Public Company News
Bassel Haddad Assumes Leadership of ASMPT as Group Chief Executive Officer
Bassel Haddad Assumes Leadership of ASMPT as Group Chief Executive Officer Semiconductor technology and business executive to advance ASMPT’s transformation and growth strategy ASMPT (HKEX: 0522), the world’s leading provider of integrated hardware and software solutions for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, today announced that Bassel Haddad has assumed the roles of Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. The leadership transition, first announced in July, took effect today. Bassel Haddad succeeds Robin Ng, who retires after more than 20 years with ASMPT, including six years as Group CEO and Executive Director. John Lok, Chairman of the Board of ASMPT, said: “We are pleased to welcome Bassel Haddad as Group CEO. He assumes leadership of ASMPT with a clear corporate strategy, strong technology capabilities and an experienced global team already in place. Bassel’s deep industry expertise, business leadership and track record of driving innovation and customer success make him the right leader to guide ASMPT through its next phase of growth and deliver solutions to increasingly complex customer requirements.” “It is an honour to lead ASMPT, a company with a remarkable legacy and a strong foundation for future growth,” said Bassel Haddad, Group Chief Executive Officer of ASMPT. “We have an exceptional opportunity to accelerate and shape the industry´s evolution from traditional Moore´s Law scaling to the “more than Moore” era. I look forward to partnering with the Board of Directors and our talented global team to accelerate innovation, deepen our customer partnerships, and create lasting value for our employees, customers, and shareholders.” Bassel Haddad assumes leadership following ASMPT’s recently reported first-half 2026 results. Group revenue from continuing operations increased 42.5% year on year to US$1.14 billion, while Advanced Packaging delivered record half-year revenue. The performance reflected demand across multiple advanced packaging solutions, including Thermo-Compression Bonding, high-precision SMT and Photonics, alongside growth in mainstream applications. As semiconductor architectures become more complex, assembly and advanced packaging have become central to delivering system-level performance and manufacturing scalability. Bassel Haddad’s broad experience leading technology development, operations and global businesses positions ASMPT to extend its technology leadership and customer focus. Before joining ASMPT, Bassel Haddad was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Foundry Solutions and Technology Platforms at SkyWater Technology, where he led business strategy, go-to-market activities and profit-and-loss accountability for its foundry and advanced technology services. He previously led SkyWater’s Advanced Packaging business, with responsibility spanning technology development, engineering, marketing and fab operations. Earlier, Bassel spent 14 years at Intel Corporation in senior leadership roles across product, technology and business management, including edge computing, artificial intelligence and product architecture. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. About ASMPT Limited ASMPT Limited is a leading global supplier of hardware and software solutions for the manufacture of semiconductors and electronics. Headquartered in Singapore, ASMPT's offerings encompass the semiconductor assembly & packaging, and SMT (surface mount technology) industries, providing various solutions that organise, assemble and package delicate electronic components into a vast range of end-user devices. ASMPT partners with customers very closely, with continuous investment in R&D helping to provide cost-effective, industry-shaping solutions that achieve higher productivity, greater reliability, and enhanced quality. ASMPT is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX stock code: 0522) and is one of the constituent stocks of the HKEX Tech 100 Index, Hang Seng Composite MidCap Index under the Hang Seng Composite Size Indexes, the Hang Seng Composite Information Technology Industry Index under Hang Seng Composite Industry Indexes, the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index, and the Hang Seng HK 35 Index. To learn more about ASMPT, please visit us at www.asmpt.com . Forward-Looking Statements All statements included herein, other than statements of historical facts, are or may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect ASMPT’s current expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future and assumptions in light of currently available information. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and ASMPT does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements. Save as otherwise referred to below, no statement herein is intended to be or may be construed as a profit forecast. For media enquiries: Global ASMPT Press Office ASMPT Ltd Lim Ee Guan Director, Corporate Communications E-Mail: [email protected]
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- September 11, 2026Business
Harsh Verma on AI Agents ‘The Clean Attack’ Challenge Signals a Shift in Cybersecurity Strategy, Predictability and Intent Redefine Enterprise Defense
As enterprises grapple with the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into critical systems, a new line of thinking is emerging at the intersection of AI architecture and cybersecurity. Recent publications by Harsh Verma, Principal Software Engineer for AI at Palo Alto Networks, are contributing to a broader industry shift one that reframes how organizations think about trust, predictability, and security in AI systems. Following his dual recognition at the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, Verma’s latest analyses published through Forbes Technology Council and the RSA Conference platform are gaining traction among cybersecurity leaders and enterprise architects. The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards are presented by Cybersecurity Insiders, backed by a community of over 600,000 security professionals, and have recognised achievement across the cybersecurity community for more than a decade. At the core of his work are two converging ideas: the rise of deterministic AI architectures and the growing threat of what he describes as the “clean attack problem.” From Intelligent to Predictable: Redefining Enterprise AI Priorities Verma's recognition reflects his work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and autonomous agent architectures, focusing on how modern enterprises can evolve toward real-time, self-directed security systems through agentic AI. A significant dimension of his published work at RSAC addresse s what he identifies as the clean attack problem: AI-assisted cyberattacks that operate entirely within legitimate workflows using valid credentials, approved API interactions, and authorised system access. In an analysis published on the RSA Conference platform, Verma argues that this development fundamentally disrupts the anomaly-based detection model on which cybersecurity has historically relied. "Cybersecurity used to focus on detecting abnormal behavior," Verma writes. "AI systems are disrupting that model because attacks may now be carried out inside trusted workflows, with legitimate permissions, and normal operational patterns. Valid actions can produce malicious outcomes." Toward Intent-Based Security in Autonomous Systems : His proposed response is a shift toward intent-based security, a framework that evaluates not simply whether an action was authorised but why a sequence of actions is occurring, whether it aligns with the user's original request, and whether