Hong Leong Capital Berhad ("HLCB" or "the Company") makes the following Status Announcement on compliance with the required public shareholding spread, in conjunction with the release of its quarterly results for the second quarter of the financial year ending 30 June 2020, pursuant to Section 3.3 of Practice Note 19 of the Main Market Listing Requirements (“Listing Requirements”).

The Company currently does not meet the requirement as set out in paragraph 8.02(1) of the Listing Requirements which states that a listed issuer must ensure that at least 25% of its total listed shares (excluding treasury shares) are in the hands of public shareholders.

The public shareholding spread of the Company as at 31 December 2019 was 18.67%.

As announced by the Company on 18 March 2015, Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad had imposed a suspension on the trading of HLCB’s shares with effect from 26 March 2015. The suspension will only be uplifted upon full compliance of the public shareholding spread in accordance with paragraph 8.02(1) of the Listing Requirements.

The Company is in active discussions with its majority shareholder, Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad, on possible options to comply with the shareholding spread requirement. However, in view of prevailing soft market conditions, these options may take more time to pursue. We will engage the relevant regulators to facilitate the upliftment of trading suspension once the 25% public shareholding spread requirement is achieved.

This announcement is dated 26 February 2020.