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TOTAL PLAY ANNOUNCES 15% GROWTH IN EBITDA, TO Ps.18,361 MILLION IN 2023

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—11% increase in revenue and 9% growth in costs and expenses in 2023, boost EBITDA margin to 45%, highest annual level since the company issues public debt—

—Subscriber base growth moderation strategy and strict financial discipline significantly strengthen Total Play’s profitability, cash flow and liquidity—

—Firm increase in the company’s cash and restricted cash balance; it grows 48%, to Ps.5,754 million at the end of the year—  

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Total Play Telecomunicaciones, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“Total Play”), a leading telecommunications company in Mexico that offers internet access, pay television and telephony services, through one of the largest 100% fiber optic networks in the country, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter 2023 and 2023.

“The strategy to moderate the growth of our subscriber base and initiatives that further drive operational efficiency, launched in 2023, together with the company’s strict financial discipline, notably strengthened the profitability and cash generation of Total Play during the year. Rigorous budget planning, process optimization and structures rationalization translated into lower annual growth in costs and expenses compared to revenue and in a firm 15% increase in EBITDA in 2023,” commented Eduardo Kuri, CEO of Total Play. “Capex figures, consistent with our solid strategy, allowed a significant positive balance of EBITDA less Capex – a fundamental indicator of cash flow generation – of Ps.2,735 million in 2023, notably higher than the negative figure of Ps.6,493 million a year ago.”

“Likewise, the company’s balance sheet was additionally strengthened, with a 48% growth in the cash and restricted cash balance, to Ps.5,754 million at the end of 2023, while the appropriate planning of the maturity profile allowed us to reduce debt with cost of short-term loans by 34%,” added Mr. Kuri. “Our firm strategy has translated into increasing financial strength this year and we are determined to further drive the liquidity and robustness of Total Play’s capital structure going forward.”

Fourth quarter results

Revenue for the quarter totaled Ps.10,674 million, 10% above Ps.9,736 million in the same period of the previous year. Total costs and expenses were Ps.5,938 million, compared to Ps.5,356 million the previous year.

As a result, Total Play’s EBITDA grew 8%, to Ps.4,736 million, from Ps.4,380 million a year ago; the EBITDA margin for the quarter was 44%. The company recorded operating income of Ps.605 million, compared to Ps.747 million a year ago.

Total Play reported a net loss of Ps.1,024 million, from a loss of Ps.438 million in the same quarter of 2022.

    Q4 2022 

    Q4 2023 

   Change 

Ps. 

%

Revenue from services 

$9,736

$10,674

$938

10 %

EBITDA       

$4,380

$4,736

$356

8 %

Operating income 

 

Net result       

$747 

  

$(438) 

$605

  

$(1,024) 

$(142) 

  

$(586) 

-19% 

  

-134% 

Amounts in millions of pesos.
EBITDA: Earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization.

Service revenue

The company’s revenue grew 10%, as a result of a 7% increase in sales in the residential segment, and a 29% increase in revenue from the corporate business.

Totalplay Residencial’s revenue growth, to Ps.8,945 million, compared to Ps.8,398 million the previous year, is related to a 10% increase in the number of subscribers of the company’s services in the year, to reach 4,779,480 — a figure that includes 69,554 small and medium-sized businesses — at the end of 2023. Compared to the previous quarter, the number of net additions grew by 85,774 users, in line with Total Play’s subscriber base growth moderation strategy.

The quarter’s average revenue per subscriber (ARPU) was Ps.616, from Ps.617 a year ago.

As previously announced, in the first quarter of the year the company’s investment program in geographic expansion concluded, given that the territory in which its target market is located throughout the country was reached. According to this, the number of homes passed in Mexico at the end of this period was 17,556,755, a figure with minor variations during 2023. Compared to the same quarter of 2022 — in which the number of homes passed was 17,332,265 — the growth was 1%.

Penetration — proportion of homes passed by Total Play that have the company’s telecommunications services — was 27.2% at the end of the quarter, up from 25.2% a year ago.

Revenue from the business segment was Ps.1,729 million, from Ps.1,338 million the previous year, due to the implementation of various projects by business organizations this quarter.

Costs and expenses

Total costs and expenses grew 11%, as a result of a 19% increase in service costs and a 7% growth in general expenses.

The increase in expenses, to Ps.3,874 million, from Ps.3,627 million, reflects higher maintenance and fee expenses — in the context of growing operations in the company —partially offset by reduction in personnel and advertising expenses, derived from strategies that generate strong operational efficiencies.

The increase in costs, to Ps.2,064 million, from Ps.1,729 million the previous year results mainly from increased costs of content and business projects, partially offset by lower costs of licenses and interconnection links.

EBITDA and net result

Total Play’s EBITDA was Ps.4,736 million, 8% higher compared to Ps.4,380 million the previous year.

Relevant variations below EBITDA were the following:

Increase of Ps.498 million in depreciation and amortization, mainly as a result of subscriber acquisition costs — telecommunication equipment, labor and installation expenses.

Growth of Ps.172 million in interest expense, consistent with the increase in the balance of financial debt.

Decrease of Ps.636 million in foreign exchange gains, as a consequence of net liability monetary position in foreign currency, together with lower appreciation of the peso against the basket of currencies in which the company’s monetary liabilities are denominated this quarter, compared to the previous year.

Total Play reported a net loss of Ps.1,024 million, from a loss of Ps.438 million in the same period of 2022.

Balance sheet

As of December 31, 2023, the company’s debt with cost was Ps.52,199 million, compared to Ps.49,533 million the previous year. The growth of the debt balance is related to credits with financial institutions during the period.

Consistent with the strategy to expand the company’s maturity profile, the balance of debt with cost for short-term loans was reduced 34%, to Ps.4,573 million, from Ps.6,973 million a year ago.

The lease liability was Ps.5,665 million, 20% lower compared to Ps.7,073 million the previous year.

The balance of cash and cash equivalents, as well as restricted cash in trusts totaled Ps.5,754 million, 48% higher compared to Ps.3,878 million a year ago. As a result, the company’s net debt was Ps.52,110 million, 1% lower than Ps.52,728 million the previous year.

Total Play’s fixed assets — which include the accumulated investment in fiber optics, telecommunications equipment, and the cost of acquiring subscribers, among other assets — were Ps.61,946 million, 7% above Ps.58,165 million a year ago.

Twelve-month results

Revenue for 2023 was Ps.40,503 million, 11% above Ps.36,352 million from the previous year, within the framework of growth of 13% in residential income, to Ps.34,586 million, and 2% in business income, to Ps.5,917 million.

Total costs and expenses grew 9%, to Ps.22,142 million, from Ps.20,384 million, as a result of a 12% increase in general expenses and a 3% increase in service costs. Total costs and expenses grow at a lower rate than income as a result of strict compliance with budgets and strategies that generate operational efficiencies throughout the company.

Total Play reported EBITDA of Ps.18,361 million, 15% above the Ps.15,968 million of the previous year; The EBITDA margin was 45%, one percentage point above the previous year. Operating income was Ps.2,316 million, from a profit of Ps.3,097 million in 2022.

The company recorded a net loss of Ps.3,147 million, compared to a loss of Ps.2,251 million a year ago.

2022

2023

   Change 

Ps. 

%

Revenue from services 

$36,352

$40,503

$4,151

11 %

EBITDA       

$15,968

$18,361

$2,393

15 %

Operating income 

  

Net result       

$3,097 

  

$(2,251) 

$2,316 

  

$(3,147) 

$(781) 

  

$(896) 

-25% 

  

-40% 

Amounts in millions of pesos.
EBITDA: Earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization. 

About Total Play

Total Play is a leading Triple Play provider in Mexico that, thanks to the widest direct-to-home fiber optic network in the country, offers entertainment and technologically advanced services with the highest quality and speed in the market. For the latest news and updates about Total Play, visit: www.totalplay.com.mx.

Total Play is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value to improve community well-being; and environmental value by reducing the negative impact of its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors, and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values, and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results, and world-class performance.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are concepts about the future that involve risks and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect Total Play and its subsidiaries are presented in documents sent to the securities authorities.

