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Royal Caribbean Group announces completion of offering of $1.25 billion senior unsecured notes due 2034

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Advertorial Desk
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MIAMI, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) (the “Company”) today announced that it has completed its registered public offering of $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.550% senior unsecured notes due 2034 (the “Notes”). The Notes will mature on January 20, 2034, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under its floating rate term loan facilities and any remaining net proceeds to repay or refinance other existing indebtedness.

BNP Paribas Securities Corp., BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as lead book-running managers for the offering.

The Notes were offered and sold pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) that was filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2024, and became effective upon filing.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relating to, among other things, the offering and sale of the Notes constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited, to: statements regarding terms of the offering of the Notes and the intended use of proceeds. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “committed,” “could,” “driving,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “encouraged,” “project,” “shaping up,” “position,” “allows,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “considering,” and similar expressions are intended to help identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations, are based on judgments, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of the economic and geopolitical environment on key aspects of the Company’s business, such as the demand for cruises, passenger spending, and operating costs; changes in operating costs; the unavailability or cost of air service; incidents or adverse publicity concerning the Company’s ships, port facilities, land destinations and/or passengers or the cruise vacation industry in general; the effects of weather, climate events and/or natural disasters on the Company’s business; risks related to the Company’s sustainability activities; the impact of issues at shipyards, including ship delivery delays or ship construction cost increases; shipyard unavailability; unavailability of ports of call; vacation industry competition and increase in industry capacity; inability to manage the Company’s cost and capital allocation strategies; the uncertainties of conducting business globally and expanding into new markets and new ventures, including potential acquisitions; issues with travel advisers that sell and market the Company’s cruises; reliance on third-party service providers; potential unavailability of insurance coverage; disease outbreaks and increased concern about the risk of illness on the Company’s ships or when travelling to or from the Company’s ships, which could cause a decrease in demand, guest cancellations, and ship redeployments; the risks and costs related to cyber security attacks, data breaches, protecting the Company’s systems and maintaining data integrity and security; uncertainties of a foreign legal system as the Company is not incorporated in the United States; the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient financing or capital to fund its capital expenditures, operations, debt repayments and other financing needs; the Company’s expectation and ability to pay a cash dividend on its common stock in the future; changes to the Company’s dividend policy; growing anti-tourism sentiments and environmental concerns; changes in U.S. or other countries’ foreign travel policy; impact of new or changing legislation and regulations (including environmental regulations) or governmental orders on the Company’s business; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, fuel prices and interest rates; further impairments of the Company’s goodwill, long-lived assets, equity investments and notes receivable; an inability to source crew or provisions and supplies from certain places; the Company’s ability to recruit, develop and retain high quality personnel; and pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions.

Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of actual results. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group is a leading global vacation company spanning cruise, exclusive destinations, and land-based vacation experiences. The company operates 71 ships sailing to more than 1,000 destinations across all seven continents through its three wholly owned brands – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea – and a 50% joint venture interest in TUI Cruises, which operates the Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd brands.

Strength From Within: A TORRAS Conversation with Tommy Caldwell

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Advertorial Desk
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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Climbing icon Tommy Caldwell recently joined TORRAS for a father-son climb with his son Fitz on the Scimitar route near Lake Tahoe. Featuring TORRAS Q3 AIR PRO, the project opened into a candid conversation about resilience, fatherhood and the experiences that have shaped him over a lifetime of climbing.

Strength in Focus

For Tommy, who once saw climbing as the center of his life, losing a finger might have seemed like a nightmare. Yet even in that moment, he found a sense of possibility.

“I felt uncertainty and fear, but I also felt strangely liberated. There were no expectations anymore—neither from me nor from anyone else. I was starting from the bottom, and every time I proved I could still do something, it was uplifting and invigorating.”

Despite the extraordinary climbs he went on to achieve after that, Tommy has never seen himself as a naturally gifted climber.

“Over time, I realized that hard work could still take me to those places. I grew to love getting into the trench and digging a little every day. That process itself became fulfilling. I learned that I was good at focusing on something, being relentless, and moving steadily toward it—so I embraced that strength.”

Recording on His Own Terms

Tommy and Kevin Jorgeson’s historic Dawn Wall ascent brought their story to a global audience and changed the way Caldwell thought about sharing his experiences.

“I began to understand that sharing could be meaningful. But I also learned when to put the phone down. At one point I dropped my phone off the wall, and it reminded me that if you become too absorbed in what people are saying, you can stop experiencing the thing itself. The balance matters.”

Today, Caldwell also captures moments on his own terms. During the climb with Fitz, the TORRAS Q3 Air Pro made it easier to record along the way.

“I found myself belaying with one hand and recording with the other in a way I would not have felt comfortable doing before. I also clipped the ring to a carabiner on my rack, almost the same way I rack climbing gear. That was a pleasant surprise because it made the phone much faster to access than repeatedly sliding it in and out of a pocket.”

Passing on Confidence

Scimitar marked one of Fitz’s most challenging multi-pitch climbs yet. As he stays close to protect Fitz on the wall, Tommy takes an equally careful approach to fatherhood.

