RHB PRESERVES ISLAMIC FINANCE LEGACY WHILE INVESTING IN FUTURE RESEARCH

(From left) Dr. Marjan Muhammad, Deputy President of Research, ISRA Institute, INCEIF University; Professor Emeritus Dato' Dr. Mohd Azmi Omar, President and Chief Executive Officer of INCEIF University; YBhg. Senator Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs); Dato' Adissadikin Ali, Managing Director of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad; and Ahmad Mukarrami Ab Mumin, Head of Group Shariah Advisory of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, at the book launch ceremony.

Publication preserves industry knowledge, while RM300,000 grant to INCEIF University supports future research and innovation

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- RHB Islamic Bank Berhad ("RHB Islamic" or "the Bank") is strengthening its commitment to advancing knowledge, research and thought leadership in Islamic finance with the publication of Charting Progress Together – Malaysia's Islamic Finance Through the Years. Developed in collaboration with INCEIF University, the book captures key developments that have shaped Malaysia's Islamic finance industry.

The book is the first publication under the RHB Islamic Insight series and features 24 selected articles originally published between 2012 and 2021. Written by RHB Islamic practitioners, the articles provide insights into the industry’s growth and transformation, covering topics such as Islamic banking and finance, capital markets, Shariah governance and Islamic social finance.

The articles also reflect a transformative period in the industry's development, marked by the growing adoption of fintech, the introduction of Value-Based Intermediation (“VBI”), evolving Shariah standards and governance frameworks, and a growing emphasis on sustainability and social impact in financial services.

Dato’ Adissadikin Ali, Managing Director of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad said, "Malaysia's Islamic finance industry has grown through the collective efforts of regulators, financial institutions, scholars and industry practitioners across generations. Over the past two decades, RHB Islamic has been part of this journey, and this publication reflects our commitment to preserving valuable insights gained along the way and making them more accessible to those who will continue shaping its future.”

"While preserving what we have learned is important, generating new ideas is equally vital. This is why we are also investing in research to support the next chapter of Malaysia's Islamic finance industry. We believe continued collaboration between academia and practitioners will be key to developing fresh perspectives that respond to the Islamic finance industry’s evolving needs," added Dato’ Adissadikin Ali.

RHB Islamic will provide a RM300,000 grant to INCEIF University to support research aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s Islamic finance ecosystem. The grant reflects a shared commitment between academia and practitioners to advance research and deepen understanding in ways that foster innovation and sustainable growth across the nation’s Islamic finance industry.

Bank Negara Malaysia has identified research, talent development and knowledge-sharing as key priorities for supporting the future growth of the Islamic finance industry and reinforcing Malaysia's position as a global leader in Islamic finance. RHB Islamic's publication and research collaboration contribute to these national priorities by strengthening knowledge development and industry-academia collaboration.

RHB Islamic remains committed to supporting the long-term development of Malaysia's Islamic finance ecosystem through knowledge development, research and industry collaboration, in line with the Bank’s strategy to create sustainable social impact through education and knowledge empowerment.

To find out more about Charting Progress Together – Malaysia’s Islamic Finance Through the Years, please visit www.rhbgroup.com.

About RHB Banking Group
RHB Banking Group is one of Malaysia’s longest-standing and leading financial institutions, with a proud heritage spanning over a century. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Group has a strong presence across seven ASEAN markets and is powered by a workforce of about 13,000 employees. United by a common purpose – Together We Progress – RHB is committed to empowering individuals, businesses and communities to grow and progress together.

As a fully integrated financial group, our core businesses are structured into six key pillars: Group Community Banking, Group Corporate & Business Banking, Group Wholesale Banking, Group Shariah Business, Group International Business and Group Insurance. We offer comprehensive and innovative financial solutions through RHB Bank Berhad and our key subsidiaries: RHB Investment Bank Berhad, RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, and RHB Insurance Berhad. Our asset management and unit trust businesses are undertaken by RHB Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. and RHB Islamic International Asset Management Berhad.

RHB Bank Berhad is listed on Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of RM37 billion as at 30 July 2026.

Guided by our purpose, RHB is focused on delivering meaningful and sustainable value by driving innovation, fostering inclusive growth, and strengthening long-term resilience to meet the evolving needs of our customers, communities, and the broader financial ecosystem.

For more information, please visit www.rhbgroup.com.

Malaysia | Singapore | Indonesia | Thailand | Brunei | Cambodia | Lao PDR

Issued on behalf of RHB Bank Berhad by Group Corporate Communications.

