PRAYTELL EXPANDS INTO ASIA WITH SINGAPORE OFFICE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Praytell has expanded into Asia with the opening of a Singapore office, marking the creative communications agency's latest step in its global growth strategy and strengthening its presence across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

According to the company in a statement, the new office will be led by industry veteran Debbie Chin, who joins Praytell as Executive Vice President, Asia. Based in Singapore, the regional hub will support global brands operating across Asian markets while helping Asian companies expand into the United States and other international markets.

Praytell Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Beth Cleveland said the expansion reflects Praytell's continued investment in growth, with the Singapore office combining the agency's global capabilities with regional expertise to deliver localised communications and storytelling for clients.

Chin brings more than 25 years of communications experience across London, Shanghai and Singapore, having worked with multinational brands including Unilever and Procter & Gamble. She joins from Weber Shandwick, where she led global communications for major consumer portfolios.

Praytell said its Singapore office will also strengthen collaboration within the Project Worldwide alliance by working alongside sister agencies George P. Johnson and DARKHORSE to provide integrated marketing, communications and brand experience services across the region.

Project Worldwide APAC CEO, Ben Taylor said adding Praytell's creative communications capabilities strengthens the alliance's regional offering and supports its strategy of delivering integrated marketing solutions for global brands.

Founded in 2010, Project Worldwide comprises 13 agencies, 45 offices and 2,300 employees globally. Praytell first entered the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region in 2021 with the launch of its Melbourne office and has since expanded into Sydney.

-- BERNAMA

AV ACCESS LAUNCHES ALL-IN-ONE 4K CONFERENCE VIDEO BAR

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- AV Access, a professional audio-visual (Pro AV) provider, has launched the AnyCo V100, an all-in-one 4K conference video bar designed for small meeting rooms and huddle spaces to support hybrid collaboration.

The company said the AnyCo V100 combines video conferencing, presentation functions, a 4K artificial intelligence (AI) camera, speakerphones, laptop charging and network connectivity into a single device.

AV Access chief technology officer, Bill Liao said the AnyCo V100 enables businesses to simplify meeting room deployment by integrating multiple conferencing functions into a single device.

“By consolidating video conferencing, seamless presentations, and essential room hardware into a reliable, one-cable solution, businesses can drastically optimise their workplace AV technology budget and get any meeting space ready in minutes,” he said in a statement.

According to AV Access, users only need to connect a single USB-C cable to their laptop to access video conferencing, screen sharing, internet connectivity and up to 100 watts of charging without requiring additional software or drivers.

The company said the device also features an ultra-wide 4K AI camera with automatic framing, speaker tracking and presenter tracking, as well as XMOS digital signal processing technology for echo cancellation, noise reduction and voice capture.

The product will be showcased at the InfoComm Asia 2026 exhibition in Bangkok from July 15 to 17.

-- BERNAMA

HONG KONG SECURES LEAP EAST AS EXCLUSIVE ASIAN HOST UNTIL 2029

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has partnered with LEAP East’s organiser to secure Hong Kong as the exclusive Asian host city for LEAP East from 2027 to 2029.

LEAP East, the Middle East’s flagship technology exhibition, recently made its Asian debut in Hong Kong over three days ending July 10, attracting more than 25,000 participants, 55 per cent of whom were non-local and 45 per cent local.

“This significant partnership not only demonstrates the global industry’s confidence in Hong Kong but also affirms Hong Kong’s status as the World’s Meeting Place and a hub for innovation and technology, as well as its role as a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’.

“By bringing together tech and innovation enterprises, investors, research institutions and innovative talent from around the world, Hong Kong is fostering cross-regional and cross-industry collaboration,” said HKTB Chairman, Dr Peter Lam in a statement.

Meanwhile, Tahaluf Chief Executive Officer, Mike Champion said Hong Kong, as the host of LEAP’s first flagship edition outside the Middle East, is the perfect platform to connect Middle Eastern technology enterprises with Asian businesses while creating opportunities for Asian companies to engage with partners across the Gulf.

“I look forward to partnering with HKTB over the next three years to build LEAP East into a premier international platform that brings together global innovation and fosters cross-regional collaboration,” added Champion.

According to Dr Lam, more than 100 major International Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) events were held in Hong Kong in the first half of this year, following HKTB's efforts to secure, facilitate and support the events.

“Looking ahead, even more world-renowned international MICE events across diverse sectors such as medical science, food science and technology, lifestyle, innovation and technology, aviation and transport will be hosted in Hong Kong,” said Dr Lam.

The HKTB will continue working with the MICE industry and partners to attract more large-scale international MICE events to Hong Kong, enriching the city's year-round events calendar, attracting more high value-added visitors and enhancing their overall business travel experience.

-- BERNAMA

AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to China Ping An Insurance (Hong Kong) Company Limited

HONG KONG, July 10 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to China Ping An Insurance (Hong Kong) Company Limited (CPAHK) (Hong Kong). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect CPAHK’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also reflect the support of its affiliated company, Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. (Ping An P&C).

CPAHK is wholly owned by Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (PAG), through China Ping An Insurance Overseas (Holdings) Limited. Ping An P&C is the leading non-life insurance arm of PAG and acts as the head office for CPAHK.

The ratings recognise the strategic importance of CPAHK in Ping An P&C’s international business strategy and Greater Bay Area (GBA) development. CPAHK acts as a vital link for Ping An P&C’s GBA initiatives in Hong Kong/mainland China cross-border insurance. Going forward, CPAHK is expected to become an essential component of Ping An P&C’s overseas development plan in its Chinese Interest Abroad (CIA) business. Ping An P&C provides extensive explicit and implicit support to CPAHK in the areas of reinsurance, brand recognition, board of director and senior management, business referral, underwriting, investment, and risk management.

CPAHK’s strong balance sheet strength is underpinned by its strongest risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), for 2024 and 2025, which is projected to remain at the strongest level over the short to intermediate term. Other supportive factors include a prudent investment allocation and appropriate reinsurance arrangements. Partially offsetting factors include CPAHK’s modest capital and surplus level, and its relatively high underwriting leverage ratio compared with domestic non-life insurance peers.

CPAHK returned to profitability in 2024 and sustained it in 2025, with a return on equity in the mid-single digits for both years. The company’s bottom line is supported largely by its stable investment returns. The underwriting margin has improved significantly since 2024, owing to the company’s continued efforts in controlling claims experience and reinsurance supports from Ping An P&C. Looking forward, CPAHK expects the international business to enhance its top-line growth and bottom-line profitability.