“I did not want to force him to climb, even though in the back of my mind I hoped he might eventually see what I see in it. The challenge for me is to contain my enthusiasm and let his interest grow naturally, without tying it to ego or to other people’s expectations of a professional climber’s child.”

Asked what he ultimately hopes for Fitz, Caldwell does not prescribe a destination.

“First of all, I want him to be his own person and find his own path. I know how to teach him to follow the path I took, but that is not necessarily the path he should take.

“I want him to be confident and joyful—to see the world as a wonderful place, to meet people from many places, to notice beauty, and to move through life with openness.”

For Caldwell, what gets passed on is not a path to follow, but the confidence to find one.

Shared Ground: Tommy Caldwell & TORRAS

The sense of focus Caldwell values is what he appreciates about TORRAS as a brand.

“I think the biggest difference between TORRAS and other brands I’ve worked with is that they put so much energy into making just a few products very well. It’s cool to see all that energy going into a few things and those things being really perfected.”

The connection feels even closer through a shared relationship with climbing.

“It was exciting to see TORRAS’s connection to climbing. There are people within the company who are climbers, and TORRAS supports climbing gyms. Anything close to the climbing world means a lot to me.”

 


Kismile Launches the AeroLucen™ Glass Air Fryer, Combining Faster Cooking with a See-Through Cooking Experience

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Advertorial Desk
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SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As consumers continue to seek faster and healthier meal preparation in fast-paced lives, Kismile, a trusted brand in small kitchen appliances, launches its innovative 5QT AeroLucen™ glass air fryer to help modern households create tasty cuisines in less time. By combining faster cooking, a visible glass basket, and a dynamic speed ring, the AeroLucen™ delivers a highly efficient and more enjoyable cooking experience for everyday life. 

Kismile’s AreoLucen™ Glass Air Fryer delivers fast cooking performance with a transparent glass barrel that lets users see food as it cooks.
Kismile’s AreoLucen™ Glass Air Fryer delivers fast cooking performance with a transparent glass barrel that lets users see food as it cooks.

Rapid Heat for Cooking, Smart Cooling for Comfort

Unlike regular air fryers that take a long time to heat up, the AeroLucen™ cooks faster via a 3600 RPM high-speed DC motor, PID temperature control, and 1500W carbon fiber heating element to improve heating accuracy, airflow, and energy use all at once.

The AeroLucen™ Air Fryer features the following:

  • Quick Cooking Performance: As little as 8 minutes for finishing 0.5 lb frozen pre-fried fries, while 30 minutes for a whole chicken without preheating or cutting (results may vary for different cooking methods).
  • Versatile Cooking Modes: Set temperatures between 90°F and 450°F to meet every cooking need from proofing to high heating and functions from frozen to broil mode.
  • Cool Touch Operation: The Cool-Loop™ airflow structure keeps the touch panel cool, ensuring a cozier and safer user experience.

Master the Heat with Dynamic Speed Ring 

To keep an eye on your food while it cooks, AeroLucen™ features a 4-color dynamic speed ring on the top of the appliance. Different animated lighting effects from cyan to red represent the distinct cooking function modes and fan speeds, allowing users to understand the air fryer’s operating status at a glance.

Visible and Versatile Borosilicate Glass Barrel

The transparent high-borosilicate glass barrel transforms cooking into an engaging visual experience. Users can watch the ingredients caramelize and crisp, monitor cooking progress, and make adjustments when needed to achieve their preferred results.

Designed without a PFAS-based nonstick coating, the mess-free glass barrel and crisper plate are dishwasher safe with zero risk of peeling. Paired with an included lid (removed before cooking), the glass bowl doubles as tableware for prepping, serving, or storing meals.

Flip the Plate, Flex the Space

Kismile has especially designed a proprietary Magic Crisper Plate that offers either a full 5-quart capacity for larger meals or a 2.5-quart space that positions food closer to the heat source for more efficient roasting by simply reversing its placement. Additionally, the compact 9.7-inch body is designed to fit easily into standard kitchen cabinets.

“Speed should never mean sacrificing flavor,” said Cyrus Guo, product manager at Kismile. “By combining rapid heating with precise control, our appliance locks in the natural juices for a crispy exterior and a tender interior. AeroLucen™ is your trusted kitchen companion, making delicious home-cooked meals effortless—even on your busiest days.”

The Kismile AeroLucen™ Air Fryer in pearl and onyx colors is available at a MSRP of $159 through Amazon and Kismile.com.

About Kismile

Founded in 2015, Kismile is a premium kitchen appliance brand dedicated to making cooking easier, more accessible, and truly enjoyable. Specializing in thoughtful kitchen solutions, Kismile brings modern efficiency and aesthetic design into every home. Driven by the spirit of “Cook, Smile, Share,” Kismile continues to empower individuals and families to effortlessly create delicious meals and foster warm, memorable moments around the table.

