Technology

Yalla Group Limited Announces Unaudited Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Published

5 hours ago

August 17, 2026

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Yalla Group Limited (“Yalla” or the “Company”) (NYSE: YALA), the largest Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based online social networking and gaming company, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Second Quarter 2026 Financial and Operating Highlights

Revenues were US$82.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$84.6 million in the second quarter of 2025.Revenues generated from chatting services in the second quarter of 2026 were US$47.4 million.Revenues generated from games services in the second quarter of 2026 were US$34.2 million.Net income was US$29.3 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$36.5 million in the second quarter of 2025. Net margin[1] was 35.5% in the second quarter of 2026.Non-GAAP net income[2] was US$34.4 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$39.4 million in the second quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP net margin[3] was 41.7% in the second quarter of 2026.Average MAUs[4] increased by 12.3% to 47.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 42.4 million in the second quarter of 2025.The number of paying users[5] was 10.9 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 11.2 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Key Operating Data

For the three months ended

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2026

Average MAUs (in thousands)

42,421

47,625

Paying users (in thousands)

11,186

10,861

[1] Net margin is net income as a percentage of revenues.

[2] Non-GAAP net income represents net income excluding share-based compensation. Non-GAAP net income is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the sections titled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” for more information about the non-GAAP measures referred to in this press release.

[3] Non-GAAP net margin is non-GAAP net income as a percentage of revenues.

[4] “Average MAUs” refers to the average monthly active users in a given period, calculated by dividing (i) the sum of active users for each month of such period by (ii) the number of months in such period. “Active users” refers to registered users who accessed any of our main mobile applications at least once during a given period; main mobile applications are mobile applications that have exceeded the 0.5 million average MAUs threshold at least once.

[5] “Paying users” refers to registered users who played a game or purchased our virtual items or upgraded services using virtual currencies on our main mobile applications at least once in a given period, except for users who received all of their virtual currencies directly or indirectly from us for free. “Registered users” refers to users who have registered accounts on our main mobile applications as of a given time; a registered user is not necessarily a unique user, as an individual may register multiple accounts on our main mobile applications.

“We delivered solid results across our flagship products and growing momentum in our gaming business in the second quarter of 2026,” said Mr. Tao Yang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Yalla. “Our revenues exceeded the upper end of our guidance, driven by an 11.6% year-over-year increase in revenues from games services. Meanwhile, our core products continued to build momentum, with refined operations and targeted marketing driving a sequential rebound in paying users for Yalla Ludo and a 12.3% year-over-year increase in overall average MAUs to 47.6 million.

“Beyond the sustained strength of our flagship products, we made progress in expanding our gaming ecosystem. Our new games, including our first self-developed match-3 title and desert-themed SLG title, continued to advance smoothly with a clear roadmap taking shape for the next stage of development. We also continued to strengthen our pipeline of self-developed products, spanning casual games, hyper-casual games, social products and AI applications, designed to maximize the synergy between our social and gaming ecosystems. Building on years of deep-rooted expertise in MENA, we will continue to unlock local opportunities and broaden our reach globally through strategic partnerships to deliver sustainable growth for our shareholders.”

Ms. Karen Hu, CFO of Yalla, commented, “In the second quarter of 2026, we continued to pursue high-quality development while maintaining solid profitability. Total revenues were US$82.6 million, with revenues from games services growing to US$34.2 million, increasing the segment’s contribution to 41.4%. While doubling our selling and marketing expenses year over year to support the promotion of new products, we maintained a healthy non-GAAP net margin of 41.7% through increased efficiency. Our balance sheet and cash flow remain ample to support our investments in business expansion as well as consistent shareholder returns. Going forward, we will continue to invest in long-term growth while driving value creation.”

Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Revenues

Revenues were US$82.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$84.6 million in the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to a decrease in paying users attributable to the impact of recent geopolitical events in the broader region, partially offset by an increase in revenues from games services.

In the second quarter of 2026, revenues generated from chatting services were US$47.4 million, and revenues from games services were US$34.2 million.

Costs and expenses

Total costs and expenses were US$63.2 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$53.9 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Cost of revenues was US$26.8 million in the second quarter of 2026, a 4.1% decrease from US$27.9 million in the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to lower commission fees paid to third-party payment platforms. Cost of revenues as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 32.4% in the second quarter of 2026 from 33.0% in the second quarter of 2025.

Selling and marketing expenses were US$17.8 million in the second quarter of 2026, a 106.0% increase from US$8.7 million in the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to higher advertising and market promotion expenses attributable to the Company’s continued user acquisition efforts and support for new games. Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased to 21.6% in the second quarter of 2026 from 10.2% in the second quarter of 2025.

General and administrative expenses were US$8.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, a 4.0% decrease from US$9.0 million in the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to a decrease in incentive compensation, partially offset by an increase in foreign exchange loss. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues slightly decreased to 10.5% in the second quarter of 2026 from 10.6% in the second quarter of 2025.

Technology and product development expenses were US$9.9 million in the second quarter of 2026, an 18.9% increase from US$8.3 million in the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to an increase in salaries and benefits for our technology and product development staff, driven by an increase in headcount to support the development of new businesses and our product portfolio expansion. Technology and product development expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased to 12.0% in the second quarter of 2026 from 9.9% in the second quarter of 2025.

Operating income

Operating income was US$19.4 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$30.6 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Non-GAAP operating income[6]

Non-GAAP operating income in the second quarter of 2026 was US$24.5 million, compared with US$33.5 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Interest income

Interest income was US$5.4 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$6.8 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Investment income

Investment income was US$5.1 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$0.02 million in the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to changes in the fair value of wealth management products.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense was US$0.6 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$1.5 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Net income

Net income was US$29.3 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$36.5 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Non-GAAP net income

Non-GAAP net income in the second quarter of 2026 was US$34.4 million, compared with US$39.4 million in the second quarter of 2025.

Earnings per ordinary share

Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were US$0.21 and US$0.18, respectively, in the second quarter of 2026, while basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were US$0.24 and US$0.20, respectively, in the second quarter of 2025.

Non-GAAP earnings per ordinary share[7]

Non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were US$0.24 and US$0.21, respectively, in the second quarter of 2026, compared with US$0.25 and US$0.22, respectively, in the second quarter of 2025.

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, term deposits and short-term investments

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, term deposits and short-term investments of US$824.2 million, compared with US$754.6 million as of December 31, 2025.

[6] Non-GAAP operating income represents operating income excluding share-based compensation. Non-GAAP operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the sections titled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” for more information about the non-GAAP measures referred to in this press release.

[7] Non-GAAP earnings per ordinary share is non-GAAP net income attributable to Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders, divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted shares outstanding. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders represents net income attributable to Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders, excluding share-based compensation. Non-GAAP earnings per ordinary share and non-GAAP net income attributable to Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders are non-GAAP financial measures. See the sections titled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” for more information about the non-GAAP measures referred to in this press release.

Share Repurchase Program

Under the Company’s two share repurchase programs launched in 2021 and 2026 (the “2021 Program” and the “2026 Program”), the Company repurchased 4,357,024 American depositary shares (“ADSs”), representing 4,357,024 Class A ordinary shares, for an aggregate amount of approximately US$27.6 million in the first half of 2026. Of this number, 2,896,035 ADSs, representing 2,896,035 Class A ordinary shares, were repurchased during the second quarter of 2026, for an aggregate amount of approximately US$18.0 million.

The 2021 Program expired on May 21, 2026. Under the 2021 Program, the Company was authorized to repurchase up to US$150 million worth of its outstanding ADSs and/or Class A ordinary shares, and the Company repurchased a cumulative total of 18,762,758 ADSs, representing 18,762,758 Class A ordinary shares, from the open market with cash for an aggregate amount of approximately US$126.5 million.

In addition, the Company had cancelled 12,734,059 ADSs, representing 12,734,059 Class A ordinary shares, as of August 14, 2026. The Company will continue executing its 2026 Program, under which the Company may repurchase up to US$150 million worth of its outstanding ADSs and/or Class A ordinary shares over the 24 months starting from March 9, 2026.

Outlook

For the third quarter of 2026, Yalla currently expects revenues to be between US$78.0 million and US$85.0 million.

The above outlook is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company management’s current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change.

Conference Call

Yalla Group Limited will hold a conference call on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, 4:00 AM Dubai Time on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, or 8:00 AM Beijing Time on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, to discuss the financial results.

Participants should complete online registration using the link provided below before the scheduled start time. Upon registration, participants will receive the conference call access information, including dial-in numbers, a personal PIN and an e-mail with detailed instructions to join the conference call.

Event Title: Yalla Group Ltd. Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call
Registration Link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIa9b95130104d40aa9a598586197e750b

Additionally, a live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.yalla.com, and a replay of the webcast will be available following the session.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, this press release presents non-GAAP financial measures, namely non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net margin and non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share, as supplemental measures to review and assess the Company’s operating performance. The presentation of the 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 U.S. GAAP. We define non-GAAP operating income as operating income excluding share-based compensation. We define non-GAAP net income as net income excluding share-based compensation. We define non-GAAP net margin as non-GAAP net income as a percentage of revenues. We define non-GAAP net income attributable to Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders as net income attributable to Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders, excluding share-based compensation. We define non-GAAP earnings per ordinary share as non-GAAP net income attributable to Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders, divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted shares outstanding.

By excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges, the Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business and enhance the overall understanding of the Company’s past performance and future prospects. Investors can better understand the Company’s operating and financial performance, compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and assess its core operating results, as they exclude share-based compensation expenses, which are not expected to result in cash payments. The Company also believes that the non-GAAP financial measures allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the Company’s management in its financial and operational decision-making.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. One of the key limitations of using the non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect the Company’s operations. Share-based compensation has been and may continue to be incurred in the Company’s business and is not reflected in the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures. Further, the non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

The Company compensates for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of its non-GAAP financial measures in the reconciliations to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measures, all of which should be considered when evaluating its performance. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results are set forth at the end of this press release.

About Yalla Group Limited

Yalla Group Limited is the largest MENA-based online social networking and gaming company, in terms of revenues in 2022. The Company operates two flagship mobile applications, Yalla, a voice-centric group chat platform, and Yalla Ludo, a casual gaming application featuring online versions of board games, popular in MENA, with in-game voice chat and localized Majlis functionality. Building on the success of Yalla and Yalla Ludo, the Company continues to add engaging new content, creating a regionally-focused, integrated ecosystem dedicated to fulfilling MENA users’ evolving online social networking and gaming needs. Through its holding subsidiary, Yalla Game Limited, the Company has expanded its capabilities in mid-core and hard-core games in the MENA region, leveraging its local expertise to bring innovative gaming content to its users. In addition, the growing Yalla ecosystem includes YallaChat, an IM product tailored for Arabic users, and casual games such as Yalla Baloot and 101 Okey Yalla, developed to sustain vibrant local gaming communities in MENA. Yalla is also actively exploring outside of MENA with Yalla Parchis, a Ludo game designed for the South American markets. Yalla’s mobile applications deliver a seamless experience that fosters a sense of loyalty and belonging, establishing highly devoted and engaged user communities through close attention to detail and localized appeal that profoundly resonates with users.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.yalla.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Yalla Group Limited’s beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Yalla Group Limited’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Yalla Group Limited does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Yalla Group Limited
Investor Relations
Kerry Gao – IR Director
Tel: +86-571-8980-7962
Email: ir@yalla.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com

