertible bonds in the aggregate amount of HK$150,000,000, to further broaden its shareholder base and establish a solid foundation for future development. Subsequent to introducing China Huarong Overseas as its controlling shareholder earlier, Sino Energy will issue a total amount of 312,500,000 shares of 22-months convertible bonds to 6 subscribers based on the initial conversion price of HK$0.48 per conversion share with an interest at 7.5% per annum.…

To join hands with leading Korean industry player in Developing into an international biopharmaceutical enterprise HONG KONG — Tongfang Kontafarma Holdings Limited (“Tongfang Kontafarma” or the “Group”; stock code: 1312.hk), today announced the proposed 29% stake acquisition of Binex Co. Ltd. (“Binex” or the “Target Company”; stock code: 053030.ks), a Korea-listed company engaged in the manufacturing and selling of pharmaceuticals mainly in Korea. On 29 November 2016 (before trading hours), Tongfang Kontafarma entered into a share subscription agreement with Binex and its majority shareholders, pursuant to which the Group has conditionally agreed to subscribe, and the Target Company has conditionally agreed…

Selangor, Malaysia — Authoritative parenting is significantly linked to positive youth development, according to a recent study published in the Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities (JSSH). Malaysia, which aims to become a developed country by 2020, is keen to ensure that its young people grow into successful and competent adults who contribute to the country’s growth. Positive youth development (PYD) is a good indicator for this as it measures an adolescent’s strengths and capabilities based on five factors: competence, confidence, caring, connection and character. Previous studies showed that parents are the biggest influencers in determining the level of…

Raghuram Rajan & Mohamed A El-Erian among Some 100 Elite Speakers HONG KONG — The 10th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held on 16 and 17 January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Financial experts and business leaders from around the world will share insights on the global economy and the latest market opportunities at the forum, which will kick off a series of events marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. The success…

HONG KONG — Supply chain management and solutions provider Daohe Global Group Limited (“Daohe Global” or the “Group”; stock code: 915) today announced its interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2016. The Group continued to face price deflation from retailers, currency depreciation and increased competition during the period ended 31 October 2016. The Group’s overall shipment dropped by approximately 9.0% from approximately US$124.6 million (equivalent to HK$971.9 million) for the same period last year to approximately US$113.4 million (equivalent to HK$882.3 million). Revenue decreased by approximately 2.9% to approximately US$52.5 million (equivalent to HK$408.5 million) from approximately…

NEW YORK — Donnelley Financial Solutions’ (NYSE: DFIN) EDGAR Online Group is joining forces with qbeats to unlock its premium content and experience. For the first time, users will be able to access premium EDGAR Online content on a pay-per-view, on-demand basis. qbeats is already helping more than 60 financial news and research providers value, distribute and monetize their content, but EDGAR Online represents the first provider of SEC filings, a bedrock source of information for investors. “The information market is one of the most exciting and rich in the world and it’s time to untap its full potential. We’re…

Services Industries to Benefit from Belt and Road Initiative; Bangladesh Provides Long-term Relocation Opportunities HONG KONG — Despite challenges facing the global economy, Hong Kong’s exports are expected to stabilise in 2017, with improvements in export value and volume compared to this year. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today released its Export Index for the fourth quarter of 2016 (4Q16), forecasting export volume to increase 0.5 per cent and export value to remain flat in 2017, compared to estimates of zero per cent and minus two per cent respectively for 2016. “Suggestive of the difficulties with foreign buyers,…

HONG KONG — Alltronics Holdings Limited (“Alltronics” or the “Group”) (Stock code: 833), a leading electronic products manufacturer and a provider of energy-saving business solutions, has announced the official passage of the resolution in relation to the allotment and issue of 23,437,980 new shares to the investor Wealth Channel Global Limited (“Wealth Channel”) by its shareholders at today’s extraordinary general meeting. The subscription shares represented approximately 4.67% of the Group’s existing issued share capital and approximately 4.46% of its enlarged issued share capital. The price for each subscription share was HK$1.49 with net proceeds amounting to approximately HK$34,600,000. Wealth Channel’s…

