KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Gold Coast Vung Tau is positioning Vietnam on the global map with the emergence of its first international island metropolis, developed under the Eco–Cinematic Living philosophy to create an integrated living environment that connects nature, amenities, and community.
The development’s TVC was recently showcased on large-format LED screens at Times Square, New York, highlighting its ambitions to attract a global audience with a Vietnam-born island metropolis built to international standards.
Drawing inspiration from Australia’s Gold Coast, Gold Coast Vung Tau is positioned beyond conventional residential development, according to a statement.
At the heart of the project, “Eco” represents a complete ecosystem where boulevards, landmark amenities, and expansive natural scenery operate cohesively as a fully functioning city. This vision forms the foundation of Mega Living—an expansive lifestyle shaped by scale, openness, and long-term planning.
Located in southeastern Ho Chi Minh City, the development benefits from the infrastructure and tourism advantages of Vietnam’s Southern Key Economic Region. It is approximately 60 minutes from the city centre and 35 minutes from Long Thanh International Airport.
Covering 1,300 hectares, the masterplan includes 300 hectares of interconnected waterways, 150 hectares of parks and green spaces, and over 100 on-site and nearby amenities. A key highlight is an 85-hectare outlet destination, planned to become the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
According to the developer, the project leverages the region’s strong infrastructure and tourism fundamentals to establish Gold Coast Vung Tau as a must-visit destination, contributing to the elevation of Vietnam’s international image in the travel and leisure sector.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, January 16, 2026
Malaysia's New Role in Tech Investment: Nexus Meridian Capital’s Platform-Based Approach
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan 16 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd has announced plans to establish five new regional offices across Southeast Asia by 2026, creating more than 200 high-value jobs. This move is accelerating Malaysia’s transformation into a “regional platform hub.” The strategic expansion underscores Malaysia’s shift from a traditional business outsourcing model toward a more complex, system-driven digital economy. In Southeast Asia's tech landscape, Malaysia is transitioning from a manufacturing hub to a "digital economy and regional platform hub." This shift is driven by policy maturity, infrastructure, and converging capital flows. Consequently, more technology-oriented holding companies are establishing physical entities in Malaysia to participate in long-term digital development. Within this trend, Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd stands out as a noteworthy case study.
Why Malaysia Attracts Technology Holding Companies
Malaysia offers a "middle ground advantage": a mature, transparent regulatory framework combined with a market still in a deep phase of digital transformation. Increasingly, Malaysia serves as a pivotal node for regional synergy, making long-term strategic positioning and platform integration practically feasible.
Nexus Meridian Capital: A Systematic Approach
Nexus Meridian Capital did not pursue a market entry centered on single products or short-term trends. Instead, it adopted a systematic approach focused on:
Why Malaysia Attracts Technology Holding Companies
Malaysia offers a "middle ground advantage": a mature, transparent regulatory framework combined with a market still in a deep phase of digital transformation. Increasingly, Malaysia serves as a pivotal node for regional synergy, making long-term strategic positioning and platform integration practically feasible.
Nexus Meridian Capital: A Systematic Approach
Nexus Meridian Capital did not pursue a market entry centered on single products or short-term trends. Instead, it adopted a systematic approach focused on:
- Platform Viability: Enhancing e-commerce retention and monetization through gamified tasks and virtual economic systems.
- AI Integration: Moving AI from a simple tool to an enterprise-level decision-making system.
- Governance and Integration: Leveraging holding company structures to achieve scale through localized incentives and platform strategies.
This aligns with the global shift from "rapid expansion" toward "structural quality and sustainability."
From Project Thinking to System Capabilities
While individual project lifecycles are often limited, long-term value resides in underlying systems and platform architecture. Nexus Meridian Capital functions as a holding entity that builds replicable, scalable technical frameworks rather than chasing short-term scale. This approach provides strong resilience against market cycles.
Future Direction: Long-Termism
The core challenge for Nexus Meridian lies in evolving its platform capabilities while maintaining stability. In a tech landscape returning to rationality, enterprises focused on systems may attract less initial attention but often demonstrate superior value over extended cycles.
Company: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
Contact Person: Alex Joos
Email: qsbkoon@nexusmh.com
Website: https://nexusmh.com/
Telephone: +60 135963 395
City: Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya
SOURCE: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
From Project Thinking to System Capabilities
While individual project lifecycles are often limited, long-term value resides in underlying systems and platform architecture. Nexus Meridian Capital functions as a holding entity that builds replicable, scalable technical frameworks rather than chasing short-term scale. This approach provides strong resilience against market cycles.
Future Direction: Long-Termism
The core challenge for Nexus Meridian lies in evolving its platform capabilities while maintaining stability. In a tech landscape returning to rationality, enterprises focused on systems may attract less initial attention but often demonstrate superior value over extended cycles.
Company: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
Contact Person: Alex Joos
Email: qsbkoon@nexusmh.com
Website: https://nexusmh.com/
Telephone: +60 135963 395
City: Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya
SOURCE: Nexus Meridian Capital Holdings Sdn Bhd
Thursday, January 15, 2026
SME BANK’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2026 REPORT: OVERNIGHT POLICY RATE TO HOLD AT 2.75% AS MALAYSIA’S ECONOMY EXPANDS AT 4.3%
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (“SME Bank”) has released its latest report on Malaysia’s Economic Outlook 2026 (“the Report”), which forecasts that Bank Negara Malaysia (“BNM”) is expected to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (“OPR”) at 2.75% throughout 2026, providing a stable monetary environment to support Malaysia’s economic expansion. The Report projects Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) to grow by 4.3%, despite heightened global uncertainties.
According to the Report, domestic growth momentum is expected to remain resilient, supported by sustained micro, small and medium enterprise (“MSME”) activities and continued policy support, which are expected to help cushion the economy against external headwinds from rising protectionism and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Overall, the growth outlook is broadly aligned with projections by the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
SME Bank’s Relief President and Chief Executive Officer, Samad Majid Zain, said, “Malaysia’s growth outlook for 2026 remains resilient, driven by the strength of MSMEs in sustaining domestic demand, employment and productivity. The National Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with RM50 billion in financing and guarantee facilities with SME Bank entrusted to implement nearly RM2 billion in strategic national initiatives to support MSMEs scaling, technology adoption and productivity enhancement across priority sectors, in alignment with BNM’s Performance Measurement Framework and the Government’s MADANI economic framework.”
Key Highlights at a Glance:
· Services are likely to cushion overall growth, supported by resilient household consumption underpinned by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, including higher allocations for Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Phase 2 civil servant salary adjustments, which are expected to help ease cost pressures and sustain consumption.
· Manufacturing faces higher tariff exposure, as 67.1% of the Industrial Production Index is export oriented, increasing vulnerability to external demand shocks and trade policy developments.