Customers may call our Customer Contact Centre at 03–9206 8118 for enquiries on RHB’s products and services.

SOURCE: RHB Islamic Bank Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Azim Daman
Tel: 017-380 9497
Email: azim.daman@rhbgroup.com

Name: Nishanthi Palani
Tel: 012-420 0812
Email: nishanthi.palani@rhbgroup.com

--BERNAMA

Lantronix and Swarmer Collaborate to Create Custom Compute Module for Group 1 Unmanned Aerial Systems

 

Lantronix to develop a custom solution based on Lantronix’s Open-Q™ 6490CS SOM to support Swarmer’s AI software on small drones for defense missions, boosting onboard computing power by more than 400% compared to current platforms


IRVINE, Calif., July 31 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lantronix Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRX), a global provider of Edge AI and Industrial IoT solutions that power NDAA-compliant unmanned systems, critical infrastructure, and resilient enterprise networks, today announced a collaboration with Swarmer, Inc (Nasdaq: SWMR), a drone autonomy software company whose technology has supported more than 100,000 real-world combat missions in Ukraine since April 2024, to create a custom compute platform optimized for Group 1 UAS. Both companies are focused on accelerating deployment of FPV and other small, low-cost drones for Ukraine, U.S. and allied defense programs.

“Autonomy software only proves itself once it’s deployed on hardware that’s actually flying,” said Saleel Awsare, president and CEO of Lantronix. “A production-ready NDAA-compliant Lantronix compute platform with Swarmer’s combat-proven software provides operators with roughly four times the processing power to optimize its visual navigation, automated target recognition, pixel lock and advanced teaming algorithms.”

The integration of Lantronix's Open-Q™ 6490CS System-on-Module is designed to provide Group 1 UAS with the identical connectivity options along with a significant increase in onboard computing capability, enabling more advanced artificial intelligence, computer vision and autonomous mission execution at the tactical edge. The additional processing capacity will support more sophisticated swarming behaviors, sensor fusion and real-time decision-making while providing a production-ready platform designed for long-term deployment.

For military operators, this will result in the ability to field increasingly autonomous, software-defined Group 1 UAS that can adapt to evolving mission requirements through software updates rather than hardware replacement, extending operational capability while reducing lifecycle complexity.

“With more than seven million drones projected to be manufactured this year alone, we believe that every one of them could potentially run our AI and collaborative autonomy software,” said Alex Fink, president and U.S. CEO of Swarmer. “Our collaboration with Lantronix will produce a compute platform that is capable of running AI models on the edge in a small form factor that is optimized for Group 1 UAS. We believe this will become the new industry standard compute solution for small unmanned systems, and every unit will arrive pre-populated with Swarmer OS and Swarmer’s cutting-edge autonomy.”

Founded in Austin, Texas, in May 2023, Swarmer deployed its autonomy software in combat operations in Ukraine in April 2024 and has since flown missions with nearly 50 Ukrainian military units in active electronic warfare and GNSS-denied environments. Swarmer’s software is designed to run across any type of drone — from fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to ground vehicles and sea vessels. The Swarmer solution based on Lantronix Open-Q™ 6490CS SOM will support all of these platforms, allowing a single operator to plan, monitor and execute missions involving hundreds of drones from one hardware base.

How Lantronix Technology Benefits Swarmer

The Open-Q™ 6490CS SOM enables Swarmer to deploy its autonomy software on a production-ready compute platform that improves performance, reduces cost and operational inefficiencies, optimizes SWaP and accelerates deployment across multiple unmanned platforms. On-device AI processing is built for GPS-denied and contested environments, where cloud-dependent compute isn’t reliable.

Sustained production support and NDAA compliance also eliminates supply chain uncertainty, enabling Swarmer to scale deployments across U.S. and allied government customers without hardware availability concerns.

Key Investor Takeaways

Expanded platform opportunity: Broadens Lantronix's role within autonomous defense systems by improving AI compute for multi-platform autonomy software across air, ground and maritime unmanned systems. 

Replaces Soon-to-be Obsolete Technology: Current onboard compute systems are becoming increasingly expensive and unable to match pace with the speed of AI. This customized platform is designed to provide roughly four times the processing power to optimize visual navigation, automated target recognition, pixel lock and advanced teaming algorithms. 

Long-term program support: NDAA compliance and a 10-year-plus production commitment position Lantronix for recurring, long-term revenue as Swarmer secures extended defense contracts, de-risking platform adoption in the defense autonomy market.

Validated, scaling partner: Swarmer (Nasdaq: SWMR) is a publicly traded, combat-proven operator with more than 100,000 missions flown across nearly 50 military units, reducing execution risk on the demand side of the partnership.

About Swarmer

Swarmer™ (Nasdaq: SWMR) is a defense technology company that specializes in vendor-agnostic software which allows one operator to intuitively control hundreds of autonomous platforms in real time. Swarmer’s primary mission areas include autonomous swarm coordination, integration of multi-domain unmanned systems and AI-powered autonomy software for distributed operations. Swarmer is not a drone manufacturer and does not depend on any single platform, supplier or hardware lifecycle. Instead, Swarmer operates at the intelligence layer, developing autonomy, coordination and decision-making software that enables large numbers of low-cost unmanned systems to operate collectively as one coherent, resilient force. Swarmer’s technology has been rigorously validated in real-world kinetic environments and was first deployed in combat operations in Ukraine in April 2024. Since then, it has completed more than 100,000 combat missions, generating terabytes of proprietary data that informs its machine-learning models and enables the replication of advanced pilot performance at scale. Swarmer’s routine use in combat missions generates continuous streams of telemetry, sensor data and operational feedback which are then used to refine performance, increase resilience and accelerate learning. Swarmer has headquarters in Austin, Texas, and maintains operations and teams in Ukraine, Poland and Estonia. For more information, visit www.getswarmer.com.

About Lantronix

Lantronix Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRX) is a global leader in Edge AI and Industrial IoT solutions, delivering intelligent computing, secure connectivity and remote management for mission-critical applications. Serving high-growth markets, including smart cities, enterprise IT and commercial and defense unmanned systems, including drones, Lantronix enables customers to optimize operations and accelerate digital transformation. Its comprehensive portfolio of hardware, software and services powers applications from secure video surveillance and intelligent utility infrastructure to resilient out-of-band network management. By bringing intelligence to the network edge, Lantronix helps organizations achieve efficiency, security and a competitive edge in today’s AI-driven world. For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements concerning a potential collaboration between Lantronix and Swarmer and Lantronix’s positioning to capitalize on opportunities for long-term growth in the drone and defense technology markets. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to changes in U.S. or foreign government trade policies, including recently increased or future tariffs, a pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent conflicts in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws and regulations; the risk that no definitive agreement between Lantronix and Swarmer is reached; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Aug. 29, 2025, including in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of that report, as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. In addition, actual results may differ as a result of additional risks and uncertainties about which we are currently unaware or which we do not currently view as material to our business. For these reasons, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements we make speak only as of the date on which they are made. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our opinions or expectations, except as required by applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. If we do update or correct any forward-looking statements, investors should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections.

©2026 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Investor Contact (Lantronix):
Matt Glover and Greg Robles
Gateway Group, Inc.
LTRX@gateway-grp.com

Investor Contact (Swarmer):
SWMR@gateway-grp.com 

Media Contact (Lantronix):
Diana Puckett
PRforLantronix@Bospar.com

Media Contact (Swarmer): 
media@getswarmer.tech  


SOURCE: Lantronix, Inc.

Chery Auto Expands Global LEPAS NEV Lineup

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Chery Auto, a global automotive manufacturer, has announced that its mid-to-premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, LEPAS, is advancing its global market expansion with a comprehensive NEV lineup comprising the LEPAS L4 EV, LEPAS L6 EV and LEPAS L8 PHEV.

The lineup showcases LEPAS’ focus on elegant mobility through a combination of design, intelligent technologies and spacious interiors, addressing a range of mobility needs across global markets.

Chery Auto in a statement said the three models have entered the global launch phase and will be rolled out gradually across international markets as LEPAS continues to expand its presence worldwide.

The LEPAS L4 EV is designed for urban drivers seeking a more intelligent and effortless NEV experience, combining extended range capability, efficient performance and convenient charging solutions for both daily commuting and longer journeys.

Powered by a highly integrated 12-in-1 electric drive system, the L4 EV delivers smooth, quiet and efficient performance. It supports fast charging of more than 120 kilowatts (kW) and can charge from 30 per cent to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes when connected to a 200kW charging station.

Meanwhile, the LEPAS L6 EV, described as an Intelligent & Exquisite Life sport utility vehicle (SUV), features LEPAS’ signature "Leopard Aesthetics" design language and targets consumers seeking a more refined and sophisticated mobility experience.

