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IAS Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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Total revenue increased 14% to $129.0 million

Net income of $7.7 million at a 6% margin; adjusted EBITDA increased to $46.2 million at a 36% margin 

Raises full year financial guidance on positive second quarter results and strong second half outlook

NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Integral Ad Science (Nasdaq: IAS), a leading global media measurement and optimization platform, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

“We are excited to report double-digit revenue growth in all of our businesses in the second quarter reflecting strong customer adoption of our leading AI-backed products across formats and channels,” said Lisa Utzschneider, CEO of IAS. “Measurement revenue grew 17% with a 34% increase in social media revenue, optimization revenue increased 11%, and publisher revenue increased 12%. IAS is leading the way with trust, transparency, and innovation to provide actionable results and superior returns for global marketers. We are raising our full year outlook and remain focused on delivering sustainable, profitable growth.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Total revenue was $129.0 million, a 14% increase compared to $113.7 million in the prior-year period.Optimization revenue was $58.5 million, an 11% increase compared to $52.8 million in the prior-year period.Measurement revenue was $52.7 million, a 17% increase compared to $44.9 million in the prior-year period.Publisher revenue was $17.8 million, a 12% increase compared to $15.9 million in the prior-year period.International revenue, excluding the Americas, was $40.1 million, a 16% increase compared to $34.7 million in the prior-year period, or 31% of total revenue for the second quarter of 2024.Gross profit was $101.9 million, a 13% increase compared to $89.8 million in the prior-year period. Gross profit margin was 79% for the second quarter of 2024.Net income was $7.7 million, or $0.05 per share, unchanged from the prior-year period. Net income margin was 6% for the second quarter of 2024. Net income for the second quarter of 2023 includes $23.5 million of stock-based compensation expense related to return-target options as well as an income tax benefit of $29.1 million in the period.Adjusted EBITDA* increased to $46.2 million, a 24% increase compared to $37.4 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA* margin was 36% for the second quarter of 2024.Cash and cash equivalents were $70.6 million at June 30, 2024.

Recent Business Highlights

YouTube Brand Safety and Suitability Measurement Expansion – In June, IAS expanded its brand safety and suitability measurement product for YouTube to include reporting for Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns on Google Ads.Reddit Partnership – In June, IAS announced a partnership with Reddit to provide advertisers with the confidence to scale their campaigns across Reddit through IAS’s AI-driven Total Media Quality (TMQ) product suite.Pinterest Partnership – In June, IAS announced a partnership with Pinterest to provide global advertisers with greater transparency into campaigns across Pinterest’s in-app feed through IAS’s AI-driven Total Media Quality (TMQ) brand safety product.Amazon Expanded Global Measurement – In May, IAS launched its expanded reporting and insights for Amazon DSP media buys. Through a server-to-server (S2S) integration on Amazon DSP, advertisers will now have access to measurement coverage for campaigns across Amazon custom audiences and Twitch inventory. IAS’s solutions available to advertisers in Amazon DSP include viewability, invalid traffic (IVT), and brand safety and suitability.Lunio Partnership – In June, IAS teamed up with Lunio in a first-to-market partnership to provide post-click measurement and protection across search, social, and display networks. The partnership builds on IAS’s existing ad fraud detection and mitigation capabilities, giving marketers the most comprehensive invalid traffic (IVT) protection in the industry.Sincera Partnership – In June, IAS and Sincera announced a multi-year, strategic partnership to enhance AI-driven measurement and optimization solutions to drive omnichannel media quality. The partnership provides IAS with unique metadata to enhance media quality and drive unique solutions across channels including the open web, CTV, in-app, and social.Deepfake Detection Availability – In June, IAS announced availability in Beta testing of the industry’s first deepfake measurement offering, enabling advertisers to avoid running adjacent to deepfake content as part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM)-defined Brand Safety Floor and Suitability Framework misinformation category.Election Lab Launch – In May, IAS launched the IAS Election Lab which aims to provide strategic guidance and actionable insights for advertisers during the global election season.ISO 27001 Certification – In May, IAS achieved ISO 27001:2022 certification for its Information Security Management System. ISO/IEC 27001 is the global standard for information security management systems.

