Peer-reviewed research by General Fusion and Savannah River National Laboratory supports the tritium supply advantages of General Fusion's practical Magnetized Target Fusion technology

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Fusion Inc. ("General Fusion" or the "Company"), a leader in the global race to commercialize fusion energy, announced today that third-party analysis conducted by Savannah River National Laboratory ("SRNL"), supporting the Company's approach to fusion fuel sustainability, has been published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Fusion Science and Technology. General Fusion previously announced its plans to go public through a business combination (the transactions contemplated by the business combination, collectively, the "Proposed Business Combination") with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III (NASDAQ: SVAC) ("SVAC"). 

The SRNL study, which was completed under the U.S. Department of Energy's INFUSE program and is available on the Office of Scientific and Technical Information website, evaluated key parameters of General Fusion's Magnetized Target Fusion ("MTF") approach and assessed the fuel cycle enabled by the Company's liquid metal wall technology, which inherently addresses major challenges in fusion power plant design. The liquid metal wall, which is proprietary to General Fusion's MTF design, shields the fusion machine from neutron activation, produces tritium fuel through neutron interactions with lithium, and efficiently captures the energy produced by fusion.

The researchers at SRNL, according to their publication in Fusion Science and Technology, examined the tritium fuel required to start up and operate a General Fusion power plant, as well as the doubling time needed to breed enough tritium to fuel a second plant. When compared with publicly available data for traditional fusion approaches, such as tokamaks and stellarators, the SRNL study found that General Fusion's MTF commercial design:

requires less tritium for the start-up of a commercial fusion power plant;

achieves a significantly shorter doubling time-the amount of time needed to breed enough tritium to fuel a second power plant; and

indicates an MTF power plant will produce enough tritium to ensure a self-sustaining fuel source based on the higher tritium breeding ratio.

"This study, where it was important for us to collaborate with Savannah River National Laboratory, one of the leading labs in fuel cycle R&D, demonstrates the many advantages of our MTF with a liquid metal wall," said Mike Donaldson, Senior Vice President of Technology Development at General Fusion. "The liquid metal wall allows us to own the fuel cycle and provide start-up fuel for a broad fleet of General Fusion power plants."

"Partnering with companies like General Fusion-who utilized Savannah River National Laboratory's world-leading fuel cycle research, expertise and support-contribute to advancing fusion energy from concept to deployment," said Associate Laboratory Director Roderick Jackson, who leads the Science, Energy and Innovation Directorate at SRNL. "This collaborative work is bringing us closer to delivering reliable fusion power at commercial scale."

Quick Facts:

General Fusion's Magnetized Target Fusion ("MTF") is designed to solve significant barriers to commercializing fusion energy at a time when electricity demand is surging, and nations around the world are racing to commercialize fusion power.

As a technology, MTF aims to achieve fusion in a practical way, avoiding superconducting magnets and high-powered lasers, while enabling the use of existing materials for durable machines that would produce cost-effective energy.

In early 2025, General Fusion announced that it had designed, built, and begun operating its world-first Lawson Machine 26 ("LM26") fusion demonstration machine in under two years. LM26 is the first MTF demonstration machine to be built at a commercially relevant scale. It mechanically compresses plasma with a lithium liner at 50% commercial-scale diameter.

LM26 aims to achieve key fusion technical milestones: plasma heating to 1 keV (10 million degrees Celsius), then 10 keV (100 million degrees Celsius), and ultimately the Lawson criterion, the combination of fusion parameters that can produce net fusion energy in the plasma.

About General Fusion

General Fusion is pursuing a fast and practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com. General Fusion announced in January 2026 that it plans to go public through the Proposed Business Combination with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III (NASDAQ: SVAC).

About Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III

Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III is a part of a family of investment vehicles formed for the purpose of acquiring or merging with a business focused on the Power infrastructure and Decarbonization sectors. Over the past 5 years, Spring Valley has raised $920 million in four IPOs. Spring Valley I successfully completed its business combination with NuScale Power, a leading U.S. small modular reactor ("SMR") technology company, and Spring Valley II successfully completed its business combination with Eagle Nuclear Energy Corp., a next-generation nuclear energy company with rights to the largest open pit-constrained measured and indicated uranium deposit in the United States. SVAC maintains a corporate website at https://sv-ac.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this document are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this document are forward-looking statements. Any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are also forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "target," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "preliminary," or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, SVAC's, General Fusion's, or their respective management teams' expectations concerning the Proposed Business Combination and expected benefits or timing thereof; the outlook for General Fusion's business, including its ability to commercialize MTF or any other fusion technology on its expected timeline or at all; statements regarding the current and expected results of General Fusion's LM26 program; the ability to execute General Fusion's strategies, including on any expected timeline or anticipated cost basis; projected and estimated financial performance; anticipated industry trends; future capital expenditures; government regulation of fusion energy; and environmental risks; as well as any information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of General Fusion. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the respective management teams of SVAC and General Fusion, as applicable, and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstance and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (i) the risk that the Proposed Business Combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of SVAC's securities; (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Business Combination, including the adoption of the business combination agreement, dated January 21, 2026, among General Fusion, SVAC, and the other party thereto (the "Business Combination Agreement") by the shareholders of SVAC and the receipt of regulatory approvals; (iii) market risks; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (v) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Proposed Business Combination on General Fusion's business relationships, performance, and business generally; (vi) risks that the Proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans of General Fusion and potential difficulties in its employee retention as a result of the Proposed Business Combination; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against General Fusion or SVAC related to the Business Combination Agreement or the Proposed Business Combination; (viii) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Business Combination; (ix) the inability to maintain the listing of SVAC's securities or to meet listing requirements and maintain the listing of the combined company's securities on Nasdaq; (x) the risk that the Proposed Business Combination may not be completed by SVAC's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by SVAC; (xi) the risk that the price of the combined company's securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including changes in laws, regulations, technologies, natural disasters, national security tensions, and macro-economic and social environments affecting its business; (xii) laws and regulations governing General Fusion's research and development activities, and changes in such laws and regulations; (xiii) any failure to commercialize MTF on the expected timeline or at all, including any failure to achieve the objectives of the LM26 program; (xiv) environmental regulations and legislation; (xv) the effects of climate change, extreme weather events, water scarcity, and seismic events, and the effectiveness of strategies to deal with these issues; (xvi) fluctuations in currency markets; (xvii) General Fusion's ability to complete and successfully integrate any future acquisitions; (xviii) increased competition in the fusion industry; (xix) limited supply of materials and supply chain disruptions; and (xx) the risk that the proposed private placement of convertible preferred shares and warrants by General Fusion (the "PIPE Financing") may not be completed, or that other capital needed by the combined company may not be raised on favorable terms, or at all, including as a result of the restrictions agreed to in connection with the PIPE Financing. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and there may be additional risks that neither SVAC nor General Fusion presently know or that SVAC and General Fusion currently believe are immaterial. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors, any other factors discussed in this document and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of SVAC's final prospectus for its initial public offering, which was filed with the SEC on September 4, 2025 (the "Final Prospectus"); the risks described in the joint registration statement on Form F-4 filed by General Fusion and SVAC, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, or to be described in any amendment or supplement thereto; and those discussed and identified in filings made with the SEC by SVAC from time to time. General Fusion and SVAC caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking statements set forth in this document speak only as of the date of this document. Neither General Fusion nor SVAC undertakes any obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that General Fusion or SVAC will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including discussions of significant risk factors, may appear, up to the consummation of the Proposed Business Combination, in SVAC's public filings with the SEC, which are or will be (as applicable) accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to review carefully.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders

In connection with the Proposed Business Combination, General Fusion and SVAC filed with the SEC the Registration Statement, which includes a preliminary prospectus with respect to SVAC's securities to be issued in connection with the Proposed Business Combination and a preliminary proxy statement in connection with SVAC's solicitation of proxies for the vote by SVAC's shareholders with respect to the Proposed Business Combination and other matters described in the Registration Statement (the "Proxy Statement"). After the SEC declares the Registration Statement effective, SVAC plans to file the definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC and to mail copies to SVAC's shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the Proposed Business Combination. This document does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the Proposed Business Combination and is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement or for any other document that SVAC has filed or may file with the SEC. Before making any investment or voting decision, investors and security holders of SVAC and General Fusion are urged to read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto, as well as all other relevant materials filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Business Combination as they become available because they will contain important information about General Fusion, SVAC and the Proposed Business Combination. Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by SVAC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by SVAC may be obtained free of charge from SVAC's website at https://sv-ac.com or by directing a request to Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1675, Dallas, Texas 75201. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this document is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

Participants in the Solicitation

General Fusion, SVAC and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from SVAC's shareholders in connection with the Proposed Business Combination. For more information about the names, affiliations and interests of SVAC's directors and executive officers, please refer to the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement and other relevant materials filed or to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Business Combination when they become available. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, which may, in some cases, be different than those of SVAC's shareholders generally, will be included in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, when they become available. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement carefully, when they become available, before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This document shall not constitute a "solicitation" as defined in Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation to purchase, any securities, or a solicitation of any vote, consent or approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. No offering of securities in the Proposed Business Combination shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

Investor Relations Contact:

You can contact General Fusion's Investor Relations team by email at: investors@generalfusion.com.

If you are based in North America, you may also leave a toll-free voicemail at +1 (833) 717-1519. Callers outside North America can reach us at +1 (236) 253-6968.

