Milestone Marks Further Progress in The9&#39;s Strategic Investment in AI-Driven Drug Discovery; The9 Expects to Hold Approximately 15% to 16% of the Combined, Nasdaq-Listed CompanySHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/

<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><i xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Milestone Marks Further Progress in The9&#39;s Strategic Investment in AI-Driven Drug Discovery; The9 Expects to Hold Approximately 15% to 16% of the Combined, Nasdaq-Listed Company</i></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">SHANGHAI</span>, <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">Aug. 21, 2026</span> /PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) (&#34;The9&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), a global, diversified high-tech company, today announced that Nanyang Biologics Pte. Ltd. (&#34;NYB&#34;), a Singapore-based, AI-driven drug discovery company in which The9 holds a strategic equity stake, has taken a significant step toward its planned Nasdaq listing. At an extraordinary general meeting held on August 19, 2026, shareholders of RF Acquisition Corp II (&#34;RFAI&#34;) voted to approve NYB&#39;s proposed business combination, marking a key milestone in NYB&#39;s effort to become a Nasdaq-listed company under the reserved ticker symbol &#34;NYB.&#34;</p>
<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The9, which holds a stake in NYB through its wholly owned subsidiary Gamenow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (&#34;Gamenow&#34;), previously announced the investment as part of the Company&#39;s strategy of selectively extending into promising AI-driven opportunities beyond its core gaming ecosystem, the9bit. Upon completion of the business combination, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, The9 is expected to hold approximately 15% to 16% of the combined, Nasdaq-listed company.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">NYB specializes in applying artificial intelligence to the discovery of novel drug candidates from natural compounds. Its Vecura&#x2122; AI platform, built on a proprietary library of more than one million natural compounds, is designed to identify promising bioactive candidates and mechanisms that conventional, synthetic-first approaches often overlook.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;This vote is an encouraging step forward for NYB and reflects strong shareholder confidence in its business,&#34; said George Lai, Chief Executive Officer of The9. &#34;As a long-term investor in NYB, we are pleased to see this investment move closer to the public markets. We see this progress as more than a milestone for NYB alone; it reinforces the value of our investment and widens the range of possibilities for us going forward as we continue to build out The9&#39;s presence across the AI sector.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About The9 Limited</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) is a global, diversified high-tech company redefining how games are created, played, and monetized. Founded in 1999 and Nasdaq-listed since 2004, The9 brings over two decades of gaming heritage to its flagship platform <b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">the9bit</b>, an AI-powered <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> ecosystem built around AI game creation and the $9BIT <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">token</span> economy, where every participant can play, create, earn, and own a stake in its growth. Beyond the9bit, The9 continues to explore emerging opportunities across AI-empowered industries and the broader digital ecosystem, including an equity stake in AI-driven drug discovery company NYB, building a multi-engine business positioned at the frontier of AI and the new economy, reshaping how value is created and shared.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">No Offer or Solicitation</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Forward-Looking Statements</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management&#39;s beliefs and expectations as well as on assumptions made by and data currently available to management, and they appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding, among other things, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which we operate. The use of the words &#34;will,&#34; &#34;expects,&#34; &#34;intends,&#34; &#34;anticipates,&#34; &#34;estimates,&#34; &#34;predicts,&#34; &#34;believes,&#34; &#34;should,&#34; &#34;potential,&#34; &#34;may,&#34; &#34;forecast,&#34; &#34;objective,&#34; &#34;plan,&#34; or &#34;target,&#34; and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, future market conditions or economic performance and developments in the capital and credit markets, expected future financial performance, and the markets in which we operate. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to, the following: results of operations, financial condition, our stock price, our strategies, our future business development, competition in the industry in which we operate, our ability to manage our costs and expenses, volatility in the market price of digital assets, the limited liquidity of certain <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> tokens, evolving and uncertain regulatory frameworks governing <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">cryptocurrencies</span>, digital assets, and <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">token</span>-based economies, laws and regulations relating to the industry in which we operate, general economic and business conditions, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, see The9&#39;s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The9 undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.</p>



