AMTD Digital Inc. - HKD STOCK NEWS

AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD) and World Media and Entertainment Universal Inc. (WME) announced that their strategic investment, Bank of Qingdao, has reported strong preliminary annual results for 2024. The bank demonstrated significant improvements with a 20.16% increase in net profit attributable to shareholders and a 13.48% rise in total assets.

The bank's non-performing loan ratio declined for the second consecutive year to 1.14%. AMTD, through WME, currently holds 367,675,000 H-shares of Bank of Qingdao, representing approximately 16.04% of total H-shares and 6.32% of total ordinary share capital. The bank's performance aligns with its '14th Five Year Plan' implementation and commitment to high-quality development.

AMTD Group and its subsidiary World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) have won a significant legal victory in Hong Kong courts against Luxury Village and its director for infringing on L'OFFICIEL's intellectual property rights. The court order, issued on July 29, 2024, includes injunctions preventing the defendants from using the L'OFFICIEL brand, requiring domain name relinquishment, and invalidating their Hong Kong trademark.

As the exclusive rights holder of L'OFFICIEL, a prestigious fashion magazine first published in Paris in 1921 and now distributed in over 30 major markets worldwide, AMTD has successfully eliminated the defendants' unauthorized presence across multiple social media platforms and domains. The company continues to pursue action against ongoing violations and has identified additional unauthorized usage by former publishers in Arabia, India, and Korea.

AMTD Group and its subsidiary World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) have won a legal battle in Hong Kong courts against Luxury Village and its director for infringing on L'OFFICIEL intellectual property rights. The court order, issued on July 29, 2024, includes injunctions preventing the defendants from using the L'OFFICIEL brand, requiring domain name relinquishment, and invalidating their Hong Kong trademark.

As the exclusive rights holder of L'OFFICIEL, which has been publishing fashion magazines since 1921 in over 30 major markets, AMTD has successfully eliminated the defendants' presence from various social media platforms and domains. The company continues to pursue action against remaining illegitimate channels and warns partners against dealing with unauthorized parties, including former publishers attempting to misuse the L'OFFICIEL brand in Arabia, India, Korea, and L'OFFICIEL HOMMES KOREA.

L'Officiel, a subsidiary of AMTD Digital under World Media and Entertainment Group (WME), has announced plans to expand into four new markets in 2025: Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Taiwan. The expansion will include both digital and print versions. This development follows L'Officiel's acquisition by AMTD Group in early 2022, adding to its existing presence in over 30 countries globally.

The expansion will implement a direct ownership model, strengthening L'Officiel's international platform and presence in key luxury markets. The century-old magazine has maintained continuous publication, even during World War II, focusing on fashion and style evolution with a future-oriented perspective.

AMTD Group and its subsidiary World Media and Entertainment Group (WME) have announced plans to expand L'Officiel magazine into four new markets in 2025: Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Taiwan. The expansion will include both digital and print versions.

This expansion follows AMTD Group's acquisition of L'Officiel in early 2022, which currently operates in more than 30 countries globally. The company will implement a direct ownership model for these new markets, furthering L'Officiel's global presence in key luxury markets.

The century-old magazine's expansion aligns with AMTD's strategy to connect East and West through media, entertainment, and culture, while maintaining its focus on fashion and style evolution.

AMTD Group and its subsidiary World Media and Entertainment Group (WME) have announced a comprehensive partnership with Alibaba Pictures Culture in film, entertainment, content, and fashion media. WME, which manages AMTD's global strategies in multimedia and entertainment, includes assets like L'OFFICIEL, The Art Newspaper, and various entertainment projects.

The partnership involves collaboration with Alibaba Pictures Culture, a subsidiary of Alibaba Pictures Group (HKEX: 1060), which operates as an internet-driven film company and integrated entertainment platform. The parties have committed to joint film investments and promoting Chinese film industry development, while also exploring long-term opportunities in culture, entertainment, and fashion media sectors.

AMTD Group and its subsidiary World Media and Entertainment Group (WME) have announced a comprehensive partnership with Alibaba Pictures Culture focusing on film, entertainment, content, and fashion media. WME, which manages AMTD's global strategies in multimedia and entertainment, includes assets such as L'OFFICIEL, The Art Newspaper, and various entertainment projects.

The collaboration involves Alibaba Pictures Culture, a subsidiary of Alibaba Pictures Group (HKEX: 1060), which operates as an internet-driven film company and integrated entertainment platform. The partnership aims to facilitate film investments, promote Chinese film industry development, and explore long-term opportunities in culture, entertainment, and fashion media sectors.

World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) and Black Spade Acquisition II Co (BSII) have announced a business combination agreement valued at approximately US$488 million. WME, a global media and entertainment company, owns notable assets including L'Officiel fashion magazine, The Art Newspaper, and premium hotel properties.

The combined company will maintain the WME name with headquarters in Paris and will be listed on a U.S. stock exchange. The deal includes BSII's US$153 million cash in trust, and existing WME shareholders will retain over 70% ownership post-transaction. Non-redeeming BSII shareholders will receive US$1.25 per share post-transaction.

Major shareholders including AMTD Digital Inc., AMTD IDEA Group, and AMTD Group Inc. have committed to a 3-year lock-up period. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

AMTD Digital's movie 'The Last Dance' has achieved significant success in Hong Kong's film industry, reaching HK$100 million in box office revenue and becoming one of the top 3 highest-grossing local films in Hong Kong history. The film has broken 9 major Hong Kong movie records and received widespread acclaim internationally, particularly in Malaysia, the UK, and Singapore. AMTD Group, through its World Media and Entertainment Group (WME) platform, produced the film, with Dr. Calvin Choi serving as a Producer. The movie is scheduled for release in additional countries later this year.