Refinancing includes completion of $500 million equity rights offering, $550 million Nordic bond issuance and new long-term Letter of Credit facility

HOUSTON, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- McDermott International, Ltd ("McDermott" or the "Company") today announced the successful completion of its comprehensive refinancing transaction, including a backstopped $500 million equity financing, a $550 million senior secured Nordic bond issuance and a new long-term letter of credit and guarantee facility.

The refinancing builds upon the Company's strong operational and financial performance, including consistent project execution and disciplined bidding. This platform for long-term growth positions McDermott to execute its high-quality global backlog, pursue disciplined growth opportunities and advance its long-term strategy.

"This refinancing reflects the continued support and confidence our shareholders, lenders and bond investors have shown in our strategy, performance and future," said Michael McKelvy, McDermott Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors. "We believe the successful completion of this transaction positions McDermott with the financial foundation to continue building on the momentum we've established through strong project delivery and a relentless focus on serving our customers."

The completed refinancing consists of:

- $500 million equity financing through a rights offering to existing shareholders, which was 97% subscribed by Class A ordinary shareholders and completed by the related backstop commitments,

- A $550 million senior secured bond issuance in the Nordic market due in 2031,

- A new long-term letter of credit and guarantee facility, and

- A revolving credit facility.

Collectively, these transactions are designed to extend McDermott's maturity profile, further deleverage the balance sheet and provide long-term financing certainty.

About McDermott

McDermott is a premier, fully-integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Our customers trust our technology-driven approach engineered to responsibly harness and transform global energy resources into the products the world needs. From concept to commissioning, McDermott's innovative expertise and capabilities advance the next generation of global energy infrastructure—empowering a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. Operating in over 30 countries, McDermott's locally-focused and globally-integrated resources include more than 30,000 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

McDermott cautions that statements in this communication which are forward-looking, and provide other than historical information, involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about the expected benefits achieved through the completion of the refinancing. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit or capital markets; our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog; changes in project design or schedules; the availability of qualified personnel; changes in the terms, scope or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties; changes in industry norms; actions by lenders, other creditors, customers and other business counterparties of McDermott and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. This communication reflects the views of McDermott's management as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Contacts:

Global Media Relations

Reba Reid

+1 281 588 5636

[email protected]

SOURCE McDermott International, Ltd

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A New Episode of Advancements to Broadcast on Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET

Discover how new technologies, tools, and approaches are addressing some of the greatest challenges facing society today.

JUPITER, Fla., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An upcoming episode of Advancements with Ted Danson is scheduled to broadcast on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 8:00 pm ET. Tune in to Bloomberg Television to watch.

Across four featured segments, the program examines how organizations are responding to growing demands for infrastructure, sustainability, continuous healthcare, and more adaptable industrial systems. The episode opens with a look at the evolution of construction and megaproject delivery. As demand grows for semiconductor fabrication facilities, clean energy projects, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and other infrastructure, the construction industry faces pressure to deliver projects faster and at greater scale. Watch to discover how artificial intelligence, automation, project data, and other technologies are being applied to the construction industry and are empowering a new generation of skilled craft professionals, engineers, and project managers.

The program then turns to the challenge of making food packaging more recyclable. Packaging represents roughly one-third of municipal solid waste in the United States, while food packaging presents its own challenges, because of contamination, complex materials, and recycling systems that are not always equipped to process them. The segment examines how packaging design can influence recyclability. Industry experts explore approaches involving recyclable P.E.T. packaging, pad-less tray designs, and clearer consumer disposal information designed to support better recycling outcomes and a more circular materials economy.

Healthcare is the focus of the third segment, which examines the movement from episodic care toward more continuous care. While American healthcare provides highly advanced acute and specialty services, care is frequently organized around individual encounters, such as hospitalizations, physician visits, tests, and follow-ups. Learn about the clinical "white space" between those encounters and how remote monitoring, clinical intelligence, communication, and human decision-making can work together to provide greater visibility into a patient's health journey. The segment will share how continuous specialty care can extend beyond traditional healthcare settings and into the home and will include patient stories illustrating the potential impact of earlier intervention and ongoing support.

The episode concludes with an examination of modernizing industrial control systems. Learn why the demands of AI, advanced analytics, and cybersecurity are changing what manufacturers need from their automation systems. The show will educate about the limitations of traditional closed control architectures, including vendor lock-in and interoperability challenges, as it introduces Open Process Automation (OPA) as an approach based upon open, standards-based architectures. Viewers will see how the technology can allow hardware and software from different suppliers to work together, giving manufacturers greater flexibility to upgrade and adapt their systems over time.

This episode examines how industries are adapting established systems to meet rapidly changing demands. From construction sites and food packaging facilities to patients' homes and industrial plants, emerging technologies are being used alongside new operating models and human expertise to improve how complex systems function," said Dustin Schwarz, programming director for the Advancements series.

Featured segments in this episode include Bechtel, Lucid Corp, Streamcare Group, and Collaborative Systems Integration (CSI).

About Advancements:

Advancements is an information-based educational television series that explores recent developments taking place across several industries and economies. With a focus on some of the major innovations responsible for global progress today, the award-winning series goes behind-the-scenes to discover and share how technology and innovation continue to drive the world forward.

For more information, please visit

www.AdvancementsTV.com

or call 866-496-4065.

SOURCE Advancements

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OMNICOM MEDIA WAS AWARDED $3.3 BILLION IN NEW BILLINGS IN H1 2026, MORE THAN ANY OTHER GLOBAL MEDIA GROUP

PHD ranked #1 globally, joined by Hearts United and OMD in top five for total new business, while PHD, Hearts United and Initiative sweep the top three for net new business in H1 2026

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As reported in TheGlobal Media Agency New Business Barometer H1 2026, published today by independent research company COMvergence, Omnicom Media, an Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Connected Capability, was awarded $3.3 billion in new billings in the first half of the year, the best performance among the five global media management groups.

Looking at Total New Business performance (defined by COMvergence as wins minus losses, including retentions) this translated to $3.15 billion, putting Omnicom Media in a photo finish for the top slot on global media group ranking.

Omnicom Media's H1 results come as marketers continue to rigorously evaluate agency partners for their ability to bring together data, analytics, AI, technology, and transformation to drive measurable business growth.

"There's a lot of noise in the industry about what marketers are looking for from their agencies - our view is that clients are far more rigorous than that conversation sometimes suggests. They are actively stress-testing capabilities - across data and analytics, AI, technology, and transformation - and looking hard at who can actually bring them together to drive growth," said Omnicom Media CEO Florian Adamski. "Our leading new-business volume in the first half of 2026 is powerful validation of what we've built at Omnicom Media. By combining intelligence at scale, trusted identity solutions, and unmatched commercial signal strength, we've created a connected growth ecosystem that few can replicate. It gives our agencies a distinct ability to understand consumers, identify growth opportunities and turn intelligence into action at scale. When sophisticated marketers put the market's competing propositions to the test, the results speak for themselves."

An OM sweep across the agency rankings

The group-level performance was powered by broad-based momentum across Omnicom Media's agency portfolio, as three of its agencies – PHD, Hearts United and OMD – claimed three of the top five spots on the global total new business ranking, including the #1 spot for PHD.

Omnicom Media's performance was even stronger when measured by net new business, with PHD, Hearts United and Initiative taking the top three positions globally.

PHD's #1 global ranking for both total and net new business was fueled by a streak of wins that included Adidas, Roku, SkyShowtime and Xiaomi.

Hearts United, Omnicom Media's newest agency, ranked among the global top five for total new business and #2 for net new business, driven by wins including Royal Caribbean International and Major League Soccer. The agency also retained 69% of its H1 business, significantly above the 28% overall industry retention rate tracked by COMvergence.

Initiative ranked #3 globally for net new business, with IBM among its major wins.

For PHD, the results provide a tangible demonstration of its Outthink, Outpace, Outgrow philosophy.

"Outthink, Outpace, Outgrow is not a positioning line for PHD. It is how we approach growth," said Christian Flouch, Global Brand President, PHD. "We outthink by seeing the opportunity differently, challenging assumptions and turning intelligence into momentum. We outpace by connecting the right capabilities, removing friction, and moving with clarity and confidence. And we outgrow by connecting the work to measurable outcomes, demonstrating value, and identifying what comes next. The H1 results show what happens when that mindset is applied consistently to the challenges clients are facing."

A robust roster of wins and retentions

Omnicom Media's first-half performance was driven by a combination of major global wins and broad-based regional momentum across its agency portfolio.

Global wins included Adidas, Bloomberg, IBM, Mark Anthony Brands, On and Royal Caribbean International.

Regional wins included Major League Soccer, NinjaTrader, PushCare, Raymour & Flanigan, Roku and Subway in the U.S.; SkyShowtime in Europe; Xiaomi and Xiaopeng Motors in China; Masdar, Riyadh Expo and Wynn Resorts in the GCC; Aviva/Direct Line Group and Spire Healthcare in the UK; The Quality Group in Germany; Nordea Bank in the Nordics; Association of Mutual Funds of India and Netflix in India; Geely Auto and Grupo Lala in Mexico; and Stan Entertainment in Australia.

The group also retained a significant portfolio of major global and regional relationships, including Uber, Delta Air Lines, Dyson, Epic Games, Cox Automotive, Canada Goose, Travel Alberta, Xiaomi Auto, Yili Digital, Alibaba, Etsy, Take-Two Interactive and Fujifilm.

The COMvergence results reflect the momentum Omnicom Media has built following Omnicom's acquisition of IPG, as the group continues to connect media expertise with capabilities across identity, data, AI, commerce, and technology.

"Growth is ultimately the measure that matters," Adamski added. "The breadth of these results, across new relationships, competitive wins and retained clients, shows that marketers are choosing partners based on what they can do for their businesses. That is the opportunity Omnicom Media was built to deliver."

CONTACT: [email protected]

ABOUT OMNICOM MEDIA

Omnicom Media, an Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Connected Capability, is the world's largest global media management network. Powered by the Omni Intelligence Platform, Omnicom Media agencies leverage $75.6 billion in billings, 40,000+ specialists across 70+ markets, and the industry's most powerful portfolio identity, commerce, and intelligence assets to design dynamic Growth Ecosystems that enable the world's most ambitious businesses to grow faster and smarter. The Omnicom Media portfolio includes global media agency brands OMD, Initiative, PHD, UM, Hearts & Science, and Mediahub; core Omnicom Integrated Media offerings Acxiom, the world's premier identity solution, and the Flywheel end-to-end commerce solution; and specialty services across the cloud consulting, creator, financial, healthcare, and sports & entertainment categories.  For more information visit omnicommedia.com

SOURCE Omnicom Media Group

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to MarketsandMarkets™, the global Rubber Process Oil Market is projected to grow from USD 3.30 billion in 2026 to USD 3.94 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period.

Browse 251 market data Tables and 77 Figures spread through 289 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Rubber Process Oil Market - Global Forecast to 2031"

Rubber Process Oil Market Size & Forecast:

- Market Size Available for Years: 2021-2031

- 2026 Market Size: USD 3.30 billion

- 2031 Projected Market Size: USD 3.94 billion

- CAGR (2026-2031): 3.6%

Rubber Process Oil Market Trends & Insights:

- The rubber process oil market continues to evolve as rubber manufacturers focus on improving compound consistency and processing efficiency across diverse applications. RPOs such as TDAE, DAE, MES, RAE/ TRAE, paraffinic, and naphthenic oils remain central to rubber formulation, helping reduce viscosity, enhance filler dispersion, and fine-tune mechanical properties in both natural and synthetic rubber. Market growth is shaped by the varied viscosity needs of the industry, with low-, medium- and high-viscosity grades enabling optimized processing for everything from soft elastomeric goods to robust industrial components. These oils support a wide range of applications, including tires, oil-extended polymers, industrial rubber goods, thermoplastic elastomers, and several other downstream segments that rely on precise compound behavior. As rubber manufacturers shift toward advanced, high-performance formulations and tighter quality specifications, RPO suppliers are increasingly tailoring product lines to meet application-specific processing demands. The market is being pushed forward by the rising production of synthetic rubber, ongoing expansion of tire manufacturing capacity, and the growing need for specialty, low-PAH oils that comply with stricter global environmental standards.

- The Asia Pacific region is expected to register the highest CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period.

- By type, the TDAE segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period.

- By application, the tires segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period.

- By viscosity, the medium viscosity segment is expected to dominate the overall market.

- Sinopec, Exxon Mobil Corporation, PetroChina Company Limited, and Chevron Corporation were identified as some of the leading players in the rubber process oil market, given their strong market share and product footprint.

- LODHA Petro, RLS Petrochem Lubricants LLC, and Panol Industries RMC FZE, among others, have become leading startups or SMEs because they identify niche gaps early and deliver solutions that precisely match unmet customer needs. Their agility, faster decision-making, and ability to innovate continuously allow them to outperform larger, less flexible competitors.

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Rubber process oils have become integral to modern rubber manufacturing as producers seek greater consistency, improved mechanical strength, and better adaptability in their rubber compounds. These oils optimize processing conditions by reducing energy consumption during mixing, enabling smoother extrusion, and delivering uniform filler dispersion across a wide range of applications from tires and industrial rubber sheets to hoses, belts, and molded components. As downstream industries expand their product portfolios toward more durable, heat-resistant, and application-specific rubber grades, the demand for RPOs that can support these advanced formulations continues to accelerate. This shift is encouraging manufacturers to diversify their offerings across TDAE, MES, RAE/ TRAE, paraffinic, and naphthenic grades to meet precise processing and performance expectations.

By type, the naphthenic segment is expected to account for the largest market share, in terms of value, during the forecast period.

The naphthenic segment is projected to account for the largest share in the overall rubber process oil industry as it offers an ideal combination of compatibility, stability, and versatility across a wide range of rubber applications. Its favorable solvency, low-temperature flexibility, and balanced viscosity make it suitable for tire compounds, industrial rubber goods, molded components, and thermoplastic elastomers, allowing manufacturers to use a single oil type across multiple product lines. Naphthenic oils also disperse fillers more effectively, improve processing behavior, and help achieve consistent compound softness, which are essential for high-volume rubber production. Their relatively low aromatic content and regulatory friendliness further support adoption, especially among producers seeking safer alternatives to traditional heavy aromatic oils. Additionally, widespread availability and cost efficiency make naphthenic oils a practical choice for both large manufacturers and smaller processors. These combined advantages performance versatility, formulation compatibility, regulatory alignment, and broad accessibility position the naphthenic segment as the largest in the rubber process oil market.

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By application, the tires segment is estimated to account for the largest market share, in terms of value, during the forecast period.

The tires application is projected to be the largest consumer of rubber process oil. Tires require substantial volumes of process oils to achieve the right balance of flexibility, durability, and performance. Rubber process oils help optimize compound softness, improve filler dispersion, and enhance processing efficiency, making them essential for producing passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and specialty tires. The ongoing demand for replacement tires and the growing need for high-performance, fuel-efficient, longer-lasting tire designs further strengthen reliance on high-quality process oils. As tire formulations evolve toward improved rolling resistance, heat management, and tread durability, manufacturers increasingly rely on process oils that deliver consistent performance while supporting regulatory and safety expectations. High consumption levels per unit, recurring production cycles, and ongoing innovation in tire technologies collectively position the tires segment as the largest and most stable demand center for rubber processing oils.

Asia Pacific is projected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period in terms of value.

Asia Pacific is the largest rubber process oil market due to its extensive manufacturing base for tires, industrial rubber products, and consumer rubber goods. The region has significant production capacity for both original equipment and replacement tires, driving consistent demand for high-quality process oils that improve compound flexibility, processing efficiency, and durability. Rapid industrialization, growing mobility needs, and rising consumption of consumer rubber products further support large-scale adoption of RPO across multiple applications. A well-developed petrochemical and refining infrastructure ensure steady availability of key feedstocks, enabling cost-effective production of both conventional and specialty oils. Additionally, manufacturers in the region are increasingly adopting environmentally aligned and performance-optimized oils such as TDAE and low-PAH formulations, reinforcing overall RPO consumption. Together, high industrial activity, large-scale tire and rubber manufacturing, and supportive infrastructure position Asia Pacific as the largest regional market for rubber process oils.

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Key Players

Some of the leading rubber process oil companies in this market include Sinopec (China), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), PetroChina Company Limited (China), Chevron Corporation (US), Shell plc (UK) and others.

