Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Economic momentum across the UAE is building faster than earlier projections, with gross domestic product expected to expand by about 5% this year, outpacing the global average and reinforcing the country’s position as one of the strongest performers among emerging and developed markets alike. The revised outlook reflects resilient trade flows, deep banking liquidity and sustained expansion across non-oil sectors that have insulated […]
The latest addition to Kenanga Investors’ flagship series follows the same proven investment objective and philosophy to meet the evolving needs of today’s investors.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – Kenanga Investors Berhad (“Kenanga Investors“) has announced the launch of the Kenanga Growth Fund Series 3 (“KGFS3” or “the Fund“), its third fund in its flagship conventional fund series.
Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Investors Berhad.
KGFS3 utilises the asset manager’s proven investment objective and philosophy whilst driven by a differentiated strategy to meet the evolving needs of investors. The Fund seeks to provide capital growth over a medium to long term investment horizon. It will be managed with an active investment strategy depending on the market conditions and outlook, combining a top-down asset and sector allocation process with a bottom-up stock selection methodology.
Lee Sook Yee, Chief Investment Officer of Kenanga Investors Berhad.
“Kenanga Growth Fund Series 3 continues our commitment to disciplined growth and investor-focused solutions. Instead of reinventing the wheel, we believe in refining our methods. As a result, the Fund builds on a proven philosophy that has delivered consistent value to our investors, while adapting to today’s market realities. We prefer to stay practical and to apply what works to continue earning the trust of our investors. Simultaneously, the Fund provides investors flexibility and accessibility while benefiting from a professionally managed, mandate-style investment strategy”, said Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Investors.
Since the inception of the Kenanga Growth Fund on 17 January 2000, followed by Series 2 in 2018, both funds have displayed consistent performance. As of November 2025, both funds have surpassed RM1 billion in assets under management*, a testament to the fund house’s disciplined investment approach and commitment to long-term value creation.
While equities remain the central focus for KGFS3, the investment team will strategically allocate the remaining net asset value into other permitted asset classes, guided by market conditions and potential growth prospects, ensuring a well-balanced and opportunistic portfolio.
“Our asset allocation decisions are driven by a comprehensive review of macroeconomic trends across global economies. Particularly, we look at key indicators such as GDP growth direction, interest rate movements, inflation patterns and government policies. We believe these factors are critical to determine corporate earnings, allowing us to identify predictable trends that inform our sector selection. This structured approach helps keep us nimble, responsive and grounded in fundamentals”, explained Lee Sook Yee, Chief Investment Officer of Kenanga Investors Berhad.
The minimum initial investment amount is RM10,000 while subsequent investments are at a minimum of RM5,000. The Fund will be measured against a benchmark of 8% growth per annum. It is suitable for Sophisticated Investors who have a high-risk tolerance, have a medium to long term investment horizon; and are looking to achieve high returns through investments in multi-assets.
Kenanga Investors is known for its investment offerings and expertise within the equities space, making this latest launch a strategic addition for its product expansion efforts. The Hong Kong-based Asia Asset Management’s 2025 Best of the Best Awards recognised Kenanga Investors under the following categories, Malaysia Best Retail Asset Management Company and Malaysia Best Equity Manager. The FSMOne Recommended Unit Trusts Awards 2025/2026 awarded the Kenanga Growth Fund Series 2 with the “Sector Equity — Malaysia Focused” award for the fourth consecutive year since 2022.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Kenanga Investors Berhad 199501024358 (353563-P)
We provide investment solutions ranging from collective investment schemes, portfolio management services, alternative investments, as well as wills and trusts for retail, corporate, institutional, and high net worth clients via a multi-distribution network.
The Morningstar Awards 2025 has recognised the Kenanga Blue Chip Fund as Best Malaysia Large-Cap Equity Fund. The Bursa Excellence Awards 2024 awarded KIB’s exchange-traded funds’ arm, Eq8 Capital Sdn Bhd with the Special Award – Thought Leadership for launching Eq8WAQF, the world’s first Waqf-featured Exchange Traded Fund. Introduced under a newly established category, the award highlights innovations that are reshaping the investment landscape.
At the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards Malaysia 2025, KIB received awards for the Kenanga DividendEXTRA Fund (“KDEF”) under the Best Equity Malaysia Diversified – Malaysia Funds over 3 years, Kenanga Malaysian Inc Fund (“KMIF”) under the Best Equity Malaysia Diversified – Malaysia Provident Funds over 10 years, Kenanga Balanced Fund (“KBF”) under the Best Mixed Asset MYR Balanced – Malaysia Provident Funds over 10 years, Kenanga Managed Growth Fund (“KMGF”) under Best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible – Malaysia Provident Funds over 10 years, and Kenanga SyariahEXTRA Fund (“KSEF”) under the Best Mixed Asset MYR Balanced – Malaysia Islamic Funds Awards over 10 years.
The Hong Kong-based Asia Asset Management’s 2025 Best of the Best Awards awarded KIG under the following categories, Malaysia Best Impact Investing Manager, Best Impact Investing Manager in ASEAN, Malaysia Best Equity Manager, Malaysia CEO of the Year (Co-Winner), Malaysia CIO of the Year, Malaysia Best House for Alternatives, Malaysia Best ESG Engagement Initiative, Malaysia Fund Launch of the Year, and Malaysia Best Retail Asset Management Company.
The FSMOne Recommended Unit Trusts Awards 2025/2026 has awarded the Kenanga Growth Fund Series 2 with the “Sector Equity – Malaysia Focused” award for the fourth consecutive year since 2022. We were also recognised at The BrandLaureate BestBrands Awards 2024 – Brand of the Year under the category Wealth Management & Investment Solutions. For the ninth consecutive year, KIB was affirmed an investment manager rating of IMR-2 by Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad, since first rated in 2017.
This Press Release was issued by Kenanga Group’s Marketing, Communications & Sustainability department.
Aldar Properties PJSC, Abu Dhabi’s largest property developer and real estate asset manager by total assets, has appointed a syndicate of global and regional banks for a planned US dollar-denominated hybrid notes issuance, a move that underscores the company’s intention to strengthen its capital structure while retaining balance-sheet flexibility. The company, which carries a Baa2 rating with a Stable outlook from Moody’s, has mandated Citi as sole […]
Tackle rising business costs and trade barriers with a unified digital platform for Free Trade Agreements as well as build stronger economic partnerships.
