Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Director

ASA International Group plc (LSE: ASAI), one of the world's largest international microfinance institutions, is today pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Laurence de l'Escaille as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Laurence will become a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee and the Independent Directors Committee of the Board.

Laurence de l'Escaille is an experienced board director with a strong background in strategy, corporate finance, and governance across regulated financial services, energy, and infrastructure sectors. She brings extensive emerging markets experience and has served on the boards of major listed and regulated institutions in Europe.

Laurence currently serves as an independent board member of BNP Paribas Fortis, where she is a member of the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, and Governance & Nomination Committee. She previously served as Chair of the Remuneration Committee at bpost bank during its integration into BNP Paribas Fortis. She was also an independent board member of Elia Group and Elia Transmission Belgium. In addition, Laurence is an independent member of the Belgian Commission for Nuclear Provisions, which oversees long term funding for nuclear decommissioning and spent fuel management in Belgium.

Previously, Laurence was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, advising governments, financial institutions, and energy companies across Europe, the United States, and Africa for over 8 years. She has also held roles at the International Monetary Fund and advised the Belgian federal government, where she led strategy for Belgium's national COVID 19 vaccination rollout. Laurence holds degrees from the University of Oxford and Johns Hopkins University, and postgraduate qualifications in economics, corporate finance, and psychology.

This announcement is made pursuant to Listing Rule 6.4.6R. In accordance with LR 6.4.8R, the Company confirms that there is no information to be disclosed in terms of LR 6.4.8R (1) to LR 6.4.8R (6) inclusive in respect to Laurence de l'Escaille.