CPAHK is an authorised non-life insurer in Hong Kong. Its insurance portfolio is diversified, covering major lines including motor, property damage, general liability, and employee’ compensation. Going forward, in terms of the international business, CPAHK is expected to receive an elevated level of support from Ping An P&C, especially in the form of underwriting know-how, claims handling and reinsurance support.

Negative rating actions could occur if there is a material decline in the level of support CPAHK receives from its affiliated company Ping An P&C. Negative rating actions also could occur if there is a decline in the company’s operating performance to a level that no longer supports the adequate operating performance assessment. Negative rating actions could occur if there is a material decline in CPAHK’s balance sheet strength to a level that no longer supports the strong assessment. Although unlikely in the short term, positive rating actions could occur if CPAHK demonstrates material and sustained improvement in its balance sheet strength.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260709811030/en/ 

Contact

Lucie Huang
Associate Director
+852 2827 3414
lucie.huang@ambest.com

James Chan
Director
+852 2827 3418
james.chan@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com 

Source : AM Best

--BERNAMA

Meltwater Expands MCP Capabilities For AI Assistants

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Meltwater has expanded its Model Context Protocol (MCP) capabilities by introducing new tools that enable artificial intelligence (AI) assistants to perform actions within the Meltwater platform, including accessing insights, creating reports and tracking alerts in real time.

The company said the expanded MCP allows AI assistants to build on existing projects within the platform, enabling users to generate news summaries, brand health reports and social media trend analyses using Meltwater's licensed media and social intelligence.

Meltwater Chief Product Officer, Chris Hackney said the enhancement allows users across organisations to access trusted intelligence directly through the AI tools they already use.

“Meltwater MCP means the analyst, the executive, and the intern can all ask the same question and get the same quality of answer, grounded in real Meltwater data,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, its Chief Technology Officer, Aditya Jami said the expanded MCP enables teams to use trusted Meltwater intelligence through their preferred AI assistants while allowing them to take action on the information rather than simply retrieve it.

Meltwater said its platform analyses more than 1.3 billion documents daily, providing media, social media and influencer intelligence for public relations, communications and marketing teams.

According to Meltwater, the expanded MCP is now generally available to its customers following more than a year of pilot programmes.

-- BERNAMA

DEWA LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL ARM TO EXPAND GLOBAL ENERGY AND WATER PROJECTS

DEWA International launched as a wholly owned independent subsidiary of DEWA to develop global energy and water projects (Photo: AETOSWire)

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced the establishment of DEWA International, its wholly owned independent subsidiary, to develop conventional and clean energy projects worldwide and export Dubai’s successful energy and water infrastructure model to global markets.

Dubai Supreme Council of Energy Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said Dubai has firmly established itself as a leading international benchmark through world-class infrastructure, particularly in the energy and water sectors.

In a statement, Sheikh Ahmed said the launch of DEWA International marks a strategic step towards extending this successful model to global markets and strengthening Dubai’s position as a source of knowledge and expertise in energy, water, sustainability and digital transformation.

Meanwhile, DEWA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said DEWA has powered Dubai’s growth for decades through high performance and efficiency.

“Now, we rank first globally in 13 key utility performance indicators and two regional benchmarks across generation, transmission, distribution and customer service. Our financial strength provides real strategic freedom through sustained revenue growth, strong margins and significant investing capacity,” said Saeed Mohammed.

He added that DEWA International will develop power and water projects using advanced technologies in partnership with leading organisations worldwide, with work already underway to identify opportunities, build a project pipeline and establish strategic partnerships.

-- BERNAMA

Defiance Launches Europe's First Photonics UCITS ETF (PHOT)

• Defiance has expanded its European ETF lineup with the launch of the Defiance Photonics UCITS ETF (ticker: PHOT).
• The ETF seeks to provide exposure to companies developing, manufacturing, and commercialising photonic technologies, the optical hardware that generates, moves, and processes data using light rather than electricity.
• This is Defiance's 5th launch since entering the European UCITS ETF market earlier this year. In that time, Defiance has accumulated $162.57 million in assets under management (AUM) across its UCITS product range.¹
• The ETF is listed on the London Stock Exchange and Borsa Italiana, with Xetra to follow.

MIAMI, July 9 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance ETFs is excited to announce the launch of the Defiance Photonics UCITS ETF (ticker: PHOT), Europe's first photonics ETF. The Fund seeks to provide exposure to companies developing, manufacturing, and commercialising photonic technologies, the optical hardware that generates, moves, and processes data using light rather than electricity.

Defiance Photonics UCITS ETF
ISIN: IE000W1S2PT6
TER: 0.69%

Exchange Bloomberg Ticker SEDOL Trading Currency
LSE PHOT LN BQS89K8 USD
LSE PH0T LN BQS8NP3 GBP
Borsa Italiana PHOT IM BN6MZN8 USD

The AI capex buildout is becoming one of the largest corporate investment cycles in history. JP Morgan has estimated that global AI and data centre infrastructure spending could reach more than $5 trillion through 2030, with that spending reshaping demand across the technology supply chain, from power and cooling to memory and advanced networking.²

Photonics is emerging as a key part of this infrastructure story. Photonics is the use of light to generate, transmit, and process information. In data centres, this means replacing or complementing electrical connections with optical technologies that can move data between chips, servers, and racks at much higher speeds and with lower energy loss.³

AI systems require huge amounts of data to move continuously between processors, memory, and networking equipment. As AI clusters become larger, and as inference workloads scale, data movement is becoming a critical bottleneck in terms of bandwidth, latency, power consumption, and heat. Optical interconnects can move more data over longer distances than copper, while using less power per bit transmitted.⁴

The opportunity also extends beyond AI. Photonic technologies are increasingly important for cloud data centres, high-performance computing, telecom networks, and next-generation connectivity. As the digital economy requires faster, denser, and more energy-efficient data movement, photonics is becoming a critical enabling layer of the modern technology stack.

The Defiance Photonics UCITS ETF provides targeted exposure across the photonics value chain, including:
Optical components and light sources
Photonic semiconductors and interconnect chips
Optical systems and networking
Photonic foundries and manufacturing infrastructure
Enabling materials
These areas include technologies such as lasers, transceivers, fibre arrays, connectors, photonic integrated circuits, optical interposers, modulators, and other components used in modern optical connectivity.

