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Emagene Life Announces International Partnership with IFM, Accelerating Functional Medicine, Longevity, and AI-Driven Healthcare

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Emagene Life, Asia’s leader in functional medicine and longevity, is proud to announce its official international partnership with the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the leading voice for functional medicine for more than 30 years. This landmark collaboration aligns Emagene Life with the confident and competent practice of functional medicine worldwide, combining clinical excellence, education, and partnerships across medical disciplines.

Emagene Life , Functional Medicine & Longevity
Emagene Life , Functional Medicine & Longevity

Leading the Future of Functional Medicine and Longevity

Emagene Life is the first healthcare organization in Asia to bring together:

  • IFM Certified Practitioners (IFMCP) – ensuring patients receive care from
    doctors trained to the highest international standards.
  • Longevity-Focused Medicine – pioneering programs that integrate
    diagnostics, personalized interventions, and root-cause analysis to extend
    health span and vitality.
  • Avio Health AI – the world’s first functional medicine large language model
    (LLM) system, developed for Emagene Life, which enables deep learning
    analysis of medical records, labs, imaging, genomics, and lifestyle data in
    minutes, providing practitioners and patients with actionable health insight

Expanding Access with Emagene Academy

Through this partnership with IFM, Emagene Life will launch the Emagene Academy, a regional hub dedicated to training doctors, nutritionists, and healthcare professionals in the field of functional medicine. The Academy will deliver IFM-aligned education tailored for Asia and global markets, bridging cultural and clinical gaps while ensuring the highest standards of integrative care.

“Our mission is to empower people not just to live longer, but to live better. By partnering with IFM, we can expand the reach of Functional Medicine, supported by our world-first AI system “Avio Health”, and train the next generation of practitioners through Emagene Academy,” said
Dr. Shirley Koeh, Medical Director at Emagene Life

“We are delighted to welcome Emagene Life into our global partnership network. Their leadership in Longevity and data-driven healthcare, as well as their commitment to accredited education, aligns perfectly with IFM’s mission to transform healthcare worldwide”. said
Makenzi Harrison, Global Impact Manager, Institute for Functional Medicine. 

About Emagene Life

Emagene Life is a pioneering healthcare company integrating advanced functional medicine, longevity science, and artificial intelligence. With fully IFMCP-certified doctors and clinics serving clients worldwide, Emagene Life combines diagnostics, personalized care, and the proprietary Avio Health AI platform to deliver precision health insights. Through innovation and education, Emagene Life is shaping the future of healthcare and human longevity. http://www.Emagene.Life

About The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)

As the leading voice for functional medicine for more than 30 years, IFM is advancing the transformation of healthcare for patients and practitioners worldwide. Functional medicine evaluates the whole person and treats underlying processes and dysfunctions that cause imbalance and disease by addressing the unique physical, mental, and emotional needs of each patient. IFM supports the confident and competent practice of functional medicine through ACCME-accredited education, industry-leading certification, partnerships across medical disciplines, and advocating on behalf of functional medicine clinicians and patients around the globe. IFM’s Find a Practitioner database is the largest functional medicine referral network in the world. Visit IFM.org for more information.

Agoda Unveils Top Destinations for Traditional Music Lovers this International Music Day

Singapore, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda reveals a curated guide to exploring Asia’s rich tapestry of traditional music to mark International Music Day on October 1st. From the rhythmic beats of Indian folk music to the harmonious melodies of Vietnamese court music, Asia offers a diverse range of musical experiences that captivate travelers seeking to immerse themselves in local culture.

Asia’s traditional music scene is a vibrant mosaic of genres, instruments, and performances that reflect the continent’s cultural diversity. Travelers can enjoy the unique sounds of indigenous music, which serves as a gateway to understanding the history and traditions of each region. Whether it’s the soulful strains of a bamboo flute or the energetic beats of a drum ensemble, Asia’s music offers a sensory journey like no other.

Here is Agoda’s guide to six must-visit destinations to celebrate traditional music in Asia:

  1. Hue (Vietnam)
    Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Hue’s royal court music, Nhã Nhạc, offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s imperial past. Visitors can enjoy performances at the city’s historic sites, where the elegant sounds of Nhã Nhạc transport audiences to a bygone era.
  2. Jodhpur, Rajasthan (India)
    Known for its rich folk music traditions, Jodhpur hosts the annual Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) taking place from 2-6 October this year, where visitors can experience the soulful sounds of Rajasthani folk music. The festival, set against the backdrop of the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, features performances by local and international artists, making it a must-visit for music lovers.
  3. Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture (Japan)
    Home to the renowned Kodo drummers, Sado Island is a hub for traditional Japanese percussion known as Taiko, characterized by its powerful, rhythmic beats. The island’s Earth Celebration event brings together artists from around the world to perform alongside the Kodo drummers, offering a unique opportunity to experience the power and precision of Taiko drumming.
  4. Ubud, Bali (Indonesia)
    Ubud is the heart of Balinese culture, where the enchanting sounds of Gamelan, a traditional ensemble music featuring metallophones and gongs, fill the air. Visitors can attend performances at local temples and cultural centers, where the intricate rhythms and melodies of gamelan orchestras create an unforgettable auditory experience.
  5. Chiang Mai (Thailand)
    Known for its Lanna music, a traditional Northern Thai style using instruments like the khene and saw u, Chiang Mai offers travelers a chance to explore the traditional sounds of Northern Thailand. The city’s vibrant night markets and cultural festivals often feature live performances of Lanna music, characterized by its unique musical style and folk traditions.
  6. Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do (South Korea)
    Jeonju is famous for Pansori, a traditional Korean musical storytelling genre. The Jeonju International Sori Festival showcases the best of Korean traditional music, offering visitors a chance to experience the emotional depth and narrative power of Pansori performances.
  7. Baguio City, Luzon (Philippines)
    Nestled in the Cordillera region, Baguio City is known for its indigenous music, which features bamboo instruments and gong ensembles. Visitors can explore the city’s cultural heritage through performances at local festivals and community events.

Krishna Rathi, Associate Vice President at Agoda, shared, “Asia’s traditional music scene is a treasure trove of cultural richness, and Agoda is thrilled to help travelers discover these unique musical experiences. From the rhythmic beats of Rajasthan to the melodic harmonies of Vietnam, Agoda makes it easy for travelers to explore and enjoy Asia’s diverse musical heritage with great deals on flights, accommodation and activities.”

With over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda offers travelers the flexibility to create their perfect musical journey. Discover more at Agoda.com and find the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app.

MSIG Singapore honoured for Leadership in Personal Lines and Underwriting Excellence


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2025 – MSIG Singapore emerged as a double winner at the inaugural Asia Consumer Insurance Awards 2025, securing both Personal Lines Insurer of the Year and Underwriting Excellence awards.

The double victory recognises MSIG Singapore’s unwavering commitment to delivering strong business performance through robust underwriting and customer-focused innovation. In 2024, the company achieved an underwriting profit of $18.7 million and boosted its profit after tax by 51%.

Organised by Re(in) Asia, the awards celebrate companies that are redefining excellence and innovation across Asia’s insurance industry.

On the product front, MSIG continues to lead through innovative retail offerings to drive growth in its personal lines segment, which now contributes nearly 40% of its total revenue. Foresight in underwriting the electric vehicle space, strategic partnerships in niche segments such as international private medical insurance, and a holistic risk management approach further solidify its market leadership.

Reflecting on the achievement, Steven Leong, Head of Retail Distribution said: “Winning the award is a powerful endorsement to our personal lines strategy. It affirms our commitment to putting customers at the heart of everything we do and spurs us to keep innovating and protecting what matters to our customers as the trusted insurer of choice in Singapore.”

Jeremy Lian, Head of Technical Services added: “This is a proud moment for our underwriting team whose technical expertise, dedication and innovative mindset have contributed to the company’s success. We remain committed to advancing our capabilities and leveraging technology to deliver sustainable value for our customers and stakeholders.”