YALLA GROUP LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As of

December 31,
2025

June 30,
2026

US$

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

526,972,019

268,371,117

Restricted cash

1,625,525

1,797,132

Term deposits

84,800,000

217,427,135

Short-term investments

141,251,128

336,596,144

Prepayments and other current assets

41,659,226

31,167,184

Total current assets

796,307,898

855,358,712

Non-current assets

Property and equipment, net

14,976,818

15,146,724

Intangible asset, net

728,348

663,976

Operating lease right-of-use assets

1,902,655

4,840,602

Long-term investments

82,053,772

57,821,227

Other assets

250,000

858,516

Total non-current assets

99,911,593

79,331,045

Total assets

896,219,491

934,689,757

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

1,066,625

1,059,103

Deferred revenue, current

55,178,093

52,493,495

Operating lease liabilities, current

357,525

1,781,737

Amounts due to a related party

44,177

15,264

Income taxes payable

1,319,111

2,325,945

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

30,350,120

25,363,411

Total current liabilities

88,315,651

83,038,955

Non-current liabilities

Deferred revenue, non-current

1,837,543

1,453,259

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

1,095,245

2,686,922

Deferred tax liabilities

2,924,137

2,885,096

Total non-current liabilities

5,856,925

7,025,277

Total liabilities

94,172,576

90,064,232

EQUITY

Shareholders’ equity of Yalla Group Limited

Class A Ordinary Shares

13,441

Class B Ordinary Shares

2,473

Additional paid-in capital

339,199,644

349,196,164

Treasury stock

(42,497,929)

(66,242,824)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(1,636,586)

668,175

Retained earnings

515,197,658

572,215,132

Total shareholders’ equity of Yalla Group Limited

810,278,701

855,852,561

Non-controlling interests

(8,231,786)

(11,227,036)

Total equity

802,046,915

844,625,525

Total liabilities and equity

896,219,491

934,689,757

YALLA GROUP LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS

OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,
2025

March 31,
2026

June 30,
2026

June 30,
2025

June 30,
2026

US$

Revenues

84,564,086

79,006,789

82,608,696

168,440,853

161,615,485

Costs and expenses

Cost of revenues

(27,944,596)

(26,473,813)

(26,802,984)

(57,145,019)

(53,276,797)

Selling and marketing expenses

(8,661,573)

(9,722,665)

(17,841,216)

(15,604,841)

(27,563,881)

General and administrative expenses

(9,002,347)

(10,251,576)

(8,642,276)

(17,697,655)

(18,893,852)

Technology and product development expenses

(8,338,195)

(9,097,323)

(9,915,355)

(16,166,332)

(19,012,678)

Total costs and expenses

(53,946,711)

(55,545,377)

(63,201,831)

(106,613,847)

(118,747,208)

Operating income

30,617,375

23,461,412

19,406,865

61,827,006

42,868,277

Interest income

6,791,492

5,884,059

5,446,054

13,352,672

11,330,113

Government grants

603,115

67,165

4,699

666,548

71,864

Investment income (loss)

21,758

(432,522)

5,090,505

4,056

4,657,983

Income before income taxes

38,033,740

28,980,114

29,948,123

75,850,282

58,928,237

Income tax expense

(1,531,310)

(620,089)

(619,210)

(2,968,387)

(1,239,299)

Net income

36,502,430

28,360,025

29,328,913

72,881,895

57,688,938

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests

269,782

575,459

2,434,355

981,717

3,009,814

Net income attributable to Yalla Group
Limited’s shareholders

36,772,212

28,935,484

31,763,268

73,863,612

60,698,752

Earnings per ordinary share

——Basic

0.24

0.19

0.21

0.47

0.40

——Diluted

0.20

0.16

0.18

0.41

0.34

Weighted average number of shares
outstanding used in computing earnings per
ordinary share

——Basic

155,958,658

152,975,006

150,945,883

157,604,992

151,954,839

——Diluted

180,765,359

177,171,652

175,048,711

181,508,856

176,104,576

Share-based compensation was allocated in cost of revenues, selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses and
technology and product development expenses as follows:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,
2025

March 31,
2026

June 30,
2026

June 30,
2025

June 30,
2026

US$

Cost of revenues

1,328,152

2,150,971

2,391,819

2,654,237

4,542,790

Selling and marketing expenses

170,304

440,566

425,808

341,332

866,374

General and administrative expenses

1,328,931

2,161,700

2,097,097

2,459,438

4,258,797

Technology and product development expenses

20,670

146,087

182,472

140,144

328,559

Total share-based compensation expenses

2,848,057

4,899,324

5,097,196

5,595,151

9,996,520

YALLA GROUP LIMITED

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,
2025

March 31,
2026

June 30,
2026

June 30,
2025

June 30,
2026

US$

Operating income

30,617,375

23,461,412

19,406,865

61,827,006

42,868,277

Share-based compensation expenses

2,848,057

4,899,324

5,097,196

5,595,151

9,996,520

Non-GAAP operating income

33,465,432

28,360,736

24,504,061

67,422,157

52,864,797

Net income

36,502,430

28,360,025

29,328,913

72,881,895

57,688,938

Share-based compensation expenses,
net of tax effect of nil

2,848,057

4,899,324

5,097,196

5,595,151

9,996,520

Non-GAAP net income

39,350,487

33,259,349

34,426,109

78,477,046

67,685,458

Net income attributable to Yalla Group
Limited’s shareholders

36,772,212

28,935,484

31,763,268

73,863,612

60,698,752

Share-based compensation expenses, net of
tax effect of nil

2,848,057

4,899,324

5,097,196

5,595,151

9,996,520

Non-GAAP net income attributable to
Yalla Group Limited’s shareholders

39,620,269

33,834,808

36,860,464

79,458,763

70,695,272

Non-GAAP earnings per ordinary share

——Basic

0.25

0.22

0.24

0.50

0.47

——Diluted

0.22

0.19

0.21

0.44

0.40

Weighted average number of shares
outstanding used in computing earnings
per ordinary share

——Basic

155,958,658

152,975,006

150,945,883

157,604,992

151,954,839

——Diluted

180,765,359

177,171,652

175,048,711

181,508,856

176,104,576

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SOURCE Yalla Group Limited

Technology

EBANX deepens global footprint and accelerates merchant services with strategic regional leadership expansion

Published

33 minutes ago

August 18, 2026

The company strengthens its executive team across EMEA, APAC, Africa, and LatAm to drive localization and merchant support, as well as product and operational excellence across 20+ emerging markets

CURITIBA, Brazil, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EBANX, a global technology company specializing in payment services for emerging markets, today announced a significant expansion of its senior leadership team. By appointing new Vice Presidents and Directors across key global hubs, EBANX reinforces its regionalization strategy designed to place executive leadership closer to its merchants’ headquarters and high-growth operational markets.

The leadership expansion follows a landmark year in which EBANX achieved 48% growth in Total Payment Volume (TPV), cementing its global presence across 60+ countries worldwide, considering operations, team locations, and merchants, and its position as the primary bridge for global brands from North America, Europe, and Asia operating in emerging markets across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

“Great leadership stays close: close to the client and to the processing countries, where growth truly happens,” said João Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX. “The mission of our team is to decode complex, dynamic markets so global businesses can scale fast. By embedding our senior leadership directly within the regions, we are aligning global strategy with localized expertise,” Del Valle pointed out.

New Vice Presidents

With over 15 years of experience in cross-border payments, James Booth joins EBANX as Vice President of Commercial for EMEA. Booth has spent his career helping global merchants expand into emerging markets and building high-performing commercial teams across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. Originally from South Africa and based in Europe for nearly two decades, he most recently served as Head of Revenue at Verto, following close to a decade at PPRO.

From Latin America, José Maurício Orsolini Filho took on the role of Vice President of Product at EBANX, leading three critical areas: Financial Products, Payouts, and Product Marketing. He stepped into the position following Eduardo de Abreu ‘s appointment to CPO and regional CEO of EBANX Singapore, and relocation to the country. Before his new role, Orsolini Filho served as VP of Operations at Loft, COO at Doctoralia, and General Manager of Didi’s Fintech business unit in Brazil.

Closer to global brands, closer to markets

As part of its regionalization strategy, EBANX has also placed senior leaders closer to its merchants. The company now has teams across 22 countries.

At EBANX’s APAC HQ, located in Singapore, Marcela Farima joined EBANX as Director of Merchant Success, focused on APAC-based enterprises expanding across emerging markets as well as global companies looking to grow their operations across Asia. Also in Singapore, Henrique Simião assumed the role of Director of Product, contributing to the global Product strategy and focusing on payment solutions and services across Africa, Asia, and Turkey. The new appointments build on EBANX’s established APAC headquarters and reinforce it as a center for merchant services and products for enterprise merchants worldwide. In China, Liqian Zhang was promoted to Director of Merchant Success, serving Chinese brands as they expand globally.

Based in Uruguay, Juliana Etcheverry, who was previously Director of Country Growth for South LatAm, stepped into a newly created position as Director of Issuer Engagement & Growth to drive initiatives to optimize authorization rates, keep reducing transactional friction, and help maximize revenue growth for global merchants. Also in Uruguay, Javier Kaniewicz was named the new Director of Country Growth for South LatAm, overseeing EBANX operations across Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, and adding to the executive team dedicated to LatAm operations. In Brazil, Camila Alcalde joined as Director of Business Development and Engagement, working with global brands seeking to expand across Latin America.

Wiza Jalakasi, formerly Director of Africa Market Development at EBANX, stepped into an expanded scope as Commercial Lead for Africa and the Middle East. Based in South Africa, he will be focusing on driving merchant growth across MEA, building strategic partnerships, and expanding EBANX’s footprint in the region.

Global roles supporting EBANX’s operations

Alongside these regional appointments, EBANX has strengthened its global functions with a combination of internal promotions and strategic external hires. Anderson Sato became Director of Staff and Growth, partnering closely with the executive leadership team to drive strategic priorities. Additionally, Guillermo Miro assumed the role of Director of Commercial Excellence & Revenue Operations.

Among the senior market hires, Alexandre Amorim Silveira joined the company as Director of Operational Excellence, Paulo Machado Simões as Director of Regulatory, Alain Delcourt as Director of Strategic Channel Partnerships, Leandro Magalhães as Director of People Operations, and Rafael Teixeira was promoted to Director of Information Security.

ABOUT EBANX

EBANX is the leading payments platform connecting global businesses to the world’s fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, EBANX enables global companies to offer hundreds of local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. More than just payments, EBANX drives growth, enhances sales, and delivers seamless purchase experiences for businesses and end-users alike.

For further information, please visit:
Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx

Media Contact:
Shan Huang
shan.huang@ahgstrategies.com

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SOURCE EBANX

Technology

Castrol ON PG25 cooling fluids validated for NVIDIA AI factory and data centre infrastructure

Published

33 minutes ago

August 18, 2026

The validation involved a review of the products’ technical performance and material compatibility, alongside Castrol’s business and global supply-chain resilienceThe milestone strengthens Castrol’s position in liquid cooling as AI drives demand for more powerful, higher-density data centres

PANGBOURNE, England, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Castrol announced today that two of its direct-to-chip cooling fluids — Castrol ON PG25 and PG25T — have been validated to meet NVIDIA’s requirements for AI factory and data centre infrastructure. This validation gives data centre operators, equipment manufacturers and cooling-system providers additional confidence when selecting fluids for high-performance AI infrastructure.

AI and high-performance computing are packing more processing power into data centres, generating high heat levels that can be difficult to manage with air cooling alone. Direct-to-chip cooling addresses this by circulating fluid through cold plates fitted to components such as Central Processing Units and Graphics Processing Units. Castrol ON PG25 is designed for these environments and forms part of Castrol’s wider portfolio of direct-to-chip cooling fluids. As a closed-loop system, the fluid circulates continuously without atmospheric exposure, minimizing evaporative water loss and improving the water usage effectiveness (WUE) of AI factory infrastructure.

Castrol ON PG25 and PG25T were validated following a technical review covering corrosion resistance, thermal stability, dilution-water quality, propylene glycol base-fluid purity and compatibility with wetted materials — the metals, plastics, seals and other components that come into contact with fluid inside a liquid-cooling system. The wider review also considered Castrol’s business and global supply-chain resilience.

“As AI infrastructure scales, the industry needs cooling solutions that are effective, practical to deploy and reliable over the long term,” said Peter Huang, Global President of Thermal Management & Data Centres at Castrol. “The inclusion of Castrol ON PG25 and PG25T within NVIDIA-Validated AI Factory Infrastructure gives customers added confidence in both the fluids’ performance and Castrol’s ability to provide consistent global support across markets. It is an important step towards making liquid cooling a dependable part of AI factory design and operation.”

Sung A. Kim, Data Centre Global Technology Manager at Castrol, said: “We evaluate every thermal management fluid under rigorous test conditions before it reaches the market. The validation from NVIDIA confirms that PG25 (OAT) and PG25T (IAT) hold up to that standard, even at the scale and intensity of today’s AI infrastructure.”

About Castrol

Castrol, one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, has a proud heritage of innovation and fuelling the dreams of pioneers. Our passion for performance, combined with a philosophy of working in partnership, has enabled Castrol to develop lubricants and greases that have been at the heart of numerous technological feats on land, air, sea, and space for over 125 years. Castrol is part of the bp group and serves customers and consumers in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy sectors. Our branded products are recognized globally for innovation and high performance through our commitment to premium quality and cutting-edge technology. For more information, please visit: www.castrol.com.

About Castrol Thermal Management

Castrol’s thermal management business develops fluids for data centres and energy storage systems under the Castrol ON brand. We serve markets in the US, Europe, the Middle East, China, Australia and Southeast Asia.

Castrol ON offers data centre cooling fluids for AI, machine learning, and cloud computing workloads, which can support thermal management across the lifecycle of a data centre.

SOURCE Castrol Limited

Technology

Lesser-known Festivals Highlights New Opportunities for Local Stays, Agoda Says

Published

33 minutes ago

August 18, 2026

Search data reflects emerging interest around lesser-known cultural celebrations, giving accommodation partners fresh opportunities to connect with travelers through Agoda’s Mega Sale campaign

SINGAPORE, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has identified growing accommodation interest around local festivals across Asia, highlighting how cultural and international celebrations can create new travel moments and commercial opportunities for accommodation partners beyond traditional tourism seasons and established destinations.

This reflects a broader shift towards experience-led exploration as travelers continue seeking engaging experiences that create lasting memories instead of simply ticking off destinations. Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report revealed that surveyed travelers are increasingly drawn to secondary destinations for the authenticity and immersive cultural experiences they offer. Cited by 25% of surveyed Asian travelers, cultural exploration is among the top three trip motivations, making festivals a timely opportunity to connect travelers with destinations known for local culture and community celebrations.

“Travel planning is increasingly being shaped by the experience travelers want to have and social media is further amplifying awareness of cultural moments and local festivals to a much wider audience. Nagaoka City in Niigata Prefecture is a great example showing how quickly that can translate into travel interest. Accommodation searches for the host location of the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks were 50x higher during the event period than before it, demonstrating how local celebration can put a destination on travelers’ radar. Through initiatives like the Agoda Mega Sale campaign, we’re helping accommodation partners turn that interest into booking opportunities,” said Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply at Agoda.

As travelers plan around festivals and local experiences in these destinations, Agoda’s upcoming Mega Sale campaign gives participating accommodation partners an opportunity to put relevant offers in front of them during key booking moments. The campaign runs in three phases, beginning with VIP Priority Access for Agoda VIP members from 13 to 16 August, followed by the main sale from 17 to 31 August, where travelers can access hotel offers of up to 60% off.

A special Flash Sale on 19 August will feature selected offers of up to 70% off. Participating properties can use the campaign to increase visibility for stays and packages that complement experience-led trips, from city breaks and cultural itineraries to longer festive getaways.

Agoda’s Key Considerations for Accommodation Partners

Alongside participation in Agoda’s Mega Sale, accommodation partners can continue to strengthen their readiness for festival-led travel interest by considering the following suggested strategies.

Plan for Event-Led Demand

Festivals can create concentrated demand outside conventional holiday periods. Accommodation providers should review festival dates early, keep room availability current and align inventory and offers with expected booking windows. Properties can also consider options that encourage travelers to arrive before or remain after the main celebration, while presenting festival information accurately and with respect for its cultural or religious context.

Turn Property Listings into Local Travel Guides

Travelers unfamiliar with a destination may need more than basic room information. Partners should clearly highlight proximity to festival venues, transport options, nearby dining, heritage sites, cultural attractions and other practical information that can make trip planning easier. Accurate descriptions and relevant amenity tags can also help properties appear when travelers refine their searches.

Localize the Festival Experience

Properties should tailor their value proposition to the needs of relevant source markets, including translated information and clear guidance on local customs where appropriate. Partners collaborating with guides, restaurants, artisans and other local businesses can help guests discover more of the destination while supporting wider community participation in the visitor economy.

With a global marketplace of over six million accommodation listings, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda helps accommodation partners connect with travelers and tap into end-to-end trip-planning interest through one integrated platform.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/lesser-known-festivals-highlights-new-opportunities-for-local-stays-agoda-says-302849073.html

SOURCE Agoda