Bridge AI adoption gaps by co-funding shared data pools and introducing a regional “Trusted AI” mark to drive innovation and governance.
Future-proof the workforce with targeted work visas for global experts, job transformation roadmaps, and advanced leadership programmes.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 January 2026 – KPMG in Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) are pleased to announce the release of a joint Budget 2026 Proposal, titled “Prospering in a New Global Landscape”.
From Left to Right: Yong Jiahao, Partner, Infrastructure, Government & Healthcare (IGH) & Industrial Manufacturing, Tax, KPMG; Ajay Kumar Sanganeria, Partner and Head of Tax, KPMG; Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG; Max Loh Khum Whai, Vice-Chair, Singapore Institute of Directors; Edwin Lee, Deputy CEO, Singapore Institute of Directors
By fostering resilient economic linkages, embedding digital trust, and cultivating world-class talent and leadership with cross-domain expertise, Singapore can ensure its businesses and economy remain secure, innovative, and competitive in an uncertain global landscape.
This Proposal outlines strategies to position Singapore as a critical hub for global flows, covering three crucial areas:
A new global order: Resilience as a pivotal growth strategy
The Intelligent Age: Smart solutions for an innovative era
The recommendations in the proposal are also supported by data-driven insights from a survey recently conducted by KPMG and SID. More than 1,000 professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) and business owners were surveyed on the challenges they face and the kinds of Budget 2026 support they hoped to see. [For more information, please refer to the deck with the full survey results: https://kpmg.com/sg/en/campaigns/kpmg-singapore-budget.html ]
Empowering businesses to leverage Singapore’s trusted role as a global connector
Global commerce is rapidly transforming amid rising protectionism, shifting trade rules, evolving tax regimes, and geopolitical tensions. Singapore’s long-term prosperity in the new global order depends on its ability to lead as a trusted connector and aggregator of the flows of goods, capital, data, and talent.
Singapore must strengthen its economic linkages, build secure and interoperable digital platforms, cultivate a workforce equipped with cross-domain expertise, and equip boards with essential skills to navigate emerging risks and opportunities. Trusted and resilient economic linkages will ensure the seamless movement of goods, services, and investments, while interoperable digital platforms will play a critical facilitation role in enabling cross-verification of information, streamlining compliance, and fostering trust across borders. These efforts are especially important in helping businesses cope with shifting regulations. KPMG and SID’s survey found that 51 percent of respondents identified increased business costs as the main challenge to cross-border expansion, followed by higher tariffs (26 percent) and supply chain difficulties (25 percent). To address these challenges, 43 percent of respondents want stronger economic and trade partnerships to overcome trade barriers.
KPMG and SID recommend:
a) Developing a unified digital platform for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) management (page 7) to help businesses navigate complex procedures and unlock the full benefits of FTAs. This would be seamlessly integrated with government systems, making it more seamless and cost-effective for businesses to comply with FTA requirements. This would enable firms to leverage Singapore’s extensive FTA network to gain footholds in new markets, further enhancing Singapore’s regional and global competitiveness.
b) Increasing access to working capital to accelerate local enterprises’ strategic transformation and implementing industry-specific governance frameworks (page 7). With geopolitical shifts driving a more complex regulatory landscape, increased and dedicated funding would enable businesses to transform for the future while responding effectively to evolving governance standards. Such funding should be complemented by industry-specific governance playbooks to equip boards with essential tools to strengthen agility and resilience.
c) Enhancing Singapore’s government-backed trade platform with blockchain and AI (page 6). The global economy has seen an increase in supply chain disruptions amid geopolitical and trade uncertainties. An enhanced Government-backed trade platform would enable Singapore to further facilitate the flow of trusted payments, making it even easier for businesses to validate transactions and act on smart recommendations to elevate supply chain efficiency. Amid a more fragmented world, the enhanced platform would also reinforce Singapore’s position as a reliable hub for global commerce, by promoting increased supply chain transparency for critical industries like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing.
d) Introducing progressive carbon taxes to reward decarbonisation and establish performance-based pathways for large emitters (page 9). Singapore’s carbon taxes must evolve to consider unique business needs and companies’ decarbonisation plans. Progressive carbon tax rates post-2030 – based on facility emissions volume, emissions per unit of output, and sectoral abatement potential – could be accompanied by permanent conditional tax rebates for energy-intensive, trade-exposed sectors. These rebates could be based on set criteria such as verified year-on-year reductions in carbon intensity and investments in low-carbon technology. To strengthen these efforts, Singapore could also establish an ASEAN Environmental Data Exchange to facilitate the sharing of standardised and interoperable environmental data between Singapore and its regional trade partners (page 8). The exchange would improve the flows of green trade and green capital, enabling Singapore to be a regional hub for environmental data harmonisation. Organisations like the Singapore Institute of Directors could play a catalytic role by building board-level capability, aligning disclosure expectations and promoting best practices through director education, guidance frameworks and peer learning on a regional scale, helping boards to lead initiatives like progressive carbon taxation.
Fostering an ecosystem of Trusted AI in the Agentic Era
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping global competitiveness, with agentic AI—capable of autonomous decision-making—introducing both transformative opportunities and significant challenges. While agentic AI can drive innovation, optimise operations, and unlock new efficiencies, it also raises critical concerns around accountability, ethical deployment, and governance.
A critical enabler of AI’s potential is data sharing, yet this often proves difficult due to competition, concerns over intellectual property, and a lack of trust between organisations. Businesses—particularly smaller enterprises—also face cost constraints in accessing high-quality data, and many also lack the strategic clarity and workforce competencies to identify where AI can augment their operations.
KPMG and SID’s poll found that 54 percent of respondents cited talent and skills gaps as the top challenge for adopting AI, followed by high costs of technology adoption (52 percent) and a lack of clear AI adoption strategies (48 percent). By addressing these concerns, Singapore will be able to fully leverage the vast potential of AI and data to reinforce its status as a hub across various sectors.
