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ePlus Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2027 Financial Results

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Managed Services Delivers Strong Performance and Increases Recurring Revenue

~ Reiterates Fiscal 2027 Guidance ~

First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2027

Net sales increased 1.0% to $649.1 million; services revenues increased 2.6% to $119.4 million.Gross billings increased 0.5% to $957.1 million.Gross profit decreased 1.5% to $151.3 million.Gross profit margin was 23.3%, compared to 23.9% for last fiscal year’s first quarter.Net earnings from continuing operations decreased 5.4% to $30.3 million.Adjusted EBITDA decreased 9.2% to $47.8 million.Net earnings from continuing operations per common share-diluted decreased 4.1% to $1.16. Non-GAAP: net earnings from continuing operations per common share – diluted decreased 9.2% to $1.28.

HERNDON, Va., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ePlus inc. (NASDAQ: PLUS), a leading provider of technology solutions, today announced financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2026, or the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year.

Management Comment

“The first quarter reflected strong execution against a challenging year over year comparison. We had record sales and saw a significant increase in booked and open orders which we believe positions us for a strong second half.  During the quarter, we saw product shipment delays and lead times extended by the ongoing memory chip shortage.” commented Mark Marron, President and CEO of ePlus.  “We continued to see strong growth in security, managed services, and within our mid-market customer base overall.  Managed services delivered its first $50 million revenue quarter and provides a reliable revenue stream which affirms our services-led, value-add approach for customers.”

“We ended the quarter with $449 million of cash on our balance sheet. This strong cash position provides us with the financial flexibility to continue investing in our business, pursue M&A and return value to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases. As we look ahead, we remain focused on executing our strategic priorities and are confident in our ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for our shareholders.”

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2027 Results

For the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, as compared to the first quarter ended June 30, 2025:

Net sales increased 1.0% to $649.1 million, from $642.8 million due to higher product sales and higher service revenue. Gross billings increased 0.5% to $957.1 million from $952.8 million.   

Product segment sales increased 0.6% to $529.6 million from $526.4 million due to increases in revenue from networking, security, and collaboration products, offset by a decrease in cloud products. Product segment gross profit margin was 21.0%, down from 21.3% last year due to a shift in product mix and a lower proportion of sales that were sales of third-party maintenance and subscriptions which are recorded on a net basis.

Professional services segment revenues decreased 5.1% year over year to $68.1 million from $71.7 million, primarily due to decreases in revenues from project services and staff augmentation. Gross profit margin from our professional services segment decreased to 36.9% from 39.2% during the same period last year due to a shift in services mix.

Managed services segment revenue increased 15.1% to $51.3 million primarily due to additional revenue from cloud managed services. Gross profit from managed services increased 11.3% from last year due to the increase in revenue, offset by a decrease in gross profit margin from managed services to 29.4% from 30.4% in the prior year quarter.

Gross profit decreased 1.5% to $151.3 million, from $153.7 million, due to a decrease in gross profit from the product segment and professional services segment, offset by an increase in the managed services segment. Gross profit margin was 23.3%, compared with 23.9% in the prior year quarter, due to lower gross profit margin in all three segments.

Operating expenses were $112.5 million, up 1.6% from $110.7 million last year, primarily due to an increase in general and administrative expenses and salary and benefits. 

Operating income decreased 9.6% to $38.8 million. Other income, net was $3.1 million compared to $0.6 million in the prior year due to higher interest income and lower foreign currency transaction losses being recognized in the current year quarter. Earnings from continuing operations before taxes decreased 3.7% to $42.0 million.

The effective tax rate for the current quarter was 27.8%, which was higher than the prior year quarter of 26.5% due to higher state income taxes and non-deductible expenses.

Net earnings from continuing operations decreased 5.4% to $30.3 million from $32.0 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 9.2% to $47.8 million from $52.7 million in the prior year quarter. Net earnings from continuing operations per common share-diluted was $1.16, compared with $1.21 in the prior year quarter. Non-GAAP net earnings from continuing operations per common share – diluted was $1.28, compared with $1.41 in the prior year quarter. Total shares outstanding were 26.1 million and 26.3 million on June 30, 2026 and March 31, 2026, respectively.

Net earnings were $30.3 million as compared to $42.6 million in the prior year quarter, which included $10.6 million from discontinued operations. Net earnings from discontinued operations per common share – diluted for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $0.40. There were no transactions for discontinued operations for the three months ended June 30, 2026.

Balance Sheet Highlights

As of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $448.9 million, up from $410.8 million as of March 31, 2026. Inventory decreased 27.3% to $146.0 million as of June 30, 2026 compared with $200.9 million as of March 31, 2026 due to a reduction of projects in process. Accounts receivable—trade, net increased 14.8% to $746.0 million as of June 30, 2026 from $650.0 million as of March 31, 2026. Total stockholders’ equity was $1,072.0 million as of June 30, 2026, compared with $1,069.0 million as of March 31, 2026.

Fiscal Year Guidance

ePlus is reiterating its fiscal year 2027 guidance of year over year growth in the mid-single digits for net sales, gross profit and adjusted EBITDA.

This guidance does not factor in recessionary conditions, or other unexpected developments.  ePlus cannot predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort, the ultimate outcome of unusual gains and losses, the occurrence of matters creating GAAP tax impacts, fluctuations in interest expense or interest income and share-based compensation, and acquisition- or disposition-related expenses. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could be material to ePlus’ results computed in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, ePlus is unable to provide a reconciliation of GAAP net earnings to adjusted EBITDA for the full fiscal year 2027 forecast.

Summary and Outlook

“Our customers operate in areas with strong expansion potential, and our growth is underscored by our close customer relationships as they look to us for help to expand their businesses, optimize internal efficiencies, and operate their IT securely. As technology investment continues to accelerate, we are well-positioned to capitalize on the significant long-term growth opportunities across artificial intelligence, data centers, cybersecurity and other mission-critical markets.  Supported by our strong balance sheet and disciplined approach to capital allocation, we will continue investing in our capabilities, for both products and services, while executing on our strategy to deliver long-term sustainable growth and shareholder value.  Reflecting our confidence in the business and the visibility into our open orders we have today, we are reaffirming our fiscal 2027 guidance,” concluded Mr. Marron.

ePlus Announces Quarterly Dividend

ePlus announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per common share which will be paid on September 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 25, 2026. 

ePlus Announces New Stock Repurchase Program

ePlus today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized ePlus to repurchase up to 1,500,000 shares of ePlus’ outstanding common stock over a 12-month period commencing August 11, 2026. ePlus’ current repurchase plan expires on August 10, 2026.

The purchases under the new stock repurchase program may be made from time to time in the open market, or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to availability. Any repurchased shares will have the status of treasury shares and may be used, if and when needed, for general corporate purposes. ePlus has no obligation to repurchase shares under the authorization, and the timing, actual number and value of the shares which are repurchased will be at the discretion of management and will depend on a number of factors, including the price of ePlus’ common stock. ePlus may suspend or discontinue repurchases at any time.

Recent Corporate Developments/Recognitions

In the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year, ePlus:

Unveiled its Enterprise Grade Agentic AI Platform for Autonomous IT and Security Operations at Cisco LiveNamed Digital Realty Americas Partner of the Year in Recognition of AI ExpertiseReceives Dell Technologies North America Strategic Impact Partner of the Year AwardHonored with North America Networking Partner of the Year Award from HPESuccessfully Earns Place on CRN Solution Provider 500 List for 15 Consecutive YearsExpands Managed Services Portfolio with Enhanced Maintenance Support for HPE ProLiant ServersRecognized as Services Partner of the Year at Everpure Annual Accelerate Partner ForumSurpassed Industry Benchmarks with Outstanding Net Promoter Score in Independent SurveyAppointed John Lutz to Board of DirectorsRecognized on the Prestigious 2026 MES Midmarket 100 List

Conference Call Information

ePlus will hold a conference call and webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET on August 4, 2026:

Date:       

August 4, 2026

Time:       

4:30 p.m. ET

Audio Webcast (Live & Replay):

https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/757902340 

Live Call: 

(888) 596-4144 (toll-free/domestic)

(646) 968-2525 (international)

Archived Call:

(800) 770-2030 (toll-free/domestic)

(609) 800-9909 (international)

Conference ID:

8293082# (live call and replay)

A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call through August 11, 2026.

About ePlus inc.

ePlus is a customer-first, services-led, and results-driven industry leader offering transformative technology solutions and services to provide the best customer outcomes. Offering a full portfolio of solutions, including artificial intelligence, security, cloud and data center, networking and collaboration, as well as managed, consultative and professional services, ePlus works closely with organizations across many industries to successfully navigate business challenges. With a long list of industry-leading partners and more than 2,170 employees, our expertise has been honed over more than three decades, giving us specialized yet broad levels of experience and knowledge. ePlus is headquartered in Virginia, with locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia‐Pacific. For more information, visit www.eplus.com, call 888-482-1122, or email info@eplus.com. Connect with ePlus on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram

ePlus, Where Technology Means More®.

ePlus® and ePlus products referenced herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Forward-looking statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements,” including, among other things, statements regarding the future financial performance of ePlus. Actual and anticipated future results may vary materially due to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, financial losses resulting from national and international political instability fostering uncertainty and volatility in the global economy including changes in interest rates, tariffs, inflation, export requirements applicable to products we sell, sanctions and exposure to foreign currency rate changes; supply chain issues, including a shortage of information technology (“IT”) component parts and products, and our vendors’ rapid and unpredictable price fluctuations relating thereto, or a customer’s or vendor’s cancellation of orders such as for, but not limited to, memory chips, which may increase our and the customer’s costs, decrease gross profit, cause a delay in fulfilling or inability to fulfill customer orders, increase our need for working capital, delay the completion of professional services, or require the purchase of IT products or services needed to support our internal infrastructure or operations, resulting in an adverse impact on our financial results; significant adverse changes in our relationship with one or more of our larger customer accounts or vendors, including decreased account profitability, reductions in contracted services, or a loss of such relationships; risks relating to artificial intelligence (“AI”), including the use or capabilities of AI and emerging laws, rules and regulations related to AI; our ability to manage a diverse product set of solutions, including AI products and services, in highly competitive markets with a number of key vendors; changes in the IT industry and/or rapid changes in product offerings, including the proliferation of the cloud, infrastructure as a service (“IaaS”), software as a service (“SaaS”), platform as a service (“PaaS”), and AI which may affect our financial results; our ability to remain secure during a cybersecurity attack or other IT outage, including disruptions in our, our vendors or a third party’s IT systems and data and audio communication networks; a material decrease in the credit quality of our customer base, or a material increase in our credit losses; increases to our costs including wages and our ability to increase our prices to our customers as a result, or negative financial impacts due to the pricing arrangements we have with our customers; reliance on third parties to perform some of our service obligations to our customers, and the reliance on a small number of key vendors in our supply chain with whom we do not have long-term supply agreements, guaranteed price agreements, or assurance of stock availability; the possibility of a reduction of vendor consideration provided to us; our inability to identify merger and acquisition candidates, perform sufficient due diligence prior to completing mergers and acquisitions, successfully complete merger and acquisition transactions (including on favorable terms), successfully integrate a completed merger and/or acquisition, identify an opportunity for, or successfully complete a business disposition, or achieve the operational and financial results we anticipate after a disposition; our ability to secure our own and our customers’ electronic and other confidential information, while maintaining compliance with evolving data privacy and cybersecurity laws and regulations and appropriately providing required notice and disclosure of cybersecurity incidents when and if necessary; our dependence on key personnel to maintain certain customer relationships, and our ability to hire, train, and retain sufficient qualified personnel by recruiting and retaining highly skilled, competent personnel with needed vendor certifications; inadequate design or maintenance of our IT platforms for internal use or solutions we offer to our customers or our inability to effectively and timely capitalize on the opportunities made available by the adoption of AI and not having adequate or competent IT personnel to support our business; cybersecurity attacks that may occur while employees work remotely and our ability to adequately train our personnel to prevent a cyber event; our ability to raise capital, maintain or increase, as needed, our lines of credit with vendors or our floor plan facility, or the effect of those matters on our common stock price; our ability to predictably meet expectations of the investor and analyst community, including relative to our financial performance guidance that we provide, including based on our continuation of dividends and share repurchases; our ability to create and implement comprehensive plans for the integration of sales forces, cost containment, asset rationalization, systems integration, and other key strategies following mergers and acquisitions; and other risks or uncertainties detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The declaration and payment of future dividends are subject to the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.

All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and ePlus undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable U.S. securities law.

 

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

June 30, 2026

March 31, 2026

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

448,854

$

410,769

Accounts receivable—trade, net

745,983

650,021

Accounts receivable—other, net

37,339

38,896

Inventories

145,958

200,888

Deferred costs

77,425

77,748

Other current assets

45,277

49,412

Total current assets

1,500,836

1,427,734

Deferred tax asset

8,952

8,955

Property, equipment and other assets—net

97,605

100,039

Goodwill

202,885

202,880

Other intangible assets—net

56,779

61,344

TOTAL ASSETS

$

1,867,057

$

1,800,952

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

317,076

$

264,605

Accounts payable—floor plan

112,549

119,693

Salaries and commissions payable

53,961

48,590

Contract liabilities

161,041

157,074

Other current liabilities

59,664

48,181

Total current liabilities

704,291

638,143

Contract liabilities—long-term

80,751

83,010

Other liabilities

9,980

10,829

TOTAL LIABILITIES 

795,022

731,982

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred stock, $0.01 per share par value; 2,000 shares authorized; none
     outstanding

Common stock, $0.01 per share par value; 50,000 shares authorized;
     27,920 shares issued and 26,149 outstanding at June 30, 2026, and
     27,765 shares issued and 26,299 outstanding at March 31, 2026

279

278

Additional paid-in capital

215,228

210,274

Treasury stock, at cost, 1,771 shares at June 30, 2026, and 1,466 shares at
     March 31, 2026

(127,126)

(101,944)

Retained earnings

979,212

956,000

Accumulated other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation
     adjustment

4,442

4,362

Total Stockholders’ Equity

1,072,035

1,068,970

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$

1,867,057

$

1,800,952

 

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three months ended
June 30,

2026

2025

Net sales

Product

$

529,730

$

526,466

Services

119,383

116,309

Total

649,113

642,775

Cost of sales

Product

418,610

414,477

Services

79,174

74,622

Total

497,784

489,099

Gross profit

151,329

153,676

Selling, general, and administrative

106,621

103,667

Depreciation and amortization

5,876

7,069

Operating expenses

112,497

110,736

Operating income

38,832

42,940

Other income, net

3,130

612

Earnings from continuing operations before tax

41,962

43,552

Provision for income taxes

11,683

11,538

Net earnings from continuing operations

30,279

32,014

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax

10,569

Net earnings

$

30,279

$

42,583

Earnings per common share—basic

Continuing operations

$

1.17

$

1.22

Discontinued operations

0.40

Earnings per common share—basic

$

1.17

$

1.62

Earnings per common share—diluted

Continuing operations

$

1.16

$

1.21

Discontinued operations

0.40

Earnings per common share—diluted

$

1.16

$

1.61

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

25,938

26,270

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

26,062

26,381

Segment results

Three months ended

June 30,

2026

2025

Change

Net sales

Product segment

$

529,603

$

526,355

0.6 %

Professional services segment

68,081

71,729

(5.1 %)

Managed services segment

51,302

44,580

15.1 %

Other

127

111

14.4 %

        Total

$

649,113

$

642,775

1.0 %

Gross profit

Product segment

$

111,067

$

111,942

(0.8 %)

Professional services segment

25,144

28,153

(10.7 %)

Managed services segment

15,065

13,534

11.3 %

Other

53

47

12.8 %

        Total

$

151,329

$

153,676

(1.5 %)

Gross Billings by Type

Cloud

$

288,842

$

312,017

(7.4 %)

Networking

258,728

268,732

(3.7 %)

Security

219,767

190,045

15.6 %

Collaboration

25,717

22,777

12.9 %

Other

47,857

51,446

(7.0 %)

Product segment

840,911

845,017

(0.5 %)

Services

116,224

107,748

7.9 %

Total

$

957,135

$

952,765

0.5 %

Net Sales by Type

Product segment

Networking

$

223,721

$

218,202

2.5 %

Cloud

180,748

206,996

(12.7 %)

Security

78,265

61,107

28.1 %

Collaboration

15,492

11,757

31.8 %

Other

31,377

28,293

10.9 %

Total products segment

529,603

526,355

0.6 %

Professional services segment

68,081

71,729

(5.1 %)

Managed services segment

51,302

44,580

15.1 %

Other

127

111

14.4 %

Total net sales

$

649,113

$

642,775

1.0 %

Net Sales by Customer End Market

Telecom, media & entertainment

$

138,697

$

184,979

(25.0 %)

Technology

117,999

82,747

42.6 %

SLED

79,856

90,562

(11.8 %)

Healthcare

79,197

74,291

6.6 %

Financial services

73,386

47,500

54.5 %

Retail

34,923

31,971

9.2 %

All others

125,055

130,725

(4.3 %)

Total net sales

$

649,113

$

642,775

1.0 %

Amounts presented for the three months ended June 30, 2025 reflect the correction of certain misstatements, which we determined are not material either individually or in the aggregate. See our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, including Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for more information.

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION

We included reconciliations below for the following non-GAAP financial measures: (i) Adjusted EBITDA, (ii) Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations and (iii) Non-GAAP Net earnings from continuing operations per common share – diluted.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings from continuing operations calculated in accordance with US GAAP, adjusted for the following: depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, provision for income taxes, and other (income),  net.  

Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations and Non-GAAP Net earnings from continuing operations per common share – diluted are based on net earnings from continuing operations calculated in accordance with US GAAP, adjusted to exclude other (income), net, share-based compensation, acquisition related amortization expense, and the related tax effects.

We use the above non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental measures of our performance to gain insight into our operating performance and performance trends. We believe that these financial measures provide management and investors with a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business and operating results by excluding items that management believes are not reflective of our underlying operating performance. Accordingly, we believe that such non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results.

Our use of non-GAAP information as analytical tools has limitations, and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our financial results as reported under US GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, might calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations and Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations per common share-diluted, or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.

The amounts in the tables below are results from our continuing operations (in thousands):

(i) Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA

Three months ended

June 30,

2026

2025

GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations

$

30,279

$

32,014

Provision for income taxes

11,683

11,538

Share-based compensation

3,121

2,663

Depreciation and amortization [1]

5,876

7,069

Other (income), net [2]

(3,130)

(612)

Non-GAAP: Adjusted EBITDA

$

47,829

$

52,672

(ii) Reconciliation of Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations

Three months ended 
June 30,

2026

2025

GAAP: Earnings from continuing operations before tax

$

41,962

$

43,552

Share-based compensation

3,121

2,663

Acquisition related amortization expense [3]

4,565

5,548

Other (income), net [2]

(3,130)

(612)

Non-GAAP: Earnings from continuing operations before

provision for income taxes

46,518

51,151

GAAP: Provision for income taxes

11,683

11,538

Share-based compensation

885

712

Acquisition related amortization expense [3]

1,295

1,473

Other (income), net [2]

(888)

(163)

Tax benefit on restricted stock

218

114

Non-GAAP: Provision for income taxes

13,193

13,674

Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations

$

33,325

$

37,477

(iii) Reconciliation of Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations per common share – diluted

Three months ended
June 30,

2026

2025

GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations per common
share – diluted

$

1.16

$

1.21

Share-based compensation

0.09

0.07

Acquisition related amortization expense [3]

0.13

0.15

Other (income), net [2]

(0.09)

(0.02)

Tax benefit on restricted stock

(0.01)

Total non-GAAP adjustments – net of tax

0.12

0.20

Non-GAAP: Net earnings from continuing operations per
common share – diluted

$

1.28

$

1.41

[1] Amount consists of depreciation and amortization for assets used internally.

[2] Interest income, foreign currency transaction gains and losses, and adjustments to the fair value of contingent consideration.

[3] Amount consists of amortization of intangible assets from acquired businesses.

 

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SOURCE EPLUS INC.

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Hong Kong Shopping Festival Marks Singapore Debut with 100 Brands and Over 350 Products to Discover

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By

SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced the launch of its inaugural Hong Kong Shopping Festival in Singapore, marking the first time the event has expanded into an ASEAN market.

The festival runs from 21 to 27 September 2026, spotlighting some 100 brands and more than 350 featured products from Hong Kong across Beauty & Personal Care, Fashion, Food & Supplement, Fun & Smart Living, and Senior Wellness Essentials. Singapore consumers can explore participating brands and products through Shopee, Lazada and the official Hong Kong Shopping Festival website.

Themed “Hong Kong Highlights, One Click Away”, the campaign brings the energy and variety of Hong Kong’s shopping scene closer to Singapore consumers. From familiar household names to emerging brands and new finds, it offers shoppers a fresh way to experience the breadth of Hong Kong products while reconnecting with favourites they already know and love. Participating brands include Lee Kum Kee, CATALO, Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang, Wai Yuen Tong and Chicks, alongside a wider selection of brands and products.

Singapore marks the first step into ASEAN

The Singapore launch forms part of the initiative’s first expansion into ASEAN, with Singapore and Malaysia serving as its initial target markets. Following previous editions focused on the Chinese Mainland, the move marks a new phase for the programme as HKTDC looks to connect Hong Kong businesses with new consumers and markets across the region.

Supported by the HKSAR Government, the event gives consumers a trusted way to explore a curated selection of quality Hong Kong products. Throughout the week, shoppers can enjoy limited-time discounts of up to 50%, shopping vouchers and exclusive livestream offers as they discover participating brands across various online platforms.

Mr. Leung Kwan Ho, Regional Director, Southeast Asia & South Asia, HKTDC, said, “Hong Kong has always had a strong connection with Singapore consumers, from the brands they grew up with to the new products they continue to discover. Through the Hong Kong Shopping Festival, we hope to bring that experience closer to shoppers here, giving them an easy way to rediscover familiar favourites, uncover new brands and experience the diversity of what Hong Kong has to offer today.”

Bringing the shopping experience to life

Beyond browsing, the online shopping event will feature more than 30 hours of livestream shopping content led by popular livestream hosts and influencers in Singapore and Malaysia, giving consumers a more interactive way to engage with participating brands.

Through product demonstrations, first-hand reviews and real-time interaction, viewers can get a closer look at featured products and learn more about the brands behind them, while selected livestream sessions will also feature exclusive offers.

Dedicated campaign pages on Shopee and Lazada will also bring selected products and promotions together in one place, while the official festival website will feature participating brand information, promotional offers and curated recommendations throughout the week.

The Hong Kong Shopping Festival is the flagship annual event under HKTDC’s E-Commerce Express programme, which aims to help Hong Kong companies expand their cross-border e-commerce business and reach new markets. Through collaborations with leading e-commerce platforms, livestream promotions, and integrated marketing activities, HKTDC aims to help participating businesses enhance market visibility, gain practical cross-border e-commerce experience, and explore opportunities arising from the continued growth of ASEAN’s digital economy and e-commerce market.

The Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN) runs from 21 to 27 September 2026. For more information about the event, please visit Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN).

*Editor’s Note: For high-res images, please refer to the link: https://tinyurl.com/mb8ectm4

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and  business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on @hktdc and LinkedIn

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SOURCE The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)

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BDx Breaks Ground on 640MW AI Data Center in West Java, Backed by 845MVA of Secured Grid Power

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First 120MW building expected to enter service from early 2027, supporting liquid-cooled AI workloads of up to 500kW per rack.

SINGAPORE and JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BDx Data Centers (“BDx”) today broke ground on AI Campus 2 (CGK4), a 640MW AI data center campus in Jatiluhur, West Java, Indonesia. Dedi Mulyadi, Governor of West Java, and Saepul Bahri Binzein, Regent of Purwakarta, attended the groundbreaking ceremony alongside BDx and BDx Indonesia leadership.

The campus is backed by 845MVA of grid capacity from state utility PLN, part of BDx’s 1.2GVA+ secured power position across its AI-ready campuses in Indonesia. CGK4 is expected to be developed over approximately three years, with buildings commissioned sequentially to support accelerating demand for high-density AI capacity.

CGK4 reflects BDx’s evolution into an AI-first digital infrastructure platform, delivering secured power, high-density capacity, and faster time-to-market for AI workloads across Asia-Pacific.

CGK4 achieved certification under the NVIDIA DGX™-Ready Colocation Data Center program in April 2025. Located approximately five kilometers from the Jatiluhur Dam, the campus will receive power through PLN under Indonesia’s national grid framework and is actively pursuing lower-carbon power pathways, including a hydroelectric power arrangement with PJT, to support the region’s growing AI infrastructure with cleaner, more sustainable energy.

Construction has begun on Building 1, the first of six planned buildings at the site. Building 1 will deliver 120MW of IT capacity in phases, with the first contracted phase expected to enter service in early 2027. The facility is being built with a direct-to-chip liquid-cooling architecture engineered to support up to 500kW per rack for current and future AI accelerator generations.

CGK4 is already attracting strong interest from multiple hyperscalers, along with global technology companies, AI-native cloud providers and enterprises seeking AI-ready capacity across Southeast Asia and beyond. Demand at this pace reflects how quickly customer requirements are scaling.

“Indonesia is entering a new phase of digital and AI development, and CGK4 is a long-term investment in the infrastructure that phase requires. It anchors a growing AI ecosystem in West Java: scalable, high-density capacity built to bring advanced AI workloads into production faster, with a reliable path for customers as demand grows,” said Mayank Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, BDx Data Centers.

CGK4 forms part of BDx’s AI-focused campus expansion in Indonesia, supported by a US$320 million loan facility secured in 2026.

“This is a practical step forward for Indonesia’s digital economy. We are putting sovereign, high-density AI infrastructure in place with our national partners. It allows local enterprises, government agencies, and developers to run advanced AI workloads domestically while creating skilled jobs and long-term value in West Java,” said Agus Hartono Wijaya, Chief Executive Officer, BDx Indonesia.

Indonesia is among the few Asia-Pacific markets that combine available grid capacity, campus-scale land, and strong domestic AI demand, supported by Special Economic Zone incentives for large-scale infrastructure investment. BDx’s Indonesia platform includes AI Campus 1 (CGK3/3A), AI Campus 2 (CGK4), and AI Campus 3 (CGK5), with 1.2GVA+ of secured grid capacity across its AI-ready campuses in Indonesia.

About BDx Data Centers

BDx Data Centers develops and operates AI-ready data center infrastructure across Asia-Pacific for hyperscale, cloud, AI, and enterprise customers. Transformed for AI and proven at speed, BDx is focused on converting secured power into powered, cooled, and operational capacity for customers scaling next-generation workloads. With operations in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan region, BDx combines secured power access, high-density design, advanced cooling capabilities, standardized engineering, and local market execution to accelerate delivery across key digital markets. Backed by I Squared Capital, BDx provides the infrastructure platform customers need to move from power availability to live AI and cloud deployments across the region. For more information, visit www.bdxworld.com.

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SOURCE BDx Data Centers (BDx)

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Gold, Oil or Forex: Which Markets Are Attracting Traders’ Attention Today?

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Financial markets in 2026 face several key influences, including geopolitical risks, energy price swings, interest rate expectations, and uneven economic growth. According to IMF estimates, global GDP will grow by 3.0% in 2026, while energy importers, exporters, and countries benefiting from the technology cycle will face divergent market conditions.

With such changes occurring in the financial markets, traders increasingly focus on different asset classes: currencies, commodities, and indices. In Asia-Pacific, regional currencies, monetary policy, technology, and equity markets are among the key areas shaping trading activity.

Regional Currencies Reveal Diverging Economic Contexts

There is a clear example of Japan’s economy. According to the Bank of Japan, underlying inflation will gradually rise to levels that are compatible with its target of 2%. The BoJ will keep on fine-tuning monetary accommodation depending on changes in economic activity, prices and financial conditions. The Bank also mentions foreign exchange rate movements, crude oil prices and AI-related demand as key factors.

However, the economy of China looks different. Based on official estimates, China’s GDP grew by 4.3% year on year in Q2 2026, compared to 5.0% in Q1. Year-to-date growth was estimated at 4.7%.

Changes in economic growth estimates can influence the yuan’s rate, as well as sentiment among the economies associated with Chinese trade and commodity demand.

Indices Reflect Growth and Technology Trends

Regional stock indices offer traders another perspective on these trends. Indices in Japan, China, Hong Kong and other APAC markets may reveal changes in the expectations of growth, exports, consumer spending, manufacturing and technological progress.

The latter becomes especially relevant. According to the IMF, AI-driven demand supports the economies integrated in the technology production chain. Furthermore, the Bank of Japan highlights growing AI-related demand as a positive contributor to domestic economic activity.

Commodities Are Still Important

Both gold and oil belong to the APAC story. Rising energy prices may increase the cost pressure for importing economies, whereas Asia still plays a major role in the gold market.

World Gold Council expects investment activity in APAC to make a bigger contribution to gold-demand growth in H2 2026. During the first six months of the year, gold ETFs in Asia posted net inflows of 70 tons.

For APAC traders, Forex tends to reflect differences in monetary policies, indices highlight shifts in growth and technology, while commodities often tie back to global inflation and geopolitics.

Trade Across Markets with JustMarkets

Different conditions require different strategies, so traders should pay as much attention to flexibility as to the choice of assets. This is where JustMarkets comes in. It’s a global multi-asset broker providing access to more than 260 CFD instruments across Forex, gold, oil, indices, stocks, and other markets within one trading environment.

This broad access allows traders to adjust their focus as market conditions change. With MT4, MT5, Web Terminal, and the JustMarkets Trading mobile app, traders can enter these markets through the platform that best fits their trading style.

Risk Warning: Trading financial instruments involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Market conditions can change rapidly, and losses may exceed deposits. Ensure you understand the risks involved and trade responsibly.

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SOURCE JustMarkets

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