autonomous agents have drifted from their intended purpose in real time. In a parallel analysis published in Forbes as a member of the Forbes Technology Council, Verma addresses how enterprises are evaluating AI systems more broadly, arguing that the next premium tier of AI will not be defined by capability but by reliability. "The premium product in AI is no longer intelligence alone," Verma writes at forbes . "It is engineered trust. And trust begins with predictability, and predictability is where that engineering begins." The Forbes analysis examines why hallucinations have moved from a technical concern to a business risk, and why large organisations are shifting from model-first to system-first thinking, with deterministic architectures built around retrieval-augmented generation, orchestrated workflows, and human approval checkpoints becoming the standard for enterprises in healthcare, financial services, and critical infrastructure. Recognition Across the Industry: Community Validation and Industry Momentum Verma’s recent publications build on a growing body of recognition and influence within the cybersecurity and AI communities. In 2026, he received both the AI Security Innovator of the Year award and the Community Choice Award at the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, The 2026 awards add to a growing body of professional recognition. The Community Choice Award, the only Cybersecurity Excellence Award determined directly by community voting, reflects the visible engagement Verma has earned across his network and the wider cybersecurity community. The AI Security Innovator of the Year category attracted some of the strongest community support across the 2026 programme, reflecting what the awards organisers describe as a rapid shift in cybersecurity priorities toward AI-native defence architectures. The category itself is among several focused on AI that did not exist in the programme two seasons ago. Harsh Verma’s work at Palo Alto Networks aligns closely with the company’s latest advancements in AI-driven network security, including the introduction of Strata Cloud Manager and Network Security Agents in PAN-OS 12.2. These innovations reflect a shift toward unified, AI-powered security operations where organizations can centrally manage complex environments, enforce Zero Trust policies in real time, and leverage intelligent agents to autonomously investigate, plan, and execute security workflows. By combining deep visibility, predictive analytics, and governed AI-driven automation, these systems are designed to scale security beyond human operational limits while maintaining control and reliability, reinforcing the transition from reactive defense models to proactive, intent-aware, and deterministic security architectures. Advancing AI Knowledge: Google Developer Expert in Cloud AI Harsh has also been recognised as a Google Developer Expert in Cloud AI, awarded to individuals who combine deep technical expertise with meaningful contributions to the global developer community. In this role, he shares knowledge on AI agents and agentic systems, helping developers and enterprises understand how to design, deploy, and scale autonomous AI solutions through talks, mentorship, and technical content. Beyond his work at Palo Alto Networks, Verma serves as an advisor at Berkeley SkyDeck, collaborating with early-stage founders building in AI and enterprise security, helping startups bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI innovation and production-grade security requirements. This combination of hands-on engineering, published thought leadership across Forbes and RSA Conference, community contribution as a Google Developer Expert, and ecosystem enablement through Berkeley SkyDeck positions Verma at a unique intersection of industry execution and broader field development. About Harsh Verma Harsh Verma is a Principal Software Engineer for AI at Palo Alto Networks, specializing in AI security architecture, agentic systems, and enterprise AI governance. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, a member of the Forbes Technology Council, and a Google Developer Expert in Cloud AI. His work focuses on building secure, scalable, and reliable AI systems for enterprise environments. About the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards are an established global recognition programme honouring companies, products, and professionals advancing cybersecurity worldwide. Presented by Cybersecurity Insiders and backed by a community of over 600,000 security professionals. For more information visit cybersecurity-excellence-awards.com .
- September 11, 2026Public Company
Yacht Lettering Expands Custom Yacht Lettering Focus as South Florida's Superyacht Market Advances
Fort Lauderdale remains one of the world's most concentrated centers for yachting and marine services. About 2,000 superyachts measuring 80 feet or longer visit Greater Fort Lauderdale each year, according to Visit Lauderdale. The region's marine industry generates an estimated $12.5 billion in annual economic impact. For owners, personalization increasingly extends beyond interiors and hull finishes. A vessel's name can now become an integrated design feature. Lighting, metals, acrylic, typography, and custom graphics give owners more ways to coordinate exterior details. Yacht Lettering is responding with a focus on custom yacht lettering. The service supports new launches and refit projects in Fort Lauderdale. The company handles design, fabrication, and installation for illuminated yacht signs, boat lettering, and marine graphics. Its process starts with the vessel itself. The team can visit a boat to take measurements and photographs. Designers then prepare a virtual layout showing the proposed size, position, and appearance before fabrication begins. Owners can also explore configurations through Yacht Lettering's online design tool. It allows users to compare fonts, face finishes, outlines, dimensions, and lighting choices. Available lighting includes warm white, cool white, blue, RGB, and dancing LED options. Material selection addresses a practical problem in South Florida. Salt water, intense sunlight, and humidity can quickly expose unsuitable exterior components. Yacht Lettering uses 316L stainless steel for its metal lettering. The material provides corrosion resistance in marine environments. The company also fabricates raised lettering in stainless steel, wood, and acrylic in the United States. That range supports understated daytime designs as well as illuminated installations intended for nighttime visibility. Multi-color systems can pair stainless faces with colored acrylic outlines. Refit work creates another common use case. An owner may keep a vessel while changing its name or updating an aging exterior identity. New graphics and lettering can be planned alongside paint, electronics, or other yard work. Yacht Lettering says production generally takes one to six weeks, depending on materials and design. Expedited completion may be available. Its lighting solutions carry a three-year warranty, while some LED lettering can last up to eight years. The service focus aligns closely with Fort Lauderdale's position in the marine industry. Florida's latest seaport planning report describes the state as a global superyacht hub. It also calls Fort Lauderdale the cornerstone of Florida's superyacht sector. The report cites more than 50,000 registered yachts. That concentration brings owners, captains, designers, brokers, and refit specialists into the same regional network. Custom exterior work can therefore become part of a broader launch or yard schedule. For Yacht Lettering, the result is a service model built around both visual personalization and marine durability.
