Dr Eva Chan, Founding Chairman of HKIRA, said, "We are pleased to launch the HKIRA IR Awards for the fifth consecutive year in 2019. It has been an extraordinary semi-decade since the first launch of the HKIRA IR Awards back in 2015. We are glad to see Hong Kong listed companies considering investor relations as an increasingly important aspect of their corporate strategy. Thanks also to the support of our long term partners, including but not limited to member IROs, advisors and regulators, who have altogether contributed to the improving overall standard of the Hong Kong investor relations scene in the past years."

Dr Chan continued, "To honour excellence across a broader range of IR aspects, this year, we have added the 'Best IR Team' award to recognize group efforts of listed companies in achieving IR objectives and excellence. We believe exceptional IR practices, whether it's a single-person or team effort, should be properly recognized, thus the idea of introducing this award."

Last year, the Awards enjoyed widespread support from the investment community with 184 listed companies participating. In addition, over 600 eligible voters cast a total of more than 9300 votes for 48 award winners in different categories. The volume of polling testifies to the wide recognition of the IR Awards and appreciation of their role among listed companies and within the investment community. Among the winners, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (stock code: 388), Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust (stock code: 778) and Sa Sa International Holdings Limited (stock code: 178) were awarded Overall Best IR Company by company size - Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap - respectively.

The 5th HKIRA IR Awards 2019 is once again honoured to have Professor Louis Cheng, Professor of Finance, School of Accounting and Finance of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as the Chairman of the Judging Panel. In 2018, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has carried out a research paper Titled "Relative Valuation Effects of Local and International Analysts' Voting: The Case of Investor Relations Award" using the proprietary data from the online voting for the HKIRA IR Awards. Based on the final voting data consisted of 418 nominated firms with total valid votes of 18,172 during the 3-year period, Professor Cheng has found a positive effect on the stock valuation of awarded firms when the IR award announcements is released. Trading volume has significantly increased for the awarded firms. Moreover, firm level transparency suggests that the nominated but not awarded firms show significant improvement in transparency comparing pre-post event periods.

Public nomination is now open to Hong Kong listed companies. Nominated individuals and companies will be on the online voting list upon confirmation of their participation. The investment community, including buy-side and sell-side analysts and fund managers, are eligible to vote. Nominees with the highest votes (weighted) in each award category become the award winners. They then undergo a final assessment by the judging panel for the Most Progress in IR and the Overall Best IR Company Awards. For a fair and balanced evaluation, the judging panel comprises academics, representatives from professional associations, the investment community and compliance and financial reporting experts.

The 5th HKIRA IR Awards 2019 scheme has a total of 13 awards honouring best IR practices of individuals and companies. The award winners are to be announced at a ceremony to be held in Hong Kong in May/June 2019. For more information, please visit www.hkira.com/awards^[1].

Strategic Public Relations Group is once again proud to be the Official Public Relations Partner and sponsor for the HKIRA IR Awards. Please find key dates relating to the HKIRA IR Awards 2019 with its categories and criteria for selection listed in the Appendix.

About HKIRAFounded in 2008 with over 800 members mostly working for companies primarily listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Investor Relations Association (HKIRA) is a professional association in Investor Relations (IR), comprised of IR practitioners and corporate officer, who are responsible for communications between corporate management and investment community. HKIRA is dedicated to advocating the setting of international standards in IR education, advancing the best IR practices and catering to the professional development needs of those who are interested in pursuing a professional career in IR. HKIRA's members are from a wide spectrum of professions including IR, finance, accounting and 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^[2] .

About the IR AwardsInaugurated in 2015, the Investor Relations Awards (IR Awards) celebrates excellence in the local IR industry through the annual presentation of awards to the many diverse professionals that make up the dynamic IR and finance industries in Hong Kong. HKIRA aims to initiate the IR Awards as the industry benchmark for high standard of excellence in IR by individuals and companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

The Awards ceremony is a spectacular gathering of IR specialists and industry professionals that applauds and publicises the year's IR achievements. For details of the Awards and online nomination, please visit www.hkira.com/awards^[3].

Media enquiries:Strategic Public Relations GroupCindy Lung Tel: +852 2864 4867 Email: [email protected]Jessica Siu Tel: +852 2114 2820 Email: [email protected] Christina Cheuk Tel: +852 2114 4979 Email: [email protected]Website: www.sprg.asia^[4][5][6][7]

Hong Kong Investor Relations AssociationKiki Lee Tel: +852 3106 0639 Email: [email protected]^[8]Website: www.hkira.com^[9]

Appendix

Key Dates (Subject to final changes.)Nomination period: 28 January - 1 March 2019Online voting period: 8 March - 8 April 2019Judging Panel Meeting: Late April 2019Award Conference cum Presentation Luncheon: May/June 2019

Award CategoriesAward Categories / Recognition / Selection MethodBest IR Company / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest IR Team / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest IR in Corporate Transaction / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest Investor Meeting / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest Investor Presentation Material / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest Annual Report / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest Digital IR / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest IR Company for an IPO* / Company's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest IR by Chairman/CEO / Individual's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest IR by CFO / Individual's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingBest IRO (Investor Relations Officer) / Individual's achievement / Open for nomination and online votingMost Progress in IR / Demonstration of the most progress in IR in the above areas over the year of 2018 / Selected by Judging PanelOverall Best IR Company Awards / Outstanding and all-round excellence in the above areas / Selected by Judging Panel1. Companies which were listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2018 are eligible to be nominated for this award.2. All awards will be further categorized by company market capitalization into Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap (see classification below), except Best IR Company for an IPO and Most Progress in IR Awards.*Only companies first listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2017 and 2018 are eligible to be nominated and enter the "Best IR Company for an IPO" Award, while the companies awarded last year in this award category are not eligible to enter for the same Award this year.

Judging Panel (Arranged in alphabetical order of last name)Name / Title / Firms / OrganizationsProfessor Louis Cheng(Chairman of Judging Panel) / Professor of Finance / The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Accounting and FinanceMrs Amy Donati / Chief Executive Officer / EDICO Holdings LimitedMs Ashley Khoo, CFA, CPA / Immediate Past President / The Hong Kong Society of Financial AnalystsMr. Andrew Look / Chief Investment Officer / China Hong Kong Link Asset ManagementMs Victoria Mio, CFA, CPA (US), FRM / Co-Head Asia Pacific Equities and CIO China / Robeco Hong Kong Ltd.Mr Marcus Sultzer / Member of the Management Board / EQS Group AGMr Andrew Weir / Senior Partner, Hong Kong / KPMGMs Helen Zee / General Committee Member / The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies

Topic: Press release summarySectors: Daily Finance, Daily News^[10][11] http://www.acnnewswire.com From the Asia Corporate News Network

Copyright © 2019 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.

References

1. ^{^} www.hkira.com/awards (www.hkira.com)
2. ^{^} http://www.hkira.com (www.hkira.com)
3. ^{^} www.hkira.com/awards (www.hkira.com)
4. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
5. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
6. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
7. ^{^} www.sprg.asia (www.sprg.asia)
8. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
9. ^{^} www.hkira.com (www.hkira.com)
10. ^{^} Daily Finance (www.acnnewswire.com)
11. ^{^} Daily News (www.acnnewswire.com)