COSRX Becomes the First K-Beauty Patron of the British Beauty Council

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Advertorial Desk
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Global science-led skincare brand COSRX joins the British Beauty Council as its first K-Beauty patron, strengthening its commitment to industry education, innovation and advocacy.

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global skincare brand COSRX has announced its patronage of the British Beauty Council, becoming the organization’s first-ever K-Beauty patron. The partnership marks a significant milestone for both COSRX and the British Beauty Council, reflecting the growing global influence of Korean beauty while reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing industry standards through education, innovation and advocacy.

COSRX Becomes the First K-Beauty Patron of the British Beauty Council
COSRX Becomes the First K-Beauty Patron of the British Beauty Council

As a patron, COSRX will work alongside the British Beauty Council to support key industry initiatives, including the Council’s UV Safety Coalition, helping to drive greater awareness around sun protection, skincare education and public health. The partnership also represents COSRX’s continued commitment to contributing to the global beauty industry as the brand expands its international presence and participates in broader conversations shaping the future of skincare.

COSRX Founder Jun Sang Hun said about the partnership:
“At COSRX, our mission has always been to help people rediscover their skin’s healthy, natural beauty through effective, science-backed skincare—and empower them to live better lives with greater confidence. We believe that positive changes in the skin inspire confidence, and that confidence helps shape a better tomorrow. This is what “Expecting Tomorrow” means to COSRX.”

For over a decade, COSRX has redefined what science-led skincare can look like. Combining COSmetics and RX (Prescription), the brand was founded on the principle of creating simple, effective skincare solutions rooted in scientific research and a deep understanding of consumers’ skin concerns. Its targeted formulations are designed to support healthier-looking skin while empowering individuals to build effective, accessible skincare routines with confidence.

Built on the belief that skincare should deliver more than surface-level results, COSRX has earned global recognition for its high-performance formulations across barrier care, hydration, sensitivity and skin texture. Championing carefully selected ingredients and high-efficacy formulas, the brand combines concentrated active ingredients with uncomplicated routines to deliver visible, result-driven skincare.

Speaking about the partnership, Millie Kendall OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the British Beauty Council, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome COSRX as the British Beauty Council’s first K-Beauty patron. Korean beauty continues to shape the global industry, and COSRX brings valuable expertise to our community. This partnership reflects the increasingly global nature of beauty, and we look forward to what we can achieve together.”

From pioneering the use of innovative ingredients in mainstream skincare to developing next-generation formulations powered by cutting-edge actives including peptides, PDRN and exosomes, COSRX continues to advance innovation across the skincare category. The brand’s portfolio includes hero products such as the 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum, the Blue Peptide Bakuchiol Plump Glow Serum, the Peptide Collagen Hydrogel Eye Patch, and the Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer, offering targeted solutions across barrier support, hydration and a range of everyday skin concerns.

Through its patronage, COSRX and the British Beauty Council will work collaboratively to champion education, promote evidence-led skincare practices and support initiatives that positively impact the beauty industry and consumers.

About COSRX
Rooted in science and driven by results, COSRX is a global derma skincare brand known for high-performance, accessible formulations developed around carefully selected ingredients and real skin concerns. Through ingredient-led innovation and consumer-focused product development, COSRX creates effective skincare solutions that are easy to understand and incorporate into everyday routines. Its award-winning portfolio is available through COSRX.com and leading retailers including Olive Young, Amazon, ULTA, Revolve, Dermstore, Nordstrom and Target. Follow ‘@cosrx’ on Instagram and TikTok for the latest product launches, skincare tips and brand updates.

Angel Yeast’s AHH Packaging Design Recognized with Red Dot Award

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Advertorial Desk
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SHANGHAI, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Angel Nutritech, a professional yeast biotechnology subsidiary under Angel Yeast (SSE: 600298), has been recognized for its Angel Human Health (AHH) yeast essence packaging design with a Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design 2026.


Design Inspired by Scientific Rigor and Modern Elegance

Drawing inspiration from Angel Yeast’s more than four decades of expertise in fermentation technology, the packaging design for AHH yeast essence translates the “Yeast Regeneration and Repair without Boundaries” concept into a compelling visual language. The design team consciously evoked the microscopic process of yeast cell division and budding, employing a minimalist visual of interlocking circles to show the moment of cell division, thereby conveying the product’s core value: cellular level skin repair.

The symbolism of yeast cell division also communicates the form of a plump droplet of the yeast essence, echoing the product’s highly pure, concentrated nature. The bottles containing the essence have a silhouette that tapers at the top and is full at the base, lending the packaging a sense of stability and dynamic three-dimensionality.

The design pairs pure white with luxurious gold accents, utilizing hot-stamping and embossing techniques to ultimately achieve a clean, professional aesthetic that balances minimalism with premium visual appeal.

Aesthetic Appeal Meets Functionality and Sustainability

Going beyond visual appeal, AHH’s packaging design prioritizes functionality and environmental responsibility. Serum products feature individually sealed, single-use ampoules that deliver precise dosing with every application. This design safeguards the stability of active ingredients, helps prevent contamination during use, and offers a compact, portable format that fits seamlessly into daily routines and travel alike.