KPMG and SID recommend:
a) Co-funding sector-specific shared data pools in partnership with trade associations and industry stakeholders (page 15). These shared, anonymised data pools would enable businesses to access high-quality datasets without incurring prohibitive costs. Tailored to specific sectors such as logistics and retail, these pools would facilitate benchmarking, model training, and experimentation under a trusted framework that safeguards data privacy and protects intellectual property. Shared data initiatives should be paired with guided AI adoption support to help businesses understand how AI can enhance specific parts of their value chain. For example, targeted support could help logistics firms optimise supply chains or assist retailers in leveraging AI to personalise customer experiences. This dual approach would enable broader AI adoption and accelerate innovation across industries.
b) Enhancing the public-private partnership (PPP) framework to accelerate AI adoption (page 15). As firms navigate high costs and limited guidance around AI adoption, there is an opportunity for the Government to provide greater access to infrastructure to lower barriers for AI experimentation and deployment. The enhanced framework would create positive spillover effects from existing AI initiatives, as government agencies, academia and industry stakeholders collaborate to strategically integrate AI solutions into business strategies. The framework could also promote cross-sector collaboration in key industries, fostering a culture of open innovation in AI. To bolster digital trust, Singapore could also establish a regional “Trusted AI” mark to drive harmonisation and innovation (page 12). Although Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework provides a strong foundation for responsible AI deployment, there is still a largely untapped opportunity for Singapore to champion an assurance label that shows firms have AI controls aligned with recognised AI governance standards. By pushing regionalrecognition of this mark, Singapore could accelerate cross-border innovation and trade. The mark would build on initiatives like AI Verify and Project Moonshot, which have helped to promote Trusted AI in Singapore.
c) Supporting hands-on AI governance training for board members and executives (page 13) through a dedicated fund. This would complement existing SkillsFuture programmes which focus primarily on AI awareness, by expanding the emphasis to address strategic and operational gaps at the leadership level – covering ethical deployment, change management and cross-domain applications.
Building globally relevant leaders with cross-domain skills
To fulfil its role as a hub for global flows, Singapore must enable its businesses to navigate a complex web of governance requirements, trade rules, tax policies, and tariffs. While compliance with governance standards will bring higher upfront costs, it also provides a foundation for businesses to lead in innovation and competitiveness. For instance, businesses that embrace sustainability compliance can innovate in areas like green finance, carbon accounting, and environmental data exchange.
Yet, none of this is possible without specialised talent and leadership. Singapore needs professionals and board leaders with expertise in areas such as supply chain management, AI governance, and sustainability strategy. These individuals must be able to connect the dots across domains, such as linking data governance with trade compliance or integrating sustainability goals into business operations. The need for enhanced talent development also emerged from KPMG and SID’s survey findings. Forty-nine percent of respondents want more skills development and upskilling courses. Meanwhile, 42 percent hope for more support for workforce transformation and job redesign, such as higher grants. In addition, 37 percent of respondents want more leadership and management development initiatives, especially in the areas of mentorship and coaching for emerging leaders and advanced leadership programmes.
KPMG and SID recommend:
a) Creating a dedicated work-pass category for “master trainers” and mentors (page 18). The work-pass would encourage international professionals to join local companies, public agencies and training institutions to lead structured upskilling or leadership development programmes. This would accelerate skills transfer, expose workers to global best practices, and build a robust pipeline of talent capable of driving strategic transformation and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Structured leadership development programmes could also include peer-sharing platforms (page 21) aimed at promoting transformation training among C-suite leaders. Backed by the public sector and industry stakeholders, such platforms could foster the exchange of best practices, promote collective learning on key sustainability capabilities and empower leaders to proactively redesign roles and workflows ahead of market shifts.
b) Setting up job transformation roadmaps with co-funded training and certification initiatives (page 19) tied closely to sector-specific needs. As rapid technological developments shape industry demand for skills, job transformation roadmaps would be beneficial in outlining sector-specific disruptions, challenges and opportunities. These roadmaps could be accompanied by industry-recognised certification, and programmes backed by both the public and private sectors. Tailored to sectoral needs, certifications could help to assess whether workers have acquired the necessary skills to perform in transformed roles, especially in fast-evolving sectors where traditional qualifications may no longer suffice.
c) Establishing a $100 million fund to advance social impact reporting (page 9). As Singapore pursues long-term resilience, it must also ensure that economic growth is sustainable and inclusive. The fund could be used to train professionals and board directors in the reporting of social metrics, support academic modules in social sustainability and certify social auditors and advisers. It could also be complemented by broader efforts to enhance environmental, social and governance (ESG) competencies among businesses’ top leadership. Singapore could establish a national registry of certified sustainability committee members (page 20) who can be matched to boards and committees across sectors. This would help to expand access to qualified board resources, especially for local enterprises.
Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore, said:
“Leadership today isn’t just about mastering AI or acquiring specialised skills—it’s about navigating the intersections of cross-border trade, technology, and sustainability. To remain competitive, leaders must move beyond the basics, using AI and data to drive real business outcomes while building governance frameworks that inspire trust. At the same time, they need the courage to take calculated risks and collaborate across ecosystems to unlock new opportunities. Initiatives like co-funding sector-specific shared data pools and guided AI adoption support are critical to overcoming barriers and equipping leaders with the tools to thrive. As disruptions grow increasingly cross-border and cross-domain, Singapore’s ability to cultivate leaders who can turn complexity into opportunity will define its success as a global flows hub.”
Ajay Kumar Sanganeria, Partner, Head of Tax, KPMG in Singapore, said:
“Singapore’s position as a global hub—connecting trade, data, and capital—offers businesses significant opportunities to grow and compete globally. Grants and platforms are vital enablers, but they must be part of a broader solution that simplifies complexities and empowers businesses to focus on innovation. Future-ready approaches, such as managing governance and compliance in a more consolidated or ‘as-a-service’ mode, can reduce burdens on enterprises. A unified digital platform for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) management, enhanced with blockchain and AI, could streamline compliance and unlock the full benefits of Singapore’s FTA network. Co-funded training programmes and shared governance frameworks can further help businesses pool resources and build capabilities. By combining grants, platforms, and smarter ways of working, Singapore strengthens its role as a trusted global connector and equips businesses to lead with confidence in an evolving world.”
Yeoh Oon Jin, Chair, Singapore Institute of Directors, said:
“Singapore’s future as a global hub for connectivity and commerce will be shaped by how boards of directors evolve to lead with resilience and trust. Budget 2026 is an opportunity to strengthen governance frameworks that embed sustainability, cyber trust and accountability into every organisation’s agenda. By empowering directors to champion innovation, sustainability and digital assurance, organisations can grow with confidence while reinforcing Singapore’s position as a secure and trusted connector for goods, capital, data and talent in an increasingly complex global landscape.” Hashtag: #KPMG #SID
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About KPMG in Singapore
KPMG in Singapore is part of a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.