Investor Relations:

Bruno Rangel
+ 52 (55) 1720 9167
jrangelk@totalplay.com.mx 

Rolando Villarreal
+ 52 (55) 1720 9167
rvillarreal@totalplay.com.mx 

Press Relations:

Luciano Pascoe
Tel. +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553
lpascoe@gruposalinas.com.mx 

 

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I.  DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENTS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

4Q22

4Q23

Change

$

%

$

%

$

%

Revenue from services

9,736

100 %

10,674

100 %

938

10 %

Cost of services

(1,729)

(18 %)

(2,064)

(19 %)

(335)

(19 %)

Gross profit

8,007

82 %

8,610

81 %

603

8 %

General expenses

(3,627)

(37 %)

(3,874)

(36 %)

(247)

(7 %)

EBITDA

4,380

45 %

4,736

44 %

356

8 %

Depreciation and amortization

(3,633)

(37 %)

(4,131)

(39 %)

(498)

(14 %)

Operating profit 

747

8 %

605

6 %

(142)

(19 %)

Financial cost:

Interest revenue

38

0 %

53

0 %

15

39 %

Change in fair value of financial instruments

(216)

(2 %)

(113)

(1 %)

103

48 %

Accrued interest expense

(1,289)

(13 %)

(1,461)

(14 %)

(172)

(13 %)

Other financial expenses

(99)

(1 %)

(54)

(1 %)

45

45 %

Foreign exchange gain – Net

1,248

13 %

612

6 %

(636)

(51 %)

(318)

(3 %)

(963)

(9 %)

(645)

n.m. 

Equity interest in net results of non-controlling entities

(1)

(0 %)

0 %

1

100 %

Profit (Loss) before income tax provisions

428

4 %

(358)

(3 %)

(786)

(184 %)

Income tax provision

(885)

(9 %)

(666)

(6 %)

219

25 %

Net loss before non-controlling interest

(457)

(5 %)

(1,024)

(10 %)

(567)

(124 %)

Non-controlling interest

19

0 %

0 %

(19)

(100 %)

Net Loss for the period

(438)

(4 %)

(1,024)

(10 %)

(586)

(134 %)

 

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED ACCUMULATED INCOME STATEMENTS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

Accumulated

Accumulated

12M22

12M23

Change

$

%

$

%

$

%

Revenue from services

36,352

100 %

40,503

100 %

4,151

11 %

Cost of services

(7,588)

(21 %)

(7,801)

(19 %)

(213)

(3 %)

Gross profit

28,764

79 %

32,702

81 %

3,938

14 %

General expenses

(12,796)

(35 %)

(14,341)

(35 %)

(1,545)

(12 %)

EBITDA

15,968

44 %

18,361

45 %

2,393

15 %

Depreciation and amortization

(12,871)

(35 %)

(16,045)

(40 %)

(3,174)

(25 %)

Operating profit

3,097

9 %

2,316

6 %

(781)

(25 %)

Financial cost:

Interest revenue

98

0 %

191

0 %

93

95 %

Change in fair value of financial instruments

(358)

(1 %)

(576)

(1 %)

(218)

(61 %)

Accrued interest expense

(4,228)

(12 %)

(5,528)

(14 %)

(1,300)

(31 %)

Other financial expenses

(254)

(1 %)

(393)

(1 %)

(139)

(55 %)

Foreign exchange gain – Net

1,337

4 %

3,384

8 %

2,047

153 %

(3,405)

(9 %)

(2,922)

(7 %)

483

14 %

Equity interest in net results of non-controlling entities

(1)

(0 %)

(19)

(0 %)

18

n.m.

Profit (Loss) before income tax provisions

(309)

(1 %)

(625)

(2 %)

(316)

(102 %)

Income tax provision

(1,969)

(5 %)

(2,522)

(6 %)

553

28 %

Net loss before non-controlling interest

(2,278)

(6 %)

(3,147)

(8 %)

(869)

(38 %)

Non-controlling interest

27

0 %

0 %

27

100 %

Net Loss for the period

(2,251)

(6 %)

(3,147)

(8 %)

(896)

(40 %)

 

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

As of December 31,

2022

2023

Change

$

%

$

%

$

%

Assets

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

1,890

2 %

2,377

3 %

487

26 %

Restricted cash in trusts

1,988

2 %

3,377

4 %

1,389

70 %

Customers – net

5,506

7 %

4,426

5 %

(1,080)

(20 %)

Other accounts receivable

236

0 %

183

0 %

(53)

(22 %)

Recoverable taxes

3,810

5 %

4,141

5 %

331

9 %

Related parties

310

0 %

367

0 %

57

18 %

Inventories

2,342

3 %

2,926

3 %

584

25 %

Prepaid expenses

908

1 %

514

1 %

(394)