This is Defiance's 5th launch since entering the European UCITS ETF market earlier this year.⁵


Defiance UCITS Lineup Ticker
Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure UCITS ETF AIPO
Defiance Photonics UCITS ETF PHOT
Defiance Memory UCITS ETF DRAM
Defiance Drone UCITS ETF DRON
Defiance Ukraine Reconstruction UCITS ETF UKRN


Sylvia Jablonski, CIO of Defiance ETFs, commented: “Defiance is excited to bring Europe's first photonics ETF to market. AI is generating more data than electrical connections can efficiently move, and photonics, the use of light to transmit and process information, is emerging as the answer. We built PHOT to give investors focused, transparent exposure to the companies across the photonics value chain, rather than a thin slice buried inside a broad tech basket.”

Hector McNeil, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of HANetf, commented: “We are delighted that Defiance is expanding its European range with the launch of the first photonics UCITS ETF. As AI and cloud computing continue to drive demand for faster and more efficient data movement, photonics is emerging as an increasingly important layer of the technology infrastructure stack. This launch gives European investors targeted access to companies helping to build the optical backbone needed to support the next phase of AI and digital connectivity.”

For full fund details, including the prospectus and Key Information Document, visit hanetf.com.

About Defiance ETFs
Founded in 2018, Defiance is a leading ETF issuer specializing in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs. The firm manages 75+ ETFs designed to provide targeted exposure to high-growth sectors including AI infrastructure, quantum computing, drones and modern warfare, and other emerging technologies.

About HANetf
HANetf is an independent provider of UCITS ETFs, working with asset management companies to bring differentiated, modern, and innovative exposures to European ETF investors. Via our white-label ETF platform, HANetf provides a complete operational, regulatory, distribution and marketing solution for asset managers to launch and manage UCITS ETFs. www.hanetf.com

Media Contact
Brenda Hentschel | bhentschel@gregoryagency.com | 201.705.3758

For European media enquiries:
Italy: Elena Soffientini, Mymediarelation | soffientini@mymediarelation.it | +39 375 670 62 07
Germany: Caroline Chojnowski, Public Imaging | Caroline.Chojnowski@publicimaging.de | +49 (0)40-401 999 - 23

Important Information

Communications issued in the European Economic Area (“EEA”)
The content in this document is issued and approved by HANetf EU Limited (“HANetf EU”). HANetf EU is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. HANetf EU is registered in Ireland with registration number 728832.

Communications issued in the UK
The content in this document is issued by HANetf Limited (“HANetf”) and approved by Privium Fund Management (UK) Limited (“Privium”). HANetf is an appointed representative of Privium, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The registered office of Privium is The Shard, 24th Floor, 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG.

This communication has been prepared for professional investors, but the ETCs and ETFs set out in this communication (“Products”) may be available in some jurisdictions to any investors. Please check with your broker or intermediary that the relevant Product is available in your jurisdiction and suitable for your investment profile.

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1. HANetf ICAV and HANetf ICAV II are open-ended Irish collective asset management vehicles and are the issuers of the ETFs under the terms in the relevant Prospectuses and relevant Supplements for each ETF approved by the Central Bank of Ireland (“CBI”) (each an “ETF Prospectus” and together the “ETF Prospectuses”). Investors should read the current version of the relevant ETF Prospectus before investing and should refer to the section of the relevant ETF Prospectus entitled ‘Risk Factors’ for further details of risks associated with an investment in the ETFs. Any decision to invest should be based on the information contained in the ETF Prospectuses.

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3. Bitwise Europe GmbH, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, issuing under the terms in the Prospectus approved by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (“BaFin”) and the final terms (“Cryptocurrency Prospectus”) is the issuer of the ETCM ETCs. Investors should read the latest version of the Cryptocurrency Prospectus before investing and should refer to the section of the Cryptocurrency Prospectus entitled ‘Risk Factors’ for further details of risks associated with an investment in the ETCs contained in the Cryptocurrency Prospectus. Any decision to invest should be based on the information contained in the Cryptocurrency Prospectus.

4. HANetf Multi-Asset ETC Issuer plc, a public company incorporated in Jersey, issuing under the terms in the Base Prospectuses approved by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen) (the “SFSA”), the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and the final terms of the relevant series (“Multi-Asset ETC Securities Documentation”) is the issuer of ETCs linked to and secured by various underlying assets. Investors should read the latest version of the ETC Securities Documentation before investing and should refer to the section of the relevant Base Prospectus entitled ‘Risk Factors’ for further details of risks associated with an investment in the ETCs. Any decision to invest should be based on the information contained in the ETC Securities Documentation.

The relevant ETF Prospectuses, ETC Securities Documentation, Multi-Asset ETC Securities Documentation and Cryptocurrency Prospectus can all be downloaded from www.hanetf.com.

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FOR SWISS INVESTORS ONLY: The Fund has appointed as Swiss Representative Waystone Fund Services (Switzerland) SA, Av. Villamont 17, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland, Tel: +41 21 311 17 77, email: switzerland@waystone.com. The Fund’s Swiss paying agent is Helvetische Bank AG. The Prospectus, the Key Investor Information Documents, the Instrument of Incorporation as well as the annual and semi-annual reports may be obtained free of charge from the Swiss Representative in Lausanne. The issue and redemption prices are published at each issue and redemption on www.fundinfo.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70f0dee7-ca38-44e4-96f3-5a5b058fb821

________________________________
¹ Source: HANetf; Bloomberg. Data as at 07/06/2026.
² Source: Data Centre Dynamics, 2025.
³ Source: CNBC, 2026.
⁴ Source: Forbes, 2026.
⁵ Source: HANetf; Bloomberg. Data as at 07/06/2026.

SOURCE: Defiance ETFs

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

Record Launches "Record Amanah" Sharia-Compliant Investment Platform

 

LONDON, July 8 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Record Asset Management GmbH (RAM), subsidiary of London-listed Record plc (Record Financial Group), is pleased to announce the launch of Record Amanah, its dedicated platform for Sharia-compliant investment solutions.

RAM is the European asset management arm of Record Financial Group, the London-listed specialist investment group managing USD 115 billion of assets on behalf of institutional clients worldwide. Record's client base comprises pension funds, foundations, sovereign institutions and other asset managers, with whom the Group has built long-standing relationships through its focus on bespoke investment and risk management solutions. Headquartered in London, Record has offices in Hamburg, Zurich, Zug, New York, and Hong Kong.

