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Analog Devices Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

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Revenue of more than $2.4 billion, with sequential growth in Industrial, Automotive, and Communications, and double-digit year-over-year growth in ConsumerOperating cash flow of $3.8 billion and free cash flow of $3.2 billion on a trailing twelve-month basisRaised quarterly dividend 8% to $0.99, marking twenty-one consecutive years of increasesIncreased share repurchase authorization by $10.0 billion, bringing total remaining authorization to approximately $11.5 billion

WILMINGTON, Mass., Feb. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Analog Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADI), a global semiconductor leader, today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter 2025, which ended February 1, 2025.

“ADI delivered first quarter revenue, profitability, and earnings per share above the midpoint of our outlook, despite the challenging macro and geopolitical backdrop,” said Vincent Roche, CEO and Chair. “Our recovery is being propelled by improving cyclical dynamics and numerous new wins across our franchise converting to revenue. We remain firmly committed to delivering ever higher levels of value for customers through differentiated innovation and customer experience, coupled with an agile and resilient supply chain.”

“Bookings continued to show gradual improvement during the first quarter with strength in Industrial and Automotive positioning us to grow sequentially and year-over-year in our second fiscal quarter. We remain confident that fiscal 2025 represents a return to growth for ADI,” said Richard Puccio, CFO.

 Performance for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2025 

Results Summary(1)

(in millions, except per-share amounts and percentages)

Three Months Ended

Feb. 1, 2025

Feb. 3, 2024

Change

Revenue

$                    2,423

$                   2,513

(4) %

Gross margin

$                    1,430

$                   1,474

(3) %

Gross margin percentage

59.0 %

58.7 %

30 bps

Operating income

$                       491

$                       586

(16) %

Operating margin

20.3 %

23.3 %

(300 bps)

Diluted earnings per share

$                      0.78

$                      0.93

(16) %

Adjusted Results(2)

Adjusted gross margin

$                   1,668

$                   1,734

(4) %

Adjusted gross margin percentage

68.8 %

69.0 %

(20 bps)

Adjusted operating income

$                       981

$                    1,054

(7) %

Adjusted operating margin

40.5 %

42.0 %

(150 bps)

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

$                      1.63

$                      1.73

(6) %

Three Months
Ended

Trailing Twelve
Months

Cash Generation

Feb. 1, 2025

Feb. 1, 2025

Net cash provided by operating activities

$                   1,127

$                   3,841

% of revenue

47 %

41 %

Capital expenditures

$                      (149)

$                     (656)

Free cash flow(2)

$                       978

$                   3,184

% of revenue

40 %

34 %

Three Months
Ended

Trailing Twelve
Months

Cash Return

Feb. 1, 2025

Feb. 1, 2025

Dividend paid

$                     (456)

$                 (1,826)

Stock repurchases

(160)

(596)

Total cash returned

$                     (616)

$                 (2,421)

(1) The sum and/or computation of the individual amounts may not equal the total due to rounding.

(2) Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided in the financial tables included in this press release. See also the “Non-GAAP Financial Information” section for additional information.

Outlook for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025

For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, we are forecasting revenue of $2.50 billion, +/- $100 million. At the midpoint of this revenue outlook, we expect reported operating margin of approximately 24.2%, +/-160 bps, and adjusted operating margin of approximately 40.5%, +/-100 bps. We are planning for reported EPS to be $0.97, +/-$0.10, and adjusted EPS to be $1.68, +/-$0.10.  

Our second quarter fiscal 2025 outlook is based on current expectations and actual results may differ materially as a result of, among other things, the important factors discussed at the end of this release. The statements about our second quarter fiscal 2025 outlook supersede all prior statements regarding our business outlook set forth in prior ADI news releases, and ADI disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The adjusted results and adjusted anticipated results above are financial measures presented on a non-GAAP basis. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided in the financial tables included in this release. See also the “Non-GAAP Financial Information” section for additional information.

Dividend Payment

The ADI Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.99 per outstanding share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on March 17, 2025 to all shareholders of record at the close of business on March 4, 2025.

Conference Call Scheduled for Today, Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 10:00 am ET

ADI will host a conference call to discuss our first quarter fiscal 2025 results and short-term outlook today, beginning at 10:00 am ET. Investors may join via webcast, accessible at investor.analog.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This release includes non-GAAP financial measures that are not in accordance with, nor an alternative to, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and may be different from non-GAAP measures presented by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. These non-GAAP measures have material limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the Company’s financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s use of non-GAAP measures, and the underlying methodology when including or excluding certain items, is not necessarily an indication of the results of operations that may be expected in the future, or that the Company will not, in fact, record such items in future periods. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided in the financial tables included in this release.