Investment Funding

The global rubber process oil market experienced a dynamic funding trajectory between 2019 and 2025, recording 19 transactions over the seven-year period. Investment activity began on a modest scale from 2019 through 2021, ranging between 1 and 2 deals annually. The market saw a noticeable surge in deal activity in 2022, securing 5 fundings that collectively raised USD 1,399.3 million. Following this peak, investment momentum stabilized in 2023 and 2024, with 3 and 4 transactions generating USD 283.4 million and USD 850.4 million, respectively. The period culminated in 2025 with an unprecedented capital spike; despite a steady deal count of 3 transactions, total investment reached a monumental peak of USD 9,540.0 million.

Revenue Shift

The global rubber process oil market is projected to grow from USD 3.30 billion in 2026 to USD 3.94 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period. The rubber process oil market is expected to grow steadily, supported by increasing demand for tires and a broad range of rubber-based products. Rising vehicle production, expanding vehicle fleets, and recurring replacement tire demand are strengthening consumption of rubber compounds and, consequently, processing oils. At the same time, growing requirements for high-performance rubber products and evolving environmental standards are encouraging the development and adoption of specialized process oils. Increasing use of recycled and sustainable materials is also creating new opportunities for product innovation and market expansion.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions help companies strengthen their market position by expanding their product portfolios, customer base, geographic presence, and operational capabilities.

YeahPay Extends Online Merchant Acquiring to Seven Markets, Expanding Across Payment Scenarios

Businesses incorporated in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States can now be onboarded and acquired directly by YeahPay, on infrastructure built on Stripe

HONG KONG, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yeahka Limited (9923.HK) today announced that YeahPay, its international payment business, is working with Stripe to expand merchant services to seven markets. Businesses incorporated in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States can now be onboarded by YeahPay for online acquiring in their own market, supporting merchants and platforms operating across markets with integrated online and in-store payment capabilities.

The expansion further strengthens YeahPay's online payment infrastructure across key global markets.

Alongside expanding its international market coverage and payment capabilities, YeahPay is also preparing for the next evolution of commerce. The company is prioritizing capabilities around agentic payments, exploring applications across online retail, dining, and gaming, and has begun proof-of-concept collaborations with international financial institutions.

"The number of ways to pay is growing faster than any business can integrate them, and the gap only widens from here. New rails, new currencies, and buyers who are not always human," said David Tay, Global Vice President, YeahPay. "Our clients should not have to predict any of it. YeahPay is the single integration a business needs to accept any form of payment, and when the next way to pay arrives, they will already be able to accept it."

YeahPay already provides in-store acceptance in Hong Kong SAR and Singapore. Today's expansion is bringing the two together. The group has spent more than a decade building payment acceptance for small and medium merchants in mainland China, the majority of it across a counter. YeahPay is taking that experience international, and putting it on the same integration for online payments for the first time.

As intelligent agents increasingly participate in transactions, YeahPay continues to expand its payment capabilities and help merchants prepare for the next generation of commerce.

About Yeahka

Yeahka Limited is a leading payment-based technology platform, dedicated to creating value for merchants and consumers. The company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020 under stock code 9923.HK. Yeahka serves approximately 9.2 million merchants and nearly 1 billion consumers.

YeahPay is the international payment brand of Yeahka, offering secure, seamless, and efficient digital financial services to global clients, spanning global acquiring, global collection, foreign exchange, global remittance, and beyond. It onboards and acquires for merchants across seven markets, supporting multi-currency processing, local payment methods, and integration options from payment links to ecommerce plugins and platform onboarding.

SOURCE Yeahka

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XCMG Unveils New-Generation New Energy Heavy Truck for Long-Haul Freight

XUZHOU, China, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- XCMG, a global construction machinery manufacturer, launched the Hanjing, its next-generation new energy heavy truck on Sept. 20. Designed for long-haul, cross-regional freight, the truck addresses key priorities for logistics operators, including range, charging speed, uptime and lifecycle operating efficiency.

XCMG began developing the Hanjing in 2023, visiting major freight hubs and working with large logistics companies to identify requirements for range, charging, efficiency and reliability. XCMG engineers then focused on the electric powertrain, centralized thermal management, torque distribution and regenerative braking to optimize the truck for real-world long-haul operations.