The launch follows a series of successful Sharia-compliant transactions completed by Record, most recently for a client in Brunei, and reflects growing demand from institutional investors seeking investment opportunities that combine attractive risk-adjusted returns with adherence to Islamic finance principles.

Record Amanah has been established in partnership with Khalij Group (https://recordfg.com/what-we-do/private-markets/record-amanah/), a London-based team of Islamic finance specialists with extensive experience in structuring and advising on Sharia-compliant investments.

The platform will initially focus on private markets and private equity opportunities, offering investment solutions structured in accordance with established Sharia principles while maintaining the rigorous investment, risk management, and governance standards for which Record is known.

The initiative further expands Record's private markets capabilities and strengthens the Group's ability to serve a broader international investor base, particularly across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where demand for Sharia-compliant investment solutions continues to grow.

Jan Hendrik Witte, CEO of Record Financial Group, commented:

"The launch of Record Amanah represents a natural evolution of our private markets strategy. We have already demonstrated our ability to deliver Sharia-compliant investment solutions for institutional clients, and this platform provides a dedicated framework through which we can expand those capabilities. By combining Record's investment expertise with Khalij's deep knowledge of Islamic finance, we believe we are well positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality Sharia-compliant private market investments."

Asim Khan, CEO of Khalij Group, commented:

"Islamic finance is founded on principles of partnership, transparency and investment in productive economic activity. Through Record Amanah, we are bringing together these principles with Record's institutional investment expertise and global reach. We believe this partnership will create compelling opportunities for investors seeking access to private markets through structures that are both commercially attractive and fully aligned with Sharia values."

The launch forms part of Record's broader strategy of expanding its private markets offering and creating differentiated investment capabilities for clients globally.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260629448863/en/

Contact

Dr Jan Hendrik Witte
CEO
Record Financial Group
E: reception@recordfg.com
W: www.recordfg.com

Source : Record Financial Group

EIG'S MIDOCEAN SECURES US$1.13 BLN INVESTMENT FROM PRIVATE DEPARTMENT

Private Department of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Invests in MidOcean Energy and Forms Strategic Partnership with EIG

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- EIG, an institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, announced that its liquefied natural gas (LNG) company, MidOcean Energy (MidOcean), has secured a US$1.13 billion investment from the Private Department of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan (Private Department). (US$1=RM4.07)

The Private Department also established a strategic partnership with EIG, focusing on capital aggregation, investment origination and the development of institutional investment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates and selected regional markets.

EIG in a statement said the investment marks the Private Department's entry into the global LNG sector and the beginning of a broader strategic relationship with the company.

Through the partnership, both parties intend to collaborate on future investment opportunities across the energy and related infrastructure sectors.

“We are pleased to establish a strategic partnership with the Private Department. This relationship combines EIG's global energy investment expertise with the Private Department's regional reach, institutional relationships, and long-term investment perspective.

“We believe this creates a powerful platform for capital formation and investment across the region,” said MidOcean Chairman and EIG Chief Executive Officer, R. Blair Thomas.

The investment further strengthens MidOcean's institutional shareholder base and reflects continued confidence in its strategy to build a diversified, resilient and long-life global LNG platform.

Formed and managed by EIG, MidOcean has assembled a portfolio of LNG interests across key global markets, including Canada, Australia and Latin America, and aims to further expand its global footprint through a disciplined, value-driven investment approach.

-- BERNAMA

PROXIMA FUSION SECURES 411 MLN EUROS TO ADVANCE FUSION POWER

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Proxima Fusion has raised 411 million euros (US$468 million) in a financing round, valuing the company at 2.4 billion euros (US$2.7 billion) and making it Europe's best-funded fusion energy company. (US$1=RM4.08)

The financing round was led by XTX Ventures and East X Ventures, with German energy company RWE and Google participating as strategic investors.

According to Proxima Fusion, the funding will support the construction of Alpha, its net-energy stellarator demonstrator near Munich, Germany, and accelerate the development of technologies required for commercial fusion power plants.

Proxima Fusion co-founder and chief executive officer, Dr Francesco Sciortino said the investment demonstrates growing confidence in Europe's ability to develop globally competitive fusion technology companies.

“Investors recognise both the urgency and the opportunity of what we are doing and are backing us to develop a generational energy technology company,” he said in a statement.

The company said Alpha is being developed in partnership with the State of Bavaria, the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and RWE to validate key technologies for future fusion power plants.

Proxima Fusion said the new funding will also support the completion of its Stellarator Model Coil, expansion of high-temperature superconducting cable and magnet production, and recruitment across engineering, manufacturing and operations.

-- BERNAMA

JCAI ADVISES ON MESSER’S ACQUISITION OF WKS GROUP

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- Japan Corporate Advisory Institute Ltd (JCAI), a Tokyo-headquartered cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm, has advised on the acquisition of WKS Group by Messer.

Messer, the world’s largest privately held specialist for industrial, medical, electronic and speciality gases, has acquired Singapore-based WKS Group, which operates across Singapore and southern Malaysia. Messer reported consolidated sales of approximately 4.5 billion euros for its 2025 financial year. (1 Euro = RM4.65)

According to JCAI in a statement, the acquisition expands Messer’s operating footprint in Southeast Asia and strengthens access to key industrial clusters across the region, with transaction terms undisclosed.

“As global investors increasingly seek opportunities across Asia, access to reliable market intelligence and the right counterparties has become a key driver of successful M&A outcomes.

“JCAI works to improve transparency in APAC’s private markets by connecting business owners with strategic investors through a structured cross-border M&A process,” said JCAI Managing Partner, Olimjon Sadinov.

Meanwhile, WKS Group shareholder, Wong Koh Hoi said the company appreciates JCAI’s professionalism and dedication throughout the transaction, noting that its expertise was instrumental in achieving a successful outcome.

Founded in Singapore in 1977, WKS Group comprises six companies and employs about 195 people across Singapore and southern Malaysia.

Headquartered in Tokyo, JCAI advises business owners, corporates and investors on strategic M&A transactions across APAC.