Media Relations Contact:

media@generalfusion.com

1-866-904-0995

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

NEW YORK, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Gaming & Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: AGAE) (the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a proposal to change the Company's corporate name to "AI & FutureTech Alliance Limited," with a proposed corresponding ticker symbol change to "AIFA," and has commenced development planning for an artificial intelligence infrastructure project in the Hainan Free Trade Port - the AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center - part of the Company's strategic direction along with future mergers, acquisitions, and development of global optical network infrastructure. Both the proposed name change and the infrastructure project are subject to significant conditions, including shareholder approval, regulatory filings, financing, and other requirements described below.

This initiative aims to position the Company as a global leader in AI infrastructure, to capture significant opportunities arising from the rapid evolution of global intelligent computing capacity and the expansion of the digital economy. The Company has commenced implementation of the first major phase of this strategic plan, as outlined below:

I. Proposed Corporate Rebranding: From AGAE to AIFA, with a Strategic Focus on "AI-driven all-optical infrastructure, repositioning the Company as a global platform integrating AI compute and fiber-optic network transmission."

The Company's Board of Directors has approved a proposal to change the Company's corporate name from "Allied Gaming & Entertainment Inc." to "AI & FutureTech Alliance Limited", with a corresponding ticker symbol change on the Nasdaq Stock Market from "AGAE" to "AIFA" (subject to shareholder approval and regulatory filings).

This proposed rebranding represents not merely a name change, but a fundamental transformation of the Company's identity - from a gaming and entertainment business to a global technology platform focused on AI infrastructure and full-stack optical network systems.

The proposed name change is subject to approval at the Company's upcoming annual meeting of shareholders and the completion of applicable regulatory procedures. The Company will disclose further updates in accordance with applicable securities laws.

II. Landmark Project Launch: AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center in Hainan

The Company announced the plan of launching the AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center. As an offshore silicon photonics-based AI supercomputing hub to be fully owned, constructed, and operated by the publicly listed company, the facility will be located in Qingshui Bay, Hainan Free Trade Port, a globally significant international submarine cable landing station.

The Company has secured 13,089 square meters of core development auction-acquired commercial land, and is in the process of acquiring an additional 13,578 square meters, bringing total planned land area to 26,667 square meters (approximately 287,039 square feet). This location offers unique cross-border communications advantages, with direct connectivity to multiple international submarine cables linking Asia, Europe, and North America, making it a critical international gateway for data transmission of the broader region.

The project has completed internal approval procedures, and preliminary work including master planning, architectural design, and computing infrastructure engineering is progressing steadily. The project remains subject to external regulatory approvals, financing, and the completion of applicable land arrangements.

1. Five Core Business Lines of the AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center: Establishing a full-stack, integrated platform encompassing high-performance AI storage, advanced compute operations, AI tokenized services, and compute orchestration capabilities.

The AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center is planned to be built around advanced silicon photonics interconnect and optical computing technologies, and is intended to offer five integrated service areas covering the full lifecycle of AI compute demand:

High-Performance Compute Leasing

The Company will provide GPU clusters as well as hybrid silicon photonics?electronic compute clusters, supporting both long-term dedicated leasing-suitable for trillion-parameter AI model training and large-scale scientific computing-and flexible, on-demand leasing for inference workloads, temporary R&D, and short-duration, high-concurrency tasks. Compared with traditional electronic computing architectures, we believe silicon photonics-enabled compute offers significantly lower latency, reduced power consumption, and higher hardware utilization.

Advanced Distributed Storage

Deployment of all-optical storage arrays enabling sub-microsecond read/write latency, supporting multi-tier storage (hot, warm, cold), cross-border data storage designed to support applicable compliance requirements, and disaster recovery services for large-scale AI datasets.

AI Token Output Services

Conversion of compute capacity into standardized API-based AI Token services, including text generation, image/video generation, and industry-specific inference services. The Company intends to explore a revenue-sharing arrangements with leading model developers, with the goal of enabling global developers and enterprises to access AI compute in a lightweight, scalable manner. No formal arrangements have been entered into, and no assurance can be given that any will be established on the terms described or at all.

Cross-Border Compute Orchestration

Leveraging international submarine cable infrastructure and intelligent scheduling platforms to dynamically allocate compute resources across regions, supporting distributed cross-border model training. The Company believes this capability, if implemented as planned, has the potential to reduce geopolitical risk and compute costs and enhance operational resilience. No assurance can be given that these objectives will be achieved.

Full Lifecycle Value-Added Services

Centered on model optimization, compliance certification, infrastructure operations, and collaboration with academic and industry partners, these services provide comprehensive support to core compute offerings and establish an integrated service platform encompassing compute, technology, compliance, and ecosystem development.

2. Advanced Technology Architecture: Silicon Photonics CPO + Immersion Cooling

The AIFA Supercomputing Center is designed to deploy a next-generation architecture combining Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and immersion liquid cooling, which the Company believes would represent one of the first deployment of this technology combination in Asia, based on publicly available information. The target Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is 1.08?1.10, These are design targets based on the planned technology architecture and are not guarantees of actual operational performance.

Hardware Layer:

The facility is planned to utilize GPUs based on next-generation architectures and may evaluate solutions from leading providers such as NVIDIA and Cambricon, subject to applicable trade regulations and commercial arrangements. These systems are expected to incorporate advanced silicon photonics interfaces, enabling large-scale, non-blocking interconnection. The immersion cooling system supports rack-level power density exceeding 400 kW, which is expected to reduce energy consumption by 40?60% compared to conventional air cooling.

Software Layer:

Equipped with a proprietary full-stack AI scheduling system optimized for trillion-parameter MoE models, targeting resource utilization rates above 90%. A cross-border data compliance platform is designed to support compliance with applicable Hainan Free Trade Port regulatory frameworks and global data privacy standards.

Green Energy:

Primary reliance on solar power, supplemented by grid electricity, to establish a low-carbon, environmentally sustainable compute infrastructure.

3. Market Opportunity and Policy Advantages

There is currently a notable supply gap in high-end offshore compute capacity and AI storage across Asia. The AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center is expected to help address this gap and support connectivity across the region's digital economy.

The AIFA Supercomputing Center may be eligible to benefit from multiple policy incentives associated with the Hainan Free Trade Port, including:

offshore tax advantages

duty-free importation of advanced equipment

cross-border data pilot programs

dedicated international communication channels

The combination of compute infrastructure with potential submarine cable and fiber network integration opportunities, if pursued and successfully implemented, could create a highly differentiated and scarce infrastructure platform.

III. Proposed Convertible Bond Financing Initiative

The Company has initiated a process of convertible bond financing and has engaged several financial advisors to assist in evaluating and pursuing such opportunities. The Board of Directors has authorized the Company to pursue a potential issuance of convertible notes of up to US$300 million, subject to market conditions, investor interest, and the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements.

If pursued and successfully completed, the Company currently expects that any such financing would be structured in multiple tranches and that proceeds would be primarily used to support the development of the AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center, including data center construction, compute infrastructure procurement, silicon photonics deployment, cooling systems, and general working capital.

The Company may, subject to market conditions and the outcome of ongoing discussions, consider a phased financing structure, which could include:

Phase I (target financing of approximately US$150 million): Proceeds are intended to fund the initial phase of project construction, with a target of achieving approximately 1.2 EFLOPS (FP8) of compute capacity.

Subsequent Phase II (target financing of approximately US$150 million): Proceeds are intended to support expansion of the project's second phase, with a target of increasing GPU deployment from approximately 5,000 units to 12,000 units.

Proceeds from the financing are expected to be used primarily for data center construction, procurement of GPU servers, deployment of silicon photonics equipment, implementation of immersion liquid cooling systems, deployment of international submarine cable infrastructure, and working capital reserves, with the objective of supporting high-quality project delivery.

IV. Management Commentary

James Li, Chairman and CEO, stated:

"The proposed rebranding to AIFA, the development of a silicon photonics AI supercomputing center on Company-owned land, and the associated convertible financing represent the first major phase of AGAE's strategic transformation after several years of dedicated planning and execution.

Since early 2024, we have also been exploring acquisitions of scarce international fiber-optic assets, while advancing internal innovation and external partnerships. Our goal is to build an end-to-end optical technology operating platform and position AGAE as an AI infrastructure company with dual core capabilities in silicon photonics-based compute and fiber-optic networks. We currently expect to enter into definitive acquisition agreements in Q2 2026, subject to customary conditions, and will provide updates as appropriate.

The Company has commenced the first phase of its strategic transformation roadmap. Going forward, it intends to build on potential underlying asset acquisitions, while continuing to advance its presence in AI education and AI applications. The Company will also seek to strengthen collaboration with global industry partners and academic institutions, and to recruit senior leadership talent, with the goal of delivering long-term shareholder value."

Appendix to this new release: preliminary plan of Hainan Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's proposed corporate rebranding, the planned development of the AIFA Silicon Photonics AI Supercomputing Center, proposed financing activities, planned land arrangements, technology deployment, market opportunity, policy benefits, and strategic objectives.

These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including but not limited to: (i) failure to obtain required shareholder, regulatory, or governmental approvals; (ii) unavailability of financing on acceptable terms or at all; (iii) failure to complete land arrangements, construction, or infrastructure development on anticipated terms or timelines; (iv) GPU, semiconductor, and supply chain constraints affecting hardware availability; (v) changes in PRC, Hainan Free Trade Port, or other applicable regulatory frameworks, including cross-border data regulations; (vi) failure to establish anticipated vendor, partnership, or customer relationships; (vii) currency exchange rate fluctuations; (viii) macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical developments; and (ix) other risks set forth in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

About Allied Gaming & Entertainment Inc.

Allied Gaming & Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: AGAE) is growth-oriented company undergoing a strategic transformation from a global experiential entertainment business into an AI-focused digital infrastructure platform. The Company is pursuing opportunities in artificial intelligence infrastructure, silicon photonics-enabled compute, cross-border fiber-optical network transmission, digital infrastructure services, and technology-enabled growth initiatives. Through its proposed AIFA strategic platform, Allied aims to build an integrated ecosystem combining AI compute capacity, fiber-optic network infrastructure, AI education and AI applications to support long-term value creation.

Contact:

IR@alliedgaming.gg

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Owners Kiran Mantripragada and Uday Kiran Namballa Anchors Franchise; Active Discussions With Sri Lankan Marquees Dasun Shanaka and Eshan Malinga Ahead of July-August 2026 Tournament Window

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gallant Sports and Media LLC today announced its ownership of the Galle Gallants franchise for Lanka Premier League ("LPL") Season 6, scheduled for July 10 - August 5, 2026. Galle Gallants will participate in LPL Season 6 - executed via the Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC ("IPG") platform under urban-gro, Inc. (Nasdaq: UGRO), operating as Flash Sports & Media, Inc. - positioning the franchise within a record-scale Season 6 featuring a 500-600 player registration pool, marquee global talent, and a projected USD 25-30M local economic impact.

Gallant is led by Owner and Principal Kiran Mantripragada, with corporate formation and ownership documentation on file with the league. Veteran international coach Pubudu Dassanayake has been appointed Head Coach, and the franchise is in active discussions with Sri Lankan marquees Dasun Shanaka as captain and Eshan Malinga. Gallants roped in Roy Silva, Sri Lankan-born American cricketer as their strategic partner and COO to enhance local participation and overall strategy. Sharath Sriramoju will lead the franchise's marketing and strategic initiatives as a CSO.

Key Franchise Facts:

Ownership Entity: Gallant Sports and Media LLC

Owner / Principal: Kiran Mantripragada, Uday Kiran Namballa

Head Coach: Pubudu Dassanayake

Spin Coach: Dinuka Hettiarachchi

Fast Bowling Coach: Chamila Gamage

Sri Lankan Marquees in Discussion: Dasun Shanaka, Eshan Malinga

League Operator: Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC (IPG), via urban-gro, Inc. (Nasdaq: UGRO) / Flash Sports & Media, Inc.

Tournament Window: July 10 - August 5, 2026

A Franchise Within a Record-Scale Season 6

LPL Season 6 - operated through the IPG platform under urban-gro / Flash Sports & Media - is targeting its largest-ever player pool of 500?600 athletes, the appointment of T20 legend Chris Gayle as Brand Ambassador, and a USD 25-30M projected local ecosystem impact. The Galle Gallants are positioned to participate fully in this expanded commercial, broadcast, and competitive environment.

Ownership and Coaching Leadership

Gallant Sports and Media LLC is a duly registered limited liability company formed to acquire and operate the Galle Gallants. Owner and Principal Kiran Mantripragada leads strategy across cricketing operations, commercial development, and media partnerships. The Company's LLC registration and Owner identification are on file and have been provided to the league as part of franchise onboarding.

Head Coach Pubudu Dassanayake, a former Sri Lankan international and national head coach for Canada, Nepal, and the United States ? brings a track record of building competitive T20 squads and developing emerging talent under tournament pressure.

Squad Strategy: Local Anchors, Global Marquees

Galle Gallants is in active discussions with Dasun Shanaka, former Sri Lanka T20I captain and proven match-winning all-rounder, and Ishan Malinga, one of Sri Lanka's leading top bowlers, to anchor the franchise's local identity. Around them, the Company will pursue international marquee talent at the Season 6 auction. Targets under consideration include David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Jos Buttler, Faf du Plessis, Kane Williamson, Andre Russell, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rashid Khan, Shakib Al Hasan, and Ravichandran Ashwin, among others.

Final acquisition pricing per player slot is to be determined and will be confirmed in connection with the LPL Season 6 auction. Player participation is subject to final registration, contractual arrangements, applicable governing body and board approvals, and NOCs.

Owner Commentary

"Owning the Galle Gallants is a long-term commitment to building a disciplined, competitive franchise anchored by elite Sri Lankan talent, supported by world-class international players, and led on the field by experienced coaching. Operating within the LPL Season 6 ecosystem alongside IPG, Flash Sports & Media, and urban-gro creates a strong platform to build sustainable franchise value and to contribute positively to Sri Lankan cricket."

Kiran Mantripragada, Owner and Principal, Gallant Sports and Media LLC

Disclaimer: Gallant Sports and Media LLC is the independent owner and operator of the Galle Gallants franchise and is not a subsidiary of, or affiliated with, urban-gro, Inc. (Nasdaq: UGRO), Flash Sports & Media, Inc., or Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC (IPG). References to UGRO, Flash Sports & Media, and IPG are made solely to identify the operator of the Lanka Premier League platform within which the Galle Gallants franchise participates. Player names referenced in this release are targets and discussion candidates only; participation is subject to final registration, contractual arrangements, applicable governing body and board approvals, and NOCs.

About Galle Gallants

The Galle Gallants are a professional T20 cricket franchise competing in the Lanka Premier League, owned and operated by Gallant Sports and Media LLC under the leadership of Owner and Principal Kiran Mantripragada.

About the Lanka Premier League

The Lanka Premier League is Sri Lanka's flagship professional T20 cricket tournament, bringing together elite Sri Lankan cricketers and leading international stars. Season 6 is operated via the Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC (IPG) platform under urban-gro, Inc. (Nasdaq: UGRO) / Flash Sports & Media, Inc., and is targeted for July 10 - August 5, 2026. More information: srilankacricket.lk

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Gallant Sports and Media LLC's expectations, beliefs, and intentions concerning the Galle Gallants franchise, anticipated player acquisitions, coaching arrangements, participation in the Lanka Premier League and its broader operating ecosystem under the Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC (IPG) platform and urban-gro, Inc. (Nasdaq: UGRO) / Flash Sports & Media, Inc., and anticipated commercial opportunities, partnerships, and franchise value. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "seek," "estimate," "potential," or similar expressions. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the Company's ability to complete player acquisitions on anticipated terms; reliance on third-party leagues, league operators, governing bodies, and commercial partners, including IPG, Flash Sports & Media, and urban-gro; uncertainties regarding sponsorship, media rights, and audience engagement; the Company's ability to develop, monetize, and scale franchise operations; competitive dynamics within the sports and media sectors; regulatory and legal considerations; and general economic, market, and industry conditions. Statements regarding urban-gro, Inc., Flash Sports & Media, Inc., and IPG, including statements regarding LPL Season 6 player pool size, marquee participants, brand ambassadors, and projected local economic impact, are derived from prior public disclosures by those parties and are subject to the risks and uncertainties identified in their respective filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Source: Gallant Sports and Media LLC / Galle Gallants

Media & Commercial Inquiries: info@gallantsm.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

DUBLIN, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For IT teams, one of the biggest risks when an employee travels is not the flight itself, but what happens upon arrival: landing without reliable internet access. This goes far beyond lost time, as it often translates into lack of access to critical tools, reliance on unsecured public WiFi networks, and decisions being made without real-time information.

As global workforces become increasingly distributed, companies are rethinking how they support their teams abroad, moving away from fragmented solutions towards more integrated approaches. In this shift, solutions like Holafly for Business are emerging as a foundational layer that allows IT departments to regain control, visibility, and security, ensuring that employees can access mobile data the moment they land without dependency on external networks.

This transformation is closely tied to the evolution of business travel itself. According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), global business travel spend is expected to reach $1.69 trillion in 2026, reflecting a structural shift towards more geographically distributed ways of working, where the ability to operate seamlessly from anywhere is a baseline expectation.

The operational impact of connectivity gaps is already measurable, with GBTA data indicating that business travelers lose an average of 5.2 productive hours per trip due to connectivity-related challenges. At the same time, security has moved to the center of the conversation. With the average cost of a corporate data breach reaching $4.88 million, according to IBM Security, relying on public WiFi networks is no longer a viable option for many organizations.

Alongside these challenges, the way companies manage data services internally is also a challenge itself. Platforms like Holafly Business Center allow IT teams to centralize eSIM management, monitor usage in real time, and automate billing processes, reducing operational complexity while providing the level of visibility required to manage distributed teams effectively. According to Gartner, organizations that adopt automation in IT operations can reduce management costs by up to 30%, reinforcing the value of more scalable solutions.

Cost predictability when it comes to roaming fees is another factor driving this shift, as traditional roaming models continue to generate unexpected and difficult-to-forecast expenses, solutions like Holafly for Business can reduce these costs by up to 85%, offering both savings and the financial stability that global operations increasingly demand.

"Companies are no longer asking whether their teams will be online when they travel, but how reliably and securely they can operate from anywhere," said Ricardo Rodriguez, Head of Sales at Holafly for Business.

About Holafly

Holafly is the global leader in eSIMs for travelers, offering coverage in over 200 destinations. With an outstanding 4.6/5 rating on Trustpilot and more than 15 million satisfied users, it has become the preferred eSIM choice for international travelers. Its unlimited data offering ensures peace of mind anywhere in the world.

