UBS Sets a Target Price of HK$9.1 for Fosun

HONG KONG, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fosun International Limited (HKEX stock code: 00656, "Fosun International") said that UBS has recently published a report on Fosun International. UBS believes that Fosun can effectively manage near-term financing risks and assigned Fosun a "neutral" rating with a 12-month target price of HK$9.1.

UBS pointed out that while refinancing risks are rising on China macro concerns, it believes Fosun should be able to effectively manage near-term refinancing risks through a slowdown in investments and an increase in asset disposals. Fosun has been able to refinance its onshore bonds with short term commercial papers and an offshore bond with asset disposals. UBS estimates that Fosun's non-core listed investments can cover its bond refinancing needs in the next 12 months; Fosun's execution in monetizing both listed and unlisted assets should alleviate market concerns on its liquidity position.

UBS sees that Fosun is currently trading at a 63% discount to its net asset value (NAV), which is largely attributed to China's macro concerns. UBS assigned Fosun International a 12-month target price of HK$9.1, representing an increase of approximately 26% compared to its closing price at HK$7.25 on 30 June.

In fact, S&P Global Ratings published a report in early June, maintaining "BB Stable" credit rating to Fosun amid the recent volatile market environment, demonstrating its affirmation on Fosun's efforts in debt management and endogenous growth strategy. On 23 June, S&P Global Ratings published another report, stating that Fosun has adequate resources to meet its upcoming debt maturities over the next six to 12 months. It believes the company could rely on asset monetization and stable banking relationships to manage its liquidity.

According to Fosun International's 2021 annual report, Fosun International is in a sound and healthy financial position. As of the end of 2021, the total debt to total capital ratio dropped to 53.8%; the average cost of debt was at a historically low of 4.6%; cash, bank balances and term deposits reached RMB96.78 billion. In terms of cash and debt management, Fosun has always adhered to the principle of proactive management of maturing debts and continuous optimization of debt structure, and has built financing capabilities with diversified financing channels and wide recognition from the market. The Group and its subsidiaries have established partnerships with more than 100 Chinese and foreign banks around the world and have signed strategic cooperation agreements with many international banks and multiple Chinese banks. Facing the volatility of the public market, Fosun made full use of its diversified financing channels to maintain stable liquidity. 

Fosun has been steadfastly fulfilling its mission of "creating happier lives for families worldwide", strengthening its presence in four business segments: Health, Happiness, Wealth and Intelligent Manufacturing. It is also one of the few companies in China which has global operation and investment capabilities and has built up a solid technology and innovation capabilities. In the face of the volatile epidemic situation and many external uncertainties, Fosun maintained a stable leverage ratio, high risk tolerance with its multi-currency debts and stable debt maturity, maintaining a healthy financial position.

In the future, Fosun will protect itself against market risk with a diversified business portfolio, a global asset presence, and the "Profound Industry Operations + Industrial Investment" strategy, and will continue to adhere to strict financial and capital management systems, further consolidate the Company's capital foundation, and grasp opportunities amid global market fluctuations and changes, thereby making solid yet bold progress for its growth and development.

About Fosun

Founded in 1992, Fosun is a global innovation-driven consumer group dedicated to providing high-quality products and services for families around the world in Health, Happiness, Wealth, and Intelligent Manufacturing segments. In 2007, Fosun International Limited was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 00656.HK). In 2021, Fosun International's total revenue was RMB161.3 billion and total assets amounted to RMB806.4 billion. Fosun International ranks No.589 on the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 List, with a MSCI ESG rating of AA.

VANCOUVER, BC, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the face of many fears from the market due to accelerating inflation, recessionary concerns, etc., FX168 Financial Group invited elites and experts in the industry in various economics and investment fields to hold the Vancouver International Financial Summit (VIFS) 2022 at JW Marriot Parq Hotel on September 2 to 3. A number of investment experts will share with investors investment strategies in a stagnant and rising environment, the impact of the global supply chain crisis and hedging strategies, the interpretation of relevant economic data, and whether the Bank of Canada is entering a continuous interest rate hike channel. The summit is open to the general public free of charge (if registration is completed before August 1), allowing more people interested in the financial sector to discuss the next investment trends and opportunities with experts at close as well as facilitating the public understanding of correct and safe investment values.