The L6 EV combines an elegant and dynamic exterior with a minimalist interior design suited to a variety of lifestyles, including daily commuting, family travel, leisure outings and social occasions.

LEPAS said the L8 PHEV balances spacious comfort, intelligent technology, safety features and long driving range capability, delivering a refined mobility experience for global consumers.

Built on a 2,800-millimetre wheelbase, the LEPAS L8 PHEV offers a spacious cabin equipped with an AQS air quality monitoring system, active fragrance system, ultraviolet (UV)-blocking and heat-insulating glass, and smartphone remote-control functions.

-- BERNAMA

CryptoRank Study Finds Bitget rTokens Recorded Up to 58% Lower Slippage on $50,000 Orders Across Leading Tokenized Equity Platforms

VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), ranked first for large-order execution in a CryptoRank study evaluating liquidity, market structure and execution quality across leading tokenized equity products. The research found that Bitget's Reality rTokens delivered the lowest simulated slippage across every comparable asset tested, recording up to 58% lower slippage on $50,000 orders than competing tokenized equity products, highlighting the growing importance of execution quality as tokenized equities continue to mature.

The report arrives as the tokenized equity market approaches $2 billion in onchain value with more than 471,000 onchain holders, reflecting growing investor demand for blockchain-based access to traditional financial assets. As tokenized stocks become more widely available across crypto exchanges, CryptoRank examined how differences in product structure, liquidity models and execution infrastructure influence the trading experience beyond simple price exposure.

The study compared tokenized stock offerings across major exchanges and found that products tracking the same underlying equities can differ significantly in investor rights, liquidity mechanisms, redemption models and execution quality. The report evaluated NVIDIA, Microsoft, Meta and Tesla, the only four assets that maintained valid two-sided order books across all venues tested. In this comparable set, Bitget's Reality rTokens consistently produced the strongest execution results for larger trades.

The report found that Bitget delivered the lowest simulated slippage across all four comparable assets for both $10,000 and $50,000 orders, while Reality rTokens recorded the highest balanced displayed liquidity within 50 basis points. CryptoRank attributed these results to Bitget's liquidity architecture, which combines exchange liquidity with NYSE and NASDAQ-linked underlying market liquidity, enabling deeper liquidity and more efficient execution for larger trades. CryptoRank also examined the legal and operational structures behind tokenized equity products, noting that similar stock tickers can represent different forms of investor claims depending on how each product is issued and settled.

“Tokenization is moving beyond access and into infrastructure," said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “If even 10% of global financial assets become tokenized by 2030, we’ll witness one of the most significant transformations in modern capital markets. The next phase of tokenization will be defined by quality of execution liquidity and market infrastructure supporting those assets. Independent research like this helps establish the benchmarks the industry needs as tokenzied markets continue to mature.”

The findings build on Bitget's continued expansion of its Stock+ ecosystem, which gives eligible users access to more than 500 tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities and other traditional financial assets alongside cryptocurrencies through a single unified account. By combining 24/7 market access, fractional investing and NYSE and NASDAQ-linked liquidity, Bitget is building the infrastructure needed to support the next generation of tokenized capital markets.

Read the CryptoRank 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 such as 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 | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

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

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3c8f2a89-2b0b-465f-9fe6-d03b919d5754

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2fd67267-7705-42b5-82f2-dc4dbe7c590b 

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

Target Locked on Travelers from Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia! Busan Tourism Organization to Launch‘2026 Revisit Busan Pass Promotion’

- Launches a win-win promotion offering Busan Pay rewards to international tourists returning to Busan
 

- Easy application with only a Visit Busan Pass purchase record and proof of a previous visit to Busan

- “Expecting strong repeat travel demand from Taiwan, Japan and Southeast Asia visitors who love Busan."

BUSAN, South Korea, July 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Busan Tourism Organization (BTO) has announced the launch of the ‘2026 Revisit Busan Pass Promotion’, a special welcome gift for international Free Independent Travelers (FITs) returning to Busan.

In line with the recent expansion of regional low-cost carrier (LCC) flights from Taiwan, Japan and Southeast Asia to Busan, the campaign will offer practical benefits to smart travelers looking to fall back in love with Busan’s charm.

The promotion is open to international tourists who have previously visited Busan and have repurchased the Visit Busan Pass, an exclusive tourist pass for international visitors, for their upcoming trip. Upon meeting the conditions, participants will receive Busan Pay credits worth up to KRW 20,000 as a reward. This mobile local currency can be used instantly like cash at participating small businesses throughout Busan. The reward amount varies depending on the type of pass purchased: KRW 10,000 for purchasers of the 24-Hour Pass and BIG3 Pass, and KRW 20,000 for purchasers of the 48-Hour Pass and BIG5 Pass.

The application process is simple. Travelers can visit the dedicated multilingual promotional microsite and complete the application in three easy steps:

• Enter their Visit Busan Pass purchase information, • Upload proof of a previous visit to Busan (such as a Gimhae International Airport e-ticket, a previous Busan hotel receipt or voucher, etc.), and • Verify the Busan Pay account to receive the reward.

The official added, “Through this Revisit campaign prepared with our gratitude, we hope more global travelers will experience Busan's warm hospitality and exclusive benefits.”

This promotion is available on a first-come, first-served basis while the allocated budget lasts and may close early once the budget is exhausted. Detailed application methods and precautions can be found through the multilingual pop-up windows on the official Visit Busan Pass website and mobile app.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a672ca74-778c-45f7-b8d3-49d1f0da2b3f 

Visit Busan Pass Official, Tel: +82 1660-1122, visitbusanpass@tourpass.kr 

SOURCE: Busan Tourism Organization

--BERNAMA 

Air Selangor Pioneers Sustainable Water Financing with the issuance of the World’s First Blue Sukuk and Malaysia’s First Blue Bond/Sukuk Issuance

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (“Air Selangor”) has successfully priced the world’s first Blue Sukuk and Malaysia’s first Blue Bond/Sukuk issuance (“Blue SRI Sukuk Kelestarian” or “Blue Sukuk”) of RM200.0 million in nominal value to be issued pursuant to its RM20.0 billion Islamic Medium Term Notes Programme.

The landmark issuance, which has a 15-year tenor, represents a significant milestone in the evolution of sustainable water financing in the Malaysian capital market and reflects Air Selangor’s commitment to mobilising sustainable financing to support projects that deliver measurable environmental impact. CIMB Investment Bank Berhad (“CIMB”) acted as Sole Sustainability Structuring Adviser and Sole Lead Manager for the transaction, supporting Air Selangor in enhancing its Framework and facilitating the successful execution of the issuance.

Accordingly, the issuance supports blue finance — an emerging segment of sustainable finance that channels investment towards sustainable management, protection, restoration and efficient utilisation of water resources and water-related ecosystems, while supporting long-term water security, climate resilience, pollution prevention and environmental sustainability outcomes. This is also aligned with Air Selangor's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, through initiatives that promote sustainable water resource management and strengthen water security for the communities it serves.

Adam Saffian Ghazali, Chief Executive Officer of Air Selangor said “We recognise that building resilient water infrastructure requires long-term investment supported by sustainable financing. This world’s first Blue Sukuk reflects our commitment to advancing innovative financing solutions that strengthen water security, protect natural resources and create long-term value for the communities we serve.”

As both the world’s first Blue Sukuk issuance and Malaysia’s first Blue Bond/Sukuk issuance, it establishes an important precedent for blue labelled financing instruments in Malaysia’s debt capital market and demonstrates how sustainable financing can strengthen essential water infrastructure.

Nor Masliza Sulaiman, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Investment Bank said, “CIMB is pleased to have played a key role in the successful issuance and to have advised Air Selangor on the enhancement of its Sustainable Development Sukuk Kelestarian Framework. This milestone demonstrates CIMB’s strength not only as a capital markets arranger, but as a trusted sustainability partner capable of delivering end-to-end advisory in innovative sustainable finance solutions. We hope this landmark issuance will accelerate the adoption of blue finance across Malaysia and the region, supporting greater mobilisation of capital towards water security, environmental resilience and sustainable development.”

The Blue Sukuk is structured under Air Selangor’s revised Sustainable Development Sukuk Kelestarian Framework Version 2.0 (“Framework”), reinforcing the company's long-term commitment to integrating sustainability into its financing strategy. The Framework aligns with the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Green Bond Principles 2025, Social Bond Principles 2025 and Sustainability Bond Guidelines 2021, and integrates IFC’s Guidelines for Blue Finance Version 2.0. The Framework also includes expanded eligibility to support blue, green, social and sustainability Sukuk issuances under a single platform.

Key enhancements made to the Framework include the introduction of Blue Sukuk to finance sustainable water and wastewater management, resource protection and long-term water security. The Framework also expands the number of eligible project categories from four to eight, covering climate adaptation, energy efficiency, clean transportation and social initiatives.