Contact: press@holafly.com 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ff9372ad-41f6-4acc-8266-5578d80cc425

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Building upon its expertise in Europe, Rhenus is expanding its road freight solutions in Asia Pacific

The strategic move will see dedicated expertise and resources to better support the region's demand for fast and reliable freight transportation options

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 4 May 2026 - With demand for road freight services across Asia Pacific rising, leading global logistics provider Rhenus Group has announced plans to further expand its road freight operations in the region. As part of its broader regional growth strategy, the company is strengthening cross-border trucking across Southeast Asia and key corridors between Greater China and Southeast Asia. Building on this, it is continuously integrating road with air and ocean freight, while scaling local distribution, sourcing and leveraging existing free trade zone warehousing capabilities.

As part of this expansion, Rhenus is investing in local capabilities to support individual market needs including the recent establishment of its Bukit Kayu Hitam Border Office in Malaysia, with full customs capabilities to support smoother cross-border movements.

Prem Anand Anandaverl, Regional Director of Cross Border Trucking Asia, Rhenus Logistics notes, "Our goal is to provide a seamless connectivity to the global network by reinforcing a comprehensive road freight service and continue to help businesses to move their goods across Asia efficiently and compliantly. Road Freight is playing an increasingly important role in building a resilient supply chain especially in this region."

Asia Pacific to see high demand for road freight services

The global freight trucking market size [1] is projected to be valued at US$2.74 Tn in 2025 and is set to reach US$3.70 Tn by 2032, growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 3.9%. Asia Pacific remains a key growth driver, supported by expanding industrial output, a large consumer base, and rapidly developing logistics infrastructure enabling both domestic and cross-border trade.

Achieving Sustainable Growth through Road Freight: Consistency, Scalability and Increasing Customer Value

With more than 150 owned and partner road freight locations in Europe, Rhenus currently operates in over 15 countries through a well-established network. The expansion of road freight services in Asia Pacific will enable the company to further integrate its' end-to-end supply chain solutions, combining road freight solutions with air and ocean services to deliver more flexible and customized logistics solutions globally.

Ongoing investments in multilingual local teams, dedicated border infrastructure, and best practice transport management systems will support seamless cross-border operations, stronger customs and regulatory expertise across markets.

Leveraging its rail connections between Greater China and Europe, alongside a robust multimodal network spanning sea, land, and rail, the company aims to provide customers with greater flexibility and scalability in response to evolving supply chain demands. The company is also working with partners to improve CO₂ tracking and explore alternative fuel options, supporting more sustainable road freight operations.

[1] Based on analysis by Persistence Market Research

About Rhenus

The Rhenus Group is one of the leading logistics specialists with global business operations and annual turnover amounting to EUR 8.2 billion. 39,000 employees work at 1,300 business sites in more than 70 countries and develop innovative solutions along the complete supply chain. Whether providing transport, warehousing, customs clearance or value-added services, the family-owned business pools its operations in various business units where the needs of customers are the major focus at all times.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Hashtags: #Rhenus

EBENE, Mauritius, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the world prepares for the most anticipated sporting event on the planet, PU Prime, a leading global brokerage and regional sponsor of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), is proud to announce the launch of the "PU World Cup 2026" campaign. This initiative represents a strategic convergence of market precision and athletic excellence, celebrating the shared values of strategy, discipline, and the pursuit of "The Glory" on a global stage.

The World Cup represents the pinnacle of global performance, where years of preparation meet the intensity of the world stage. By aligning as a regional sponsor of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) the reigning World Champions, PU Prime is celebrating the shared DNA between a world-class athlete and a disciplined trader. In both areas, success is not a matter of luck, but the result of precision, strategic foresight, and the ability to execute under pressure.

Translating this spirit of competition into an engaging experience, the PU World Cup 2026 campaign is structured across three distinct phases to reflect the tournament's own progression, running from May 1 to July 31, 2026. To provide continuous experience, the foundational elements such as daily mission, golden kick and some small game on official social media channels will remain active throughout the entire campaign, ensuring traders have sustained opportunities to engage and accumulate rewards until the very end.

1. Pre-Event (May 1 - June 10): The buildup begins with the "Coin Booster" and "Lucky Draw" initiatives, allowing early participants to gain a competitive edge before the first whistle.

2. Main-Event (June 11 - July 19): Throughout the tournament, users can participate in "Matchday Predictors" and "Top Trio Predictors," where traders can take a guess on the match.

3. Post-Event (July 20 - July 31): The celebration continues after the final match, with final reward redemptions and community highlights within the Rewards Hub.

As a result, these coins can be redeemed for a variety of prizes, including trading vouchers and exclusive merchandise. In honor of the AFA partnership, the most coveted rewards include authentic AFA Signed Jerseys, allowing lucky participants to own a piece of football history.

Pacific Union Seychelles Limited

Through the PU World Cup 2026 campaign, PU Prime continues to redefine the trading experience by blending global sporting excitement with interactive engagement. Clients are invited to participate in the campaign and experience the thrill of trading in a whole new way.

About PU Prime

Founded in 2015, PU Prime is a leading global fintech company and trusted CFD broker. Today, it offers regulated financial products across forex, commodities, indices, shares, and bonds. Operating in over 190 countries with more than 40 million app downloads, PU Prime provides innovative trading platforms and an integrated copy trading feature, empowering traders worldwide to achieve financial success with confidence.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at 

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/34608367-1570-4ccb-b5c2-3932f79db278

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For media enquiries, please contact: media@puprime.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The U.S. Pavilion will host an opening event on Wednesday, May 6 at 11 a.m., during the Biennale's official opening week in Venice, inaugurating the 2026 exhibition curated by Jeffrey Uslip

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Call Me the Breeze

Commissioner: Jenni Parido; Curator: Jeffrey Uslip; Exhibitor: Alma Allen

Venue: Giardini

VENICE, Italy, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia presents "Call Me the Breeze," an expansive solo presentation by acclaimed American artist Alma Allen, curated by Jeffrey Uslip, and commissioned by the American Arts Conservancy in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), with support from the Guggenheim Foundation. Widely regarded as one of the most influential recurring exhibitions in the world, La Biennale di Venezia convenes leading artists, curators, scholars, institutions, collectors, and international audiences from across the globe. The United States Pavilion remains among its most prominent and closely watched national presentations.

In Venice this year, Allen will transform the historic pavilion through a sweeping corpus of sculpture made of cast bronze, shaped American walnut burl, and a variety of carved stone including of Mexican onyx, Guatemalan green quartzite, Mexican black marble, and Persian travertine, as well as Colorado Yule marble, a luminous white stone that has been used to construct several of our nation's historic monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Celebrated for a practice that merges natural form with architectural precision, Allen's work feels at once ancient, contemporary, elemental, and deeply human.

The exhibition will position the Pavilion as a contemplative environment, championing art that favors deep time and eschews finite positions. Conceived specifically for Venice, the presentation invites audiences into a dialogue between permanence and transformation, intimacy and monumentality, trauma and rehabilitation, landscape and memory. Taken as a whole, "Call Me the Breeze" is a proposal to be our future selves in the present and explores the concept of elevation, both as a physical manifestation of form and as a symbol of self-realization.

Reflecting on the honor of being selected to represent the United States at the Biennale, Allen said the works invite viewers to participate in the act of communication and making meaning: "I see communication as one individual at a time engaging with the work while simultaneously experiencing their own moment of creation," he reflected. "I feel like this combination happens each time a person offers their attention ? and is willing to feel and decide for themselves what the work means."

"Alma Allen's biomorphic sculptures evoke the visceral realities of contemporary life and reveal the fragility and resilience of the human condition," added Jeffrey Uslip, Curator of the 2026 U.S. Pavilion. "The expansive environments and landscapes in which Allen has lived and worked have shaped his points of view, developed his sculptural vocabulary, and informed how he moves through the world. This exhibition will offer an immersive encounter with an artist whose practice speaks to timeless questions of beauty, space, memory, and our relationship to the natural world."

When asked how he hopes visitors might respond to his work at the Pavilion, Alma noted that he does not see the works as individual objects, but in relationship to one another and to other worlds and universes. "I work with my hands over and over and over again until I find the thing that I'm making in the thing. I'm often surprised by it, and I hope the visitors to the U.S. Pavilion can approach them with the same openness. I want them to have a shift where something new happens in the encounter itself."

"Alma is one of the most singular artistic voices working today," said Jenni Parido, Commissioner of the U.S. Pavilion and President of the American Arts Conservancy. "His work reflects extraordinary discipline, imagination, and sensitivity to material. We are proud to support this ambitious presentation and honored to bring an artist of this caliber to represent the United States in Venice."

The exhibition will open to the public on May 9, 2026 and remain on view through November 22, 2026.

ABOUT ALMA ALLEN

Alma Allen is an American artist internationally recognized for sculptural works that unite gestural immediacy, refined craftsmanship, and material innovation. Working across bronze, marble, wood, stone, and cast materials, Allen's practice has been exhibited widely in museums, institutions, and major collections worldwide. Allen is the first self-taught artist to represent the U.S. Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

ABOUT JEFFREY USLIP

Jeffrey Uslip, the U.S. Pavilion curator, has organized solo exhibitions with some of the most innovative and challenging artists of our time. Uslip is a curator and museum leader known for organizing courageous and critically acclaimed exhibitions and advancing artist-centered programming across contemporary art institutions in the United States for more than three decades. Uslip's landmark exhibition Hurvin Anderson: Backdrop traveled to the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, where it was shortlisted for the prestigious 2017 Turner Prize.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ARTS CONSERVANCY

The American Arts Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and advancing the visual arts of the United States. Through cultural diplomacy, educational outreach, and stewardship, it supports the legacy of American artists at home and abroad while fostering dialogue across communities and generations.

ABOUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL AFFAIRS

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) builds relationships between the people of the United States and other countries through academic, cultural, professional, and artistic exchange. Through international partnerships and public diplomacy initiatives, ECA advances mutual understanding and global collaboration.

MEDIA CONTACT

U.S. Media Relations, American Arts Conservancy

Madeline Michaelson: (616) 617-7800

Brian Hyland: (201) 410-4563

press@americanartsconservancy.org

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

LIDKOPING, Sweden, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASKO, the Swedish brand synonymous with high-end Scandinavian design and professional-grade performance, has expanded its innovative Celsius built-in oven range with the addition of the Elements series.

This new line has already been recognised for its excellence, winning the prestigious iF Design Award 2026. The oven was presented at ASKO's stand at EuroCucina and in the ASKO pop-up showroom at Via Alessandro Manzoni 39 in the Brera district, as part of the brand's collaboration with design studio Draga and Aurel. Presented alongside renowned Chef Wilfred Hoquet and ASKO's Brand Chef Tim Delissen, the new oven captivated audiences with its exceptional versatility, precision, and performance.

During live demonstrations at EuroCucina, Chef Hoquet and Tim Delissen showcased the oven's advanced capabilities, illustrating how seamlessly it transitions between cooking techniques while maintaining professional grade results. The presentation drew strong attention from attendees and industry professionals alike positioning the 5-in-1 Celsius Oven as a standout innovation at the event.

The 5 in 1 Celsius Oven empowers home cooks with complete creative freedom, combining five powerful cooking functions in a single appliance: Combi Microwave, Combi Steam, Steam, Microwave, and Conventional Heat. In addition to these core functions, the oven also offers a wide range of advanced features and capabilities, including Air fry, Connectivity, and cleaning functions, among others. This unique combination allows users to explore a wide range of culinary techniques, from delicate steaming to rapid microwave cooking and traditional baking, all within one intuitive system, delivering exceptional consistency and precision. With temperature control accurate down to plus or minus 1 degree across the Celsius Ovens range from ASKO, users can achieve reliable, perfect results every time, ensuring greater confidence and control in every stage of cooking because in cooking, temperature truly matters.

Designed with ASKO's signature Scandinavian minimalism, the oven blends seamlessly into modern kitchens while delivering high performance functionality. Its user friendly interface ensures that both experienced chefs and home cooks can achieve exceptional results with ease. This design excellence has been recognized internationally, with the Craft Frame Series 6 receiving the iF Design Award 2025 and the Red Dot Award 2025, and the Elements Series receiving the iF Design Award 2026 and the Red Dot Award 2026, underscoring ASKO's commitment to combining form, function, and innovation.

About ASKO Appliances. 

The story of the ASKO brand begins with visionary entrepreneur Aukusti Asko-Avonius, who founded the ASKO furniture company in Finland in 1918. His work helped define Scandinavian design principles - simplicity, functionality, and timeless elegance ? values that continue to inspire ASKO today. A few decades later, in 1950, in the small Swedish village of Jung, Karl-Erik Andersson, a young farmer, built a washing machine for his mother: strong, steady, and made to last. That single act of care became the foundation of ASKO's legacy: creating thoughtful, durable, and high-quality home appliances. Today, ASKO continues this proud tradition, crafting premium kitchen, laundry, and professional appliances that reflect the essence of Scandinavian living: built on care, perfected by detail

For more information, please visit ASKO's official channels or contact press@asko.com.

Website: asko.com

Press: press@asko.com

More on our presence in Milano: event.asko.com

Media Kit: event.asko.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

AGC Biologics and Novelty Nobility Representatives Meet

Successful partnership continues as bispecific antibody candidate moves to GMP manufacturing; project highlights Japan's advanced capabilities in bioprocessing and AGC Biologics' expanding global network 

CHIBA, Japan, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novelty Nobility, a clinical-stage biotech company based in South Korea, expanded its manufacturing agreement with AGC Biologics, your friendly CDMO expert, to advance their bispecific antibody drug candidate through process development and GMP manufacturing at AGC Biologics' facility in Chiba, Japan.

This second partnership, continued from the last year, underscores the successful track record and deep expertise AGC Biologics provides for developing complex biologics. The project leverages AGC Biologics' global network, having successfully completed cell line development in Copenhagen, Denmark. The program is now on track for a seamless tech transfer to the Chiba site for the next critical manufacturing stages.

"AGC Biologics has proven to be an ideal manufacturing partner for advancing our most complex programs. Their seamless global network ? from cell line development to GMP manufacturing - gives us the confidence to move NN4101 forward with speed and precision." said Sang Gyu Park, CEO of Novelty Nobility. "We believe this bispecific antibody has the potential to offer a truly differentiated treatment option for patients with neovascular retinal diseases."

Novelty Nobility's bispecific antibody drug candidate NN4101 is a first-in-class bispecific antibody intended for the treatment of neovascular retinal diseases. It uniquely connects a fully human anti-c-Kit monoclonal antibody with a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) trap.

"Our continued partnership with Novelty Nobility is a testament to the trust and confidence customers have in our technical expertise and our global network's capabilities," said Tadashi Murano, President of the AGC Life Science Company. "Our mammalian expression teams are adept at handling complex proteins, and we are a world leader in applying flexible, single-use bioreactor technology. We are proud to support Novelty Nobility as they advance this innovative candidate toward the clinic."

The project highlights the power of AGC Biologics' integrated global facility network, offering customers a seamless experience by combining world-class expertise with a strong regional presence. To further support growing demand in the region and globally, AGC Biologics is expanding its footprint in Japan with a new state-of-the-art facility in Yokohama. The Yokohama site is designed to utilize the latest single-use bioreactor technology to offer large-scale GMP manufacturing, making it one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Japan.

"When clients work with us, they tap into our entire global network which brings teams together for a seamless experience," noted Susumu Zen-in, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AGC Biologics' Chiba site. "This approach is creating wins for our partners and for AGC Biologics throughout the APAC region. The upcoming capacity at our new Yokohama site will only strengthen our ability to meet the global demand for vital biopharmaceuticals."

About AGC Biologics

AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, to provide friendly and expert services. We provide world-class development and manufacturing of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with locations in Seattle, Washington; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba and Yokohama, Japan. AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.'s Life Science Business. The Life Science Business runs eight facilities focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com.

About Novelty Nobility

Novelty Nobility is a clinical-stage biotech company driven by a mission to maximize the potential of therapeutic antibodies. The company is dedicated to developing next-generation treatments for immunology and inflammatory diseases. Leveraging its proprietary fully human antibody discovery platform, PREXISE-D, together with deep expertise in protein engineering, Novelty Nobility is advancing a diverse pipeline of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), bispecific antibodies (bsAb), and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) - modalities where scientific novelty translates into meaningful benefits for patients.

AGC Inc. corporate contact: info-pr@agc.com   

AGC Biologics media contact: ksills@agc.com

Novelty Nobility media contact: ok.kwon@noveltynobility.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cecf4f80-22df-4bbf-b0a7-f50b9acf9495

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

NEW YORK, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OTC Markets Group (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for more than 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced the appointment of JP Chan as Senior Vice President and Regional Head, Asia-Pacific.

Chan will lead OTC Markets' regional team out of Hong Kong, overseeing Asia-Pacific, and working with issuers, market participants and investors to efficiently access US capital markets via OTC Markets Group.

Asia-Pacific cross-traded dollar volume on OTC Markets reached $206.6 billion in 2025, up 53.4% year over year and the highest growth rate of any region. The region accounts for more than a third of the company's $609.5 billion in total international cross-traded volume, which itself represents 88% of OTC Markets' total dollar volume.

"The world's investors want access to Asia-Pacific companies, and Asia-Pacific companies want access to U.S. capital. OTC Markets is the infrastructure that connects them. Establishing a permanent presence in Hong Kong, with a team led by JP Chan, is how we make that connection work at the scale this market demands," said Cromwell Coulson, President and CEO of OTC Markets Group.

Chan has spent more than two decades in Hong Kong building institutional relationships with the CFOs, IROs, and capital markets professionals who are OTC Markets' core target audience across Asia-Pacific. He most recently served as Sales Director at Visible Alpha covering Greater China and ASEAN, and previously held senior roles at IHS Markit, S&P Capital IQ, Dealogic, and Thomson Reuters. At OTC Markets, he will lead a regional team responsible for issuer development, partner engagement, and data distribution as demand for cross-border market intelligence continues to grow.

"There has never been a more direct path for companies in this region to reach U.S. investors. OTC Markets is that path. My job is to open the door for issuers to connect into the U.S. market and assist APAC investors in accessing global names via our 24x5 markets," said JP Chan.

Asia-Pacific companies on OTC Markets include Singapore Exchange (SGX), Metaplanet Inc., ranked #2 on the 2026 OTCQX Best 50, and Fortescue Ltd., one of the world's largest iron ore producers, all quoted on OTCQX Best Market.

The Hong Kong office also anchors OTC Markets' overnight trading strategy in the region. The investor landscape is shifting and the numbers reflect it: MOON ATS dollar volume was nearly 6 times higher in Q1 2026 compared to Q4 2025.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our public markets: OTCQX? Best Market, OTCQB? Venture Market, OTCID Basic Market, and Pink Limited Market.