About SID
The Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) is Singapore’s national association for company directors. Established in 1998, our mission is to transform boards and empower board directors to be champions of good governance. SID works with regulators and partners to serve as the voice for directors and facilitates consultations and feedback sessions on regulatory matters. In advocating for good governance, SID advances thought leadership and benchmarking research and indices on corporate governance and directorship issues.
SID builds competencies and capabilities to enhance boardroom skills of directors for informed decision-making. An accreditation programme serves to set standards for and showcase best practices of good governance. The organisation supports members on their directorship journey with courses, workshops, advanced masterclasses, forum discussions and pit-stops. SID connects and strengthens the ecosystem with initiatives such as mentoring and networking. The Governance for Good Alliance is an initiative by SID to bring together key stakeholders who help advance our vision for every board director to be a champion of good governance.
LAS VEGAS, UNITED STATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 January 2026 – Amidst a CES 2026 landscape dominated by AI headlines and humanoid robots, a quiet corner of the Lens Technology booth has unexpectedly become a focal point for commercial space analysts.
There are no flashy RGB lighting effects here, only a sheet of glass as thin as a cicada’s wing, being repeatedly rolled and unrolled like a tape measure. This is the public debut of Lens Technology’s aerospace-grade UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) photovoltaic encapsulation solution. This technology marks the official entry of the manufacturing titan—best known as a giant in the Apple supply chain—transferring its precision manufacturing capabilities from consumer electronics to humanity’s next trillion-dollar market: space infrastructure.
As leading global satellite companies begin the mass deployment of third-generation (V3) satellites, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) internet race is entering a “second half” defined by heavy payloads, long lifespans, and low costs. Lens Technology’s entry aims to untie the knot that has long plagued the aerospace industry: the trade-off between flexibility and durability.
Farewell to the “Plastic Feel”: The Material Battle in Space
At the Lens Technology booth, engineers demonstrated the core contradiction to the audience: Traditional aerospace solar cell covers are either heavy Cerium-doped Glass (CMG) or expensive Fused Silica, typically ranging from 100μm to 500μm in thickness. They are robust, but too heavy and impossible to bend.
To adapt to the massive power demands of next-generation satellites (such as those supporting direct-to-cell services), solar wing designs are rapidly evolving from rigid panels to Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSA-like structures). This shift forced designers to temporarily turn to polymer materials like transparent Polyimide (CPI).
“However, polymers have a fatal weakness in space,” explained a Lens Technology on-site technical lead. “The LEO environment is filled with high-energy Atomic Oxygen (AO) and strong UV radiation. Under long-term exposure, polymer molecular chains break, causing the material to yellow, become brittle, and suffer a drastic drop in light transmission. This efficiency decay was tolerable for early satellites with 5-7 year lifespans, but for the new generation of mega-constellations pursuing higher commercial returns, it is unacceptable.”
Lens Technology’s answer is Aerospace-Grade UTG. As an inorganic material, glass possesses innate “immunity” to Atomic Oxygen and UV aging, ensuring high light transmission throughout the satellite’s lifecycle. More importantly, its dense structure provides an effective barrier against water vapor and micrometeoroids, offering physical protection for delicate ultra-thin HJT or future Perovskite batteries.
The 30-Micron “Moat”: A Perfect Match for Next-Gen Satellites
In the demo area, a piece of glass only 30μm-50μm thick is bent to an astonishing radius of R1.5mm. This level of flexibility drew gasps from the audience.
This is exactly the characteristic most coveted by top global satellite companies today. To reduce the cost per launch, next-generation mega-satellites must be stowed with origami-like efficiency inside the rocket fairing. Lens Technology’s UTG solution allows solar wings to be tightly wound like a tape measure during launch, and instantly recover to a flat state upon orbital deployment.
However, making glass thin is the first step; keeping it from shattering during the violent vibration of a rocket launch is the real challenge.
Analysts point out that Lens Technology’s core competitiveness lies in its proprietary chemical strengthening processes and laser/diamond wire cutting technologies. Glass fractures often originate from micro-cracks invisible to the naked eye. Leveraging processes honed on foldable smartphones, Lens has significantly reduced the density of micro-defects on the glass edges and surfaces. This means that even under immense tension and vibration, this “glass skin” remains tough and resilient.
Dimensional Strike: Reshaping Aerospace Costs with “Consumer-Grade” Capacity
If technical specifications are the ticket to entry, then capacity and cost control are Lens Technology’s ultimate weapons.
“The logic of commercial space has changed; it is now the era of industrial mass production,” commented an industry analyst at the scene. Compared to the small-batch, lab-grade customization model of traditional aerospace glass manufacturers, Lens Technology brings the scale of consumer electronics manufacturing.
Facing the grand ambition of global satellite leaders planning to launch tens of thousands of satellites annually, supply chain elasticity is critical. Lens Technology stated that it has the capability to rapidly expand existing pilot lines or flexibly retrofit mass production lines. This potential for “ten-thousand-satellite scale” delivery and yield control can significantly lower the BOM (Bill of Materials) cost per satellite—addressing the most sensitive pain point for commercial space giants today.
Outlook: The New Cornerstone of Next-Gen Space Energy
At CES, Lens Technology also “spoiled” its future technology roadmap.
As Perovskite/Silicon tandem cells are viewed as the mainstream for future satellite power, UTG will serve not just as a cover, but as an encapsulation substrate. Lens Technology revealed it is developing next-generation composite UTG integrated with Anti-Static (ESD) coatings and Selective Radiation coatings, which will not only protect chips from electrostatic discharge damage but also assist in regulating battery temperature.
Although this business currently accounts for a tiny fraction of Lens Technology’s massive revenue and is in a period of intensive validation with global top-tier photovoltaic component manufacturers (Tier 2) and top commercial space clients (Tier 1), its signal significance cannot be ignored.
From smartphone screens to satellite wings, Lens Technology is proving that in the era of scaled expansion for space infrastructure, ground-based industrial giants possessing extreme craftsmanship and mass manufacturing capabilities will be indispensable “pavers” for the interstellar journey.
Hashtag: #LensTechnology
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Meta’s plan to expand artificial intelligence across private messaging on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has triggered a wave of privacy concerns, as users, civil society groups and regulators question how conversational data will be used and protected under the company’s 2026 policy framework. The update, disclosed as part of Meta’s broader AI roadmap, allows automated systems to analyse interactions in private chats to refine content recommendations and […]
Apollo Global Management has agreed to anchor an investor group committing more than $1bn to QXO, the building products distributor led by Brad Jacobs, strengthening the company’s balance sheet as it presses ahead with an ambitious acquisition-led expansion.
People familiar with the transaction said the capital injection is structured to provide QXO with flexibility to pursue large-scale deals while maintaining access to public markets. The funding is expected to be deployed alongside existing cash and debt capacity to accelerate consolidation across a fragmented construction materials supply chain that spans roofing, insulation, waterproofing and related products.
QXO, chaired and controlled by Jacobs, was formed to assemble a scaled distribution platform capable of competing with established regional and national players. Jacobs, known for building multibillion-dollar logistics businesses through serial acquisitions, has positioned QXO as a long-term consolidator targeting steady cash flows and pricing power in non-cyclical end markets such as residential repair, maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.
Apollo’s participation signals institutional backing for that strategy at a time when dealmaking in building products is reshaping supply networks in North America. The alternative asset manager has extensive experience in industrial and services investments, and its involvement is expected to reassure lenders and potential sellers as QXO negotiates transactions that could reshape the sector’s competitive landscape.
People briefed on the matter said the investment gives QXO additional firepower to support a transformative purchase announced earlier, while also preserving capacity for follow-on acquisitions. The company has indicated that scale is critical to improving procurement economics, expanding private-label offerings and deploying technology to optimise inventory and logistics across a wide branch network.
Market participants note that building products distribution has drawn sustained private equity interest due to its resilience during economic slowdowns and its exposure to long-term housing and infrastructure demand. While new construction can fluctuate with interest rates, repair and renovation spending tends to be more stable, supporting predictable earnings for distributors with diversified customer bases.
Apollo’s investment arrives amid cautious optimism in credit markets. Financing conditions have improved compared with earlier tightening cycles, though borrowers remain selective and focused on leverage discipline. By bringing in a deep-pocketed sponsor, QXO reduces reliance on debt at a time when acquisition multiples remain elevated for high-quality assets.
Executives close to the company have said QXO aims to balance rapid growth with operational integration, avoiding the pitfalls that can accompany aggressive roll-up strategies. Jacobs has emphasised disciplined capital allocation, standardised systems and experienced management teams as cornerstones of value creation.
The transaction also underscores Apollo’s broader strategy of partnering with founder-led platforms that can compound value through scale rather than short-term financial engineering. The firm has increasingly favoured equity-heavy structures in sectors where operational improvements and market positioning drive returns over extended horizons.
Analysts covering the building products space say the investment could intensify competitive pressure on mid-sized distributors, many of which face succession challenges or capital constraints. For sellers, a well-capitalised buyer with public currency and sponsor backing can offer certainty of execution, a factor that often influences deal outcomes alongside price.
QXO’s shares have reflected heightened investor attention since the company outlined its acquisition plans, with trading volumes increasing as the market digests the implications of a more aggressive growth profile. The Apollo-backed financing is expected to reduce uncertainty around funding while sharpening focus on execution and integration milestones.
Smart speakers made by Apple, Amazon and Google are facing renewed scrutiny after accusations that the devices can listen to radio broadcasts in homes and use elements of that audio to refine advertising profiles and digital services, raising questions about consent, transparency and the limits of data collection inside private spaces. The allegations centre on claims that smart speakers equipped with always-on microphones are capable of detecting […]
Private equity investor Oakley Capital has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Global Loan Agency Services, the London-headquartered provider of loan administration and trustee services to global capital markets, marking one of the most significant deals in the debt services sector this year. Oakley, deploying capital through its Fund VI vehicle, will take a majority position from US buyout firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, which has owned the business since 2022 and will retain a modest shareholding after the transaction. The Canadian pension investor La Caisse, known formally as Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, is co-investing with Oakley, taking a minority stake alongside the new majority holder. Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals.
GLAS has carved out a niche as a specialist provider of services that support the lifecycle of debt instruments, from syndicated loans and direct lending to private credit and leveraged finance transactions. Founded in 2011 by Mia Drennan and Brian Carne, the firm oversees administration for a substantial portfolio of assets under management running into the hundreds of billions of dollars and employs over 450 staff across 16 offices worldwide. Drennan is expected to remain at the helm as chief executive, reflecting continuity in leadership amid the change in ownership.
The strategic rationale behind the investment reflects broader shifts in global credit markets. Demand for outsourced loan administration and trustee services has grown as lenders and borrowers navigate increasingly complex financing arrangements and regulatory requirements. Private credit, in particular, has expanded sharply, with non-bank lenders and institutional investors seeking specialist support for documentation, compliance and reporting functions that underpin large, bespoke transactions. GLAS’s suite of services has made it a go-to partner in this space, particularly for institutional clients negotiating intricate debt structures.
Financial terms of the deal disclosed by Oakley indicate its indirect contribution via Fund VI will be up to about £55 million, but wider valuations implied by market coverage suggest a total enterprise value near £1 billion. That figure aligns with expectations from advisers and reflects both GLAS’s established market position and the strategic value investors place on firms that facilitate the expanding private credit ecosystem. Oakley’s purchase follows a period of growth for GLAS under Levine Leichtman’s ownership, during which assets under administration reportedly rose from roughly $120 billion in 2021 to more than $750 billion today, driven by geographic expansion, technology investment and targeted acquisitions.
Oakley Capital’s profile has broadened in recent years as the firm has backed a variety of businesses across sectors including consumer brands, technology and business services. Its backing of GLAS reflects a deliberate push into specialised financial services where structural trends favour outsourced, technology-enhanced solutions. The involvement of La Caisse, a major institutional investor, underscores the appeal of GLAS’s business model to long-term capital allocators seeking exposure to the infrastructure of global credit markets.
Industry analysts have noted the appetite for loan agency services has been underpinned by the proliferation of private credit funds and a resurgence of syndicated lending activity following periods of market volatility. As banks and alternative lenders diversify their portfolios and jurisdictions tighten reporting standards, demand for independent administrators with global reach has grown. GLAS’s deep bench of expertise in handling complex transactions and its geographic footprint are seen as competitive advantages that could support accelerated growth under Oakley’s stewardship.