- September 9, 2026Public Company
Beyond the Chatbot: How JD Health Is Bringing AI Into Doctors’ Everyday Work
A doctor reviewing a complex case may need to search through medical literature, check the latest clinical guidelines, assess drug interactions, interpret test results and bring together years of patient information, often under significant time pressure. This is where Zhiyi (知医) comes in. Developed by JINGDONG Health (also known as JD Health), Zhiyi is an evidence-based AI assistant built specifically for healthcare professionals. Its Chinese name fittingly brings together the ideas of “professional knowledge” (知) and “doctor” (医). Launched in January 2026, Zhiyi brings AI into the everyday workflow of doctors in China, supporting clinical decision-making, medical research, patient management and other professional tasks. It has integrated more than 50 million medical papers, clinical guidelines and authoritative journal resources, together with information from more than 160,000 pharmaceutical product instructions. The platform has already served over one million doctors and supported more than 20 million clinical decision-making interactions. From Finding Information to Understanding the Evidence Searching for medical information is one thing. Turning it into useful evidence for a particular patient or clinical situation is much harder. Zhiyi is designed to help doctors move beyond simple search. Its Deep Thinking mode can break down complex questions, assess different levels of evidence and provide structured references for doctors to consider, including in cases involving multiple conditions or medications. A good example is oncology. Zhiyi has integrated the China Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Management of Cancer, which cover 29 cancer types and 72 diagnostic and treatment technologies. By making this body of specialist knowledge searchable and actionable through AI, Zhiyi can help doctors access relevant evidence when they need it, rather than requiring them to navigate lengthy reference materials separately. Zhiyi also offers more than 200 medical calculators, covering areas such as disease assessment, risk stratification, medication dosage and cardiovascular risk, with AI providing evidence-based interpretation of the results. Its research assistant extends these capabilities into academic work, supporting literature reviews, patient education materials and presentations. The aim is simple: reduce the time doctors spend navigating information so they can focus more of their expertise on understanding the patient and making clinical decisions. Making AI Fit the Way Doctors Actually Work Clinical information rarely arrives as a perfectly structured prompt. It may be a laboratory report, prescription, medical image, PDF document or information collected across previous consultations. Zhiyi’s multimodal capabilities allow doctors to upload and analyze different types of clinical materials, reducing the need for manual entry and page-by-page review. More importantly, Zhiyi is designed to show doctors where its conclusions come from. Its dynamic evidence-location capability can identify the original text supporting a clinical point, allowing doctors to trace AI-generated information back to the underlying evidence. That distinction matters in healthcare. A useful medical AI assistant should not simply produce an answer; it should help a professional understand the evidence behind it. When “Sounds Right” Isn’t Good Enough Generative AI can produce convincing answers. In medicine, however, convincing is very different from reliable. JD Health has therefore built dedicated evaluation systems around Zhiyi. Its MedScope framework evaluates AI outputs across evidence quality, content accuracy, appropriate expression and practical usefulness, supported by evaluation sets spanning 46 major clinical specialties. A separate MedSafety framework evaluates 26 categories of high-risk medical scenarios, including medication contraindications and complication warnings. High-risk outputs that cross defined safety boundaries do not pass the evaluation. This reflects an important principle behind JD Health’s approach: AI is there to support medical professionals, not to replace their experience, judgment or responsibility. One AI Foundation, Different Healthcare Supports Zhiyi is part of a broader AI healthcare architecture JD Health has been developing. Underneath it is Jingyi Qianxun (京医千询), JD Health’s proprietary medical large language model. Rather than positioning the model itself as the final product, JD Health is applying its capabilities to specific healthcare workflows, including evidence retrieval, clinical support, patient follow-up and medical research. Zhiyi is one example of how that underlying AI capability is translated into a practical professional tool. On the patient-facing side, Dawei (大为), JD Health’s AI doctor, applies AI to another part of the healthcare journey. JD Health has also launched more than 1,500 AI agents based on specialist doctors, alongside solutions developed for hospitals and specific disease areas. Together, they illustrate a broader strategy: rather than building one AI assistant for every healthcare problem, JD Health is developing specialized AI tools around the needs of different users and healthcare scenarios. Taking Medical AI Beyond Major Hospitals Perhaps one of the most meaningful tests of medical AI is whether it can make high-quality tools more widely accessible. In August, JD Health formed a strategic partnership with PICA Health (Yunqueyi), one of China’s largest digital platforms serving primary-care doctors. Zhiyi has been integrated into the PICA Health app, making its upgraded capabilities, including Deep Thinking, medical calculators and research assistance, available free of charge to the platform’s registered primary-care doctors serving. PICA Health connects around three million registered primary-care doctors serving China’s grassroots. The significance is not simply putting AI into more hands. A doctor working in a smaller community can use the same AI tool to access medical literature, clinical guidelines and evidence-based decision support that would otherwise be more difficult or time-consuming to obtain. And this is where JD Health brings another capability into the picture: supply chain infrastructure. JD Health’s pharmaceutical supply chain reaches more than one million villages in China, while same- or next-day delivery coverage has reached 87.1% across county-level areas covered by its network. This creates an interesting connection between medical intelligence and healthcare access: AI can help doctors find and interpret the right evidence, while supply chain capabilities can help turn a clinical decision into access to the medicines and healthcare products patients need. Building AI Around Healthcare, Not Healthcare Around AI There is no shortage of discussion about how powerful the next generation of medical AI models will become. JD Health’s experience with Zhiyi suggests that model capability is only part of the equation. Healthcare AI also needs trusted medical evidence, safety mechanisms, integration into real clinical workflows and a way to reach the doctors and patients who can benefit from it. That is why Zhiyi is particularly illustrative of JD Health’s broader approach. The technology begins with a medical large language model, but extends into authoritative resources such as the CACA Guidelines, professional tools for doctors, partnerships such as PICA Health, patient-facing services such as Dawei, and JD Health’s wider healthcare and supply chain infrastructure. Doctors’ experience, judgment and responsibility remain at the center. The role of AI is to help those capabilities go further by making trusted knowledge easier to reach, complex information easier to navigate and everyday clinical work more efficient. The more meaningful question for healthcare may therefore be not whether AI can become a doctor, but how AI can help every doctor do more for every patient.
- September 8, 2026Technology
Fujifilm Launches “VF-GFXC2” Electronic Viewfinder for the “FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55”
FUJIFILM Corporation announces the launch of “VF-GFXC2,” an electronic viewfinder designed exclusively for the filmmaking camera “FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55” (“GFX ETERNA 55”). “VF-GFXC2” is scheduled to be available during 2026. “VF-GFXC2” is a dedicated electronic viewfinder for the “GFX ETERNA 55,” featuring an industry-leading 2048 x 1536-dot high resolution. With brightness of up to 1,000 nits, it enables clear image monitoring even in high contrast environment. In addition, its 4:3 aspect ratio display panel allows the entire image area captured in 4:3 open-gate recording* to be viewed without cropping, supporting precise framing and composition. Open-gate recording is a recording method that utilizes the maximum effective area of the image sensor. VF-GFXC2 Fujifilm launched “GFX ETERNA 55,” its first filmmaking camera, in October 2025. The camera has been highly acclaimed by professionals engaged in the production of films, commercials, television dramas, and other video content. In particular, its compatibility with cinematic production workflows, including 4:3 open-gate recording that fully utilizes the large image area of its 43.8 mm × 32.9 mm large-format sensor and the use of anamorphic lenses, has earned strong support from filmmakers and content creators. “VF-GFXC2” incorporates a 4:3 aspect ratio display panel optimized for 4:3 open-gate recording. The viewfinder displays the entire image at high resolution, high brightness, and high magnification. A large eyecup blocks external light and maintains clear visibility to the image, while its ergonomically designed shape provides comfortable viewing through long production days. The cylindrical body combines ergonomic handling with a refined functional design. Its one-piece machined aluminum exterior provides high durability through a variety of production environments. The function button is positioned within natural reach of fingers allowing instant access to assigned features, while the diopter adjustment dial is designed with optimized resistance to help prevent unintended operation. “VF-GFXC2” delivers precise focus confirmation, outstanding visibility, and intuitive operability, helping users maximize the imaging capabilities of “GFX ETERNA 55” while expanding creative possibilities for 4:3 open-gate production. Fujifilm will exhibit “VF-GFXC2” at IBC 2026, to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from September 11 to 14, 2026. Main features of “VF-GFXC2” (1) High-resolution, high-brightness display optimized for the “GFX ETERNA 55” with a 4:3 aspect ratio Delivers industry-leading 2048 x 1536-dot high resolution and brightness of up to 1,000 nits for an electronic viewfinder designed for filmmaking cameras. It enables clear image monitoring even in bright environments. In addition, the viewfinder offers a 1.0x magnification, allowing users to detect even subtle changes in focus. Features a 4:3 aspect ratio display panel optimized for 4:3 open-gate recording with “GFX ETERNA 55.” The entire recorded image can be displayed without cropping, enabling convenient confirmation of framing and fine image details. Optimizes display characteristics according to screen brightness, allowing footage to be viewed with natural tonal reproduction even when brightness settings are adjusted. (2) Enhanced viewing comfort with a large eyecup and robust one-piece machined aluminum exterior A large eyecup effectively blocks external light to improve visibility. It also provides a secure and comfortable fit around the eye, ensuring comfortable viewing through long production days. The simple cylindrical design offers a comfortable grip. The one-piece machined aluminum exterior minimizes seams between components while delivering exceptional strength and durability. (3) Functional design for a comfortable shooting experience The function button is positioned within easy reach, enabling instant access to focus-assistance functions such as display magnification and peaking. The diopter adjustment dial is engineered with appropriate resistance to help prevent accidental operation while allowing smooth and precise adjustments for comfortable use. Product Images “VF-GFXC2” Electronic Viewfinder for the “FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55” Download All ZIP: 167KB Contact Media Contact FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation Corporate Communications Division, Public Relations Group +81-3-6271-2000 Customer Contact Please contact your nearest Fujifilm office. For information on Fujifilm subsidiaries and distributors, please access the following website: Fujifilm Global Website Please note that the contents including the product availability, specification, prices and contacts in this website are current as of the date of the press announcement and may be subject to change without prior notice.
- September 8, 2026Top Stories
Cathay Pacific and Google Partner to Research and Trial AI-Powered Contrail Avoidance
Cathay Pacific and Google today announced a partnership to advance research on contrails and their contribution to aviation’s climate impact. Cathay Pacific is Google’s first commercial airline partner in Asia‑Pacific to trial its AI‑powered contrail mitigation technology, and the first airline globally to test contrail avoidance on ultra‑long‑haul flights. The companies have started trials to evaluate the operational feasibility and constraints of contrail avoidance across Cathay Pacific’s extensive global network. The trials will contribute valuable new data to global contrail research and advance understanding of contrail formation and avoidance in the Asia‑Pacific region, a geography that has been underrepresented in previous trials. The real‑world data gathered through the trial would allow the industry to better understand the climate benefits of contrail avoidance in actual operational environments. Cathay Pacific and Google collaborate to advance research on contrails and contribute to aviation industry’s climate impact. (From left to right: Captain Tony Pringle, Cathay Pacific Line Operations Manager, Lawrence Fong, Cathay Director Digital and IT, Michael Yue, Managing Director and General Manager, Google Hong Kong and Kemal Armada, Product Manager, Climate & AI, Google) The thin white lines that sometimes form behind aircraft in the sky are known as contrails, or condensation trails. They are clouds that form when aircrafts fly through certain cold and humid conditions at high altitude. While many disappear quickly, some persist and spread into broader cloud formations that can trap heat in the atmosphere. Previous research suggests these persistent contrails could account for around one‑third of aviation's total climate impact, making them an important area of study alongside carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Cathay recognises aviation’s contribution to climate change and is working towards addressing the climate impacts through multiple approaches. Reducing CO₂ emissions remains a primary focus for Cathay through fleet modernisation, operational efficiency improvements and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). At the same time, the airline recognises the importance of growing scientific understanding of non‑CO₂ climate effects, including contrails. Through this partnership, Cathay Pacific and Google are supporting contrail research using real‑world operational data from flight trials. The insights will help build further understanding of the impact and possible actions airlines can take against individual contrails, while exploring how contrail avoidance could be implemented and managed at scale across the aviation industry. AI in the Cockpit Shows Encouraging Early Results Google’s contrail mitigation solution combines AI‑based predictive models, satellite imagery detection tools, and extensive weather intelligence to forecast contrail‑forming zones. This actionable data allows flight dispatchers and pilots to make informed altitude adjustments navigating around these zones much like they routinely do to avoid turbulence. Onboard, Cathay Pacific leverages its modernised fleet capabilities, combining in‑flight Wi‑Fi connectivity with its proprietary, in‑house developed Electronic Flight Folder (EFF). The EFF system equips pilots with dynamic Google contrail forecasts alongside real‑time operational parameters, enabling seamless decision‑making in the cockpit without disrupting normal operations. An operational trial began in late 2025, with more than 100 flights targeted across Cathay Pacific's network. Over 80 flights followed contrail‑avoidance routes[1], and Google estimates that these flights achieved roughly 40% reduction in the warming impact of contrails. The Hong Kong‑Singapore corridor was one of the routes tested, as flights in this airspace frequently encounter conditions where persistent contrails form. Early analysis indicates that minor altitude adjustments can successfully prevent contrails, with actions taken on this single route accounting for more than 50% of the trial's total climate impact. Lawrence Fong, Director Digital and IT, Cathay said: “Aviation needs solutions to address climate change, and AI is accelerating that progress. This partnership combines Cathay’s operational expertise with Google’s world‑class AI capabilities to tackle complex sustainability challenges at scale. At Cathay, we believe innovation should deliver tangible and meaningful impact, and this collaboration sets a new benchmark for leadership in our industry.” Michael Yue, Managing Director and General Manager, Google Hong Kong said: “At Google, we believe AI has the power to help address complex environmental challenges and our partnership with Cathay Pacific is a prime example of this in action—researching how predictive AI can be deployed in live operations to help address the climate impact of contrails with today’s aircrafts and today’s fuel. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to developing sustainable solutions that deliver lasting impact, and we’re excited to expand our trial with Cathay Pacific and continue contributing to open climate science together.” Shaping the Future of Aviation The initial trial provided valuable experience for integrating predictive AI data in live flight planning to support contrail avoidance at flight levels, while bringing together the operational and technical stakeholders needed to make such trials possible. While the partnership delivered encouraging results on individual flights, further trials and research are needed to assess the benefits of applying contrail avoidance measures across airlines and airspaces. The availability of such robust science evidence will enable further industry considerations and policy development by airlines, regulators, and other industry players. Therefore, the partners are embarking on a larger second phase of flight trials to generate a broader set of real‑world operational data and further insights across Cathay Pacific’s Asia and transpacific network. Contrails.org , a nonprofit initiative dedicated to advancing the science of contrail mitigation, is also a partner in the project. The ongoing partnership aims to generate a robust operational data set to further scientific understanding of contrail avoidance and help inform future industry best practices. Notes to Editors: CO₂ emissions: emissions of carbon dioxide, the largest contributor to human‑caused climate change. Contrail warming and contrail avoidance: Contrail warming refers to the warming effect caused by persistent aircraft contrails, while contrail avoidance refers to operational changes — such as adjusting a flight’s altitude or route — to reduce the likelihood of creating contrails that have a warming effect. Learn more on Cathay’s News Hub and News from Google .
- September 8, 2026Public Company
AirAsia resumes flights impacted by the Mount Anak Krakatau volcanic eruption
[Updated as of 8 September 2026 at 11:00AM (GMT +8)] AirAsia has resumed operations to and from the affected destinations following the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in Indonesia's Sunda Strait, which had caused volcanic ash clouds and posed a significant threat to safe aircraft operations in the vicinity of volcanic clouds. With Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) now reopened following its temporary closure since 6 September 2026, AirAsia has resumed affected services to and from Jakarta, with the exception of two flights on 8 September 2026: QZ178 Jakarta (CGK) - Bandar Lampung (TKG) QZ179 Bandar Lampung (TKG) - Jakarta (CGK) AirAsia has notified all affected guests on their flight status and recovery options and the airline is working hard to ensure that guests can resume their journeys safely on the next available flight. The weather event remains fluid and AirAsia guests travelling to/from the affected destinations are strongly encouraged to check their latest flight status at airasia.com/flightstatus . Follow AirAsia on social media @airasia on X and @flyairasia on Instagram or contact our customer support team at AskBo for the latest updates.
- September 7, 2026Business
IJM rebounds strongly in Q1 FY2027 with revenue and PATMI up 32.2% and 43.7% respectively
IJM Corporation Berhad (“IJM” or “the Group”) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended 30 June 2026 (“Q1 FY2027”), recording strong growth in revenue and earnings, supported by higher activity in its Construction and Industry divisions. The Group posted operating revenue of RM2,292.3 million for Q1 FY2027, representing an increase of 32.2% from Q1 FY2026, while PBT rose 32.1% to RM201.8 million. PATMI for the quarter stood at RM137.4 million, an increase of 43.7% from the corresponding quarter last year, translating into basic earnings per share of 3.92 sen, compared with 2.73 sen in Q1 FY2026. The Group posted operating revenue of RM2,292.3 million for Q1 FY2027, representing an increase of 32.2% from Q1 FY2026, while PBT rose 32.1% to RM201.8 million. PATMI for the quarter stood at RM137.4 million, an increase of 43.7% from the corresponding quarter last year, translating into basic earnings per share of 3.92 sen, compared with 2.73 sen in Q1 FY2026. Dato’ Lee Chun Fai, Group CEO & Managing Director of IJM , said: “Our first-quarter performance marks an encouraging start to FY2027. Higher activity across our Construction portfolio is translating into improved earnings, while the Industry Division continues to benefit from sustained demand across data centre, industrial and infrastructure projects. “With a Construction order book of RM14.5 billion and approximately RM1.8 billion in new projects secured since the start of the financial year, we have good visibility for the period ahead. Our focus remains on delivering improved operational performance for FY2027 and executing our Value Realisation Initiatives with the target of distributing RM3 billion to shareholders.” Board declares 10 sen special dividend following treasury share resale As a further step towards delivering its target of distributing RM3 billion to shareholders over three years, IJM completed the resale of its entire 142.4 million treasury shares through open-market transactions on Bursa Malaysia on 20 August 2026. Following the resale, the Board has declared a single-tier special dividend of 10 sen per share. The special dividend will be paid on 15 October 2026 to shareholders whose names appear in the Record of Depositors on 30 September 2026. Dato’ Lee said: “The special dividend represents another tangible step in delivering the shareholder value initiatives we set out earlier this year and will continue to execute the remaining initiatives in a disciplined manner.” Business Segment Highlights The Construction Division recorded revenue of RM1,319.6 million, an increase of 36.2% from Q1 FY2026. PBT more than doubled to RM73.3 million from RM34.6 million, driven by higher construction activity, improved contributions from joint ventures and foreign exchange gains. Presently, the division’s outstanding order book remained strong at RM14.5 billion, including IJM’s share of joint ventures and associates. The order book comprises hyperscale data centres, advanced manufacturing and warehousing facilities, and road infrastructure projects across Malaysia and international markets. Since the start of FY2027, IJM Construction has secured approximately RM1.8 billion in new projects, including wins in the data centre and advanced industrial sectors. These include the RM658 million hyperscale data centre package at Elmina Business Park and projects supporting semiconductor, medical technology and other advanced manufacturing activities. The Property Division recorded revenue of RM333.7 million, a 38.5% increase from Q1 FY2026, driven by a land parcel sale in MCKIP. PBT declined to RM10.4 million from RM27.2 million, mainly due to lower unrealised foreign exchange gains and lower contributions from associates and joint ventures. In May, IJM Land entered into a joint venture agreement with Southern Catalyst Sdn Bhd to develop 307 acres of industrial and commercial land within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JSSEZ). Progress at The Light City in Penang continues, with The Light Exchange office tower having opened in June 2026, achieving an occupancy rate of 87.7%. The Waterfront Shoppes retail mall is targeted to open in October 2026, while the 459-key five-star hotel is targeted to open in Q1 2027. The division’s unbilled property sales of approximately RM2.2 billion provide earnings visibility. The Industry Division delivered another strong quarter, with revenue increasing 42.3% to RM443.8 million and pre-tax profit rising to RM61.7 million (Q1 FY2026: RM54.3 million). The division secured a record 953,000 tonnes of pile orders during the quarter, building on the momentum from its highestever monthly order of 400,000 tonnes recorded in April 2026, alongside record-breaking sales and production volumes achieved in May and June, reflecting sustained demand from the data centre, industrial and infrastructure construction boom. The Toll Division reported a revenue of RM91.2 million, an 11.3% decrease from Q1 FY2026, mainly due to the absence of toll compensation revenue following the completion of the NPE toll restructuring, as well as an unfavourable traffic mix and a weaker Indian Rupee at