Management uses non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate the Company’s operating performance from continuing operations against past periods and to budget and allocate resources in future periods. These non-GAAP measures also assist management in evaluating the Company’s core business and trends across different reporting periods on a consistent basis. Management also uses these non-GAAP measures as primary performance measurements when communicating with analysts and investors regarding the Company’s earnings results and outlook and believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures is useful to investors because it provides investors with the operating results that management uses to manage the Company and enables investors and analysts to evaluate the Company’s core business. Management also believes that free cash flow, a non-GAAP liquidity measure, is useful both internally and to investors because it is indicative of the Company’s ability to pay dividends, purchase common stock, make investments and fund acquisitions and, in the absence of refinancings, to repay its debt obligations.  

The non-GAAP financial measures referenced by ADI in this release include: adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin percentage, adjusted operating expenses, adjusted operating expenses percentage, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted nonoperating expense (income), adjusted income before income taxes, adjusted provision for income taxes, adjusted tax rate, adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS), free cash flow, and free cash flow revenue percentage. 

Adjusted gross margin is defined as gross margin, determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding certain acquisition related expenses1, which are described further below. Adjusted gross margin percentage represents adjusted gross margin divided by revenue. 

Adjusted operating expenses is defined as operating expenses, determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding: certain acquisition related expenses1 and special charges, net2, which are described further below. Adjusted operating expenses percentage represents adjusted operating expenses divided by revenue.

Adjusted operating income is defined as operating income, determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding: acquisition related expenses1 and special charges, net2, which are described further below. Adjusted operating margin represents adjusted operating income divided by revenue. 

Adjusted nonoperating expense (income) is defined as nonoperating expense (income), determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding: certain acquisition related expenses1, which is described further below.   

Adjusted income before income taxes is defined as income before income taxes, determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding: acquisition related expenses1 and special charges, net2, which are described further below.   

Adjusted provision for income taxes is defined as provision for income taxes, determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding tax related items3, which are described further below. Adjusted tax rate represents adjusted provision for income taxes divided by adjusted income before income taxes. 

Adjusted diluted EPS is defined as diluted EPS, determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding: acquisition related expenses1, special charges, net2, and tax related items3, which are described further below.

Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, less additions to property, plant and equipment, net. Free cash flow revenue percentage represents free cash flow divided by revenue.  

1Acquisition Related Expenses: Expenses incurred as a result of current and prior period acquisitions and primarily include expenses associated with the fair value adjustments to debt, property, plant and equipment and amortization of acquisition related intangibles, which include acquired intangibles such as purchased technology and customer relationships. Expenses also include fair value adjustments associated with the replacement of share-based awards related to the Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Maxim) acquisition. We excluded these costs from our non-GAAP measures because they relate to specific transactions and are not reflective of our ongoing financial performance.

2Special Charges, net: Expenses, net, incurred as part of the integration of Maxim, in connection with facility closures, consolidation of manufacturing facilities, severance, other accelerated stock-based compensation expense and other cost reduction efforts or reorganizational initiatives. We excluded these expenses from our non-GAAP measures because apart from ongoing expense savings as a result of such items, these expenses have no direct correlation to the operation of our business in the future.

3Tax Related Items: Income tax effect of the non-GAAP items discussed above. We excluded the income tax effect of these tax related items from our non-GAAP measures because they are not associated with the tax expense on our current operating results.

About Analog Devices, Inc.
Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI) is a global semiconductor leader that bridges the physical and digital worlds to enable breakthroughs at the Intelligent Edge. ADI combines analog, digital, and software technologies into solutions that help drive advancements in digitized factories, mobility, and digital healthcare, combat climate change, and reliably connect humans and the world. With revenue of more than $9 billion in FY24 and approximately 24,000 people globally, ADI ensures today’s innovators stay Ahead of What’s Possible. Learn more at www.analog.com and on LinkedIn and Twitter (X).

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which address a variety of subjects including, for example, our statements regarding financial performance; economic uncertainty; macroeconomic, geopolitical, demand and other market conditions, business cycles, and supply chains; our capital allocation strategy, including future dividends, share repurchases, capital expenditures, investments, and free cash flow returns; expected revenue, operating margin, nonoperating expenses, tax rate, earnings per share, and other financial results; expected market and technology trends and acceleration of those trends; market size, market share gains, market position, and growth opportunities; expected product solutions, offerings, technologies, capabilities, and applications; the value and importance of, and other benefits related to, our product solutions, offerings, and technologies to our customers; and other future events. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: economic, political, legal and regulatory uncertainty or conflict, including actions taken or which may be taken by the presidential administration, executive offices of the U.S. government, or U.S. Congress, monetary policy, political, geopolitical, trade, or other issues in the United States or internationally, including increased tariffs or trade wars, and the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in Israel and the Middle East; changes in demand for semiconductor products; manufacturing delays, product and raw materials availability and supply chain disruptions; diversion of products from our authorized distribution channels; changes in export classifications, import and export regulations or duties and tariffs; our development of technologies and research and development investments; our future liquidity, capital needs and capital expenditures; our ability to compete successfully in the markets in which we operate; our ability to recruit and retain key personnel; risks related to acquisitions or other strategic transactions; security breaches or other cyber incidents; risks related to the use of artificial intelligence in our business operations, products, and services; adverse results in litigation matters; reputational damage; changes in our estimates of our expected tax rates based on current tax law; risks related to our indebtedness; the discretion of our Board of Directors to declare dividends and our ability to pay dividends in the future; factors impacting our ability to repurchase shares; and uncertainty as to the long-term value of our common stock. For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements represent management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Analog Devices and the Analog Devices logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Analog Devices, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