At the core of MSIG’s operations lies a bold digital transformation strategy. MSIG has deployed Generative AI and automation technologies to streamline its insurance value chain from customer service to underwriting, policy issuance and claims processing to drive greater efficiencies and to better serve customers.

The judges commended MSIG for its data-rich submission in demonstrating tangible customer benefits and measurable impact. The panel also highlighted MSIG’s underwriting strategy, noting its integration of insight-driven solutions and advanced technologies to significantly enhance operational efficiency.

Distinguished professionals from the insurance, advisory, actuarial, consulting and media sectors brought deep industry expertise and diverse perspectives to the evaluation process. The full case studies for the winning entries are available here.

Hashtag: #MSIGSingapore

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About MSIG Insurance

A leading general insurer with a local presence of over 100 years, MSIG Singapore offers an extensive range of insurance solutions for commercial and personal risk protection, enabling the security and safety of individuals and businesses. MSIG Singapore holds an A+/Stable financial rating by Standard & Poor’s.

MSIG Singapore has garnered numerous awards for delivering digitally innovative and customer-centric solutions. In 2024, MSIG was honoured with the ‘Best General Insurer for Singapore’ award by InsuranceAsia News. This prestigious recognition highlights its unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

MSIG is a subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd, and a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group – one of the largest general insurance groups in the world with presence in 50 countries and regions globally, 18 of which are in Asia Pacific including all ASEAN markets as well as in Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and India. Headquartered in Japan, MS&AD is amongst the top non-life insurance groups in the world based on gross revenue.

OSL Group to Accelerate Compliant Tokenization of Real-World Assets in Collaboration with Solana Foundation

HONG KONG, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OSL Group (863.HK), a global leader in compliant digital financial infrastructure, today announced a collaboration with the Solana Foundation today at the Solana APEX Summit. This collaboration will leverage the strengths of both organizations to drive the global, compliant growth of Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, meeting the growing demand from institutional investors.

Eugene Cheung, Chief Commercial Officer of OSL Group and Lu Yin, Solana Foundation APAC Lead at the Solana APEX Summit
Eugene Cheung, Chief Commercial Officer of OSL Group and Lu Yin, Solana Foundation APAC Lead at the Solana APEX Summit

As regulatory frameworks for digital assets take shape across key global jurisdictions, institutional investors are actively seeking compliant and technologically robust gateways into the asset class.This collaboration between OSL Group and the Solana Foundation is driven by a shared vision to promote the development of the compliant digital asset ecosystem. These efforts build on previous initiatives; on August 1 of this year, OSL Group’s subsidiary, OSL HK, became the first licensed digital asset platform in Hong Kong to offer Solana (SOL) to retail investors, launching both SOL/USD and SOL/HKD trading pairs.

OSL Group has established itself as a leader in the RWA space with its best-in-class compliance and technology solutions in recent years. Its platform OSL Tokenworks offers institutional clients—including asset managers, brokerages, and funds—a comprehensive suite of tokenization services. Meanwhile, Solana is increasingly becoming the public blockchain of choice for traditional financial institutions looking to tokenize real-world assets, thanks to its high throughput, minimal transaction costs, and powerful on-chain composability. Looking ahead, OSL Group and the Solana Foundation will continue to drive the compliant, on-chain adoption of more traditional financial assets, enabling traditional institutions to securely, compliantly, and seamlessly access the Web3 ecosystem.

A primary focus of this work is to accelerate the scalable adoption of Real-World Assets. OSL Tokenworks will integrate with the Solana blockchain to provide a compliant and secure issuance channel for traditional financial assets such as funds, bonds, and private credit. Notably, several financial institutions have already expressed significant interest in deploying tokenized fund products on the Solana network through OSL Group, underscoring the market’s strong confidence in this collaborative model.

Eugene Cheung,Chief Commercial Officer of OSL Group said: “Financial institutions are showing immense interest in exploring on-chain digital assets, with compliance and security serving as the bedrock of this exploration. By building on Solana,we will deliver a more powerful and efficient Real-World Asset (RWA) solution for our clients. By merging our compliant financial infrastructure with Solana’s high-performance network, we are paving the way for a deeper integration of traditional and decentralized finance, unlocking the vast potential of a trillion-dollar market.”

Lu Yin, Solana Foundation APAC Lead said: “Solana is dedicated to providing the most efficient platform for the builders of next-generation financial applications. Solana is increasingly favored by institutions looking to deploy RWAs due to the network’s settlement speeds, low costs and composability. We are eager to seeOSL Group, a leader in compliant digital assets, build a new RWA ecosystem that is secure, compliant, risk-managed, and globally liquid.”

About OSL Group

OSL Group (863.HK) is a leading global financial infrastructure platform bridging traditional finance and the digital asset economy through blockchain technology. The Group is dedicated to providing efficient, seamless, and regulatory-compliant financial services to individuals and businesses worldwide.

OSL delivers a comprehensive suite of regulated services through its licensed platforms, including 24/7 OTC brokerage with deep liquidity fiat gateways and competitive pricing; omnibus brokerage solutions enabling traditional financial institutions to integrate digital assets; SOC 2 Type 2-certified custody with up to US$1 billion insurance protection; and compliant retail trading channels; wealth management solutions, including scheduled launches on tokenised treasuries and RWAs; and in preparation for cross-border payment infrastructure via OSL Pay.

“Open, Secure, Licensed” are the principles OSL lives by. OSL is expanding its compliant infrastructure across Japan, Australia, and Europe, potentially Southeast Asia, powering the next generation of global financial infrastructure.

OutSystems Announces General Availability of Agent Workbench, Empowering Enterprises to Drive Business Impact with Agentic Systems

Early Adopters Axos Bank, Thermo Fisher Scientific and KPMG Report Vast Improvements in Efficiency and Cross-Functional Integration of Agentic AI

SINGAPORE, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OutSystems, the leading AI-powered low-code development platform, today announced the general availability of OutSystems Agent Workbench. Agent Workbench empowers enterprises to unlock the business value of AI and agentic systems, making it simple to create and orchestrate intelligent AI agents across use cases, departments, data sets and workflows. Hundreds of customers and partners — companies such as Axos Bank, Thermo Fisher Scientific, The Arch Company, Grihum Housing Finance, and TeamWork — participated in the Agent Workbench Early Access Program, reporting significant improvements in operational efficiency, accelerated speed to value with agentic AI, and elevated digital experiences for customers and employees.

“We plan to expand the use of AI capabilities within OutSystems to realize immediate gains, without needing to invest in specialized AI roles,” said Kevin Hearn, SVP, Head of Consumer Bank Development at Axos Bank. “With Agent Workbench, we can quickly and safely create agents for specific use cases, such as analyzing error logs and automating data entry from documents. Our work with OutSystems on Agent Workbench is a significant step in our AI strategy. By creating and embedding agents into our operations, we are building a more intelligent and responsive banking ecosystem that is ready for the future of finance.”

The news was announced live on-stage at the OutSystems 2025 ONE Conference, the company’s flagship annual event which brings together thousands of IT leaders, developers, and partners from around the world to explore the latest advancements in application and agent development. The general availability of OutSystems Agent Workbench comes at a pivotal moment: the vast majority (93%) of organizations are prioritizing the development of AI agents, but struggle with governance, security, integration and scalability challenges associated with building, deploying, and orchestrating these agents. As OutSystems CEO Woodson Martin discussed during today’s conference, Agent Workbench is designed to run an organization’s entire agentic enterprise – unifying data, workflows, experiences and intelligent agents into a trusted, unified platform with enterprise-grade security and control.

Agentic AI is one of the most powerful levers for enterprise innovation and transformation, empowering organizations to grow revenue, drive operational efficiency, and deliver amazing customer experiences,” said Martin. “Agent Workbench was created to give our customers the tools they need to build the agentic future with OutSystems. Our Early Access Program participants have realized impressive results with Agent Workbench, positioning them as industry leaders in agentic AI.”

Participants in the Early Access Program for Agent Workbench reported the following use cases and results:

Axos Bank optimized workflows and reduced strain on employees

Technology-driven financial services company Axos Bank leveraged Agent Workbench to transform its internal operations by automating complex, manual tasks. The team built an intelligent log analysis agent to interpret error logs and provide actionable recommendations, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual analysis. This AI-driven approach also extends to automated document mapping, significantly improving data accuracy and employee efficiency. With Agent Workbench, Axos Bank will enhance operational efficiency, accelerate problem resolution, and reduce the burden of manual, repetitive tasks on employees.

Thermo Fisher Scientific transformed client operations with a customer escalation agent

Thermo Fisher Scientific used Agent Workbench to transform its customer support process. The company built an intelligent Customer Escalation Agent to interpret a variety of unstructured data from customer interactions. This AI-driven approach eliminates the need for manual triaging and ensures issues are resolved faster. Through OutSystems Agent Workbench, Thermo Fisher can accelerate problem resolution and reduce the burden of manual, repetitive tasks on its support teams.

The Arch Company automated operations for greater agility and stronger customer relationships

The Arch Company, the UK’s largest small business landlord, transformed its digital operations from spreadsheet-driven processes to a centralized, agile digital platform. Using Agent Workbench, the team implemented a content classification agent that intelligently routes customer service enquiries, eliminating the need for manual, specialized classification. This agent-driven approach ensures faster, more accurate responses to customer enquiries, powering a comprehensive customer and asset management system.

TeamWork streamlined support for improved client and employee experiences

TeamWork, an international consulting and technology integration group, developed a tool with Agent Workbench that gives support teams quick access to ticket information and real-time guidance to resolve complex cases. The tool also uses AI agents to automate the resolution of routine, low-value tickets, ensuring that support teams can dedicate more time to higher-impact issues. This multi-agent system significantly enhances operational efficiency and elevates the overall client experience: TeamWork anticipates that a notable share of tickets can be resolved automatically, while the time required to resolve more complex cases is expected to decrease considerably.

Grihum Housing Finance is optimizing loan underwriting for improved accuracy and agility

Grihum Housing Finance, the leading affordable housing finance company in India, is working to deploy Agent Workbench to improve the accuracy of loan underwriting and streamline property evaluations, addressing critical pain points associated with disorganized and region-specific property data. Specialized agents will analyze property evaluation reports and suggest appropriate technical property deviations during the loan origination process, transforming what was previously a manual, error-prone workflow.

Building upon its Early Access Program capabilities, the generally available version of Agent Workbench includes enhanced features such as an agent marketplace as well as Model Context Protocol (MCP) support to accelerate automation by giving agents direct access to enterprise systems, external tools, and services. In addition to supporting AWS Bedrock, Azure OpenAI, and Anthropic models, Agent Workbench supports newer LLMs such as Gemini, Cohere, Mistral, Databricks, AI2, and IBM’s WatsonX. It also supports custom-built models on VertexAI and open-source models on HuggingFace.

“Agent Workbench delivers the speed-to-value and governance guardrails that organizations have come to expect from OutSystems development. It enables teams to design, orchestrate, and deploy AI agents that operate autonomously – from planning tasks to integrating with enterprise systems – while maintaining control through policies, auditability, and compliance across the lifecycle,” said Hélio Pimenta, Associate Partner, KPMG Low-Code Center of Excellence.

To learn more about how agentic AI can accelerate innovation, visit the OutSystems Agent Workbench homepage and join the upcoming Agent Workbench webinar.

About OutSystems

OutSystems is the leading AI-powered low-code development platform trusted by thousands of customers worldwide. The platform empowers CEOs, management teams, and technology leaders to build mission-critical applications and agentic systems that grow revenue, streamline operations, and deliver exactly what businesses need. 

While evolving AI pilots into production success can be challenging due to talent gaps, legacy systems, imperfect data, and sprawling point solutions, OutSystems provides a proven low-code platform and AI-driven development experience that enables innovation up to 10x faster with the assurance of built-in security, scalability, and governance.

Recognized as a leader by analysts, IT executives, business leaders, and developers around the world, global brands trust OutSystems to innovate as fast as the evolving market demands and orchestrate powerful human + AI collaboration in the agentic future.

Founded in 2001, the company’s network spans more than 60 million end users, over 500 partners, and active customers in 75+ countries across 20+ industries. Learn more at www.outsystems.com.

Angel Yeast Opens World’s First High-Altitude Probiotic Production Facility, Unlocking a New Frontier in Microbial Innovation

SHANNAN, China, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Angel Yeast (SH600298), a global leader in yeast and biotechnology, today announced that its subsidiary Xizang Angel Zhufeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Angel Zhufeng”), located on the Qing-Zang Plateau, has officially commenced operations at the world’s first high-altitude probiotic production facility. The state-of-the-art plant has completed its first shipment of the Bifidobacterium lactis XZ-BI36 probiotic powder.

Angel Yeast Opens World’s First High-Altitude Probiotic Production Facility, Unlocking a New Frontier in Microbial Innovation
Angel Yeast Opens World’s First High-Altitude Probiotic Production Facility, Unlocking a New Frontier in Microbial Innovation

“Every stage of production is carried out in oxygen-free conditions—setting a new industry benchmark for quality and safety,” said He Hongchao, Assistant General Manager at Angel Zhufeng. “This first shipment also includes Lactiplantibacillus plantarum probiotic powder with viable counts in the trillions. In addition, the company has already achieved large-scale production of seven plateau–origin probiotic strains and more than ten compound formulations, establishing a comprehensive portfolio that includes high-altitude probiotic blends, fermentation cultures for food applications, and microecological feed additives.”

The milestone reflects Angel Yeast’s ongoing commitment to scientific innovation and its deep expertise in microbial fermentation. By developing and cultivating strains sourced from extreme environments, the company is expanding the global diversity of probiotic ingredients. The facility features a fully integrated value chain—from strain collection and screening to full-scale production—driving growth in the premium probiotic ingredients sector while showcasing a sustainable approach that aligns advanced technology with local community development and environmental stewardship.

“Xizang’s unique conditions—high altitude, low oxygen levels, cold temperatures, and intense ultraviolet exposure—have created a unique ecosystem rich in plateau-specific microbial resources,” noted Dr. Tan Yali, Deputy General Manager of the Industrial Innovation Technology Center at Angel Yeast. “The probiotic strains developed by Angel Zhufeng are primarily derived from sources including Xizang yak gut microbiota, traditional local fermented foods, and the intestinal flora of healthy individuals.”

Dr. Tan’s research team has collected microbial samples from traditional fermented foods and local households, and has even ventured into the uninhabited areas of Ngari Prefecture at altitudes of up to 5,800 meters to study wild yaks. To date, the team has preserved more than 2,000 strains and filed 56 patent applications worldwide.

In 2020, Angel Group established Xizang Angel Zhufeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in Shannan and launched its plateau probiotic initiative. Despite challenges related to material sourcing, logistics constraints, and harsh environmental conditions, the company completed construction of the production line in just one year. Since operations began in June 2025, Angel Zhufeng has formed partnerships with more than 30 distributors, reflecting strong market interest in its lineup of innovative probiotic products. 

The facility has also generated meaningful employment opportunities and skill development for the local community. Currently, 54 Xizang employees represent 76% of the workforce. In 2024 alone, more than 200 Xizang team members received professional training at Angel’s headquarters, while over 300 specialists in technology, project management, and marketing traveled to Xizang to support operations.

The launch and operation of the Angel Zhufeng probiotic facility not only demonstrates the successful application of biotechnology under extreme environmental conditions but also serves as a model for integrating scientific innovation with corporate responsibility. By bringing extreme-environment strains to global markets, Angel Yeast is expanding access to more diverse and functional probiotic solutions, supporting sustainable growth and long-term innovation across the global nutrition industry.

