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MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP. REPORTS FISCAL 2025 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

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NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: MSGE) (“MSG Entertainment” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Since the start of fiscal 2025, the Madison Square Garden Arena (“The Garden”) has hosted a record number of concerts for a fiscal first quarter and, last month, welcomed back the New York Knicks (“Knicks”) and the New York Rangers (“Rangers”) for the start of their 2024-25 regular seasons at The Garden. Later today, the Christmas Spectacular production kicks off its 2024 holiday season at Radio City Music Hall with 199 performances currently on sale as compared to 193 shows in fiscal 2024. In addition, new sales and renewal activity in the Company’s premium hospitality business remains strong, while the Company also recently announced new multi-year sponsorship deals with Lenovo and its subsidiary Motorola Mobility and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, as well as a multi-year extension of its sponsorship deal with Verizon.

For the fiscal 2025 first quarter, the Company reported revenues of $138.7 million, a decrease of $3.5 million, or 2%, as compared to the prior year quarter. In addition, the Company reported an operating loss of $18.5 million, an improvement of $14.9 million, or 45%, and adjusted operating income of $1.9 million, an increase of $2.1 million, both as compared to the prior year quarter.(1)

Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said, “With fiscal ’25 underway, we expect our portfolio of assets and brands to continue benefiting from demand for shared experiences, including this year’s Christmas Spectacular production. Looking ahead, we remain confident in the strength of our Company and believe we are well positioned to generate long-term value for our shareholders.”

Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Change

$ millions

2024

2023

$

%

Revenues

$    138.7

$    142.2

$     (3.5)

(2) %

Operating Loss

$    (18.5)

$    (33.4)

$     14.9

45 %

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)(1)

$        1.9

$      (0.2)

$       2.1

NM

Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. NM – Absolute percentages greater than 200% and comparisons from positive to negative values or to zero values are not considered meaningful.

(1)

See page 3 of this earnings release for the definition of adjusted operating income (loss) (“AOI”) included in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures. During the fiscal 2024 third quarter, the Company amended this definition so that the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue related to the Company’s Arena License Agreements with Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (“MSG Sports”) is no longer excluded in all periods presented. For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the three months ended September 30, 2023, the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue was $0.5 million.

 

Entertainment Offerings, Arena License Fees and Other Leasing
Fiscal 2025 first quarter revenues from entertainment offerings of $115.1 million decreased $1.4 million, or 1%, as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to lower event-related revenues.

Event-related revenues decreased $1.5 million, primarily due to lower revenues from concerts. This reflects lower per-concert revenues primarily due to a shift in the mix of events at The Garden from promoted events to rentals and a decrease in the number of concerts at the Company’s theaters, partially offset by an increase in the number of concerts at The Garden.

Fiscal 2025 first quarter arena license fees and other leasing revenues of $4.7 million increased $2.2 million, or 90%, as compared to the prior year period, due to an increase in other leasing revenues.

Fiscal 2025 first quarter direct operating expenses associated with entertainment offerings, arena license fees and other leasing of $86.5 million decreased $4.1 million, or 5%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower event-related expenses of $3.5 million. The decrease in event-related expenses was primarily due to lower expenses from concerts, mainly driven by lower per-concert expenses due to a shift in the mix of events at The Garden from promoted events to rentals, partially offset by an increase in the number of events at The Garden.

Food, Beverage and Merchandise
Fiscal 2025 first quarter food, beverage and merchandise revenues of $19.0 million decreased $4.3 million, or 18%, as compared to the prior year period. This was primarily due to lower food and beverage sales at concerts held at the Company’s venues as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower per-concert food and beverage revenues and, to a lesser extent, the decrease in the number of events at the Company’s theaters, partially offset by the increase the number of events at The Garden.

Fiscal 2025 first quarter food, beverage and merchandise direct operating expenses of $11.2 million increased $0.1 million, or 1%, as compared to the prior year period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Fiscal 2025 first quarter selling, general and administrative expenses of $45.7 million decreased $3.1 million, or 6%, as compared to the prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to (i) lower professional fees, mainly due to the absence of non-recurring costs incurred by the Company in the prior year period in connection with the registration and sale of the Company’s Class A common stock by Sphere Entertainment Co.; (ii) a decrease in employee compensation and benefits; and (iii) lower other costs, all as compared to the prior year period. These decreases were partially offset by higher rent expense as compared to the prior year period.

Operating Loss and Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
Fiscal 2025 first quarter operating loss of $18.5 million improved $14.9 million, or 45%, as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to lower restructuring charges and, to a lesser extent, the decrease in direct operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by the decrease in revenues. Fiscal 2025 first quarter adjusted operating income of $1.9 million increased $2.1 million as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower direct operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding merger, spin-off and acquisition-related costs), partially offset by the decrease in revenues. 

About Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment, delivering unforgettable experiences while forging deep connections with diverse and passionate audiences. The Company’s portfolio includes a collection of world-renowned venues – New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre – that showcase a broad array of sporting events, concerts, family shows, and special events for millions of guests annually. In addition, the Company features the original production, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, which has been a holiday tradition for more than 90 years. More information is available at www.msgentertainment.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
During the fiscal 2024 third quarter the Company amended its definition of adjusted operating income so that the impact of the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue related to the Company’s Arena License Agreements with MSG Sports is no longer excluded in all periods presented.

We define adjusted operating income (loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) excluding (i) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, (ii) share-based compensation expense or benefit, (iii) restructuring charges or credits, (iv) merger, spin-off, and acquisition-related costs, including merger-related litigation expenses, (v) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses and associated settlements, (vi) the impact of purchase accounting adjustments related to business acquisitions, (vii) amortization for capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs and (viii) gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the executive deferred compensation plan. We believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense or benefit allows investors to better track the performance of the various operating units of our business without regard to the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash. We eliminate merger, spin-off, and acquisition-related costs, when applicable, because the Company does not consider such costs to be indicative of the ongoing operating performance of the Company as they result from an event that is of a non-recurring nature, thereby enhancing comparability. In addition, management believes that the exclusion of gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the executive deferred compensation plan, provides investors with a clearer picture of the Company’s operating performance given that, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the executive deferred compensation plan are recognized in Operating (income) loss whereas gains and losses related to the remeasurement of the assets under the executive deferred compensation plan, which are equal to and therefore fully offset the gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities, are recognized in Other income (expense), net, which is not reflected in Operating income (loss).

We believe adjusted operating income (loss) is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of the Company on a consolidated and combined basis. Adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors and analysts to analyze our performance. Internally, we use revenues and adjusted operating income (loss) as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. Adjusted operating income (loss) should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Since adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to adjusted operating income (loss), please see page 5 of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments or events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community perceptions of the Company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industries in which it operates and the factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Contacts:

Ari Danes, CFA

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Financial Communications & Treasury

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

(212) 465-6072

Justin Blaber

Vice President, Financial Communications

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

(212) 465-6109

Grace Kaminer

Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasury

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

(212) 631-5076

Sarah Rothschild

Senior Director, Investor Relations & Treasury

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

(212) 631-5345

Conference Call Information:
The conference call will be Webcast live today at 8:30 a.m. ET at investor.msgentertainment.com
Conference call dial-in number is 888-660-6386 / Conference ID Number 8020251
Conference call replay number is 800-770-2030 / Conference ID Number 8020251 until November 15, 2024
Investor presentation available at investor.msgentertainment.com/events-and-presentations

 

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

2024

2023

Revenues

Revenues from entertainment offerings

$       115,081

$       116,505

Food, beverage, and merchandise revenues

18,975

23,261

Arena license fees and other leasing revenue

4,658

2,446

Total revenues

138,714

142,212

Direct operating expenses

Entertainment offerings, arena license fees, and other leasing direct operating expenses

(86,466)

(90,559)

Food, beverage, and merchandise direct operating expenses

(11,243)

(11,118)

Total direct operating expenses

(97,709)

(101,677)

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

(45,746)

(48,822)

Depreciation and amortization

(13,781)

(13,585)

Restructuring credits (charges)

40

(11,553)

Operating loss

(18,482)

(33,425)

Interest income

372

851

Interest expense

(14,043)

(14,287)

Other expense, net

(769)

(4,469)

Loss from operations before income taxes

(32,922)

(51,330)

Income tax benefit

13,601

659

Net loss

$       (19,321)

$       (50,671)

Loss per share attributable to MSG Entertainment’s stockholders:

Basic and diluted

$            (0.40)

$            (1.00)

Weighted-average number of shares of common stock:

Basic and diluted

48,217

50,437

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP.
ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) TO
ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

The following is a description of the adjustments to operating loss in arriving at adjusted operating income (loss) as described in this earnings release:

Depreciation and amortization. This adjustment eliminates depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets.Share-based compensation. This adjustment eliminates the compensation expense relating to restricted stock units and stock options granted under the Company’s Employee Stock Plan and the Company’s Non-Employee Director Plan.Restructuring charges. This adjustment eliminates costs related to termination benefits provided to certain corporate executives and employees.Merger, spin-off, and acquisition-related costs. This adjustment eliminates costs related to mergers, spin-offs and acquisitions, including merger-related litigation expenses.Amortization for capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs. This adjustment eliminates amortization of capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs.Remeasurement of deferred compensation plan liabilities. This adjustment eliminates the impact of gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the executive deferred compensation plan.

Three Months Ended
September 30,

$ thousands

2024

2023

Operating loss

$       (18,482)

$       (33,425)

Depreciation and amortization

13,781

13,585

Share-based compensation (excluding share-based compensation included in restructuring charges)

6,262

6,177

Restructuring (credits) charges

(40)

11,553

Merger, spin-off, and acquisition-related costs (1)

2,035

Amortization for capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs

168

Remeasurement of deferred compensation plan liabilities

220

(145)

Adjusted operating income (loss) (2)

$           1,909

$             (220)

(1)

This adjustment represents non-recurring costs incurred and paid by the Company for the sale of the retained interest by Sphere Entertainment Co.

(2)

During the fiscal 2024 third quarter the Company amended the definition of adjusted operating income so that the non-cash portion of operating lease revenue related to the Company’s Arena License Agreements with MSG Sports is no longer excluded in all periods presented. Pursuant to GAAP, recognition of operating lease revenue is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement based upon the value of total future payments under the arrangement. As a result, operating lease revenue is comprised of a contractual cash component plus or minus a non-cash component for each period presented. Adjusted operating income includes operating lease revenue of (i) $854 and $829 of revenue collected in cash for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively, and (ii) a non-cash portion of $470 and $495 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

September 30,
2024

June 30,
2024

ASSETS

Current Assets:

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

$             37,613

$             33,555

Accounts receivable, net

95,525

77,259

Related party receivables, current

20,768

17,469

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

106,490

90,801

Total current assets

260,396

219,084

Non-Current Assets:

Property and equipment, net

642,338

633,533

Right-of-use lease assets

391,058

388,658

Goodwill

69,041

69,041

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

63,801

63,801

Deferred tax assets, net

81,733

68,307

Other non-current assets

101,960

110,283

Total assets

$        1,610,327

$        1,552,707

LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT

Current Liabilities:

Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities

$           159,261

$           203,750

Related party payables, current

43,671

42,506

Long-term debt, current

20,313

16,250

Operating lease liabilities, current

27,014

27,736

Deferred revenue

270,955

215,581

Total current liabilities

521,214

505,823

Non-Current Liabilities:

Long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs

646,975

599,248

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

451,071

427,014

Other non-current liabilities

39,765

43,787

Total liabilities

1,659,025

1,575,872

Commitments and contingencies

Deficit:

Class A Common Stock (a)

460

456

Class B Common Stock (b)

69

69

Additional paid-in-capital

26,909

33,481

Treasury stock at cost (4,365 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024)

(140,512)

(140,512)

Retained earnings

96,282

115,603

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(31,906)

(32,262)

Total deficit

(48,698)

(23,165)

Total liabilities and deficit

$        1,610,327

$        1,552,707

(a)

Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, 120,000 shares authorized; 45,958 and 45,556 shares issued as of September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024, respectively.

(b)

Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, 30,000 shares authorized; 6,867 shares issued as of September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

September 30,

2024

2023

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

$       (27,359)

$           1,378

Net cash used in investing activities

(6,690)

(55,490)

Net cash provided by financing activities

38,107

9,273

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

4,058

(44,839)

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

33,555

84,355

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

$         37,613

$         39,516

 

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SOURCE Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Galaxy

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

Forward Looking Statements

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

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

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

 

Every journey has a destination.

But some destinations become the beginning of something even greater.

This is Yan’an.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ninety years later, that flame still burns.

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

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

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

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

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SOURCE China.org.cn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Visa

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

About Lianlian

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

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SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited

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