Apple News, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Apple Daily, will stop updating late at night tomorrow (31st), and most of its employees will be transferred to the new company of 17LIVE founder and Singaporean businessman Pan Jiexian, who will operate the new platform "Yiping" from September. news site".
"Hong Kong 01" learned that the liquidator of Hong Kong Next Media had sent a letter to the Taiwan branch, requesting the signing of documents and appointing a consulting firm in Kaohsiung to keep and dispose of the assets of Taiwan Ping.
The consulting firm involved replied that it was only assisting the Taiwan branch in the liquidation and aftermath, not involving any asset transfer, but assisting in the liquidation and closing of the company.
Ye Yijian, the legal representative of the Taiwan branch, said there was "no response."
"Hong Kong 01" obtained the liquidator of Next Media and asked Taiwan Apple Daily (Taiwan Ping) to sign the document for the appointment of Kaohsiung accountants.
(Photo by Lao Xianliang)
Taiwan Ping has repeatedly rumored that the lights will be turned off today
After Hong Kong's Next Media Group (0282) ceased operations, its Taiwan business continued to operate, including Taiwan's Apple Daily's online platform "Apple News" (referred to as "Tai Ping").
Since then, there have been repeated reports of the sale and closing of Apple Inc.
By June this year, Ye Yijian, the legal representative of the Taiwan branch, issued a statement that the Taiwan Apple Daily had completed the handover, and most of the employees could be transferred to the new owner.
At that time, it was pointed out that the transaction was related to Huang Hao, who had purchased "Next Magazine" but hit the rocks, and the new buyer was Pan Jiexian, the founder of live broadcast platform 17LIVE and a Singaporean businessman.
However, the Hong Kong liquidator clarified that there was no authorization to sell "Tai Ping".
On August 30th, 17LIVE founder and Singaporean businessman Pan Jiexian held a press conference in Taipei, confirming that the deal with Huang Hao on Taiping fell through. On September 1st, most of Taiping’s employees will be hired, and a new “Yiping News Network” will be established. .
(Picture of the United News Department)
The life and death of "Tai Ping" is finally clear today (August 30). Pan Jiexian held a press conference, pointing out that "Tai Ping" will be out of service on August 31, and the staff severance will take effect on the same day, and most of the employees will be transferred to new positions. The company's new platform "Yiping News" will be officially launched on September 1.
"From the beginning to the end, my only transaction partner was Mr. Huang Hao, and I have never had any transaction relationship with "Hong Kong Ping" or "Taiwan Ping" with the company he owns 100%." After the team's due diligence, it was deemed that the transaction could not proceed, so the transaction fell through.
He emphasized that there is no Chinese investment involved in the sale, and he adheres to the "five non-one absolutes", does not use Taiwan's Apple brand, website, assets, does not contact Taiwan's Apple personal information, does not interfere with news neutrality, and absolutely abides by the law.
▼In December 2021, Taiwanese people demonstrate against the Hong Kong government to take over Taiwan's Apple▼
Hong Kong liquidators wrote to Tai Ping asking for the appointment of Kaohsiung company to handle the assets
After the suspension of Next Media last year, Financial Secretary Chen Maobo filed a winding-up petition to the High Court under the Companies Ordinance, which was approved in December last year.
In March this year, the High Court formally appointed Tan Jingzheng Accounting Firm as the liquidator of Next Media.
"Hong Kong 01" obtained two internal e-mails sent by Hong Kong liquidators to Ye Yijian, the legal representative of Next Media's Taiwan branch, and Chen Zanxin, the chief financial officer, requesting the appointment of a consulting firm to handle Taiwan Ping's assets.
Next Media's Taiwan business and Apple News, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Apple Daily, are about to suspend operations.
(file picture / picture of the United News Department)
Including custody control files, sensitive data
The Hong Kong liquidator stated in the email that in order to ensure that the company's property can be properly preserved after a large number of employees are dismissed by Next Media Taiwan Branch, and to facilitate follow-up work, Hong Kong Next Media Headquarters has decided to appoint Taiwan Chongzheng Management Consulting Co., Ltd. as a special consultant. Handle the matters of Apple Daily Development Co., Ltd. and Yiben Convenience Publishing Co., Ltd., two branches in Taiwan.
Attached to the email are two letters of appointment, appointing Chongzheng Management Consultants to dispose of the assets of the two companies, including custody or control of all company property and documents, collection or recovery of claims, protection of company information, files, sensitive information and intangible assets.
In addition, with the authorization of the sole director of the company, Chongzheng Management Consultant can handle Taiwan business, as well as lay off employees and shrink business.
The Hong Kong liquidator requested Ye Yijian and Chen Zanxin to affix the official seal of the branch office and the signature of the manager on the appointment letter as soon as possible.
It is reported that someone stamped the company seal on the appointment letter on Monday (29th).
▼The last night of Apple Daily on June 23, 2021▼
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Ye Yijian, the sole legal person of Taiwan Ping, did not respond
According to Taiwan's industrial and commercial registration records, the current only legal representatives of "Hong Kong Business Apple Daily Development Co., Ltd. Taiwan Branch" and "Hong Kong Business One Book Convenience Publishing Co., Ltd." are Ye Yijian, who was the chairman of the board of directors of Next Media.
"Hong Kong 01" asked him about the suspension of "Taiwan Ping" and Pan Jiexian's establishment of "One Ping News Network", and he said "no response".
▼May 17, 2021 Taiwan Apple Daily last print edition▼
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Kaohsiung accountants: non-transfer assets tend to liquidate and close the company
When replying to the inquiry, Xue Youwei, the person in charge of Chongzheng Management Consultants, admitted that he was entrusted by the Hong Kong liquidator to assist in the liquidation of the Taiwan branch of Next Media since September, but denied that Taiwan "Apple" would transfer assets to the company: "We I don't have that power."
Xue Youwei pointed out that the Taiwan branch will complete the severance of employees by the end of August, and then there will be no one to deal with the company's debts, liquidation procedures and other matters. The direction should be to liquidate and then shut down the company.” When asked whether the appointment process had been completed, he did not respond directly, only that the situation was still vague at this stage, but he believed that appointing a company to provide assistance had nothing to do with political connections or positions.
Taiwan's Apple Daily will stop its print edition in May 2021, and only "Apple News" will continue to operate.
(file picture / picture of the United News Department)
Next Media failed to sell its Taiwan business before its assets were frozen by the National Security Law
In June 2021, Hong Kong’s Next Media Group announced that it planned to sell its Taiwan business.
However, before the completion of the transaction, the founder of the group, Jimmy Lai, and several senior executives of the company were successively arrested for violating the "Hong Kong National Security Law". At the end of last year, the Financial Secretary, Chen Maobo, requested the High Court to order Next Media Co., Ltd. to wind up in accordance with the Companies Ordinance.
Li Zhiying asked the court to stop the police from searching his mobile phone data, but the court rejected Pan Jiexian's establishment of "One Ping News" 9.1 launch Taiwan "Apple" will stop updating tomorrow night, the owner will take over soon Taiwan "Apple News" Statement: News materials will be sealed Li Zhiying Assistant Mark Simon filed a lawsuit against Taiwanese Ye Yijian and others for illegally selling Taiwanese apples
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