ANALOG DEVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

Feb. 1, 2025

Feb. 3, 2024

Revenue

$         2,423,174

$         2,512,704

Cost of sales

992,871

1,038,763

Gross margin

1,430,303

1,473,941

Operating expenses:

   Research and development

402,892

391,427

   Selling, marketing, general and administrative

284,796

290,078

   Amortization of intangibles

187,415

190,332

   Special charges, net

63,887

16,140

Total operating expenses

938,990

887,977

Operating income

491,313

585,964

Nonoperating expense (income):

   Interest expense

75,264

77,141

   Interest income

(23,487)

(9,169)

   Other, net

3,960

4,574

Total nonoperating expense (income)

55,737

72,546

Income before income taxes

435,576

513,418

Provision for income taxes

44,260

50,691

Net income

$            391,316

$            462,727

Shares used to compute earnings per common share – basic

496,116

495,765

Shares used to compute earnings per common share – diluted

498,668

498,741

Basic earnings per common share

$                   0.79

$                   0.93

Diluted earnings per common share

$                   0.78

$                   0.93

 

ANALOG DEVICES, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Feb. 1, 2025

Nov. 2, 2024

ASSETS

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$               2,349,994

$               1,991,342

Short-term investments

371,460

371,822

Accounts receivable

1,192,442

1,336,331

Inventories

1,474,656

1,447,687

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

344,524

337,472

Total current assets

5,733,076

5,484,654

Non-current Assets

Net property, plant and equipment

3,355,240

3,415,550

Goodwill

26,945,180

26,909,775

Intangible assets, net

9,183,038

9,585,464

Deferred tax assets

2,032,676

2,083,752

Other assets

718,336

749,082

Total non-current assets

42,234,470

42,743,623

TOTAL ASSETS

$             47,967,546

$             48,228,277

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current Liabilities

Accounts payable

$                  368,939

$                  487,457

Income taxes payable

487,456

447,379

Debt, current

399,855

399,636

Commercial paper notes

548,403

547,738

Accrued liabilities

1,166,343

1,106,070

Total current liabilities

2,970,996

2,988,280

Non-current Liabilities

Long-term debt

6,618,556

6,634,313

Deferred income taxes

2,514,866

2,624,392

Income taxes payable

261,564

260,486

Other non-current liabilities

531,029

544,489

Total non-current liabilities

9,926,015

10,063,680

Shareholders’ Equity

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 471,934 shares authorized, none outstanding

Common stock, $0.16 2/3 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized, 495,976,483 shares
outstanding (496,296,854 on November 2, 2024)

82,664

82,718

Capital in excess of par value

25,041,250

25,082,243

Retained earnings

10,131,590

10,196,612

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(184,969)

(185,256)

Total shareholders’ equity

35,070,535

35,176,317

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$             47,967,546

$             48,228,277

 

ANALOG DEVICES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

Three Months Ended

Feb. 1, 2025

Feb. 3, 2024

Cash flows from operating activities:

  Net income

$           391,316

$           462,727

  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:

       Depreciation

98,447

84,348

       Amortization of intangibles

417,156

440,903

       Stock-based compensation expense

77,574

69,815

       Deferred income taxes

(59,454)

(102,149)

       Other

(799)

4,684

       Changes in operating assets and liabilities

202,569

178,504

   Total adjustments

735,493

676,105

Net cash provided by operating activities

1,126,809

1,138,832

Cash flows from investing activities:

  Additions to property, plant and equipment, net

(148,978)

(222,978)

  Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(45,652)

  Other

329

3,877

Net cash used for investing activities

(194,301)

(219,101)

Cash flows from financing activities:

  Proceeds from commercial paper notes

1,969,276

2,779,494

  Payments of commercial paper notes

(1,968,611)

(2,782,274)

  Repurchase of common stock

(160,368)

(180,351)

  Dividend payments to shareholders

(456,338)

(426,076)

  Proceeds from employee stock plans

41,747

49,819

  Other

438

(14,844)

Net cash used for financing activities

(573,856)

(574,232)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

358,652

345,499

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

1,991,342

958,061

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$        2,349,994

$        1,303,560

 

ANALOG DEVICES, INC. 

REVENUE TRENDS BY END MARKET

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

The categorization of revenue by end market is determined using a variety of data points including the technical characteristics of the product, the “sold to” customer information, the “ship to” customer information and the end customer product or application into which our product will be incorporated. As data systems for capturing and tracking this data and our methodology evolves and improves, the categorization of products by end market can vary over time. When this occurs, we reclassify revenue by end market for prior periods. Such reclassifications typically do not materially change the sizing of, or the underlying trends of results within, each end market.

Three Months Ended

February 1, 2025

February 3, 2024

Revenue

% of Revenue1

Y/Y%

Revenue

% of Revenue1

Industrial

$        1,077,900

44 %

(10) %

$        1,191,713

47 %

Automotive

732,513

30 %

(2) %

748,781

30 %

Consumer

322,900

13 %

19 %

270,211

11 %

Communications

289,861

12 %

(4) %

301,999

12 %

Total revenue

$        2,423,174

100 %

(4) %

$        2,512,704

100 %

1) The sum of the individual percentages may not equal the total due to rounding.

 

ANALOG DEVICES, INC. 

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

Feb. 1, 2025

Feb. 3, 2024

Gross margin

$         1,430,303

$         1,473,941

  Gross margin percentage

59.0 %

58.7 %

      Acquisition related expenses

237,832

259,884

Adjusted gross margin

$         1,668,135

$         1,733,825

  Adjusted gross margin percentage

68.8 %

69.0 %

Operating expenses

$            938,990

$            887,977

  Percent of revenue

38.8 %

35.3 %

      Acquisition related expenses

(188,015)

(192,422)

      Special charges, net

(63,887)

(16,140)

Adjusted operating expenses

$            687,088

$            679,415

  Adjusted operating expenses percentage

28.4 %

27.0 %

Operating income

$            491,313

$            585,964

  Operating margin

20.3 %

23.3 %

      Acquisition related expenses

425,847

452,306

      Special charges, net

63,887

16,140

Adjusted operating income

$            981,047

$         1,054,410

  Adjusted operating margin

40.5 %

42.0 %

Nonoperating expense (income)

$              55,737

$              72,546

      Acquisition related expenses

2,150

2,150

Adjusted nonoperating expense (income)

$              57,887

$              74,696

Income before income taxes

$            435,576

$            513,418

     Acquisition related expenses

423,697

450,156

     Special charges, net

63,887

16,140

Adjusted income before income taxes

$            923,160

$            979,714

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

$              44,260

$              50,691

Effective income tax rate

10.2 %

9.9 %

     Tax related items

65,062

65,030

Adjusted provision for income taxes

$            109,322

$            115,721

Adjusted tax rate

11.8 %

11.8 %

Diluted EPS

$                   0.78

$                   0.93

      Acquisition related expenses

0.85

0.90

      Special charges, net

0.13

0.03

      Tax related items

(0.13)

(0.13)

Adjusted diluted EPS*

$                   1.63

$                   1.73

* The sum of the individual per share amounts may not equal the total due to rounding.

 

ANALOG DEVICES, INC. 

RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

Trailing
Twelve
Months

Three Months Ended

Feb. 1, 2025

Feb. 1, 2025

Nov. 2, 2024

Aug. 3, 2024

May 4, 2024

Revenue

$  9,337,627

$ 2,423,174

$ 2,443,205

$ 2,312,209

$ 2,159,039

Net cash provided by operating activities

$  3,840,506

$ 1,126,809

$ 1,050,817

$     855,027

$     807,853

% of Revenue

41 %

47 %

43 %

37 %

37 %

Capital expenditures

$    (656,463)

$   (148,978)

$   (165,410)

$   (153,886)

$   (188,189)

Free cash flow

$  3,184,043

$     977,831

$     885,407

$     701,141

$     619,664

% of Revenue

34 %

40 %

36 %

30 %

29 %

 

ANALOG DEVICES, INC. 

RECONCILIATION OF PROJECTED GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ending May 3, 2025

Reported

Adjusted

Revenue

$2.5 Billion

$2.5 Billion

(+/- $100 Million)

(+/- $100 Million)

Operating margin

24.2 %

40.5 %(1)

(+/-160 bps)

(+/-100 bps)

Nonoperating expenses

~ $60 Million

~ $60 Million

Tax rate

11% – 13%

11% – 13% (2)

Earnings per share

$0.97

$1.68 (3)

(+/- $0.10)

(+/- $0.10)

(1)

Includes $406 million of adjustments related to acquisition related expenses as previously defined in the Non-GAAP Financial Information section of this press release. 

(2)

Includes $53 million of tax effects associated with the adjustment for acquisition related expenses noted above.

(3)

Includes $0.71 of adjustments related to the net impact of acquisition related expenses and the tax effects on those items.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Lucarelli
781-461-3282
Vice President, Investor Relations
investor.relations@analog.com

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SOURCE Analog Devices, Inc.

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Technology

LG INSTAVIEW™ REFRIGERATOR SURPASSES 5.3 MILLION IN GLOBAL SALES

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Chosen by Customers Worldwide, LG’s Instaview Refrigerator Innovation Continues to Redefine the Kitchen Experience a Decade After Its Debut

News Summary

LG Electronics’ InstaView™ refrigerator celebrates the 10th anniversary of its 2016 launch by exceeding 5.3 million units in cumulative global sales.LG’s iconic “Knock Twice, See Inside” feature broke convention, offering a blend of user convenience, energy efficiency, and aesthetic value that set a new industry standard.LG InstaView refrigerators continue to gain traction worldwide, leading the refrigerator category in North America while seeing significant growth across Europe, Asia and Latin America.Over the past decade, LG InstaView refrigerator has won numerous prestigious design and innovation awards, including Red Dot, iF, IDEA and CES.

SEOUL, South Korea, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics’ (LG) InstaView™ refrigerator, which allows users to see inside without opening the door, has reached a major milestone on its 10th anniversary, surpassing 5.3 million units in cumulative global sales since its 2016 launch.

Trusted by Consumers Around the World

Since launching the LG InstaView refrigerator in 2016, LG has sold a remarkable 5.3 million units – equivalent to selling roughly one unit every minute.

LG InstaView refrigerator has seen strong customer demand globally, with North America representing its strongest market and accounting for about 30 percent of cumulative sales to date. In Europe, InstaView refrigerator has also been well received by consumers who place high value on energy efficiency, sustainability and food preservation performance. Sales are also steadily rising in Asia and Latin America, driven by growing demand for premium appliances.

An Innovation That Redefined the Refrigerator

InstaView redefined how consumers interact with their refrigerators by allowing them to see inside without opening the door. This feature allows users to check the fridge’s contents without opening the door and helps reduce unnecessary cold-air loss associated with frequent door opening. Over the past decade, its innovation has been recognized by international media and honored with numerous accolades from major global design and innovation awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, iF Design Award, IDEA, and the CES Innovation Award.

From Functional Benefit to Lifestyle Value

LG’s analysis of global customer reviews shows that consumer appreciation for the InstaView refrigerator and its eponymous feature has evolved over time, shifting from an initial focus on the functional benefits to the overall sense of satisfaction that it provides. While early feedback centered on the convenience of knocking twice to see inside and the reduction of cold air loss, more recent reviews increasingly highlight InstaView’s refined design and the enjoyment it brings to everyday kitchen use.

“For a decade now, LG InstaView refrigerator has stood as a testament to our leadership in the home appliance market and to our deep understanding of customers’ lifestyles,” said Baek Seung-tae, president of the LG Home Appliance Solution Company. “This milestone reflects our success in creating not just an innovative feature, but a more convenient and enjoyable kitchen experience. Building on our advanced AI, refrigeration and food preservation technologies, we will continue to lead the evolution of the kitchen experience with customer-centric innovations.”

About LG Electronics Home Appliance Solution Company

The LG Home Appliance Solution Company (HS) is a global leader in home appliances and AI home solutions. By leveraging industry-leading core technologies, the HS Company is committed to enhancing consumers’ quality of life and promoting sustainability. The company develops thoughtfully designed kitchen and living appliance solutions and has recently integrated LG’s Robot Business Division to incorporate advanced robot technologies into its home solutions. Together, these products offer enhanced convenience, exceptional performance, efficient operation and sustainable lifestyle solutions. For more news on LG, visit www.LG.com/global/newsroom/

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Alpha Ladder Hosts Globalization Forum, Debuts Proprietary AI Platform AgentX

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HONG KONG, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On 9 July, Alpha Ladder hosted a tech globalization forum at LEAP East 2026 in Hong Kong under the theme “Connecting Industrial Innovation, Unlocking New Global Growth Opportunities” — and used the occasion to officially unveil AgentX, its proprietary AI‑powered solution.

The session brought together more than a dozen distinguished speakers from sectors spanning artificial intelligence, embodied intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, enterprise services, and legal — all of whom shared first‑hand observations and practical experience navigating global expansion.

Paul Pang, Head of AI at Alpha Ladder, unveiled the Group’s new financial AI agent, AgentX, during the product launch. He observed that the rapid proliferation of AI agents has rendered traditional cross‑border financial delivery models ill‑suited to the evolving AI industry landscape. Conventional local plugin integrations carry significant risks, including code tampering, data leakage, and compromised asset security.

He also noted that expanding enterprises frequently face a persistent disconnect between their business tools and financial pipelines. Core operational systems — covering expense reimbursement, payroll, and account reconciliation — often operate in silos, isolated from cross‑border payment and treasury management frameworks. The resulting reliance on manual workflows leads to chronic inefficiency and inflated operating costs.