The Canadian dollar rose strongly in the first half of this year amidst dramatic volatility, riding high among the major non-US currencies and second only to the US dollar among G10 currencies. As of July 1, USD/CAD rose 1.38% this year, hitting a high of 1.3078 and a low of 1.2402 during the year, and now trades slightly below the 1.29 handle.

The reasons for this are mainly attributed to the strong recovery of the Canadian economy from the pandemic, the hawkish stance of the Bank of Canada, rising oil prices and the strong economic performance of neighboring US. However, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) capital markets department also predicted in the middle of the year that the strength of the U.S. dollar has not yet ended, the Canadian dollar will shock down. Katherine Judge, an economist at the bank, said, "The Canadian dollar is likely to weaken further in 2023 as global growth slows, as interest rate hikes weigh on economic activity, which will depress commodity prices and weaken nominal exports from Canadian natural resource producers." The bank expects the Canadian dollar to begin depreciating significantly by early 2023.

While the USD's dominance is expected to continue, the Canadian dollar has proven that it is more closely tied to the U.S. dollar than other G10 currencies. Heading into the second half of the year, the Canadian dollar remains the second-best performing G10 currency in 2022, behind the top-ranked U.S. dollar.

For more information, please visit the event website at vifs2022.com, or email  pr@fx168group.com for sponsorship.

HONG KONG, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, "The International Business Magazine", a well-known publication in the financial industry, issued its annual industry awards. ATFX won the "2022 Best CFD Broker in Southeast Asia" for its distinctive brand, cutting-edge financial technology and services.

International Business Magazine is an international publication covering global finance and has attracted many readers from the Middle East, Africa, America, Asia and Europe. The awards established by the Magazine provide investors with a list of the best companies within the crowded global financial industry.

ATFX has stood at the forefront of financial technology since it was founded and entered the industry's fast development track. In line with its "customer-centric" business strategy, ATFX has set up offices in Southeast Asia in Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. By cooperating with well-known local companies, the company has established a comprehensive market trend analysis and safe trading mechanism.

ATFX has invested a lot of resources in fintech. Taking Southeast Asia as an example, ATFX launched the CopyTrade platform this year, allowing investors to be active in the market as "followers". Not only in Southeast Asia, but ATFX's fintech achievements are also being demonstrated in many regions worldwide. The company's fintech products can also be seen in the Middle East, Latin America and other regions.

In just a few short years, the fintech services created by ATFX have achieved full coverage of the platform system, and the company has gradually grown into a fintech company with increasing brand influence.

(ATFX Website: https://www.atfx.com)

ATFX
ATFX is an award-winning FX/CFD broker with a global presence offering customer support in over 15 languages. With over 300 tradable financial assets, including currency pairs, commodities, energy, indices, stocks CFDs, and ETF CFDs. ATFX is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in Cyprus. ATFX is also licensed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Mauritius and registered by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

HONG KONG, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) today (Monday) celebrates the successful launch of the inclusion of ETFs in Stock Connect with a virtual market open ceremony.

The virtual event, viewed by market participants, welcomed speeches from representatives that include regulators, exchange operators as well as securities registration and clearing institutions in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and culminated with a gong-striking ceremony to mark the start of trading.

HKEX Chief Executive Officer, Nicolas Aguzin, said: "The inclusion of ETFs in Stock Connect is great news and continues our commitment to enhance the vibrancy, diversity and attractiveness of our markets. It will also further strengthen Hong Kong's position as a superconnector between China and the world."

"ETFs are one of the fastest-growing segments on Hong Kong's markets. The inclusion of ETFs in Stock Connect signifies our ambition to enhance our ETF franchise, and reinforce Hong Kong's position as Asia's ETF marketplace," Mr Aguzin added.

