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KPMG: Tech executives double down on AI, talent, and adaptive strategies to lead in the Intelligence Age

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 January 2026 – KPMG’s Global tech report 2026 reveals that organizations worldwide are moving beyond pilots and seeking to embed AI into core workflows and offerings, striving to scale investments. The new report identifies that while expectations are high and adoption is rapid; scaling can introduce additional complexity and returns vary widely.

  • 68 percent of organizations surveyed aim to reach the highest level of AI maturity by the end of 2026, yet only 24 percent are there today.
  • 88 percent are investing in building agentic AI into their systems.
  • 74 percent say their AI use cases are delivering business value, but only 24 percent achieve ROI across multiple use cases.
  • 90 percent plan to grow partnerships and tech ecosystems over the next year, yet 53 percent still lack the talent needed to bring their digital transformation plans to life.
  • 78 percent agree they must take more risks on emerging technologies to stay relevant.

The report asks: Can ambition match reality, and can organizations keep one eye on the next wave of innovation while delivering on today’s agenda?

The future belongs to leaders who turn intelligence into advantage. Our research shows organizations are pushing past the early phase of ‘AI roulette’, placing scattered bets on multiple technologies, and are now increasingly focused on delivering value. When ambition meets disciplined execution, value compounds. Our 2026 Global tech report provides a synopsis of the critical things that high performers are doing better than most; a checklist for tech leaders looking to improve their organizational performance, emulate the high performers, and deliver higher ROI.

— Guy Holland, Global Leader, CIO Center of Excellence, KPMG International


Key findings from the report

Tech maturity accelerates: Leaders set their sights on the top

Half (50 percent) of global tech leaders surveyed expect to reach the highest level of technology maturity in 2026, compared to only 11 percent today. This surge in optimism is fueled by a move from isolated experiments to integrating AI and advanced technologies into core systems and scaling their impact.High performers, those organizations leading in technology maturity, process maturity and value, are already reaping the rewards, reporting an average ROI of 4.5x, more than double the industry average of 2x. These leading organizations have progressed beyond pilot programs, prioritizing the scaling of innovation and continually adapting to maintain a competitive edge in a fast-evolving environment. Other organizations reporting higher ROI include smaller firms (3.6x), those with fewer cost pressures (2.6x), and transformation‑focused organizations (3.2x). The ROI pattern is equally nuanced: rather than a single investment ‘sweet spot’, clear ROI ‘zones’ emerge, from early quick wins to accelerating, enterprise‑wide value as maturity increases.

The age of agentic: AI adoption surges but innovation drives real business value

AI is now seen as a strategic necessity, not just industry hype. Sixty-eight percent of respondents are aiming for the highest level of AI maturity in their organizations. Eighty-eight percent of companies are already investing in agentic AI — autonomous digital agents transforming operations and decision-making. Seventy-four percent of respondents report that their AI initiatives are creating measurable business value, such as improved efficiency and reduced risk. However, only 24 percent say they are scaling AI and achieving ROI across multiple use cases. This highlights the need for organizations to evolve KPIs beyond traditional financial and productivity metrics and build enterprise-wide alignment to fully realize AI’s potential. The shift from AI experimentation to large-scale deployment is underway, with leaders working to embed AI into products, services, and value delivery.

Talent and agility power success: Human potential remains central

Human expertise remains central to digital transformation initiatives. Organizations are making significant investments in upskilling their workforce, building adaptive teams, and fostering cultures that embrace change.

Despite the rapid adoption of agentic AI, organizations still expect 42 percent of their tech workforce to remain permanent human staff by 2027 — only a five‑point drop from 2025. High-performing companies plan to retain even more permanent human talent, with 50 percent remaining in place by 2027, revealing the continued importance of human expertise alongside AI. Despite these efforts, 53 percent of organizations report they still lack the talent needed to realize their digital transformation strategies.

Ninety-two percent of organizations surveyed anticipate that managing AI agents will become a critical skill within five years. The most successful organizations prioritize both technological advancements and people, empowering employees to innovate and adapt.

Strategic partnerships fuel growth: Ecosystems expand for the future

To overcome challenges and accelerate learning, 90 percent of organizations plan to grow partnerships and tech ecosystems over the next year. Strategic alliances are enabling access to specialized expertise, rapid innovation, and shared best practices. As agentic AI and other advanced technologies become mainstream, organizations recognize the importance of building robust ecosystems that foster co-creation and continuous improvement. Nearly one-third of tech executives are planning to increase investment in centers of excellence, supporting cross-functional teams and controlled experimentation.