its overseas tollways. PBT, however, increased 47.5% to RM31.0 million supported by lower amortisation and finance costs and lower foreign exchange losses. Construction of the New Pantai Expressway Extension (NPE 2) continues to progress on schedule and is expected to provide long-term earnings visibility. Kuantan Port recorded revenue of RM94.1 million, a decrease of 7.2%, while PBT declined 13.6% to RM24.4 million due to lower cargo throughput. The recovery of a key customer’s production capacity following its major maintenance shutdown has taken longer than expected. The division expects cargo throughput to recover as the customer’s operations normalise and bulk cargoes volumes, such as bauxite and iron ore, continue to rise. Outlook The Group expects its operational performance to improve in FY2027, supported by its Construction order book, continued demand for Industry products and approximately RM2.2 billion in unbilled property sales. IJM remains financially well-positioned to execute its existing projects and pursue selected growth opportunities. Datuk Lee Teck Yuen succeeds Tan Sri Krishnan Tan as IJM Chairman IJM Corporation Berhad has appointed Datuk Lee Teck Yuen as Chairman of the Board with effect from 27 August 2026, succeeding Tan Sri Dato’ Krishnan Tan following his retirement from the Board upon the conclusion of the Company’s 42nd Annual General Meeting. Datuk Lee has served on the IJM Board since May 2007, including as Senior Independent NonExecutive Director from 2012 to 2022, and brings more than 40 years of experience in the local and international property business. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Civil Engineering and Business Administration from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. His appointment provides continuity in Board leadership as IJM continues to execute its strategic priorities and build on the strong foundations established over the years. IJM will hold its 42nd Annual General Meeting on 27 August 2026. About IJM Corporation Berhad IJM Corporation Berhad (“IJM”), formed in 1983, today ranks as one of Malaysia’s leading conglomerates with an international footprint forged by its four core businesses: construction, property development, industry (quarrying and the manufacture of building materials) and infrastructure concessions. IJM holds leading positions across all its business divisions. Its growth is the direct result of strong leadership, dedicated employees, financial prudence and commitment to good governance and quality. The Group presently has a market capitalisation of around RM9.56 billion and as of June 2025, the Group employed around 3,600 employees and had total assets of RM22.3 billion. For more information, visit www.ijm.com
- September 7, 2026Business
IJM Construction secures RM909.5 million in semiconductor and medical technology projects
IJM Construction Sdn Bhd (“IJM Construction”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of IJM Corporation Berhad (“IJM” or “the Group”), has added two fast-track projects in the semiconductor and medical technology sectors with a combined value of RM909.5 million to its FY2027 contract wins. The projects comprise a RM455 million contract for the civil, structural and architectural works of an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) warehouse for a multinational technology company’s semiconductor facility in Kulim, Kedah, and a RM454.5 million medical device manufacturing facility for Intuitive Surgical Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. at Bandar Cassia Technology Park, Batu Kawan, Penang. Both projects are being delivered on fast-track schedules of less than 18 months. The new facility will support the manufacture of Intuitive’s surgical instruments and electromechanical devices used in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery and is IJM Construction’s second medical device manufacturing project. Dato’ Lee Chun Fai, Group CEO & Managing Director of IJM Corporation Berhad, said: “Semiconductor and medical device manufacturing facilities are becoming increasingly complex and time-critical, with customers placing greater emphasis on execution certainty and the ability to deliver projects to demanding technical standards. “Over the past few years, IJM Construction has built a strong portfolio across data centres, semiconductor and E&E manufacturing facilities. The Intuitive project represents an important breakthrough for us in medical device manufacturing, extending our capabilities into an adjacent high-value sector while building on the same core strengths in engineering and fast-track execution.” IJM Construction also leverages industrialised construction methods, including Industrialised Building System (IBS) solutions and off-site fabrication where appropriate. Backed by the Group’s vertically integrated capabilities, these methods enhance productivity, improve quality and safety, reduce on-site complexity and provide greater certainty in meeting demanding project schedules. The Group’s Construction Division has an outstanding order book of RM 14.51 billion, comprising a mix of private and public sector projects across building construction, advanced industrial facilities and civil engineering. Advanced industrial facilities now account for approximately 55% of IJM Construction’s domestic outstanding order book, reflecting the growing contribution of this segment to its construction portfolio. Malaysia continues to attract investments in semiconductor manufacturing, E&E, medical technology, digital infrastructure and other high-value industries, supporting continued demand for advanced industrial facilities. About IJM Corporation Berhad IJM Corporation Berhad (“IJM”), formed in 1983, today ranks as one of Malaysia’s leading conglomerates with an international footprint forged by its four core businesses: construction, property development, industry (quarrying and the manufacture of building materials) and infrastructure concessions. IJM holds leading positions across all its business divisions. Its growth is the direct result of strong leadership, dedicated employees, financial prudence and commitment to good governance and quality. The Group presently has a market capitalisation of around RM9.56 billion and as of June 2025, the Group employed around 3,600 employees and had total assets of RM22.3 billion. For more information, visit www.ijm.com
- September 7, 2026Business
Completion of Acquisition of Enlarged Share Capital of Arport Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering (Fujian) Co., Ltd.
SIA Engineering Company Limited (“SIAEC”) wishes to announce that SIAEC’s acquisition of a 30% equity stake in the enlarged share capital of Arport Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering (Fujian) Co., Ltd. (“Arport AME”) (the “Transaction”) has been completed on 26 August 2026. All the conditions precedent for the completion of the Transaction have been fulfilled. This follows SIAEC’s announcement on 17 March 2026 of the signing of the agreements by SIAEC and SIAEC Global Private Limited (“SIAEC Global”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIAEC, with Arport AME, Xiamen Iport Group (“IPORT Group”) and the direct shareholders of Arport AME to effect the Transaction and establish an MRO joint venture in Fujian, China. With the completion of the Transaction, Arport AME has become an associated company of SIAEC, with Arport (Xiamen) International Airport Co., Ltd. (“Arport Xiamen”) and Arport (Fuzhou) International Airport Co., Ltd. (“Arport Fuzhou”) holding the remaining 38.5% and 31.5% of the share capital of Arport AME, respectively. The Transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share or the earnings per share of the SIAEC Group for the financial year ending 31 March 2027. None of the Directors and controlling shareholders of SIAEC has any interest, direct or indirect, in the Transaction, other than through their shareholdings (if any) in SIAEC. By Order of the Board Lu Ling Ling Company Secretary 26 August 2026 Singapore About SIA Engineering Company (Company Registration No. 198201025C) www.siaec.com.sg SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) is a major provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in Asia-Pacific. SIAEC has a client base of more than 80 international carriers and aerospace equipment manufacturers. It provides line maintenance services at over 30 airports in 9 countries, as well as airframe, engine and component services on some of the most advanced and widely used commercial aircraft in the world. The 26 subsidiaries and joint ventures with original equipment manufacturers and strategic partners in Singapore, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, the United States of America and Vietnam increase the depth and breadth of the Company’s service offerings. SIAEC has approvals from 27 national aviation regulatory authorities to provide MRO services for aircraft registered in the United States of America, Europe, China and other countries. About Xiamen Iport Group Co., Ltd Xiamen Iport Group Co., Ltd, (“IPORT Group”) a modern state-owned enterprise, ranks among China’s top 500 multinational enterprise groups. It is engaged in the business of services and investment holding of trans-national and diversified businesses, primarily in four sectors: aviation management, logistics and supply chain business, tourist hotels and the development and management of ports in economic zones. IPORT Group, through its subsidiary Arport AME, delivers line maintenance and ground services for airlines operating at Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wuyishan and Longyan airports in Fujian province. In addition to line maintenance and ground services, Arport AME will also provide base maintenance services at the upcoming Xiamen Xiang’an airport. For more information, please contact: Tan May Lyn Manager Corporate SIA Engineering Company Limited Tel: (65) 6548 1157 E-mail: [email protected]
- September 7, 2026Business
HKT to participate in GenA.I. Sandbox++ to develop AI Agent identity verification
HKT Payment Limited, HKT’s financial services arm, has been selected by Hong Kong’s financial regulators to participate in the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenA.I.) Sandbox++ initiative and conduct a pilot trial on registration and verification for AI agent-initiated payment flows, helping to advance responsible innovation in Hong Kong’s financial sector. As AI agents rapidly gain traction in financial services, they are becoming capable of initiating payments, wallet top-ups, peer-to-peer transfers, and cross-institution transactions on behalf of users. Yet, current Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) frameworks were not designed to address the verification of AI agents or determine who is ultimately responsible for their actions. In collaboration with Red Date Technology, a provider of decentralised technology and digital infrastructure, HKT will develop an “Agentic ID” framework built on Decentralised Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs). Under this framework, each AI agent will be bound to a verified individual or enterprise principal, providing a more secured and standardised way to register and verify AI agents acting on behalf of individuals and enterprises. Designed to strengthen security and governance, the “Agentic ID” framework aims to enhance identity verification, help mitigate the risk of impersonation or unauthorised actions, and establish a clearer audit trail for AI-driven transactions. It also leverages the zero-knowledge proof technology, which enables data to be verified and used without being revealed, giving users full ownership and control over their private information. Monita Leung, CEO, Digital Ventures, HKT, said, “As the adoption of AI agents in payments and financial services is accelerating, robust safeguards are critical to maintaining trust, security and accountability. Through participating in the GenA.I. Sandbox++ initiative, we are committed to supporting the development of practical solutions for the responsible use of AI in digital finance. We believe this project will contribute to Hong Kong’s vision in establishing a resilient and future-ready fintech hub, as well as advancing the broader ‘AI+’ initiative.” Launched by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, the Insurance Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority in collaboration with Cyberport, the Gen A.I. Sandbox++ initiative promotes cross-sector collaboration and the responsible adoption of AI across Hong Kong's financial ecosystem.
- September 7, 2026Business
Axiata reports stronger earnings in 1H26, declares 5.5 sen dividend
Axiata Group Berhad ("Axiata" or "the Group") continued to advance its Axiata28: Advancing Asia strategy in the first half of 2026, delivering stronger portfolio performance across its Telecommunications and Technology businesses. During the period, the Group received RM875.3 million in dividends from its operating companies, reflecting increasingly diversified cash flows across the portfolio and supporting long-term shareholder returns. The results mark the first six months of execution under Axiata28: Advancing Asia and provide early evidence of the Group's focus on stronger portfolio performance, broader portfolio contributions and sustainable shareholder returns. Despite foreign exchange headwinds, the Group delivered strong underlying growth. Underlying PATAMI more than doubled to RM717.2 million, driven by stronger contributions from its operating companies. On a constant currency basis, revenue grew 7.3%, Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) increased 14.1% and Earnings Before Interest and Tax (“EBIT”) rose 80.9%, supported by merger synergies, operational improvements and disciplined cost management across the portfolio. On a reported basis, revenue stood at RM5.7 billion, while EBITDA grew 1.7% and EBIT increased 60.7% year-on-year (“YoY”). Axiata maintained a resilient balance sheet with RM3.7 billion in cash while continuing to invest in network modernisation and 5G deployment across its markets. Despite increased investment across the portfolio, Holding Company borrowings declined YoY, reflecting disciplined capital allocation, balance sheet discipline and liability management. Net Debt/EBITDA stood at a prudent 2.63x. Portfolio Highlights Axiata's Telecommunications businesses remained the Group's primary earnings and cash generation drivers in the first half of 2026, supported by improving market conditions, merger synergies and disciplined execution across the portfolio. 5G deployment continued across all operating markets, with Bangladesh remaining at an earlier stage of rollout. CelcomDigi continued to deliver resilient performance through operational excellence, convergence growth and disciplined cost management. XLSMART maintained strong post-merger momentum, with integration progressing ahead of plan and supporting stronger profitability. Robi strengthened its market position through subscriber growth, higher data consumption and disciplined execution despite a challenging operating environment. Dialog delivered another strong performance, combining mobile growth, cost discipline and shareholder returns while maintaining its 5G leadership position. Smart continued to benefit from sustained data demand, higher ARPU and a strong balance sheet. Linknet showed encouraging signs of operational recovery, supported by subscriber growth and improving enterprise traction. EDOTCO maintained resilient underlying operating momentum despite foreign exchange translation headwinds. The Technology portfolio continued to make progress towards profitability while scaling for future growth. ADA sustained double-digit revenue growth, driven by its Solutions business and increasing demand for digital commerce, data and AI-enabled services. Boost delivered stronger performance supported by loan book expansion and continued growth in its digital financial services platform. Collectively, these businesses are generating stronger earnings, broader cash flows and increasing dividends, reinforcing Axiata's ability to deliver sustainable shareholder returns under Axiata28: Advancing Asia. Delivering on Axiata28: Advancing Asia Across the Group, stronger execution, merger synergies and operational improvements are translating into stronger financial performance and broader contributions from across the portfolio. As a Smart Asset Manager, Axiata focuses on helping its businesses realise their full potential while directing capital towards opportunities that create long-term value. Broader contributions across the portfolio and improving underlying performance demonstrate the strength of this approach and support its commitment to sustainable shareholder returns. Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan - Chairman of Axiata "The Board is encouraged by the stronger performance across Axiata's businesses and the growing contribution from across the Group. These results reflect the strength of Axiata's portfolio and reinforce our confidence in the Axiata28: Advancing Asia strategy. Our focus remains on maintaining financial strength, supporting sustainable shareholder returns and delivering long-term value creation. In light of this, the Board is pleased to declare a first interim dividend of 5.5 sen per ordinary share, underscoring our commitment to delivering sustainable value for shareholders." Nik Rizal Kamil =- Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Axiata "The first half of 2026 demonstrates the strength of our Telecommunications and Technology portfolios and the progress we are making under Axiata28: Advancing Asia. We are increasingly seeing the benefits of stronger market structures, merger synergies, operational excellence and disciplined capital allocation flowing through to stronger earnings, broader portfolio contributions and sustainable shareholder returns. As a Smart Asset Manager, our role is to enable each business to realise its full potential while allocating capital where it can create the most value. This allows us to strengthen shareholder returns while building a more resilient and diversified Axiata." Appendix: Operating Company Performance Summary (1H26) Telecommunications CelcomDigi: Delivering resilient revenue, strong cost execution and sustained shareholder returns. CelcomDigi delivered a resilient 1H26 performance, supported by growth across Mobile, Home & Fibre and Enterprise Solutions segments. RM141 million in YTD cost savings supported positive operating leverage, driving EBITDA growth of 1.7% and EBIT growth of 0.6%. The business maintained its sustainable dividend commitment through the declaration of a second interim dividend of 3.4 sen per share for Q2 2026. XLSMART: Strong post-merger momentum with synergies driving higher profitability. Revenue growth of 25.8% YoY was driven by sustained data demand, a stable subscriber base and expansion in APRU. XLSMART’s continued post-merger integration and optimisation also accelerated synergy realisation and strengthened operating performance. These measures contributed to EBITDA growth of 24.6% YoY, with margin reaching 45.7% and underlying PAT of IDR2.7 trillion. Robi: Driving growth through higher data subscribers and consumption, coupled with network modernisation plan. Robi’s underlying operating momentum remained healthy, with sustained data demand and cost efficiencies supporting positive operating leverage and stronger earnings growth. Robi advanced its network modernisation programme in Dhaka while maintaining a resilient balance sheet and strengthening earnings momentum, with EBITDA rising 15.6% YoY and PATAMI growing 29.3% YoY. Dialog: Strong execution sustains shareholder returns while sustaining 5G investments. Dialog recorded a strong YTD performance with EBITDA growth of 22.9% and PATAMI more than doubling, driven by mobile monetisation and disciplined cost management. This strengthened Dialog’s capacity to balance shareholder returns with continued 5G investments to reinforce its competitive positioning and 5G leadership in Sri Lanka. The company’s YTD dividends reached Rs1.40 per share, translating into an annualised yield of 6.1%, based on the share price as at 30 June 2026. Smart: Healthy topline growth, as ARPU uptrend continues. Despite facing a challenging operating environment in Cambodia, Smart registered a healthy topline growth, attributed to growing prepaid data demand and higher ARPU, with a resilient EBITDA and EBIT margins of 58.7% and 36.9% respectively. The balance sheet remained strong and YTD PATAMI held steady at USD65.1 million, reflecting solid business performance, alongside accelerated investment in 5G to strengthen network capabilities. Linknet: Operational recovery emerging through subscriber additions and enterprise traction. While Linknet’s YTD26 performance remained challenged, its Q2 2026 performance showed early signs of recovery, with revenue and EBITDA improving sequentially by 6.8% and 33.1% QoQ respectively. This was supported by stronger Home Connects through subscriber addition, SaaS execution and an improving enterprise pipeline. The business remains focused on sustaining operational momentum, translating subscriber growth and enterprise execution into stronger revenue performance, while maintaining disciplined cost and capex management. EDOTCO: Affected by forex headwinds. Reported YTD performance was impacted by the appreciation of the Malaysian Ringgit against OpCo currencies, as well as commercial settlements in Malaysia and Bangladesh. Notwithstanding these factors, EDOTCO maintained solid underlying operating momentum, supported by 3.7% YoY growth in tenancies. Technology ADA: Double-digit revenue growth sustained through Solutions expansion despite margin pressures. YTD revenue rose 15.9%, driven by strong Solutions-led growth, supported by growing demand of Commerce and Personalisation services. Continued investments in platform capabilities and AI to support future scalability, coupled with higher fulfilment costs moderated earnings, with EBITDA declining 20.9%. The completed acquisition of Algonomy, a leading AI-powered commerce platform trusted by over 400 brands globally further strengthens ADA's AI capabilities in Commerce and Personalisation segments, reinforcing its position as a data and AI experience company. Boost: Loan book expansion supporting growth. Boost registered 67.3% growth YoY in revenue, supported by the one-off income of RM51.0 million from software and related services, as well as continued loan book expansion. The bank loan book also grew to RM418.0 million, while investments in technology and talent continue to build capabilities for future scale. Strategic growth initiatives across Lending, Life & Credit, Connect and Indonesia are expected to drive stronger momentum ahead.
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