Our OTC Link? Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS are each an SEC-regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC-registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc.

Phone: (212) 896-4428

Email: media@otcmarkets.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

MANILA, Philippines, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CAPHRA is calling for a more comprehensive, evidence-based approach to tobacco cessation and harm reduction - one that acknowledges the full range of risks faced by smokers and oral tobacco users worldwide, and the diverse ways adults successfully move away from deadly products that includes safer nicotine options for adults.

What Are Safer Nicotine Options for Adults Who Smoke?

Safer nicotine options are regulated products that do not involve burning tobacco and are manufactured under clear safety and quality standards. They include NRT (nicotine replacement treatments) as well as regulated nicotine products.

A full toolkit of regulated, lower-risk alternatives drives the outcomes that matter most: fewer people using cigarettes and dangerous oral tobacco products, fewer preventable deaths, lower health system costs, and faster population-level progress.

This is not a question of ideology or product preference. It is a question of measurable impact.

Why a Broader "Toolkit" Delivers Better Public Health Outcomes

People do not quit tobacco in the same way. Some switch quickly; others move gradually. Cultural context, product preference, and individual circumstances all shape the transition. Restricting policy to a single cessation pathway limits reach and slows progress ? not because people lack motivation, but because the system offers too few options.

The public health objective is straightforward: real choice for adults who smoke, robust product standards, and controlled access under firm rules.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4sVAfS6

Media Contact:

N.E. Loucas

Executive Coordinator CAPHRA

neloucas@caphraorg.net

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

SHANGHAI, May 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 6656.HK), a global leader in AI-driven energy solutions, today published its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, outlining the Company's progress in sustainable innovation, green manufacturing, and social responsibility.

Guided by the "Thinking" philosophy - Integrity, Green, Change, Talent and Responsibility - Sigenergy continued to embed ESG principles into strategic decision-making during a year of rapid global expansion to 85 countries and regions, while maintaining strong commitments to technological ethics and carbon neutrality.

2025 ESG Highlights

Energy efficiency & carbon reduction: Exceeded the annual target of a 3% year-on-year reduction in comprehensive energy consumption per unit of product. Unit energy consumption fell by 54% for inverters, 47% for battery packs and 64% for EV chargers. The Company completed 15,000 MWh of green electricity transactions.

Supply chain decarbonization: Optimized production layout to shorten logistics distances; single-trip transport distances are expected to decrease by 1,438 km upon project implementation.

Digital & intelligent manufacturing: Developed an Industry 4.0 "AI + solar-storage-charging" smart factory with an end-to-end management system covering front-end business support, production process control, and data-driven decision-making.

Social responsibility & talent development: Partnered with leading Chinese universities to establish the Sigenergy Scholarship, promoting industry-academic collaboration and nurturing next-generation innovators in the new energy sector.

Information security & privacy: Secured ISO 27001 certification and appointed a dedicated Data Protection Officer (DPO) to strengthen data security and privacy governance.

ESG governance & diversity: Implemented a Sustainability and ESG Management Policy and a four-tier governance framework to integrate sustainability across the organization. Female directors represent 37.5% of the Board.

Management Comment

"In 2025, we embedded ESG principles into both strategy and operations," said the Board of Directors. "We believe strong ESG management underpins long-term value creation and our commitment to stakeholders worldwide."

The full 2025 ESG Report is available for download at www.sigenergy.com.

About Sigenergy

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Shanghai, Sigenergy (6656.HK) is a technology-driven company focused on innovation in the new energy sector. Leveraging advanced digital intelligence and a highly skilled talent base, the company has expanded into photovoltaic (PV) generation, smart energy storage, and high-efficiency electric vehicle (EV) charging.

Guided by its "AI in All" strategy, Sigenergy integrates artificial intelligence across its product ecosystem to deliver safer, smarter, and more efficient energy solutions for households and businesses worldwide.

Media Contact

Tracy Li

Email: tracy.li@sigenergy.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Full compliance represents a key milestone in the regulatory approval process for TMC USA's consolidated exploration and commercial recovery application

TMC USA's consolidated application submitted earlier this year covers areas previously applied for in April 2025 and increases the commercial recovery area from ~25,000 to ~65,000 km2, with an estimated resource of 619 million tonnes (Mt) of wet nodules and potential exploration upside of an additional 200 Mt

NOAA's updated regulatory framework allows applicants with exploration-phase data to submit a consolidated application for both an exploration license and commercial recovery permit, supporting a more efficient permitting timeline

Determination of full compliance represents another step along the path of regulatory milestones that the Company expects will result in a permit before the end of Q1 2027

NEW YORK, May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TMC the metals company Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) ("TMC" or the "Company"), a leading developer of the world's largest resource of critical metals essential to energy, defense, manufacturing and infrastructure, today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has determined that the consolidated application submitted by the Company's subsidiary, The Metals Company USA LLC ("TMC USA"), for an exploration license and commercial recovery permit under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) is in full compliance with the requirements of the Act and its implementing regulations.

The determination of full compliance follows the determination of substantial compliance in March and represents another key step in a steady, transparent cadence of expected regulatory milestones:

The consolidated application now moves into the certification stage of the review process and will be posted to the Federal Register

Following certification, a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for TMC USA's project will be published for public comment

Following the public comment period, the EIS will be finalized and NOAA will make a final determination on whether to issue the license and permit

TMC USA expects the process will conclude before the end of Q1 2027

Earlier this year, TMC USA submitted a consolidated application for an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit for polymetallic nodules in international waters of the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean. The application was filed under NOAA's new consolidated application and review process and represents the first submission of its kind. It covers a ~65,000 km2 exploration and commercial recovery area in the CCZ, compared to a commercial recovery area of ~25,000 km2 in TMC USA's initial commercial recovery permit application from April 2025.

Gerard Barron, Chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, said: "This determination marks an important step forward in NOAA's transparent, rules-based process, and brings us ever closer to providing the U.S. with a new, abundant and lower-impact source of critical metals. It reflects the sheer scale of scientific, environmental and engineering effort and expertise that have been brought to bear on this project over the last 15 years, which provides us with sufficient information to move efficiently and responsibly into commercial operations under NOAA's oversight."

The consolidated application process provides a more efficient regulatory timeline by allowing exploration-phase environmental, geological and engineering data to be incorporated directly into the commercial recovery review process.

TMC USA's application is informed by more than a decade of environmental baseline studies, scientific research and offshore engineering conducted by the Company and its partners, building one of the most comprehensive datasets ever assembled on polymetallic nodules and their surrounding ecosystems.

NOAA has played a central role in advancing scientific understanding of deep seabed mining impacts since the 1970s, including conducting environmental research cruises in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, monitoring early nodule collection trials and publishing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement covering the area that included the CCZ in 1981. The agency issued implementing regulations under DSHMRA for exploration licenses in 1981 and commercial recovery permits in 1989 and has maintained an active licensing program since that time. 

About The Metals Company

The Metals Company is a developer of lower-impact critical metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules, on a dual mission: (1) supply metals for energy, defense, manufacturing and infrastructure with net positive impacts compared to conventional production routes and (2) trace, recover and recycle the metals we supply to help create a metal commons that can be used in perpetuity. The Company has conducted more than a decade of research into the environmental and social impacts of offshore nodule collection and onshore processing. More information is available at www.metals.co.

Contacts

Media | media@metals.co

Investors | investors@metals.co

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as believes, could, expects, may, plans, possible, potential, will and variations of these words or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's strategy to pursue commercial recovery of seafloor polymetallic nodules under the U.S. regulatory regime; the implications of NOAA's determination that TMC USA's consolidated application is in full compliance with the requirements of DSHMRA and its implementing regulations; the anticipated certification, public notice, public comment, environmental review and final determination process for the consolidated application submitted under NOAA's regulations under DSHMRA; the Company's expectation that the process will conclude before the end of Q1 2027; the anticipated scope, timing and outcome of NOAA's review of the consolidated application; the expected initial operations of the Company in the event the consolidated application is approved; the size of the exploration and commercial recovery area covered by the consolidated application and the estimated resource potential within that area; the expected biological communities and near-bottom sediment plume dynamics in the mining sites; the results of the PFS, including project economics, capital and operating cost projections, expected production volumes, recoveries and grades; and the anticipated commercial development upon approval of the consolidated application. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, among other things, NOAA's review of the consolidated application and any determinations made during that review, including with respect to the scope of any exploration license or commercial recovery permit that may ultimately be granted; the outcome and timing of regulatory reviews by NOAA under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980 and the regulations promulgated thereunder; the ability to obtain an exploitation contract from the International Seabed Authority or permits from the U.S. government; risks related to the Company's dual path permitting strategy; changes in environmental, mining and other applicable laws and regulations; the development, testing and scaling of offshore collection systems; risks related to strategic partnerships and technology sharing; uncertainties relating to processing nodules at commercial scale; the outcome of any pending or future litigation; and other risks and uncertainties described in greater detail in the section entitled Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2026. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether because of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Transaction with AEQUITA advances company's portfolio realignment

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today announced that it has successfully completed the sale of select European olefins and polyolefins assets, and the associated business and corporate functions, to AEQUITA as a key milestone in the company's European strategic assessment. The transaction follows completion of required employee information and consultation processes and satisfaction of customary regulatory and closing conditions.

The divestiture supports the company's strategy to grow and upgrade the core by further concentrating on assets and businesses with durable competitive advantages and stronger long-term returns, while enhancing financial flexibility and supporting disciplined capital allocation.