(43 %)

Total current assets

16,990

20 %

18,311

21 %

1,321

8 %

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Related parties

154

0 %

237

0 %

83

54 %

Property, plant and equipmente – Net

58,165

70 %

61,946

71 %

3,781

7 %

Rights-of-use assets -Net

6,703

8 %

4,780

5 %

(1,923)

(29 %)

Trademarks and other assets

1,368

2 %

2,171

2 %

803

59 %

Total non-current assets

66,390

80 %

69,134

79 %

2,744

4 %

Total assets

83,380

100 %

87,445

100 %

4,065

5 %

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES

Financial debt

6,973

8 %

4,573

5 %

(2,400)

(34 %)

Lease liabilities

2,108

3 %

2,338

3 %

230

11 %

Trade payables

10,751

13 %

13,373

15 %

2,622

24 %

Reverse factoring

2,691

3 %

2,234

3 %

(457)

(17 %)

Other payables and payable taxes

2,446

3 %

1,473

2 %

(973)

(40 %)

Related parties

365

0 %

1,012

1 %

647

177 %

Liabilities from contracts with customers

986

1 %

994

1 %

8

1 %

Interest payable

385

0 %

316

0 %

(69)

(18 %)

Derivative financial instruments

126

0 %

175

0 %

49

39 %

Total short-term liabilities

26,831

32 %

26,488

30 %

(343)

(1 %)

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

Financial debt

42,560

51 %

47,626

54 %

5,066

12 %

Lease liabilities

4,965

6 %

3,327

4 %

(1,638)

(33 %)

Derivative financial instruments

764

1 %

1,442

2 %

678

89 %

Employee benefits

49

0 %

74

0 %

25

51 %

Deferred income tax

2,355

3 %

5,253

6 %

2,898

123 %

Total long-term liabilities

50,693

61 %

57,722

66 %

7,029

14 %

Total liabilities

77,524

93 %

84,210

96 %

6,686

9 %

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

5,856

7 %

3,235

4 %

(2,621)

(45 %)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

83,380

100 %

87,445

100 %

4,065

5 %

 

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

12th months period ended

December 31,

2022

2023

Operating activities:

Loss before income tax provision

(309)

(625)

Items not requiring the use of resources:

Depreciation and amortization

12,871

16,045

Employee benefits

27

16

Items related to investing or financing activities:

Accrued interest income

(98)

(191)

Accrued interest expense and other financial transactions

4,840

6,497

Unrealized foreign exchange gain

(1,299)

(3,420)

Derivative financial instruments valuation

45

Non-Controlling Participation

27

19

16,104

18,341

Resources (used in) generated by operating activities:

Customers and unearned revenue

(1,134)

1,087

Other receivables

(91)

53

Related parties, net

(91)

388

Taxes to be recovered

244

(330)

Inventories

(462)

(584)

Advance payments

(442)

394

Trade payables

3,253

2,401

Other payables

440

(952)

Cash flows generated by operating activities

17,821

20,798

Investing activities: 

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

(22,461)

(15,626)

Other assets

82

(53)

Collected interest

98

191

Cash flows (used in) investing activities

(22,281)

(15,488)

Financing activities:

Capital contributions

122

Loans received

8,726

6,034

Leasing cash flows

(3,075)

(2,650)

Restricted Cash in Trusts

(1,101)

(1,389)

Reverse factoring

1,422

(457)

Derivative financial instruments

(1,012)

Interest payment

(3,910)

(5,349)

Cahs flows generated by (used in) financing activities

2,184

(4,823)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

(2,276)

487

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 

4,166

1,890

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 

1,890

2,377

 

 

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SOURCE Total Play Telecomunicaciones, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

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Galaxy Digital Inc. Announces Pricing of $3.507 Billion of Senior Secured Notes

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NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Galaxy Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: GLXY) (“Galaxy” or the “Company”), a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, today announced that its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Galaxy Helios Data Centers II LLC (the “Issuer”), has priced a $3.507 billion private offering (the “Offering”) of 9.875% senior secured notes due 2031 (the “Notes”). The Offering is expected to close on July 28, 2026, subject to market and other conditions.

The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to finance a portion of the development and construction of two buildings containing eight data halls with a combined total of 400 megawatts (“MW”) of utility capacity and 260 MW of critical IT capacity (the “Project”) to be built on an approximately 260-acre property in Dickens County, Texas and to fund debt service reserves.