For products such as toners, emulsions and cleansers, AHH adopts ergonomic, non-slip designs paired with pump dispensers equipped with removable locking clips. This thoughtful engineering effectively prevents accidental leakage during travel, ensuring that every product remains secure, easy to handle and convenient to use on the go.

In terms of sustainability, the packaging incorporates FSC-certified paper, soy-based inks, and recyclable plastics, striving to minimize the environmental footprint while maintaining product quality. By integrating these green design principles, AHH demonstrates its commitment to responsible packaging that protects both the product and the planet.

The Red Dot Award: A Global Mark of Trust

“Winning the Red Dot Award is a testament to our team’s relentless pursuit of merging scientific rigor with modern elegance,” said Zhou Chenpeng, General Manager of Angel Nutritech. “This recognition validates our belief that packaging is not just a container, but a crucial touchpoint in the consumer’s skincare journey.”

The Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design 2026 recognition not only validates Angel Nutritech’s design innovation and brand strength but also serves as a powerful indicator of the company’s internal synergy, its commitment to design-driven value, and its deep focus on the consumer upgrade trend. The accolade reflects a coordinated effort across the organization, where design excellence is treated not as an afterthought but as a core driver of brand value.

Beyond the internal significance, the award adds a credible anchor of trust for the brand’s communication in the global consumer market. As AHH continues to expand its international presence, this independent, internationally recognized honor strengthens consumer confidence in the quality and design integrity of the yeast essence series, supporting the brand’s storytelling and market positioning on a worldwide stage.

Looking forward, the Angel Nutritech design team will continue its dedication to blending practical functionality with modern aesthetics, creating innovative product ranges that reflect the brand’s warmth and infusing greater creative momentum into the company’s development of high-quality yeast products.

Hotel Shilla Rises to 21st on Brand Finance’s Global Hotel Brand Ranking, the Only Korean Hotel Brand in Top 50

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Advertorial Desk
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Moves up two places from 2025 in ‘Hotels 50 2026,’ marking continued gains in global brand standing

  • Hotel Shilla ranks 21st in Brand Finance’s ‘Hotels 50 2026,’ the only Korean hotel brand in the Top 50.
  • Three-brand portfolio of The Shilla, Shilla Monogram, and Shilla Stay delivers differentiated brand experiences through premium service and culinary excellence.
  • Forbes Travel Guide and La Liste recognition, alongside expansion in China and Vietnam, underscores Hotel Shilla’s global competitiveness.

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hotel Shilla, South Korea’s leading luxury hospitality company and an affiliate of Samsung Group, ranked 21st among the world’s most valuable hotel brands in ‘Hotels 50 2026,’ published by UK-based brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.

The Shilla Seoul: Yeong Bin Gwan
The Shilla Seoul: Yeong Bin Gwan

Brand Finance is a London-headquartered global brand valuation consultancy that values more than 6,000 brands annually and publishes more than 100 industry and country reports. It assesses brand strength based on factors including marketing investment, stakeholder perceptions and business performance, and calculates the economic value of brands using the Royalty Relief methodology in accordance with international standards.

According to ‘Hotels 50 2026,’ released by Brand Finance in July, Hotel Shilla ranked 21st in global hotel brand value, up two places from 23rd last year. It is the only Korean hotel brand to be included in the Top 50. Brand Finance described Hotel Shilla as an example of a brand that has enhanced both brand strength and brand value through distinctive cultural content and premium service.

The Shilla Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Shilla’s hospitality group, encompasses three distinct brands: luxury brand The Shilla, lifestyle brand Shilla Monogram, and business hotel brand Shilla Stay. The Shilla Seoul, its flagship property, has also built a distinctive fine dining portfolio that includes La Yeon for Korean cuisine, Palsun for Chinese cuisine, Ariake for Japanese cuisine, and Continental for French fine dining.

The rise in ranking is particularly notable in a market dominated by major global hotel chains, highlighting Hotel Shilla’s growing brand strength through its distinct brand identity and operational competitiveness. The combined brand value of the world’s top 50 hotel brands rose 21% year over year to US$69.8 billion in 2026, further illustrating the intensity of competition among leading global hotel brands. Against this backdrop, Hotel Shilla’s position as the only Korean hotel brand in the Top 50 underscores the increasing global prominence of Korean luxury hospitality.

The Shilla Hotels & Resorts currently operates 22 properties: two under The Shilla, three under Shilla Monogram, and 17 under Shilla Stay. The portfolio comprises 19 properties in South Korea, two in China, and one in Vietnam, spanning major destinations including Seoul, Jeju, Xi’an, Yancheng, and Da Nang. Experience gained from serving diverse markets and guest segments enables the company to deliver consistent service standards and guest experiences.

Hotel Shilla’s service and operational capabilities have also been recognized by leading global hotel authorities. In February 2026, The Shilla Seoul earned a Five-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide for the eighth consecutive year, becoming the first and only hotel in Korea to achieve the distinction for eight consecutive years. In July, The Shilla Seoul was included in the World’s Best Hotels 1000 at the ‘La Liste Hotel Awards 2026,’ ranking highest among Korean hotels for the second consecutive year.

“This ranking reflects our continued efforts to build distinctive brand experiences and deliver consistently high standards of service across our portfolio,” said a spokesperson for Hotel Shilla. “Building on our premium service and culinary excellence, we will continue to expand our presence in key international markets and bring Hotel Shilla’s distinctive hospitality to more guests around the world.”

Hotel Shilla continues to expand its international hotel portfolio across key Asian markets. In 2026, the company expanded its footprint in China with the opening of Shilla Monogram Xi’an in February, followed by Shilla Stay Yancheng in April. Following the opening of Shilla Monogram Danang in Vietnam in 2020, Hotel Shilla also plans to open a new hotel in Hanoi. Through this continued international expansion, Hotel Shilla aims to further strengthen its position as a leading Korean luxury hotel brand on the global stage.

Reference:

The Shilla Hotels & Resorts Official Website: https://www.shillahotels.com/index.do

Brand Finance Hotels 50 2026: https://brandirectory.com/reports/hotels

About Hotel Shilla

Hotel Shilla, an affiliate of the Samsung Group, is a leading hospitality and travel retail operator based in South Korea, committed to delivering outstanding customer experiences through innovation and service excellence. Its hospitality division, The Shilla Hotels & Resorts, includes three hotel brands: The Shilla, Shilla Monogram, and Shilla Stay, with 22 properties across South Korea, China, and Vietnam. The Shilla Seoul, the company’s flagship luxury property, is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) and an APAC Regional Program Partner of Virtuoso, recognized globally for excellence in service and sophistication. In its travel retail division, The Shilla Duty Free is a leading duty-free powerhouse, operating three domestic stores, two overseas branches, and an online platform. Drawing on decades of expertise, Hotel Shilla continues to pursue new opportunities for growth, aiming to become a world-class service distribution leader.

Ping An Reports 1H 2026 Results

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Advertorial Desk
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Operating Profit[1] Grows 8.3% YoY; Net Profit[2] Surges 36.1% YoY;

Interim Dividend Increases 3.2% YoY

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (“Ping An” or the “Group”, HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) today announced its 2026 interim results for the six month period ended 30 June 2026.

Despite a complex, volatile external environment and a surging AI-driven tech revolution in the first half of 2026, China’s economy remained stable as the country achieved innovation-driven, high-quality development, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality. Into the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), Ping An continued to focus on its core financial businesses, advanced its tech-enabled “integrated finance + health and senior care” dual-pronged strategy. The Group delivered an interim performance represented by higher-value business growth, stable dividend, innovative services, and technological leadership.

Ping An comprehensively strengthened its business foundations in the first half of 2026. Revenue amounted to RMB615,351 million, up 12.6% YoY; Operating profit after tax (“OPAT”) attributable to shareholders of the parent company was RMB84,196 million, up 8.3% YoY; Net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company was RMB92,585 million, up 36.1% YoY; Equity attributable to shareholders of the parent company was RMB1,028,084 million, up 2.8% from the beginning of the year. Ping An attaches importance to shareholder returns, and will pay an interim dividend of RMB0.98 per share in cash, up 3.2% YoY. Life and health insurance (“Life & Health” or “L&H”) business achieved remarkable results in its high-quality business transformation. New business value (“NBV”) increased 11.2% YoY to RMB24,847 million in the first half of 2026. Ping An improved customer experience by launching Express Service, which could “get things done driven by one prompt” and conducted AI-enabled inquiry, consultation, and processing in 88% of Ping An’s business scenarios; Ping An upgraded Global Emergency Assistance to enable “one action-triggered emergency response.” Ping An’s Global Emergency Assistance network handled over 1,500 emergency requests in the first half of 2026. Ping An builds leading technological capabilities by advancing AI applications across core business lines. The Group’s average daily token consumption exceeded 120 billion in June 2026.

Integrated Finance Boosts Core Competence and Sustained Core Business Momentum

With the accumulation in Chinese residents’ wealth, professional, personalized, and integrated financial services are seeing greater opportunities. Ping An is committed to building integrated solutions of “one customer, multiple accounts, multiple products, and one-stop services” to provide customers with “worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving” high-quality service experience.

Integrated Finance Boosts Core Competence and Customer Operation Efficiency Continues to Improve. Steady customer base expansion: retail customers increased 0.9% from the beginning of the year to 253 million; Higher customer value: high-value customers grew 2.6% from the beginning of the year; Higher customer retention: the retention rate of customers holding products across three or more product lines within the Group was 99%; Higher customer loyalty: 76.6% of customers have been served by Ping An for five or more years, holding 1.7 times as many contracts per customer as first-year customers; Lower customer acquisition costs: internal customer acquisition costs are 35-45% lower than external ones on average. Ping An’s monthly online active customers peaked at about 90 million in the 12 months ended June 30, 2026, a leading number in the financial industry.