JAKARTA — Garuda Indonesia, the airline of Indonesia, will provide the first direct link between Indonesia and India by operating a new route from Jakarta to the Indian metropolis Mumbai, starting 12 December 2016. The new service will be served through Bangkok three times a week by the airline’s Boeing 738 aircraft with a two-class cabin configuration featuring its renowned Business Class service concept and the World’s Best Economy Class (Skytrax Global Airline Awards 2013). VP Corporate Communications of Garuda Indonesia Benny S. Butarbutar commented, “We are delighted to announce that this world’s five star services will soon be available…

TOKYO — H.I.S. Co., Ltd. (TSE1: 9603), a leading travel and airline ticket agency, has announced results for the full year ended October 31, 2016. Consolidated net sales were 523.7 billion yen, down 2.6% from last year; operating income was 14.2 billion yen, down 29.5%; and ordinary income was 8.6 billion yen, down 61.9% due to sharp foreign currency fluctuations. Net income attributable to owners of parent fell by 97.5% to 267 million yen compared to a year earlier. The Japan travel market in 2016 continued to transition, with international tourists visiting Japan hitting 20 million for the first time,…

HONG KONG — China Art Financial Holdings Limited (“China Art Financial” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”, stock code: 1572.HK), the leading art finance service provider in China is pleased to announce that, the Company’s 2016 autumn auction was successfully held on 11 December 2016 at Yixing city, Jiangsu province of the PRC. This auction is the first auction after the Company’s listing in Hong Kong. The market responded positively and the highest hammer price reached approximately RMB45 million. 2016 autumn auction has set three sessions, which are Jewel Artworks, Zisha Artworks, as well as Paintings and…

JCB International Co., Ltd. (“JCBI”), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., CIMB Bank Singapore (“CIMB”), and Wirecard AG (“Wirecard”) are pleased to announce their signing of a License Agreement to begin JCB merchant acquiring services in Singapore. Through the partnership, JCB card acceptance facilities will be available at CIMB merchants. With its ASEAN footprint firmly in place, CIMB is a befitting partner with JCBI on both the local and regional front. Having established similar collaborations in Malaysia and Indonesia, this new License Agreement extends the collaboration into other parts of Southeast Asia and enhances cooperation in the region.…

DUBAI, UAE — Loyyal, the blockchain innovator building a global loyalty operator network, has signed a contract with Dubai Holding for a pilot deployment, both enhancing and connecting the consumer facing (B2C) loyalty propositions of the Jumeirah Group and new corporate (B2B) relationship value proposition with its sister company TECOM Group. “Dubai Holding has always been at the forefront of innovation with landmark projects and several industry first initiatives including the support to Dubai Future Foundation,” says Ahmad bin Byat, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Dubai Holding. “Loyyal will be leading a pilot deployment to create innovative, feasible and cost-effective…

HONG KONG — Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (“Jacobson Pharma” or the “Group”; Stock Code: 2633), a leading company engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of generic drugs and proprietary Chinese medicines, today announces the acquisition of 100% interest in a Target Group (comprising “Karen Pharmaceutical Company Limited”, “Vincents Pharma Trading Company Limited”, and “Ho Chai Kung Medicine Manufactory Limited”) which carries a heritage household brand, Ho Chai Kung, at a total consideration of HK$568 million. This acquisition, along with the Group’s recent acquisition of Medipharma Limited back in October 2016, represents a major step forward in relation…

HONG KONG — China Goldjoy Group Limited (“China Goldjoy” or the “Group”; HKEX: 1282), notes that certain media reports have alleged that the Group had not made full disclosure regarding its holding in New Sports Group Limited (“New Sports”; HKEX: 299;) and Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. (“Bank of Zhengzhou”; HKEX: 6196). The Group hereby clarifies as follows: 1. China Goldjoy Credit Limited (previously known as KB Credit Limited) (the “Lender”) is a 80%-owned subsidiary of the Group. The Lender is licensed under Hong Kong law to carry on the lending business. The Lender is principally engaged in the provision…

BANGKOK — Shareholders of Group Lease Public Company Limited (“GL”, SET:GL), Asean’s leading digital finance firm, gave approval to the proposal to acquire shares in two finance firms in Sri Lanka and Myanmar as part of its ambitious plan to become one of the “world-class” players. With such approval, GL will acquire 22.27% shares in Commercial Credit and Finance PLC (CCF), a leading finance firm listed on Sri Lanka stock market, as part of the company’s plan to acquire a total of 29.99% equity stake in CCF. The acquisition of the remaining 7.72% shares from its two existing shareholders -…