The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 9.875% per annum payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1, 2027 and will mature on August 1, 2031. The Notes will amortize at a rate of 4.00% per annum of the original principal amount subject to adjustment, with amortization payments payable semi-annually with the first payment date to occur at least ten months after the completion of the Project.

The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Galaxy Helios II LLC, a wholly owned direct subsidiary of the Issuer (the “Guarantor”), and will constitute the senior secured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor. The Notes and related note guarantee will be secured by first-priority liens on (i) substantially all assets of the Issuer and the Guarantor, other than certain excluded property and (ii) all equity interests of the Issuer held by the direct parent company of the Issuer.

The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether, when or on what terms the Offering may be completed.

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

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

About Galaxy

Galaxy Digital Inc. (Nasdaq: GLXY) is a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, delivering solutions that accelerate progress in finance and artificial intelligence. Our digital assets platform offers institutional access to trading, advisory, asset management, staking, self-custody, and tokenization technology. In addition, we develop and operate cutting-edge data center infrastructure to power AI and HPC workloads. Our 1.63 GW Helios campus in Texas positions Galaxy among the largest and fastest-growing data center developers in North America. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the completion, size and timing of the Offering, the terms of the Notes and the intended use of proceeds. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements represent the Company’s current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the satisfaction of the closing conditions related to the Offering and risks relating to the Company’s business, including those described in periodic reports that the Company files from time to time with the SEC. The Issuer may not consummate the proposed Offering described in this press release and, if the proposed Offering is consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the Offering or the Notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

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SOURCE Galaxy Digital Inc.

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The Finish Line that Changed China: Retracing the Long March to Yan’an

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BEIJING, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on the Long March, and what it means for China today:

 

Every journey has a destination.

But some destinations become the beginning of something even greater.

This is Yan’an.

Over 90 years ago, an army of soldiers embarked from Yudu, Jiangxi Province, on a journey that would go down in history.

They crossed snow-capped mountains, vast grasslands and raging rivers, eventually arriving in northern Shaanxi.

Across this grueling 12,500-kilometer journey, they wrote a magnificent epic in human history with willpower and courage.

Here, their Long March came to a victorious end. But a new chapter of history was only beginning.

In Yan’an, the Red Army found time to recover and rebuild, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China regrouped, gathering strength for the next chapter.

Here, new ideas were debated, new strategies were shaped, and a vision for China’s future gradually took form.

Today, while preserving its revolutionary legacy, Yan’an has grown into a vibrant, modern city — with a greener environment, thriving industries and happier lives for its people.

Nearly 90 years ago, American journalist Edgar Snow came to northern Shaanxi, seeking to uncover a story that few outside China knew. He later chronicled it in his book “Red Star Over China,” which carried the story of the Long March to the world.

Today, people from around the world are once again retracing those steps.

As part of China International Communications Group (CICG)’s “Together on the Long March” international communication project, participants have spent more than a month retracing the route across six key regions.

From Jiangxi to Shaanxi, they followed the Red Army’s journey and witnessed the remarkable changes that have taken place along the way.

I asked them one simple question: What does this journey mean to you?

Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager at the Springfield Urban League, said conversations with local residents and descendants of the Red Army made history feel far more immediate than he had expected.

He said history isn’t as distant as we often think. “We’re only one or two generations from these great sacrifices that led to the development and the greatness that we see from the Communist Party of China and China as a whole.”

David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor at Foreign Languages Press under CICG and a recipient of the 2021 Chinese Government Friendship Award, said the journey deepened his understanding of the Long March.

He said the journey helped him understand not only the historical facts, but also what the Red Army endured. “If you see the Long March merely as a military campaign, it ended in Yan’an. But as a spirit, it has never truly come to an end.”

We came to retrace history. We leave with something more: a deeper understanding of China’s past, a clearer view of its present, and perhaps a greater appreciation for the stories that connect us across cultures.

Edgar Snow called the Long March “an Odyssey unequalled in modern times.” He believed that what sustained it was a flame — consisting of an undimmed ardor, an undying hope and an amazing revolutionary optimism.

Ninety years later, that flame still burns.

Passed down through generations, the spirit of the Long March continues to light China’s path forward.