Financial Outlook

“Our second quarter results further validate our scalable and profitable business model. We are driving top-line growth and investing in strategic growth initiatives while maintaining a strong financial position with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 36%, healthy cash flows, and low debt,” said Tania Secor, CFO of IAS. “We are raising our 2024 outlook based on our second quarter performance and our expectations for increased revenue growth in the second half of the year.”

IAS is introducing the following financial outlook for the third quarter of 2024 and increasing its full year 2024 revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlook:

Third Quarter Ending September 30, 2024:

Total revenue of $137 million to $139 millionAdjusted EBITDA* of $48 million to $50 million

Year Ending December 31, 2024:

Total revenue of $538 million to $544 millionAdjusted EBITDA* of $180 million to $184 million

* See “Supplemental Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information” section herein for an explanation of these measures. IAS is unable to provide a reconciliation for forward-looking guidance of adjusted EBITDA and corresponding margin to net income (loss), the most closely comparable GAAP measures without unreasonable effort, because certain material reconciling items, such as depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income tax expense (benefit) and acquisition, restructuring and integration expenses, cannot be estimated due to factors outside of IAS’s control and could have a material impact on the reported results. However, IAS estimates stock-based compensation expense for the third quarter of 2024 in the range of $16 million to $17 million and for the full year 2024 in the range of $63 million to $65 million.

INTEGRAL AD SCIENCE HOLDING CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

June 30, 2024

December 31, 2023

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$        70,603

$      124,759

Restricted cash

275

54

Accounts receivable, net

75,233

74,609

Unbilled receivables

45,320

46,548

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

38,251

18,959

Total current assets

229,682

264,929

Property and equipment, net

4,076

3,769

Internal use software, net

47,578

40,301

Intangible assets, net

159,825

178,908

Goodwill

674,350

675,282

Operating lease right-of-use assets

21,223

21,668

Deferred tax asset, net

2,438

2,465

Other long-term assets

4,950

4,402

Total assets

$   1,144,122

$   1,191,724

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$        51,096

$        72,232

Operating lease liability

9,483

9,435

Due to related party

—

121

Deferred revenue

558

682

Total current liabilities

61,137

82,470

Deferred tax liability, net

16,884

20,367

Long-term debt

93,957

153,725

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

18,397

19,523

Other long-term liabilities

6,171

6,183

Total liabilities

196,546

282,268

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)

Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2024; 0 shares
issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

—

—

Common Stock, $0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 160,786,740 and
158,757,620 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

161

159

Additional paid-in-capital

934,194

901,259

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(2,168)

(916)

Retained earnings

15,389

8,954

Total stockholders’ equity

947,576

909,456

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$   1,144,122

$   1,191,724

 

INTEGRAL AD SCIENCE HOLDING CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenue

$       129,005

$       113,651

$       243,535

$       219,743

Operating expenses:

Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization shown below)

27,094

23,819

53,255

45,501

Sales and marketing

29,572

31,702

61,397

57,962

Technology and development

17,487

21,110

35,465

36,639

General and administrative

24,679

42,339

46,059

63,062

Depreciation and amortization

15,709

13,521

30,789

26,346

Foreign exchange loss (gain), net

315

(631)

1,884

(1,147)

Total operating expenses

114,856

131,860

228,849

228,363

Operating income (loss)

14,149

(18,209)

14,686

(8,620)

Interest expense, net

(1,536)

(3,221)

(3,462)

(6,638)

Net income (loss) before income taxes

12,613

(21,430)

11,224

(15,258)

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

(4,923)

29,107

(4,789)

26,081

Net income

$           7,690

$           7,677

$           6,435

$         10,823

Net income per share – basic and diluted

$             0.05

$             0.05

$             0.04

$             0.07

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic

160,502,795

155,425,264

159,954,926

155,267,531

Diluted

163,748,596

162,634,310

164,198,233

160,850,434

Other comprehensive income:

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(193)

(221)

(1,252)

928

Total comprehensive income

$           7,497

$           7,456

$           5,183

$         11,751

 

Stock-Based Compensation 

(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(IN THOUSANDS)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Cost of revenue

$               82

$             126

$             206

$             210

Sales and marketing

3,435

8,258

9,173

12,145

Technology and development

4,799

7,362

9,198

10,532

General and administrative

6,688

24,689

12,165

28,854

Total stock-based compensation

$         15,004

$        40,4351

$         30,742

$         51,741

1

1

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, with the filing of a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3, the market condition and the implied performance condition relating to the Return-Target Options were deemed to be probable and the Company recognized $23.5 million of stock-based compensation expense for such options in both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. This is broken out as follows; $2.1 million of sales and marketing expense, $2.6 million of technology and development expense and $18.8 million of general and administrative expense.

