MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Holcim, global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, has signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Peak Energy, to deploy in the Philippines one of the largest behind-the-meter solar installations.

The 25 MegaWatt-peak (MWp) project will power Holcim’s cement manufacturing plants in Bacnotan, La Union (13 MWp), and Norzagaray, Bulacan (12 MWp), generating approximately 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually. The systems are expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by roughly 28,500 tons per year – equivalent to removing annually 6,000 cars from the road.

Delivered under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement, the project requires no upfront capital from Holcim. Peak Energy will handle design, construction, and long-term operation and maintenance, while Holcim purchases the electricity throughout the duration of this PPA. This enables Holcim to benefit from significant cost saving on their electricity bill from day one. It also supports the integration renewables directly into its industrial operations, without disrupting production on its sites.

“This project represents a breakthrough not just for Peak Energy, but for the renewable energy and sustainable construction sectors in the Philippines,” said Gavin Adda, CEO of Peak Energy. “Combined, this project is the largest behind-the-meter industrial solar deployment in the country to date. Holcim’s leadership in advancing this type of solution sends a clear signal: clean power is now a strategic asset for industry leaders who wish to get long-term visibility, price stability and cost saving from their energy procurement strategies. We’re proud to enable that shift by delivering technically robust, commercially sound systems that can support both decarbonization and long-term operational resilience.”

“This partnership with Peak Energy strengthens our shift toward cleaner and more resilient operations. By integrating solar power into our La Union and Bulacan plants, we are reducing our carbon footprint while supporting our Net Zero ambition and sustainable manufacturing in the Philippines.” said Saeed Ola Ande, SVP, Head of Supply Chain at Holcim Philippines.

Backed by Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, a leading alternative investment firm, Peak Energy delivers clean, affordable and reliable energy solutions to industrial clients across.

This collaboration reflects how renewable energy is a core input to business continuity, cost stability, and long-term growth of leading industrial companies in the region. As other industrial players face the same cost pressures, carbon constraints, and grid uncertainty, this project offers a blueprint for how to move fast, at scale, and without compromise.

About Peak Energy

Headquartered in Singapore, Peak Energy develops, owns, and operates renewable assets across Asia Pacific (APAC). With over 300 MW of operating assets and 1 GW worth of projects in development, our portfolio spans Japan, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. With activities encompassing the full range of renewable energy business models – including utility-scale development, off-site PPAs, onsite PPAs, and energy storage applications – Peak Energy is a one-stop partner for corporates seeking to decarbonize their operations in APAC. We believe in establishing long-term partnerships with our corporate customers, to accompany them in their decarbonization journey, through cleaner, cheaper energy.  

An experienced team handles the complete life cycle of our energy assets from origination and development through to operations and decommissioning, employing state-of-the art technology and the industry best practices, respectful of the environment and following world-class HSE standards. 

Our business practices, technological and HSE standards are standardized across APAC, but we are implemented and operate locally, with teams in seven countries, and lasting partnerships with local customers, EPCs, vendors, channel partners. 

Peak Energy is wholly owned by Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximatively USD 79.9 billion of assets under management. Our financial and technical strength coupled with our relationships in local markets allows us to optimize our capital deployment in high quality assets. 

For more information, please visit https://www.peakenergy.asia. 

About Holcim Philippines

Holcim Philippines, Inc. is the leading partner for sustainable construction in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute a wide range of projects with high performance and efficiency from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.

With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Misamis Oriental, and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.

Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System) and OHSAS 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).

Holcim Philippines is a member of the Holcim Group, a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions.

To know more about Holcim Philippines, you can visit our website at https://www.holcim.ph/ and follow us on our social media platforms on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.

About Holcim

Holcim (HOLN) is the leading partner for sustainable construction with net sales of CHF 16.3 billion in 2024, creating value across the built environment from infrastructure and industry to buildings. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Holcim has more than 48,000 employees in 45 attractive markets – across Europe, Latin America and Asia, Middle East & Africa. Holcim offers high-value end-to-end Building Materials and Building Solutions, from foundations and flooring to roofing and walling – powered by premium brands including ECOPlanet, ECOPact, ECOCycle^® and Elevate.

Learn more about Holcim at www.holcim.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Sign up for Holcim’s Building Progress newsletter here.

Insights from Agoda reveal how integrated, tailored guest experiences and digital partnerships are helping Thai hotels stand out amid rising regional travel

SINGAPORE, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda, in its latest “Tailored to Win: How Hotels are using Localization to Capture Asia’s Tourism Boom” report focuses on Thailand, revealing that 92% of hotels engaging in early stages of localization strategies are seeing higher guest spend as intra-Asia travel accelerates. The survey found that hotels that are moving beyond standard hospitality and investing in tailored guest experiences may be gaining a competitive edge in an increasingly diverse and dynamic market.