The Hanjing features a low-drag cab, a proprietary integrated electric drive axle and intelligent controls designed to reduce energy consumption. Its 800-volt architecture supports megawatt-class fast charging, taking the battery from 20% to 80% in under 20 minutes. The Hanjing combines a body constructed with 1,500-MPa hot-stamped steel with multiple battery thermal-protection systems to enhance vehicle and battery safety. A central domain controller, highway navigation-assisted driving and a digital cockpit support drivers on long-haul routes.

Before launch, the Hanjing underwent extreme-heat, extreme-cold, high-altitude, water-fording and crash testing. It also completed a 24-hour endurance test at the Yancheng proving ground, covering 2,198 kilometers at a fully loaded gross vehicle weight of 49 tons and demonstrating its performance under demanding long-haul, heavy-load operating conditions.

XCMG also provides charging infrastructure, connected fleet management and lifecycle services, giving operators an integrated system for managing vehicles, charging and day-to-day operations. Its connected-vehicle platform allows fleet operators to monitor vehicle status and energy consumption and plan vehicle selection and charging around their routes.

From January through July 2026, XCMG ranked first in China in sales of both new energy heavy trucks and new energy tractors. The company has ranked first nationwide in new energy heavy-truck sales for three consecutive years. XCMG trucks are also sold in Indonesia, Thailand, Guinea and other African markets. One major Indonesian mining customer ordered an additional 100 vehicles after purchasing more than 150 600-kWh 8×4 battery-new energy dump trucks.

Ahead of the launch, XCMG showcased new energy commercial vehicles and transportation solutions for construction and logistics at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, Germany. XCMG will continue adapting products to local regulations, road conditions and operating practices, expanding new energy heavy trucks beyond fixed routes and short-haul operations to a broader range of long-haul applications.

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Huawei Launches Fintelligent AI Solution to Help Global Financial Institutions Realize "Own Your AI, Own Your Intelligence"

Built on the financial-grade open-source agent platform openJiuwen and open compute infrastructure, Huawei builds Agent Factory, Token Factory, and Data-Knowledge Factory to accelerate production-grade agent deployment at scale.

SHANGHAI, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- During HUAWEI CONNECT 2026, Huawei hosted a Global Finance Summit. Jason Cao, CEO of Huawei Digital Finance BU, delivered a keynote titled "Owning Your AI, Advancing Agentic Banking," presenting the proposition "Own Your AI, Own Your Intelligence" to global financial customers and launching the Huawei Fintelligent AI Solution worldwide.

The solution focuses on key challenges facing large-scale AI deployment in the global financial industry, including security, scalability, and sustainability. It helps financial institutions build a new capability system and, through three intelligent factories — Agent Factory, Token Factory, and Data-Knowledge Factory — continuously build and evolve their enterprise AI architecture, one-stop agent foundation, banking domain intelligence, and full-lifecycle Token operations, accelerating the transition to Agentic Finance.

Jason Cao said, "Competition in financial AI is shifting from model capability to enterprise-wide AI system capability. Every financial institution should own its AI and keep the choice and evolution of AI in its own hands. Truly owning your AI is not about using a particular model or deploying a few AI applications. It means being able to choose independently, operate securely, replicate at scale, and continuously evolve your AI capabilities. Through open architecture, platforms, and compute, Huawei will work with customers and partners to bring AI at scale into core business operations and accelerate the transition to Agentic Finance."

Jason Cao, CEO of Huawei Digital Finance BU

Agent Factory scales AI into an enterprise-wide capability; Token Factory delivers a better price-performance ratio and sustainable full-lifecycle Token management; and Data-Knowledge Factory accumulates knowledge assets to enable financial institutions to build intelligence as an internal capability. Together, the three intelligent factories connect data, knowledge, Tokens, and agent capabilities.

Agent Factory focuses on helping banks build, run, and manage agents at scale, enabling AI capabilities to move from isolated applications to enterprise-wide intelligence while supporting the accumulation, reuse, and unified management of agent assets.

openJiuwen is an open-source agent platform designed for multi-agent collaboration, with enterprise-grade reliability and compute affinity. Built on a financial-grade production kernel, it provides three core capabilities: stable long-running operations, financial-grade components, and one-stop development and operations. openJiuwen provides a unified enterprise foundation, enabling financial institutions to build, run, manage, and govern agents on the same agent platform.

Huawei launched TokeNexus, a full-lifecycle Token operations solution covering Token planning, efficient production, intelligent scheduling, and global optimization, enabling unified operations and management across the entire Token lifecycle. Through end-to-end integrated governance, TokeNexus helps financial institutions scale AI while keeping costs controllable, performance reliable, and supply sustainable.

Huawei proposes the Data-Knowledge Factory, which transforms bank data, documents, and rules into knowledge that agents can understand, trust, and invoke, gradually accumulating it into each bank's own Domain Intelligence.

At the summit, Huawei launched the Financial Agentic Data Solution. Centered on data and knowledge pipelines, the solution provides financial agents with high-quality data and knowledge, allowing high-value data and knowledge to flow continuously to agents. Building on this evolution, the Data-Knowledge Factory establishes a systematic upgrade path from data supply to knowledge supply.

Huawei's AI Coding Solution adopts an ontology-centric approach to transform valuable business rules hidden in legacy-system code into reusable knowledge assets that AI can understand and use, accelerating core modernization.

At the summit, Huawei also joined representatives from banking, insurance, securities, and industry partners to unveil the 2026 Huawei Global Financial Lighthouse, highlighting nine lighthouse practices and providing reference cases for digital and intelligent transformation across the global financial industry.

Huawei has been deeply engaged in the financial industry for 16 years. To date, it has served more than 7,100 financial customers across over 80 countries and regions, including 54 of the world's top 100 banks.

SOURCE Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd

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DoIT Unveils 3.2T Silicon Photonics Optical Engine at TIE

More Than 20 Partners Join Forces to Capture AI Computing Opportunities

TAIPEI, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) 2026, a premier showcase of cutting-edge innovations, opens on September 17 at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1. At the Innovation Economy Pavilion, the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has brought together more than 13 research institutes and industry partners to present 64 technologies.

Among the featured innovations is the 3.2T Silicon Photonics (SiPh) Optical Engine Technology, developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) with support from DoIT.

As demand for AI computing continues to surge, the volume of data moving through data centers is also growing rapidly, pushing conventional copper interconnects toward their bandwidth limits. The challenge is comparable to growing traffic overwhelming a city's roads: adding more lanes can help only so much. A fundamentally more efficient way of moving data is needed.

ITRI's 3.2T SiPh Optical Engine Technology addresses this challenge by using light rather than electrical signals to transmit data through multiple integrated high-speed channels. It delivers a total transmission capacity of 3.2 Tbps, or approximately 400 GB per second—twice the capacity of the previous 1.6T generation and equivalent to the data volume of about 20 4K movies. Light-based transmission also reduces signal loss and heat generation compared with conventional copper interconnects.

To accelerate commercialization, ITRI has assembled a network of more than 20 supply chain partners spanning chip design, fabrication, testing, and packaging. ITRI has also collaborated with international companies to advance specifications for 3.2T technology. These efforts are strengthening Taiwan's competitiveness in the global AI optical communications supply chain.

DoIT-supported innovation is also addressing pressing healthcare needs. Taiwan has nearly 97,000 dialysis patients and one of the world's highest dialysis rates relative to population. Among the various uremic toxins, middle-to-large-molecule toxins are known to be closely associated with chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and other health risks.

Conventional testing requires blood samples to be collected before and after dialysis and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Results take three hours and often become available only after the treatment session has ended, limiting physicians' ability to make timely adjustments.

To address this problem, ITRI has developed DiaTrack, a middle-to-large-molecule uremic toxin detection technology, also with support from DoIT. DiaTrack connects directly to the effluent port of a dialysis machine and analyzes toxin types and concentrations every 15 minutes. This gives physicians timely insight into toxin clearance while treatment is underway and provides data to support personalized adjustments to dialysis settings, shifting dialysis quality assessment from post-treatment evaluation to in-treatment monitoring.

The technology has completed proof-of-concept testing in collaboration with National Cheng Kung University Hospital. The collaborative work received a National Innovation Award, and a pilot deployment at the hospital is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.