To reinforce the credibility of the Framework, Air Selangor has secured a Preliminary Assessment letter from RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd (“RAM Sustainability”), which outlines RAM Sustainability’s view that the Framework’s Eligible Blue Projects are eligible blue projects under IFC’s Guidelines for Blue Finance Version 2.0.

About CIMB

CIMB is one of ASEAN’s leading banking groups and Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider, by assets. Listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, it had a market capitalisation of approximately RM81.6 billion as at 31 March 2026. It offers consumer banking, commercial banking, wholesale banking, transaction banking, Islamic banking and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is present across ASEAN in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong and UK. CIMB has one of the most extensive retail branch networks in ASEAN with 545 branches and over 33,000 employees as at 31 March 2026. CIMB’s investment banking arm is one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, which together with its award-winning treasury & markets and corporate banking units comprise the Group’s leading wholesale banking franchise. CIMB is also the 91.45% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.83% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand.

About Air Selangor

Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) is the largest water services provider in Malaysia, providing clean and safe treated water to 9.62 million consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. To date, Air Selangor operates 34 water treatment plants located in 10 regions and has over 5,000 employees with a breadth of experience in various fields in the industry. Staying true to its mission and vision, Air Selangor aspires to deliver the best experience to customers as well as become the leading water services provider in Asia by 2030. Air Selangor is the first water services provider in Malaysia to be inducted into the Leading Utilities of the World (LUOW) global network.

SOURCE: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Anis Azharuddin / Kelvin Jude Muthu
Group Corporate Communications
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Email: anis.azharuddin@cimb.com / kelvinjude.muthu@cimb.com

--BERNAMA

Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains Stable Outlook on Vietnam’s Non-Life Insurance Segment

SINGAPORE, July 27 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best is maintaining its stable outlook on Vietnam’s non-life insurance segment, citing robust demand, technology adoption and healthy macroeconomic factors.

The Best’s Market Segment Report, “Market Segment Outlook: Vietnam Non-Life Insurance,” states that the country’s positive macroeconomic performance has been underpinned by buoyant electronic exports, and increasing foreign direct investment, driven by the global investment boom in artificial intelligence-related technology and infrastructure. The strong macroeconomic fundamentals, along with increased government expenditure, continue to drive commercial insurance demand and support operating earnings, despite increasing competition.

“Vietnam’s non-life market has been attractive to foreign insurance groups and domestic financial conglomerates seeking growth and diversification. As market competition intensifies, insurers’ underwriting discipline faces challenges from these new entrants and incumbents seeking growth,” said Ken Lau, senior financial analyst, AM Best.

According to the report, operating earnings in 2025 exhibited a strong recovery from the prior year, due in large part to favourable underwriting earnings as the market recovers from the impact of Typhoon Yagi in 2024. Vietnam’s non-life insurance market also showed strong top-line growth in 2025, and the positive trend extended into the first half of 2026. AM Best expects the market’s overall operating performance to remain resilient, underpinned by stable investment returns and positive underwriting results, along with easing reinsurance market conditions.

“Non-life insurers in Vietnam continue to benefit from ample reinsurance capacity and more favourable renewal terms in 2026 and are increasingly well-positioned to optimise their reinsurance programmes to protect against the potential impact of severe catastrophic events,” said Chris Lim, director, AM Best.

To access the full copy of this market segment report, please visit
http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=366900.

AM Best’s outlook on Vietnam’s non-life segment will be highlighted in a presentation at the Vietnam Insurance Summit, to be held on 31 July 2026, in Da Nang, Vietnam. Additionally, Rob Curtis, managing director and chief executive officer of AM Best’s Singapore operations, will be in attendance and available for meetings. To arrange a meeting with Curtis, please email rob.curtis@ambest.com. Visitors to AM Best’s exhibit booth (No. 10) also can learn more about the rating agency’s role in the insurance industry. AM Best is a diamond sponsor of the event, which will take place at KOI Resort & Residence Da Nang. To learn more about the summit, visit here.

To view current Best’s Market Segment Outlooks, please visit here.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing 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 Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260726209986/en/ 

Contact

Ken Lau
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5025
ken.lau@ambest.com

Chris Lim
Director, Analytics
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@ambest.com

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

Cynthia Ang
Senior Industry Research Analyst
+65 6303 5026
cynthia.ang@ambest.com 

Source : AM Best 

--BERNAMA