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Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lear Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, today reported results for the second quarter 2025. Second Quarter 2025 Highlights Delivered revenue of $6.0 billion in the second quarter, in line with $6.0 billion in the second quarter of 2024 Net income of $165 million and adjusted net income of $188 million, compared to $173 million and $206 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2024 Core operating earnings of $292 million, compared to $302 million in the second quarter of 2024 Earnings per share of $3.06 and adjusted earnings per share of $3.47, compared to $3.02 and $3.60, respectively, in the second quarter of 2024 Net cash provided by operating activities of $296 million and free cash flow of $171 million, compared to $291 million and $170 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2024 Cash and cash equivalents of $888 million and total liquidity of $2.9 billion at quarter end Delivered strong operating performance in both segments, generating ≈45 basis points in Seating and ≈70 basis points in E-Systems Restoring full year guidance with expectation for revenue of $22,470 to $23,070 million and core operating earnings of $955 to $1,095 million Increasing total company full year net performance by ≈$25 million, while offsetting the dilutive effect on margins from tariff recoveries Refinanced our $2 billion revolver, extending its maturity through July 2030 Repurchased $25 million of shares and paid $41 million in dividends Extended agreement with Palantir Technologies to continue enhancing IDEA capabilities Awarded a conquest complete seat program in Asia with BMW and two conquest awards for seat components with Ford Awarded conquest wire business with a global EV automaker for two key programs launching in late 2025 One ComfortMax SeatTM and two ComfortFlexTM awards, including key programs with a luxury EV automaker, combining heat, ventilation, and pneumatic lumbar and massage Awarded complete seat programs with key Chinese domestic automakers: conquest business with FAW and new business with Leapmotor and XPeng "Lear continued its momentum from the start of the year through the second quarter, with strong operating performance driving solid margins in both business segments," said Ray Scott, Lear's President and CEO. "Our investments in automation and restructuring will extend our industry leadership in operational excellence and drive sustainable margin improvement that will allow us to continue returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends." Second Quarter Financial Results(in millions, except per share amounts)20252024 Reported Sales $6,030.4$6,012.4 Net income $165.2$173.1 Earnings per share $3.06$3.02 Adjusted(1) Core operating earnings $291.8$302.0 Adjusted net income $187.8$205.8 Adjusted earnings per share $3.47$3.60 In the second quarter, global vehicle production was up 3% compared to a year ago, with North America down 3%, Europe down 2% and China up 9%. Global vehicle production was flat on a Lear sales-weighted basis(2). Sales in the second quarter were $6.0 billion, flat year-over-year. Excluding the impact of commodities, foreign exchange, tariff recoveries, and acquisitions and divestitures, sales were down 1%, reflecting lower production on key Lear platforms, partially offset by the addition of new business in both of our business segments. Core operating earnings were $292 million, or 4.8% of sales, as compared to $302 million, or 5.0% of sales, in 2024. Earnings were impacted by lower production on key Lear platforms, offset by positive operating performance and the addition of new business. Net income was $165 million, as compared to $173 million in 2024. In the Seating segment, margins and adjusted margins were 6.4% and 6.7% of sales, respectively. In the E-Systems segment, margins and adjusted margins were 3.5% and 4.9% of sales, respectively. Earnings per share were $3.06 and adjusted earnings per share were $3.47, as compared to $3.02 and $3.60, respectively, a year ago. In the second quarter of 2025, net cash from operating activities was $296 million, and free cash flow(1) was $171 million. (1) For more information regarding our non-GAAP financial measures, see "Non-GAAP Financial Information" below. (2) The global and regional production changes are based on S&P Global estimates. The production change on a Lear sales-weighted basis is calculated using Lear's prior year regional sales mix and second quarter fiscal calendar. Management believes this provides a more meaningful comparison of the Company's global revenue growth relative to global vehicle production. Share Repurchase ProgramDuring the second quarter of 2025, Lear repurchased 271,117 shares of our common stock for a total of $25 million. At the end of the second quarter, we had a remaining share repurchase authorization of approximately $1.0 billion, which reflects approximately 18% of our total market capitalization at current market prices. Since initiating the share repurchase program in 2011, we have repurchased 59.6 million shares of our common stock for a total of $5.6 billion at an average price of $94.53 per share. This represents a reduction of approximately 57% of our shares outstanding since the time we began the program. 2025 Financial OutlookWe are restoring full year 2025 financial guidance. Below is our updated outlook. At the midpoint of our guidance range, we have assumed that global industry production will be 2% lower than in 2024 on a Lear sales-weighted basis, consistent with our prior guidance. The industry volume assumptions underlying Lear's 2025 financial outlook are derived from several sources, including internal estimates, customer production schedules and the most recent S&P Global Mobility production estimates for Lear's vehicle platforms. We have updated our foreign exchange rate assumptions to better reflect the weakening U.S. dollar. Contractual agreements allowed us to recover substantially all of the costs associated with new tariffs incurred in the first half of the year. Our full year financial outlook assumes the continuation of these recovery agreements through the second half of the Year 2025 Financial OutlookNet Sales $22,470 million - $23,070 million Core Operating Earnings $955 million - $1,095 million Adjusted EBITDA $1,570 million - $1,710 million Restructuring Costs ≈$215 million Operating Cash Flow $1,010 million - $1,110 million Capital Spending ≈$590 million Free Cash Flow $420 million - $520 million The financial outlook is based on a full year average exchange rate of $1.11/Euro and 7.23 RMB/$. Certain of the forward-looking financial measures above are provided on a non-GAAP basis. The Company does not provide a reconciliation of such forward-looking measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP because to do so would be potentially misleading and not practical given the difficulty of projecting event-driven transactional and other non-core operating items in any future period. The magnitude of these items, however, may be significant. Second Quarter 2025 Conference Call and Webcast InformationA conference call and webcast will be held to discuss Lear's second quarter 2025 financial results and related matters on July 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The webcast link for the conference call will be available through Lear's investor relations webpage at In addition, the conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-883-0383 (domestic) or 1-412-902-6506 (international) with Conference I.D. 9523449. The webcast replay will be available two hours following the call. Non-GAAP Financial InformationIn addition to the results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) included throughout this press release, the Company has provided information regarding "pretax income before equity income, interest, other expense, restructuring costs and other special items" (core operating earnings or adjusted segment earnings), "pretax income before equity income, interest, other expense, depreciation expense, amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs and other special items" (adjusted EBITDA), "adjusted net income attributable to Lear" (adjusted net income), "adjusted diluted net income per share attributable to Lear" (adjusted earnings per share) and "free cash flow" (each, a non-GAAP financial measure). Other expense includes, among other things, non-income related taxes, foreign exchange gains and losses, gains and losses related to certain derivative instruments and hedging activities, gains and losses on certain disposals of fixed assets and the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost. Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share represent net income attributable to Lear and diluted net income per share attributable to Lear, respectively, adjusted for restructuring costs and other special items, including the tax effect thereon. Free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures. Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's financial position and results of operations. In particular, management believes that core operating earnings, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are useful measures in assessing the Company's financial performance by excluding certain items that are not indicative of the Company's core operating performance or that may obscure trends useful in evaluating the Company's continuing operating activities. Management also believes that these measures provide improved comparability between fiscal periods. Management believes that free cash flow is useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's ability to service and repay its debt. Further, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning and forecasting future periods. Core operating earnings, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income attributable to Lear, diluted net income per share attributable to Lear, cash provided by operating activities or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of profitability or liquidity. In addition, the calculation of free cash flow does not reflect cash used to service debt and, therefore, does not reflect funds available for investment or other discretionary uses. Also, these non-GAAP financial measures, as determined and presented by the Company, may not be comparable to related or similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Set forth below are reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated financial results and liquidity. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts" and similar expressions identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The Company also may provide forward-looking statements in oral statements or other written materials released to the public. All statements contained or incorporated in this press release or in any other public statements that address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 29, 2025, and its other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Future operating results will be based on various factors, including actual industry production volumes, supply chain disruptions, labor disruptions, commodity prices, changes in foreign exchange rates, the impact of, and our ability to mitigate the effects of, international trade policies, including trade policies such as tariffs and any changes to such tariffs, the impact of restructuring actions and the Company's success in implementing its operating strategy. Information in this press release relies on assumptions in the Company's core sales backlog. The Company's core sales backlog reflects anticipated net sales from formally awarded new programs less lost and discontinued programs and excludes the impact of non-core products winding down in our E-Systems business. The Company enters into contracts with its customers to provide production parts generally at the beginning of a vehicle's life cycle. Typically, these contracts do not provide for a specified quantity of production, and many of these contracts may be terminated by the Company's customers at any time. Therefore, these contracts do not represent firm orders. Further, the calculation of the core sales backlog does not reflect customer price reductions on existing or newly awarded programs. The core sales backlog may be impacted by various assumptions embedded in the calculation, including vehicle production levels on new programs, foreign exchange rates and the timing of major program launches. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date hereof. About Lear CorporationLear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) is a global automotive leader in Seating and E-Systems. The company designs, manufactures, and delivers advanced technologies to the world's major automakers. Building on more than 100 years of heritage, Lear is the largest U.S.-based automotive supplier, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. Driven by a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability, Lear's global team of talented employees is shaping the future of mobility by developing solutions that enhance comfort, safety, and efficiency. More information is available at Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesCondensed Consolidated Statements of Income(Unaudited; in millions, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Net sales$ 6,030.4$ 6,012.4Cost of sales5,591.35,563.6 Selling, general and administrative expenses186.3175.3 Amortization of intangible assets4.712.7 Interest expense25.426.9 Other expense, net5.27.4Consolidated income before income taxes and equity in net income ofaffiliates217.5226.5 Income taxes41.646.2 Equity in net income of affiliates(16.0)(14.1)Consolidated net income191.9194.4 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests26.721.3Net income attributable to Lear$ 165.2$ 173.1 Diluted net income per share attributable to Lear$ 3.06$ 3.02Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding54.157.2 Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesCondensed Consolidated Statements of Income(Unaudited; in millions, except per share amounts) Six Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Net sales$ 11,590.7$ 12,007.0Cost of sales10,792.411,160.1 Selling, general and administrative expenses358.7361.8 Amortization of intangible assets9.927.8 Interest expense51.253.0 Other expense, net25.620.9Consolidated income before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates352.9383.4 Income taxes86.886.7 Equity in net income of affiliates(28.3)(24.6)Consolidated net income294.4321.3 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests48.538.6Net income attributable to Lear$ 245.9$ 282.7 Diluted net income per share available to Lear common stockholders$ 4.54$ 4.92Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding54.157.4 Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesCondensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(In millions) June 28,2025December 31,2024 (Unaudited)(Audited) ASSETS Current: Cash and cash equivalents$ 887.9$ 1,052.9 Accounts receivable4,532.83,589.3 Inventories1,684.01,601.1 Other1,110.7940.8 8,215.47,184.1 Long-Term: PP&E, net2,918.82,833.4 Goodwill1,761.11,699.2 Other2,426.82,310.8 7,106.76,843.4Total Assets$ 15,322.1$ 14,027.5 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current: Short-term borrowings$ 27.2$ 26.7 Accounts payable and drafts3,748.93,250.5 Accrued liabilities2,342.52,167.6 Current portion of long-term debt3.62.2 6,122.25,447.0 Long-Term: Long-term debt2,760.62,733.3 Other1,228.61,246.2 3,989.23,979.5Equity5,210.74,601.0Total Liabilities and Equity$ 15,322.1$ 14,027.5 Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesConsolidated Supplemental Data(Unaudited; in millions, except content per vehicle and per share amounts) Three Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Net Sales North America$ 2,519.3$ 2,552.5 Europe and Africa2,163.22,171.6 Asia1,144.61,074.4 South America203.3213.9 Total$ 6,030.4$ 6,012.4Content per Vehicle 1 North America$ 634$ 623 Europe and Africa$ 480$ 472Free Cash Flow 2 Net cash used in operating activities$ 296.2$ 291.2 Capital expenditures(125.4)(120.8) Free cash flow$ 170.8$ 170.4Core Operating Earnings 2 Net income attributable to Lear$ 165.2$ 173.1 Interest expense25.426.9 Other expense, net5.27.4 Income taxes41.646.2 Equity in net income of affiliates(16.0)(14.1) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests26.721.3 Restructuring costs and other special items - Costs related to restructuring actions33.933.7 Acquisition costs—0.4 Impairments (recoveries) related to Fisker Inc., net(0.5)0.3 Recoveries related to Russian operations, net of costs(0.1)(0.3) Other10.47.1 Core operating earnings$ 291.8$ 302.0 Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesConsolidated Supplemental Data(continued)(Unaudited; in millions, except content per vehicle and per share amounts) Three Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share 2 Net income attributable to Lear$ 165.2$ 173.1 Restructuring costs and other special items - Costs related to restructuring actions32.132.1 Acquisition costs—0.4 Term loan refinancing0.5— Impairments (recoveries) related to Fisker Inc., net(0.5)0.3 Recoveries related to Russian operations, net of costs(0.1)(0.3) Foreign exchange losses due to foreign exchange rate volatility relatedto Russia—1.0 Other6.29.6 Tax impact of special items and other net tax adjustments 3(15.6)(10.4) Adjusted net income$ 187.8$ 205.8Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding54.157.2Diluted net income per share available to Lear$ 3.06$ 3.02Adjusted earnings per share$ 3.47$ 3.60 Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesConsolidated Supplemental Data(continued)(Unaudited; in millions, except content per vehicle and per share amounts) Six Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Net Sales North America$ 4,768.1$ 5,028.4 Europe and Africa4,225.34,425.4 Asia2,216.22,134.1 South America381.1419.1 Total$ 11,590.7$ 12,007.0Content per Vehicle 1 North America$ 622$ 623 Europe and Africa$ 473$ 474Free Cash Flow 2 Net cash provided by operating activities$ 168.5$ 256.6 Capital expenditures(229.4)(234.4) Free cash flow$ (60.9)$ 22.2Core Operating Earnings 2 Net income attributable to Lear$ 245.9$ 282.7 Interest expense51.253.0 Other expense, net25.620.9 Income taxes86.886.7 Equity in net income of affiliates(28.3)(24.6) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests48.538.6 Restructuring costs and other special items - Costs related to restructuring actions121.388.0 Acquisition costs0.10.5 Disposal costs0.6— Impairments (recoveries) related to Fisker Inc., net(0.9)14.8 Impairments (recoveries) related to Russian operations, net(1.5)1.1 Other12.920.1 Core operating earnings$ 562.2$ 581.8 Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesConsolidated Supplemental Data(continued)(Unaudited; in millions, except content per vehicle and per share amounts) Six Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Lear 2 Net income attributable to Lear$ 245.9$ 282.7 Restructuring costs and other special items - Costs related to restructuring actions119.886.4 Acquisition costs0.10.5 Loss on disposal of non-core business3.3— Disposal costs0.6— Term loan refinancing0.5— Impairments (recoveries) related to Fisker Inc., net(0.9)14.8 Impairments (recoveries) related to Russian operations, net(1.5)1.1 Foreign exchange losses due to foreign exchange rate volatility relatedto Russia2.91.0 Loss related to affiliate—2.2 Other10.623.4 Tax impact of special items and other net tax adjustments 3(24.2)(23.1) Adjusted net income attributable to Lear$ 357.1$ 389.0Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding54.157.4Diluted net income per share available to Lear common stockholders$ 4.54$ 4.92Adjusted earnings per share$ 6.60$ 6.78Diluted Shares Outstanding at End of Period 453,841,22256,928,9661 Content per Vehicle for 2024 has been updated to reflect actual production levels.2 See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" included in this press release.3 Represents the tax effect of restructuring costs and other special items, as well as several discrete tax items. The identification of these tax items is judgmental in nature, and their calculation is based on various assumptions and estimates.4 Calculated using stock price at end of quarter. Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesSegment Supplemental Data(Unaudited; in millions, except margins) Three Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Adjusted Segment EarningsSeating Net sales$ 4,473.9$ 4,447.0Segment earnings$ 284.5$ 276.0 Restructuring costs and other special items - Costs related to restructuring actions14.122.9 Recoveries related to Russian operations, net of costs(0.1)(0.3) Other0.43.5 Adjusted segment earnings$ 298.9$ 302.1Segment margins6.4 %6.2 %Adjusted segment margins6.7 %6.8 %E-Systems Net sales$ 1,556.5$ 1,565.4Segment earnings$ 55.2$ 69.5 Restructuring and other special items - Costs related to restructuring actions18.110.0 Impairments (recoveries) related to Fisker Inc., net(0.5)0.3 Other3.02.4 Adjusted segment earnings$ 75.8$ 82.2Segment margins3.5 %4.4 %Adjusted segment margins4.9 %5.3 % Lear Corporation and SubsidiariesSegment Supplemental Data(continued)(Unaudited; in millions, except margins) Six Months Ended June 28,2025June 29,2024 Adjusted Segment EarningsSeating Net sales$ 8,625.0$ 8,924.6Segment earnings$ 500.2$ 517.6 Costs related to restructuring actions78.666.6 Impairments related to Fisker Inc.—2.3 Impairments (recoveries) related to Russian operations, net(1.5)1.1 Other1.59.4 Adjusted segment earnings$ 578.8$ 597.0Segment margins5.8 %5.8 %Adjusted segment margins6.7 %6.7 %E-Systems Net sales$ 2,965.7$ 3,082.4Segment earnings$ 110.7$ 123.6 Costs related to restructuring actions34.918.8 Impairments (recoveries) related to Fisker Inc., net(0.9)12.5 Other4.94.4 Adjusted segment earnings$ 149.6$ 159.3Segment margins3.7 %4.0 %Adjusted segment margins5.0 %5.2 % View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lear Corporation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
16 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Russia and China Flex Naval Power Near US Pacific Ally
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Chinese warships were observed transiting northward near Japan as Russia conducted a large-scale naval exercise spanning the Northern Hemisphere, including the Pacific Ocean. Newsweek has contacted defense ministries in Beijing and Moscow for comment via email. Why It Matters The Chinese navy—the world's largest by hull count—has regularly conducted war games and patrols with its Russian counterpart as part of Beijing's efforts to bolster its "unlimited partnership" with Moscow and challenge U.S. naval dominance across the Western Pacific. Japan, which plays a key role in an island chain strategy aimed at containing the United States' adversaries in the Western Pacific, has been tracking Chinese military aircraft and vessels operating near its territory—including a dual aircraft carrier deployment in June. What To Know The Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry reported that three Chinese vessels—two destroyers and one supply ship—passed through the Tsushima Strait on Thursday, entering the Sea of Japan (known as the East Sea in South Korea) from the East China Sea. The Sea of Japan borders the Korean Peninsula to the west, the Japanese archipelago to the east, and the Russian Far East to the north, where Russia's Pacific Fleet is based in Vladivostok. Based on their hull numbers, the Chinese ships were identified as the Type 052D destroyers CNS Shaoxing and CNS Urumqi, and the Type 903 replenishment ship CNS Qiandaohu. It remains unclear whether this Chinese naval flotilla was deployed for Russia's July Storm exercise—which commenced on Wednesday and is scheduled to end on Sunday—taking place across the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Baltic and Caspian Seas. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the exercise involves the Northern, Pacific and Baltic Fleets, as well as the Caspian Flotilla. More than 150 naval vessels, 120 aircraft, 10 coastal defense missile systems, and over 15,000 military personnel are participating. The diesel-electric submarine Ufa of the Russian Pacific Fleet is seen at its home base in Vladivostok, Russia, on July 3, 2025. The diesel-electric submarine Ufa of the Russian Pacific Fleet is seen at its home base in Vladivostok, Russia, on July 3, 2025. Vitaliy Ankov/Sputnik via AP China's possible involvement in the Russian naval exercise coincides with the U.S. military's simultaneous participation in two ongoing drills in the Pacific—the Air Force's Resolute Force Pacific 2025 and the Australia-hosted, multinational Talisman Sabre 2025. What People Are Saying Japan's 2025 defense white paper notes: "China has been swiftly increasing its national defense expenditures, thereby extensively and rapidly enhancing its military capability in a qualitative and quantitative manner and intensifying its activities in the East China Sea…and the Pacific…Russia has also been observed engaging in joint activities with China involving aircraft and vessels." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on July 13: "China-Russia relations represent the most stable, mature and strategically valuable major-country relationship in the world today. The two sides have always viewed and advanced bilateral cooperation in various fields from a historical depth, strategic height, and long-term perspective." What Happens Next Japan is likely to detect Russian naval activity in waters near its territory during Exercise July Storm. If China's participation in the exercise is confirmed, naval forces from both Russia and China may conduct a joint patrol in the Western Pacific to demonstrate their cooperation.
NBC News
16 minutes ago
- NBC News
Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists, offering bounties for 15
HONG KONG — Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet. They are accused of organizing or participating in the 'Hong Kong Parliament,' a group authorities in the Asian financial hub say aimed to subvert state power, under the law Beijing imposed in 2020 following months of pro-democracy protests in 2019. The activists are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial 'Hong Kong Parliament' group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a 'Hong Kong constitution.' Police, who said the organization sought to overthrow the governments of China and Hong Kong by unlawful means, said they are still investigating and further arrests may follow. Among those named are businessman Elmer Yuen, commentator Victor Ho, and activists Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Four of them are subject to previous arrest warrants, each carrying a bounty of HK$1 million ($127,000). Among the remaining 15, for each of whom police are offering a bounty of HK$200,000 ($25,480), are those said to have organized or run in the election and been sworn in as its councilors. None of the accused could be reached for comment. The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, including freedom of speech, under a 'one country, two systems' formula. Critics of the national security law say authorities are using it to stifle dissent. Chinese and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the law was vital to restore stability after the city was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019. Police reiterated that national security offenses were serious crimes with extraterritorial reach and urged the wanted individuals to return to Hong Kong and surrender. 'If offenders voluntarily give up continuing to violate the crime, turn themselves in, truthfully confess their crimes, or provide key information that helps solve other cases, they may be eligible for reduced punishment,' they said in a statement.