 

INTEGRAL AD SCIENCE HOLDING CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Common Stock

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARES)

Shares

Amount

Additional

paid-in

capital

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss

Retained
earnings

Total

stockholders’

equity

Balance, March 31, 2024

159,761,454

$               160

$       919,192

$          (1,975)

$            7,699

$       925,076

RSUs and MSUs vested

1,025,286

1

—

—

—

1

Stock-based compensation

—

—

15,002

—

—

15,002

Foreign currency translation adjustment

—

—

—

(193)

—

(193)

Net income

—

—

—

—

7,690

7,690

Balance, June 30, 2024

160,786,740

$               161

$       934,194

$          (2,168)

$         15,389

$       947,576

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

Common Stock

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARES)

Shares

Amount

Additional

paid-in

capital

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss

Retained
earnings

Total

stockholders’

equity

Balance, December 31, 2023

158,757,620

$               159

$       901,259

$             (916)

$            8,954

$       909,456

RSUs and MSUs vested

1,831,832

2

—

—

—

2

Option exercises

44,049

—

313

—

—

313

ESPP purchase

153,239

—

1,895

—

—

1,895

Stock-based compensation

—

—

30,727

—

—

30,727

Foreign currency translation adjustment

—

—

—

(1,252)

—

(1,252)

Net income

—

—

—

—

6,435

6,435

Balance, June 30, 2024

160,786,740

$               161

$       934,194

$          (2,168)

$         15,389

$       947,576

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Common Stock

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARES)

Shares

Amount

Additional

paid-in

capital

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss

Retained
earnings

Total

stockholders’

equity

Balance, March 31, 2023

154,811,980

$               154

$       824,498

$          (1,750)

$            4,862

$       827,764

RSUs and MSUs vested

1,218,542

2

—

—

—

2

Option exercises

248,553

—

2,878

—

—

2,878

Stock-based compensation

—

—

40,114

—

—

40,114

Foreign currency translation adjustment

—

—

—

(221)

—

(221)

Net income

—

—

—

—

7,677

7,677

Balance, June 30, 2023

156,279,075

$               156

$       867,490

$          (1,971)

$         12,539

$       878,214

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

Common Stock

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARES)

Shares

Amount

Additional

paid-in

capital

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss

Retained
earnings

Total

stockholders’

equity

Balance, December 31, 2022

153,990,128

$               154

$       810,186

$          (2,899)

$               775

$       808,216

RSUs and MSUs vested

1,590,282

2

—

—

—

2

Option exercises

587,502

—

4,993

—

—

4,993

ESPP purchase

111,163

—

882

—

—

882

Stock-based compensation

—

—

51,429

—

—

51,429

Foreign currency translation adjustment

—

—

—

928

—

928

Adoption of ASC 326, net of tax

—

—

—

—

941

941

Net income

—

—

—

—

10,823

10,823

Balance, June 30, 2023

156,279,075

$               156

$       867,490

$          (1,971)

$         12,539

$       878,214

 

 

INTEGRAL AD SCIENCE HOLDING CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)  

Six Months Ended June 30,

(IN THOUSANDS)

2024

2023

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$              6,435

$            10,823

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

30,789

26,346

Stock-based compensation

30,742

51,741

Foreign currency loss (gain), net

1,564

(1,239)

Deferred tax benefit

(3,456)

(37,535)

Amortization of debt issuance costs

232

232

Allowance for credit losses

745

1,254

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Increase in accounts receivable

(2,070)

(4,483)

Decrease in unbilled receivables

998

2,272

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets

(19,548)

12,619

(Increase) decrease in operating leases, net

(618)

25

(Increase) decrease in other long-term assets

(557)

4

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities

(20,221)

(10,225)

(Decrease) increase in deferred revenue

(111)

350

Decrease in due to/from related party

(122)

(118)

Net cash provided by operating activities

24,802

52,066

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of property and equipment

(1,323)

(1,810)

Development of internal use software and other

(18,836)

(14,928)

Net cash used in investing activities

(20,159)

(16,738)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from the Revolver

—

75,000

Repayment of long-term debt

(60,000)

(105,000)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

313

4,993

Cash received from Employee Stock Purchase Program

2,213

1,409

Net cash used in financing activities

(57,474)

(23,598)

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

(52,831)

11,730

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(1,084)

(142)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

127,290

89,671

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, at end of period

$            73,375

$          101,259

Supplemental Disclosures:

Net cash paid during the period for:

Interest

$              3,614

$              5,862

Taxes

$            19,925

$              5,609

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

Property and equipment acquired included in accounts payable

$                 108

$                 140

Internal use software acquired included in accounts payable

$                 661

$              1,159

Lease liabilities arising from right of use assets

$              5,278

$              3,902

 

Supplemental Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information

We use supplemental measures of our performance, which are derived from our consolidated financial information, but which are not presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is the primary financial performance measure used by management to evaluate our business and monitor ongoing results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income before depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, interest expense, income taxes, acquisition, restructuring and integration costs, foreign exchange gain, net, asset impairments, and other one-time, non-recurring costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents the adjusted EBITDA for the applicable period divided by the revenue for that period presented in accordance with GAAP.

We use non-GAAP financial measures to supplement financial information presented on a GAAP basis. We believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows management to better understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and better project our future consolidated financial performance as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide our shareholders with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of our operating performance and enabling them to make more meaningful period-to-period comparisons. Although we believe these measures are useful to investors and analysts for the same reasons they are useful to management, as discussed below, these measures are not a substitute for, or superior to, U.S. GAAP financial measures or disclosures. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

Reconciliations of historical adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income/loss, are presented below. We encourage you to review the reconciliations in conjunction with the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented. In future fiscal periods, we may exclude such items and may incur income and expenses similar to these excluded items.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net income

$         7,690

$         7,677

$         6,435

$      10,823

Depreciation and amortization

15,709

13,521

30,789

26,346

Stock-based compensation

15,004

40,435

30,742

51,741

Interest expense, net

1,536

3,221

3,462

6,638

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

4,923

(29,107)

4,789

(26,081)

Acquisition, restructuring and integration costs

1,048

809

1,174

1,621

Foreign exchange loss (gain), net

315

(631)

1,884

(1,147)

Asset impairments and other costs

—

1,469

—

1,506

Adjusted EBITDA

$       46,225

$       37,394

$       79,275

$      71,447

Revenue

$     129,005

$     113,651

$     243,535

$    219,743

Net income margin

6 %

7 %

3 %

5 %

Adjusted EBITDA margin

36 %

33 %

33 %

33 %

 

Conference Call and Webcast Information
IAS will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss its second quarter 2024 financial results today at 5:00 p.m. ET. To access the live webcast and conference call dial-in, please register under the “News & Events” section of IAS’s investor relations website. A replay will be available on IAS’s investor relations website following the live call: https://investors.integralads.com. 

About Integral Ad Science
Integral Ad Science (IAS) is a leading global media measurement and optimization platform that delivers the industry’s most actionable data to drive superior results for the world’s largest advertisers, publishers, and media platforms. IAS’s software provides comprehensive and enriched data that ensures ads are seen by real people in safe and suitable environments, while improving return on ad spend for advertisers and yield for publishers. Our mission is to be the global benchmark for trust and transparency in digital media quality. For more information, visit integralads.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This earnings press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, including guidance, and business, including pipeline and industry trends. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. For example, all statements we make relating to our estimated and projected costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results or our plans and objectives for future operations, growth initiatives or strategies, including pursuing business from Oracle or other competitors are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including: (i) the adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition, and prospects from various macroeconomic factors, including instability in geopolitical or market conditions; (ii) our failure to innovate or make the right investment decisions; (iii) our ability to provide digital or cross-platform analytics; (iv) our failure to maintain or achieve industry accreditation standards; (v) our dependence on integrations with advertising platforms, demand side providers (“DSPs”) and proprietary platforms that we do not control; (vi) our ability to compete successfully with our current or future competitors in an intensely competitive market, including with respect to the Oracle opportunity; (vii) our inability to use software licensed from third parties; (viii) our international expansion; (ix) our ability to expand into new channels; (x) our ability to sustain our profitability and revenue growth rate; (xi) risks that our customers do not pay or choose to dispute their invoices; (xii) risks of material changes to revenue share agreements with certain DSPs; (xiii) our dependence on the overall demand for advertising; (xiv) our ability to effectively manage our growth; (xv) the impact that any acquisitions we have completed in the past and may consummate in the future, strategic investments, or alliances may have on our business, financial condition, and results of operations; (xvi) our ability to successfully execute our international plans; (xvii) the risks associated with the seasonality of our market; (xviii) our ability to maintain high impression volumes; (xix) the difficulty in evaluating our future prospects given our short operating history; (xx) uncertainty in how the market for buying digital advertising verification solutions will evolve; (xxi) interruption by man-made problems such as terrorism, computer viruses, or social disruptions; (xxii) the risk of failures in the systems and infrastructure supporting our solutions and operations; (xxiii) our ability to avoid operational, technical, and performance issues with our platform; (xxiv) risks associated with any unauthorized access to user, customer, or inventory and third-party provider data; (xxv) our ability to provide the non-proprietary technology, software, products, and services that we use; (xxvi) the risk that we are sued by third parties for alleged infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of their proprietary rights; (xxvii) our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, or enforce intellectual property and proprietary rights that are important to our business; (xxviii) our involvement in lawsuits to protect or enforce our intellectual property; (xxix) risks that our employees, consultants, or advisors have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their current or former employers; (xxx) risks that our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected; (xxxi) the impact of unforeseen changes to privacy and data protection laws and regulation on digital advertising; (xxxii) our ability to maintain our corporate culture; (xxxiii) public health outbreaks, epidemics, pandemics, or other public health crises; (xxxiv) risks posed by earthquakes, fires, floods, and other natural catastrophic events; (xxxv) the risk that a perceived failure to comply with laws and industry self-regulation may damage our reputation; and (xxxvi) other factors disclosed in our filings with the SEC. Given these factors, as well as other variables that may affect our operating results, you should not rely on forward-looking statements, assume that past financial performance will be a reliable indicator of future performance, or use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based on many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

Investor Contact:
Jonathan Schaffer
ir@integralads.com 

Media Contact:
press@integralads.com 

 

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SOURCE Integral Ad Science, Inc.

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Bitcoin and Ethereum to be offered alongside existing FX, NDF and Spot Trading

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 24X Bermuda Limited (“24X“), one of a select few global platforms that offer both crypto spot and FX trading on a single, unified technology infrastructure, today announced that it has expanded its partnership with Standard Chartered to include digital assets Prime Brokerage. This expanded partnership will now enable trading in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) on 24X’s institutional-grade, multi-asset trading platform. Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group.

With this expansion, 24X becomes the first trading platform to offer both crypto and FX products with Standard Chartered acting as the central counterparty. This structure allows counterparties to face only Standard Chartered while accessing OTC liquidity through 24X, which operates the execution-only platform and handles liquidity configuration, matching and straight-through processing (STP). Globally recognized as a leading FX NDF platform and offering FX spot and swaps, 24X aims to apply that expertise to drive institutional adoption of digital assets.

24X and Standard Chartered’s Prime Brokerage business already give clients access to FX NDFs, FX Spot, FX Deliverable Swaps, FX Non-Deliverable Swaps, and Metals. Bitcoin and Ethereum trading will operate in a similar capacity. This announcement comes shortly after Standard Chartered served as liquidity taker for first spot cryptocurrency trades on the 24X platform, with Cumberland DRW and Wintermute serving as liquidity providers.

24X CEO and Founder Dmitri Galinov said, “Institutional interest in digital assets is rapidly increasing, and this expansion of our partnership with Standard Chartered will enable the 24X platform to continually meet that demand. Our crypto trading infrastructure delivers the deep liquidity, rigorous oversight, and the same seamless workflow global financial institutions have come to expect from 24X. We are proud to deepen our relationship as global markets continue to converge around digital assets.” 

24X Bermuda Limited’s cryptocurrency activity is regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. 24X also offers Deliverable Swaps, Non-Deliverable Swaps, Metals and Spot products to institutional customers in addition to NDFs. Since its launch in 2019, 24X’s multi-asset offering through a single trading interface has enabled market participants to access increased liquidity at lower cost. Through its subsidiary 24X National Exchange, trading in U.S. equities is available 16/5 via broker-dealers who are approved members of the Exchange.

About 24X 
24X Bermuda Holdings LLC (“24X”) is a privately held company with two primary operating subsidiaries: 24X Bermuda Limited (“24X Bermuda”), which allows seamless and cost-effective exchange of currency exposures, metals and spot cryptocurrency; and 24X National Exchange LLC (“24X Equities”), the first national securities exchange approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate 23 hours each weekday. 24X’s mission is to enable cost-effective trades across a growing range of asset classes around the clock by lowering the cost of exchanging assets in the global markets and simultaneously delivering creative and unique workflows tailored to each asset class. 24X Bermuda is a registered Introducing Broker with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA ID #0556980). 24X Bermuda and its crypto activity are regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. More information is available at https://www.24exchange.com.

Media Contact: 
Eric Andrus, KARV 
24Xmedia@karv.global 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/24x-expands-digital-assets-prime-brokerage-partnership-with-standard-chartered-302934245.html

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Telecom Review Group Accelerates the Journey to 10Giga GCC with U6GHz

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DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the 20th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, held on October 20–21, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai Jumeirah Beach Residence, industry leaders examined how upper 6 GHz (U6GHz) spectrum and 5G-Advanced could accelerate the GCC’s journey toward 10 Gbps connectivity.

Moderated by Issam Eid, Group CMO and Partner at Telecom Review Group, the panel brought together Dr. Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Chief, Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD); Jawad Abbassi, Head of MENA, GSMA; Eng. Saif Bin Ghalita, Executive Director Technology Development Affairs, TDRA; Dr. Mahmoud Sherif, Head of Innovation and Technico Business Development, du; Dr. Ayman Elnashar, VP, Technology Strategy, Architecture & Innovation, etisalat; Steven Liu, Vice President of ICT Marketing and Solution Sales, Huawei Middle East and Central Asia; and Omar Samman, Head of Networks – Gulf, Ericsson.

Spectrum Policy Sets the Foundation

The UAE’s progress in commercial U6GHz deployment reflects the importance of forward-looking spectrum policy and regulatory coordination. Eng. Bin Ghalita outlined the country’s spectrum roadmap, including allocating 500 MHz in the 6 GHz band for indoor Wi-Fi in 2020 and subsequently designating 700 MHz, spanning 6.425–7.125 GHz, for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) in the 2024 National Frequency Plan.

These measures helped pave the way for commercial U6GHz deployments by etisalat and du. “For the U6GHz commercial launch, I would particularly like to recognize Huawei, with whom the UAE has had more than 25 years of engagement. Huawei has always delivered on its commitment,” Eng. Bin Ghalita mentioned. “This kind of collaboration is what turns our missions into tangible progress.”

Regulators must also address device compatibility and interference coordination.

“The regulator’s job does not end with spectrum assigned; it continues until the investment and the partnership translate into a better experience for society,” Eng. Bin Ghalita remarked.

The GSMA has pointed to growing international momentum behind U6GHz, with countries representing more than 80% of the world’s population now supporting mobile use of the band and more than 60 mobile ecosystem players supporting large-scale deployment. To advance the industry’s journey toward 6G, Abbassi stressed the importance of driving spectrum adoption while acknowledging and demonstrating the wider economic value of licensed U6GHz deployment.

“The licensed approach yields 7 times the economic benefits of keeping it in the unlicensed band,” noted Abbassi.

Dr. Jamoussi warned that divergent national approaches could fragment device and network ecosystems, increasing costs. “International harmonization will be essential to making advanced connectivity more affordable and interoperable,” he said.

Turning 10 Gbps Potential into Real-World Performance

U6GHz’s ultra-wide bandwidth is enabling significant advances in peak data rates, with du reporting a 10 Gbps peak data rate in a 5G-Advanced demonstration combining U6GHz and Sub-3 GHz spectrum. Dr. Sherif positioned the achievement as a milestone for the UAE’s wider telecommunications ecosystem.

“This achievement is particularly noteworthy given 5G-Advanced’s role in bridging 5G and 6G. There are so many key takeaways that we can evaluate as we pursue 6G commercialization,” highlighted Dr. Sherif.

Steven Liu identified fixed wireless access (FWA), mobile broadband, and AI-driven services as potential application areas, highlighting how U6GHz’s ultra-wide bandwidth supports higher-speed home broadband and demanding mobile applications, although actual performance will depend on network configuration and deployment conditions. Steven Liu emphasized that the industry can “bring a new level of innovative service and superior end-user experience to the market through U6GHz.”

Dr. Elnashar highlighted emerging enterprise offerings and AI-driven consumer applications. “It’s a journey that we started two or three years back with the first prototype of U6GHz in the UAE,” he remarked. “Following the trial where we demonstrated 10 Gbps downlink and uplink, I believe we are bridging the gap between wireless and fiber for the first time.”

Omar Samman highlighted rising uplink and low-latency demands from AI applications. “Uplink growth is no longer a prediction; it is already happening,” he said, noting the role of AI-enabled radio access network software and updated service-area planning.

Paving the Way for 6G Evolution

Following the panel, Allen Tang, President of Huawei’s Wireless Network & Cloud Core Network Marketing & Solution Sales, and Toni Eid, Founder of Telecom Review Group and CEO of Trace Media International, joined the panelists to officially mark the world’s first U6GHz commercial launch during an exclusive ceremony, highlighting the UAE’s progress in moving the technology from spectrum planning to commercial deployment.

The milestone underscored the region’s ambition to accelerate toward a 10 Gbps society. Achieving that vision, however, will require converged infrastructure, harmonized standards, device readiness, and sustainable investment. These factors will determine how effectively the GCC translates U6GHz potential into real-world connectivity and supports the transition to 6G.

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Blue Planet Strengthens Singapore-India Partnership with Uttar Pradesh Waste Infrastructure Agreement

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Singapore-headquartered Blue Planet Environmental Solutions has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to advance integrated waste management infrastructure, marking a further step in Singapore–India collaboration on sustainable urban development.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across scientific landfill remediation, fresh municipal solid waste processing and resource recovery. It reflects a shared focus on addressing accumulated waste while strengthening the infrastructure needed to manage the demands of urban growth.

The signing took place in Lucknow during a high-level Singapore Business Federation (SBF) delegation’s engagement with Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath and senior government officials. Led by SBF Chairman Mark Lee, the visit built on dialogue following the Chief Minister’s visit to Singapore earlier this year, reinforcing business ties between Singapore and Uttar Pradesh.

For Blue Planet, the agreement represents an opportunity to bring its integrated waste management expertise to the state’s evolving environmental priorities. By connecting remediation with fresh waste processing and resource recovery, the collaboration aims to support a more coordinated approach to municipal waste management, enabling the productive use of recovered materials and land while reducing reliance on disposal.

Prashant Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, Blue Planet Environmental Solutions, said:

“Waste infrastructure is fundamental to how cities grow. Addressing legacy waste and managing the waste generated today must go hand in hand, supported by systems that recover resources and serve communities over the long term.

“Uttar Pradesh presents a significant opportunity to put this integrated approach into practice. This agreement deepens our commitment to the state and provides a foundation for sustained collaboration. We thank Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji and his team for their engagement and support, and look forward to bringing our operational expertise and execution capabilities to this shared ambition.”

The engagement underscores the growing scope for Singapore businesses to contribute specialised capabilities to India’s infrastructure development. Environmental services offer a meaningful avenue for such cooperation, bringing together international experience, local understanding and long-term operational partnerships.

Mark Lee, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation, said:

“Strong business relationships create the foundation for long-term cooperation between Singapore and India. Our continued engagement with Uttar Pradesh is helping businesses better understand the state’s priorities and identify where their capabilities can make a meaningful contribution.

“Blue Planet’s agreement illustrates how these relationships can translate into collaboration in an essential sector such as environmental infrastructure. We appreciate the engagement of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji and his government, and look forward to supporting partnerships that deliver enduring value.”

Blue Planet will continue working with the relevant authorities to advance the collaboration in line with local requirements. The company’s focus will be on applying its remediation, treatment and resource recovery capabilities to support more resilient municipal waste systems and Uttar Pradesh’s broader development objectives.

About Blue Planet Environmental Solutions

Headquartered in Singapore, Blue Planet Environmental Solutions is an integrated waste management company with capabilities across the waste value chain. Its solutions span legacy waste remediation, municipal and industrial waste management, recycling and resource recovery, e-waste management, and organic waste and bioenergy. Blue Planet works with governments, municipalities and businesses to advance circular resource use and its mission of Zero Waste to Landfill.

For more information, visit www.blueplanet.asia.

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SOURCE Blue Planet Environmental Solutions

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