MTR Closes Landmark HKD30 Billion Seven-Year Syndicated Green Loan Total of 57 Banks Worldwide Join Hands in a Show of Confidence in the Corporation’s Growth


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2025 – As Hong Kong’s iconic green transport infrastructure, MTR Corporation is committed to keeping cities moving and creating value for the sustainable development of Hong Kong. The Corporation announces today (23 September 2025) that with the support of 15 leading international banks, it has signed a HKD30 billion seven-year syndicated green term loan facility (the “Facility”), the largest unsecured international syndicated green term loan (excluding project finance) in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa by a Hong Kong corporation with a tenor equal or longer than 7 years. With a total of 57 banks involved, the successful completion of the Facility demonstrates the market’s recognition of the Corporation’s capabilities and standing as well as its pivotal role in Hong Kong’s railway infrastructure.

The syndicated green term loan facility received overwhelming response from the banking community, with 15 international banks mandated as Mandated Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners and Underwriters (“MLABUs”) and 42 international financial institutions participating as lenders. The core representatives from the participating banks and institutions of the syndicated green term loan facility and the green revolving credit facility gathered at the ceremony to celebrate the collaborative achievements with MTR Corporation.
The syndicated green term loan facility received overwhelming response from the banking community, with 15 international banks mandated as Mandated Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners and Underwriters (“MLABUs”) and 42 international financial institutions participating as lenders. The core representatives from the participating banks and institutions of the syndicated green term loan facility and the green revolving credit facility gathered at the ceremony to celebrate the collaborative achievements with MTR Corporation.

At today’s signing ceremony for the Facility, with Dr Jacob Kam, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation as the witness, Mr Michael Fitzgerald, Finance Director of MTR Corporation and representatives of the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners and Underwriters (“MLABUs”) signed the agreement. The Facility garnered exceptional market reception, attracting commitments from 42 banks headquartered across Asia, the Americas, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to the launch of a general syndication process, the MLABUs underwrote over HKD58 billion amount of the Facility. The subsequent syndication phase also received overwhelming response. The final Facility was more than 5 times over-subscribed. In recognition of the strong demand, the decision was taken to upsize the Facility amount from HKD23 billion to HKD30 billion. In addition to the syndicated loan facility, the Corporation had also entered into an agreement with Korea Development Bank on a HKD780 million seven-year bilateral green revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”).

“Railway is at the heart of Hong Kong’s green transport infrastructure and a key driver of the city’s economic growth. We are very delighted that the syndicated green term loan has received an overwhelming response and support from the market. For decades, MTR Corporation has played an active role in shaping local development and building low-carbon communities through its railway network. The Corporation has marched into a new phase of growth with multiple mega projects proceeding in full steam, among those is the Northern Link. MTR will continue to adopt a forward-looking financial strategy and explore various approaches to finance the construction to underpin the strategic development of the Corporation,” said Dr Jacob Kam, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation.

Dr Kam believes that the strong support from international banks will further reinforce MTR’s robust financial position, enabling the Corporation to continuously implement its sustainability strategy and expand its network coverage that will contribute to the city’s long-term strategic and sustainable growth.

Mr Michael Fitzgerald also thanked the banking community for its unwavering support. “The Facility not only reinforces the Corporation’s position at the forefront of sustainable development, it also demonstrates the shared commitment of MTR and our banking partners to Hong Kong’s future. The 9-month availability period on this Facility reflects the solid financial foundation and well-thought-out planning of the Corporation. We will continue to practise prudent financial management to deliver long-term financial sustainability for the Corporation.”

The Corporation successfully concluded its inaugural issuance of an Offshore Renminbi-denominated Green Bond in September last year, implementing a two-tranche transaction of CNH4.5 billion. In the same way as for that earlier CNH Green Bond issuance, proceeds from the Facility and the Revolver will be utilised to finance and refinance eligible green investments as defined in MTR’s Sustainable Finance Framework, signifying the continued prominence of Hong Kong as a leading international ESG finance hub, as well as contributing directly to the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

The MLABUs for the Facility include:

  • Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
  • Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Limited (Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability)
  • The Bank of East Asia, Limited
  • China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited
  • China Development Bank Hong Kong Branch
  • DBS Bank Ltd.
  • Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank Co., Ltd.,
  • Hang Seng Bank Limited
  • The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited
  • Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (Incorporated in Japan with limited liability)
  • MUFG Bank, Ltd. (Incorporated in Japan with limited liability)
  • OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
  • Qatar National Bank (Q.P.S.C.), Hong Kong Branch
  • Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

(in alphabetical order of company name)

Hashtag: #MTR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Azul Platform Prime Enables Hua Nan Securities to Increase Revenue and Customer Satisfaction by Improving Trading System Performance by 35%

Leading Taiwan financial services company also reduced infrastructure costs by 30%

SINGAPORE, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Azul, the only company 100% focused on Java, today announced that Hua Nan Securities, a leading financial services company headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, has achieved a 35% improvement in trading system performance while also reducing infrastructure costs by 30% after migrating to Azul Platform Prime. The implementation also completely eliminated persistent Out-of-Memory (OOM) issues that had been impacting the reliability of the company’s business-critical trade return processing system.

Hua Nan Securities’ core businesses include securities brokerage, proprietary trading, underwriting and issuance, wealth management and investment advisory, derivative financial products, online trading and digital platforms, as well as research and analysis reports. The company’s trade return processing system handles up to 500,000 transaction records at once using over 20 supported microservices.

Performance Bottlenecks Affected Trading Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction

Hua Nan Securities’ Java-based system posed several critical challenges that directly impacted business operations:

  • Performance bottlenecks: The system struggled to handle high volumes of trade return data, impacting trading efficiency and customer satisfaction during peak loads.
  • Intermittent Out-of-Memory issues: Difficult-to-diagnose OOM problems reduced system reliability during critical trading periods.
  • Strategic need for speed: Customer satisfaction and trading efficiency were directly impacted by response times, making performance optimization essential for business success.

Given that the speed of order reporting directly impacts trading efficiency and customer satisfaction, both of which directly impact revenue, solving these critical issues for system performance was a strategic imperative for the business.

“Azul Platform Prime helped us optimize the execution efficiency of customer securities order reporting and improve our ROI,” said Huang, Sheng-Chun, vice president, Information Technology Department, Hua Nan Securities. “With faster, more stable trade reporting, we were able to increase both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction and preserve our topline revenue.”

Azul Platform Prime Delivers Immediate Performance and Cost Benefits

After an introduction by Azul’s regional channel partner in Taiwan, Galaxy Software Services Corporation (GSS), Hua Nan Securities evaluated and successfully deployed Azul Platform Prime to modernize their existing trading system infrastructure. GSS served as a key technical advisor throughout the evaluation process, providing professional and technical support, timely communication, hands-on expertise, architectural considerations, and performance tuning recommendations.

“The financial services sector across Asia Pacific continues to be a strategic focus for Azul, and Hua Nan Securities’ success exemplifies the tremendous value our solutions deliver to trading and securities organizations in the region,” said Dean Vaughan, vice president of APAC at Azul. “This deployment showcases not only the performance and cost benefits of Azul Platform Prime for high-volume, latency-sensitive trading applications, but also the strength of our channel partner ecosystem. GSS’s technical expertise and deep market knowledge were instrumental in delivering this successful outcome.”

Learn more about Azul Platform Prime here.

About Azul

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Azul provides the Java platform for the modern cloud enterprise. Azul is the only company 100% focused on Java. Millions of Java developers, hundreds of millions of devices and the world’s most highly regarded businesses trust Azul to power their applications with exceptional capabilities, performance, security, value, and success. Azul customers include 36% of the Fortune 100, 50% of Forbes top 10 World’s Most Valuable Brands, 10 of the world’s top 10 banks, and leading brands like Avaya, Bazaarvoice, BMW, Deutsche Telekom, LG, Mastercard, Mizuho, Priceline, Salesforce, Software AG and Workday. Learn more at azul.com and follow us @azulsystems.

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