Preparing for tomorrow’s breakthroughs: Leaders embrace bold risks

The future is arriving fast, with quantum computing and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) on the horizon. Leaders are already preparing for these breakthroughs, with 78 percent of organizations agreeing they must take more risks on emerging technologies to stay relevant. The report urges organizations to maintain strategic foresight, invest in ethical frameworks, and build resilient, future-ready workforces. By balancing ambition with rational thinking and disciplined execution, tech executives are positioning their organizations to turn disruption into durable, compounding value.

About research

The KPMG Global tech report 2026, “Leading in the Intelligence Age: Excelling today, shaping tomorrow,” is based on a survey of 2,500 executives from 27 countries and territories):

  • 29 percent from Asia Pacific
  • 43 percent from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
  • 28 percent from the Americas

Respondents represent eight industries: automotive, consumer and retail, energy, financial services, government, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, and technology and telecommunications. In addition to the survey, the report is enriched by interviews with eight senior corporate leaders and professionals, delivering actionable insights to help organizations excel today while shaping the future.

Download the report here.

Hashtag: #KPMG

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About KPMG

KPMG in China has offices located in 31 cities with over 14,000 partners and staff, in Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dongguan, Foshan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. It started operations in Hong Kong in 1945. In 1992, KPMG became the first international accounting network to be granted a joint venture licence in the Chinese Mainland. In 2012, KPMG became the first among the “Big Four” in the Chinese Mainland to convert from a joint venture to a special general partnership.

KPMG is a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organisation or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 138 countries and territories with more than 276,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

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Valle Venia presents: LPS feat. Natalia Sarsgard: J’ai dû m’arrêter

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NEUSTADT AN DER WEINSTRASSE, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 27 March 2026 – The song by Leo Philipp Schmidt and Valle Venia captures the feeling of losing oneself in a world that is growing ever louder and faster, where restlessness and superficiality cause relationships, friendships, and connections to dissolve and be sacrificed.

J’ai dû m’arrêter LPS feat. Natalia Sarsgard/Leo Philipp Schmidt

With emotional depth, singer Natalia Sarsgard describes the path to finding oneself again, to gathering one’s thoughts, to remaining silent, to withdrawing—in order to reflect in the silence, in the comfort, and in the seclusion, to feel and reconnect with ourselves and others.

Through her multifaceted voice, Natalia Sarsgard’s interpretation of the song conveys how strength and courage can arise from deep vulnerability. Without even realizing it, one is accompanied by the confidence that what was thought to be lost can be found again.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/CINjhTHtmno

J’ai Du M’arreter – LPS, https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/6BvbJ0VAAvMwciCD7q7BC8
https://shop.valle-venia.de/products/different-ways
https://www.amazon.de/Different-Ways-feat-Various-Artist/dp/B0CMJVQV2M
https://valle-venia.de/30S/JaiDuMarreter.mp4

www.valle-venia.com
Hashtag: #ValleVenia

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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YesAsia Holdings Achieves Record-Breaking Revenue and Net Profit in 2025

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Final Dividend Increases by 33.3% to HK10 Cents per Share

Dual Engines, Global Reach: B2C-B2B Synergy Drives Market Expansion

Results Highlights

  • Revenue hit a new high of US$501.54 million, representing a strong YoY growth of 45.0%
  • Gross profit rose by 40.9% to US$148.50 million; operating profit increased by 28.2% to US$31.90 million
  • Net profit grew by 21.5% to US$23.14 million
  • The Board has proposed a final dividend of HK10 cents per share, up 33.3% year-on-year
  • Business-to-consumer (B2C) platform YesStyle recorded revenue of US$347.48 million, up 30.8%, accounting for 69.3% of the Group’s total revenue
  • Revenue of business-to-business (B2B) platform AsianBeautyWholesale (ABW) surged by 91.7% to US$148.89 million, accounting for 29.7% of the Group’s total revenue
  • Non-core markets (excluding the US, UK, Canada, Australia) accounted for over 60% of the Group’s total revenue for the first time, with Latin America and the Middle East achieving remarkable growth
  • The Group strengthened its global logistics network to improve economies of scale, opened a second AMR warehouse in Hong Kong and a new warehouse in South Korea, reducing freight costs as a percentage of revenue to 18.7%

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 March 2026 – YesAsia Holdings Limited (“YesAsia Holdings”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (02209.HK), a leading e-commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in curating Asian beauty and lifestyle products, announced today its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2025 (the “Year”).

The Group’s revenue rose by 45.0% to US$501.54 million, boosted by the global K-Beauty momentum and the scaled expansion of its B2B platform, which accounted for nearly 30% of the Group’s revenue. Gross profit increased by 40.9% to US$148.50 million, and gross profit margin remained relatively stable at 29.6%. Operating profit also grew by 28.2% to US$31.90 million. Net profit for the Year climbed 21.5% to US$23.14 million, with a net profit margin of 4.6%. Basic earnings per share was US5.62 cents (2024: US4.74 cents).

As at 31 December 2025, the Group maintained a solid financial position with bank and cash balances amounting to US$15.94 million. In the view of YesAsia Holdings’ solid operating performance, healthy cash reserves and future capital requirements, the Board has proposed a final cash dividend of HK10 cents per share (2024: HK7.5 cents per share).

Market diversification pays off as non-core markets lead global growth

Building on stable revenue from its core markets (the US, UK, Canada, and Australia), the Group accelerated its expansion into mainland Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and other emerging markets. In 2025, non-core markets accounted for over half of the Group’s total revenue, significantly outpacing core markets in growth and becoming the primary catalyst of its business across the globe. Among these regions, Latin America and the Middle East recorded the strongest upward trend, with growth of 224.4% and 75.5% respectively, while Europe and Associated Countries remained the Group’s largest regional market.

Social media marketing and influencer engagement remain core drivers of YesStyle‘s growth strategy. During 2025, the number of YesStyle influencers increased to over 502,000, representing a year-on-year growth rate of approximately 24.6%. Revenue generated from influencer referrals reached approximately US$104.8 million, up approximately 43.0% year‑on‑year, and accounted for approximately 30% of YesStyle‘s total revenue, highlighting the continued strengthening of the YesStyle influencer ecosystem.

Meanwhile,YesStyle bolstered its localization efforts to capture opportunities in non-English-speaking markets. In July 2025, it launched a Polish-language website, expanding its language offerings to nine. Combined with social-media-driven marketing, regional campaigns via a robust network of influencers, and AI-powered solutions, the Group extended K-Beauty’s reach to a broader audience worldwide. This momentum is further amplified by the opening of Yesful Land in Seoul, South Korea, a physical hub where influencers and the K-Beauty community can converge and create authentic content, bridging digital engagement with real-world experience.

B2C-B2B synergy fuels performance with ABW business scaling rapidly

YesAsia Holdings is an authorized distributor for over 475 K-Beauty brands, serving both B2C and B2B channels. The dual-growth-engine strategy continued to bear fruit in 2025, fortifying the Group’s overall market influence and ongoing advancement.

Notably, ABW maintained its vigorous growth trajectory in 2025, with the newly launched ABW Offline business generating almost US$50 million in revenue in its debut year, underscoring the strong international retail demand for K-Beauty products. During the Year, ABW established distribution networks for 56 leading retailers across 26 markets, spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. Prominent partners include Target, Costco, Primark, Douglas, Sally Beauty, Watsons, and Nykaa. These collaborations have enabled the Group and its K-Beauty brand partners to reach millions of consumers through established offline retail networks, effectively tapping into a market segment that remains significantly larger than its online counterpart.

Mr. Joshua Lau, Founder, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Looking ahead, we are confident that K-Beauty’s global development impetus will only gather steam as it has transitioned from a niche category into a mainstream retail staple. To capture the opportunities that arise, we will deepen engagement in non-core markets through targeted and localized digital initiatives. At the same time, we are accelerating our B2B business by connecting K-Beauty brands with international retailers, and leveraging our logistics network and AI-driven capabilities. With dual growth engines in B2C and B2B, advanced technology, and a dedicated team, YesAsia Holdings is well-positioned to soar to new heights and deliver long-term value to shareholders and stakeholders.”

Hashtag: #YesAsiaHoldings

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About YesAsia Holdings Limited (02209.HK)

Established in 1997, YesAsia Holdings is a leading e-commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in identifying and procuring quality Asian beauty, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment products. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group deliver products promptly and efficiently to a global audience through its strong ties with over 400 leading Asian beauty brand and supplier partners. The Group operates three major platforms: YesStyle, an e-commerce B2C platform for serving the increasingly popular Asian beauty, fashion and lifestyle products, particularly Korean beauty products; AsianBeautyWholesale, a B2B platform for Asian beauty products; and YesAsia, an e-commerce retail platform for entertainment products. YesAsia Holdings is a constituent of the MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index.

For more information, please visit the Group’s official website:

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Best Mart 360 Announces 2025 Annual Results

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Recorded Continuous Growth in Revenue, Proposed a final dividend of HK9.0 cents per share

Highlights:

  • Revenue increased by 2.2% to approximately HK$2,867.7 million.
  • Gross profit increased by 0.7% to approximately HK$1,035.1 million.
  • Profit attributable to owners of the Company recorded approximately HK$219.7 million.
  • As at 31 December 2025, the Group operated a total of 183 chain retail stores (2024: 176), including 178 retail stores in Hong Kong and 5 retail stores in Macau.
  • Basic earnings per share was approximately HK22.0 cents. The Board recommended the payment of final dividend of HK9.0 cents per share.

Financial Highlights:

HK$’000

Year ended

31 Dec 2025

Year ended

31 Dec 2024

(Restated)

Change
Revenue 2,867,695 2,805,146 +2.2%
Gross profit 1,035,074 1,027,997 +0.7%
Gross profit margin 36.1% 36.6% -0.5 p.p.
Profit attributable to owners of

the Company

219,730

245,901

-10.6%

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 March 2026 – Best Mart 360 Holdings Limited (“Best Mart 360” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 2360.HK), a leisure food retailer in Hong Kong, announced its results for the year ended 31 December 2025. During the year, the revenue recorded by the Group amounted to approximately HK$2,867,695,000 (2024: HK$2,805,146,000), representing an increase of approximately 2.2%.

During the Financial Year under Review, gross profit was approximately HK$1,035,074,000 (2024: HK$1,027,997,000), representing an increase of 0.7%. The Group’s gross profit margin for the year was approximately 36.1%, compared to approximately 36.6% in 2024. This contraction in margin was primarily attributable to the strategic implementation of enhanced promotional campaigns designed to navigate the ongoing trend of consumption downgrading and intensified market competition.

Profit attributable to owners of the Company for the year was approximately HK$219,730,000 (2024 (Restated): approximately HK$245,901,000), primarily due to a slight reduction in average revenue per store and a contraction in gross profit margin, which collectively impacted overall profitability. The net profit margin (before interest and tax) moderated to approximately 9.8%, down from approximately 11.2% for the year ended 31 December 2024 (Restated).

For the Financial Year under Review, basic earnings per share was approximately HK22.0 cents. The Board recommended the payment of final dividend of HK9.0 cents per share.

BUSINESS REVIEW
Strategy Adjustment & Opened 10New Retail Stores
As at 31 December 2025, the Group operated a total of 183 chain retail stores, including 178 chain retail stores (31 December 2024: 170 stores) in Hong Kong and 5 chain retail stores (31 December 2024: 6 stores) in Macau respectively. During the Financial Year under Review, the Group opened 10 new retail stores and closed 3 stores upon expiration of their respective lease terms in alignment with the Group’s strategy adjustment.

The ratio of rental expense (cash basis) to sales revenue of retail stores for the year ended 31 December 2025 was approximately 9.6%, which was similar to that of approximately 9.6% for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Introduced Popular Brands & Launched on Grocery Delivery Platform
Hong Kong residents’ growing propensity to spend in Mainland China, coupled with inbound visitors’ preference for in-depth experiences, more rational and prudent consumption patterns, as well as the intensified competition in the local market from Mainland China e-commerce players leveraging economies of scale, the Hong Kong retail market is undergoing a structural long-term transformation, with the industry’s competitive landscape and consumption behaviour being reshaped.

In response to the challenging business environment, the Group adopted a series of timely and targeted measures to navigate these difficulties. These included optimizing product mix and strengthening the offering of basic foodstuffs covering cereals, noodles, canned food, milk, chilled and frozen food, daily necessities as well as basic groceries. The Group also introduced popular Mainland brands as well as imported a wide range of specialty food from around the world to meet the needs and expectations of local consumers and visiting tourists. To further strengthen its business, the Group launched on the Foodpanda grocery delivery platform during 2025 to expand its online sales channels, and rolled out a variety of promotional initiatives including shopping vouchers. These initiatives collectively contributed to the Group’s sales growth during the Financial Year under Review.

The Group procured quality products from overseas suppliers as well as brand owners or importers in Hong Kong. For the year ended 31 December 2025, the Group offered a total of approximately 3,425 stock keeping units (“SKU”) of products (for the year ended 31 December 2024: approximately 3,653 SKU) from suppliers principally from (but not limited to) Japan, Mainland China, Europe, Vietnam, Korea, the United States and other Asia-Pacific countries.

The Group sourced the most popular and trendy food products from various regions, striving to provide customers with diverse, multi-brand, and multi-category global product choices.

As at 31 December 2025, the total amount of inventories of the Group amounted to approximately HK$316,841,000 (31 December 2024: approximately HK$339,513,000), representing a decrease of approximately 6.7% year-on-year. The decrease in the Group’s total inventories was mainly attributable to optimised inventory management and the timing shift of the Lunar New Year holiday from January to February.

During the Financial Year under Review, the Group continued to actively develop private label products that on one hand allowed the Group to capture pricing advantages and exercise a higher level of quality control over its products and on the other hand further uplift its brand awareness and strengthen customers’ loyalty. For the Financial Year under Review, sales derived from private label products were approximately HK$520,821,000 (for the year ended 31 December 2024: approximately HK$477,222,000), accounted for approximately 18.2% of the Group’s revenue for the Financial Year under Review (for the year ended 31 December 2024: approximately 17.0%).

Expanded Customer Base & Enhanced Loyalty
To further deepen customer stickiness and broaden customers coverage, the Group used big data analysis and reformulated its marketing strategy to launch a new three-tier membership scheme and a second-generation mobile app in mid-June 2020. The new membership scheme helps to elevate brand positioning and market recognition, and the membership rewards have been fully optimised and enhanced, with more member benefits such as stamp reward for multiple-item purchase, special offers for selected products and access to the latest market information. During the Financial Year under Review, the number of the Group’s members increased from approximately 2,280,418 as at 31 December 2024 to approximately 2,395,862 as at 31 December 2025, representing an increase of approximately 5.1%.

The Group launched various marketing and promotional activities during the Financial Year under Review including the “Best Price” promotional campaign, which provided customers with a series of special offers for selected quality products from time to time to enhance customer loyalty. Meanwhile, the Group continued to advertise through television, newspapers, social media platforms and other media, which successfully attracted new customers encouraged repeat purchases and significantly enhanced market awareness of the Group.

PROSPECTS
Looking ahead, uncertainties in Sino-US relations, geopolitical risks and other factors will introduce further variables to economic recovery, and economic growth in Hong Kong and globally is expected to remain under pressure. The Board anticipates that the retail sector in Hong Kong will remain challenging in the near term. Nevertheless, the Group will continue to operate in a cautiously optimistic manner, closely monitor the development of various adverse factors that may impact the Group’s performance, and timely implement necessary and appropriate measures through refined operations and management to adapt to the ever-changing market environment.

The Group will continue to prioritize the Hong Kong market as its core focus, optimize its product mix and enhance the development of its private label products, with a wider range of staple foods and necessities to better meet consumer demand and enhance the Group’s competitiveness in the retail market.

To maintain sound operational efficiency, the Group will timely review the regional distribution of its brand stores, implement a moderate expansion policy and flexible leasing strategies, and actively pursue suitable opportunities to expand the retail network for its core retail brand “Best Mart 360º” and global gourmet brand “FoodVille” in Hong Kong and Macau, targeting a net increase of 10 retail stores annually under its dual-brand model, catering to the diverse needs of different customer segments for quality food products.

Mr. Hui Chi Kwan, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, said, “Faced with an increasingly complex operating environment, the Group will maintain a prudent and pragmatic approach in its operations and continue to work closely with its employees, customers and other stakeholders, striving to improve business performance and deliver stable returns to shareholders.”

Hashtag: #BestMart360 #優品360 #AnnualResults #業績 #全年業績

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Best Mart 360 Holdings Limited

Best Mart 360 Holdings Limited operates chain retail stores under the brand “Best Mart 360˚”, offering wide selection of imported and pre-packaged leisure foods and other grocery products principally from overseas. It is the Group’s business objective to offer “Best Quality” and “Best Price” products to customers through continuous efforts on global procurement with a mission to provide comfortable shopping environment and pleasurable shopping experience to customers. As at 31 December 2025, the Group operated a total of 183 chain retail stores, spanning all of the 18 districts in Hong Kong and strategic locations with heavy pedestrian flow in Macau. Among the chain retail stores, the global gourmet brand “FoodVille” launched in September 2021 is also included, targeting the medium-to-high-end-market.

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