And as it crosses borders and cultures, it offers the world a glimpse of a nation defined by resilience, perseverance and an enduring drive to move forward.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm 

The Finish Line that Changed China: Retracing the Long March to Yan’an
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2026-07/23/content_118614941.shtml

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SOURCE China.org.cn

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Visa and Lianlian Advance Trusted B2B Agentic Commerce Through LoopXPay’s First Live B2B Agentic Transaction

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First live B2B agentic transaction in Greater China highlights how AI-enabled commerce can help SMBs streamline purchasing and payments, supported by Visa’s Agentic Directory for trusted AI agent interactions

SINGAPORE, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, and Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. (“Lianlian”), an AI-native global financial infrastructure provider, today announced the first live B2B agentic transaction completed using LoopXPay, Lianlian’s AI agent. 

Small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) often lack dedicated procurement teams and spend valuable time sourcing, purchasing and making payments themselves. In the transaction, the LoopXPay agent was used to source a product sample from a supplier and complete the purchase in a single workflow. The agent identified the purchasing requirement, recommended suitable suppliers, compared options, placed the order and securely executed the payment within a single workflow, while operating within pre-defined spending controls and approval parameters.

The milestone highlights how AI-powered commerce experiences can help SMBs simplify purchasing and payment activities while maintaining appropriate controls and oversight. By enabling AI agents to operate within pre-defined spending parameters and approval controls, businesses can reduce manual effort while retaining visibility into commercial decision-making.

As AI agents become more involved in purchasing and payment activities, businesses will require confidence that transactions are being executed by verified participants, within approved parameters and with appropriate oversight. Capabilities aligned with Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol can help provide the identity, transparency and controls needed to support these interactions.

As part of the collaboration, LoopXPay has been registered in Visa’s Agentic Directory, enabling participating businesses and merchants to identify verified AI agents within the ecosystem. Supporting the implementation of Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol, the Agentic Directory helps provide greater transparency into agent-driven interactions and confidence that participating agents have met Visa’s requirements.

“AI-powered commerce experiences can help businesses simplify purchasing and payments while maintaining the controls and oversight they require,” said Darren Parslow, Global Head, Visa Commercial Solutions, Visa. “For SMBs, that means less complexity in managing day-to-day commercial activities and more time focused on growth. As businesses increasingly look to embed intelligence into purchasing and payment experiences, trust will become a critical enabler of adoption. Through our collaboration with Lianlian, we are helping advance the trusted foundations that businesses will need to participate in this next era of commerce with confidence.”

Building on this milestone, Visa and Lianlian are exploring how AI agents can support a broader range of commercial activities, including procurement, digital advertising optimisation and B2B platform payments, helping advance trusted commerce through greater efficiency, transparency and control.

Zhang Zhengyu, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Lianlian DigiTech, said, “AI is reshaping the entire commercial value chain, where a growing number of business activities will be autonomously executed by AI agents, with payments serving as the critical infrastructure connecting them to global commerce. Leveraging its experience in global cross-border payments, compliance, as well as payment network, LianLian is actively building AI-native financial infrastructure, delivering an integrated suite of capabilities for the Agent Economy, spanning identity verification, transaction authorisation, intelligent payment, and global fund settlement. Through this collaboration with Visa, we aim to combine Lianlian’s AI-native capabilities with Visa’s trusted global network and commercial payment expertise to help businesses transact more securely, intelligently and efficiently in an increasingly agent-driven commerce environment.”

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About Lianlian

Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. (“Lianlian DigiTech” or “Lianlian”) was founded in 2009 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2024 (stock code: 2598.HK). As China’s leading global provider of digital and intelligent payment services, Lianlian adheres to its mission of “Connecting the world, empowering global commerce” and pursues an “AI-Native + Globalization” strategy. The Company is committed to building a trusted global intelligent financial infrastructure, enabling seamless connectivity between Chinese enterprises and global businesses.  As of now, Lianlian has established a global licensing portfolio comprising 68 payment licenses and related qualifications, and holds a VATP license issued by the Hong Kong SFC. It supports services in more than 200 countries and regions and enables transaction settlement in over 140 currencies, connecting over 180 global e-commerce platforms and serving a cumulative total of over 13.3 million customers. Learn more at www.lianlian.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/visa-and-lianlian-advance-trusted-b2b-agentic-commerce-through-loopxpays-first-live-b2b-agentic-transaction-302833916.html

SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited

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