Hua Nan FHC Foresees AI Driving Industrial Upgrades; Cooperative Bank FHC to Focus on Resilience

(CNA, Taipei, June 18, by reporter Lu Yen-tzu) Four listed state-owned financial holding companies and two banks held their annual general meetings today. Looking ahead at the economic situation, Hua Nan Financial Holdings stated that while the global economy is still affected by variables such as geopolitics and international trade, technological innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to drive industrial upgrading. Cooperative Treasury Gold noted that in the face of global economic, tariff, trade, and Middle East situations, it will maintain stable operations and strengthen its operational resilience.

Today marks a super shareholder meeting day for Taiwan's listed state-owned "4 holdings and 2 banks," including Mega FHC, First FHC, Hua Nan FHC, Cooperative Treasury Gold, Chang Hwa Bank, and Taiwan Business Bank, all holding their AGMs this morning.

Hua Nan FHC's shareholder meeting today approved the distribution of a cash dividend of NT$1.35 per share and a stock dividend of 0.1 yuan, totaling 1.45 yuan. Chairman Chen Fen-lan pointed out that the "3-Year Profit Enhancement Plan" initiated in 2022 has shown significant results, and this year will officially launch a new "5-Year Strategic Blueprint," with the core of strengthening the group's business structure and setting growth-oriented and challenging strategic goals.

She also said that the group has fully introduced the Return on Risk-Weighted Assets (RORWA) mechanism to guide steady business growth under the premise of ensuring risk control, and successfully promoted the financial improvement plan of Hua Nan Investment Trust.

Hua Nan FHC President Hsiao Yu-mei mentioned the active construction of a financial ecosystem to enhance cross-subsidiary cross-selling benefits. Last year, the group's co-marketing benefits reached NT$2.795 billion, an annual growth of 8.54%, showing that the operational synergy of integrating the channel resources of each subsidiary has expanded steadily.

Looking to the future, Hsiao Yu-mei explained that although the global economy is still affected by geopolitical and international trade variables, the innovative development of AI technology will continue to drive Taiwan's industrial upgrading. Hua Nan FHC will implement five major growth strategies, including optimizing capital use efficiency; accelerating the transformation of its profit structure and deepening its global corporate finance layout; expanding fintech empowerment; leveraging the group's integrated advantages to deepen co-marketing; and strengthening risk and performance management.

The Cooperative Treasury Gold shareholder meeting today added a board election item and proposed a discussion on issuing new shares through a capital increase from earnings for fiscal year 2025. A dividend of NT$1.05 per share will be distributed, including a cash dividend of NT$0.8 and a stock dividend from capital increase of NT$0.25. Chairman Lin Yen-mao mentioned that as of the end of last year, Cooperative Treasury Gold's total assets reached NT$5.38 trillion, a record high.

The Cooperative Treasury Gold shareholder meeting also completed the board re-election. The elected list includes Chairman Lin Yen-mao, President Su Tso-cheng, Central Bank Issuing Department Director-General Teng Yen-ta, Ministry of Agriculture's Agriculture Finance Agency Director-General Lee Tsung-yung, Chunghwa Post Vice President Tsai Wen-ching, Cooperative Bank Assistant Manager Tsai Kuo-tai, ROC Farmers' Association Chairman Hsiao Han-chun, Farmers' Association General Manager Chang Yung-cheng, The National Federation of Credit Co-operatives, R.O.C. Chairman Mai Sheng-kang, and Cooperative Bank Enterprise Union representative Hsu Chia-hao.

There are also five independent directors nominated by the Ministry of Finance: Lin Han-chi, Liu Ko-i, Wang Yi-sheng, Huang Chi-jui, and Yang Tzu-han.

Cooperative Treasury Gold stated that in the face of rapid changes in the global economy, tariff trade, Middle Eastern geopolitics, and the financial environment, it will uphold a philosophy of stable operation and strive for excellence, while strengthening corporate resilience and sharing business results with shareholders, customers, and employees.