Drawing more than 35 million visitors annually and home to more than 17,000 hotels nationwide^[1], Thailand remains as a regional tourism hotspot and a key hub for intra-Asia travel. The steady inflow of regional visitors, particularly from neighboring Asian markets, is shaping the landscape for accommodation providers. To stand out in this increasingly competitive environment, hotels are adapting their strategies to reflect the specific cultural, linguistic and practical preferences of inbound travelers from respective markets.

Agoda’s report shows that one in four Thai hotels now offer a seamlessly localized journey, with 25% at the “integrated tailoring” stage wherein hotels offer a fully localized experience that reflects deep cultural understanding across marketing, booking and on-site touchpoints. Localization strategies go beyond translation, encompassing marketing, booking processes, payment options and guest services tailored to the preferences of each source market. This approach to localization is reflected in how hotels tailor their offerings for different guest segments and preferences. Based on insights from the Agoda Travel Outlook report:

• Malaysian travelers prioritize value for money and family-friendly options
• Chinese guests seek authentic Thai experiences from food to massages and décor
• South Korean guests prefer long-stay offers and listings that highlight local food and attractions
• Indian travelers value wellness and adventure partnerships

“Thailand welcomes over 33 million visitors each year and the hotels capturing the most value are those going beyond standard hospitality,” said Akaporn Rodkong (Looknum), Country Director, Thailand at Agoda. “Deep localization – such as adapting payments, language and service to each market – can not only lead to stronger performance but also enable partners to better meet guest expectations. Hotels adopting a more data-driven approach and taking the first steps towards localization are already noticing that some guests are more willing to up their spend during stays. They report seeing positive outcomes from pairing competitive pricing with experiences that truly resonate with guests, often starting long before they even arrive at the property.”

Agoda’s digital suite for localization includes over 6 million accommodations, support for 39 languages, multi-currency payment options and 24/7 customer support. Dedicated programs such as the Agoda Growth Program for visibility in priority markets, country-specific promotions and Agoda Media Solutions for native-language campaigns are just some of the ways Agoda helps partners localize effectively. Through Agoda’s platform and expertise, hotels can overcome barriers, reach new segments and optimize their returns from international demand.

To explore how practical localization tips and actionable insights can help hotels capture more value from Asia’s diverse traveler base, download the full report at https://ago-da.co/4aevFYJ.

Aligned with national priorities, the programme addresses a growing demand for leaders who can translate AI into business strategy

SINGAPORE, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Singapore Management University (SMU) has launched a new Master of Science in Business AI, aimed at developing a critical but currently under-supplied pipeline of talent: business leaders who are fluent in AI and grounded in cross-functional business knowledge, strategy, and leadership.

The programme is aligned with Singapore’s SkillsFuture and Smart Nation priorities, which emphasise building AI skills and strengthening data-driven decision-making capabilities across the workforce. As AI becomes central to how organisations operate, demand for AI-related skills continues to grow, with companies across Asia-Pacific increasingly adopting AI tools and integrating AI into workflows and operating models.

“The real AI skills gap isn’t merely technical—it’s translational,” said Professor Sungjong Roh, Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business AI at SMU. “While organisations may have access to AI tools, far fewer have leaders and executives who know how to work with them strategically, deploy them responsibly, and ensure they create value while effectively managing risk. This programme closes that critical gap.”

Building a pool of business leaders who can lead with AI

By cultivating a cadre of socially conscious business leaders prepared to take on strategic roles in AI-enabled organisations, the Master of Science in Business and AI programme reflects SMU’s vision for innovation in education.

Developed in close alignment with industry needs, the programme aims to nurture graduates who are fluent in the language of AI technologies and, more importantly, adept in managerial decision-making, business acumen, and strategic transformation within an AI-driven economy.

Unlike traditional programmes that focus either on technical AI development or general management training, SMU’s Master of Science in Business AI is explicitly business-first. The programme emphasises practical leadership and strategic application, and differentiates itself in three key ways:

• Integrated interdisciplinarity: Business strategy, decision intelligence, AI capabilities, and ethics are taught as an integrated whole rather than as siloed disciplines. Students learn to operate at the intersection of senior leadership and technical teams—a capability increasingly demanded by industry.
• Practice-oriented and interactive learning: The curriculum includes distinctive courses such as Human–AI Collaboration, Data Storytelling and AI-Augmented Influencing, Change Management for Disruptive AI, and Innovations and Operations in Intelligent Online Marketplaces. SMU’s hallmark interactive, seminar-style pedagogy fosters deep engagement, peer learning, and close integration with industry practice.
• Strong alignment with national and industry needs: The programme directly supports Singapore’s SkillsFuture and Smart Nation priorities by building capabilities in Business Intelligence, AI-enabled decision-making, and responsible AI governance—areas critical to sustaining competitiveness in an AI-augmented economy.

With strong industry linkages in Singapore and across Asia, SMU aims for the programme to contribute directly to the nation’s pipeline of AI-ready business leaders. By developing “bridge builders” who can connect senior leadership with technical teams and ensure AI investments translate into business value, the University continues to support Singapore’s ambition to remain competitive in an AI-driven global economy.

Applications for the Master of Science in Business and Artificial Intelligence are open from today for the August 2026 intake. Visit the website here.

BEIJING, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Druid Sport, the international sports marketing agency, as an official commercial representative for China, marking a significant step in the NFF’s global commercial strategy.

NFF Men’s National Team celebrating qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026

Under this new agreement, Druid Sport will support the development and commercialisation of regional sponsorship rights for the Norway national teams. This will enable Chinese brands to engage directly with one of Europe’s most exciting football nations and its world-class players, including global superstar striker Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard. As football continues to grow in China, supported by rapidly evolving digital platforms and fan engagement, the opportunity to build premium, long-term partnerships around elite football is significant.

Norway’s growing international profile has been further strengthened by the men’s national team’s electric qualifying campaign, recording eight victories and culminating in a resounding 4–1 win over Italy, securing Norway’s first FIFA World Cup qualification in 28 years. In this context, Norway’s renewed sporting momentum provides a timely and credible platform for brands seeking association with elite international football.

With one of Asia’s largest and most engaged football audiences, China offers NFF partners a strong platform to activate integrated campaigns, connect with key fan communities and build long-term brand value through association with a leading European national team and its globally recognised players.

Druid Sport is a boutique international sports marketing agency with a strong track record of delivering cross-market partnerships for leading rightsholders. Already active across Asia, the agency will oversee NFF’s regional commercial strategy in the Indian subcontinent, supported by an expanding on-ground presence designed to serve partners, seed new programmes and scale sustainable commercial growth.

Diarmuid Crowley, Chief Executive Officer, Druid Sport, said: “We are extremely proud to partner with the Norwegian Football Federation as it strengthens its presence in China, a market of major strategic importance for global football. Our goal is to bring Norway’s national teams closer to Chinese fans while creating compelling opportunities for leading brands to align with one of Europe’s most exciting football nations, led by the global appeal of players such as Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. With our growing operations in China, we are well positioned to deliver long-term commercial value and build meaningful partnerships in the market.”

Runar Pahr Andresen, Chief Marketing Officer, NFF, commented “China is a key market in our international growth strategy. The scale of the audience, the maturity of the commercial landscape and the increasing interest in elite football make this an important region for Norwegian football. Druid Sport’s experience and on-the-ground capabilities provide us with a strong platform to develop high-quality partnerships and to deepen our connection with fans and brands across China.”

Purpose-built payment solutions bring greater visibility, control and intelligence to modern fleet management

SINGAPORE, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mastercard today announced the launch of Mastercard Fleet: Next Gen in Asia Pacific, a portfolio of innovative solutions that expands fleet payments beyond fuel to support the full range of mobility needs for fleet operators today. The solutions are strategically engineered to support different market maturities and customer segments – from SMEs with small fleets to large logistics operators.

As the fleet ecosystem becomes increasingly complex, operators need clearer visibility across spend, stronger controls, and data they can act on in real time. When payment data sits in silos, it creates blind spots and limits efficiency and optimization – preventing the ability to reconcile fuel, maintenance and EV-charging transactions in one place, or making it more difficult for managers to identify anomalies across routes. Mastercard Fleet: Next Gen unifies payments data – turning transactions into actionable insights embedded across fleet management workflows.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region for fleet management, with the market projected to grow at 18% CAGR through 2030. All the while, operators continue to balance cost pressures, evolving sustainability mandates and heightened expectations around security and compliance. In this environment, the ability to access consistent, enriched payment data across fleet activities is essential for scale and long-term performance.

Backed by more than two decades of global fleet expertise, Mastercard Fleet: Next Gen brings together a set of solutions designed to support the evolving needs of fleet operators and issuers:

• Global acceptance across millions of locations, including fuel, EV charging, maintenance, tolling, and ancillary fleet spend
• Network-based fleet data captured at the point of sale, aligned with global standards
• A set of market-specific solutions that enable enhanced data capture at forecourts and fleet-related merchants
• Digitally assigned and issued fleet cards for vehicles or drivers for seamless contactless or mobile payments, as well as specific virtual card solutions tailored to fleet use cases
• Integration with established technology, including mobility platforms, acquirer networks and fleet management tools

“Fleet needs vary widely across Asia Pacific, and connecting payments, data and controls into a single experience reflects what fleet managers require,” said Anouska Ladds, Head of Commercial & New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. “Mastercard’s fleet solutions are designed to help specialist fleet issuers and payment providers bring advanced fleet capabilities to market faster, while reducing the complexity and investment typically required to build these capabilities.” 

Mastercard enables fleet program owners to deliver:

• Smarter authorization controls and spend policies by vehicle, driver, merchant category, location, time, and amount
• Fleet data management to support compliance, accounting, and analytics – enabling better cost management and improved forecasting
• Real-time monitoring of fraud and misuse, adaptable to operational fleet needs

The launch of our latest suite of fleet solutions in Asia Pacific further scales our offerings in this key segment – extending our expertise and innovation in fleet and mobility across the globe. This move also demonstrates Mastercard’s commitment to simplifying B2B payments by connecting fragmented commercial flows through a single, trusted infrastructure – helping businesses of all sizes grow in complex operating environments.

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., ROTTERDAM, Netherlands and SHANGHAI, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Harbour BioMed (the “Company”; HKEX: 02142), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibody therapeutics in immunology and oncology, today announced a positive profit alert for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Based on a preliminary review of the Company’s unaudited management accounts for the Reporting Period, total profit is expected to range between US$88 million (equivalent to approximately HK$685 million) and US$95 million (equivalent to approximately HK$739 million), as compared to a profit of approximately US$2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Total adjusted profit^[1] is expected to range between US$91 million (equivalent to approximately HK$708 million) and US$98 million (equivalent to approximately HK$763 million).

The anticipated increase in profit is primarily attributable to:

• Continued growth of recurring revenue stream of the Company, such as the platform-based research collaboration with AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb.
• Accelerated expansion of global partner network, as the revenue generated from out-licensing and collaboration of innovative products has transformed into recurring revenue stream of the Company, such as the licensing collaboration with Otsuka, the licensing collaboration with Windward Bio.
• Rapid business growth of Nona Biosciences, such as the revenue generated from both technology license and platform-based service, as well as the milestone inflow from existing collaborations, such as the research and technology license collaboration with Pfizer.

Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Harbour BioMed, commented: “This anticipated profit marks a key milestone for Harbour BioMed, validating the value of our unique business model. The strength of our proprietary technology platforms is being recognized through a growing number of deep, strategic collaboration with global leaders. Most importantly, these partnerships are not one-time events; they are evolving into a sustainable financial foundation that fuels our mission to discover and develop novel antibody therapeutics for patients worldwide. Looking ahead, we will build on this momentum through continued innovation and high-impact collaborations to deliver sustainable growth.”

About Harbour BioMed

Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142) is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of novel antibody therapeutics in immunology and oncology. The company is building a robust and differentiated pipeline through internal R&D capabilities, strategic global collaborations in co-discovery and co-development, and selective acquisitions.

Harbour BioMed’s proprietary antibody technology platform, Harbour Mice^®, generates fully human monoclonal antibodies in both the conventional two heavy and two light chain (H2L2) format and the heavy chain-only (HCAb) format. Building upon HCAb antibodies, the HCAb-based immune cell engagers (HBICE^®) bispecific antibody technology enables tumor-killing effects that traditional combination therapies cannot achieve. Additionally, the HCAb-based bispecific immune cell antagonist (HBICA^TM) technology empowers the development of innovative biologics for immunological and inflammatory diseases. By integrating Harbour Mice^®, HBICE^®, and HBICA^TM with a single B-cell cloning platform, Harbour BioMed has built a highly efficient and distinctive antibody discovery engine for developing next-generation therapeutic antibodies. For more information, please visit www.harbourbiomed.com.

Statement

The information contained in this press release is only a preliminary assessment by the Board based on the unaudited consolidated management accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2025 currently available to the Company, and is not based on any figures or information which have been reviewed or confirmed by the audit committee of the Board, or reviewed or audited by the auditors of the Company. The actual results for the year ended December 31, 2025 may differ from those disclosed in this press release. As such, the above figures are strictly for information only and not for any other purposes.