-- BERNAMA

8X8 BAGS 2026 METRISTAR TOP PROVIDER FOR CPAAS BY METRIGY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- Global business communications platform provider, 8x8 Inc has been named a 2026 MetriStar Top Provider for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) by Metrigy, an independent research and advisory firm.

The CPaaS recognition is part of a broader result in Metrigy’s 2026 MetriStar Award programme, with 8x8 also receiving the MetriStar Top Provider recognition for Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS).

“Most of the companies we work with are not just looking for a messaging API; they need the whole chain: campaign management, AI, analytics, and a contact centre that talks to all of it.

“This recognition from Metrigy validates our approach helping organisations improve customer satisfaction, drive growth, and simplify operations at scale,” said 8x8 General Manager, CPaaS, Sylvain Chaperon in a statement.

The awards are based on Metrigy’s Customer Experience MetriCast 2026 study, which surveyed 1,437 customer experience (CX) leaders across 10 countries in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

8x8 achieved above-average scores on both business success and customer sentiment, with particular strength in CSAT improvement, revenue growth, platform reliability, and no-code/low-code application quality.

Metrigy highlighted 8x8's integrated communications portfolio as a key differentiator, noting that the company is among a small number of vendors offering CPaaS, CCaaS, and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) within a single platform.

The research also highlighted 8x8's approach to treating CPaaS not as a standalone developer toolkit but as a programmable layer across the CX stack, expanding customer engagement capabilities beyond the contact centre to sales, field service, and frontline teams.

-- BERNAMA

Bitget Launches Third Year of Anti-Scam Month with New Report on Multi-Asset Fraud

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched the third year of its Anti-Scam Month initiative with the release of its Anti-Scam Report 2026 titled “The Evolution of Fraud in the Multi-Asset Era”, developed in partnership with blockchain security firm SlowMist. As digital finance expands across cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, stocks, CFDs, wallets, and AI-powered investment tools, the report examines how fraud is adapting to changing investor behavior and increasingly interconnected financial ecosystems.

The report finds that changes in user behavior are reshaping how fraud campaigns are designed and deployed across digital finance. According to Bitget Research, the share of active users participating across two or more asset classes grew from under 1% in mid-2025 to more than 10% by May 2026. As users move across a wider range of products and platforms, fraud campaigns are increasingly blending multiple narratives, social engineering tactics, AI-generated content, and multiple communication channels within a single operation.

Drawing on Bitget Research and investigations conducted by SlowMist, the report found that many successful scams no longer rely on a single point of compromise. Fraud operators guide victims through a sequence of interactions spanning social media platforms, messaging applications, investment communities, phishing infrastructure, and wallet activity before assets are ultimately stolen. Between July 2025 and June 2026, Bitget's security infrastructure intercepted more than 150 million malicious requests, identified over 13,000 high-risk malicious IP addresses, handled 18,135 user protection cases, and supported the recovery of $32.3 million linked to security incidents and fraudulent activity.

“Security challenges evolve alongside markets. As more users participate across crypto, stocks, tokenized assets and AI-powered products, fraud campaigns are becoming sophisticated in how they build trust and influence decision-making. Understanding those risks is an important step toward protecting users and strengthening confidence across the broader ecosystem,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.

The report identifies several trends shaping the current fraud environment, including AI-generated investment personas, deepfake-enabled scams, voice-cloning attacks, synthetic investment communities, wallet-draining operations, malicious smart contracts, and increasingly sophisticated phishing campaigns. Among the cases examined are a deepfake investment scam impersonating Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, an AI-generated investment advertising campaign that reportedly defrauded thousands of Swedish investors, the Truman Show synthetic community scam involving approximately 90 fabricated investor identities, and the Rublevka Team wallet-draining operation documented in early 2026.

Beyond examining how scams operate, the report explores victim psychology, common scam entry points, post-theft asset movement, and recovery challenges. It also outlines practical measures users can take to strengthen account security, recognize AI-enabled deception, evaluate investment opportunities more effectively, and respond to security incidents.

Since launching Anti-Scam Month in 2024, Bitget has worked with security researchers, ecosystem partners, and industry organizations to improve awareness around emerging threats and promote stronger user protection practices. Throughout June, Bitget's Anti-Scam Month campaign will feature educational content, security awareness initiatives, and collaborations with industry partners aimed at helping users identify emerging threats and strengthen their ability to protect digital assets.

For more information, please read the report here.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8f5db1d-cc85-4a6f-b010-d5c81296509c 

SOURCE: Bitget Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

Veson Nautical Launches Unified AI Platform For Maritime Operations, Data Insights

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- Veson Nautical has unveiled the Veson Platform, a unified, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered experience that brings together IMOS, CoCaptain, Mail, and newly released Vessel Insights and Bunker Insights under a single interface.

With the Veson Platform, maritime teams can now access advanced workflows, collaboration capabilities, and trusted data, all on the same foundation as the system of record, according to Veson Nautical in a statement.

“Technology should give people back their judgment, not replace it. When a system understands the context of your business, it can anticipate what you need and surface it in the moment, and because we are building it as an open, adaptable foundation, it fits the way the industry actually works,” said Veson Nautical Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, John Veson.

For more than 20 years, Veson has served as the operational backbone of commercial maritime trade with IMOS, industry’s most comprehensive operating system for maritime contracts and freight management, encapsulating deep institutional knowledge that understands the nuance of maritime workflows.

Starting today, clients can log into the new Veson Platform to access existing IMOS functionality, enhanced with newly released features for voyage management and operations, deeply embedded AI, and data insights.

The company also expanded CoCaptain as an interactive AI layer across the platform, providing conversational access to voyage data, historical port calls and counterparty insights directly within workflows.

Veson Insights combines data from sources such as VesselsValue, Q88 and Shipfix, delivering continuously refreshed intelligence within the platform, while Bunker Insights provides daily price predictions powered by machine learning across more than 1,300 ports worldwide.

The Veson Platform is available at no additional cost for current IMOS clients upon request, while additional Veson Mail tiers, enhanced Vessel Insights and Bunker Insights are available for purchase.

-- BERNAMA

NIPPON KINZOKU LAUNCHES DECORATIVE STAINLESS STEEL FINISHES FOR EXTERIOR USE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- Nippon Kinzoku Co Ltd, a manufacturer of cold-rolled stainless steel, has introduced its new "Decorative Stainless Steel Finishes for Exterior Use".