Hong Kong's ETF market has one of the most diverse product offerings in Asia. As at the end of May 2022, the over 130 Hong Kong-listed ETFs traded over HK$11 billion a day, up from an average daily turnover (ADT) of HK$6.4 billion in 2020, with assets under management currently at over HK$430 billion. Adding eligible ETFs into Stock Connect will support the healthy development of ETFs in both the Hong Kong and Mainland China markets by expanding their respective investor bases.

Since its launch in 2014, the landmark Stock Connect programme has been instrumental in supporting the two-way capital flows into and out of Mainland China, and has become the preferred channel for international investors looking to access the A-share markets.

Stock Connect trading volumes performed well in the first quarter of 2022, with ADT of Northbound and Southbound trading at RMB105.9 billion and HK$35.5 billion respectively.

About HKEX

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is a publicly-traded company (HKEX Stock Code:388) and one of the world's leading global exchange groups, offering a range of equity, derivative, commodity, fixed income and other financial markets, products and services, including the London Metals Exchange.

As a superconnector and gateway between East and West, HKEX facilitates the two-way flow of capital, ideas and dialogue between China and the rest of world, through its pioneering Connect schemes, increasingly diversified product ecosystem and its deep, liquid and international markets.

HKEX is a purpose-led organisation which, across its business and through the work of HKEX Foundation, seeks to connect, promote and progress it markets and the communities they support for the prosperity of all.

www.hkexgroup.com

Ranked First in Credit Scoring and Domestic Leader | ASEAN

SINGAPORE, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Azentio Software ("Azentio"), a Singapore-headquartered technology firm owned by funds advised by Apax Partners, is pleased to announce it has achieved high rankings across multiple categories in the IBS Intelligence (IBSi) Sales League Table (SLT) 2022, which identified prominent banking solutions that made their mark in 2021. 

Azentio has secured the top position at IBSi SLT Industry Leader Special Awards 2022 for Credit Scoring and Domestic Leader | ASEAN. The company has also made a strong presence in the SLT Leadership Club 2022, being announced winner in the following categories:

• Compliance Management
• CRM
• Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence
• Lending | Retail
• Islamic - Lending | Retail
• Islamic - Universal Banking | Core

Several other solutions from Azentio were also positioned prominently in the report, including Digital Banking, Digital Solution, Corporate Lending, Treasury, Forex, Factoring and Asset Management.

While the IBSi Industry Leader Special Awards provide an understanding of leading suppliers in each category and region, the SLT Leadership Club recognises the best-performing systems in different categories and geographies.

Azentio was also recognized as a Competitive Player in the Universal Banking | Core, Private Banking & Wealth Management, and Risk & Compliance categories; Breakthrough Player in the Wholesale Banking, and Digital Banking & Channels categories; and as a Wider Focus Player in the Lending category.

Commenting on Azentio's performance, Robin Amlôt, Managing Editor of IBS Intelligence said, "Singapore-based Azentio Software has established itself as a powerhouse of financial software solutions in the Middle East, Africa, India and South East Asia regions, as demonstrated by its top-ranking in the IBSi SLT Industry Leader Special Awards in two categories. We congratulate the company on this performance and the depth and breadth of its portfolio, underlined by the fact that Azentio's products ranked first or second in 8 categories!"

Tony Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer of Azentio, stated, "It is pleasing to see Azentio's banking business make solid progress across multiple categories in IBSi's SLT. This year, Azentio leads the Credit Scoring category with our acclaimed credit scoring software powered with AI and ML algorithms, enabling financial institutions to make faster and more informed decisions about the creditworthiness of loan applicants with greater accuracy. Azentio also debuted with its #1 ranking as Domestic Leader I ASEAN for the overall breadth and depth of its product range built specifically for the needs of the region."

With a 20-year track record behind it, the IBSi SLT 2022 showcased the sales performance of banking technology suppliers, objectively ranking most sought-after products across 17 categories, with three new categories launched in this edition. It included system purchases made by over 1000+ banks across 250+ software products from 60 suppliers across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, APAC and ASEAN. The number of deals evaluated this year was 1,900+ reported from 134 countries.