Life & Health unswervingly pursues high-quality development by shifting from “quantitative expansion” to “qualitative upgrade.” OPAT rose 2.3% YoY to RMB55,872 million. NBV increased 11.2% YoY to RMB24,847 million. Ping An Life strengthened its balance sheet by constantly transforming participating insurance products, which accounted for over 90% of its new business. Ping An Life proactively optimized the mix of premium payment periods (“PPP”) by diversifying long-PPP products to meet diverse customer needs, steadily boosting the number and retention of long-term customers. Long-PPP products’ share in the agency channel’s new business increased by 6 pps YoY. Ping An Life achieved balanced multi-channel development. NBV per agent of the agency channel rose 14.1% YoY in the first half of 2026. Bancassurance channel NBV rose 18.0% YoY. Bancassurance, community finance and other channels’ share in Ping An Life’s NBV increased 3.8 pps YoY to nearly 40%.

Ping An P&C sustained growth with improving quality and efficiency. Premium income grew 4.0% YoY to RMB178,751 million, in which premium income of new energy vehicle insurance climbed 21.5% YoY in the first half of 2026. Insurance revenue was RMB171,879 million, up 3.8% YoY. Overall COR improved by 0.1 pps YoY to 95.1%. Ping An P&C constantly strengthened its auto insurance service brand and launched two service initiatives, namely exemption from onsite waiting, proof submission and loss assessment as well as good, quick and cost-effective services. Ping An P&C served over three million customers per day on average. Advancing the “insurance + technology + service” model, the Ping An Auto Owner app had over 120 million active users in the 12 months ended June 30, 2026, with a customer satisfaction rating above 97%. Ping An P&C improves service quality and efficiency via risk reduction. By giving alerts on 177 thousand natural disasters to about 120 million customers, Ping An P&C reduced losses by RMB212 million in the first half of 2026.

Ping An delivered robust insurance funds investment results. The insurance funds investment portfolio grew 1.9% year to date to RMB6.61 trillion as of June 30, 2026. The portfolio achieved a 4.8% 10-year average net investment yield and a 4.9% 10-year average comprehensive investment yield, both higher than the EV long-run investment return assumption.

Ping An Bank grew revenue and profit YoY with stable asset quality. Revenue rose 1.8% YoY to RMB70,617 million and net profit grew 3.3% YoY to RMB25,696 million in the first half of 2026. Ping An Bank constantly strengthens risk management. Non-performing loan ratio remained unchanged year to date at 1.05%, and provision coverage ratio was 219.58% as of June 30, 2026, indicating adequate risk provisions. Ping An Bank promotes the high-quality development of retail business. Retail assets under management (“AUM”) rose 3.8% year to date to RMB4,400,227 million as of June 30, 2026. Average interest rate on retail deposits decreased by 40 bps YoY to 1.52% for the first half of 2026.

Health & Senior Care Strategy Enables Core Businesses Via Differentiation

As China enters a “longevity era,” the demand for high-quality health and senior care grows consistently. Ping An is actively building a managed care model with Chinese characteristics, acting for payers and integrating providers to deliver the most cost-effective health and senior care services.

Ping An expands clients’ payment capabilities with a multi-tiered coverage system. In the first half of 2026, Ping An realized RMB88.7 billion in health insurance premium income, including over RMB43 billion in medical insurance premium income, up 4.9% YoY. Health & senior care strategy enables core businesses via differentiation. Health and senior care services were used by 11.51 million of Ping An Life’s customers in the first half of 2026. Health and senior care users’ upsell rate was 5.9 pps higher than non-users’. First-year premium per new life policy of health care customers increased to 2.6 times. The steady development of health and senior care services is contributing long-term value. PKU Healthcare Group achieved RMB2.8 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026. Ping An Good Doctor achieved RMB2,484 million in revenue in the first half of 2026. AI enhances the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment. AI Doctor was used by over 9.7 million persons. Over 11,300 diseases were precisely diagnosed by AI Doctor, and the accuracy rate of AI Doctor-aided diagnosis/ treatment was 96%. Accuracy rate of complex disease diagnosis/treatment plans from AI-enabled multidisciplinary teams reached nearly 90%.

Ping An upgrades an “online, in-hospital, at-home and corporate” full-scenario service network. Ping An partnered with over 38 thousand hospitals (including all top 100 hospitals and 3A hospitals) in China as of June 30, 2026. Ping An had nearly 245 thousand partner pharmacies as of June 30, 2026, covering over 35% of pharmacies nationwide. Ping An’s payment network enables members of corporate health management programs to buy medicines offline by scanning a QR code. As of June 30, 2026, Ping An served 192 thousand corporate clients, whose employees used the health care services over 20 million times in the first half of 2026.