<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PURL"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" title="Cision" width="12" height="12" alt="Cision" src="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/img/favicon.png?sn=CN31255&amp;sd=2026-08-21"></img> View original content:<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PRNURL" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the9s-investee-nanyang-biologics-nyb-advancing-toward-nasdaq-listing-after-rfai-cleared-vote-at-shareholders-extraordinary-general-meeting-302857232.html" target="_blank">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the9s-investee-nanyang-biologics-nyb-advancing-toward-nasdaq-listing-after-rfai-cleared-vote-at-shareholders-extraordinary-general-meeting-302857232.html</a></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">SOURCE The9 Limited</p>

NCTY

The9's Investee Nanyang Biologics (NYB) Advancing toward Nasdaq Listing after RFAI Cleared Vote at Shareholders Extraordinary General Meeting

The9's NYB stake advances Nasdaq listing, expanding AI-drug discovery exposure

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>Milestone Marks Further Progress in The9&amp;#39;s Strategic Investment in AI-Driven Drug Discovery; The9 Expects to Hold Approximately 15% to 16% of the Combined, Nasdaq-Listed CompanySHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>The9 reports progress on its NYB investment as RF Acquisition Corp II advances NYB&#039;s Nasdaq listing. The9 expects to hold about 15-16% of the combined company, reinforcing its exposure to AI-driven drug discovery beyond gaming. Closing remains conditional, but the milestone broadens The9&#039;s AI portfolio and potential valuation upside.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>NYB SPAC merger vote advances NYB Nasdaq listing.</li><li>The9 expects to own approximately 15%-16% of the combined company.</li><li>NYB utilizes Vecura AI with a library of 1M natural compounds.</li><li>The9 frames NYB deal as broader AI exposure beyond gaming.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>The9 Limited (NCTY)</strong>: Strategic investor in NYB; ~15-16% ownership post-merger; potential uplift to The9&#039;s AI portfolio.</li><li><strong>Nanyang Biologics Pte. Ltd. (NYB)</strong>: AI-driven drug discovery company; Vecura platform with 1M natural compounds; Nasdaq listing planned.</li><li><strong>RF Acquisition Corp II (RFAI)</strong>: SPAC facilitating NYB merger; EGM approved; closing conditions pending.</li><li><strong>Gamenow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (N/A)</strong>: The9 subsidiary that holds its NYB stake; aligns with The9&#039;s AI ecosystem expansion.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>M&amp;A</h3>
    <p>Category: M&amp;A / Corporate Developments. The article centers on a SPAC-driven merger and strategic investment, which could re-rate The9&#039;s AI exposure and create a Nasdaq-listed asset via NYB; fundamental impact hinges on closing and subsequent NYB performance.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>NYB&#039;s Nasdaq listing milestone could unlock value for The9&#039;s AI portfolio.</li><li>The9 holds ~15-16% stake; NYB valuation impact directly affects The9.</li><li>Closing conditions remain; near-term stock moves depend on SPAC process.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Aug 19, 2026: RF Acquisition Corp II extraordinary general meeting approves NYB business combination.</li><li>The9 expects to own approximately 15% to 16% of the combined, Nasdaq-listed NYB.</li><li>NYB&#039;s Vecura AI platform leverages a library of more than 1,000,000 natural compounds.</li><li>NYB is pursuing a Nasdaq listing under the ticker NYB (as of the press release).</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Long NCTY on NYB listing milestone; expect value read-through within 6–12 months.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><i xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Milestone Marks Further Progress in The9&#39;s Strategic Investment in AI-Driven Drug Discovery; The9 Expects to Hold Approximately 15% to 16% of the Combined, Nasdaq-Listed Company</i></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">SHANGHAI</span>, <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">Aug. 21, 2026</span> /PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) (&#34;The9&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), a global, diversified high-tech company, today announced that Nanyang Biologics Pte. Ltd. (&#34;NYB&#34;), a Singapore-based, AI-driven drug discovery company in which The9 holds a strategic equity stake, has taken a significant step toward its planned Nasdaq listing. At an extraordinary general meeting held on August 19, 2026, shareholders of RF Acquisition Corp II (&#34;RFAI&#34;) voted to approve NYB&#39;s proposed business combination, marking a key milestone in NYB&#39;s effort to become a Nasdaq-listed company under the reserved ticker symbol &#34;NYB.&#34;</p>
<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The9, which holds a stake in NYB through its wholly owned subsidiary Gamenow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (&#34;Gamenow&#34;), previously announced the investment as part of the Company&#39;s strategy of selectively extending into promising AI-driven opportunities beyond its core gaming ecosystem, the9bit. Upon completion of the business combination, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, The9 is expected to hold approximately 15% to 16% of the combined, Nasdaq-listed company.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">NYB specializes in applying artificial intelligence to the discovery of novel drug candidates from natural compounds. Its Vecura&#x2122; AI platform, built on a proprietary library of more than one million natural compounds, is designed to identify promising bioactive candidates and mechanisms that conventional, synthetic-first approaches often overlook.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;This vote is an encouraging step forward for NYB and reflects strong shareholder confidence in its business,&#34; said George Lai, Chief Executive Officer of The9. &#34;As a long-term investor in NYB, we are pleased to see this investment move closer to the public markets. We see this progress as more than a milestone for NYB alone; it reinforces the value of our investment and widens the range of possibilities for us going forward as we continue to build out The9&#39;s presence across the AI sector.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About The9 Limited</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) is a global, diversified high-tech company redefining how games are created, played, and monetized. Founded in 1999 and Nasdaq-listed since 2004, The9 brings over two decades of gaming heritage to its flagship platform <b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">the9bit</b>, an AI-powered <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> ecosystem built around AI game creation and the $9BIT <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">token</span> economy, where every participant can play, create, earn, and own a stake in its growth. Beyond the9bit, The9 continues to explore emerging opportunities across AI-empowered industries and the broader digital ecosystem, including an equity stake in AI-driven drug discovery company NYB, building a multi-engine business positioned at the frontier of AI and the new economy, reshaping how value is created and shared.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">No Offer or Solicitation</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Forward-Looking Statements</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management&#39;s beliefs and expectations as well as on assumptions made by and data currently available to management, and they appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding, among other things, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which we operate. The use of the words &#34;will,&#34; &#34;expects,&#34; &#34;intends,&#34; &#34;anticipates,&#34; &#34;estimates,&#34; &#34;predicts,&#34; &#34;believes,&#34; &#34;should,&#34; &#34;potential,&#34; &#34;may,&#34; &#34;forecast,&#34; &#34;objective,&#34; &#34;plan,&#34; or &#34;target,&#34; and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, future market conditions or economic performance and developments in the capital and credit markets, expected future financial performance, and the markets in which we operate. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to, the following: results of operations, financial condition, our stock price, our strategies, our future business development, competition in the industry in which we operate, our ability to manage our costs and expenses, volatility in the market price of digital assets, the limited liquidity of certain <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> tokens, evolving and uncertain regulatory frameworks governing <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">cryptocurrencies</span>, digital assets, and <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">token</span>-based economies, laws and regulations relating to the industry in which we operate, general economic and business conditions, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, see The9&#39;s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The9 undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.</p>



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The9 reports progress on its NYB investment as RF Acquisition Corp II advances NYB's Nasdaq listing. The9 expects to hold about 15-16% of the combined company, reinforcing its exposure to AI-driven drug discovery beyond gaming. Closing remains conditional, but the milestone broadens The9's AI portfolio and potential valuation upside.

News insight

The9's Investee Nanyang Biologics (NYB) Advancing toward Nasdaq Listing after RFAI Cleared Vote at Shareholders Extraordinary General Meeting

AI summary

Sentiment rationale

Key facts

M&A