About Azentio

Azentio Software provides mission critical, vertical-specific software products for clients in banking, financial services and insurance segments. The company has over 1000 clients in more than 65 countries with a team of over 2,000 employees across offices in 9 countries globally. Azentio Software Private Limited is wholly owned by funds advised by Apax Partners.

About IBS Intelligence

IBS Intelligence (IBSi) is the world's only pure-play financial technology focused research, advisory, and news analysis firm, with a 30-year track record and clients globally.

SINGAPORE, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellect and MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited ("MSIG Hong Kong"), a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, Asia's leading general insurance group, today announced a new engagement with MSIG Hong Kong to provide accessible, end-to-end employee wellbeing support to the insurer's medical clients. The market-leading insurance company saw the need for a personalised and comprehensive platform that would address the issue of mental health and the timely need for mental wellbeing support in Hong Kong.

From 4^th July 2022 till 31^st December 2022, applicants for MSIG Hong Kong's SME Group Medical Insurance can enjoy complimentary access to Intellect's mental health platform for free. This benefit is extended to all existing policyholders of SME Group Medical Insurance. Aside from offering comprehensive coverage in their extensive SME Group Medical Insurance plan, MSIG Hong Kong believes that access to a holistic mental wellness platform will equip its clients' workforces with a clinically-validated approach to provide the right care for their employee's needs.

Philip Kent, Chief Executive Officer, MSIG Hong Kong, said: "Now, perhaps more than ever before in Hong Kong, employers are paying more attention to the mental well-being of their people. The pandemic ushered in new levels of anxiety for many in Hong Kong, which is why it is so important that we, as a society, work to promote good mental health. We are delighted to be collaborating with Intellect on this initiative by offering free access to the Intellect platform to members of our SME Group Medical Insurance plans. Through our work with Intellect, we are contributing not just to the success of businesses by helping their employees, but are also helping to break down challenges around access to mental health support in society."

As Asia's largest and fastest-growing mental health tech company, Intellect offers a proactive and inclusive approach to mental health, accessible to anyone – from anywhere. With Hong Kong being one of the most overworked cities in the world according to studies, workplace stress and a lack of work-life balance can lead to mental health issues. Leaving these unchecked can lead to burnout, stress, low morale, and consequently, low productivity and employee absenteeism. "We live in a time where it's never been clearer that mental healthcare and support is strongly needed across Asia.," states Theodoric Chew, Co-founder & CEO of Intellect. "We're beyond proud to continue leading the conversation on mental health and expanding our presence with MSIG Hong Kong, to scale our offerings in Hong Kong and beyond."

Additionally, mental health concerns in Hong Kong have been revealed to be further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of contracting the virus, isolation from other people, and shifting daily routines have all contributed to several professionals developing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Backed by clinical and behavioural health experts, Intellect offers an end-to-end, 24/7 mental healthcare system that features one-on-one coaching, guided journals, rescue sessions, and other proactive and inclusive mental health services to its users all from the privacy of a downloadable App.

"As one of Asia's leading insurers, MSIG has incredible experience in working with the global market and provides flexible benefits that equip its clients to safeguard the wellbeing of its employees," said Jonathan Cuevas, Head of Commercial at Intellect. "We look forward to collaborating with the team to lower barriers to mental healthcare in Hong Kong and provide comprehensive employee mental healthcare."

Sign up for MSIG Hong Kong's SME Group Medical Insurance and get your company access to personalised mental health programs and 1-to-1 coaching sessions from Intellect for free until 31^st December 2022 only.

About Intellect

Intellect's mission is to make mental healthcare & wellbeing support accessible for everyone.

We do this by marrying technology with a human touch in a single platform, delivering end-to-end wellbeing support for individuals and organisations alike.

For organisations who are looking to safeguard employee wellbeing amidst the new hybrid workspace, Intellect equips workforces with our clinically-validated approach to personalise the right care your employees need.

Today, Intellect is the largest and fastest-growing mental health tech company in Asia Pacific. Over 3 million members and leading organisations globally trust Intellect to provide personalized, evidence-based wellbeing support. Intellect was also selected as one of Google's Best Apps of 2020.

About MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited ("MSIG Hong Kong")

MSIG Hong Kong is a subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited within the MS&AD Insurance Group, Asia's leading general insurance brand with presence in 50 countries and regions globally. The Group is amongst the world's top 10 non-life insurance groups based on gross revenue*. It is the number one Japanese insurer with A+ Stable credit rating. With over 40,000 employees world-wide, MSIG is represented in all ASEAN markets as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Korea, India and Taiwan.

MSIG Hong Kong offers a wide range of solutions and services through an extensive distribution network including agents, brokers, and bancassurance alliances with leading banks. It has been providing general insurance solutions to customers in Hong Kong for more than 160 years, dating as far back as 1855.

*2021 Fortune Global 500, Property & Casualty Insurance Category

The transaction represents ESR's largest-ever sell-down of a self-developed balance sheet portfolio with the plan to recycle the capital back into new and increasingly attractive opportunities across APAC

SHANGHAI and HONG KONG, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ESR Group Limited ("ESR" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries as the "Group"; SEHK Stock Code: 1821), APAC's largest real asset manager powered by the New Economy, has entered into an agreement with a leading global institutional investor ("Investor") to recap a prime logistics and industrial portfolio (total GFA of over 873,000 sqm) from ESR's balance sheet. The transaction represents the largest self-developed[1] balance sheet sell-down for ESR to date, reinforcing the Group's capital recycling strategy and asset-light approach.

The portfolio, currently 98% occupied, consists of nine completed logistics and industrial assets with a total GFA of over 873,000 sqm, spanning major logistics and industrial hubs across different regions in China, including the Yangtze River Delta Region, the Greater Bay Area, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. With the transaction, the overall core portfolio managed by ESR with the Investor now expands to over 1.4 million sqm.

Recognising sustainability as an important element to protect and grow the value of assets, ESR seeks to launch ESG initiatives such as increasing the rooftop solar power generation for the portfolio, in line with the Group's priority to further enhance energy sustainability with an aim to work towards a 50% increase in solar power generation capacity by 2025.

Jeffrey Shen, Co-founder and Co-CEO of ESR, said: "We are very pleased to further expand our relationship with one of our long-time capital partners, with whom ESR has built a strong relationship and track record across strategies and markets. Despite some near-term macro and geopolitical headwinds, this transaction is a further validation that institutional investors are increasingly drawn to the compelling long-term income potential of well-located, premium quality logistics portfolios in China developed by ESR." 

As APAC's largest real asset manager and New Economy real estate platform, ESR Group has a development pipeline of 24.3 million sqm as well as WIP of US$10.5 billion, the largest in APAC. The development pipeline in China amounted to 6.9 million sqm and development activities remain strong on the back of record leasing by the Group in China of over 2 million sqm in 2021.

"This transaction also represents the largest sell-down of ESR self-developed balance sheet assets to date. It is in line with ESR's focus on accelerating its asset-light strategy which is an integral part of our long-term growth plan. With the completion of this sell-down, ESR Group is well-positioned to achieve another record capital recycling year as we seek to take advantage of increasingly more attractive pipeline opportunities across APAC and build on the strength of our integrated platform, balance sheet, capital partners and customers to deliver long-term sustainable growth," added Mr. Shen.

ESR Group continues to deliver on its asset-light strategy. In 2021, the Group sold down over US$800 million from its balance sheet. This translated into over US$500 million of net cash which was subsequently recycled back to the Group for future growth. In May 2022, ESR Group completed the successful tender of its 18.16% holding in China Logistics Property Holdings Co., Ltd (CNLP; SEHK Stock Code: 1589), representing US$350 million of gross proceeds which will be recycled to fuel other growth opportunities in the future.

The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

About ESR

ESR is APAC's largest real asset manager powered by the New Economy and the third largest listed real estate investment manager globally. With US$140.2 billion in total assets under management (AUM), our fully integrated development and investment management platform extends across key APAC markets, including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, India, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, representing over 95% of GDP in APAC, and also includes an expanding presence in Europe and the U.S. We provide a diverse range of real asset investment solutions and New Economy real estate development opportunities across our private funds business, which allow capital partners and customers to capitalize on the most significant secular trends in APAC. ESR is the largest sponsor and manager of REITs in APAC with a total AUM of US$45 billion. Our purpose – Space and Investment Solutions for a Sustainable Future – drives us to manage sustainably and impactfully and we consider the environment and the communities in which we operate as key stakeholders of our business. Listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, ESR is a constituent of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (Large Cap), Hang Seng Composite Index and MSCI Hong Kong Index. More information is available at www.esr.com.

CONTACTS

• New digital platform elevates Manulife insurance advisors' careers and helps meet the region's growing health and retirement needs.
• ManuAcademy accessible now to more than 60,000 advisors in Vietnam and soon to be available to tens of thousands more in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

HONG KONG, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Manulife has launched ManuAcademy, a new learning platform for its 60,000 insurance advisors in Vietnam and will soon launch the platform in four other markets in Asia. Accessible via a mobile app and website, the latest digital tool makes learning easier, while accelerating the further expansion and digitization of Manulife's agency force.

ManuAcademy—a mobile-first learning management system—supports the development of an advisor's career at all stages, from onboarding to learning to match the best insurance solutions to meet a customer's heath, retirement, and protection needs.

"Being customer-centric means that we are agency-centric," said Pankaj Banerjee, Chief Distribution Officer, Manulife Asia, and interim CEO, Manulife Hong Kong. "We have launched ManuAcademy as part of our strategic focus to intensify our ambition in Asia and grow and digitize our agency force—a bedrock for our business and for our customers."

The new learning platform is underpinned by AI, intelligently delivering tailored information to different advisors wherever they are. It also uses gameplay and rewards to motivate consistent participation and long-term engagement. To support video and social learning, advisors can join small private communities on ManuAcademy to ask questions and get instant feedback, as they learn how to better assess customer needs and help make their lives better every day.

"Accelerating the growth of a thriving, digitally-enabled agency force in Asia starts with quality recruitment, then development," said See Sen Mak, Chief Agency Officer, Manulife Asia. "With ManuAcademy, we are supercharging our engagement with agents by putting the right tools, trainings, and technology in their hands to better serve our customers."

ManuAcademy is now available to more than 60,000 insurance advisors in Vietnam. Plans to roll out the platform are underway in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which will support the learning and development journeys of over 88,000 advisors in those markets.

In 2021, Manulife increased its agency force to more than 119,000. Of the total agency count, 71% are women. The number of Manulife agents who are Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) members has also grown from around 3,600 in 2019 to more than 6,000 agents in 2021.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our global wealth and asset management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2021, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 119,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 33 million customers. Our principal operations are in Asiaand Canada, and the United States, where we have served customers for more than 160 years. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. In the previous 12 months we made CAD$32.7 billion in payments to our customers.

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

Media contact

Augustine Kwan
Manulife
+852 6772 8037
Augustine_Kwan@Manulife.com

BEIJING, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 2, 2022, art toy brand Pop Mart opened its first flagship store in South Korea, locates at 346-40 Seogyo-dong, Seoul. The opening quickly created a buzz among the young people from the communities near Hongik University Street which has been known for its deep pop culture.

For the opening, Pop Mart has put on display their most beloved IP series such as SKULLPANDA, MOLLY and PUCKY. The celebration has been pushed to a climax as the brand announced their new figure exclusive to South Korean followers, the DIMOO Sunset Tiger limited edition, designed by Ayan. Ayan not only is an illustrator and toy designer, but also one of Pop Mart's most popular signed artists for her DIMOO WORLD series.

Justin Moon, Vice President of Pop Mart and President of Pop Mart International, said in an interview that "Hongdae district has been a place for youngsters to express their appreciation for the pop culture rooted here. Thus, Pop Mart was able to resonate with fans here, and we are looking forward to cooperating with more South Korean artists and brands in the future."