The assets sold in the transaction are located in Berre (France), M?nchsm?nster (Germany), Carrington (UK), and Tarragona (Spain). LYB will continue to operate its Advanced Polymer Solutions (APS) business in Tarragona.

"This transaction represents a pivotal achievement in our transformation," said Peter Vanacker, chief executive officer of LyondellBasell. "By finalizing this sale, we have refined our portfolio and enhanced our capacity to allocate capital toward high-return opportunities that contribute to long-term value creation." 

Vanacker added, "Europe remains an integral market for LYB; we will continue to invest where value creation is strong, reinforcing our leadership in specialty polymers, building a profitable Circular & Low Carbon Solutions business, and advancing our leadership in technology and innovation. We extend our gratitude to our colleagues transferring as part of this transaction for their contributions, professionalism, and resilience throughout the process. As they transition to a standalone business under AEQUITA ownership, we wish them and the new company success in the next chapter ahead." 

Following today's closing, the divested business will be named and operated as Velogy. 

"This closing marks an important step in building a scaled and competitive European polymers platform, a sector where we see strong fundamentals and attractive long-term value creation potential," said Dr.-Ing. Axel Geuer, AEQUITA-Founder and Chairman. "We thank LyondellBasell for the constructive collaboration throughout the process and are excited to begin the next step of partnering with Velogy's employees to reinforce and further enhance the Company's leading services to customers and suppliers."

LYB remains committed to operating its remaining assets safely and reliably and to continuing to serve customers and partners with the same high standards. 

Advisors 

Citi and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisors, and Linklaters LLP acted as legal counsel to LyondellBasell.

About LyondellBasell 

We are LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) - a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors, and society. As one of the world's largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

About AEQUITA 

AEQUITA is a Munich-based industrial group investing in corporate carve-outs, succession situations, and transformational opportunities across Europe, North America, and Asia. Its portfolio companies generate more than EUR 10 billion in revenues across three segments ? automotive, chemicals, and industrials ? and employ over 19,000 people worldwide. Backed by a strong capital base and deep operational expertise, AEQUITA acquires and sustainably develops companies with long-term value creation potential. For more information, visit www.aequita.com.

Media Inquiries LYB Global 

LyondellBasell Media Relations 

Phone: +1-713-309-7575 

Email: mediarelations@lyondellbasell.com

Or: 

Media Inquiries LYB Europe 

Esther Clason, Communications EMEAI 

Phone: +31 6 388 269 30 

Email: Esther.Clason@lyondellbasell.com

Media Inquiries AEQUITA SE & Co. KGaA 

Kolja H?bner, Partner 

Gabrielenstr. 9, 80636 Munich 

Phone: +49 89 2620 4840-0

Email: contact@aequita.com 

Forward-Looking Statements LYB 

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, our ability to align our asset base with our strategic goals; our ability to create long-term value for our stakeholders; and our ability to build a profitable Circular & Low Carbon Solutions business. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investors page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change, except as required by law. 

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

TekniPlex to Showcase Advanced Material Science Innovations at interpack 2026

Introducing ClearCycle+ next generation stem gaskets and ePressSeal category-defining pressure-sensitive sealing solutions.

Wayne, PA, May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TekniPlex, a global leader in engineered sealing and material science solutions, will showcase their innovations of next-generation sealing at Interpack 2026, taking place May 7-13 in D?sseldorf, Germany. 

At Hall 7, Level 1, Booth C25, both TekniPlex Consumer Products - Integrated Performance Solutions (IPS) and TekniPlex Healthcare will be present, highlighting a broad portfolio of cutting-edge solutions designed to meet evolving regulatory, performance, and sustainability demands across the packaging industry.  

Among the featured innovations is ClearCycle+ stem gaskets, engineered to deliver high performance while helping brands stay ahead of regulatory requirements. The solution is talc-free and silicone-free, enabling compliance with upcoming European talc regulations, while also offering non-stick performance for improved functionality. It is food-grade certified, non-toxic, odorless, and water-resistant, and designed to deliver a shelf life of up to two years.  

Also on display is ePress Seal, a category -defining pressure-sensitive sealing solution engineered with expanded polyethylene (EPE). Developed to address regulatory and supply challenges associated with polystyrene (PS) foam, it offers greater flexibility and resilience compared to traditional PS foam, along with superior compression performance, enhanced recovery, and stronger cohesive properties. The solution also enables easy application without specialized equipment and improves cap-lining processability. 

"As we will demonstrate at Interpack, our next-generation performance by design approach is about engineering smarter solutions at every level. This means combining compliance, functionality, and unmatched performance, to help customers move ahead with greater confidence in a changing packaging landscape," said Daniel Dutesco, Director of Marketing & Demand Generation, Integrated Performance Solutions (IPS), TekniPlex Consumer Products.  

 TekniPlex Healthcare will be showcasing a robust range of solutions at Interpack 2026, including plastic single-dose containers for pharmaceutical and healthcare applications and the world's first fully transparent recyclable blister package. Other samples that will be available at the show include Aclar? laminates, SBC films, and cleanroom bags. 

### 

About TekniPlex

TekniPlex is a globally integrated company that provides innovative solutions through materials science and manufacturing technologies. A global leader in the healthcare and consumer products markets, TekniPlex provides medical device components and a multitude of materials science solutions that lead to a healthier and more sustainable world. Its solutions are found in some of the most well-known names in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, personal care, household, and food & beverage markets.  

Headquartered in Wayne, PA, TekniPlex employs 9,000 team members throughout its operations in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Slovakia and the United States. For more information visit www.tekniplex.com.  

About TekniPlex Consumer Products  

TekniPlex Consumer Products specializes in advanced materials science solutions for companies in the food & beverage and CPG industries with a focus on protecting products, strengthening brands, and innovating sustainably. TekniPlex Consumer Products serves companies around the world in sectors including beauty and personal care, household items, and food & beverage. 

  

With an expanding selection of material-diverse solutions - bolstered in recent years, by a series of strategic acquisitions - TekniPlex Consumer Products is leading the way creating next-generation packaging designs that address real-world challenges in the markets it serves. Most notably, the company is focused on developing more sustainable solutions that continue to provide product safety and consumer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.tekniplex.com 

Contact Info

Natalia Rivera

natalia.rivera@tekni-plex.com

+1 480-395-3130

Attachments

ePress Seal

ClearCycle+

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alander Lee Pulliam Jr., pemilik visioner A&A Sports Group sekaligus pendukung kuat reformasi sistemis, secara resmi mengumumkan mencalonkan diri sebagai kandidat Independen untuk Senat Amerika Serikat di California pada siklus pemilihan umum 2026.

Dengan memosisikan diri sebagai penantang utama terhadap tatanan politik yang "rusak dan curang," Pulliam berkampanye di platform yang mengedepankan transparansi radikal, pembebasan ekonomi, serta pembongkaran total sistem dua partai. Sebagai seorang pengusaha dan sineas yang tak kenal takut, Pulliam siap mengguncang sistem yang diklaimnya telah memperbudak rakyat Amerika melalui kediktatoran curang yang hidup dari perpecahan dan eksploitasi.

Karier Pulliam mencerminkan perjuangannya yang gigih dalam menentang ketimpangan dan ketidakadilan. Setelah pencalonan presiden pada 2024 yang ditandai dengan kritiknya terhadap penyaringan informasi dalam politik, pencalonannya sebagai anggota Senat kini menyasar langsung akar perpecahan di Amerika. Dia menegaskan bahwa struktur politik saat ini merupakan "ilusi yang dirancang dengan cermat" untuk membuat masyarakat terus terjebak dalam konflik berkepanjangan, sedangkan kepentingan elite terus memperkuat kekuasaan mereka. "Cinta dan kedamaian nyaris mustahil terwujud di bawah cengkeraman partai-partai yang korup ini," ujar Pulliam. "Mereka hidup dari kekacauan dan terus membuat kita saling berselisih, sedangkan mereka sendiri menjarah negara ini. Sudah saatnya meruntuhkan ilusi kekuasaan ini dan mengembalikan kendali sepenuhnya ke tangan rakyat."

Berbeda dari politisi karier pada umumnya, kampanye Pulliam berlandaskan pada investasi langsung dan pribadi di komunitas yang terpinggirkan. Dia telah menggelontorkan jutaan dolar dari dana pribadinya untuk mendukung para atlet, generasi muda, serta kelompok yang kurang terwakili di California, Florida, Arkansas, dan Texas. Upaya proaktif yang dilakukannya mencakup pembelian rumah dan apartemen bagi mereka yang membutuhkan, serta pelunasan pinjaman pelajar dan biaya pendidikan bagi pelajar yang menghadapi kesulitan. Rekam jejak tindakan nyata ini mencerminkan dedikasi untuk memberdayakan mereka yang selama ini terpinggirkan oleh mesin politik yang korup saat ini.

Platform Pulliam mengusulkan perombakan besar-besaran terhadap kontrak sosial Amerika melalui visi reformasi yang revolusioner. Inisiatif utamanya mencakup penghapusan total duopoli dua partai untuk membuka jalan bagi demokrasi perwakilan yang sesungguhnya. Di bidang ekonomi, dia menyerukan upah minimum federal sebesar $25, pengakhiran monopoli kepemilikan properti oleh korporasi, serta jaminan konstitusional untuk perumahan, perawatan kesehatan, dan pendidikan. Dengan memprioritaskan penghapusan utang pelajar secara luas serta dukungan bagi keluarga, Pulliam ingin membuka potensi ekonomi generasi mendatang dan membangun masyarakat yang berlandaskan kesetaraan sejati.