· Construction activity is set to normalise, following two years of exceptional post pandemic growth driven by infrastructure and private sector projects.
· The mining sector is expected to remain subdued, constrained by moderating demand from key importing economies and lower global crude oil prices.
SME Bank’s Head of Economic Research, Mazlina Abdul Rahman, said, “We project inflation to rise moderately to 1.7% in 2026, remaining at a manageable level. Headline inflation averaged 1.4% year on year for the first 11 months of 2025, lower than 1.9% in the corresponding period in 2024, before edging higher from July 2025 following the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax to additional service sectors, selected non-essential goods and utility tariff adjustments. Looking ahead, lower Brent crude oil prices, expectations of a stronger ringgit compared to the 2025 average and the absence of further fuel subsidy rationalisation this year should help keep inflation in check,” she elaborated.
The full report can be accessed at:
https://go.smebank.com.my/ECO2026
For more information:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v6RXMzwWrfUjyk18u5dS1dC_09pO3dlL
Issued by:
SME Bank Strategic Communication
SOURCE: SME Bank
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Arnee Ismail
Head, Strategic Communication
SME Bank
Tel: +603 2603 7700 / +6019-6633390
Email: communications@smebank.com.my
--BERNAMA
According to the Report, domestic growth momentum is expected to remain resilient, supported by sustained micro, small and medium enterprise (“MSME”) activities and continued policy support, which are expected to help cushion the economy against external headwinds from rising protectionism and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Overall, the growth outlook is broadly aligned with projections by the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
SME Bank’s Relief President and Chief Executive Officer, Samad Majid Zain, said, “Malaysia’s growth outlook for 2026 remains resilient, driven by the strength of MSMEs in sustaining domestic demand, employment and productivity. The National Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with RM50 billion in financing and guarantee facilities with SME Bank entrusted to implement nearly RM2 billion in strategic national initiatives to support MSMEs scaling, technology adoption and productivity enhancement across priority sectors, in alignment with BNM’s Performance Measurement Framework and the Government’s MADANI economic framework.”
Key Highlights at a Glance:
· Services are likely to cushion overall growth, supported by resilient household consumption underpinned by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, including higher allocations for Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Phase 2 civil servant salary adjustments, which are expected to help ease cost pressures and sustain consumption.
· Manufacturing faces higher tariff exposure, as 67.1% of the Industrial Production Index is export oriented, increasing vulnerability to external demand shocks and trade policy developments.
· Construction activity is set to normalise, following two years of exceptional post pandemic growth driven by infrastructure and private sector projects.
· The mining sector is expected to remain subdued, constrained by moderating demand from key importing economies and lower global crude oil prices.
SME Bank’s Head of Economic Research, Mazlina Abdul Rahman, said, “We project inflation to rise moderately to 1.7% in 2026, remaining at a manageable level. Headline inflation averaged 1.4% year on year for the first 11 months of 2025, lower than 1.9% in the corresponding period in 2024, before edging higher from July 2025 following the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax to additional service sectors, selected non-essential goods and utility tariff adjustments. Looking ahead, lower Brent crude oil prices, expectations of a stronger ringgit compared to the 2025 average and the absence of further fuel subsidy rationalisation this year should help keep inflation in check,” she elaborated.
The full report can be accessed at:
https://go.smebank.com.my/ECO2026
For more information:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v6RXMzwWrfUjyk18u5dS1dC_09pO3dlL
Issued by:
SME Bank Strategic Communication
SOURCE: SME Bank
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Arnee Ismail
Head, Strategic Communication
SME Bank
Tel: +603 2603 7700 / +6019-6633390
Email: communications@smebank.com.my
--BERNAMA
CEMENT INDUSTRY URGES POLICY BACKING FOR WASTE CO-PROCESSING
 |
| Joint Cross-industry Statement: Cement Industry Co-Processing Should Be More Widely Adopted for Global Sustainable Waste Management |
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Global industry organisations have issued a joint call for stronger policy support to scale up cement industry co-processing as a solution to the growing crisis of non-recyclable and non-reusable waste.
In a joint statement, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), International Solid Waste Association – Africa, Mission Possible Partnership and the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WtERT) said cement kilns can play a critical role in sustainable waste management worldwide.
GCCA Chief Executive, Thomas Guillot said cement industry co-processing is a safe, effective and circular waste management solution.
“Despite its proven benefits, wider adoption of co-processing depends on effective regulatory frameworks and supportive public policy,” he said in a statement.
Co-processing allows waste to replace fossil fuels in cement kilns while recycling residual ash directly into cement products, creating a zero-waste process. The approach targets contaminated and non-recyclable waste streams, complementing recycling systems and reducing reliance on landfills and new disposal infrastructure.
The practice is already recognised in regions including Europe, India, Latin America and North America, operating under strict environmental and safety standards. However, adoption remains uneven globally due to regulatory and policy gaps.
The organisations urged governments to formally recognise co-processing in waste policies, streamline environmental permitting, incentivise waste collection and pre-treatment, and count recycled material from co-processing toward national recycling targets. They also called for fiscal incentives and public-private partnerships to support long-term investment.
Global waste generation is estimated at 11.2 billion tonnes annually, with uncontrolled municipal waste projected to reach 1.6 billion tonnes by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Poor waste management contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and public health risks.
The signatories said co-processing offers a scalable pathway to divert waste from landfills, cut fossil fuel use in cement production and transform waste into a productive resource—if supported by coherent and aligned policies.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Post-Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance Corporation
SINGAPORE, Jan 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good), and the Vietnam National Scale Rating of aaa.VN (Exceptional) of Post-Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance Corporation (PTI) (Vietnam). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
The ratings reflect PTI’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
PTI’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level in 2024, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital adequacy has improved in recent years, driven by full earnings retention and portfolio restructuring. The company has a moderate-risk investment strategy, with the majority of investments held in cash and deposits, coupled with some higher-risk investments that include corporate bonds, real estate and equities. In addition, PTI’s exposure to large risks and natural catastrophes is partially mitigated through its reinsurance programme, whereby its reinsurance counterparties are generally of good credit quality.
AM Best assesses PTI’s operating performance as adequate as demonstrated by a five-year weighted average return-on-equity ratio of 8.6% (2020-2024). The company’s underwriting performance continued to show improvements following tightened underwriting guidelines and portfolio restructuring. In addition, PTI’s investment returns, consisting primarily of interest income, have been a relatively stable contributor to its overall earnings over the last five years.
PTI’s market share has reduced over the last three years, in part due to business restructuring and tighter risk selection. The company’s key product lines are mainly short-tail personal insurance, namely, motor, health and personal accident. PTI also benefits from a wide distribution network and good relationships with distribution partners.
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/20260113297866/en/
Contact
Ken Lau
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5025
ken.lau@ambest.com
Chris Lim, CFA
Associate Director
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@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
The ratings reflect PTI’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
PTI’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level in 2024, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital adequacy has improved in recent years, driven by full earnings retention and portfolio restructuring. The company has a moderate-risk investment strategy, with the majority of investments held in cash and deposits, coupled with some higher-risk investments that include corporate bonds, real estate and equities. In addition, PTI’s exposure to large risks and natural catastrophes is partially mitigated through its reinsurance programme, whereby its reinsurance counterparties are generally of good credit quality.
AM Best assesses PTI’s operating performance as adequate as demonstrated by a five-year weighted average return-on-equity ratio of 8.6% (2020-2024). The company’s underwriting performance continued to show improvements following tightened underwriting guidelines and portfolio restructuring. In addition, PTI’s investment returns, consisting primarily of interest income, have been a relatively stable contributor to its overall earnings over the last five years.
PTI’s market share has reduced over the last three years, in part due to business restructuring and tighter risk selection. The company’s key product lines are mainly short-tail personal insurance, namely, motor, health and personal accident. PTI also benefits from a wide distribution network and good relationships with distribution partners.
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/20260113297866/en/
Contact
Ken Lau
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5025
ken.lau@ambest.com
Chris Lim, CFA
Associate Director
+65 6303 5018
chris.lim@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
AGIBOT Launches in Malaysia – Marks the Start of a Series of Strategic Initiatives Across the Asia-Pacific Region
 |
| From L – R: Mr. Abel Deng, President, Asia-Pacific & Middle East Region, AGIBOT ; Mr. Daniel Jiang, Partner & Co-president of AGIBOT; Mr. Deng Taihua , Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AGIBOT; YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad ; YB Tuan Chiew Choon Man, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Dato' Eu Hong Chew, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of I-Berhad |
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- AGIBOT, a leading robotics company specializing in embodied intelligence, recently announced the start of a series of strategic initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region in 2026, starting with a landmark launch event in Malaysia. The launch event was held at i-City, Selangor, and was attended by AGIBOT’s senior leadership team, alongside Malaysian government officials, partners, customers, and media guests. The event reinforced AGIBOT’s long-term commitment to building partnerships and advancing automation in Malaysia and across the region.
AGIBOT’s Industry Leadership – Ranked No. 1 in Humanoid Robot Shipments & Market Share in 2025
AGIBOT was founded in 2023 with a clear ambition reflected in its name: building robots for the AGI era. Rather than creating single-purpose machines, AGIBOT is focused on developing embodied intelligent robots that can learn, adapt, and evolve in the real world.
Last year AGIBOT reached several major milestones that underscored its leadership in humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence. Achievements include the latest rollout of its 5,168th mass-produced humanoid, demonstrating industrial-grade manufacturing capability and large-scale commercial readiness. AGIBOT also advanced embodied AI through real-world reinforcement learning, enabling its robots to be trained and deployed directly in physical production environments.
This resulted in AGIBOT being ranked No. 1 globally by Omdia. According to Omdia’s General-Purpose Embodied Intelligent Robot 2026 report, AGIBOT ranked No.1 globally in humanoid robot shipments and market share in 2025, shipping over 5,100 units and capturing 39% of the global market.
“AGIBOT made significant strides to improve the mass production and the practical use of embodied robotics last year. This was capped off at the end of last year when we rolled out our 5,000 th mass-produced humanoid robots. This milestone, along with others, puts AGIBOT in a strong position as we start 2026,” said Deng Taihua, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AGIBOT. “Today’s AGIBOT launch event in Malaysia is an example of our commitment to bring mass production and the practical use of embodied robotics to customers in this region.”
AGIBOT and I-Berhad Launch First AI & Robotics Experience Centre in Malaysia
The AGIBOT launch event on the 13th January 2026 also marked the Grand Opening of the AI World Experience Centre in i-City, officiated by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), YB Chang Lih Kang. The Centre was established in partnership with I-Berhad, one of Malaysia’s leading investment and property development companies, and the master developer of i-City. As a part of this strategic alliance, AGIBOT’s world-class robotics and embodied AI was deployed across property, hospitality, tourism and day-to-day urban life in i-City, Malaysia’s leading digital city. In parallel, the collaboration introduces a strong focus on human wellness and longevity, where AI and robotics are applied not only to productivity and automation, but also to health optimization and quality of life. AI World represents the first stage of a broader, long-term partnership between AGIBOT and I-Berhad.
“The building and launch of Malaysia’s first AI & Robotics Experience Centre concludes the first phase of our partnership with i-City, with plans for further development in the coming year. This launch also marks the first of several strategic initiatives we will roll out in the Asia-Pacific region throughout 2026 and beyond,” shares Abel Deng, President, Asia-Pacific & Middle East Region, AGIBOT. “This year, in collaboration with regional partners, we will accelerate the development of the embodied robotics ecosystem in Asia Pacific and deploy embodied robotics products and solutions across a wider range of closed-loop commercial scenarios.
“We are confident that this strategic initiative between AGIBOT and I-Berhad will advance Malaysia’s vision to become a regional hub for AI innovation through integrated development across technology, governance, talent, infrastructure, and investment,” said Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad. “Furthermore, by developing the world’s first AI and Robotics Residential Tower as a real-world testbed and commercialization platform for humanoid robotics, we are accelerating the integration of embodied intelligence into everyday residential life. We are also laying the groundwork to translate advanced robotics capabilities into everyday living, while embedding health, wellness and longevity at the core of future residential environments. Through the convergence of AI, robotics, wellness innovation and a scalable Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, we are establishing a new benchmark for intelligent, human-centric living in the region, beginning with AI Tower.”
AGIBOT’s Industry-Leading Robotics Portfolio and Commercial Applications
AGIBOT offers a diversified and complete robotics portfolio tailored to a wide range of real-world applications. AGIBOT’s product lineup includes:
● AGIBOT A2 series – full-sized humanoids enabling multimodal interaction and autonomous navigation for guided presentations and showroom spaces
● AGIBOT X2 series – half-sized compact humanoids that can interact naturally with people, walk in a humanlike way, and perform complex, expressive movements, designed for entertainment, research and education
● AGIBOT G2 series – industrial-grade embodied robots combining interactive intelligence with precise force-controlled manipulation for rapid deployment in industrial environments.
● AGIBOT D1 series – high-mobility quadruped robots for inspection and operations in complex environments
● AGIBOT C5 – autonomous commercial floor-care robot delivering efficient sweeping, scrubbing, and smart navigation for large facilities
AGIBOT's robots are focused on eight key commercial applications, including reception and hospitality, entertainment and commercial performances, industrial intelligent manufacturing, logistics sorting, security inspection and patrol, data collection and training, scientific research and education. Through widespread adoption across multiple industries, AGIBOT brings the potential of embodied AI to reality, by driving industrial upgrades, transforming service and production processes, and supporting broader digital transformation efforts.
About AGIBOT
AGIBOT is dedicated to driving innovation through the integration of AI and robotics, creating world-leading general-purpose embodied robot products and an application ecosystem. Built on the foundation of robotic body and powered by the fusion of interaction, manipulation, and locomotion intelligence — "1 Robotic Body + 3 Intelligence" — AGIBOT is a leading robotics company in the industry to deliver a complete product portfolio and deploy across all major application scenarios.
For more information, please visit AGIBOT online at AGIBOT.com and follow AGIBOT on their socials:
https://www.facebook.com/AGIBOT.zhiyuan
https://x.com/AGIBOT_zhiyuan
https://www.instagram.com/AGIBOT_
https://www.youtube.com/@AGIBOT-robot
SOURCE: PNTR Group Advisors Sdn Bhd
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Aineena Hani - PR Consultant PNTR Group
Tel: +60128860059
Email: aineena@titanstrategic.co , aineena@pntr.group
LinkedIn: Aineena Hani Rozario
Name: Yuheng Feng - AGIBOT
Email: fengyuheng@agibot.com
--BERNAMA
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
1X Unveils Paradigm Shift In Humanoid AI: NEO’s Starting to Learn On Its Own
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan 13 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1X is excited to announce the new 1X World Model, a groundbreaking AI update for NEO, marking a major leap forward in humanoid robotics. The new 1X World Model enables NEO to turn any request into an AI capability on demand, using a video model grounded in real-world physics. This marks the first major step toward a future where robots can teach themselves to do anything a human can.
With this update, NEO leverages internet-scale video data fine-tuned on robot data to perform AI tasks, even with objects and environments it has never encountered before. This approach closes the loop between digital intelligence and physical reality, allowing NEO to build on humanity's vast knowledge as captured in video.
“After years of developing our World Model and making NEO’s design as close to human as possible, NEO can now learn from internet-scale video and apply that knowledge directly to the physical world. With the ability to transform any prompt into new actions—even without prior examples—this marks the starting point of NEO’s ability to teach itself to master nearly anything you could think to ask.”
- Bernt Børnich, CEO and Founder, 1X
The 1X World Model Turns Any Prompt into Autonomous Action
With this update, users give NEO a simple voice or text prompt, and it uses what it’s looking at to generate visualizations of future actions, and a built-in inverse dynamics model then translates these into precise movements for NEO to complete the request.
“With the 1X World Model, you can turn any prompt into a fully autonomous robot action — even with tasks and objects NEO’s never seen before.”
- Daniel Ho, AI Researcher, 1X
Demonstrations in 1X’s latest video showcase NEO's ability to generalize beyond training data. For simple prompts like packing a lunch box, NEO visualizes and executes fluidly, even with unfamiliar objects. More impressively, NEO handles completely novel tasks, such as operating a toilet seat, opening a sliding door, ironing a shirt, brushing a human's hair and more without any prior examples in its dataset. This highlights the transfer of broad human knowledge through the World Model.
The Flywheel Toward Self-Teaching Robots
Where traditional AI models for humanoid robots have depended on data collected by human operators, the 1X World Model enables NEO to collect its own data and master new capabilities autonomously. This paradigm shift opens the door for robots to teach themselves anything—accelerating the path to general-purpose humanoids that learn continuously from experience.
Humanoid AI Capabilities Scaling Alongside Video Models
Where improvement in AI capabilities for humanoids have long been bottlenecked by the speed in which robot data can be collected by human operators, the 1X World Model doesn’t only self improve from NEO collecting it’s own data but benefits from the improvement of video models given the world model uses a video model at its core.
Robust Performance in Dynamic and Unpredictable Environments
Traditional models have historically struggled with changes in lighting, clutter, or chaos that is commonplace in the home. The 1X World Model applies human-like understanding to navigate extreme variability, maintaining composure amid rapid environmental shifts. NEO is now able to generate and execute actions across countless scenarios, a first of its kind development in the humanoid space.
Learn More About the 1X World Model
To learn more, please visit our blog or watch the demonstration video here.
Pricing and Availability
NEO is available via 1X’s online store [1x.tech/order] and comes in three distinct colors (Tan, Gray, Dark Brown). Customers interested in owning one of the first NEOs can purchase Early Access for $20,000, which includes priority delivery in 2026. There will also be a subscription model offering of $499/month.
About 1X
1X is a leading U.S. based AI and robotics company, developing NEO–the home robot. 1X’s mission is to create an abundant future through safe, intelligent humanoids.
Media Contact:
Kendall Pennington
Head of Communications, 1X
Email: press@1x.tech
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe3770cd-6f5f-4bbc-a0ff-31e6d46e04ec
SOURCE: 1X Technologies
With this update, NEO leverages internet-scale video data fine-tuned on robot data to perform AI tasks, even with objects and environments it has never encountered before. This approach closes the loop between digital intelligence and physical reality, allowing NEO to build on humanity's vast knowledge as captured in video.
“After years of developing our World Model and making NEO’s design as close to human as possible, NEO can now learn from internet-scale video and apply that knowledge directly to the physical world. With the ability to transform any prompt into new actions—even without prior examples—this marks the starting point of NEO’s ability to teach itself to master nearly anything you could think to ask.”
- Bernt Børnich, CEO and Founder, 1X
The 1X World Model Turns Any Prompt into Autonomous Action
With this update, users give NEO a simple voice or text prompt, and it uses what it’s looking at to generate visualizations of future actions, and a built-in inverse dynamics model then translates these into precise movements for NEO to complete the request.
“With the 1X World Model, you can turn any prompt into a fully autonomous robot action — even with tasks and objects NEO’s never seen before.”
- Daniel Ho, AI Researcher, 1X
Demonstrations in 1X’s latest video showcase NEO's ability to generalize beyond training data. For simple prompts like packing a lunch box, NEO visualizes and executes fluidly, even with unfamiliar objects. More impressively, NEO handles completely novel tasks, such as operating a toilet seat, opening a sliding door, ironing a shirt, brushing a human's hair and more without any prior examples in its dataset. This highlights the transfer of broad human knowledge through the World Model.
The Flywheel Toward Self-Teaching Robots
Where traditional AI models for humanoid robots have depended on data collected by human operators, the 1X World Model enables NEO to collect its own data and master new capabilities autonomously. This paradigm shift opens the door for robots to teach themselves anything—accelerating the path to general-purpose humanoids that learn continuously from experience.
Humanoid AI Capabilities Scaling Alongside Video Models
Where improvement in AI capabilities for humanoids have long been bottlenecked by the speed in which robot data can be collected by human operators, the 1X World Model doesn’t only self improve from NEO collecting it’s own data but benefits from the improvement of video models given the world model uses a video model at its core.
Robust Performance in Dynamic and Unpredictable Environments
Traditional models have historically struggled with changes in lighting, clutter, or chaos that is commonplace in the home. The 1X World Model applies human-like understanding to navigate extreme variability, maintaining composure amid rapid environmental shifts. NEO is now able to generate and execute actions across countless scenarios, a first of its kind development in the humanoid space.
Learn More About the 1X World Model
To learn more, please visit our blog or watch the demonstration video here.
Pricing and Availability
NEO is available via 1X’s online store [1x.tech/order] and comes in three distinct colors (Tan, Gray, Dark Brown). Customers interested in owning one of the first NEOs can purchase Early Access for $20,000, which includes priority delivery in 2026. There will also be a subscription model offering of $499/month.
About 1X
1X is a leading U.S. based AI and robotics company, developing NEO–the home robot. 1X’s mission is to create an abundant future through safe, intelligent humanoids.
Media Contact:
Kendall Pennington
Head of Communications, 1X
Email: press@1x.tech
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe3770cd-6f5f-4bbc-a0ff-31e6d46e04ec
SOURCE: 1X Technologies
Friday, January 9, 2026
FRANKLIN SPORTS SIGNS WORLD NO. 1 PICKLEBALL PLAYER ANNA LEIGH WATERS
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Franklin Sports, a Massachusetts-based sporting goods brand, has signed pickleball’s number one player, Anna Leigh Waters, to a long-term agreement, further elevating the brand’s presence in the global pickleball landscape.
Franklin Sports President Adam Franklin said the partnership aligns with the company’s mission to support athletes at every level while continuing to grow the sport internationally.
As part of the agreement, Waters will compete using Franklin’s award-winning C45° Carbon Fiber Paddle technology and collaborate with the company to co-design a signature line of pickleball products, including paddles, bags, and accessories.
According to Franklin Sports in a statement, the multi-thermoformed C45° carbon weave is widely used on the professional circuit and underpins its performance-focused product development.
In addition, Waters and Franklin Sports will also introduce a new professional-grade pickleball to complement the company’s existing X-40 ball line, which is used across major pickleball competitions.
The partnership includes athlete insights, product testing, and innovation initiatives aimed at enhancing player performance, while supporting Franklin Sports’ international expansion through marketing and global outreach.
At 18 years old, Waters dominates the Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP) and is already the winningest player in PPA history with 181 gold medals and 39 career triple crowns.
Franklin Sports first entered the pickleball market in 2017 with the introduction of its X-40 Ball and now offers a full range of pickleball equipment, including paddles, nets, bags, and accessories, strengthening its reputation as the global leader in professional pickleball.
-- BERNAMA
Franklin Sports President Adam Franklin said the partnership aligns with the company’s mission to support athletes at every level while continuing to grow the sport internationally.
As part of the agreement, Waters will compete using Franklin’s award-winning C45° Carbon Fiber Paddle technology and collaborate with the company to co-design a signature line of pickleball products, including paddles, bags, and accessories.
According to Franklin Sports in a statement, the multi-thermoformed C45° carbon weave is widely used on the professional circuit and underpins its performance-focused product development.
In addition, Waters and Franklin Sports will also introduce a new professional-grade pickleball to complement the company’s existing X-40 ball line, which is used across major pickleball competitions.
The partnership includes athlete insights, product testing, and innovation initiatives aimed at enhancing player performance, while supporting Franklin Sports’ international expansion through marketing and global outreach.
At 18 years old, Waters dominates the Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP) and is already the winningest player in PPA history with 181 gold medals and 39 career triple crowns.
Franklin Sports first entered the pickleball market in 2017 with the introduction of its X-40 Ball and now offers a full range of pickleball equipment, including paddles, nets, bags, and accessories, strengthening its reputation as the global leader in professional pickleball.
-- BERNAMA
Thursday, January 8, 2026
TII Abu Dhabi Melancarkan Falcon-H1 Arabic, Menetapkan Model AI Bahasa Arab Terunggul di Dunia
 |
TII Abu Dhabi Melancarkan Falcon-H1 Arabic, Menetapkan Model AI Bahasa Arab Terunggul di Dunia (Grafik: AETOSWire) |
Berasaskan seni bina hibrid baharu, model ini menawarkan ketepatan yang lebih tinggi walaupun dijalankan dengan saiz parameter yang lebih kecil.
Pelancaran ini menggariskan usaha UAE untuk bersaing dengan peneraju AI global dalam pembangunan model bahasa berprestasi tinggi.
ABU DHABI, Emiriah Arab Bersatu, 7 Jan (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Institut Inovasi Teknologi (Technology Innovation Institute, TII), cabang penyelidikan gunaan di bawah Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) Abu Dhabi, telah mengumumkan Falcon-H1 Arabic, sebuah model bahasa besar yang dibangunkan baharu berasaskan seni bina hibrid Mamba–Transformer. Menandakan perubahan menyeluruh daripada versi terdahulu yang berasaskan Transformer sepenuhnya, model baharu ini menempatkan dirinya sebagai sistem berprestasi tertinggi dalam Open Arabic LLM Leaderboard (OALL).
Pencapaian ini meletakkan Falcon-H1 Arabic sebagai model AI bahasa Arab terunggul yang tersedia ketika ini, mengatasi model yang beberapa kali ganda lebih besar sambil menawarkan ketepatan bertaraf terkini, pengendalian konteks yang unggul, serta perwakilan linguistik yang mantap.
Yang Amat Berhormat Faisal al Bannai, Penasihat kepada Presiden UAE dan Setiausaha Agung Advanced Technology Research Council, berkata, “Falcon-H1 Arabic mencerminkan komitmen berterusan kami untuk memperkukuh kedudukan UAE sebagai hab global bagi teknologi termaju dan AI yang bertanggungjawab. Dengan membangunkan model yang menyokong keperluan linguistik dan budaya serantau, kami memungkinkan inovasi yang mudah diakses, relevan, dan memberi impak dalam masyarakat kita. Pencapaian ini membuktikan kedalaman bakat dan kepakaran penyelidikan dalam TII.”
Berdasarkan sambutan positif terhadap model Falcon-Arabic yang dilancarkan awal tahun ini, yang menunjukkan keperluan jelas komuniti terhadap LLM Bahasa Arab berkualiti tinggi, TII telah mempertingkatkan kerjanya dengan keluarga model baharu Falcon-H1 Arabic. Tersedia dalam saiz parameter 3B, 7B, dan 34B, model ini direka untuk memenuhi pelbagai keperluan infrastruktur dan kes penggunaan. Falcon-H1 Arabic memperkenalkan penambahbaikan dari segi kualiti data, liputan dialek, kestabilan konteks panjang, dan penaakulan matematik, membolehkan pemahaman Bahasa Arab yang lebih tepat, boleh dipercayai, dan sensitif konteks bagi aplikasi dunia sebenar.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif TII, berkata, “Pembangunan Falcon-H1 Arabic dibina atas kerja asas bertahun-tahun dalam AI Bahasa Arab dan memberi respons terus kepada keperluan komuniti kami, termasuk pembangun dan perniagaan. Dengan mempertingkatkan seni bina, kualiti data, dan penaakulan konteks panjang, kami mencipta pemudahcara yang membuka kemungkinan baharu dalam pendidikan, penjagaan kesihatan, tadbir urus, perusahaan, dan banyak lagi, semuanya dalam Bahasa Arab. Model ini mewakili langkah penting dalam misi kami untuk menyediakan AI bertaraf dunia yang memberi manfaat kepada rantau ini dan menyumbang kepada kemajuan global.”
Keputusan Penanda Aras
Dalam penarafan OALL yang menilai model berdasarkan pelbagai tugas pemahaman dan penaakulan Bahasa Arab - Falcon-H1 Arabic menunjukkan kepimpinan prestasi yang jelas:
· Model 3B mencatat purata skor 61.87%, 10 mata lebih tinggi daripada pesaing 4B terkemuka, seperti Phi-4 Mini keluaran Microsoft.
· Model 7B mencatat purata skor 71.47%, mengatasi semua model bersaiz ~10B, termasuk Fanar-1-9B dari Qatar dan HUMAIN ALLaM 7B dari Arab Saudi.
· Model 34B mencatat skor 75.36%, mengatasi sistem bersaiz 70B+ parameter, termasuk Qwen2.5 72B dari China dan Llama-3.3 70B daripada META.
Selain OALL, model Falcon-H1 Arabic juga mencatatkan prestasi cemerlang pada penanda aras yang lebih khusus, termasuk, (i) 3LM, untuk penaakulan dalam bidang STEM, (ii) ArabCulture, untuk pemahaman budaya dan konteks, dan (iii) AraDice (untuk penguasaan dialek).
Secara keseluruhan, keputusan ini menandakan detik terobosan bagi AI Bahasa Arab. Falcon-H1 Arabic bukan sahaja mengatasi model yang beberapa kali ganda lebih besar, dalam penanda aras umum dan khusus, malah menunjukkan tahap kepelbagaian linguistik, keupayaan penaakulan, dan kecekapan yang menetapkan penanda aras baharu dalam bidang ini. Ini menjadikan Falcon-H1 Arabic sebagai model bahasa Arab paling berkeupayaan dan serbaguna yang pernah dibangunkan setakat ini.
Dr. Hakim Hacid, Ketua Penyelidik di Pusat Penyelidikan Kecerdasan Buatan dan Digital TII (AIDRC), berkata, “Model ini mencerminkan fokus kami untuk membangunkan AI Bahasa Arab yang bukan sahaja lebih maju, tetapi juga benar-benar berguna dalam situasi dunia sebenar. Dengan meningkatkan kecekapan, kedalaman pemahaman, dan liputan bahasa, kami membolehkan sistem AI menyokong institusi, pembangun, dan komuniti di seluruh rantau dengan lebih baik.”
Model ini juga memperluas panjang konteks secara dramatik, dengan tetingkap sehingga 256K token, membolehkan model memproses sejumlah besar maklumat dalam satu interaksi. Dalam amalan, ini bermakna pengguna boleh menganalisis dokumen undang-undang yang panjang, nota perubatan, kertas akademik, atau pangkalan pengetahuan perusahaan tanpa kehilangan konteks atau kesinambungan, satu keupayaan yang sebelum ini tidak mungkin dilakukan pada skala sebegini.
Model AI Falcon TII telah mengekalkan kedudukan nombor satu dalam penanda aras serantau dan global sejak 2023, dengan Falcon-H1 Arabic kini mendahului Open Arabic LLM Leaderboard merentasi semua saiz model. Keputusan ini membuktikan keupayaan TII untuk membangunkan kemampuan AI berdaulat yang bersaing di peringkat global tertinggi, sambil memajukan kepimpinan Abu Dhabi dan UAE dalam penyelidikan dan inovasi AI Bahasa Arab.
Model baharu ini kini boleh diakses melalui playground melalui antara muka awam TII di: https://chat.falconllm.tii.ae.
Sumber: AETOSWire
Teks bahasa sumber asal pengumuman ini adalah versi rasmi yang sahih. Terjemahan yang disediakan hanya sebagai penyesuaian sahaja, dan hendaklah di silang-rujuk dengan teks bahasa sumber, yang satu-satunya versi teks dengan kesan undang-undang.
Galeri Multimedia/Foto Sedia Ada: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260105343577/en
Contacts
Jinan Warrayat
jinan.warrayat@tii.ae
Sumber: Technology Innovation Institute
--BERNAMA
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Pluxee Q1 Fiscal 2026 Revenues - Robust start in the 1st quarter delivering on expectations, All Fiscal 2026 financial objectives confirmed
All Fiscal 2026 financial objectives confirmed
Issy-les-Moulineaux, FRANCE, Jan 7 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Q1 Fiscal 2026 Revenues
Issy-les-Moulineaux, France – January 7th, 2026
Robust start in the 1st quarter delivering on expectations
All Fiscal 2026 financial objectives confirmed
Highlights
Issy-les-Moulineaux, FRANCE, Jan 7 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Q1 Fiscal 2026 Revenues
Issy-les-Moulineaux, France – January 7th, 2026
Robust start in the 1st quarter delivering on expectations
All Fiscal 2026 financial objectives confirmed
Highlights
- Sustained Employee Benefits business performance in Q1 Fiscal 2026 driven by strong new client acquisition and healthy net retention
- Total Revenues up +9.0% organically, reaching €308m
- Operating revenue up +9.1% organically to €268m, supported by a strong trajectory in Employee Benefits delivering +11.6% organic growth
- Float revenue standing at €40m, up +8.5% organically
- Continued execution of the M&A roadmap with the closing of Skipr in Belgium and France, and ProEves in India, alongside a solid and diversified pipeline
- Pluxee confirms all its financial objectives for Fiscal 20261 amid an evolving regulatory framework in Brazil, leveraging its robust business model and agility in execution
Q1 Fiscal 2026 key figures
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Operating revenue | 268 | 249 | 9.1% | 7.5% |
| Float revenue | 40 | 40 | 8.5% | 0.8% |
| Total Revenues | 308 | 289 | 9.0% | 6.6% |
| of which | ||||
| Continental Europe | 121 | 120 | -0.4% | 1.4% |
| Latin America | 131 | 112 | 17.2% | 16.7% |
| Rest of the world | 56 | 58 | 12.9% | -2.4% |
| of which | ||||
| Employee Benefits | 271 | 249 | 11.2% | 8.8% |
| Other Products & Services | 37 | 40 | -4.6% | -7.1% |
Aurélien Sonet, Chief Executive Officer of Pluxee, commented:
"Quarter after quarter, we continue to execute with discipline and I am proud to report that we have delivered a robust start to Fiscal 2026. As expected, revenue grew steadily during the quarter, reflecting sustained momentum in Employee Benefits commercial performance.
We also made meaningful progress on our strategic roadmap, notably through M&A with the successful completion of the acquisitions of Skipr and ProEves, which will respectively enrich our multi-benefit offering in Belgium and France, and further strengthen our leadership position in India. Looking ahead, our solid M&A pipeline, diversified across both geographies and deal sizes, will continue to fuel our long-term growth ambitions.
Operating in a challenging environment, particularly amid ongoing regulatory developments in Brazil, we build on our strengths and the strong commitment of our people to adapt to evolving market conditions. On the back of our strong start to the year, leveraging on our agility in execution and our diversified growth drivers, we are confident in our ability to deliver sustained operational and financial performance over the long-term."
Sustained business performance
Total Business volumes issued (BVI) reached 6.3 billion euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, compared to 6.5 billion euros last year, with distinct trends across service lines.
Employee Benefits business volumes reached 5.0 billion euros, up +5.4% organically, or +7.2% excluding a cut-off effect related to delayed ordering of a large program in Romania. Latin America and Rest of the World continued to deliver low double-digit business volume growth, driven by robust new client acquisition and a net retention rate sustained at 100%2 supported by high client loyalty and a continued upward trend in face value. In Continental Europe, BVI trends were more balanced, with strong momentum in Southern Europe offset by persistent macro economic headwinds in several countries and temporary cut-off effect from the Romanian program.
Other Products & Services business volumes stood at 1.3 billion euros, compared to 1.7 billion euros in Q1 Fiscal 2025. The performance of this line of service during the quarter reflected the anticipated temporary situation in Public Benefits, due to the termination, scale-down or deferral of large programs across Continental Europe.
Q1 Fiscal 2026 revenue performance
Total Revenues reached 308 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, representing +9.0% organic growth, maintaining a robust upward trend. This performance was driven by consistently solid momentum in Employee Benefits Operating revenue and continued growth in Float revenue.
Reported growth reached +6.6% compared to Q1 Fiscal 2025. This includes a currency impact of -3.6%, mainly related to the depreciation of the Turkish Lira against the Euro, partially offset by a +1.2% positive scope effect reflecting the integration of recent acquisitions, including mainly Cobee, Benefício Fácil and Skipr.
Total Revenues by nature
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Operating revenue | 268 | 249 | 9.1% | 7.5% |
| Float revenue | 40 | 40 | 8.5% | 0.8% |
| Total Revenues | 308 | 289 | 9.0% | 6.6% |
Operating revenue reached 268 million euros, up +9.1% organically in Q1 Fiscal 2026 and +7.5% reported, including a +1.4% scope effect and a -3.0% currency translation impact. Pluxee sustained its strong organic growth trajectory in Operating revenue, driven by Employee Benefits.
Float revenue reached 40 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, increasing +8.5% organically, i.e. +0.8% reported including a +0.1% scope effect and a -7.8% currency translation effect. Float revenue organic growth was driven by year-on-year higher interest rates in Brazil, combined with a tactical and opportunistic investment approach tailored to local market conditions, offsetting the gradual decline in interest rates in other countries.
Operating revenue by line of service
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Employee Benefits | 234 | 212 | 11.6% | 10.2% |
| Other products and services | 34 | 37 | -5.7% | -8.2% |
| Total Operating revenue | 268 | 249 | 9.1% | 7.5% |
Employee Benefits generated Operating revenue of 234 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, up +11.6% organically, i.e. +10.2% reported, including a -3.1% currency impact and a +1.7% scope effect. This low double-digit performance was fueled by a solid business volume trend combined with a slight year-on-year improvement in the take-up rate.
Other products and services generated Operating revenue of 34 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, representing a -5.7% organic evolution compared to 37 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2025. This anticipated performance fully reflected the termination, scale-down or deferral of certain Public Benefits contracts in Continental Europe.
Operating revenue by region
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Continental Europe | 110 | 105 | 2.7% | 4.9% |
| Latin America | 112 | 98 | 14.3% | 13.9% |
| Rest of the world | 46 | 46 | 12.6% | -0.1% |
| Total Operating revenue | 268 | 249 | 9.1% | 7.5% |
In Continental Europe, Operating revenue reached 110 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, recording a +2.7% organic growth and a +4.9% reported growth when included the +2.2% scope effect. Strong momentum in Southern Europe was partly tempered by the challenging macroeconomic environment in the rest of Europe. This continued to weigh on the evolution of the end-user portfolio which, however, started to stabilize. The region was also impacted by anticipated temporary headwinds related to Public Benefits as well as deferred ordering in a large Employee Benefits program in Romania.
In Latin America, Operating revenue reached 112 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, growing by +14.3% organically, i.e. +13.9% reported including a -1.5% currency impact, related mainly to the Brazilian Real, and a +1.1% scope effect. This substantial organic growth was fueled by strong business momentum across the region, particularly in Brazil, where the Group continues to take advantage of a more supportive macroeconomic environment, notably characterized by persistent inflation.
In Rest of the world, Operating revenue amounted to 46 million euros in Q1 Fiscal 2026, showing a +12.6% organic growth and a -0.1% reported growth including a -12.8% currency impact, mainly related to the evolution of the Turkish Lira. Türkiye remained a key growth engine during Q1 Fiscal 2026, while early positive signs are being observed in the U.K. and the U.S., following the implementation of key structural initiatives, including changes in management teams and the launch of new employee engagement platforms.
Continued M&A strategy execution
Pluxee pursued the execution of its M&A roadmap, recently closing two additional acquisitions:
- In September 2025, the Group completed the 100% acquisition of Skipr, a fast-growing and innovative employee mobility benefit provider in Belgium and France. This acquisition will accelerate Pluxee’s development in this segment, enhancing its multi-benefit offering and strengthening its innovation capabilities.
- In December 2025, Pluxee closed the 100% acquisition of ProEves, an Indian leader in corporate childcare employee benefit activity. The Group reinforces its leadership position in India by entering this key benefits segment for employees and further enriching its multi-benefit approach in a fast-growing market.
Both transaction were fully funded from existing cash resources with no impact on Group leverage.
Pluxee also benefits from a rich and diversified M&A pipeline, spanning geographies, deal sizes and strategic contributions, positioning the Group for continued successful execution.
All Fiscal 2026 financial objectives confirmed
The Group confirms all its Fiscal 2026 financial objectives as announced on November 17, 2025, expecting to deliver:
Pluxee also benefits from a rich and diversified M&A pipeline, spanning geographies, deal sizes and strategic contributions, positioning the Group for continued successful execution.
All Fiscal 2026 financial objectives confirmed
The Group confirms all its Fiscal 2026 financial objectives as announced on November 17, 2025, expecting to deliver:
- Stable like-for-like Total Revenues3, including slightly decreasing Float revenue like-for-like;
- Slight organic expansion in Recurring EBITDA margin1;
- Around 80% average Recurring cash conversion rate over Fiscal 2024-2026.
These financial objectives are based on the most conservative assumptions regarding the content of the reform in Brazil and its timeline for implementation, as announced in the presidential decree. They also take into account the positive impacts of mitigation actions as well as the adaptation of the Group's operating model in Brazil. It will be gradually deployed according to the reform timeline.
Beyond Fiscal 2026, the measures announced in Brazil, if fully confirmed, would still impact the Group’s financials in First Half Fiscal 2027, with Pluxee anticipating a return to a sustainable growth trajectory from the Second Half of Fiscal 2027 onwards.
Conference call for investors and analysts
Pluxee will hold a conference call in English on January 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. CET to present its Q1 Fiscal 2026 revenues.
To connect:
Beyond Fiscal 2026, the measures announced in Brazil, if fully confirmed, would still impact the Group’s financials in First Half Fiscal 2027, with Pluxee anticipating a return to a sustainable growth trajectory from the Second Half of Fiscal 2027 onwards.
Conference call for investors and analysts
Pluxee will hold a conference call in English on January 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. CET to present its Q1 Fiscal 2026 revenues.
To connect:
- from France: +33 1 70 91 87 04; or
- from the UK: +44 1 212 818 004; or
- from the U.S.: +1 718 705 8796,
followed by the access code 14 05 22.
The live audio webcast will be accessible on www.pluxeegroup.com
The press release, presentation and webcast will be available on the Group website www.pluxeegroup.com in the section "Investors – Financial results and publications".
Financial calendar
Fiscal 2026
| First Half Fiscal 2026 Results | April 16, 2026 |
| Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Revenues | July 3, 2026 |
| Annual Fiscal 2026 Results | October 29, 2026 |
| Fiscal 2026 Annual Shareholders' Meeting | December 17, 2026 |
These dates are indicative and may be subject to change without notice.
Regular updates are available in the calendar on our website www.pluxeegroup.com
About Pluxee
Pluxee is a global player in Employee Benefits and Engagement that operates in 28 countries. Pluxee helps companies attract, engage, and retain talent thanks to a broad range of solutions across Meal & Food, Well-being, Lifestyle, Reward & Recognition, and Public Benefits. Powered by leading technology and more than 5,600 engaged team members, Pluxee acts as a trusted partner within a highly interconnected B2B2C ecosystem made up of more than 500,000 clients, 37 million+ consumers and 1.7 million+ merchants. Conducting business for more than 45 years, Pluxee is committed to creating a positive impact on local communities, supporting well-being at work for employees, and protecting the planet. For more information: www.pluxeegroup.com.
Contacts
| Analysts and Investors Pauline Bireaud +33 6 22 58 83 51 pauline.bireaud@pluxeegroup.com | Media Cecilia de Pierrebourg +33 6 03 30 46 98 cecilia.depierrebourg@pluxeegroup.com |
Appendices
Total Revenues
Breakdown of Total Revenues by nature
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic Growth (%) | Scope effect (%) | Currency effect (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Operating revenue | 268 | 249 | 9.1% | 1.4% | -3.0% | 7.5% |
| Float revenue | 40 | 40 | 8.5% | 0.1% | -7.8% | 0.8% |
| Total Revenues | 308 | 289 | 9.0% | 1.2% | -3.6% | 6.6% |
Breakdown of Total Revenues by line of service
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Scope effect (%) | Currency effect (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Employee Benefits | 271 | 249 | 11.2% | 1.4% | -3.8% | 8.8% |
| Other Products & Services | 37 | 40 | -4.6% | —% | -2.5% | -7.1% |
| Total Revenues | 308 | 289 | 9.0% | 1.2% | -3.6% | 6.6% |
Breakdown of Total Revenues by region
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Scope effect (%) | Currency effect (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Continental Europe | 121 | 120 | -0.4% | 1.9% | -0.0% | 1.4% |
| Latin America | 131 | 112 | 17.2% | 1.0% | -1.6% | 16.7% |
| Rest of the world | 56 | 58 | 12.9% | —% | -15.2% | -2.4% |
| Total Revenues | 308 | 289 | 9.0% | 1.2% | -3.6% | 6.6% |
Operating revenue
Breakdown of Operating revenue by line of service
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Scope effect (%) | Currency effect (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Employee Benefits | 234 | 212 | 11.6% | 1.7% | -3.1% | 10.2% |
| Other products and services | 34 | 37 | -5.7% | —% | -2.5% | -8.2% |
| Total Operating revenue | 268 | 249 | 9.1% | 1.4% | -3.0% | 7.5% |
Breakdown of Operating revenue by region
| (in million euros) | Q1 Fiscal 2026 | Q1 Fiscal 2025 | Organic growth (%) | Scope effect (%) | Currency effect (%) | Reported growth (%) |
| Continental Europe | 110 | 105 | 2.7% | 2.2% | -0.0% | 4.9% |
| Latin America | 112 | 98 | 14.3% | 1.1% | -1.5% | 13.9% |
| Rest of the world | 46 | 46 | 12.6% | —% | -12.8% | -0.1% |
| Total Operating revenue | 268 | 249 | 9.1% | 1.4% | -3.0% | 7.5% |
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Group's intentions, current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding the Group's future business strategies and the environment in which the Group operates, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Group's control, which may cause the Group's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed in Pluxee's Fiscal 2025 Annual Report, filed on October 30, 2025 with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiële Markten, “AFM”) and the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers, and available in the 'Investors – Financial Results and Publications' section of the Group website: www.pluxeegroup.com. Accordingly, readers of this press release are cautioned on relying on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Pluxee Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based.
Disclaimer
This press release does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in securities in France, the United States, or any other jurisdiction.
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1 As communicated on November 17, 2025
2 Net retention rate excluding cut-off effect related to the current delay in the ordering of a large Employee Benefit program in Romania.
3 At constant foreign currencies and scope.
Attachment
SOURCE: Pluxee N.V.
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