Ping An builds a multi-tiered senior care service system that integrates medical, health and senior care. For home-based senior care, Ping An upgraded its “Ping An Home” service brand in the first half of 2026 by adding an app service portal and transitioning from reactive service to proactive health management. Over 320 thousand customers were entitled to “Ping An Home” services as of June 30, 2026. For community-based senior care, Ping An provided full-process assistance before, during, and after customers’ residence. For institutional senior care, Ping An had unveiled a total of six “Zhen Living” premium health and senior care communities in five cities as of June 30, 2026. Among them, “Zhen City • Shanghai” and “Zhen City • Futian” in Shenzhen have opened for business with more than 700 suites. An experience and showcase center of “Yi City” in Foshan had started a soft opening as of June 30, 2026.

Year of Services: “AI In ALL” Drives Service Innovation and Upgrade

2026 is Ping An’s Year of Services. In pursuit of tech-driven development, Ping An advances artificial intelligence applications across core business lines, innovated and upgraded customer services to address pain points including “complexity, time burden and cost inefficiency” in financial, health and senior care sectors, delivering “worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving” high-quality, cost-effective experience.

Ping An developed “Express Service” featuring “get things done driven by one prompt.” The initiative has integrated multiple service scenarios and apps, and over 300 digital service items into “Express Service” to meet the customer needs of “one user interface, one-stop solutions.” “Express Service” can conduct AI-enabled inquiry, consultation, and processing in 88% of Ping An’s business scenarios as a reliable AI assistant to about 90 million monthly active customers. Ping An upgraded Global Emergency Assistance enabling “one action-triggered emergency response” in 233 countries and regions, handled over 1,500 service requests, provided cross-border medical evacuations for 87 customers, and safely repatriated 36 compatriots from Middle East high-risk areas in 1H 2026. Ping An rolled out the flagship “7 Benefits[3]“ covering a series of home scenarios including sleep, nutrition, and exercise to offer a full suite of proactive health management services. Ping An launched an innovative integrated finance solution for the “pet ecosystem.” The solution integrates a range of financial products, including Ping An Bank’s credit cards and Ping An P&C’s pet insurance products, into everyday pet care scenarios across a service ecosystem comprising 16 thousand pet hospitals and stores nationwide, making veterinary visits worry-free, pet care time-saving, and spending more affordable for pet owners.

The “AI in ALL” strategy comprehensively enables service innovation. AI agents have been used in all of Ping An’s core business scenarios. Average daily token consumption surged from 30 billion in December 2025 to over 120 billion in June 2026. Ping An develops vertical large language models (“LLMs”) enabling internal scenarios for domains including finance, health and senior care. Ping An’s financial LLM achieved the highest overall score on the CNFinBench leaderboard, an authoritative benchmarking system for LLMs in the industry. Ping An’s “Medical LLM 3.5” achieved the highest global score on the authoritative medical AI benchmark HealthBench Hard, setting a record for the evaluation.

Ping An is continuously deepening and widening scenario-oriented AI applications. In improving experience, in the first half of 2026, 59% of life insurance claims were settled via the quick claim service. 94% of auto insurance policies sold via the auto dealer channel were intelligently issued within one minute on average. In managing risks, Ping An P&C’s claims savings via smart fraud detection grew 10.4% YoY to RMB7.11 billion in the first half of 2026. In promoting sales, AI agents helped realize RMB57,313 million in sales in the first half of 2026. In cutting costs, the volume of services provided by Ping An’s AI service representatives reached about 939 million times, accounting for 81% of Ping An’s total customer service volume in the first half of 2026.

Ping An fulfills its corporate social responsibilities by supporting green development and rural vitalization. Ping An’s green investment of insurance funds amounted to RMB647,550 million and green loan balance was RMB273,416 million as of June 30, 2026. Green insurance premium income was RMB41,346 million and funding for rural industrial vitalization via “Ping An Rural Communities Support” totaled RMB30,383 million in the first half of 2026. With an AAA MSCI ESG Rating, Ping An has ranked No.1 in the multi-line insurance and brokerage industry in Asia-Pacific for four consecutive years.

China’s economic potential will be consistently unleashed in the second half of 2026. Ping An will adhere to its original aspiration of finance for the people under its business policy of “higher-value growth, service innovation, tech-driven development, and regulatory compliance.” Ping An will consistently advance its tech-enabled “integrated finance + health and senior care” dual-pronged strategy. Proactively bolstering five key sectors (namely technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance), Ping An continues to enhance operations, strengthening growth momentum, and upgrading high-quality, innovative services. The Group aims for higher-value growth, and creates value through service, making greater contributions to Chinese modernization and accelerating the building of China into a financial powerhouse.

Note:

1. Operating profit refers to OPAT attributable to shareholders of the parent company.

2. Net profit refers to net profit attributable to Shareholders of the Parent Company.

3. “7 Benefits” are: 1. sleep management which improves sleep for vitality; 2. nutrition management which optimizes diet for wellness; 3. functional improvement which stimulates a better state; 4. comorbidity management which effectively addresses chronic diseases; 5. medical visit guidance which assists in seeking medical care; 6. smart guard which ensures home safety; and 7. global medical consultation and drug sourcing which offers access to premium resources.

 

Advasa Holdings, Inc. Announces Revised Expected Trading Commencement Date for Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market

By
Advertorial Desk
-

Common Stock Now Expected to Begin Trading on August 25, 2026 Under the Ticker Symbol “ADBT”

TOKYO and NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Advasa Holdings, Inc. (“ADVASA” or the “Company”), a fintech payment holding company providing Earned Wage Access (EWA) and next-generation financial infrastructure solutions through its Japanese operating subsidiary ADVASA Co., Ltd., today announced an update to the expected commencement of trading of its common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”).

The Company previously announced on August 17, 2026 that its common stock was expected to begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “ADBT” on or about August 18, 2026. The Company now expects trading of its common stock on Nasdaq to commence on August 25, 2026. The rescheduling allows for the final coordination and completion of standard administrative clearing procedures. The Company is currently working alongside its transfer agent, the Depository Trust Company (DTC), and brokerage clearing participants to finalize the electronic intake and credit of shares held by selling stockholders into the DTC system and individual brokerage accounts. This timeline is intended to facilitate an orderly market debut and synchronized execution capabilities across both domestic and international extended-hours trading platforms, including Japanese overnight and after-market sessions.

Nasdaq’s regular market session begins at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). However, because the Company’s common stock is being listed through a public direct listing, trading in the Company’s common stock is not expected to commence simultaneously with the opening of the regular market session at 9:30 a.m. ET. Instead, the opening trading price will be determined through Nasdaq’s opening auction process based on buy and sell orders. Following completion of the applicable Nasdaq procedures and the opening auction process, trading in the Company’s common stock is expected to commence. Accordingly, the actual commencement of trading may occur after 9:30 a.m. ET and may vary depending on market conditions and order activity.

The Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), relating to the Company’s public direct listing of its common stock was declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2026, and the Company’s common stock has been approved for listing on Nasdaq.

WestPark Capital, Inc. is acting as financial advisor and Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis, PLLC is acting as securities counsel to ADVASA in connection with the direct listing on Nasdaq.

The direct listing will be made only by means of a prospectus forming part of the Company’s effective registration statement. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained without charge by visiting the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Subject to individual brokerage timelines and account restrictions, trading is expected to be accessible through the following securities firms in Japan upon or shortly after the expected trading commencement date:

  • Monex, Inc.
  • Rakuten Securities, Inc.
  • SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd.
  • Webull Securities (Japan) Co. Ltd.

(Alphabetical order)

Japanese investors should consult their respective Japanese brokerage platforms directly to confirm exact trading hours, potential local restrictions, and fee structures.

About ADVASA

Advasa Holdings, Inc. (corporate website: https://adbt.io/) is a fintech payment holding company established in Delaware conducting operations through its Japanese subsidiary ADVASA Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan (corporate website: https://www.advasa.co.jp/en/, Founder and Representative Director: Asamitsu Kosugi). ADVASA operates “FUKUPE,” an EWA platform that allows employees to receive wages they have already earned in real-time. Leveraging a global patent strategy, the company has established an intellectual property foundation across markets including Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore. By integrating seamlessly with major HR and payroll systems as well as diverse payment infrastructures (such as bank transfers and e-wallets), ADVASA plans to expand from Japan into global markets—including Indonesia and the UAE where the need for financial inclusion is rapidly growing.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding: the rescheduled anticipated date on which ADVASA’s common stock will begin trading on Nasdaq; the final coordination, processing, and completion of standard administrative clearing procedures; the Company’s ongoing collaboration with its transfer agent, the DTC, and brokerage clearing participants; the successful electronic intake, processing, and credit of shares held by selling stockholders in registered book-entry form into the DTC system and individual brokerage accounts; and the expectation of an orderly market debut with synchronized execution capabilities across both domestic and international extended-hours trading platforms, including Japanese overnight and after-market sessions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs, including risks and uncertainties related to: whether or not the Company will consummate the direct listing on the anticipated timeline or at all; prevailing market conditions; investor demand for shares of ADVASA’s common stock; the expected availability of trading on specific international platforms; unanticipated delays, technical complications, or administrative bottlenecks encountered by third parties, including the transfer agent, the DTC, or brokerage clearing participants, in processing and crediting book-entry shares; the inability of relevant clearing systems to execute the electronic intake of shares within the expected timeframe; regulatory interventions, operational challenges, or system disruptions affecting domestic or international extended-hours trading platforms, including overnight and after-market sessions in Japan; unexpected market volatility or liquidity constraints that may disrupt an orderly market debut or synchronized trading execution; and the impact of general economic, industry, or regulatory conditions in the United States or internationally. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “aim,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “likely,” “potential,” “project,” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations will prove correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from those anticipated and encourages investors to review the risks and uncertainties and other factors that may affect the Company’s future results identified in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-292013), declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2026, the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 filed with the SEC on August 12, 2026, and subsequent disclosure documents the Company may file with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov. The Company claims the protection of the Safe Harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for forward-looking statements.

Investor and Media Contact
ADVASA Investor Relations Email: ir@advasa.co.jp 

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