LEADER EDU (01449) responds to highly concentrated shareholding, stating that the company has complied with the public float requirement.

LEADER EDU (01449) announces that the Company has noted an announcement published by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on 14 October 2026 (the SFC Announcement). As disclosed in the SFC Announcement, the SFC recently conducted an inquiry into the shareholding distribution of the Company. The results of the SFC's inquiry revealed that as at 6 October 2026, 20 shareholders collectively held 229,916,000 shares, representing 28.74% of the issued shares. Together with 496,674,000 shares held by two controlling shareholders and one substantial shareholder of the Company (representing 62.08% of the issued shares), this amounted to 90.82% of the issued shares. Accordingly, only 73,410,000 shares of the Company (representing 9.18% of the issued shares) were held by other shareholders. As stated in the SFC Announcement: (a) the closing price of the shares rose 527% from HK$0.31 on 21 July 2026 to HK$1.945 on 6 October 2026. (b) the closing price of the shares on 13 October 2026 was HK$1.225, representing a 295% increase over the closing price of HK$0.31 on 21 July 2026. The board of directors of the Company wishes to clarify that the above information is extracted from the SFC Announcement and, save for the information set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the Company has not independently verified the relevant information. For details, please refer to the SFC Announcement. The Company will conduct further investigation into the shareholding matters set out in the SFC Announcement and will, upon completion of the relevant investigation, publish a further announcement as soon as practicable to provide the market with the latest information. Based on the information available and to the best of the directors' knowledge after making all reasonable enquiries, the Company confirms that as at 6 October 2026 and the date of this announcement, the public held not less than 25% of the issued shares of the Company, and therefore the Company has complied with the public float requirement under the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange.