Technology

NetEase Announces Second Quarter 2024 Unaudited Financial Results

Published

2 years ago

August 22, 2024

HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES and HKEX: 9999, “NetEase” or the “Company”), a leading internet and game services provider, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Net revenues were RMB25.5 billion (US$3.5 billion), an increase of 6.1% compared with the same quarter of 2023.Games and related value-added services net revenues were RMB20.1 billion (US$2.8 billion), an increase of 6.7% compared with the same quarter of 2023.Youdao net revenues were RMB1.3 billion (US$181.9 million), an increase of 9.5% compared with the same quarter of 2023.Cloud Music net revenues were RMB2.0 billion (US$280.8 million), an increase of 4.7% compared with the same quarter of 2023.Innovative businesses and others net revenues were RMB2.1 billion (US$284.5 million), which was relatively stable compared with the same quarter of 2023.Gross profit was RMB16.0 billion (US$2.2 billion), an increase of 11.6% compared with the same quarter of 2023.Total operating expenses were RMB9.0 billion (US$1.2 billion), an increase of 8.9% compared with the same quarter of 2023.Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders was RMB6.8 billion (US$930.0 million). Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders was RMB7.8 billion (US$1.1 billion).[1] Basic net income per share was US$0.29 (US$1.45 per ADS). Non-GAAP basic net income per share was US$0.33 (US$1.67 per ADS).[1]

[1] As used in this announcement, non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders and non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per share and per ADS are defined to exclude share-based compensation expenses. See the unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results at the end of this announcement.

Second Quarter 2024 and Recent Operational Highlights

Launched popular new titles, further enhancing our appeal in diversified genres:Lost Light mobile game, a multiplayer tactical shooter game, topped the iOS download charts in China following its June launch.Once Human, a multiplayer open-world survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world, attained over 230,000 peak concurrent users on Steam soon after its launch, ranking among the top 5 most-played games in the world.Naraka: Bladepoint mobile game hit the top 3 on iOS grossing charts soon after launch in China, and topped the iOS download chart for over a week.Generated continued popularity of hit games, with Naraka: Bladepoint reaching record-high DAUs on its three-year anniversary, and Identity V continuing its strong performance, hitting record-high DAUs in July and August, consecutively.Brought highly anticipated NetEase titles to partners’ world-leading gaming platforms:Unveiled plans to bring Where Winds Meet and Marvel Rivals to consoles at PlayStation State of Play. Marvel Rivals also announced during Gamescom its release date for December 6th.Announced FragPunk, a 5v5 first-person hero shooter game, at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, highlighting its innovative shooting experience with unique card mechanics.Eggy Party joined Nintendo Direct with upcoming plans for a worldwide release on Switch.Brought World of Warcraft back to China with players enthusiastically welcoming the unfolding return of Blizzard’s game portfolio.Youdao continued to drive growth in digital content services, online marketing services and AI-driven subscription services, recording historic-high operating cash flow and significantly narrowed operating loss compared with the same quarter of last year.Cloud Music continued to propel quality development across its music-centric ecosystem, further augmented its unique community, and kept bringing users high-quality music experiences.

“The robust R&D and operating capabilities we’ve built over the past two decades have shaped our formidable games portfolio of time-honored titles and newer innovative hits that redefine genres and diversify our offerings,” said Mr. William Ding, Chief Executive Officer and Director of NetEase. “With a growing portfolio of games that feature higher quality and cover more genres, we are thrilled to bring exciting NetEase gaming experiences to more players around the globe. As we expand our reach to players in China and worldwide, innovation remains our priority. We will continue to explore opportunities with talent and partners in the industry to drive the next wave of gaming trends.

“Alongside our games, Cloud Music and Youdao are also on track for continued growth this year. Superior content is the thread that connects our NetEase family, and we continue to bring experiences that resonate with our users across our businesses,” Mr. Ding concluded.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the second quarter of 2024 were RMB25.5 billion (US$3.5 billion), compared with RMB26.9 billion and RMB24.0 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Net revenues from games and related value-added services were RMB20.1 billion (US$2.8 billion) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB21.5 billion and RMB18.8 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. Net revenues from the operation of online games accounted for approximately 96.1% of the segment’s net revenues for the second quarter of 2024, compared with 95.2% and 91.7% for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. Net revenues from mobile games accounted for approximately 76.4% of net revenues from the operation of online games for the second quarter of 2024, compared with 78.6% and 73.6% for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Net revenues from Youdao were RMB1.3 billion (US$181.9 million) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB1.4 billion and RMB1.2 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Net revenues from Cloud Music were RMB2.0 billion (US$280.8 million) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB2.0 billion and RMB1.9 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Net revenues from innovative businesses and others were RMB2.1 billion (US$284.5 million) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB2.0 billion and RMB2.1 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2024 was RMB16.0 billion (US$2.2 billion), compared with RMB17.0 billion and RMB14.4 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

The quarter-over-quarter decrease in games and related value-added services’ gross profit was primarily due to lower net revenues from certain mobile games. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to increased net revenues from mobile games such as Identity V and Justice mobile game, launched in 2023.

The quarter-over-quarter decrease in Youdao’s gross profit was primarily due to lower net revenues from its learning services. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to higher net revenues from its online marketing services.

The quarter-over-quarter decrease in Cloud Music’s gross profit primarily resulted from the one-off adjustment of certain copyright costs in the preceding quarter. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to increased net revenues from sales of membership subscriptions and continued improvement in cost control measures.

The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year increases in innovative businesses and others’ gross profit were primarily due to increased gross profit from Yanxuan and several other businesses included within the segment.

Gross Profit Margin

Gross profit margin for games and related value-added services for the second quarter of 2024 was 70.0%, compared with 69.5% and 67.4% for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year increases were mainly attributable to changes in product mix.

Gross profit margin for Youdao for the second quarter of 2024 was 48.2%, compared with 49.0% and 47.0% for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to decreased revenue contribution from its learning services. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to the improvement of gross profit margin from its online marketing services.

Gross profit margin for Cloud Music for the second quarter of 2024 was 32.1%, compared with 38.0% and 27.0% for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year fluctuations were mainly due to the factors enumerated above. The one-off adjustment of copyright costs mentioned above increased the gross profit margin in the preceding quarter by approximately five percentage points.

Gross profit margin for innovative businesses and others for the second quarter of 2024 was 34.0%, compared with 33.4% and 29.5% for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year increases were mainly due to changes in the product mix within the segment.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were RMB9.0 billion (US$1.2 billion), compared with RMB9.4 billion and RMB8.3 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to decreased marketing expenditures related to games and related value-added services. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to increased research and development investments and marketing expenditures associated with games and related value-added services.

Other Income/(Expenses)

Other income/(expenses) consisted of investment income, interest income, exchange gains/(losses) and others. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year decreases were mainly due to net exchange losses in the second quarter of 2024 compared with net exchange gains recorded in the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023.

Income Tax

The Company recorded a net income tax charge of RMB1.3 billion (US$179.0 million) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB1.5 billion and RMB712.1 million for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2024 was 16.0%, compared with 16.0% and 8.0% for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively. The effective tax rate represents certain estimates by the Company as to the tax obligations and benefits applicable to it in each quarter.

Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income

Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders totaled RMB6.8 billion (US$930.0 million) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB7.6 billion and RMB8.2 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

NetEase reported basic net income of US$0.29 per share (US$1.45 per ADS) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with US$0.33 per share (US$1.64 per ADS) and US$0.35 per share (US$1.76 per ADS) for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders totaled RMB7.8 billion (US$1.1 billion) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB8.5 billion and RMB9.0 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

NetEase reported non-GAAP basic net income of US$0.33 per share (US$1.67 per ADS) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with US$0.36 per share (US$1.82 per ADS) and US$0.39 per share (US$1.93 per ADS) for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Other Financial Information

As of June 30, 2024, the Company’s net cash (total cash and cash equivalents, current and non-current time deposits and restricted cash, as well as short-term investments balance, minus short-term and long-term loans) totaled RMB116.1 billion (US$16.0 billion), compared with RMB110.9 billion as of December 31, 2023. Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB6.5 billion (US$898.8 million) for the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB9.6 billion and RMB7.7 billion for the preceding quarter and the same quarter of 2023, respectively.

Quarterly Dividend

The board of directors has approved a dividend of US$0.0870 per share (US$0.4350 per ADS) for the second quarter of 2024 to holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs as of the close of business on September 6, 2024, Beijing/Hong Kong Time and New York Time, respectively, payable in U.S. dollars. For holders of ordinary shares, in order to qualify for the dividend, all valid documents for the transfer of shares accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged for registration with the Company’s Hong Kong branch share registrar, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, at Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong no later than 4:30 p.m. on September 6, 2024 (Beijing/ Hong Kong Time). The payment date is expected to be September 17, 2024 for holders of ordinary shares and on or around September 20, 2024 for holders of ADSs.

NetEase paid a dividend of US$0.0990 per share (US$0.4950 per ADS) for the first quarter of 2024 in June 2024.

Under the Company’s current dividend policy, the determination to make dividend distributions and the amount of such distribution in any particular quarter will be made at the discretion of its board of directors and will be based upon the Company’s operations and earnings, cash flow, financial condition and other relevant factors.

Share Repurchase Program

On November 17, 2022, the Company announced that its board of directors had approved a share repurchase program of up to US$5.0 billion of the Company’s ADSs and ordinary shares in open market transactions. This share repurchase program commenced on January 10, 2023 and will be in effect for a period not to exceed 36 months from such date. As of June 30, 2024, approximately 11.9 million ADSs had been repurchased under this program for a total cost of US$1.1 billion.

The extent to which NetEase repurchases its ADSs and its ordinary shares depends upon a variety of factors, including market conditions. These programs may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

** The United States dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this announcement are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. The percentages stated are calculated based on RMB.

Conference Call

NetEase’s management team will host a teleconference call with a simultaneous webcast at 8:00 a.m. New York Time on Thursday, August 22, 2024 (Beijing/Hong Kong Time: 8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 22, 2024). NetEase’s management will be on the call to discuss the quarterly results and answer questions.

Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 1-914-202-3258 and providing conference ID: 10040836, 15 minutes prior to the initiation of the call. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 1-855-883-1031 and entering PIN: 10040836. The replay will be available through August 29, 2024.

This call will be webcast live and the replay will be available for 12 months. Both will be available on NetEase’s Investor Relations website at http://ir.netease.com/.

About NetEase, Inc.

NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES and HKEX: 9999, “NetEase”) is a leading internet and game services provider centered around premium content. With extensive offerings across its expanding gaming ecosystem, the Company develops and operates some of the most popular and longest running mobile and PC games available in China and globally.

Powered by one of the largest in-house game R&D teams focused on mobile, PC and console, NetEase creates superior gaming experiences, inspires players, and passionately delivers value for its thriving community worldwide. By infusing play with culture, and education with technology, NetEase transforms gaming into a meaningful vehicle to build a more entertaining and enlightened world.

Beyond games, NetEase service offerings include its majority-controlled subsidiaries Youdao (NYSE: DAO), an intelligent learning company with industry-leading technology, and Cloud Music (HKEX: 9899), a well-known online music platform featuring a vibrant content community, as well as Yanxuan, NetEase’s private label consumer lifestyle brand.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.netease.com/.

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions. In addition, statements that are not historical facts, including statements about NetEase’s strategies and business plans, its expectations regarding the growth of its business and its revenue and the quotations from management in this announcement are or contain forward-looking statements. NetEase may also make forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks related to: the risk that the online games market will not continue to grow or that NetEase will not be able to maintain its position in that market in China or globally; risks associated with NetEase’s business and operating strategies and its ability to implement such strategies; NetEase’s ability to develop and manage its operations and business; competition for, among other things, capital, technology and skilled personnel; potential changes in government regulation that could adversely affect the industry and geographical markets in which NetEase operates; the risk that NetEase may not be able to continuously develop new and creative online services or that NetEase will not be able to set, or follow in a timely manner, trends in the market; risks related to economic uncertainty and capital market disruption; risks related to the expansion of NetEase’s businesses and operations internationally; risks associated with cybersecurity threats or incidents; and the risk that fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi with respect to other currencies could adversely affect NetEase’s business and financial results. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in NetEase’s filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. NetEase does not undertake any obligation to update this forward-looking information, except as required under applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

NetEase considers and uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders and non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS and per share, as supplemental metrics in reviewing and assessing its operating performance and formulating its business plan. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

NetEase defines non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders as net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses. Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders enables NetEase’s management to assess its operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses. NetEase believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating the Company’s current operating performance and prospects in the same manner as management does, if they so choose. NetEase also believes that the use of this non-GAAP financial measure facilitates investors’ assessment of its operating performance.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. One of the key limitations of using non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders is that it does not reflect all items of expense/ income that affect our operations. Share-based compensation expenses have been and may continue to be incurred in NetEase’s business and are not reflected in the presentation of non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures NetEase uses may differ from the non-GAAP measures used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

NetEase compensates for these limitations by reconciling non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating the Company’s performance. See the unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results at the end of this announcement. NetEase encourages you to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Contact for Media and Investors:
Email: ir@service.netease.com
Tel: (+86) 571-8985-3378

NETEASE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

December 31,

June 30,

2023

2024

RMB

USD (Note 1)

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

21,428,902

18,982,239

2,612,043

Time deposits

100,856,034

93,456,225

12,860,005

Restricted cash

2,777,206

2,869,827

394,901

Accounts receivable, net

6,422,417

6,364,847

875,832

Inventories

695,374

574,441

79,046

Prepayments and other current assets, net

6,076,595

5,487,749

755,139

Short-term investments

4,436,057

10,417,802

1,433,537

Total current assets

142,692,585

138,153,130

19,010,503

Non-current assets:

Property, equipment and software, net

8,075,044

8,092,032

1,113,501

Land use rights, net

4,075,143

4,022,255

553,481

Deferred tax assets

1,560,088

1,504,697

207,053

Time deposits

1,050,000

3,940,000

542,162

Restricted cash

550

3,250

447

Other long-term assets

28,471,568

27,627,257

3,801,637

Total non-current assets

43,232,393

45,189,491

6,218,281

Total assets

185,924,978

183,342,621

25,228,784

Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
and Shareholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

881,016

792,003

108,983

Salary and welfare payables

4,857,206

3,606,360

496,252

Taxes payable

2,571,534

2,381,220

327,667

Short-term loans

19,240,163

13,187,247

1,814,626

Contract liabilities

13,362,166

13,615,857

1,873,604

Accrued liabilities and other payables

12,930,399

12,345,208

1,698,757

Total current liabilities

53,842,484

45,927,895

6,319,889

Non-current liabilities:

Deferred tax liabilities

2,299,303

1,448,781

199,359

Long-term loans

427,997

58,894

Other long-term liabilities

1,271,113

1,192,543

164,099

Total non-current liabilities

3,998,413

3,069,321

422,352

Total liabilities

57,840,897

48,997,216

6,742,241

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

115,759

119,498

16,443

NetEase, Inc.’s shareholders’ equity

124,285,776

130,909,906

18,013,803

Noncontrolling interests

3,682,546

3,316,001

456,297

Total equity

127,968,322

134,225,907

18,470,100

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling
interests and shareholders’ equity

185,924,978

183,342,621

25,228,784

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this announcement.

NETEASE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data or per ADS data)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

2023

2024

2023

2024

RMB

USD (Note 1)

RMB

USD (Note 1)

Net revenues

24,011,301

26,851,741

25,485,805

3,506,963

49,057,588

52,337,546

7,201,886

Cost of revenues

(9,635,888)

(9,835,821)

(9,443,587)

(1,299,481)

(19,785,629)

(19,279,408)

(2,652,935)

Gross profit

14,375,413

17,015,920

16,042,218

2,207,482

29,271,959

33,058,138

4,548,951

Operating expenses:

Selling and marketing expenses

(3,271,705)

(4,022,204)

(3,501,737)

(481,855)

(6,176,751)

(7,523,941)

(1,035,329)

General and administrative expenses

(1,132,147)

(1,196,475)

(1,091,441)

(150,187)

(2,153,825)

(2,287,916)

(314,828)

Research and development expenses

(3,908,907)

(4,174,758)

(4,455,717)

(613,127)

(7,658,639)

(8,630,475)

(1,187,593)

Total operating expenses

(8,312,759)

(9,393,437)

(9,048,895)

(1,245,169)

(15,989,215)

(18,442,332)

(2,537,750)

Operating profit

6,062,654

7,622,483

6,993,323

962,313

13,282,744

14,615,806

2,011,201

Other income/(expenses):

Investment income, net

287,691

179,291

103,674

14,266

759,059

282,965

38,937

Interest income, net

935,578

1,277,597

1,186,219

163,229

1,711,608

2,463,816

339,032

Exchange gains/(losses), net

1,464,956

15,011

(239,375)

(32,939)

1,078,388

(224,364)

(30,874)

Other, net

120,826

193,888

85,694

11,792

378,859

279,582

38,472

Income before tax

8,871,705

9,288,270

8,129,535

1,118,661

17,210,658

17,417,805

2,396,768

Income tax

(712,090)