The premium cold-rolled stainless steel strips, widely used in automotive mouldings and telecommunications enclosures, are designed to help manufacturers eliminate post-processing steps while significantly reducing their environmental footprint.

According to Nippon Kinzoku in a statement, the new product line offers a wide range of aesthetic options for automotive exterior trims and housings for smartphones and personal computers.

The company said its core strength lies in its "coil-to-coil" continuous processing technology, refined through decades of cold-rolling expertise, enabling it to deliver unique designs, consistent quality and high productivity.

The decorative finish is integrated directly into the material, eliminating the need for secondary polishing, painting and surface treatments, resulting in higher production yields and lower overall production costs.

In addition, the product line also helps reduce environmental impact by minimising carbon dioxide emissions through streamlined manufacturing processes. As an "Eco-Product", it supports the global transition towards carbon neutrality by 2050.

The company said standard 2D (annealed and pickled) and 2B (skin-passed) finishes are also available while offering customised combinations of different finishes to create bespoke textures.

-- BERNAMA

ATON LAUNCHES AI-POWERED FAMILY SAFETY PLATFORM AMID BULLYING CONCERNS

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- ATON Inc has launched FamGuard, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered family safety platform designed to help parents monitor children's digital activities and identify potential signs of online risks, as concerns over school bullying and cyberbullying continue to grow in Singapore.

The launch comes amid heightened public attention to child safety following the widely reported Sengkang Green Primary School bullying case, which sparked broader discussions on student protection and the early identification of behavioural warning signs.

ATON said FamGuard combines real-time location tracking with AI-powered Conversation Insights and Friend Scoring to help parents better understand changes in their children's communication patterns and social interactions, enabling earlier conversations when unusual behaviour is detected.

“Technology cannot replace parents, but it can help families stay connected earlier and start conversations sooner,” an ATON representative said in a statement.

The platform also offers parental control features, including Screen Time Management, App Usage Monitoring and App Controls, to help families encourage healthier digital habits and oversee smartphone usage.

The company said growing use of messaging applications, social media and online group interactions has broadened expectations for family safety services beyond location tracking to include greater visibility into children's digital environments and behavioural patterns.

The launch follows research indicating that one in four upper primary school students in Singapore has experienced bullying, while many parents remain concerned about children's exposure to cyberbullying and other online risks.

ATON said FamGuard was developed to support families seeking additional tools to strengthen digital safety while complementing parental engagement and communication.

-- BERNAMA

Abaxx Exchange Trading Volume Jumps 582 Pct In Second Year

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- Abaxx Technologies Inc (Abaxx) announced that Abaxx Exchange has surpassed one million futures contracts traded year-to-date as it marked the second anniversary of the Singapore-based commodity exchange.

In a statement, the company said trading volume reached nearly 1.1 million contracts as of June 25, 2026, representing an increase of about 582 per cent from the 160,854 contracts traded in the full year 2025.

According to Abaxx, average daily trading volume rose to 17,665 contracts in June 2026 from 638 contracts per day in 2025, while daily open interest increased to 1,411 from 235 over the same period.

The company said the exchange has launched 18 futures contracts across seven markets since trading began in June 2024, covering liquefied natural gas (LNG), battery materials, precious metals, weather-linked products and environmental markets.

Abaxx said the exchange also recorded several milestones, including its first carbon, nickel sulphate, lithium carbonate and Germany Onshore Wind futures block trades, as well as its first deliveries under carbon and gold futures contracts.

The company added that Abaxx Exchange has continued expanding its ecosystem, with seven clearing firms, 22 brokers and 11 independent software vendors currently connected to the platform.

Abaxx said the exchange also secured regulatory recognition in key markets, including registration as a Foreign Board of Trade by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission in November 2025 and registration as an Organised Market Place with the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators in April 2026.

-- BERNAMA

Spain Tops Summer 2026 Business Travel Destinations: Holafly Study

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- Spain is the leading destination for business travellers this summer, followed by Japan and the United States, according to Holafly's Summer Travel & eSIM Report 2026.

The company said Spain continues to attract both business and leisure travellers at scale, while Japan's ranking reflects its growing importance in the Asia-Pacific business landscape.

The United States ranked third, followed by France, with Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Greece completing the top 10 destinations.

Holafly for Business Vice President, Alex Bryzowski said business travel is increasingly influenced by destinations that combine economic relevance with accessibility, infrastructure and international appeal.

“Business travel today is about much more than attending meetings,” he said in a statement.

According to the report, the UAE remains one of the few destinations whose appeal is driven primarily by business activity, supported by its position as a regional hub for finance, technology, trade and international events.

The report said the findings reflect a shift in business travel patterns as professionals increasingly seek destinations that support both work and lifestyle amid more flexible working arrangements.

Holafly is a global eSIM provider offering digital connectivity solutions for leisure and business travellers in destinations worldwide.

-- BERNAMA

Autheo Introduces the Internet Operating System: A Decentralized Coordination Layer for the Web, Blockchain, and AI

Five years in the making, Autheo is launching its decentralized operating system on Mainnet — after public testnet adoption surpassed 1.8 million wallets, nearly 1 million smart contracts, and 8.8 million transactions

SHERIDAN, Wyo., June 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autheo today launched the Mainnet of its decentralized operating system — a coordination layer enabling the Web, Web3, AI agents, and crypto applications to interoperate natively, with post-quantum security for digital identity, tokens, smart contracts, and agentic AI.

THE COORDINATION LAYER THE INTERNET NEVER HAD

Today’s blockchain landscape is fragmented — Web2, Web3, AI agents, and crypto applications cannot interoperate natively, and cross-chain bridges operate at the bridging layer. Autheo provides a coordination and execution layer where Web services, blockchain networks, and AI agents coordinate natively on a common identity, messaging, and execution surface, anchored by an on-chain, quantum-resistant trust and identity layer for agentic AI.

“We didn’t set out to build just another network,” said Scott Bayless, Managing Director and co-founder of Autheo. “We set out to find the right relation between the ones we already have. A body has many parts. A city is many trades. The Internet today is many systems — each doing its work, none of them moving as one. With Mainnet now live, Autheo is the layer where the web, the chain, and the agent can finally work together.”