Dengan dipandu oleh Kebenaran, Pulliam berpegang teguh pada keyakinan bahwa hanya Tuhanlah yang benar. Prinsip-prinsip inti seperti pengabdian, integritas, dan kejujuran tanpa kompromi mendasari perjuangannya dalam membangun masyarakat yang berakar pada keadilan. Sebagai pemimpin yang telah membangun ketangguhan komunitas melalui berbagai inisiatif penjangkauan, dia berupaya beralih dari advokasi pribadi ke aula Kongres untuk menjadi penggerak perubahan yang nyata. Dia menilai pencalonannya ini bukan sekadar kampanye politik, melainkan sebuah gerakan untuk merebut kembali jati diri Amerika dari cengkeraman korupsi kelembagaan dengan berpegang pada landasan kebenaran mutlak.

Pulliam menutup pengumumannya dengan ajakan langsung untuk bertindak kepada rakyat Amerika yang jenuh dengan status quo. Dia mengajak para pemilih untuk menyadari "kepalsuan" dalam sistem partai modern dan bergabung dalam gerakan revolusi yang mengutamakan kepentingan rakyat. "Jika Anda lelah dengan tipu daya dan menginginkan perubahan nyata, bergabunglah dengan saya," tegas Pulliam. Kampanye ini mengajak masyarakat untuk mengunjungi pulliamforsenate.com guna bergabung dalam gerakan yang menantang sistem yang korup serta membangun masa depan yang lebih baik bagi generasi mendatang.***

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alander Lee Pulliam Jr., the visionary owner of A&A Sports Group and a relentless advocate for systemic reform, has officially declared his candidacy as an Independent for the United States Senate in California for the 2026 election cycle. Positioning himself as the chief antagonist to a "broken and rigged" political establishment, Pulliam is campaigning on a platform of radical transparency, economic liberation, and the total dismantling of the two-party system. A fearless entrepreneur and filmmaker, Pulliam is ready to shake up a system he claims has enslaved Americans through a rigged dictatorship that thrives on division and exploitation.

Pulliam's career is a testament to his relentless fight against inequality and injustice. Following a 2024 presidential run defined by its critique of political gatekeeping, his Senate bid targets the core of American division. He asserts that the current political structure is a "carefully crafted illusion" designed to keep the citizenry in a state of perpetual conflict while elite interests consolidate power. "Love and peace are almost impossible under the grip of these corrupt parties," Pulliam stated. "They thrive on chaos and keep us fighting among ourselves while they loot the country. It's time to tear down this illusion of power and give real control back to the people."

Unlike traditional career politicians, Pulliam's campaign is built on a foundation of direct, personal investment in marginalized communities. He has committed millions of dollars of his own resources to support athletes, youth, and underrepresented groups across California, Florida, Arkansas, and Texas. His hands-on activism includes purchasing homes and apartments for those in need, as well as paying off student loans and tuition costs for struggling students. This record of concrete action reflects a dedication to empowering those who have been left behind by the current corrupt political machine.

The Pulliam platform proposes a sweeping overhaul of the American social contract through a vision of revolutionary reform. His key initiatives include the total abolition of the two-party duopoly to open the door for true representative democracy. On the economic front, he calls for a $25 federal minimum wage, an end to corporate landlord monopolies, and constitutional guarantees for housing, healthcare, and education. 

By prioritizing broad-scale student debt erasure and family support, Pulliam intends to unlock the economic potential of the next generation and build a society founded on genuine equality.

Guided by the Truth, Pulliam operates under the firm conviction that God alone is true. These core principles of service, integrity, and uncompromising honesty underpin his fight for a society rooted in justice. As a leader who has fostered community resilience through various outreach initiatives, he seeks to transition from private advocacy to the halls of Congress to serve as a vessel for authentic change. He views this bid not merely as a political campaign, but as a movement to reclaim the American soul from the grip of institutional corruption by standing on a foundation of absolute truth.

Pulliam concludes his announcement with a direct call to action for all Americans tired of the status quo. He urges voters to see through the "sham" of the modern party system and join a revolution that puts the interests of the people first. "If you're tired of the deception, if you want real change, then join me," Pulliam asserts. This campaign invites everyone to visit pulliamforsenate.com to join the movement to challenge the corrupt system and build a better future for generations to come.**"

NEW YORK, April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IBT Media Inc., the global digital media company that founded the International Business Times and acquired Newsweek in 2013, announced that it has delivered a final notice to NW Media Holdings Corp. declaring that the 2018 Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (MIPA) -- which purported to transfer Newsweek LLC out of IBT -- was never consummated and is irrevocably null and void.  The letter, dated April 24, 2026, was signed by IBT Media President Etienne Uzac, addressed to NW Media President Dev Pragad, and delivered to NW Media's offices at 1 World Trade Center, New York.

At the center of IBT's position is the assertion that NW Media never paid the $5,000 purchase price required at closing -- a condition precedent that IBT contends was never satisfied, meaning the transfer had no legal effect from the outset. The MIPA expressly conditioned closing on delivery of the purchase price by the buyer, an obligation NW Media never met. IBT states that payment was never made, not on the closing date and not at any time thereafter. IBT's Chief Executive Officer testified under oath to this effect, and NW Media has never claimed to have made the payment.

IBT's notice also cites a separate and substantial financial obligation under MIPA Section 5(f), which required Newsweek LLC to make 20 quarterly payments of $81,045.95 between September 2018 and September 2023, totaling $1.5 million in satisfaction of a reduced intercompany indebtedness owed to IBT.

 According to IBT, none of those 20 payments were ever made. NW Media's Chief Financial Officer, Alvaro Palacios, confirmed this under oath during a January 2026 New York State court proceeding. IBT characterizes the complete non-performance as further confirmation that the MIPA is not a valid and effective contract.

IBT's notice explains that the company monitored NW Media's installment obligations under Section 5(f) through September 2023, at which point the complete non-performance became definitive. In the period since, IBT states it attempted to resolve the matter informally, including through mutual intermediaries, expecting NW Media to voluntarily relinquish its claims to the Newsweek assets. Those efforts were unsuccessful.

"IBT's patience should not be mistaken for acquiescence, and the passage of time does not cure NW Media's non-performance."

-- From IBT Media's April 24, 2026 final notice to NW Media Holdings Corp.

The notice expressly disclaims any waiver, ratification, or acceptance of the purported transaction and is issued under a full reservation of rights. IBT states it is asserting its rights as the owner of the Newsweek brand and assets.**"

The E-ZPass certification process is one of the most rigorous approval programs in the tolling industry, requiring comprehensive laboratory and field testing to ensure compliance with stringent performance, interoperability, and reliability standards required for tolling systems. Readers are evaluated for accuracy in over 30,000 complex scenarios, including high‑speed traffic, diverse vehicle types, and multi-lane, multi-protocol configurations. Through this rigorous process, the Titan Pro demonstrated its ability to deliver high-accuracy performance under demanding real-world conditions.

The Titan Pro takes performance to the next level in demanding applications such as Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) and Open Road Tolling (ORT), even under the most challenging conditions. Designed for seamless integration, the Titan Pro supports simultaneous multi-protocol operation, enabling compatibility with both current and legacy infrastructure as well as a wide variety of transponders. With four high-speed antenna ports, advanced encryption, embedded applications support, and the latest RAIN Communication Interface (RCI), the Titan Pro provides the flexibility and scalability required for evolving tolling environments.

The Titan Pro's new NanoSync? feature further enhances system performance by synchronizing multiple Titan Pro readers with sub-microsecond level precision via Ethernet, simplifying system architecture and reducing installation complexity. This enables complex multi-reader installations to operate optimally as a unified system, maximizing read accuracy and overall system efficiency. The NanoSync feature is also highly configurable, allowing integrators to easily customize synchronization settings for different layouts and deployment scenarios.

"The E-ZPass approval demonstrates that the Titan Pro delivers the accuracy and reliability agencies expect in live tolling environments," said Stephen Lockhart, President of STAR Systems America. "Combined with the latest NanoSync feature, we are delivering the performance that toll agencies require today while providing a scalable platform ready to support the next generation of secure, high-speed tolling applications."

For more information about the Titan Pro and other high-performance readers, antennas, and transponders, please contact STAR Systems at salesinquiry@star-int.net.***

* Through its global access to medicines programs, Teva reached nearly 8 million people through product donations around the world.

* 39% reduction in Teva's Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions since 2019 and 32% reduction in Scope 3 GHG emissions since 2020--exceeding 25% reduction targets.

* More than 99% of active employees completed compliance and ethics training.

* Teva's generic medicines contributed $36.4 billion in savings for healthcare systems across 21 countries.

TEL AVIV, Israel, April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) today published its 2025 Healthy Future Report, outlining performance against its sustainability targets, which are focused on the issues most relevant to its business, patients and the planet. Teva surpassed all 2025 targets associated with its sustainability-linked bonds--totaling approximately $7.5 billion across its 2021 and 2023 issuances. These commitments reflect progress in areas such as climate action, health equity and access to medicines, linking financial and sustainability performance.

"Advancing sustainability is fundamental to how we operate at Teva," said Richard Francis, Teva's President and CEO. "Our 2025 Healthy Future Report shows how we're building the future we want to see--addressing global challenges by using our footprint, resources and skills to drive meaningful impact for our business and stakeholders."