(1,485,910)

(1,300,939)

(179,015)

(2,340,649)

(2,786,849)

(383,483)

Net income

8,159,615

7,802,360

6,828,596

939,646

14,870,009

14,630,956

2,013,285

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling
interests

(868)

(958)

(960)

(132)

(1,728)

(1,918)

(264)

Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling
interests and redeemable noncontrolling
interests

84,020

(167,456)

(68,887)

(9,479)

129,120

(236,343)

(32,522)

Net income attributable to the
Company’s shareholders

8,242,767

7,633,946

6,758,749

930,035

14,997,401

14,392,695

1,980,499

Net income per share *

Basic

2.56

2.38

2.10

0.29

4.66

4.48

0.62

Diluted

2.54

2.35

2.08

0.29

4.61

4.43

0.61

Net income per ADS *

Basic

12.80

11.88

10.50

1.45

23.29

22.39

3.08

Diluted

12.69

11.75

10.42

1.43

23.05

22.17

3.05

Weighted average number of ordinary
shares used in calculating net income
per share *

Basic

3,218,783

3,211,665

3,217,699

3,219,926

3,214,682

Diluted

3,248,916

3,249,452

3,243,056

3,252,707

3,246,254

* Each ADS represents five ordinary shares.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this announcement.

NETEASE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

2023

2024

2023

2024

RMB

USD (Note 1)

RMB

USD (Note 1)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

8,159,615

7,802,360

6,828,596

939,646

14,870,009

14,630,956

2,013,285

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

Depreciation and amortization

661,363

567,923

631,957

86,960

1,743,632

1,199,880

165,109

Fair value changes of equity security and other investments

(78,035)

(368,258)

(7,887)

(1,085)

(304,755)

(376,145)

(51,759)

Impairment losses on investments

47,870

128,417

210,741

28,999

47,870

339,158

46,670

Fair value changes of short-term investments

(96,884)

(60,810)

(128,295)

(17,654)

(234,800)

(189,105)

(26,022)

Share-based compensation cost

787,862

894,300

1,079,056

148,482

1,610,275

1,973,356

271,543

Allowance for expected credit losses

8,540

11,600

9,281

1,277

29,260

20,881

2,873

Losses/(gains) on disposal of property, equipment and software

252

2,132

(326)

(45)

(358)

1,806

249

Unrealized exchange (gains)/losses

(1,466,295)

(17,509)

(209,311)

(28,802)

(1,080,334)

(226,820)

(31,211)

Gains on disposal of long-term investments, business and
subsidiaries

(16,382)

(13,487)

(141,114)

(19,418)

(22,150)

(154,601)

(21,274)

Deferred income taxes

(334,380)

485,054

(1,280,076)

(176,144)

243,286

(795,022)

(109,399)

Share of results on equity method investees

(129,292)

164,271

39,200

5,394

(225,100)

203,471

27,999

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

770,551

(1,358,711)

1,410,478

194,088

(345,731)

51,767

7,123

Inventories

69,410

91,378

29,552

4,067

186,740

120,930

16,641

Prepayments and other assets

(7,233)

326,140

530,856

73,048

118,594

856,996

117,927

Accounts payable

(115,791)

(7,001)

(126,862)

(17,457)

(728,730)

(133,863)

(18,420)

Salary and welfare payables

758,106

(2,178,608)

879,058

120,963

(1,467,631)

(1,299,550)

(178,824)

Taxes payable

(992,892)

1,271,822

(1,462,700)

(201,274)

(259,176)

(190,878)

(26,266)

Contract liabilities

(41,196)

1,574,086

(1,270,324)

(174,801)

448,795

303,762

41,799

Accrued liabilities and other payables

(306,784)

242,070

(490,048)

(67,433)

(950,620)

(247,978)

(34,123)

Net cash provided by operating activities

7,678,405

9,557,169

6,531,832

898,811

13,679,076

16,089,001

2,213,920

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of property, equipment and software

(520,544)

(415,018)

(168,880)

(23,239)

(1,173,483)

(583,898)

(80,347)

Proceeds from sale of property, equipment and software

4,292

3,506

660

6,796

4,166

573

Purchase of intangible assets, content and licensed copyrights

(283,321)

(188,821)

(399,533)

(54,978)

(1,110,003)

(588,354)

(80,960)

Net changes of short-term investments with terms of three
months or less

1,630,013

2,401,649

(8,194,289)

(1,127,572)

906,862

(5,792,640)

(797,094)

Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments with terms
over three months

–

104,269

–

Investment in long-term investments and acquisition of
subsidiaries

(270,228)

(481,804)

(193,450)

(26,620)

(1,499,276)

(675,254)

(92,918)

Proceeds from disposal of long-term investments, businesses
and subsidiaries

16,531

85,456

840,649

115,677

57,811

926,105

127,436

Placement/rollover of matured time deposits

(10,874,831)

(34,558,836)

(61,775,606)

(8,500,606)

(47,194,934)

(96,334,442)

(13,256,060)

Proceeds from maturities of time deposits

21,918,791

46,048,382

55,211,839

7,597,402

44,251,140

101,260,221

13,933,870

Change in other long-term assets

(31,189)

(34,625)

(172,543)

(23,743)

(152,030)

(207,168)

(28,507)

Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities

11,589,514

12,859,889

(14,851,153)

(2,043,588)

(5,802,848)

(1,991,264)

(274,007)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net changes from loans with terms of three months or less

(14,970,935)

(399,726)

(2,085,053)

(286,913)

(12,332,895)

(2,484,779)

(341,917)

Proceeds of loans with terms over three months

2,171,541

6,998,250

1,069,020

147,102

3,451,100

8,067,270

1,110,093

Payment of loans with terms over three months

(3,233,500)

(957,000)

(10,681,827)

(1,469,868)

(3,273,922)

(11,638,827)

(1,601,556)

Net amounts received related to capital contribution from
noncontrolling interests shareholders

22,228

42,214

50,572

6,959

46,577

92,786

12,768

Cash paid for repurchase of NetEase’s ADSs/purchase of
subsidiaries’ ADSs and shares

(2,195,210)

(1,233,780)

(2,007,030)

(276,177)

(4,311,967)

(3,240,810)

(445,950)

Dividends paid to NetEase’s shareholders

(2,119,316)

(4,945,016)

(2,264,799)

(311,647)

(3,331,656)

(7,209,815)

(992,104)

Net cash used in financing activities

(20,325,192)

(495,058)

(15,919,117)

(2,190,544)

(19,752,763)

(16,414,175)

(2,258,666)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash held in foreign currencies

(47,876)

(43,138)

8,234

1,133

(32,378)

(34,904)

(4,803)

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

(1,105,149)

21,878,862

(24,230,204)

(3,334,188)

(11,908,913)

(2,351,342)

(323,556)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, at the beginning
of the period

16,784,561

24,206,658

46,085,520

6,341,579

27,588,325

24,206,658

3,330,947

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

15,679,412

46,085,520

21,855,316

3,007,391

15,679,412

21,855,316

3,007,391

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

Cash paid for income taxes, net

1,625,045

1,182,711

2,848,493

391,966

2,699,624

4,031,204

554,712

Cash paid for interest expenses

326,646

146,455

152,943

21,046

602,360

299,398

41,199

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this announcement.

NETEASE, INC.

UNAUDITED SEGMENT INFORMATION

(in thousands, except percentages)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

2023

2024

2023

2024

RMB

USD (Note 1)

RMB

USD (Note 1)

Net revenues:

Games and related value-added services

18,798,646

21,460,378

20,055,819

2,759,772

38,864,243

41,516,197

5,712,819

Youdao

1,206,634

1,391,859

1,321,721

181,875

2,369,904

2,713,580

373,401

Cloud Music

1,948,539

2,029,541

2,040,952

280,844

3,908,380

4,070,493

560,118

Innovative businesses and others

2,057,482

1,969,963

2,067,313

284,472

3,915,061

4,037,276

555,548

Total net revenues

24,011,301

26,851,741

25,485,805

3,506,963

49,057,588

52,337,546

7,201,886

Cost of revenues:

Games and related value-added services

(6,122,836)

(6,555,311)

(6,008,604)

(826,812)

(12,805,884)

(12,563,915)

(1,728,853)

Youdao

(639,459)

(710,356)

(684,942)

(94,251)

(1,200,879)

(1,395,298)

(191,999)

Cloud Music

(1,422,855)

(1,259,006)

(1,385,756)

(190,686)

(2,943,233)

(2,644,762)

(363,931)

Innovative businesses and others

(1,450,738)

(1,311,148)

(1,364,285)

(187,732)

(2,835,633)

(2,675,433)

(368,152)

Total cost of revenues

(9,635,888)

(9,835,821)

(9,443,587)

(1,299,481)

(19,785,629)

(19,279,408)

(2,652,935)

Gross profit:

Games and related value-added services

12,675,810

14,905,067

14,047,215

1,932,960

26,058,359

28,952,282

3,983,966

Youdao

567,175

681,503

636,779

87,624

1,169,025

1,318,282

181,402

Cloud Music

525,684

770,535

655,196

90,158

965,147

1,425,731

196,187

Innovative businesses and others

606,744

658,815

703,028

96,740

1,079,428

1,361,843

187,396

Total gross profit

14,375,413

17,015,920

16,042,218

2,207,482

29,271,959

33,058,138

4,548,951

Gross profit margin:

Games and related value-added services

67.4 %

69.5 %

70.0 %

67.0 %

69.7 %

Youdao

47.0 %

49.0 %

48.2 %

49.3 %

48.6 %

Cloud Music

27.0 %

38.0 %

32.1 %

24.7 %

35.0 %

Innovative businesses and others

29.5 %

33.4 %

34.0 %

27.6 %

33.7 %

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this announcement.

NETEASE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Note 1: The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into United States dollars (USD) is based on the noon buying rate of USD1.00 = RMB7.2672 on the last trading day of June 2024 (June 28, 2024) as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate on June 28, 2024, or at any other certain date.

Note 2: Share-based compensation cost reported in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income is set out as follows in RMB and USD (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

2023

2024

2023

2024

RMB

USD (Note 1)

RMB

USD (Note 1)

Share-based compensation cost included in:

Cost of revenues

193,001

254,935

319,949

44,026

396,515

574,884

79,107

Operating expenses

Selling and marketing expenses

31,069

17,869

42,865

5,898

63,422

60,734

8,357

General and administrative expenses

281,326

289,636

286,350

39,403

575,607

575,986

79,258

Research and development expenses

282,466

331,860

429,892

59,155

574,731

761,752

104,821

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this announcement.

Note 3: The financial information prepared and presented in this announcement might be different from those published and to be published by NetEase’s listed subsidiary to meet the disclosure requirements under different accounting standards requirements.

Note 4: The unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results is set out as follows in RMB and USD (in thousands, except per share data or per ADS data):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

2023

2024

2023

2024

RMB

USD (Note 1)

RMB

USD (Note 1)

Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders

8,242,767

7,633,946

6,758,749

930,035

14,997,401

14,392,695

1,980,499

Add: Share-based compensation

774,683

876,898

1,059,939

145,852

1,586,283

1,936,837

266,518

Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders

9,017,450

8,510,844

7,818,688

1,075,887

16,583,684

16,329,532

2,247,017

Non-GAAP net income per share *

Basic

2.80

2.65

2.43

0.33

5.15

5.08

0.70

Diluted

2.78

2.62

2.41

0.33

5.10

5.03

0.69

Non-GAAP net income per ADS *

Basic

14.01

13.25

12.15

1.67

25.75

25.40

3.49

Diluted

13.88

13.10

12.05

1.66

25.49

25.15

3.46

* Each ADS represents five ordinary shares.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this announcement.

Note 5: Reconciliation between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial information is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which differ in certain respects from International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”). The effects of material differences between the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information prepared under U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“Reconciliation Statement”) are as follows in RMB (in thousands).

PricewaterhouseCoopers, the auditor of the Company in Hong Kong, has performed a limited assurance engagement on the Reconciliation Statement in accordance with International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000 (Revised) “Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information”.

Reconciliation of unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income (Extract):

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 IFRSs adjustments

Amounts as
reported under U.S.
GAAP

Investments measured at fair
value

Redeemable
noncontrolling interests

Amounts as
reported under
IFRSs

(Note (a))

(Note (b))

Investment income, net

759,059

694,453

–

1,453,512

Income before tax

17,210,658

694,453

–

17,905,111

Income tax

(2,340,649)

15,289

–

(2,325,360)

Net income

14,870,009

709,742

–

15,579,751

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests

(1,728)

–

1,728

–

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and
redeemable noncontrolling interests

129,120

–

(3,879)

125,241

Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders

14,997,401

709,742

(2,151)

15,704,992

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 IFRSs adjustments

Amounts as
reported under U.S.
GAAP

Investments measured at fair
value

Redeemable
noncontrolling interests

Amounts as
reported under
IFRSs

(Note (a))

(Note (b))

Fair value changes of redeemable noncontrolling interests

–

(571)

Investment income, net

282,965

(108,548)

–

174,417

Income before tax

17,417,805

(108,548)

(571)

17,308,686

Income tax

(2,786,849)

7,127

–

(2,779,722)

Net income

14,630,956

(101,421)

(571)

14,528,964

Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests

(1,918)

–

1,918

–

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and
redeemable noncontrolling interests

(236,343)

–

571

(235,772)

Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders

14,392,695

(101,421)

1,918

14,293,192

Reconciliation of unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets (Extract):

As of December 31, 2023 IFRSs adjustments

Amounts as
reported under U.S.
GAAP

Investments measured at fair
value

Redeemable
noncontrolling interests

Amounts as
reported under
IFRSs

(Note (a))

(Note (b))

Other long-term assets

28,471,568

(15,673,947)

–

12,797,621

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

–

18,369,496

–

18,369,496

Total Assets

185,924,978

2,695,549

–

188,620,527

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

–

37,961

Deferred tax liabilities

2,299,303

29,886

–

2,329,189

Total Liabilities

57,840,897

29,886

37,961

57,908,744

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

115,759

–

(115,759)

–

Total equity

127,968,322

2,665,663

77,798

130,711,783

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests
and shareholders’ equity

185,924,978

2,695,549

–

188,620,527

As of June 30, 2024 IFRSs adjustments

Amounts as
reported under U.S.
GAAP

Investments measured at fair
value

Redeemable
noncontrolling interests

Amounts as
reported under
IFRSs

(Note (a))

(Note (b))

Other long-term assets

27,627,257

(14,942,321)

–

12,684,936

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

–

17,529,322

–

17,529,322

Total Assets

183,342,621

2,587,001

–

185,929,622

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

–

38,532

Deferred tax liabilities

1,448,781

22,759

–

1,471,540

Total Liabilities

48,997,216

22,759

38,532

49,058,507

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

119,498

–

(119,498)

–

Total equity

134,225,907

2,564,242

80,966

136,871,115

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests
and shareholders’ equity

183,342,621

2,587,001

–

185,929,622

Notes:

Basis of Preparation

The Company is responsible for preparation of the Reconciliation Statement in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Hong Kong Listing Rules and relevant guidance in HKEX-GL111-22. The Reconciliation Statement was prepared based on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2024 prepared under U.S. GAAP, with material adjustments made (if any) thereto in arriving at the unaudited financial information of the Company prepared under IFRSs. The adjustments reflect the material differences between the Company’s accounting policies under U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.

Note a. Investments measured at fair value

Under U.S. GAAP, the investments in convertible redeemable preferred shares and ordinary shares with preferential rights that are issued by privately-held companies and therefore without readily determinable fair values could be accounted for using measurement alternative as an accounting policy choice. NetEase elected the measurement alternative to record these investments at cost, less impairment, and plus or minus subsequent adjustments for observable price changes.

Under IFRSs, these investments were classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through profit or loss.

Note b. Redeemable noncontrolling interests

Under U.S. GAAP, SEC guidance provides for mezzanine-equity (temporary equity) category in addition to the financial liability and permanent equity categories. The purpose of this “in-between” category is to indicate that a security whose redemption is outside the control of the issuer may not be classified as a permanent part of equity. NetEase classified the redeemable preferred shares issued by certain subsidiaries as redeemable noncontrolling interests in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and recorded them initially at fair value, net of issuance costs. NetEase recognized accretion to the respective redemption value of the redeemable preferred shares over the period starting from issuance date to the earliest redemption date.

Under IFRSs, there is no concept of mezzanine or temporary equity classification. NetEase designated the redeemable preferred shares as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss which are measured at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, the amounts of changes in fair value that were attributed to changes in credit risk of the issuer were recognized in other comprehensive income, and the remaining amounts of changes in fair value were recognized in the profit or loss.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netease-announces-second-quarter-2024-unaudited-financial-results-302228472.html

SOURCE NetEase, Inc.

Technology

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

Published

55 minutes ago

July 24, 2026

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.

Technology

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

Published

55 minutes ago

July 24, 2026

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

Technology

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

Published

55 minutes ago

July 24, 2026

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.

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SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited