Strategic Hire to Accelerate the Company's Deployment of AI and Data Solutions for Enterprise and Government Sectors KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VCI Global Limited (NASDAQ: VCIG) ("VCI Global" or the "Company"), today announced the appointment of Dr. Chan Wai Mun as Chief AI & Data Officer. This strategic hire reinforces the Company's commitment to advancing the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven innovation across enterprise and government platforms. Dr. C ...

Core Insights - VCI Global Limited will present its Sovereign Data Infrastructure at the ASEAN AI Summit 2025, highlighting its role in enabling secure digital ecosystems for governments [1][5] - The company's Chief AI Security Officer, Jane Teh, will discuss the importance of quantum-resistant infrastructure for national data resilience during her keynote address [2][3] Company Overview - VCI Global is a cross-sector platform builder that integrates deep technology with financial architecture, focusing on sovereign-ready digital ecosystems [10][11] - The company operates through subsidiaries such as V Gallant Sdn Bhd and QuantGold Data Platform, providing a comprehensive ecosystem of hardware and software solutions [4][9] Sovereign Data Infrastructure - The Sovereign Data Infrastructure is designed to empower governments with secure, encrypted mobile layers and national-scale AI ecosystems [3][4] - It aims to support national AI data center deployment across Southeast Asia, ensuring compliance, trust, and control over data [4][6] Key Technologies - QuantGold is a sovereign-grade encrypted data platform that enables secure data monetization while maintaining data sovereignty [7][8] - V Gallant provides advanced AI infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions, including high-performance GPU hardware and encrypted AI compute servers [9][10] ASEAN AI Summit Participation - The ASEAN AI Summit is expected to host over 5,000 participants, including policymakers and global technology companies, providing VCI Global a platform to engage with key stakeholders [5][6]

Core Insights - VCI Global Limited will present its Sovereign Data Infrastructure at the ASEAN AI Summit 2025, highlighting its role in enabling sovereign-ready digital ecosystems [1][5] - Jane Teh, Chief AI Security Officer, will discuss the importance of quantum-resistant infrastructure for national data resilience during her keynote address [2][3] Company Overview - VCI Global is a cross-sector platform builder that integrates deep technology with financial architecture, focusing on sovereign digital ecosystems [12][13] - The company has evolved from capital markets consultancy to operate in fintech, AI, robotics, and cybersecurity [12][13] Sovereign Data Infrastructure - The Sovereign Data Infrastructure comprises a comprehensive ecosystem of hardware and software solutions developed through subsidiaries V Gallant and QuantGold [4] - It aims to empower governments with encrypted computer-secure mobile layers and national-scale AI ecosystems [3][4] Key Technologies - QuantGold is a sovereign-grade encrypted data platform that enables secure and compliant data monetization, leveraging over 120 encryption patents [7][8] - Technologies include SecureGPU for encrypted AI compute servers, CyberSecure for hardware-based encryption storage, and Qsecore for secure mobile communication [9] Market Focus - The initial market focus for QuantGold includes Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, with applications in healthcare, financial services, public sector analytics, and AI research [8] Event Participation - VCI Global's participation in the ASEAN AI Summit underscores its leadership in sovereign AI infrastructure and provides a platform for engagement with ASEAN governments [6]

Core Insights - The report by Moody's Vice President Nidhi Dhruv indicates that data center capacity in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to more than double by the end of 2030, requiring an investment of $800 billion to $900 billion [1] - Driven by demand for AI, cloud technology, and digital sovereignty, the region is set to account for over 40% of global data center capacity by 2030 [1] - Key development challenges include ensuring new power resources and meeting renewable energy regulations, while land supply and strong government support remain critical [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2 2025, cloud revenue rose by 28%, an increase of two percentage points compared to Q1 2025 [8][27] - Total revenue growth accelerated to 12%, reaching €9 billion [9][33] - Operating profit surged by 35%, reflecting improvements in the cost base due to transformation programs [9][32] - Current cloud backlog grew by 28% to €18.1 billion [27][33] - Non-IFRS cloud gross margin expanded by 1.8 percentage points to 75.2% [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Cloud ERP suite continued to drive growth, achieving 34% growth in Q2, representing 86% of total cloud revenue [27][32] - Software licenses revenue decreased by 13% in Q2, aligning with the company's strategy to transition customers to cloud solutions [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud revenue performance was particularly strong in the APJ and EMEA regions, with notable performances in Brazil, Chile, France, India, Italy, South Korea, and Spain [31] - The US public sector and manufacturing sectors experienced elongated sales cycles due to geopolitical uncertainties [28][30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on product innovation and increasing productivity through business AI [7][25] - SAP aims to strengthen its portfolio with data and AI innovations while maintaining cost discipline [25][34] - The partnership with Alibaba is expected to enhance market penetration in China, targeting both large enterprises and the upper mid-market [10][60] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged ongoing uncertainty in global markets but expressed confidence in the company's pipeline for the second half of the year [7][34] - The company is preparing for potential less favorable outcomes by focusing on elements within its control to protect its bottom line [30] - Management remains optimistic about sustaining momentum and closing the year strongly despite macroeconomic volatility [34] Other Important Information - The company has released over 100 pre-built SAP managed data products, with plans to double that by year-end [21] - The internal adoption of business AI is expected to further enhance productivity and operational efficiency [22][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on operating margin and EBIT growth for the second half of the year - Management highlighted that the strong performance in the first half was significantly influenced by a €331 million improvement in stock-based compensation, which is expected to normalize in the second half [41][42] Question: Long-term sustainability of margin improvements - Management expressed confidence in maintaining operating leverage ratios between 80% to 90% for the coming years, despite potential fluctuations in expenses [52][53] Question: Details on the Alibaba partnership and its impact - The partnership aims to leverage Alibaba's presence in China to enhance SAP's cloud offerings, targeting both multinational companies and local tech firms [60][63] Question: Impact of macroeconomic factors on demand - Management noted that elongated deal cycles are primarily due to stricter cost controls in certain industries, but emphasized that the pipeline remains strong [97][100] Question: Cash flow and transformation credits - Management explained that transformation credits are amortized over the term of deals and do not significantly impact cash conversion in the long term [66][67]

Group 1 - Azerion has sold its subsidiary Whow Games to DoubleDown Interactive for a total consideration of €65 million, consisting of an upfront payment of €55 million and an earn-out of up to €10 million [1] - The sale is part of Azerion's strategy to reinforce digital advertising as its core business while expanding into cloud infrastructure and AI-driven solutions [2][3] - The company has previously optimized its portfolio, including the divestment of its social card games portfolio in 2023 for €81.3 million [3] Group 2 - Founded in 2014, Azerion has become a major player in digital advertising, generating €551 million in revenue in 2024, a 7% year-on-year increase, with a revenue guidance for 2025 between €600–650 million [4] - In Q1 2025, Azerion reported a 68% growth in EBITDA compared to the same period last year, attributed to a focus on efficiency and profitability [4] - The company has launched Azerion Intelligence, a platform providing affordable cloud hosting and access to open-source AI tools, addressing the growing demand for local alternatives to major cloud providers [5]

Core Insights - Azerion, a prominent European digital advertising platform, has sold its subsidiary Whow Games to DoubleDown Interactive for €65 million, consisting of an upfront payment of €55 million and an earn-out of up to €10 million [1][2][3] Company Strategy - The sale is part of Azerion's strategy to reinforce digital advertising as its core business while expanding into cloud infrastructure and AI-driven solutions [2][3] - The company has been optimizing its portfolio, including the divestment of its social card games portfolio in 2023 for €81.3 million [3] Financial Performance - Azerion generated €551 million in revenue in 2024, reflecting a 7% year-on-year increase, with revenue guidance for 2025 projected between €600 million and €650 million [4] - In Q1 2025, the company reported a 68% growth in EBITDA compared to the same period last year, attributed to a focus on efficiency and profitability [4] Market Position - Azerion is positioned as one of Europe's innovative players in digital advertising and is addressing the growing demand for scalable cloud and AI alternatives to large US providers [3][5] - The company recently launched Azerion Intelligence, a platform offering affordable cloud hosting and access to open-source AI tools, catering to the increasing demand for local and cost-efficient AI services [5]

Core Insights - NVIDIA is collaborating with European nations and industry leaders to develop the Blackwell AI infrastructure, aiming to enhance digital sovereignty and economic growth in Europe [1][14] - The initiative will provide over 3,000 exaflops of computing resources for sovereign AI, enabling secure development and deployment of AI applications across various sectors [3][15] Group 1: National Collaborations - France, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. are key nations involved in building domestic AI infrastructure, partnering with technology and telecommunications providers [2][11] - In France, Mistral AI is developing a cloud platform powered by 18,000 NVIDIA Grace Blackwell systems, with expansion plans for 2026 [7] - The U.K. plans to deploy 14,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to enhance AI capabilities for businesses [8] - Germany is establishing the world's first industrial AI cloud for manufacturers, utilizing 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs [9] - Italy is advancing its AI capabilities through collaboration with Domyn and NVIDIA, focusing on regulated industries [10] Group 2: AI Technology Centers - NVIDIA is expanding AI technology centers in Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and Finland to foster research and workforce development [4][13] - These centers will support various research fields, including digital medicine and embodied AI, and provide training through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute [21] Group 3: Telecommunications Partnerships - NVIDIA is partnering with leading European telecommunications companies to create secure and scalable AI infrastructure [11][12] - Companies like Orange, Fastweb, and Telefónica are developing enterprise-grade AI solutions using NVIDIA's infrastructure [16]