To tackle these industry pain points head‑on, Alpha Ladder introduced AgentX — a purpose‑built platform grounded in its proprietary AI‑native architecture. Powered by the Core Finance skill suite and the standardised MCP protocol, AgentX is compatible with all major large language models and enables AI agents to directly access Alpha Ladder’s full spectrum of cross‑border financial services.

The platform is further equipped with VisionX, an intelligent risk control engine that performs cross‑verification across multiple data sources to significantly sharpen the detection of on‑chain risks. A built‑in regulatory sandbox ensures full segregation of transactions and data within compliance boundaries, effectively closing critical security gaps that have long plagued the industry.

Beyond its core risk and compliance capabilities, AgentX offers extensive ecosystem adaptability, enabling rapid integration with vertical use cases such as travel reimbursement, global payroll, and asset management — creating a unified, closed‑loop framework that bridges business operations and finance. Through its open ecosystem model, AgentX empowers small and mid‑sized enterprises expanding globally by tearing down the silos between operational workflows and cross‑border financial services. In doing so, it delivers one‑stop, intelligent cross‑border financial services and drives comprehensive AI‑driven transformation across globalising industries.

Yao Yuan, Vice President of AgiBot for MENA, Turkey, and Asia Pacific, remarked that 2026 marks the year AgiBot transitions from R&D to commercial deployment. Having spent the previous three years honing its products and technology while consolidating its position in the domestic market, the company is now scaling up commercial operations and accelerating its global expansion.

He articulated three core pillars underpinning AgiBot’s global strategy. First, the company is moving to seize the critical window for mass industrial adoption as the embodied intelligence sector enters a new growth cycle. Second, humanoid robots are emerging as a key enabler of industrial upgrading and national digital transformation strategies across economies. Third, overseas deployment, data accumulation, and localized delivery are creating a valuable feedback loop — one that feeds back into domestic R&D and forms a closed loop connecting global technology development with commercial execution.

Luo Yi, General Manager of 51Aes South China (a subsidiary of 51World), shared that the company was officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 30 December 2025 under the ticker 6651.HK. Guided by its vision to digitally replicate the Earth’s 510 million square kilometres, 51World is committed to building a seamless bridge between the digital and physical worlds.

As the industry enters a new era of Physical AI, physically accurate digital simulation environments have become a fundamental prerequisite for large‑scale training of embodied intelligent systems. Leveraging three core pillars — global spatial foundation models, simulation training platforms, and synthetic data pipelines — the company has built a complete, closed-loop technology system. Its commercial portfolio comprises three flagship offerings: the 51Aes digital twin platform, the 51Sim synthetic data and simulation platform, and the 51Earth digital earth platform.

As the core engine powering Physical AI, 51Sim delivers high‑fidelity simulation training environments and robust synthetic data generation capabilities for embodied intelligence sectors including autonomous driving, smart equipment, and robotics. It enables efficient training and validation of AI systems within virtual environments and currently serves over 100 enterprise clients across autonomous mobility and embodied intelligence verticals. Looking ahead, the company will continue to deepen the integration of AI with the real economy, unlocking greater technological value and industrial impact across broader global markets.

Xu Leyang, Co‑founder of Seekee, observed that vast segments of the global population have yet to gain meaningful access to AI. With “everyday users” at the heart of its mission, Seekee is building accessible, consumer‑facing AI products tailored for the world’s two billion ordinary people.

The team has strategically focused on Latin America — an underserved blue‑ocean market largely overlooked by major tech players. Few leading global large language models have dedicated meaningful R&D or localisation efforts to Spanish and Portuguese, the region’s dominant languages. By capitalising on the region’s distinctive linguistic landscape, local user behaviour patterns, and a proprietary repository of region‑specific language data amassed over time, Seekee has built a competitive moat that is difficult to replicate.

According to Sensor Tower, a mobile analytics platform, Seekee ranked eighth globally in the 2025 generative AI app download charts. Within Latin America, its brand recognition is on par with ChatGPT. Launched just over a year ago, the platform has already amassed tens of millions of monthly active users and demonstrated strong user retention.

Wu Xin, Partner and Global Head of AI Applications at BorderX Lab, delivered a presentation themed “Power of Agent Plus.” Drawing on real‑world deployments within the fashion and luxury sectors, he explained that AI agents are fundamentally reshaping traditional cross‑border industries and unlocking significant efficiency gains across the entire value chain.

E‑commerce, he noted, is undergoing a paradigm shift. Competition has moved beyond capturing user attention to precisely identifying consumer intent, with AI agents emerging as a critical instrument for surfacing latent global consumption demand. Powered by proprietary technology and data infrastructure, BorderX Lab has built a global consumer network that is helping redefine how Chinese cross‑border consumer tech reaches the world.

He further observed that agent‑enabled payments will form the bedrock of agent‑driven e‑commerce, and expressed optimism about jointly exploring blue‑ocean opportunities with Alpha Ladder.

Yang Mingyuan, Senior Investment & Financing Manager at QCraft, observed that among the broader Physical AI landscape, autonomous driving stands out as the first segment to achieve mass production at scale, sustainable commercial profitability, and rapid real‑world deployment.

The company’s core competitive advantage lies in its unified, self‑developed technical foundation — one that underpins both its L2+ advanced driver assistance systems and its multi‑scenario L4 autonomous driving capabilities. This homologous architecture also serves as a strategic springboard for QCraft’s broader push into general Physical AI. Its fully in‑house toolchain and data platform form a formidable competitive moat, while the company’s “Autonomous Driving Super Factory” system standardises the entire model training and simulation testing lifecycle — covering the full data pipeline to enable continuous, high‑velocity iteration and optimisation of its algorithm models.

He Liang, Chief Financial Officer of Yidianyun, shared that the company — a leading domestic provider of office IT infrastructure — is now pivoting to become an office AI infrastructure enabler. Its mission is to lower the barrier to AI compute access for enterprises through remanufacturing technology and subscription‑based models.

Yidianyun has built a four‑tier business framework that underpins its cost and service advantages, with a strategic focus on edge‑side AI hardware across AI PCs, AI workstations, and AI servers. He noted that direct procurement of AI hardware entails substantial one‑off capital expenditure for small and medium‑sized enterprises. Subscription models, by contrast, significantly ease funding pressure and hedge against upfront investment risk — a key factor driving the rapid growth of its proprietary AI workstation business.

For overseas expansion, Yidianyun plans to launch pilot cross‑border operations from Hong Kong as its initial hub, with the potential to extend its reach to additional international markets in due course.

Liu Chenxin, Assistant to the Director of the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS), shared insights at the forum. With a strong track record in research commercialisation, NIBS has incubated a number of benchmark biopharma companies including Huahui Anjian, Vitaraylon, and Denovo Biotech. Drawing on years of translational experience, the institute has comprehensively upgraded its established commercialisation framework and officially launched BISON — a new innovation incubation hub designed to tackle the persistent high‑risk challenges inherent in biopharmaceutical investment through a unique translational model and commercial logic.

Unlike conventional technology‑driven incubation models, BISON places market demand at the core of its approach. It partners with leading tertiary hospitals to identify clinical pain points at the front end, while aligning with pharmaceutical companies at the back end to reverse‑engineer original drug pipelines based on industry needs. Looking ahead, BISON will continue to leverage its deep foundation in original research to incubate high‑value biopharmaceutical innovations, helping domestically developed first‑in‑class drugs reach global markets and supporting the international expansion of China’s biotech industry.

Lei Zhicheng, Deputy General Manager of Mango Finance Limited, observed that the institutional advantages of Hong Kong’s capital market, combined with deepening economic and trade ties with the Middle East, have opened up new channels for Chinese tech innovators to access global capital. Closely aligned with policy directions and enterprises’ internationalisation ambitions, Mango Finance is focused on listing incubation and cross‑border expansion services, fostering service synergies through close collaboration with a diverse network of professional partners.

As an established securities firm, the company is steadily expanding its digital finance footprint in step with regulatory developments. Lei expressed keen interest in establishing system‑level connectivity with Alpha Ladder, and leveraging AI and cutting‑edge digital technologies to accelerate the digital transformation and upgrade of traditional securities operations.

Kevin Chen, CEO of Boost Bank and Founder of Aicapay, observed that as the Belt and Road Initiative continues to gain momentum, emerging markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are undergoing rapid economic and industrial transformation. Combined with surging outbound investment and cross‑border trade from China, the cross‑border finance sector in these markets presents enormous growth potential.

Boost Bank specialises in building localised compliance frameworks. Backed by multi‑jurisdictional licences, on‑the‑ground risk control teams, and deep‑rooted local financial resources, the company has established a fully integrated, end‑to‑end cross‑border capital loop — delivering tailored, client‑specific solutions for enterprises expanding globally. Chen underscored the strong strategic complementarity between the two firms and signalled Boost Bank’s intent to join forces with Alpha Ladder in building a fintech service ecosystem that empowers Chinese companies to seize opportunities in emerging markets worldwide.

Yin Li, Partner at Shanghai Landi Law Firm, shared that the firm established its first overseas offices a decade ago, making it one of China’s early legal practices to focus on cross‑border corporate services. It provides Chinese enterprises with full‑spectrum legal support spanning overseas investment filing, intellectual property protection, and cross‑border capital repatriation.

Against a backdrop where overseas expansion has evolved from conventional trade to high‑value industrial globalisation — marked by the coordinated export of technology, production capacity, and capital — and given the strong alignment between Middle Eastern development agendas and the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese enterprises pursuing comprehensive deployment in the region have generated robust demand for localised legal services. This, he noted, is the key driver behind the firm’s intensified focus on the Middle East market.

Yin emphasised that proactive compliance is the core moat for enterprises going global. Businesses must conduct thorough assessments of local regulatory and legal frameworks before entering overseas markets. Leveraging its “on‑the‑ground global presence” model — with coordinated teams across China and multiple international jurisdictions — the firm conducts advance due diligence to identify and mitigate legal risks inherent in cross‑border operations.

About Alpha Ladder:

Alpha Ladder is a Singapore-regulated fintech group focused on developing a world-leading, one-stop, fully compliant financial infrastructure — delivering secure, efficient cross-border financial solutions for enterprises going global. The Group holds core licences issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), covering securities, futures, fund management, custody, RWA asset exchange, and Major Payment Institution (MPI). We also maintain regulatory approvals in Canada, and are actively expanding our footprint across key global financial hubs including Switzerland, Dubai, and Hong Kong, building a globally compliant regulatory network. By leveraging AI to reshape compliance, risk management, and treasury operations, Alpha Ladder empowers enterprises to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and achieve sustainable global growth.

For more information, please visit our official website: www.alphaladder.hk

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UOB Asset Management Highlights Global Resilience Despite Heightened Uncertainty

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SINGAPORE, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) has released its 3Q 2026 Quarterly Investment Strategy, highlighting the global economy’s resilience in the face of persistent headwinds, including inflation, tariffs, geopolitical tensions and energy market volatility.

Despite repeated challenges over the past 18 months, economic activity has remained robust. Corporate earnings have held up across major regions, labour markets have remained resilient, and continued investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is providing a powerful tailwind for growth.

While uncertainty remains elevated, the global economy’s resilience has reinforced confidence that the current expansion remains durable, even as risks continue to evolve.

On interest rates, UOBAM’s base case is that the US Federal Reserve is more likely to remain on an extended pause than embark on a new rate-hiking cycle. Although inflation remains sticky and recent geopolitical developments have raised upside risks, the firm continues to see evidence of moderating underlying inflation pressures, particularly in housing and wages.

Within equities, UOBAM remains positive on Asia and has upgraded Onshore China to overweight from underweight. Despite strong market gains, Asia continues to trade at a valuation discount to global equities, even as earnings growth has accelerated. UOBAM believes this combination of strong earnings momentum and attractive valuations presents a compelling opportunity for investors. In China, improving industrial profits and continued growth in higher-value sectors have strengthened the investment case for selected areas of the market, particularly those linked to AI, semiconductors, energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

Anthony Raza, Head of UOBAM Multi-Asset Strategy, said, “The key story for investors is that the global economy has repeatedly withstood shocks without derailing growth. Despite a more uncertain backdrop, we continue to see attractive opportunities in Asia, where strong earnings growth is supported by compelling valuations, and we maintain gold as a preferred allocation as investors navigate an increasingly complex environment.”

In its asset allocation strategy, UOBAM remains overweight equities, diversified across fixed income and underweight cash. The firm continues to favour the United States and Asia within equities, while retaining a positive outlook on gold. Supported by strong central bank demand and its role as a safe-haven asset during periods of uncertainty, gold remains an important source of portfolio diversification.

For deeper insights across equities, fixed income, currencies and commodities, read the full 3Q 2026 Investment Strategy: https://uobam.com.sg/qis3q26

About UOB Asset Management

UOB Asset Management Ltd (UOBAM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Limited. Established in 1986, UOBAM has 40 years of experience in managing collective investment schemes and discretionary funds in Singapore, making us among the largest unit trust managers by assets under management. As of 30 June 2026, we manage 63 unit trusts in Singapore and together with our subsidiaries, oversee S$44.3 billion in clients’ assets.

Headquartered in Singapore, UOBAM has a strong presence across Asia, with business and investment offices in Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Our network includes UOB Islamic Asset Management Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, a joint venture with Ping An Fund Management Company Limited (China) and strategic alliances with partners such as Wellington Management Singapore.

UOBAM is one of the region’s most awarded asset managers, with over 380 awards won. In 2025, we were recognised as the Best Regional Asset Management Company by the Asia Asset Management and previously named Best Asset Management House in Asia – 20 Years in 2023. Our digital innovation has also earned top honours, including Best Digital Wealth Management in Asia[1] and Best Robo Advisory Initiative[2] for four consecutive years as of 2025.

As a leader in sustainable investing, UOBAM was awarded Best application of ESG in ASEAN[3] (2023) and has received multiple sustainability accolades in Indonesia and Thailand. Our artificial intelligence capabilities were also recognised with the Most Innovative Application of Artificial Intelligence (ASEAN) for three consecutive years[4].

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[1] Awarded by Asia Asset Management

[2] Awarded by The Digital Banker for the Global Retail Banking Innovations Award

[3] Awarded by Asia Asset Management

[4] As of 2026, by Asia Asset Management

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