Month: Mac 2026

HONG KONG, Mar 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – CITIC Resources Holdings Limited (hereinafter referred to as CITIC Resources or the Company, or the Group when its subsidiaries are included; Stock Code: 1205.HK) has announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2025 (the “Year”). During the Year, the Group actively responded to the complex international environment and cyclical industry pressures. Systematically advancing initiatives in “upstream asset deployment, expansion of trading business, and enhancement of production and operations”, the Group deepened its dual-engine development model of “investment + trading”, stabilised its core operations, cultivated a second growth curve, and demonstrated robust operational and developmental resilience.As a key growth driver for the Group, the oil and gas trading business within the import and export segment expanded steadily during the Year, achieving a significant milestone with a trading volume exceeding 20.0 million barrels and revenue reaching approximately HK$11.34 billion. Meanwhile, the Group broke the long-standing monopoly of the sales channel of crude oil, enhancing the market value of its oil and gas properties. In the non-oil-and-gas business, the Group consistently prioritises refined and proactive management of its equity investments as a core task and actively conveyed its philosophy of improving quality and enhancing efficiency to the operators. Notably, the value of shares held in Aloca Corporation (“Aloca”) increased by approximately 46.3% during the Year. On the oil and gas front, focusing on refined reservoir management and continuous scientific research breakthroughs, the Group achieved stable production and increased reserves. It comprehensively deepened lean management throughout the production process, coupled with the implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancement measures, propelled continuous improvements in management standards and operational efficiency across all phases of oil and gas projects from exploration, development to production.During the Year, the Group achieved revenue of approximately HK$14.96 billion (2024: approximately HK$9.50 billion), representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 57.6%. Impacted by factors such as a decline in the average selling price of crude oil and coal, and higher raw material costs, profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company amounted to approximately HK$0.17 billion (2024: HK$0.57 billion). Despite that, all of the Group’s segments recorded profits for the Year and the Group continued to maintain a strong financial position with cash and deposits of approximately HK$3.52 billion as at 31 December 2025 (31 December 2024: HK$2.03 billion). As at 31 December 2025, the Group had total assets of approximately HK$14.61 billion, and net assets attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company of approximately HK$8.79 billion. The gearing ratio and interest-bearing debt ratio were approximately 38.8% and 23.5% respectively, with a return on equity (annualised) of approximately 2.0%.As part of its efforts to optimise its asset structure, the Group disposed of shares in Alcoa in January and March 2026, totalling approximately 2.17% of Alcoa’s total issued shares[1]. By seizing the opportunity to monetise its investment at a high valuation, the Group continues to create greater value for its shareholders.Mr. Hao Weibao, Executive Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CITIC Resources, said: “Looking ahead to 2026, the Group will focus on key areas such as the development, production and trading of oil and gas, as well as investments in the aluminum industry chain, deepen synergies among trading, investment and production management, and continue to implement the business strategy of consolidating the existing core business and pursuing dual-engine expansion through ‘investment + trading’.To consolidate our existing principal business, the Group will continue to enhance lean production and operational management to increase reserves and output, while steadily expanding production and sales scale. The Group will also intensify the introduction and application of new processes and technologies, leveraging technological innovation to empower high-quality development of our core businesses and reinforce our core growth foundation.On the dual-engine driver of ‘investment + trading’ expansion front, the Group will continue to track and position in high-quality oil and gas assets and the aluminium-centric key metals industry chain. Trading operations and investment projects will be deeply integrated: the investment arm will secure equity resources, while the trading arm will achieve market-oriented sales. This approach will also enhance our market sensitivity, enabling us to identify and acquire high-quality upstream resources and assets, thereby creating a virtuous cycle in which ‘investment acquires resources and trading converts value’. The Group is committed to implementing these development strategies and will continue to deliver long-term and stable returns to our shareholders.”[1]Details regarding the disposal were disclosed in the announcements and circular dated 16 January, 6 February, and 5 March.For details of CITIC Resources’ 2025 annual results, please refer to the Group’s annual results announcement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Group’s website.About CITIC Resources Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 1205.HK)CITIC Resources Holdings Limited has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1997. Principal activities of CITIC Resources include the exploration, development and production of oil and coal, investments in bauxite mining, alumina refinery, aluminium smelting and oil and gas trading. CITIC Limited is the largest shareholder with about 59.5% interest in CITIC Resources. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, Mar 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – uSmart Securities Limited ("uSMART Securities/the Company") is pleased to announce the official opening of its ninth and tenth physical service centres in Tai Wai and Tuen Mun. Within just one year, uSMART Securities has expanded its Hong Kong service network to 12 physical service centres, surpassing industry benchmarks and actively implementing its "Online x Offline" (O2O) community finance strategy. This expansion solidifies its position as the “No.1 Hong Kong Funded Fintech Brokerage^” and further enhances brand influence.Promoting Accessible Community Financial ServicesThe Tuen Mun branch held a simple yet meaningful opening ceremony today, marking the official commencement of services and a new chapter in the Company's development. Mr. Neo Lee, Executive Director of uSMART Securities, stated: "The opening of the Tai Wai and Tuen Mun branches represent a crucial strategic move in our commitment to local communities and advancing community-oriented services. We focus not only on network coverage but also on connecting with the community, upholding our 'customer-centric' philosophy. By bridging the gap with residents, we are advancing toward our goal of 'seamless coverage across Hong Kong'."(From left to right: Business Development Manager of uSMART Securities, Executive Director of Research Department of uSMART Securities, Executive Director of uSMART Securities, Marketing Director of uSMART Securities and Business Development Director of uSMART Securities)(From left to right: Business Development Manager of uSMART Securities, Executive Director of Research Department of uSMART Securities, Executive Director of uSMART Securities, Marketing Director of uSMART Securities and Business Development Director of uSMART Securities)Comprehensive Coverage Across Hong Kong 18 DistrictsAiming to accelerate the goal of becoming "the Fintech brokerage with the most service centres in Hong Kong," uSMART Securities will open branches in core areas, Kai Tak and Mong Kok in the second quarter. The company is also actively exploring pop-up stores in shopping malls and participating in various exhibition booths. Through multi-channel engagement with customers across different districts, the company aims to refine its regional presence, enabling citizens across all 18 districts to easily access professional and personalized investment and wealth management services, seamlessly integrating financial experiences into daily life.Diversified Investment ProductsAt the opening ceremony, Neo revealed that uSMART Securities has recently obtained a futures trading license and is preparing to launch futures trading services by mid-year. Upon launch, clients will be able to trade futures, including index futures, commodity futures, and currency futures via the uSMART platform. This expansion provides investors with a more comprehensive range of investment products covering long-term, medium-term, and short-term investments, as well as low, medium, and high expected returns, catering to diverse client needs.Futures services will be fully integrated into the existing uSMART APP trading platform, allowing clients to trade US and Hong Kong stocks, futures, ETFs, funds, and discretionary investment products from a single APP. This enables diversified asset allocation, risk management, and wealth enhancement services, allowing clients to utilize capital efficiently and manage investment portfolios flexibly, truly achieving "one-stop wealth management with comprehensive asset allocation."Promoting Investment Education and Enhancing Client InteractionuSMART Securities is also committed to advancing investor education, regularly hosting various online and offline investment seminars and thematic events such as wine tastings and cocktail workshops. These initiatives deepen client engagement and relationships, enhancing customer retention and loyalty.Meanwhile, a new financial channel led by stock commentator and Executive Director of Research, Mr. Dickie Wong, will officially launch next Monday (March 16). Before the market opens and midday close on every Hong Kong stock trading day, a professional team will provide you with real-time analysis of market dynamics and investment opportunity. uSMART Securities aims to foster closer interaction, helping clients refine their practical skills, optimize investment decisions, and build a more comprehensive platform for learning and practice.Expanding Team SizeIn line with rapid business growth, uSMART Securities is actively advancing local talent recruitment and training. The company expects to increase its workforce by 30% over the next two years across areas including branch operations, product design, wealth management, compliance and risk control, and marketing operations. This expansion aims to enhance team scale and professional capabilities, driving steady business growth.Looking ahead, uSMART Securities will continue to optimize trading experiences and strengthen synergies between offline service points and community activities, further solidifying its leading position in financial technology. By combining innovative technology with community networks, the company strives to provide more convenient and personalized wealth management services for investors of all ages and experience levels, promoting the popularization and intelligent development of Hong Kong's financial ecosystem.^”No.1 Hong Kong Funded Fintech Brokerage" is based on TradeGo Cloud data, with uSMART Securities ranking first in monthly transaction volume among local Hong Kong-funded internet brokers for over a year as of February 2026.About uSMART:uSMART Securities is a leading Hong Kong Funded Fintech Brokerage founded in 2018. Over the past eight years, it has pioneered the fusion of technology and finance, offering stocks trading, asset management, and wealth management solutions. Its proprietary platforms, uSMART HK APP and uSMART SG APP, operated by uSMART Securities (Hong Kong) and uSMART Securities (Singapore) respectively. It supports investments in Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, A-shares (via Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Connect), Singapore Stocks, Japan Stocks, UK Stocks, US options, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, Asset Management, Structured Notes, Futures, Crypto, Precious Metals, Gold, and forex. Furthermore, uSMART is equipped with a highly professional research and asset management team that offers asset management, wealth management, securities brokerage, institutional business, LPF services, and investment banking, dedicated to serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, corporations, investment institutions, fund companies, and other brokerage firms with comprehensive asset management solutions.For details please visit: https://hk.usmartglobal.comFor any media queries, please contact:Carrie Wong9788 4665carriewong@usmart.hk Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Mar 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - On 12 March 2026, China Medical System Holdings Limited (“CMS” or the “Group”) is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Dermavon Holdings Limited (“Dermavon”, an innovative pharmaceutical company specialized in skin health, which is applying for a separate listing on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited) has its innovative prescription medicine ruxolitinib phosphate cream (Lumirix®) (the “Product”, marketed as Opzelura® in the U.S., Europe and Canada) recorded the initial prescriptions for vitiligo patients across 30 provincial-level regions. The prescriptions cover approximately a thousand influential public and private medical institutions in the field of skin health and disease management, including Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Second People's Hospital of Chengdu, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, United Family Healthcare Group, among others*. Meanwhile, the Product has become concurrently accessible via over 1,300 offline drugstores as well as JD.com e-commerce platform. *Hospital rankings are listed in no particular order.As the first topical JAK inhibitor approved in China for the treatment of vitiligo, ruxolitinib phosphate cream has officially launched its large-scale clinical application today, marking a breakthrough in China’s vitiligo treatment landscape and ushering in a new era of precision targeted therapy for vitiligo. Supported by safety and efficacy fully demonstrated in clinical studies, the Product is expected to bring new hope for repigmentation to millions of vitiligo patients.The rapid commercialization progress of ruxolitinib phosphate cream underscores strong product operation capabilities of CMS (including Dermavon), while also reflecting the robust supports from China’s regulatory reforms in accelerating patient access to clinically urgently needed innovative drugs. Benefiting from the integrated healthcare ecosystem of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the “Urgently Needed Imported Drugs for Clinical Use” policy, the Product initiated pilot clinical use in August 2023 at Boao Super Hospital within the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone. Pilot usage subsequently expanded to designated medical institutions across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, Beijing-Tianjin region and other regions. In accordance with the relevant regulations of China’s real-world data application pilot project, as well as supported by the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration and the Administration of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, the Product has accumulated real-world clinical data in China under pilot application, significantly accelerating its clinical, registration and approval timelines. The Product received its Drug Registration Certificate on January 30, 2026 (approval date: January 27, 2026).Following its approval, in less than 1.5 months (including the Chinese New Year holiday), the initial prescriptions for ruxolitinib phosphate cream have been issued across multiple regions and hospitals, reflecting the highly efficient collaboration and concerted efforts among CMS teams, regulatory authorities and business partners. With robust support from the cross-departmental coordination mechanism of the Beijing Daxing Airport Economic Zone Joint Administrative Committee, once import conditions were met, the Product completed customs clearance approval, sampling and related customs procedures within 24 hours, and obtained the drug testing report within 7 working days, representing efficient execution and acceleration for the innovative drugs in China. During this process, the Beijing Municipal Medical Products Administration proactively provided end-to-end policy guidance; the government service center has efficiently completed customs clearance filing; the Beijing Institute for Drug Control has conducted methodological pre-testing to accelerate timelines for innovative drug, and continuous worked during the Chinese Spring Festival; and Daxing Airport Customs provided specialized pre-guidance on declaration and swiftly completed customs review and release. Through parallel workflows and coordinated execution, all parties collectively pressed the “fast-forward button” for the Product’s commercialization, helping this urgently needed innovative therapy reach patients faster.As the Product enters the large-scale clinical application stage, it is expected to further strengthen Dermavon’s comprehensive dermatology solutions and brand value. Building on its leadership in skin health, Dermavon will continue to improve accessibility of ruxolitinib phosphate cream to benefit more vitiligo patients and steadfastly safeguard public skin health through innovation.About VitiligoVitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by depigmentation of the skin, which results from the loss of pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. The discolored areas usually get bigger with time and the condition could influence skin on any part of the patients’ body. Vitiligo usually affects the appearance of patients, especially on exposed areas such as the face and neck. According to a study that involved over 1,000 diagnosed vitiligo patients, over 45% of patients have facial involvement, and over 20% of patients have neck involvement[1].The obvious presence of white patches may make patients feel that their appearance has been compromised, which in turn materially affects their social life, and is associated with a significantly higher incidence of mental health disorders; accordingly, there is an urgent need for effective treatment options for vitiligo[2].It is estimated that there are approximately 10.3 million vitiligo patients in China and non-segmental vitiligo patients account for approximately 8.2 million[1]. Existing therapies, such as topical corticosteroids (TCS) and topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), have clinical limitations, with adverse reactions or limited efficacy with long-term use. Ruxolitinib phosphate cream successfully fills the gap in targeted drug treatment for vitiligo and is of great landmark significance.More Information About Ruxolitinib Phosphate CreamRuxolitinib phosphate cream (Opzelura®), a novel cream formulation of the selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib developed by Incyte, is the first and only drug approved for the repigmentation of non-segmental vitiligo by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA)[3,4]. In the U.S., the Product is indicated for the topical treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo in adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older, and for the short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in non-immunocompromised adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older whose disease is not well controlled with topical prescription therapies, or when those therapies are not advisable. In Europe, ruxolitinib phosphate cream is approved for the topical treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age. In China, besides vitiligo indication, the product’s NDA for the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD in adults and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older is also under regulatory review, which has been included in the Priority Review List and is expected to accelerate the Product’s AD review process for marketing approval.The Group, through the subsidiary of Dermavon entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with Incyte for ruxolitinib phosphate cream on 2 December 2022, obtaining an exclusive license to develop, register and commercialize the Product in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and eleven Southeast Asian countries (the “Territory”) and a non-exclusive license to manufacture the Product in the Territory. The subsidiary of Dermavon has sublicensed the relevant rights for the Product outside of Mainland China to the Group (excluding Dermavon and its subsidiary).Incyte has worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of ruxolitinib phosphate cream (excluding territories in which exclusive rights have already been licensed), marketed in the United States and Europe as Opzelura®. Opzelura® and the Opzelura® logo are registered trademarks of Incyte.About CMSCMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development in its advantageous specialty fields, strengthening the competitiveness of the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic/ gastroenterology/ ophthalmology/ skin health businesses, bringing economies of scale in specialty fields. Among them, the skin health business (Dermavon) has become a leading enterprise in its field, and is proposed to be listed independently on the SEHK. Meanwhile, CMS continuously promotes the operation and development of its integrated R&D, manufacturing and commercialization chain in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, capturing growth opportunities in emerging markets to support the high-quality and sustainable development of the Group.Reference:1. China Insights Consultancy’s industrial report 2. Wang G, Qiu D, Yang H, Liu W. The prevalence and odds of depression in patients with vitiligo: a meta-analysis[J]. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2018,32(8):1343-1351. DOI:10.1111/jdv.14739. 3. The U.S. FDA approval information can be found on the Incyte official website, as follows:https://investor.incyte.com/news-releases/news-release-details/incyte-announces-us-fda-approval-opzeluratm-ruxolitinib-cream4. The EMA approval information can be found on the Incyte official website, as follows:https://investor.incyte.com/news-releases/news-release-details/incyte-announces-european-commission-approval-opzelurarCMS Disclaimer and Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release is not intended to promote any products to you and is not for advertising purposes. This press release does not recommend any drugs, medical devices and/or indications. If you want to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, please follow the opinions or guidance of your doctor or other medical and health professionals. Any treatment-related decisions made by healthcare professionals should be based on the patient’s specific circumstances and in accordance with the drug package insert.This press release which has been prepared by CMS does not constitute any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and shall not form the basis for or be relied on in connection with any contract or binding commitment whatsoever. This press release has been prepared by CMS based on information and data which it considers reliable, but CMS makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, whatsoever, and no reliance shall be placed on, the truth, accuracy, completeness, fairness and reasonableness of the contents of this press release. Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain statements regarding the Group’s market opportunity and business prospects that are individually and collectively forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Any forward-looking statements and projections made by third parties included in this press release are not adopted by the Group and the Company is not responsible for such third-party statements and projections.Media ContactBrand: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.Contact: CMS Investor RelationsWebsite: https://web.cms.net.cn/en/home/ Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, Mar 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – 12 March 2026, Guoquan Food (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Guoquan" or the "Company"; stock code: 2517.HK), a leading one-stop home meal products brand in China, announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2025, which have been reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Board.Adhering to the strategic positioning of "community central kitchen" in 2025, the Company successfully established a holistic instant retail store network through a multi-channel, multi-scenario omni-channel layout and the deep integration of online and offline operating models. The Company continuously delved into consumers' demand, developed and iterated a diverse suite of product portfolios, deepened refined store operation and management, and strengthened the construction of a membership ecosystem, effectively enhancing store operational efficiency and market competitiveness. Concurrently, the Company continued to deepen its industrial layout and promote the integrated closed-loop construction of "production, supply and marketing", achieving stable development throughout the year.For the year ended 31 December 2025, the Company's revenue amounted to RMB7,810.0 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 20.7%. Gross profit reached RMB1,686.6 million, a year-on-year increase of 19.0%. Net profit was RMB453.9 million, a significant year-on-year increase of 88.2%. Core operating profit (adjusted for non-recurring items such as gains or losses on fair value changes on unlisted convertible redeemable preferred shares and donations for fire rescue in Tai Po, Hong Kong) was RMB460.7 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 48.2%. Basic and diluted earnings per share were RMB0.1630, a substantial year-on-year increase of 93.8%.Continuously Strengthening Omni-channel Instant Retail: Offline Expansion and Online Engagement Drive GrowthAs of 31 December 2025, the Company's total number of stores nationwide reached 11,566, a net increase of 1,416 stores from 10,150 as at the end of 2024, covering 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. In terms of regional store layout, the Company achieved a net increase of 1,004 township-level stores in 2025. Addressing the consumption characteristics and needs of township markets, the Company developed differentiated product structures and store displays, accurately aligning with consumer demands in lower-tier markets and further enhancing township market penetration. Concurrently, the Company continued to deploy smart retail scenarios in mid-to-high-tier markets, completing the intelligent and unmanned transformation and upgrade of over 3,000 retail stores in 2025, achieving synergistic development between lower-tier and mid-to-high-tier markets.To empower franchisees, facilitate their sales growth, and further expand consumer reach while offering a more flexible shopping experience, the Company continuously provides support and guidance to franchisees in core areas such as store operations and business development. Leveraging the Company's Guoquan APP, WeChat mini-program, third-party food delivery platforms and social commerce platforms (such as Douyin), a multi-level online sales network has been established. In 2025, the Company achieved over 9.41 billion impressions on platforms through its multi-level Douyin accounts matrix. Stores generated GMV of RMB1.49 billion via the Douyin channel, representing a year-on-year increase of 75.3%.Membership Ecosystem Continuously Improved; Product Portfolio Enhances in Scenarization and RichnessIn 2025, the operation of the Guoquan membership program yielded significant results, further releasing the value of the membership ecosystem. During the Reporting Period, the number of the Company's registered members reached approximately 64.9 million, a year-on-year increase of 57.1%, demonstrating rapid expansion of the membership base. The prepaid card business also achieved stable growth, with the value stored in prepaid cards amounting to approximately RMB1.2 billion during the Reporting Period, a year-on-year increase of 22.3%. This indicates continuously improving member stickiness and consumption contribution, forging a closer connection with consumers.Relying on its substantial membership base, the Company persistently pursues innovation in its product offerings, consistently upholding the business philosophy of providing consumers with "tasty, convenient and value-for-money" products. It continuously enriches its product portfolio and iterates new products to comprehensively meet consumers' diverse dining needs. As of 31 December 2025, the Company had introduced 282 new SKUs of hot pot and barbecue products. It created multiple scenarized meal suites such as the "Barbecue Camping Container Set", "Crayfish Feast Set", and "Six Popular Hot Pot Sets", achieving deep integration of products and consumption scenarios. Furthermore, the Company expanded its product categories within the drinks and beverage consumption scenario, launching products such as NFC fruit juices, craft beer, and flavored tea beverages. This continuously enhances the richness and diversification of the product matrix, further perfecting the one-stop meal products supply system.Deepening Industrial Layout; Strengthening Digitalized Supply Chain ControlGuoquan continues to promote the integrated closed-loop construction of "production, supply and marketing". Adopting a "one-product-one-factory" strategy, it further deepens the breadth and depth of its industrial layout, providing solid production capacity support for business development. As of 31 December 2025, the Company possessed seven food ingredient production plants, covering core categories such as condiments, meatballs, paste and aquatic products, and beef products, forming a comprehensive and well-defined production capacity matrix. Concurrently, the construction of the Company's food production base in Danzhou, Hainan Province, officially commenced. This base will further expand its geographical coverage, optimize the supply chain's radiation radius, and strengthen the national production capacity layout and logistics reach.This solid industrial foundation continuously improves the operational efficiency of the digitalized supply chain. Based on the supply chain system operating from factory to central warehouse and to retail stores, the Company can monitor supply and demand dynamics from the procurement end to the store end, and closely manage inventory levels, thereby achieving efficient management of the entire supply chain. As of 31 December 2025, the Company had deployed 20 digitalized central warehouses across China, achieving swift product circulation through digital stock and barcode management. Simultaneously, the digitalization of the supply chain covering core segments such as production, procurement, warehousing, and logistics allows for precise monitoring of supply-demand dynamics and inventory levels, ensuring the timely supply of products to stores in the Chinese mainland. This comprehensively enhances the overall operational efficiency of the supply chain, solidifying core barriers in cost control and quality assurance.Six Core Strategic Directions: Continuously Advancing Business UpgradesIn 2026, Guoquan targets that the total number of stores will exceed 14,500, representing a net increase of over 2,934 stores, with an estimated store closure rate of less than 4%. It targets high-single-digit growth in store efficiency, and the number of registered members is targeted to exceed 95 million. The Company targets that the growth rate of core operating profit will be significantly higher than that of its revenue.First, Fully expand the sales network with four stores jointly advancing with concerted efforts. Guoquan will continue to build a multi-level sales network, accelerate the expansion of large stores in townships, practice the philosophy of "food equality", and precisely meet the consumption needs of residents in county and township markets. Concurrently, it will explore innovative store formats and upgrade the franchisee management system to build a symbiotic and mutually beneficial franchise ecosystem.Second, Deepen the strategy of community central kitchen to expand community consumption scenarios. The Company will focus on creating food retail solutions for "four meals a day", continuously diversifying its product categories and building a more competitive product matrix to achieve organic sales growth while further consolidating its advantages in lower-tier market layout.Third, Deepen membership operation and IP to advance the community brand project. The Company will continue to advance refined membership operation, deeply integrate media resources such as popular TV commercials, offline community advertising and social media and e-commerce platforms (such as Douyin) to expand its membership base, and improve the membership rights system to enhance member loyalty and stickiness. Furthermore, it will further deepen the operation of its brand IP image "Guobao" to strengthen brand value and emotional resonance with consumers.Fourth, AI big data empower stores to innovate smart retail scenarios. By integrating Internet of Things, big data, and AI technology, the Company will drive the smart operation of stores with data. It will promote the in-depth integration of the Guoquan stir-fry business format with smart cooking machines, accurately analyze consumers' dining habits, optimize dish parameters and cooking procedures for smart cooking machines, realize the standardized production of stir-fry dishes, and optimize the consumer experience.Fifth, Continue to promote the industrial layout and strengthen the advantage of one-product-one-factory. Adhering to the "one-product-one-factory" strategy, Guoquan will further integrate upstream resources domestically and internationally, accelerate the construction of the food production base in Danzhou, Hainan Province, increase R&D investment, and launch more product portfolios with a high quality-price ratio.Sixth, Develop overseas markets in phases to deliver the good taste of China. Guoquan plans to explore and establish a presence in overseas regional markets in a phased manner to unlock long-term growth potential. Leveraging its core competitiveness, it will steadily advance its overseas market exploration. It also plans to take the lead in opening stores in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China to accumulate and gather operational experience, gradually achieving overseas product sales and enhancing global brand visibility.About Guoquan Food (Shanghai) CO., LTD. (2517.HK):Guoquan Food (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Guoquan”; Stock Code: 2517.HK) is the leading one-stop home meal products brand in China, offering a variety of ready-to-eat, ready-to-heat, ready-to-cook and prepared ingredients, with a focus on at-home hotpot and barbecue products. Leveraging Company’s robust supply chain capabilities, a strategic industrial layout with self-owned factories, a nationwide network of around 10,000 instant retail stores, and a carefully curated product portfolio, Company offer a variety of home meal products solution under the “Guoquan Shihui” brand, catering to different dining scenarios.This press release is issued by EverBloom (HK) Communications Consultants Group Limited on behalf of Guoquan Food (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

From a joyful Raya musical to new and improved festive recipes, Spritzer Sparkling inspires Malaysians to embrace fresh new ideas alongside tradition to elevate their Raya celebrationsSpritzer Sparkling’s 2026 Raya musical brand film “Samting-Samting”, stars Fimie Don and Wani Kayrie as a married couple, and Elliza Razak as Mak Ngah.TAIPING, Malaysia, Mar 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Hari Raya Aidilfitri in the month of Syawal is a cherished time of celebration and time-honoured family traditions, with the kitchen often becoming the heart of the festivities. As families balik kampung and fill their homes with the joy and warmth of festive cooking this year, Spritzer Sparkling invites Malaysians to celebrate Raya with a modern twist through its ‘Serikan Raya, Sparkling-kan Suasana’ campaign, showcasing the versatility of the product in boosting the creativity and flair of beloved Raya dishes.For the first time, Spritzer Sparkling is expanding beyond its well-loved role as a beverage mixer with a fresh take on festive cooking through the multipurpose use of its naturally refreshing sparkling water in your favourite recipes. Spritzer Sparkling transforms five traditional must-have Raya dishes into festive showstoppers, bringing a new dimension of taste with its lively carbonation enhancing the texture, crispiness, and tenderness of the dishes. These favourites include Cucur Udang Crispy, Rendang Tok Melting, and Roti Jala with Kari Ayam, alongside refreshing drinks like Bunga Longan Sparkling and Limau Selasih Pudina Sparkling.This Raya, add a little ‘Samting-Samting’ extra to your recipes for an exciting new twist on your favourite festive dishes with Spritzer SparklingEach recipe showcases how the natural bubbles from Spritzer Sparkling help create lighter, crispier batters for a satisfying crunch and more tender, flavourful meats without changing the essence of the dishes. Whether it is giving your cucur udang a delightful crisp or tenderising your rendang meat and shortening the braising time, Spritzer Sparkling makes these traditional favourites even more enjoyable in simple, effortless ways.Shiao Chan, Head of Marketing at Spritzer, said, “Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a celebration deeply rooted in family traditions where food plays a central role in bringing people together. Through ‘Serikan Raya, Sparkling-kan Suasana’, we wanted to show Malaysians that tradition and heritage can co-exist and even be preserved through innovation and new perspectives. Spritzer Sparkling is not just a refreshing beverage for every season, but also a multi-faceted ingredient that can enhance festive dishes and drinks, creating memorable family moments in the kitchen and around the dining table.”A Musical Aidilfitri AwaitsBringing the Raya story to life is Spritzer’s musical film titled ‘Samting-Samting’, starring Fimie Don, Wani Kayrie and Elliza Razak. As the official Spritzer Sparkling brand ambassadors for Raya 2026, Fimie Don and Wani Kayrie, play a modern newlywed couple returning to the husband’s kampung for their first Raya together in the film that blends comedy, drama and music in an irresistibly Malaysian narrative.The young wife, Alia, takes on the kitchen with confidence, using her own modern approach to classic family dishes, prepared using her secret ingredient: Spritzer Sparkling. Mak Ngah, the family’s long-standing culinary matriarch, feels her role is being challenged and grows increasingly suspicious about Alia’s unusually delicious cooking, suspecting “Samting-Samting” is amiss. The story humorously unravels the “secret” behind Alia’s crowd-pleasing flavours, capturing family dynamics and celebrating new perspectives, shared discovery, and the warmth of intergenerational bonding.Home-cooks excited to try this new twist to classic recipes can check out the recipes for the featured dishes and beverages using Spritzer Sparkling as a game-changing ingredient on Spritzer’s Raya microsite here.Spritzer’s 2026 Raya campaign celebrates family traditions, playful generational dynamics in the kitchen, and creative festive cooking with Spritzer Sparkling.Also available on the website are the musical film, promotional details, meet-and-greet information with Fimie Don and Wani Kayrie, as well as gift-with-purchase promotions available at participating outlets nationwide.About SpritzerEstablished in 1989, Spritzer is a leading Malaysian bottled water brand, sourcing natural mineral water from a protected 430-acre rainforest in Taiping. Naturally filtered through underground rock layers for over 15 years, our water is enriched with essential minerals like Silica, known to support skin, bones, hair, and nails.Combining smart manufacturing with sustainable practices, Spritzer ensures every bottle meets the highest quality and safety standards. Our packaging is 100% recyclable and made from recycled materials, reflecting our commitment to environmental stewardship and a circular economy.Tested annually by SIRIM to be free from microplastics, Spritzer offers consumers trusted, natural hydration. Our diverse product range includes Natural Mineral Water, Original and Flavoured Sparkling Water, Distilled Water, and Fruit-Flavoured Beverages—crafted to suit every lifestyle and occasion.With a clear vision to become a fully circular brand by 2030, Spritzer leads the industry in innovation, quality, and sustainability.Spritzer — where nature, innovation, and sustainability come together in every bottleFor more information, visit www.spritzer.com.myFor media inquiries please contact:Farah ShahrulAssociate Consultant, Narro CommunicationsE: farah@narrocomms.comWinnie ChinHead of Public Relations, Spritzer BhdE: winniecgl@spritzer.com.my Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Vancouver, British Columbia--(ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com - March 12, 2026) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces that Lower Antino has been upgraded from Intermediate to Advanced Target status - the same internal classification* as Upper Antino - at its Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname (Figure 1). The upgrade follows cumulative drilling of 50 diamond drill holes including eight new holes reported here that continue to demonstrate broad, continuous gold mineralization, highlighted by 65.9 metres (m) of 1.16 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) within a broader envelope of 115.0 m of 0.83 g/t Au from surface in drill hole LA046.HighlightsLower Antino upgraded to Advanced Target status with 50 drill holes released to date with an additional 10 holes pending assays and further expansion drilling underwayBest intercept to date: 65.9 m of 1.16 g/t Au within 115.0 m of 0.83 g/t Au from surface (LA046)Broad mineralized envelopes confirmed: 113.5 m of 0.34 g/t Au from surface including 30.0 m of 0.82 g/t Au (LA044)Intrusion-hosted gold mineralization intersected in all eight drill holes reported in this release; mineralization remains open along strike and at depthColin Padget, President & CEO, commented, "Lower Antino's upgrade from Intermediate to an Advanced Target - now sharing the same classification as Upper Antino - reflects consistent, broad gold mineralization across a growing number of drill holes. LA046 returning 65.9 metres of 1.16 g/t gold within a 115-metre mineralized envelope is the best intercept to date at this target and underscores the scale and continuity of the Lower Antino intrusion-hosted gold system. With gold in every hole and consistently wide intercepts, Lower Antino is emerging as a meaningful contributor to the district's overall potential. While our focus remains on exploration and expansion drilling, Lower Antino's advancement to the same classification as Upper Antino means it is expected to be considered for inclusion in any future resource estimate for the district."Lower Antino - Upgraded to Advanced TargetThe Company reports assay results from eight diamond drill holes (LA043 to LA050) at the Lower Antino target, located approximately 3.5 km east of the Upper Antino deposit (Figure 1). All eight holes intersected gold mineralization, with results highlighted by 65.9 m of 1.16 g/t Au within 115.0 m of 0.83 g/t Au in LA046 (Table 1). The 115-metre intercept in LA046 begins at surface and represents an up-dip expansion of the previously released 90.0 m of 1.02 g/t Au in LA041, confirming the continuity and growth potential of the mineralized zone.Based on cumulative drilling results, Founders has upgraded Lower Antino from Intermediate Target to Advanced Target status, ranking it on the same tier as Upper Antino in terms of overall target quality and scale potential. The upgrade reflects the demonstrated continuity of gold mineralization across numerous drill sections and identification of multiple parallel, northeast-trending mineralized zones over approximately 1.9 km of drill-defined strike length within a broader 1.5 km by 2.8 km gold-in-auger anomaly.The target is open along strike and at depth with drilling ongoing to the south and southeast at regular 100 to 200 metre steps. Overall, gold mineralization remains consistent with previous Lower Antino drill results and is hosted in intensely sericite-altered, sheared tonalite with disseminated pyrite and quartz-pyrite veining. The southernmost hole in this release (LA050), intersected 24.0 m of 0.57 g/t Au and represents approximately 200 metres of southward expansion of the mineralized system. Assay results are presented in Table 1, with drill hole locations in Table 2.Lower Antino is one of two Advanced Targets within Founders' 102,360-hectare contiguous land package, which hosts eight drill tested gold targets across the 55 km long Antino concession. The upgrade of Lower Antino adds meaningful scale to the Company's growing inventory of drill-defined gold mineralization at the district level. The Company will continue to systematically advance and upgrade high-quality targets as defined by geological criteria linked to scale and growth potential.*The Company's internal target classification system reflects drill density, demonstrated continuity of mineralization, and data sufficiency; it does not correspond to NI 43-101 resource categories.Figure 1: Antino Gold Project Property MapTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/288304_571962fb64ca9a3d_001full.jpgFigure 2: Lower Antino Plan MapTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/288304_571962fb64ca9a3d_002full.jpgFigure 3: Lower Antino cross-section through central gold trend.To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/288304_571962fb64ca9a3d_003full.jpgTable 1: Lower Antino Drill ResultsDrillholeFrom (m)To (m)Interval (m)Au (g/t)Results from This ReleaseLA043162.00174.0012.001.56incl.167.00174.007.002.56LA0441.50115.00113.500.34incl.8.1038.1030.000.82LA0450.0020.1020.100.31and111.00124.0013.000.44LA0460.00115.00115.000.83incl.41.10107.0065.901.16LA0470.008.108.100.94and149.00156.007.000.46LA0480.0027.6027.600.22and173.00178.005.000.80LA0496.6011.104.500.21LA05047.1071.1024.000.57Previously Released Highlight ResultsLA041156.00246.0090.001.02incl.176.00178.002.0028.44LA00374.10156.0081.901.00incl.106.00132.0026.002.36LA0250.00241.00241.000.27incl.0.0086.1086.100.43LA03329.1060.0030.901.56LA02472.00122.0050.001.02LA028108.00163.0055.000.64incl.110.00117.007.002.32LA0190.0065.0065.000.49incl.44.1065.0020.901.11LA01033.6057.6024.001.23 **Intervals are down-hole depths. True widths of mineralization are estimated to be approximately 85% of the down-hole interval based on currently available results and observations. All are diamond drill holes. Average grades are calculated with un-capped gold assays, as insufficient drilling has been completed to determine capping levels for higher grade gold intercepts. Composites are calculated using a 0.10 g/t Au cut-off grade with