SOURCE Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)

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VNET Announces Closing of Previously Announced Strategic Investment

BEIJING, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VNET Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VNET) ("VNET" or the "Company"), a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral internet data center services provider in China, today announced the closing of the previously announced purchase by PJ Millennium I Limited ("Buyer I") and PJ Millennium II Limited ("Buyer II," and together with Buyer I, the "Buyers") of an aggregate of 650,424,192 Class A ordinary shares of the Company (the "Transaction") from Success Flow International Investment Limited ("Success Flow") and Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited ("Choice Faith," and together with Success Flow, the "Sellers").

Both Buyers are wholly owned subsidiaries of PJ Millennium Limited Partnership ("PJ Millennium Partnership"), the general partner of which is Lochpine BG I GP Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lochpine Capital Limited. Lochpine Capital Limited is a non-controlled, non-consolidated affiliate of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (stock codes: 300750.SZ and 03750.HK).

Following the closing of the Transaction, the Buyers collectively hold approximately 38.1% of the Company's total issued and outstanding ordinary shares, based on 1,708,970,760 ordinary shares outstanding as of June 30, 2026. In connection with the closing of the Transaction, the investor rights agreement between the Company and the Buyers, as well as the voting and consortium agreement among the Buyers, Mr. Josh Sheng Chen, VNET's Founder and Executive Chairperson, and certain of his affiliated investment vehicles, became effective.

About VNET

VNET Group, Inc. is a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral internet data center services provider in China. VNET provides hosting and related services, including IDC services, cloud services, and business VPN services to improve the reliability, security, and speed of its customers' internet infrastructure. Customers may locate their servers and equipment in VNET's data centers and connect to China's internet backbone. VNET operates in more than 30 cities throughout China, servicing a diversified and loyal base of over 7,000 hosting and related enterprise customers that span numerous industries ranging from internet companies and government entities to blue-chip enterprises and small- to mid-sized enterprises.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "target," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement as well as VNET's strategic and operational plans contain forward-looking statements. VNET may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about VNET's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: VNET's goals and strategies; VNET's liquidity conditions; VNET's expansion plans; the expected growth of the data center services market; expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, VNET's services; VNET's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers; VNET's plans to invest in research and development to enhance its solution and service offerings; and general economic and business conditions in the regions where VNET provides solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in VNET's reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and VNET undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

VNET IR Team

Tel: +86 10 8456 2121

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE VNET Group, Inc.

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KUNSHAN, China, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arctech has been awarded a Silver Medal in the 2026 EcoVadis Sustainability Rating, placing the company among the top 15% of companies assessed by EcoVadis globally. The recognition reflects Arctech's continued efforts to strengthen sustainability management and integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into its business and operations.

EcoVadis assesses companies across four key sustainability themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. Its medals are awarded based on a company's percentile ranking among companies assessed globally over the previous 12 months, with the Silver Medal corresponding to the top 15%.

Guided by its development approach of "globalization, differentiation, sustainability and intelligence", Arctech continues to advance ESG integration across its operations and business activities.

On the environmental front, Arctech combines sustainable solutions with ongoing efforts to improve the environmental performance of its own operations. Through its "Tracker+" and "Green Power+" solutions, the company integrates solar tracking, flexible cable mounting, intelligent O&M, smart installation and energy storage to support diverse applications and the evolving needs of the energy transition.

In 2025, Arctech invested RMB 4.3629 million (approximately US$651,000) in environmental protection. Its self-owned photovoltaic power stations generated more than 34 million kWh of electricity, accounting for 24% of its total electricity consumption. The company also continued to expand renewable energy use, improve energy efficiency across its facilities, and apply digital and intelligent technologies in manufacturing, saving 364,000 kWh of electricity annually.

Beyond its environmental efforts, Arctech continues to strengthen its social and governance practices. The company holds certifications including ISO 45001, SA8000 and ISO 37001, supporting its efforts in occupational health and safety, employee rights and business ethics.

The EcoVadis Silver Medal recognizes Arctech's progress to date and provides further momentum for continuous improvement. Looking ahead, Arctech will continue to deepen ESG integration, advance greener operations and sustainable solutions, and work with customers and partners to support the global energy transition.

Learn more about Arctech's EcoVadis recognition and rating here: https://recognition.ecovadis.com/Zgy7ZWux8Ee9SsK-w693XA

About Arctech

For more information about Arctech, visit: https://en.arctechsolar.com/ 

SOURCE Arctech Solar

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