FOUNDED BY LONG-TIME COLLABORATORS

Founded in July 2021 by Todd Mortenson and Scott Bayless, Autheo was built around four architectural foundations: TheoID (W3C-compliant DID for users, services, and AI agents); PQCNet (post-quantum framework on NIST standards: ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA); a sovereign Cosmos SDK Layer 0 with native IBC interoperability; and an integrated EVM-compatible Layer 1 execution environment, operating as a Proof-of-Stake with delegated staking and licensed validators, secured by block finality through CometBFT consensus (“Proof of Autheo”). Engineering is led by CEngO Kenneth Harper, with contributors across MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Caltech. Audits: Halborn (testnet) and CertiK (Mainnet). Partners include Zeeve, InfStones, Hydrex, Halborn, CertiK, TrustSwap, Team.Finance, and Utila.

TESTNET ADOPTION HAS COMPOUNDED

Autheo’s public testnet went live in 2025 and attracted 350,000 wallets and 60,000 smart contracts over its first twelve months. Following the May 12, 2026 Mainnet Phase 1 announcement, adoption accelerated: wallet addresses grew more than 5x and smart contracts more than 15x in the 45 days since. Cumulative totals:
1,812,088 wallet addresses
968,502 smart contracts

(Figures per Autheo network data, June 24, 2026. Independently verifiable on the public testnet explorer: testnet-explorer.autheo.com · verified contracts.)


“Mainnet is live,” said Todd Mortenson, Managing Director and co-founder of Autheo. “The industry will be racing to retrofit post-quantum security ahead of NIST’s timeline — our developers won’t have to. We built PQC in from the ground up. One interface for Web services, on-chain protocols, and AI agents. One million human developers on-chain within three years. And the AI agents building alongside them? Orders of magnitude more. The coordination layer for that future is live today.”


WHAT’S NEXT

Developer access (Mainnet, live today):Docs: docs.autheo.com
Mainnet block explorer: evm-explorer.autheo.com
Chain ID: 2127 (0x84f)
Public RPC endpoints: rpc1.autheo.com · rpc2.autheo.com · rpc3.autheo.com
Testnet explorer (with verified-contract source): testnet-explorer.autheo.com

The THEO token is anticipated to list on Hydrex.fi in early July 2026. Core Node, Prime Node, and Sovereign Validator (399 NFT-licensed; 275 subscribed) programs at commerce.autheo.com.

The complete press release with extended technical detail is available at autheo.com/press.

ABOUT AUTHEO

Autheo is building the Internet operating system: a decentralized coordination layer for Web, blockchain, and AI agents, anchored by PQCNet (NIST post-quantum cryptography) and W3C DIDs. Addresses the convergence of AI, blockchain, and crypto — supporting agentic AI, tokenomics, enterprise blockchain, and on-chain digital sovereignty against quantum computing. autheo.com · @Autheo_Network.

MEDIA CONTACT

Ryan Teigen, Director of Product Marketing
Email: ryan@autheo.com · press@autheo.com · Phone: 608-713-1028
autheo.com · X: @Autheo_Network

Forward-looking statements: Certain statements in this release, including statements regarding anticipated network growth, partnerships, and roadmap, are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ. Autheo undertakes no obligation to update such statements except as required by law.

A video accompanying this release is available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99a95dde-f8e8-42d6-8e59-72d34724b7f9

SOURCE: Autheo LLC

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

HI3D INTRODUCES AI-POWERED END-TO-END 3D PRINTING WORKFLOW

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- Hi3D, an all-in-one artificial intelligence (AI) 3D maker platform, has introduced an end-to-end AI manufacturing workflow for 3D printing that automates tasks previously handled by professional modellers and experienced makers.

Using a Blokees-style mecha as an example, users enter a character concept and visual description, and Hi3D's Nano-Banana 2 image engine generates concept artwork optimised for 3D reconstruction, supporting consistent multi-view generation.

According to Hi3D in a statement, once the artwork is approved, its Sparc3D high-precision generation engine reconstructs a complete 3D model in approximately two minutes.

Hi3D generates watertight meshes optimised for physical manufacturing, unlike AI 3D tools that focus mainly on visualisation. Structural integrity, topology continuity, and printability are handled automatically, reducing cleanup work that previously took hours to minutes.

For large mecha models, print preparation is often more complex than creation, as models must typically be split into components to fit desktop printer build volumes, a process that traditionally requires manual work in software such as Blender or CAD.

However, Hi3D’s intelligent segmentation system automatically analyses models, separates them into printable components, and generates matching connector structures, including mortise-and-tenon joints and ball-joint assemblies.

Combined with Hi3D’s Press-Fit Tolerance system, which calculates assembly clearances based on printer specifications, nozzle size and material characteristics, printed parts can be assembled directly without extensive trial-and-error adjustments.

After model preparation, Hi3D enters the print setup stage. Its smart build plate optimisation system adjusts orientation and support strategies, prioritising surface quality for character figures while reducing support material and print time for mechanical components.

The final output is an enhanced 3MF file compatible with major slicing ecosystems. Using this workflow, the time required to transform an original Blokees-style mecha from a text prompt into a printable file can be reduced to around five minutes.

-- BERNAMA

Defiance Launches DRAL: 2X Long DRAM ETF

MIAMI, June 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance ETFs, a leader in thematic and leveraged exchange-traded funds, today announced the launch of the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long DRAM ETF (Cboe: DRAL). Now trading, DRAL gives active traders amplified, single-ticker exposure to the semiconductor memory theme that sits at the center of the artificial intelligence buildout.

DRAL is an actively managed ETF that seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 200% (2X) of the daily percentage change in the share price of DRAM, the underlying ETF, for a single trading day. It pursues that exposure primarily through swap agreements and listed options contracts, rebalancing daily.

The Fund is designed to deliver 200% (2X) of the daily price performance of DRAM, before fees and expenses. With DRAL now available for trading, active traders can take amplified, single-ticker positions on the semiconductor memory theme that sits at the center of the artificial intelligence buildout. Defiance specializes in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs and continues to expand the tools it offers active traders for tactical, high-conviction positioning.

For full fund details, the prospectus, holdings, and performance current to the most recent month-end, visit defianceetfs.com/dral or call 833.333.9383.

Investing in the Fund is not equivalent to investing directly in DRAM. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged (2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. The Fund pursues daily leveraged investment objectives, which means it is riskier than alternatives that do not use leverage. The Fund magnifies the performance of DRAM (the “Underlying ETF”) and is designed strictly for short-term use. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund’s performance will be the result of compounded daily returns, which is very likely to differ from 200% of the return of the Underlying ETF over the same period. It is possible that investors could lose their entire principal within a single trading day.

About Defiance ETFs

Founded in 2018, Defiance is a leading ETF issuer specializing in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs. Our leveraged single-stock ETFs empower investors to take amplified positions in high-growth companies, providing precise leverage exposure without the need to open a margin account.

Media Contact: Brenda Hentschel | bhentschel@gregoryagency.com | 201.705.3758

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

Defiance ETFs LLC is the ETF sponsor. The Fund’s investment adviser is Tidal Investments, LLC (“Tidal” or the “Adviser”).

The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information, go to defianceetfs.com. Hard copies can be requested by calling 833.333.9383.

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the Fund may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. There is no guarantee the Fund’s strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment.

DRAM Price Decline Risk. As part of the Fund’s leveraged investment strategy, the Fund enters into swap agreements and options contracts based on the share price of DRAM (the “Underlying ETF”). This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Underlying ETF, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect 2X exposure to changes in the share price of the Underlying ETF, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Underlying ETF’s share price declines. If the share price of the Underlying ETF decreases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks:

Indirect Investment in the Underlying ETF Risk. The Roundhill Memory ETF, its investment adviser, Roundhill Financial Inc., and its sponsor are not affiliated with the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser, or their respective affiliates, and are not involved with this offering in any way. The Roundhill Memory ETF has no obligation to consider the Fund or its shareholders in taking any actions that might affect the value of Fund shares. Investors in the Fund will not have voting rights or other ownership privileges associated with holding shares of the Roundhill Memory ETF. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Roundhill Memory ETF or Roundhill Financial Inc.

Underlying ETF Risk. Because the Fund seeks exposure to the Roundhill Memory ETF, it is indirectly subject to all of the risks of investing in that ETF, including the risk that the Underlying ETF fails to meet its own investment objective or does not track its underlying index. The Fund also indirectly bears its proportionate share of the Underlying ETF’s fees and expenses, which are in addition to the Fund’s own fees and expenses. The Underlying ETF may itself use derivatives and may hold a concentrated portfolio, which can increase volatility.

Memory Industry Risk. The Underlying ETF concentrates in companies engaged in the semiconductor memory industry, including high bandwidth memory (HBM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and NAND flash and solid-state storage technologies. The memory market is highly cyclical and subject to rapid pricing swings, oversupply and undersupply cycles, high capital intensity, technological obsolescence, and shifts in end-market demand. A downturn in memory pricing or demand could materially and adversely affect the Underlying ETF and, in turn, the Fund’s performance.

Semiconductor Industry Risk. Semiconductor companies are significantly affected by intense competition, rapid product obsolescence, high research, development, and capital expenditure requirements, cyclical demand, and global supply chain disruptions. Export controls, tariffs, and other regulatory developments may also restrict their business activities. These factors may cause the securities held by the Underlying ETF to be volatile and may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

Technology Sector Risk. Companies in the technology sector may be subject to greater market volatility, shorter product cycles, intense competition, and heavy dependence on intellectual property rights. A rising interest rate environment may further pressure technology valuations. These factors may adversely affect the Underlying ETF and the Fund.

Artificial Intelligence Demand Risk. Demand for memory products is increasingly tied to spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. A slowdown in AI-related capital expenditures, a change in prevailing technology architectures, or a reassessment of AI growth expectations could reduce demand for memory products and adversely affect the Underlying ETF and the Fund’s performance.

Concentration Risk. The Fund’s exposure is concentrated in the Underlying ETF and, indirectly, in the memory and semiconductor industries. The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse developments affecting those industries than a fund that invests across a broader range of issuers and sectors.

Compounding and Market Volatility Risk. The Fund’s performance for periods greater than a trading day will be the result of each day’s returns compounded over the period, which is likely to differ from 200% of the Underlying ETF’s performance. During periods of higher volatility, compounding effects may cause the Fund to lose value even if the Underlying ETF’s share price increases over the longer term.

Daily Correlation/Tracking Risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of leveraged correlation to the Underlying ETF. Market disruptions, volatility, or limitations in the availability of derivatives may cause the Fund’s performance to deviate from its daily leveraged investment objective.

Leverage Risk. The Fund seeks 2X long exposure through financial instruments, which exposes the Fund to the risk that losses may be magnified. Leverage increases the Fund’s volatility, and a relatively small movement in the Underlying ETF’s share price may result in significant losses for the Fund.

Derivatives Risk. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks greater than those associated with directly investing in securities. These risks include increased volatility, imperfect correlation with the Underlying ETF, liquidity constraints, valuation challenges, and the potential for losses exceeding the amount initially invested.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk due to its use of derivatives. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may experience delays or losses, which could negatively affect its performance.

Options Contracts Risk. The Fund’s use of options subjects it to additional risks, including volatility, time decay, and the possibility that options positions expire worthless, which could result in significant losses to the Fund.

Swap Agreements. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Rebalancing Risk. If the Fund is unable to rebalance its portfolio correctly or in a timely manner, its exposure may not be consistent with its investment objective. This may increase the Fund’s risk exposure and cause its performance to diverge from its intended daily leveraged results.

Intra-Day Investment Risk. The Fund seeks investment results from the close of one trading day to the close of the next. An investor who buys Shares intra-day may receive more or less exposure to the Underlying ETF than the Fund’s stated 2X objective, depending on movements in the Underlying ETF’s share price since the prior close, and may experience returns that differ from that objective.

Liquidity Risk. Some securities or financial instruments held by the Fund may be difficult to sell, particularly during periods of market stress or volatility. Reduced liquidity may make it difficult for the Fund to adjust its exposure or meet its investment objective.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. Daily rebalancing is expected to result in high portfolio turnover. High portfolio turnover may increase transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund’s returns and potentially result in higher taxable distributions for shareholders.

Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a single investment, such as the Underlying ETF. As a result, the Fund may be more sensitive to adverse events affecting the Underlying ETF than a diversified fund.

Fixed Income Securities Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates.

New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with a limited operating history. As a result, there is limited performance history upon which investors can evaluate the Fund.

Market and Economic Risk. Broader economic conditions, interest rates, inflation, geopolitical events, and general market volatility may negatively affect the Underlying ETF and the Fund.

Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bde0d3da-a3cf-49e7-800d-b3a174f51ecb 

SOURCE: Defiance ETFs

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA