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Notice to the Annual General Meeting in Hexagon AB (publ)

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STOCKHOLM, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The shareholders of Hexagon AB are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held at 17:00 CET on Monday 5 May 2025, at IVA Conference Center, Grev Turegatan 16, Stockholm.  

The Board of Directors has, pursuant to Chapter 7, Section 4 a of the Swedish Companies Act (Sw. aktiebolagslagen) and the company’s Articles of Association, decided that shareholders shall be able to exercise their voting rights by postal voting before the General Meeting. Consequently, shareholders may choose to exercise their voting rights at the AGM by attending in person, through a proxy or by postal voting.

A. PARTICIPATION IN PERSON OR BY PROXY

Shareholders who wish to attend the AGM must:

firstly, be recorded as shareholders in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday 24 April 2025, and

secondly, notify the company of their attendance no later than Monday 28 April 2025, according to the instructions below.

Notice of attendance to the Annual General Meeting can be given on Hexagon’s website, www.hexagon.com, or by post to: Hexagon AB, “Annual General Meeting”, c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, P.O. Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden,
or by phone +46 8-402 92 21, on 28 April 2025 at the latest.

When giving notice of attendance, the shareholder must state their name, personal identity number/corporate identity number, address, telephone number (daytime) and shareholding.

For shareholders who wish to be represented by a proxy, an original proxy to act on behalf of the shareholder should be attached to the notice of attendance. A proxy form will be available on the company’s website www.hexagon.com and will be sent by post to shareholders that contact the company and state their address. Representatives of a legal entity should also send a copy of the registration certificate or similar documentation of authorisation.

B.  PARTICIPATION BY POSTAL VOTING

Shareholders may exercise their voting rights through postal voting. Shareholders who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting by postal voting must:

firstly, be recorded as shareholder in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday 24 April 2025, and

secondly, notify the company by submitting a postal vote in accordance with the instructions below, so that the postal vote is received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than Monday 28 April 2025.

A special form must be used for the postal vote. The postal voting form is available on the company’s website www.hexagon.com. A separate notification to the Annual General Meeting is not required as the postal voting form will be considered as a notification. Completed and signed postal voting forms can be sent by mail to Hexagon AB, “Annual General Meeting”, c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, P.O. Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden, or by e-mail to GeneralMeetingService@euroclear.com. Completed and signed forms must be received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than 28 April 2025. Shareholders may also cast their votes electronically through verification with BankID via Euroclear Sweden AB’s website https://anmalan.vpc.se/EuroclearProxy, by 28 April 2025 at the latest.

Shareholders may not submit special instructions or conditions with the postal vote. In such cases, the entire postal vote will be invalid. Further instructions and conditions can be found in the postal voting form and at https://anmalan.vpc.se/EuroclearProxy.

If the shareholder submits the postal vote by proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed by the shareholder must be attached to the postal voting form. Proxy forms are available on the company’s website www.hexagon.com and will be sent on request to shareholders who state their postal address. If the shareholder is a legal person, a registration certificate or other authorization document must be attached to the form.

Please note that shareholders who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy must notify the company in accordance with the instructions under the heading “Participation in person or by proxy” above. A notification of participation by postal voting is not sufficient for shareholders who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy.

C.  NOMINEE-REGISTERED SHARES

To participate in the AGM, shareholders with nominee-registered shares must – in addition to notification to the company of their attendance or submission of a postal vote – request their bank or broker to have the shares owner-registered with Euroclear Sweden AB, in order for the shareholder to be recorded in the share register. Such re-registration must be made by 24 April 2025 and the nominee should be notified in due time before this date. Re-registration requested by the shareholder in such time that the registration has been completed by the nominee no later than 28 April 2025 will be taken into account in the preparation of the share register.

D. AGENDA OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Proposal for agenda Opening of the Meeting.Election of Chairman of the Meeting.Preparation and approval of the voting list.Approval of the agenda.Election of two persons to check the minutes.Determination of compliance with the rules of convocation.Address by the President.Presentation of
  (a)        the annual report and the auditors’ report, as well as the consolidated financial report and auditors’ report on the consolidated financial report for the financial year 2024,
  (b)        a statement from the company’s auditor confirming compliance with the guidelines for the remuneration of senior executives that have applied since the preceding Annual General Meeting, and
  (c)        the proposal of the Board of Directors for the dividend and statement thereon.Resolutions concerning
  (a)        adoption of the income statement and balance sheet, and of the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet, all as per 31 December 2024,
  (b)        disposition of the Company’s profit as set forth in the balance sheet adopted by the Meeting and the record date for dividend distribution, and
  (c)        discharge of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director from personal liability.Determination of the number of members and deputy members of the Board of Directors.Determination of the fees to be paid to the board members and auditors.Election of board members and auditors.Election of members of the Nomination Committee.Resolution on approval of remuneration report.Resolution on a performance based long term incentive programme 
(Share Programme 2025/2028)Authorization for the Board of Directors on acquisition and transfer of own shares.Authorization for the Board of Directors to issue shares, convertibles and/or warrants.Closing of the Meeting.

Proposals for resolutions

Election of Chairman of the Meeting (item 2)
The Nomination Committee elected in anticipation of the 2025 Annual General Meeting, comprising Mikael Ekdahl (Melker Schörling AB), Jan Dworsky (Swedbank Robur fonder), Brett Watson (Infor) and Daniel Kristiansson (Alecta) has proposed that Ola Rollén be elected Chairman of the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Proposal for resolution on dividend (item 9 b)

For the financial year 2024, the Board of Directors proposes that a dividend of EUR 0.14 per share be declared. Wednesday 7 May 2025 is proposed as the record date for the right to receive dividend. If the Annual General Meeting so resolves, the dividend is expected to be distributed by Euroclear Sweden AB starting on Wednesday 14 May 2025. Payment is made in EUR, provided that EUR can be received by the shareholder’s yield account; if not, payment will be distributed in SEK, whereby currency exchange is made in accordance with Euroclear Sweden AB’s applicable procedures.

Proposals regarding election of board members and auditor and fees (items 10-12)

The Nomination Committee proposes the following:

The number of Board Members shall be nine, without deputies.Directors’ fees shall be paid as follows: SEK 2,700,000 to the Chairman of the Board, SEK 2,000,000 to the vice Chairman of the Board and SEK 850,000 to each of the other Board Members elected by the Annual General Meeting who are not employed by the company. As remuneration for committee work, the chairman of the Remuneration Committee shall receive SEK 115,000 and each member of the Remuneration Committee SEK 85,000 and the chairman of the Audit Committee shall receive SEK 425,000 and member of the Audit Committee SEK 315,000.Re-election of Board Members Ola Rollén, Gun Nilsson, Sofia Schörling Högberg, Märta Schörling Andreen, Erik Huggers, Annika Falkengren and Ralph Haupter and new election of Björn Rosengren and Tomas Eliasson as ordinary Board Members. John Brandon and Brett Watson have declined re-election.Re-election of Ola Rollén as the Chairman of the Board and new election of Björn Rosengren as vice Chairman of the Board.Re-election of auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers AB as the company’s auditor for a period of one year, i.e., until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2026, in accordance with the recommendation from the Audit Committee, whereby it is noted that the auditing firm has notified that the authorised public accountant
Bo Karlsson will be appointed principally responsible auditor.Fees to auditor shall be payable according to contract.

Björn Rosengren (born 1959) has a long and diverse career in the business sector, most recently serving as CEO and Group President of ABB Ltd. Prior to this, Björn was the CEO of Sandvik, CEO of Wärtsilä and Deputy CEO of Atlas Copco. Björn is also an honorary doctor at the University of Vaasa and a board member of the World Childhood Foundation. Björn holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology. Björn is considered independent in relation to the company and its management as well as major shareholders of the company. Björn (including related natural and legal persons) owns 332,873 shares in the company.

Tomas Eliasson (born 1962) has extensive experience as a board member in several publicly listed companies. Currently, Tomas is a board member in Telia, Millicom International Cellular S.A, Boliden and Elekta, but Tomas has announced that he is leaving the Board of Directors of Millicom International Cellular S.A. in connection with the Annual General Meeting 2025. Tomas has previously served as CFO of Sandvik, Electrolux, Assa Abloy and Seco Tools. Tomas holds a Master of Science in Business and Economics from Uppsala University. Tomas is considered independent in relation to the company and its management as well as major shareholders of the company. Tomas (including related natural and legal persons) owns no shares in the company.  

Proposal for election of members of the Nomination Committee (item 13)

Shareholders representing in total approximately 53 per cent of the number of votes in the company recommend that the AGM resolves as follows regarding the Nomination Committee in respect of the AGM 2026:

The Nomination Committee shall have four members.Re-election of Mikael Ekdahl (Melker Schörling AB), Jan Dworsky (Swedbank Robur fonder), Brett Watson (Infor) and Daniel Kristiansson (Alecta) as members of the Nomination Committee in respect of the Annual General Meeting 2026. The Chairman of the Board shall be co-opted to the Nomination Committee.Re-election of Mikael Ekdahl as Chairman of the Nomination Committee.In case a shareholder, whom a member of the Nomination Committee represents, is no longer one of the major shareholders of Hexagon, or if a member of the Nomination Committee is no longer employed by such shareholder, or for any other reason leaves the Committee before the Annual General Meeting 2026, the Committee shall be entitled to appoint another representative among the major shareholders to replace such member.

Resolution on approval of remuneration report (item 14)

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to approve the Board of Director’s report regarding compensation pursuant to Chapter 8,
Section 53 a of the Swedish Companies Act.

Proposal for resolution on a performance based long term incentive programme (Share Programme 2025/2028) (item 15)

The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting resolves on implementation of a performance based long-term share programme for 2025 (“Share Programme 2025/2028”) for the group management, division managers, senior executives and key employees within the Hexagon Group as follows.

The rationale for the proposal

The purpose of Share Programme 2025/2028 is to strengthen the Hexagon Group’s ability to retain and recruit competent employees, provide competitive remuneration and to align the interests of the shareholders with the interests of the employees concerned. Through a share-based incentive programme, the employees’ remuneration is tied to the company’s earnings and value growth and creates long-term incentives for the programme participants. In light of the above, the Board of Directors believes that the implementation of Share Programme 2025/2028 may have a positive effect on the long-term value growth of the Group and, consequently, that Share Programme 2025/2028 is beneficial to both the shareholders and the company.

Participants in Share Programme 2025/2028 and allocation

Share Programme 2025/2028 is proposed to include a maximum of approximately
2,000 senior executives and key employees within the Hexagon Group, who are divided into five groups: the President and CEO (“Group 1”), group management (“Group 2”), division managers (“Group 3”) and other senior executives and key employees (“Group 4” and “Group 5”). Invitation to participate in the programme shall be provided by Hexagon on or about 30 June 2025. Participation in Share Programme 2025/2028 requires that the participant, except for the President and CEO, has been employed by the Hexagon Group for at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of the offer.

Participants are offered to be allocated performance awards that may entitle to Series B shares according to the conditions set out below. The performance awards shall be based on a maximum value for each participant category. The maximum value for the participants in Group 1 will be 100 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025, for participants in Group 2, 50 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025, for participants in Group 3 and Group 4, 100 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025, and for participants in Group 5, 35 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025. The total sum of the maximum values of the performance awards thus defined for all participants will not exceed EUR 60 million, including social costs.

The share price used to calculate the number of shares to which the performance awards yields will be the volume-weighted average of the market price of Hexagon Series B shares on Nasdaq Stockholm during a period of five (5) trading days before the day the participants are offered to participate in the programme.

Performance condition

Allocated performance awards entitle to the receipt of Series B shares in the company provided that the performance condition related to the development of Hexagon’s earnings per share[1] during the measurement period 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2028 is fulfilled, where the last financial year during the measurement period is compared with the financial year preceding the measurement period, with reservation for any reduction in the number of shares in accordance with the terms of Share Programme 2025/2028. The target level for the performance-based condition shall be an increase in the company’s earnings per share during the financial year 2028 compared to the financial year 2024. If the target level is achieved, the participants shall be entitled to receive Series B shares in the company in accordance with the terms of Share Programme 2025/2028. The Board of Directors intends to present the fulfillment of the performance-based condition in the annual report for the financial year 2028.

Other conditions

In addition to the above conditions, the following shall apply for the performance awards.

Performance awards shall be granted free of charge after the Annual General Meeting.Each performance award entitles the holder to receive one Series B share in the company free of charge approximately four (4) years after allotment of the award (vesting period), provided that the above performance condition has been met and that the holder has been employed by the Hexagon Group during the entire measurement period and is still employed at the time of the release of the interim report for the first quarter 2029. Exemptions to the requirement of employment during the entire measurement period up to and including the time of the release of the interim report for the first quarter 2029 may be granted by the Board of Directors in specific cases, including, but not limited to, a participant’s disability or retirement.The Board of Directors shall have the opportunity to make adjustments as a result of extraordinary events such as bonus issue, share split, rights issue, and/or other similar events.The performance awards are non-transferable and may not be pledged.The performance awards can be granted by the company or any other company within the Group.

Preparation and administration

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for preparing the detailed terms and conditions and administration of Share Programme 2025/2028, in accordance with the above mentioned terms and guidelines. To this end, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to make adjustments to meet foreign regulations or market conditions. The Board of Directors may also make other adjustments, including for example a right to resolve on a reduced allotment of shares, if significant changes in the Hexagon Group, or its operational environment, would, as assessed by the Board of Directors, result in a situation where the established terms and conditions for Share Programme 2025/2028 no longer are appropriate or reasonable.

In the event that the Board of Directors considers that the delivery of shares under Share Programme 2025/2028 cannot be achieved at a reasonable cost, with reasonable administrative efforts or due to specific market conditions, the Board of Directors shall have the right to make appropriate local adjustments to the programme or instead offer participants a cash settlement.

Scope and costs of the programme

Provided that the share price for the company’s Series B share at the time of allotment of performance awards under Share Programme 2025/2028 is SEK 114.55[2], Share Programme 2025/2028 will, in accordance with the principles and assumptions set out above, comprise maximum 5,333,000 Series B shares in total, which corresponds to approximately 0.2 per cent of the total outstanding shares in the company.

Provided that the performance condition is fully met, the total costs for Share Programme 2025/2028, in accordance with the principles and assumptions set out above, is estimated to a maximum of approximately EUR 60 million, allocated over the vesting period. Estimated social costs and administration costs for the programme are included in the amount.

In the event that the total costs of Share Programme 2025/2028 would exceed EUR 60 million, the total number of allocated Series B shares in Hexagon will be reduced so that the total costs of Share Programme 2025/2028 will not exceed this amount. Such reduction will be made pro rata in relation to the highest value for each participant category in accordance with the above.

Delivery of shares under Share Programme 2025/2028

To ensure the delivery of Series B shares under Share Programme 2025/2028, the company intends to enter into an agreement with a third party on terms in accordance with market practice, under which the third party shall, in its own name, acquire and transfer Series B shares in the company to the participants in accordance with Share Programme 2025/2028.

Preparation of the proposal

Share Programme 2025/2028 has been initiated by the Board of Directors of Hexagon and has been structured in consultation with external advisers. Share Programme 2025/2028 has been prepared by the Remuneration Committee and reviewed at meetings with the Board of Directors.

Previous incentive programmes in Hexagon

For a description of Hexagon’s other incentive programmes, Share Programme 2022/2025, Share Programme 2023/2026 and Share Programme 2024/2027, please see the company’s Annual Report 2024, note 30, and the company’s website www.hexagon.com. In addition to the programmes described therein, there are no other long term incentive programmes in Hexagon.

Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors on acquisition and transfer of own shares (item 16)

Hexagon has previously, on the basis of authorization by the General Meeting, acquired own Series B shares for the purpose of using repurchased shares to give the Board of Directors the opportunity to adjust the company’s capital structure, to finance potential company acquisitions, and as a hedge for the company’s share-based incentive programmes. As of 1 January 2025, the company held 21,100,000 own Series B shares, corresponding to approximately 0.8 per cent of the total number of shares in the company. The Board of Directors makes the assessment that it remains advantageous for the company to continue to be able to use repurchased shares in order to adjust the company’s capital structure, on account of potential company acquisitions and for the company’s share-based incentive programmes.

In view of the above, the Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to pass a resolution, on one or more occasions for the period up until the next Annual General Meeting, on acquisition and transfer of Series B shares in the company. Acquisition of shares may be made at a maximum of Series B shares so that the company’s holding does not exceed ten (10) per cent of all shares in the company at that time. Acquisitions of shares on Nasdaq Stockholm may only occur at a price within the share price interval registered at that time, where share price interval means the difference between the highest buying price and the lowest selling price. Transfer of Series B shares may be made at a maximum of ten (10) per cent of the total number of shares in the company. A transfer may be made with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights on Nasdaq Stockholm as well as to third parties in connection with acquisition of a company or a business. Compensation for transferred shares can be paid in cash, through an issue in kind or a set-off. Transfers of shares on Nasdaq Stockholm may only occur at a price per share within the share price interval registered at that time, where share price interval means the difference between the highest buying price and the lowest selling price. Transfer in connection with acquisitions may be made at a market value assessed by the Board of Directors.

The purpose of the authorizations is (i) to give the Board of Directors the opportunity to adjust the company’s capital structure and thereby contribute to increased shareholder value, (ii) to enable acquisition opportunities by financing acquisitions with the company’s own shares, and (iii) to ensure the company’s undertakings, due to share-related or share-based incentive programs (other than delivery of shares to participants in incentive programs), including social security costs.

The resolution according to this item requires approval from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of both the number of votes cast as well as the shares represented at the general meeting in order to be valid.

Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors to issue shares, convertibles and/or warrants (item 17)

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors during the period up until the next AGM to, on one or more occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, and with or without provisions for contribution in kind, set-off or other conditions, resolve to issue Series B shares, convertibles and/or warrants (with rights to subscribe for or convert into Series B shares). By resolutions in accordance with the authorization, the number of shares may be increased by a number corresponding to a maximum of ten (10) percent of the number of outstanding shares in the company at the time when the Board of Directors first uses the authorization.

The purpose of the authorization and the reasons for a potential deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights as set out above, is to ensure financing of acquisitions of companies, part of companies or businesses or to strengthen the company’s capital base and equity/assets ratio. Such issues may not require amendment of the Articles of Association applicable from time to time. In case of deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, issues by virtue of the authorisation shall be made on market conditions. In accordance with the conditions set out above, the Board of Directors shall also be authorized to resolve on other terms as considered necessary by the Board of Directors to carry out the issues.

The Board of Directors further proposes that the Managing Director, or anyone appointed by the Managing Director, shall have the right to make any adjustments that may be necessary in connection with the registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Sw: Bolagsverket).

The resolution according to this item requires approval from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of both the number of votes cast as well as the shares represented at the general meeting in order to be valid.

E. AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS

The Annual Report and the auditor’s statement as well as the auditors’statement regarding whether the guidelines for the remuneration of senior executives have been complied with, the Board of Director’s remuneration report, the Board of Director’s complete proposal concerning items 15-17 together with related documents, as well as the Board of Director’s statement pursuant to Chapter 18, Section 4 and Chapter 19, Section 22 of the Swedish Companies Act will be kept available for the shareholders at the company’s headquarters in Stockholm no later than Monday 14 April 2025. Copies of the documents will be sent to those shareholders who request to receive such information and who have provided their address and will be available at the company’s website www.hexagon.com and at the Annual General Meeting.

F. SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Board of Directors and the Managing Director shall, if requested by a shareholder and the Board of Directors considers that it can be done without material damage to the company, provide information regarding issues that (i) may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda (ii) circumstances that may affect the assessment of the company’s or its subsidiaries’ financial position or information concerning (iii) the company’s relation with other companies within the group. Shareholders may send questions in advance by mail to Hexagon AB (publ), Box 3692, SE-103 59 Stockholm, Sweden or by e-mail to bolagsstamma@hexagon.com. 

G. NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTES IN THE COMPANY

The total number of shares in the company amounts to 2,705,477,888 of which 110,250,000 are shares of Series A (with 10 votes per share), and 2,595,227,888 are shares of Series B (with 1 vote per share). The total number of votes in the company amounts to 3,697,727,888. Hexagon AB (publ) holds 21,100,000 of its own Series B shares, corresponding to an equal number of votes, for which the company cannot exercise voting rights.

H. PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

For information about the processing of your personal data, see https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf. If you have questions regarding Hexagon AB’s processing of your personal data, you can contact the company by email privacy@hexagon.com. Hexagon AB (publ) has corporate ID No. 556190-4771 and the Board of Directors’ registered office is in Stockholm, Sweden. 

____________________________

Stockholm in April 2025
The Board of Directors
Hexagon AB (publ)

[1] Earnings per share is defined as the company’s earnings per share, excluding adjustments.
[2] Corresponding to the closing price on 18 March 2025 for Hexagon’s Series B share on Nasdaq Stockholm.

For further information, please contact:
Tom Hull, Head of Investor Relations, +44 7442 678 437, ir@hexagon.com
Anton Heikenström, Investor Relations Manager, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 26, ir@hexagon.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Notice to Annual General Meeting 2025

 

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HiBy Launches RS2 II Portable Hi-Fi Player with Flagship DARWIN III Architecture

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October 19, 2026

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LEWES, Del., Oct. 19, 2026 /CNW/ — HiBy has officially launched the RS2 II, a compact portable Hi-Fi player featuring the company’s third-generation DARWIN III audio architecture, the same architecture used in the flagship RS8 II. Designed for audiophiles seeking flagship-level sound in a smaller and more portable form, the RS2 II combines HiBy’s proprietary R2R technology, a fully balanced analog stage, HiByOS, and flexible connectivity.

At the heart of the RS2 II is the DARWIN III architecture, powered by a newly developed FPGA digital engine featuring more than 35K logic units and 40 high-speed, high-performance DSP units. This processing platform provides the computing power required for HiBy’s adjustable pure FIR filters, multiple DARWIN filters, harmonic control, NOS/OS switching, and native DSD processing.

Digital-to-analog conversion is handled by a high-precision R2R resistor network. High-speed electronic switches drive the resistor network to convert digital signals into corresponding analog voltage levels, helping reduce high-frequency noise introduced by digital modulation while delivering a natural, transparent, and musical presentation.

The analog stage uses a four-stage OPA1612 signal chain. One OPA1612 performs low-pass filtering after the DAC stage, another provides current amplification after volume control, while two additional OPA1612 devices form a fully balanced voltage amplification stage. At the headphone output, four flagship-grade OPA1622 amplifiers provide independent four-channel current amplification for improved dynamics, control, and compatibility with multi-driver earphones.

The RS2 II is also more compact than its predecessor. The standard aluminum alloy edition weighs just 156g and features a dark green finish with a houndstooth-pattern rear panel. Compared with the original RS2, the display area has increased by 45% and resolution by 122%. The new 3.55-inch 480 × 800 display, together with narrower bezels, provides a significantly improved visual experience. An upgraded X1600E dual-core platform further enhances system responsiveness.

Running HiBy’s dedicated HiByOS, the RS2 II supports coaxial output, Line Out, and USB DAC functionality. Dual microSD card slots support up to 4TB of total expandable storage.

The HiBy RS2 II Aluminum Alloy Edition is priced at US$439 and is available as a standard production model. The Limited Brass Edition is priced at US$549 and is expected to become available in October, with worldwide production restricted to just 500 units.

Contact
William Yueng
bd@hiby.com

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Beyond a Single Payment Rail: Building Resilience into Cross-Border B2B Trade

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October 19, 2026

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At the 140th Canton Fair, PhotonPay examines how fiat and stablecoin infrastructure can give advanced manufacturers more flexibility in managing cross-border payments and working capital.

HONG KONG, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A piece of industrial machinery may take months to engineer, manufacture and deliver. The payments behind it follow a different timeline. Suppliers need to be paid, freight costs must be covered, and overseas buyers may settle invoices in stages. When production, delivery and payment span multiple markets, keeping these commitments aligned becomes a challenge of its own.

At the 140th Canton Fair, where manufacturers are showcasing industrial machinery, electronic components, automotive parts and other advanced manufacturing products, this less visible side of global trade deserves closer attention. PhotonPay is participating in the fair at Area D, Booths DT1714–DT1718, examining how more flexible financial infrastructure can help businesses manage cross-border payments alongside the demands of international trade.

The Payment Gap Behind Global Supply Chains

Supply chain resilience is often discussed in terms of sourcing, manufacturing capacity and logistics. The flow of money deserves the same attention.

A manufacturer may have sufficient orders and production capacity but still face pressure when incoming payments and outgoing obligations fall out of sync. A payment initiated by a buyer does not necessarily mean the funds are immediately available to the seller. The transfer may involve multiple financial institutions, currency conversion, local processing and compliance checks before the recipient can use the money.

Costs can also be difficult to assess across different payment corridors. Depending on the banks and arrangements involved, intermediary fees, foreign exchange charges and other transaction costs may affect the final amount received. Limited visibility into a payment’s status can make it harder for finance teams to plan supplier payments and reconcile invoices.

The answer is not to abandon established banking infrastructure. Bank transfers still remain important to international trade. Nor is every payment delayed or expensive simply because it crosses a border. The more useful question is whether businesses have the right payment options for different markets, currencies and settlement requirements, rather than relying on one approach for every transaction.

Why Fiat and Stablecoin Rails Need to Work Together

Discussions about cross-border payments increasingly include stablecoins, but the choice facing corporate finance teams is not simply traditional banking versus blockchain.

Banking infrastructure remains essential. It connects businesses to local accounts, domestic payment systems and established financial relationships. Stablecoin networks offer a different set of capabilities: transfers can take place outside conventional banking hours, subject to the network and service arrangements involved.

Each serves different needs. A stablecoin transfer alone may not put spendable local currency in a supplier’s hands. The recipient’s ability to accept the asset, conversion and liquidity arrangements, access to local payout channels and applicable regulatory requirements all matter. A business also needs to know how a transaction will be screened, recorded and reconciled with its underlying commercial documents.

