(14 June 2017 – Hong Kong) New World Department Store China Limited (“NWDS” or the “Company”; Hong Kong stock code: 825), one of the largest owners and operators of department stores in Mainland China, is pleased to announce that the Company was selected as the “Best Investor Relations Company (Hong Kong)” once again at the 7th Asian Excellence Recognition Awards organized by Corporate Governance Asia. In addition, Ms. Violet Chan, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Communication and Investor Relations, and Ms. Patricia Leung, Manager of Investor Relations, were both named “Best Investor Relations Professional (Hong Kong)”. The accolades illustrate the Company’s effective and interactive communication with the investment community, which helps enhance their understanding about the business development of NWDS.

NWDS is committed to maintaining and optimizing its communication with stakeholders and believes that effective communication is the cornerstone of excellent corporate governance. Since the new management team assumed office mid last year, the Company has introduced an array of innovative operations initiatives. For instance, it made a breakthrough to build cultural and creative street zones in department store space and launched the “Chief Experience Officer” to conduct customer surveys to improve the Company’s competitiveness in the long run. The Investor Relations team has been working closely with the new management to understand the latest operations and future development strategies of the Company. The team also takes an active approach to elaborate these to investors and analysts while collecting their views and topics of interests as major reference for the future development of the Company.

As the Chinese retail market is on its way to mild recovery, many investors are keen to uncover the investment potentials of retail shares. The commencement of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, on the other hand, is offering south-bound investment channels for mainland capital. The Investor Relations team at NWDS seizes the opportunities and increases its frequency in approaching and communicating with mainland investors as an active means to expand its investor network and extend the source of investment capital. In parallel, the Investor Relations team maintains regular communication channels with investors and analysts, including the corporate website, annual reports, results briefings, roadshows, regular teleconferences or meetings, etc. to ensure smooth bilateral communication.

Corporate Governance Asia, the most authoritative journal on corporate governance in Asia, established the Asian Excellence Recognition Awards in 2011 with an aim to recognize the achievements and excellence of Asian companies in financial performance, investor relations and communication, business ethics, corporate social responsibility and environmental practices, etc. All honors are highly representative as they are selected by the organizer from more than 1,000 Asian companies through quantitative ratings and interviews with investors.

Ms. Violet Chan, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Communication and Investor Relations and Chairman of Sustainability Steering Committee of NWDS, said, “With the on-going business and operations innovations in the Company, we understand how effective investor relations could help increase investors’ understanding about the development of the Company. Providing them with quality information is crucial for them to make a mindful investment choice. The awards bestowed upon us are testaments to the flexibility of our Investor Relations team. In an era with explosive information, we insist on providing investors with quality and relevant information. Going forward, we will spare no efforts to achieve the goal of becoming the most trustworthy listed company.”

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