Press Release CONTACT INFORMATION: CNBC Asia Pacific Reena Kumarasingham +65 6326 1123 [email protected] PRINT, RADIO, ONLINE, WIRE & TV EMBARGO Thursday 26 October 2006 at 11.00 pm (SIN/HK time) Region’s Top CEO Named at the 5th CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards Singapore, 26 October, 2006 – CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, has announced the winners of the 5th CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards. The coveted Asia Business Leader of the Year was awarded to Anand G. Mahindra, of Mahindra & Mahindra. Under Mr. Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra has been consistently recognized as one of the most respected companies in the country. The company employs 11,600 people and has 8 manufacturing facilities spread over 500,000 square meters. It has 49 sales offices that are supported by a network of over 780 dealers from all over the country and who are connected by an extensive IT infrastructure. The company's 300 top managers have successfully hit their business targets year after year through its "Blue Chip Matra" where best innovations are everyday things. The company also supports various initiatives to promote the welfare and education of not only its employees, but also the community. It has supported over 1,700 primary students and victims of national calamities through its trust foundation. Mr. Mahindra's vision and leadership have successfully led Mahindra & Mahindra into the innovative and progressive company that it is today. * o The other ABLA 2006 winners are: • Asia Innovator of the Year – Masanari Iketani, of Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co. Ltd – has successfully led an organization that has innovation at its very core and as a result, achieves outstanding business success. • • Asia Corporate Citizen of the Year – Ernesto “Ato” Tanmantiong of Jollibee Foods Corporation – for his outstanding contributions to education, the environment and community development • Asia Talent Management – Ruey Bin Kao, of Motorola (China) Electronics – recognizes and supports the importance of talent in both word and deed. Asia Entrepreneur of the Year – Fredy Bush of Xinhua Finance Ltd – who embodies the talent and skills of a successful entrepreneur by having the ability to identify opportunities, the courage to challenge paradigms, the vision to develop new business ventures based on opportunities and the confidence to encourage others to innovate. Hong Kong CEO of the Year – Tony Fok Tung Ling of Comba Telecom System Holdings – whose vision and management abilities have helped steered his company successfully in not only in Hong Kong but also in the global marketplace. * M&M data as of March 2006 Print, radio, online, wire and TV embargo till Thursday 26 October 2006, 11:00pm (SIN/HK time) "Being the First in Business Worldwide, CNBC takes pride in identifying premier global business leaders and celebrating their achievements. CNBC is also proud to host the CNBC Asia Business Leader Awards, a platform where top Asian business leaders are able to meet, network, and share valuable insights, to enhance their respective companies, and have a direct impact on enhancing the corporate economy,” said Jeremy Pink, President and Managing Director, CNBC Asia Pacific. “We would like to congratulate all the winners and finalists who have made it after a stringent elimination process that has seen the number of finalists come down to 30 from a starting list of over 13,000 companies across the region. That is an achievement in itself." "The entrepreneurialism, innovation and leadership that characterize the finalists for these Awards continue to fuel Asia's rapid economic progress and rising global influence. Such private sector enterprise also contributes to better living standards for all." "It is therefore important that we pay tribute to excellence in business leadership as these Awards do, encouraging entrepreneurship not just for personal success but also for social good," said Mr Deepak Sharma, CEO, Citigroup Global Wealth Management, Asia Pacific and Middle East. 5th Asia Business Leader Awards is hosted by CNBC Asia Pacific CNBC Asia Pacific is uniquely positioned to speak to viewers from across the region. Headquartered in Singapore, the network provides eight hours of live Asia-produced programming, which is complemented with coverage of live market action from Europe and the US. CNBC Asia Pacific's channels, which include CNBC Asia, CNBC-TV18 (India), CNBC Pakistan, Nikkei-CNBC (Japan) are available in more than 21 countries across the Asia Pacific region. CNBC Asia Pacific also has a strategic alliance with China Business Network, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Media Group. The channels are distributed via satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast networks, as well as broadband. CNBC content is also distributed on the 3G platform through selective markets. For more information, please visit us at www.cnbcasia.com. CNBC is 100% owned and managed by NBC Universal, which is the broadcasting unit of GE, the ‘World’s Most Admired’ company in FORTUNE magazine's annual poll of executives (March 2006). 5th Asia Business Leader Awards is presented by The Citigroup Private Bank The Citigroup Private Bank, one of the largest private banking businesses in the world, provides personalized wealth management services for clients through 126 offices in 90 cities in 37 countries. The Citigroup Private Bank offers unmatched global reach, coupled with a full range of portfolio management and investment advisory services, an array of structured lending and banking services, as well as expertise from the Global Corporate and Investment Bank. Citigroup Private Bankers act as financial architects, designing and coordinating insightful solutions for individual client needs, with an emphasis on personalized, confidential service. The Citigroup Private Bank provides services and products through various Citigroup affiliates. Not all services and products are available at all locations. Print, radio, online, wire and TV embargo till Thursday 26 October 2006, 11:00pm (SIN/HK time) .