Executives from both sides have highlighted the strategic fit. Mia Drennan said the partnership with Oakley and La Caisse positions GLAS to expand its offerings and deepen client relationships, building on a track record of innovation in service delivery. Josh Kaufman, partner and head of Europe at Levine Leichtman, expressed pride in the firm’s role in GLAS’s development and confidence in its future trajectory under new ownership. Advisers on the transaction included Deutsche Bank and Robert W. Baird, working with GLAS and Levine Leichtman, reflecting the complexity and market interest in the deal.
Punkt has entered the spotlight at CES 2026 with the launch of the MC03, a smartphone positioned as a deliberate counterpoint to data-intensive mobile ecosystems. The device, priced at $699 with an additional subscription for key services, places privacy, sustainability and intentional use at the centre of its proposition, targeting consumers increasingly uneasy about how personal data is harvested and monetised. Unveiled during the annual technology gathering in Las Vegas, the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai OPEC+ decided to keep its oil production levels unchanged after a brief ministerial meeting on Sunday, opting to focus narrowly on market conditions while avoiding discussion of political strains affecting several of its key members. The decision came at a time of sustained pressure on crude prices and mounting concerns over global oversupply, underlining the group’s cautious approach as it seeks to […]
Brookfield Asset Management is preparing to launch a cloud computing business called Radiant that will lease artificial intelligence chips directly to developers, underpinned by a newly formed $10 billion AI fund as part of its broader strategy to build an integrated AI infrastructure platform. Radiant’s model aims to control key inputs in the AI value chain from land and power to compute, offering an alternative to conventional cloud […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Barq has vaulted into the spotlight of Saudi Arabia’s financial technology landscape, cementing its position as the fastest-growing digital wallet in the Kingdom by download and usage metrics, according to market data and industry tracking. The platform’s pace of adoption has set benchmarks rarely seen in consumer financial services, underscoring how quickly digital payments are becoming embedded in everyday transactions across Saudi Arabia. […]
Bitcoin is trading within a narrow band at the start of 2026 after pulling back from the $110,000 zone, yet blockchain data and market activity point to mounting pressure beneath the surface. Large holders are adding to positions, exchange balances are thinning and derivatives markets are showing renewed engagement, a combination that has fuelled expectations of a potential double-digit move if key technical levels give way. The […]
Competition between Tesla and Waymo is reshaping the trajectory of autonomous transport, with contrasting technical philosophies, regulatory strategies and deployment timelines sharpening the pace of innovation across the robotaxi market. Waymo holds a tangible lead in fully driverless commercial operations. Its vehicles, packed with lidar, radar and high-resolution cameras, have logged millions of autonomous miles without a human safety driver across multiple US cities. In places such […]
Global charging technology brand CUKTECH has launched its first desktop super-fast charging station in Vietnam, marking a strategic push into Southeast Asia’s fast-growing market for high-power, multi-device charging solutions aimed at professionals and power users.
The CUKTECH 30 Ultra Charging Station enters a segment shaped by the rapid proliferation of laptops, tablets, cameras and high-capacity smartphones that increasingly demand desktop-class power delivery. The company said the device is designed for users who run several devices simultaneously, including content creators, developers and technology enthusiasts seeking a single hub that replaces multiple chargers without compromising speed or safety.
At the centre of the product is an ultra-high power output architecture capable of delivering fast charging across several ports at once, supported by intelligent power allocation that prioritises devices based on real-time demand. The station features a visual interaction interface that displays charging status, wattage distribution and thermal conditions, a move intended to give users greater control and transparency over how power is being delivered during intensive workloads.
Vietnam has emerged as a focal point for consumer electronics launches, driven by rising disposable incomes, a young digital-first population and the country’s growing role as a manufacturing and innovation hub. By choosing Vietnam for its first desktop charging station rollout, CUKTECH is signalling confidence in demand for premium accessories that support hybrid work, gaming and creative production environments.
Industry analysts note that desktop charging stations are evolving from simple multi-port adapters into intelligent power management devices. As laptops adopt higher-wattage USB-C standards and smartphones push faster charging thresholds, manufacturers are racing to balance speed with safety, heat control and long-term battery health. Products that fail to manage thermal loads or power negotiation effectively risk damaging devices or underperforming under sustained use.
CUKTECH’s 30 Ultra addresses these concerns with built-in safety systems that monitor temperature, voltage and current in real time, automatically adjusting output to protect connected devices. The company has highlighted compliance with international charging protocols, allowing the station to work across a wide range of brands and operating systems without proprietary lock-ins.
The launch also reflects intensifying competition in the charging accessories market, where established players and newer brands are vying to differentiate through design, smart features and ecosystem compatibility. Desktop charging stations, once niche products, are now being positioned as essential tools for modern desks, particularly as remote and hybrid work setups become permanent fixtures for many professionals.
For content creators, the appeal lies in the ability to power cameras, laptops, tablets and phones from a single device while monitoring output visually, reducing cable clutter and downtime. For businesses and co-working spaces, such stations offer a shared charging solution that can support multiple high-demand devices without the need for wall-mounted adapters or extension cords.
CUKTECH’s expansion strategy has drawn attention due to its roots in advanced charging research and its association with broader consumer electronics supply chains in Asia. The company has previously focused on portable power banks and fast chargers, building a reputation for high-wattage products that cater to users with demanding power needs. Moving into desktop charging stations represents a natural extension of that portfolio, while also placing the brand in direct competition with premium accessory makers targeting professional users.
Vietnam’s technology retail landscape has become increasingly receptive to such launches, with consumers showing greater willingness to invest in quality peripherals that promise durability and performance. Retailers have reported strong interest in fast-charging solutions that can future-proof desks as device power requirements continue to climb.
Market observers also point to regulatory clarity around USB-C and fast-charging standards as a factor accelerating adoption. As devices converge on common charging protocols, consumers are more confident that a single high-end station can serve multiple generations of hardware, improving value over time.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has completed a $13 billion, seven-year syndicated loan to support spending on power, water and public utilities, marking one of the largest government-backed financings tied to infrastructure programmes this year as the kingdom presses ahead with its economic transformation agenda. The financing was arranged by the National Debt Management Center, which said the deal fits within its medium-term debt strategy aimed […]
Tuba, an artificial intelligence-driven healthcare benefit management platform, has been accepted into NVIDIA Inception, a global programme designed to support technology start-ups developing advanced AI solutions. The move places Tuba among a curated group of early-stage companies working with high-performance computing, data science and machine learning tools to scale products in complex sectors such as healthcare, finance and advanced manufacturing. The company’s entry into the programme […]
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC and Emirates Water and Electricity Company have completed a Dh3.6 billion financing and development agreement for the Al Dhafra Power Plant, marking a significant expansion of dispatchable power capacity aimed at supporting the emirate’s fast-growing data centre sector. The project underlines Abu Dhabi’s strategy of pairing digital infrastructure growth with firm, utility-scale energy assets as demand from artificial intelligence, cloud computing […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates strengthened its standing in 2025 as the world’s largest international airline, carrying 55.6 million passengers across almost 180,580 flights and reinforcing Dubai’s role as a central hub for long-haul air travel. The carrier said the scale of its operations during the year equated to circling the Earth more than 29,000 times, underlining the breadth of its global network at a time when […]
A landmark entertainment destination has begun operations at Qiddiya City on 31 December 2025, as Six Flags Qiddiya City opened to the public near Riyadh, marking the flagship attraction of the sprawling Saudi project and the first Six Flags theme park outside North America. The launch ceremony took place under the patronage of Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Governor of Riyadh Province, with senior officials and tourism sector leaders attending to celebrate what organisers described as a major milestone in the Kingdom’s leisure and tourism expansion.
Six Flags Qiddiya City debuted with an array of attractions designed to appeal to global visitors and local families alike, with the signature offering being Falcons Flight, a steel roller coaster that now holds records as the tallest, fastest and longest of its kind in the world. The coaster reaches speeds of roughly 155 mph and rises to approximately 640 feet, dwarfing many existing high-thrill installations. Other record-setting rides include Iron Rattler, the tallest tilt coaster, and Spitfire, the tallest inverted coaster, alongside a total lineup of 28 rides and attractions across six themed lands.
Park president Brian Machamer described Six Flags Qiddiya City as more than a collection of rides, pitching the venue as a fully immersive theme park where music, themed environments and guest experience are integrated throughout, distinguishing it from traditional amusement parks in North America. He said the design and storytelling elements aim to create a cohesive environment that extends beyond individual attractions.
The opening is a cornerstone of Qiddiya City’s broader vision as a global entertainment and cultural hub. Spanning hundreds of square kilometres on the edge of the Tuwaiq Mountains roughly 45 km from downtown Riyadh, Qiddiya is envisioned as a master-planned destination where entertainment, sports, arts and education converge. Six Flags Qiddiya City represents the first operational phase of this masterplan, with additional attractions including a water theme park, motorsport and esports facilities, performance venues and residential neighbourhoods planned over the next decade.
Officials noted that the park’s launch aligns with national priorities to diversify the economy under Vision 2030, an ambitious strategy championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to reduce reliance on oil revenues and accelerate growth in tourism and leisure sectors. Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the significance of the Six Flags project in positioning the Kingdom on the global entertainment map, underscoring efforts to attract millions of visitors annually.
The park offers international food and retail outlets, themed entertainment spaces and technology-enhanced guest services to meet global standards. Ticket pricing was set to attract a broad demographic, with adult entry priced at around SR325 and children’s tickets at SR275, while infants under four are admitted free. Early visitor feedback pointed to enthusiastic reception, particularly for the record-breaking coasters and themed environments.
While the opening has been widely hailed as a transformative moment for entertainment in the Middle East, analysts and industry observers have also pointed to challenges. Six Flags’ broader corporate position following its merger with Cedar Fair includes ongoing portfolio evaluations and adjustments to its existing parks, which have seen closures and operational reassessments in North America. The international expansion represented by Qiddiya carries strategic importance but also introduces new operational and financial dynamics for the company.
Local business leaders have emphasised the anticipated economic impact of the park and the wider Qiddiya development, citing job creation, supply chain opportunities and tourism revenue growth. Community groups in the Riyadh region have expressed optimism about increased cultural and entertainment offerings, while some critics have raised questions about the sustainability of mega-projects in fluctuating economic conditions. Government planners maintain that phased development and diversified attractions will help ensure long-term viability.
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 December 2025 – Vietnam Airlines has officially launched its nonstop service between Ho Chi Minh City and Copenhagen, Denmark, marking the first-ever direct air connection between Vietnam and Northern Europe. This milestone represents a major step in the airline’s European network expansion strategy for the 2025 to 2030 period, addressing growing demand for tourism, business travel, trade, and family visits between the two regions.
Vietnam Airlines flight crew on the first Ho Chi Minh City–Copenhagen flight.
The inaugural flight, VN39, departed Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 10:45 p.m. on December 15 aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and landed safely at Copenhagen Airport after more than 12 hours of flight, carrying over 200 passengers to the Danish capital. The return flight, VN38, departed Copenhagen at 10:50 a.m. local time on December 16 and arrived in Ho Chi Minh City later the same day, serving more than 300 passengers.
The Ho Chi Minh City to Copenhagen route will operate three times per week. Flights depart Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, while return flights from Copenhagen operate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. This new service enhances connectivity between Vietnam and Denmark, as well as the broader Northern European region, while meeting the increasing travel demand of the Vietnamese community in the area, estimated at approximately 70,000 people. It is also expected to further boost the growing number of Northern European visitors to Vietnam.
Dang Anh Tuan, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, said: “Copenhagen represents a strategic market in Vietnam Airlines’ European network growth. Our nonstop service dramatically reduces travel time between Vietnam and Denmark, enhances our competitive edge, and creates new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange across Northern Europe. This direct connection will deliver clear benefits to passengers, enterprises, and the Vietnamese community in the region.”
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is widely recognized as one of the world’s most livable cities and serves as a key transportation hub for the entire Scandinavian region. From Copenhagen Airport, passengers can conveniently connect to Sweden, Norway, and Finland via a modern infrastructure and efficient transport network. As a result, the new route not only meets travel demand to Denmark but also provides faster and more convenient access to the broader Northern European region compared with previous itineraries requiring transit stops.
Copenhagen is considered a high-potential market, particularly during the winter season when Northern European travelers seek warm-weather destinations such as Vietnam. With the launch of this route, Vietnam Airlines becomes one of the few Southeast Asian carriers offering direct service to Northern Europe, further strengthening its European network, which currently includes Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Milan, and Moscow.
The nonstop Ho Chi Minh City to Copenhagen service also marks a significant milestone in Vietnam Airlines’ 30-year development journey, reaffirming the airline’s commitment to expanding intercontinental connectivity, enhancing the role of the national flag carrier, and continuing to showcase the image, culture, and people of Vietnam to the world.
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The United Arab Emirates reinforced its position as a centre for advanced technology and space sciences through 2025, recording a sequence of policy, industrial and scientific advances that underscored a broader shift towards an innovation-led, knowledge-based economy. Government agencies, research centres and private firms aligned capital spending with skills development, deepening international cooperation while scaling domestic capabilities across satellite manufacturing, Earth observation and deep-space research. At the […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 December 2025 – DL Holdings (1709.HK) announced yesterday that its subsidiary, DL Securities (Hong Kong) Limited (“DL Securities”), has received conditional approval from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) to provide virtual asset trading services under an omnibus account arrangement. DL Securities has accepted the conditions imposed by the SFC in respect of the upgrade of its Type 1 license to include virtual asset trading services as of 29 December 2025, and will commence virtual asset trading services upon receiving the SFC’s formal approval. This milestone marks DL Securities’ official entry into the small group of comprehensive financial institutions in Hong Kong that simultaneously hold full licenses for both traditional securities and virtual assets.
DL Securities’ formal approval as a licensed virtual asset service provider means that the sizeable digital asset and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization landscape being built by the Group will be delivered to global investors through a compliant, secure, and efficient channel — representing a critical step toward the inclusive-finance vision of “Investing Made Simple.”
Following the license upgrade, DL Securities plans to open omnibus accounts with OSL — one of the SFC-licensed virtual asset trading platforms in Hong Kong — to provide professional investors with secure and efficient execution services, including virtual asset trading and conversion between virtual assets and fiat currencies. The Company will implement stringent Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures, perform continuous monitoring and risk assessment together with the platform, and conduct knowledge assessments for clients to ensure that services operate under the highest compliance standards.
To ensure prudence and regulatory alignment, DL Securities will strictly follow the additional conditions of the SFC and conduct virtual asset transactions via omnibus accounts on SFC-licensed platforms. Meanwhile, services will primarily target professional investor clients within its existing Type 1 regulated activity (securities dealing). This demonstrates that while embracing digital-finance innovation, DL Securities will continue to uphold Hong Kong’s rigorous regulatory framework and remain committed to delivering secure and compliant virtual asset services to high-net-worth clients.
Ahead of many licensed brokers whose roles remain focused only on “distribution,” DL has already established forward-looking strategic layouts in both asset digitalization and digital-asset investment, building a solid asset foundation for future business expansion. In terms of innovative RWA tokenization, the HK$500 million DL Tower located in Hong Kong’s Central district has formally commenced tokenization, with an initial tranche valued at HK$60 million. At the same time, the Group has completed the tokenization plan for its HK$312 million equity interest in the ultra-luxury U.S. real estate project ONE Carmel, aiming to pioneer an innovative shareholder-return mechanism. In addition, the Group has completed tokenization of nearly HK$40 million equity stakes in leading technology companies such as ByteDance and Kraken, enriching the diversity and growth potential of its digital-asset portfolio.
In terms of strategic investment in digital assets, the Group has likewise advanced its deployment. In computing power, nearly ten thousand high-performance mining rigs have been procured, generating close to two Bitcoins per day. The Group has also mapped out an additional HK$800 million digital-asset investment pathway, including HK$560 million into computing power and HK$240 million into tokenized gold assets. Cooperation with digital-asset asset-management platform Antalpha has achieved substantive progress, with an initial allocation of nearly HK$40 million in gold tokens completed. Meanwhile, continued investment in the fintech platform NeuralFin has delivered outstanding results — the platform’s valuation has reached HK$546 million and it has officially initiated preparations for U.S. listing, further strengthening the Group’s integrated digital-finance ecosystem.
Approval of the virtual-asset license provides crucial regulatory support for DL Securities to introduce the Group’s scarce, high-quality virtual-asset and RWA products to the broader investment market in a compliant and secure manner. Going forward, DL Securities will be able to offer professional and institutional investors compliant trading and professional advisory services covering mainstream digital assets such as BTC and ETH, as well as proprietary real-estate and equity-type RWA products. High-quality physical assets and frontier digital assets — once characterized by high thresholds and low liquidity — can now be transformed into fractional, tradeable digital rights, allowing broader groups of investors to share in the dividends of technological and asset-value growth.
Against the backdrop of global asset digitalization, RWA tokenization is becoming a key direction of financial innovation. While Chinese Mainland remains prudent toward such businesses, Hong Kong SAR — guided by a clear, stable, and internationally aligned regulatory framework — is actively assuming the role of a “testing ground.” Seizing this window of opportunity, DL has leveraged its deep understanding of the Hong Kong market, completed its virtual-asset deployment ahead of peers, and successfully obtained a pivotal license. This not only reflects DL’s strategic foresight but also its active participation in building Hong Kong into a global virtual-asset hub — firmly capturing first-mover advantages.
Mr. Andy Chen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DL Holdings Group, stated:”This approval of our virtual-asset license is a milestone that has come naturally. DL has long ceased to be a bystander waiting for the license—we are already deeply engaged, holding substantial high-quality digital assets and RWAs. The license is a key — it opens the door for us to provide compliant services to investors worldwide. Looking ahead, DL will fully leverage our capital strength, asset reserves, and ecosystem advantages to become a trusted bridge connecting traditional finance and the digital-finance world.”
This license upgrade represents an important milestone in the Group’s deepening digital-finance strategy and embrace of fintech innovation. It is expected not only to significantly enhance business diversification and revenue potential but also to position the Company strongly in the digital-asset markets of Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region. Through rigorous compliance frameworks, professional teams, and deep collaboration with licensed platforms, DL Securities will provide professional investors with secure, efficient, and transparent virtual-asset financial services. Following the upgrade of Type 1 to include virtual-asset trading, the upgrade procedure for its Type 4 license (advising on securities) is also currently under final SFC review.
