Middleness: proposed to buy back shares of the company from $4 billion to $8 billion

ON 28 JULY, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT, ON 28 JULY 2026, THE COMPANY HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MR. LIU XIAN, CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROPOSING THAT THE COMPANY USE ITS OWN OR SELF-FINANCING TO BUY BACK PART OF A STOCK BY WAY OF A CENTRALIZED BID. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REPURCHASES IS NOT LESS THAN 4 BILLION YUAN (INCLUSIVE) AND NOT MORE THAN 8 BILLION YUAN (INCLUSIVE), AND THE REPURCHASE PRICE IS NOT MORE THAN 150 PER CENT OF THE AVERAGE VALUE OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE ON THE 30 TRADING DAYS PRIOR TO THE BOARD ' S CONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE REPURCHASE PROGRAMME. THE REPURCHASES WILL BE USED FOR EQUITY INCENTIVES OR STAFF-HELD SCHEMES OR CANCELLED IF THEY ARE NOT USED WITHIN THREE YEARS。