As Pop Mart's first flagship store in South Korea, it has been upgraded in terms of location, size, and interior design. The store chose to land in an area busy with street performance, covering an area of nearly 400 square meters. The inspiration behind the interior design for this three-floor store is "Connection + Imagination". Each floor offers multiple photogenic spots for fans to interact with their favorite IP figures, and the third floor offers a special area to give fans a way to meet the artists behind Pop Mart.

As one of the most popular ways to express pop culture among young people, art toy has found its way to enter the spotlight. Justin said, "South Korea has been developed a deep pop culture, and the entertainment and media industries are already in a mature stage, influencing youngsters around the globe," adding that, "Under the powerful influence of South Korean culture, integrating Pop Mart's creativity with quality media content, we can definitely intrigue more Millennials and Gen Z." Currently, Pop Mart has opened four stores and numerous Robo shops in South Korea, and the official shopping website is available to convey the charm of art toys to its followers through these online and offline channels.

Pop Mart seeks collaborations with talented artists across the world, and it has already signed multiple South Korean artists such as Seulgie Lee, CHOKOCIDER, coolrain&LABO, CLOCKHOUSE. These artists have brought to the fans their beloved IPs like SATYR RORY, DUCKOO, COOLABO, Flying DongDong get to meet consumers worldwide. Pop Mart aims to present more works from Korean artists and set more opportunities for fans to meet their favorite artists, which would further strengthen the bond between fans and the artists and turn its physical stores into a window for the public to experience the pop culture.

Moreover, Pop Mart also plans to cooperate with media groups. In 2021, it revealed a partnership around IPs with Studio Dragon which is a premium storyteller group that makes over 30 TV drama series annually and intends to expand its media content business.

Founded in 2010, Pop Mart has been the leading company in the art toy industry. Art toys, also known as designer toys, are figurines that embody art, design, pop trends, and uniqueness. Pop Mart has focused on attracting global artists, operating IPs, appealing to consumers, promoting art toy culture, as well as incubating and investing innovative business, and building an integrated platform covering the whole industry chain of art toys, which has lightened up passion and brought joy to global customers. Currently, its business has expanded to 23 countries, accumulated 10 million fans, and over 21 million registered members.

MANILA, Philippines, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sparked by the global pandemic, the Great Resignation has been happening in the Philippines for the past two years and will intensify throughout 2022. There has been a wave of resignations in the Philippines with almost half (42%) of employees who have been at their current jobs for not more than two years and a significant 83% of employees looking for new career prospects. 

Professional recruitment services firm, Michael Page Philippines, launched the 'Talent Trends 2022 Report', titled 'The Great X' which features prominent employment insights.

While salaries and bonuses are still top motivators for candidates, the survey shows a swing towards non-monetary benefits. A significant 73% of respondents in the Philippines are willing to forgo pay rise and/or promotion for better work-life balance, overall well-being, and happiness.

Albert Pérez, Regional Director of Michael Page Philippines says, "With more private equity and venture capital investment in the Philippines, the demand for executive and senior-level talent grows. This is significant within commercial and strategic leadership roles that have a hand in scaling companies from the ground up. In these management positions, companies are looking for Filipinos living and working overseas open to returning home as well as expatriates already in the Philippines."

As economies improve, companies cannot underestimate the psychological effect merging "work" and "personal" life has had over the past two years. 69% of respondents want a hybrid work arrangement between working from home and the office.

In addition, 74% of professionals in the Philippines have asked or will consider asking about a company's DE&I policy at interviews and 32% say the lack of clear DE&I commitment would stop them from actively pursuing a job opportunity.

The pandemic has also shifted priorities, 74% of candidates believe that mental health and well-being should play a part in employee performance and appraisals. Companies must create a positive culture in which employees at all levels feel appreciated.

A significant number of employees has been found to not feel supported at work. 60% of respondents say that their workload has increased compared to before COVID-19. 91% believe that their company does not take active steps to ensure work-life balance. Companies need to change things and help employees work more efficiently.