HONG KONG, Sep 14, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Hong Kong Investor Relations Association ("HKIRA") today announced the winners of the 7th Investor Relations Awards 2021 (the "IR Awards" or the "Awards").

Dr Eva Chan, Founding Chairman of HKIRA (middle), Dr. Kelvin Wong, the guest of honour and Chairman and Non-Executive Director, Financial Reporting Council (7th from the right), and Professor Louis Cheng, Chairman of Judging Panel (7th from the left), together with a group of guests at the award presentation ceremony.

Now in its seventh consecutive year, the Awards has been recognising and honouring investor relations ("IR") excellence and best practices among Hong Kong listed companies and IR professionals. As the COVID-19 pandemic gradually eases, physical events have started to resumed. This year's IR Awards Conference and Awards Presentation Ceremony was held in a hybrid mode for the first time, where IR experts and professionals were invited to conduct discussions with regard to strategies, latest trends, effective processes and best practices of investor relations from different perspectives. HKIRA is particularly honoured to have Dr. Kelvin Wong, Chairman and Non-Executive Director, Financial Reporting Council, as the guest of honour and keynote speaker at the Awards Presentation Ceremony.

The 7th IR Awards 2021 enjoyed widespread support from listed companies and the investment sector. A total of 167 companies participated in the Awards this year, reflecting a growing awareness towards investor relations. Just like previous years, the award winners were first nominated by the public and then selected by eligible voters from buy-side and sell-side investors via online polling. Over 890 investors took part in the voting for award winners this year, representing a 33% jump from last year. The growing support demonstrates again the investor community's recognition of the IR Awards.

Of all the award categories, "Overall Best IR Company" is the most prestigious since the judging panel makes their selection from the winners of all the award categories - honouring companies that have demonstrated exemplary and all-round excellence in investor relations. This year, the winners of Overall Best IR Company by company size - Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap - are China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (stock code: 00291); Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust (stock code: 00778); and Xtep International Holdings Limited (stock code: 01368) respectively.

With investor relations becoming an increasingly valued area for the industry, HKIRA has announced the launch of a new IR Pledge Program. The IR Pledge Program is designed to recognize Hong Kong listed companies with commitment to follow best practices in investor relations. Ultimately, it aims to set a new benchmark in the investment community and act as a key identifier for investors to recognize companies which are willing to devote more resources in IR. The program is now supported by four industry peers, namely, Financial Services Development Council, CFA Society Hong Kong, Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and Research Institute for Business of Hang Seng University. During the Awards Presentation Ceremony, a total of 12 companies were awarded the HKIRA Pledge Certificates. All of the awarded companies are IR Award winning companies for more than three times in the past years which demonstrated they are well-recognized by the investment community and confirmed their commitment to investor relations. .

Dr Eva Chan, Founding Chairman of HKIRA, said, "We are certainly thrilled to be able to meet all of you in person again at our events this year. It's been a while since we've organized a physical event of this scale where our member companies, IROs and friends of the investment community can gather in person. Besides, our events were also livestreamed so that a wider audience could join us online, making this year's event a hybrid one, which we believe is a post-pandemic new normal adopted widely in the financial industry. I would like to express my gratitude to the participation of various parties and their assistance provided during the preparation."

Dr Chan added, "HKEX mentioned in its document issued in April of this year that in order to enhance investors' understanding of a company's decision-making process, listed companies are suggested to send experienced IROs to attend board meetings. We believe that such a move would help to further optimise investor relations work. Knowing how the board considers related issues and their decision-making process would help IROs in formulating their promotion strategies. Therefore, we hope that the suggestions made by HKEX and the insights offered by guest speakers will help the board or management of listed companies to improve internal communications with IROs."

Strategic Public Relations Group is once again proud to be the Official Public Relations Partner and Diamond Sponsor of HKIRA IR Awards 2021.

Winners of the 7th IR Awards include the following companies (in sequential order of tickers):

Tickers / Company14 Hysan Development Company Limited16 Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited17 New World Development Company Limited35 Far East Consortium International Limited102 Summit Ascent Holdings Limited135 Kunlun Energy Company Limited178 Sa Sa International Holdings Limited291 China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited388 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited486 United Company RUSAL Plc551 Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited659 NWS Holdings Limited700 Tencent Holdings Limited726 DIT Group Limited778 Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust806 Value Partners Group Limited823 Link Real Estate Investment Trust868 Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited887 Emperor Watch & Jewellery Limited968 Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited1044 Hengan International Group Company Limited1070 TCL Electronics Holdings Limited1112 Health and Happiness (H&H) International Holdings Limited1200 Midland Holdings Limited1337 Razer Inc.1361 361 Degrees International Limited1368 Xtep International Holdings Limited1381 Canvest Environmental Protection Group Company Limited1383 Suncity Group Holdings Limited1458 Zhou Hei Ya International Holdings Company Limited1608 VPower Group International Holdings Limited1788 Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited1810 Xiaomi Corporation1811 CGN New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd.1971 Redsun Services Group Limited1996 Redsun Properties Group Limited2020 ANTA Sports Products Limited2103 Sinic Holdings (Group) Company Limited2313 Shenzhou International Group Holdings Limited2628 China Life Insurance Company Limited2688 ENN Energy Holdings Limited2778 Champion Real Estate Investment Trust3383 Agile Group Holdings Limited3868 Xinyi Energy Holdings Limited3913 KWG Living Group Holdings Limited6158 Zhenro Properties Group Limited6958 Zhenro Services Group LimitedFor the complete list of winners, please visit: http://www.hkira.com/awards/ehall2021.php

Judging PanelProfessor Louis Cheng (Chairman of Judging Panel) The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong - Dr. S H Ho Professor of Banking and Finance, Director of Research Institute for Business

Mr. Daryl ChoyTricor Services Limited - Chief Marketing Officer

Mrs. Amy DonatiEDICO Holdings Limited - Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Ashley Khoo, CFA, CPACFA Society Hong Kong - Past President and Board Director

Mr. Bruno LeeManulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited - Regional Head of Retail Wealth Distribution, WAM Asia Hong Kong Investment Funds Association - Past Chairman

Mr. Andrew LookCITIC Resources Holdings Limited - Independent Non-Executive Director

Ms. Victoria Mio, CFA, FRMFIL Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited - Director, Asia Equity

Mr. Wilfred YiuHong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited - Managing Director and Head of Markets

Ms. Helen ZeeLuk Fook Capital (HK) Limited - Managing DirectorThe Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies - Past Vice Chairman

About HKIRAHong Kong Investor Relations Association (HKIRA) is a non-profit professional association comprising investor relations practitioners and corporate officers responsible for communication between corporate management and the investment community. HKIRA advocates the setting of international standards in IR education, advances the best IR practices and meets the professional development needs of those interested in pursuing the investor relations profession.

HKIRA is dedicated to advancing the practice of IR as well as the professional competency and status of its members. To date, HKIRA has over 1,000 members most of whom are working for companies primarily listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. About 68% of the Hang Seng Index Constituent Stock companies are currently members of HKIRA. HKIRA's members are from a wide spectrum of professions including IR, finance, accounting, company secretarial to corporate investment and hold positions at different corporate levels, including top executives responsible for IR and management of listed companies. For more information about HKIRA details, please visit our website http://www.hkira.com.

About the IR AwardsThe HKIRA Investor Relations Awards (the "IR Awards") is an annual campaign that aims to encourage, recognize and reward the excellence in investor relations practices by individuals and companies listed in Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Since the launch in 2015, each year the Awards seeks out and highlights the incredible achievements of individuals and companies with high standards in investor relations through their role modelling to the investment community.

The Awards ceremony, consisting of a conference in the morning and presentation in the afternoon, is a spectacular gathering of IR specialists and industry professionals that applauds and publicizes the year's achievements in investor relations. For details of the Awards and online nominations, please visit http://www.hkira.com/awards.

Media enquiries:Strategic Public Relations GroupCindy Lung Tel: +852 2864 4867 Email: cindy.lung@sprg.com.hkRachel Ko Tel: +852 2114 2370 Email: rachel.ko@sprg.com.hkRachel Lau Tel: +852 2864 4824 Email: rachel.lau@sprg.com.hkWebsite: www.sprg.asia

Hong Kong Investor Relations AssociationMandy Lee Tel: (852) 2117 1846 Email: irawards@hkira.comWebsite: www.hkira.com

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