This is where a dual-rail model becomes relevant. By connecting traditional fiat infrastructure with stablecoin payment channels, a business can access different ways to move funds within a unified financial environment, where supported and permitted.

The choice of payment route should reflect the corridor, currency, counterparty, timing requirements and compliance obligations. For advanced manufacturers, this flexibility can help finance teams coordinate incoming payments with supplier invoices, logistics costs and other business obligations. Foreign exchange exposure, liquidity constraints and compliance reviews still require careful management, while access to different payment rails gives businesses more options to work with.

From Payment Choice to Operational Control

More payment options are useful only when they fit into the way a business operates.

For an exporter, receiving funds is one step in a longer process. The money may need to be converted into another currency, held until a supplier payment is due, or distributed to different counterparties across markets. Managing these steps through disconnected accounts and systems can add work for finance teams and make it harder to maintain a consistent view of cash positions.

PhotonPay, a stablecoin-powered payment operating system, brings together global accounts, local collection capabilities, multi-currency fund management, currency conversion and global payouts across fiat and stablecoin infrastructure.

Through PhotonPay’s global accounts, businesses can collect payments from overseas customers through local accounts and international transfers. Its multi-asset wallet connects fiat currencies with stablecoins, while its 24/7 currency conversion capabilities give businesses greater flexibility in managing different currency needs. Global payout capabilities help businesses move funds onward to suppliers and other counterparties across markets.

Together, these capabilities connect the key stages of cross-border fund management, from receiving customer payments and converting currencies to making subsequent business payments. Finance teams can manage incoming funds and outgoing obligations within a more integrated financial environment, with greater visibility across their global operations.

For B2B trade, operational visibility is as important as the ability to initiate a transfer. Finance teams need to understand the amount received, the costs associated with a transaction, its processing status and how the resulting movement of funds relates to an invoice or supplier payment.

By bringing payment infrastructure and fund management into a more connected workflow, PhotonPay helps businesses manage the movement of money alongside the commercial activity it supports.

Making Money Move at the Pace of Business

Global trade depends on two flows moving in sync: goods moving through supply chains and money moving between counterparties. For manufacturers operating across markets, the ability to collect, convert and deploy funds efficiently can shape how they manage supplier commitments, working capital and the next stage of production.

At the 140th Canton Fair, PhotonPay is showcasing how integrated fiat and stablecoin capabilities can help businesses keep capital moving alongside their operations. Visit PhotonPay at Area D, Booths DT1714–DT1718, during the Canton Fair.

About PhotonPay

PhotonPay is a stablecoin-powered payment operating system built for global infrastructure. Designed for modern enterprises, PhotonPay enables businesses to send, receive, convert, and settle funds across both fiat and stablecoin rails through a single, compliance-first integration, spanning 200+ countries and territories.

For more information, visit [www.photonpay.com].

Disclaimer

This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or investment advice, nor an offer or solicitation for any product or service. The availability, features, and regulatory treatment of PhotonPay’s products and services may vary depending on the user’s location, business model, and the laws and regulations that apply. Any descriptions of functionality, performance, efficiency, cost savings, or compliance support (including, without limitation, references to “real‑time”, “24/7”, “high‑efficiency”, or “compliant” solutions) are aspirational or forward‑looking in nature. Actual outcomes may differ due to market conditions, technological constraints, and regulatory developments, and PhotonPay makes no express or implied representation, warranty, or guarantee as to the achievement of any particular result.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/beyond-a-single-payment-rail-building-resilience-into-cross-border-b2b-trade-302912425.html

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Following the Money: Stablecoin Transfers Under $100 Account for 77% of Activity, While Large Transactions Move Two-Thirds of Value, Mercuryo and BNB Chain Report Finds

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35 minutes ago

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October 19, 2026

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LONDON, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global payments infrastructure platform Mercuryo and BNB Chain, the community-driven blockchain ecosystem, have published a joint report highlighting the versatility of stablecoins, which facilitate activity ranging from low-value remittances to transactions made by ‘crypto whales’ moving digital assets across capital markets.  

The research found that 77.4% of stablecoin transfers on BNB Chain in Q3 2026 were valued at under $100, while transfers of $10,000 or more accounted for 66.2% of total transfer value.  

Combining Mercuryo’s fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat transaction data with BNB Chain’s on-chain data for Q3 2026, Stablecoins on BNB Chain: Fiat to Crypto and Back offers a complementary view of how stablecoins move. The findings show the versatility and usability of stablecoins and how they can serve very different purposes on the same permissionless blockchain infrastructure. 

Everyday Transfers & Large-Scale Capital Movements 

The findings point to a market serving multiple purposes simultaneously. While stablecoins remain an important component of digital asset markets, the data also highlights patterns consistent with their growing role in everyday stablecoin payments such as cross-border remittances. Most on-chain transfers are low-value, and stablecoins are frequently being converted between local currencies and digital dollars. 

The median network fee for a stablecoin transfer on BNB Chain was just *$0.0068:Low costs matter both to people sending remittances and to institutions settling high-value payments.Together, these figures demonstrate how the same blockchain infrastructure can accommodate frequent, low-value transfers alongside large-scale movements of capital.

“The research by Mercuryo and BNB Chain sheds light on one of the defining features of stablecoins, that being their versatility,” said Arthur Firstov, Chief Business Officer at Mercuryo. “The same permissionless blockchain infrastructure that facilitates small-value transfers and cross-border payments is underpinning large-scale trading and liquidity across capital markets. Stablecoins were designed as a place to hold value between trades for those taking positions on Bitcoin. We now see the tokens being used for a host of different purposes as the efficiencies and lower costs of blockchain technology bring benefits to the masses.” 

Local Currencies & Familiar Payment Methods  

The report found that in Q3 2026, 70% of the value used to purchase dollar-denominated stablecoins on BNB Chain through Mercuryo was paid in non-US dollar currencies. The US accounted for just 9.8% of purchase value, with Asia the largest regional market at 39.3%, followed by Europe at 33.4%. 

Payment preferences also resemble mainstream online shopping behaviour. Everyday shopping patterns are mirrored on-chain, with Apple Pay and Google Pay accounting for 69.5% of stablecoin purchases and 57.7% of purchase value through Mercuryo. Their combined share of purchases increased from 42.3% in Q3 2025, while 87.2% of purchases with a recorded device were made on a phone.

Worldpay’s Global Payments Report 2026 found that digital wallets collectively accounted for 56% of global e-commerce value in 2025. The comparison suggests that stablecoin purchases are increasingly compatible with the familiar checkout experiences consumers already use online, rather than requiring every user to adopt specialist crypto payment methods. 

Self-Custody Leads

Self-custody leads at every stage of a stablecoin’s usage examined in the report. Through Mercuryo, 59.5% of stablecoin purchase value went to self-custody wallet channels. Across BNB Chain, individual addresses held 63.3% of stablecoin value, while 59.8% of off-ramp value processed through Mercuryo originated from self-custody wallet channels. 

Although the datasets use different measures of wallet activity, the findings point to the continued importance of self-custody wallets in accessing and managing stablecoins. These wallets allow users to hold and transfer assets directly, while providing access to applications and services across the on-chain ecosystem. 

Stablecoins in Active Circulation 

The report also found that 64.3% of stablecoin value on BNB Chain had moved within the previous 30 days, suggesting that much of the value was actively circulating. The findings highlight stablecoins’ dual role, facilitating the movement of value while continuing to support trading, decentralised finance (DeFi) and broader on-chain activity. 

Taken together, the findings of this report show stablecoins as more than digital tokens held on a blockchain. They form part of a broader financial lifecycle connecting fiat currencies, self-custody wallets, on-chain applications, and traditional payment infrastructure, serving a wider range of financial needs than trading alone. 

* Stablecoin transfers on BNB Chain are $0.0068. Additional fees for the purchase, sale or conversion into stablecoins may apply. 

Stablecoins carry risks, including potential loss of value, issuer and redemption risks, and risks associated with the underlying blockchain. They are not equivalent to bank deposits or cash, and are not be covered by deposit protection schemes. 

About Mercuryo 

Mercuryo is a leading payment infrastructure platform in the digital token space. Standing out in the decentralized ecosystem by enhancing payment use case growth and on-chain integration, Mercuryo’s intuitive and robust solutions are powering the next generation of Web3 payment services. Mercuryo’s innovative payment products such as Spend, bridge the gap between TradFi, Web2 and Web3. Mercuryo is the proud partner of leading pillars in the digital token economy such as Trust Wallet and MetaMask, along with Revolut, Mastercard and Visa. Driven by an evolving product suite, Mercuryo is expanding further and continuing to innovate with a diversified stack of payment services. 

Media Contact    
Joe Morgan, PR Manager, Mercuryo    
j.morgan@mercuryo.io  

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