New solution helps manufacturers predict cost, optimize pricing, and protect profitability across service contracts and extended warranties 

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Syncron, a global leader in intelligent aftermarket solutions, today announced the launch of Syncron Service Contract Performance, a new solution designed to help manufacturers grow service contract and extended warranty business while optimizing revenue, cost, and margins over the life of the contract.

Service contracts give OEMs a way to secure future aftermarket revenue, strengthen customer relationships, and extend the commercial relationship beyond the warranty period. But as manufacturers shift toward contracted, recurring, and outcome-based service models, every agreement commits them to service costs and performance obligations that can stretch years into the future. 

That makes it increasingly important to understand what those agreements are likely to cost, how they should be priced, and whether they are performing as expected once they are live. 

Yet many manufacturers still rely heavily on broad cost estimates, spreadsheets, manual analysis, and static pricing assumptions to manage service contracts. As the number and variety of agreements grow, so does the financial exposure created by those limitations. Syncron Service Contract Performance connects the decisions that drive service contract profitability, helping manufacturers: 

Predict expected service costs using historical service and claims data, asset and usage information, planned maintenance requirements, and parts and labor costs 

Set and optimize contract prices based on expected cost, margin targets, and market pricing strategy 

Monitor and manage revenue, cost, margin, and performance across live contracts 

Use performance insights to improve future pricing, renewals, and contract decisions 

"Service contracts are becoming an increasingly important part of the aftermarket growth equation, but recurring revenue only creates value when manufacturers understand the risk they are taking on," said Josh Weiss, CEO at Syncron. "Our Service Contract Performance solution gives OEMs a clearer view of the economics behind every agreement, so they can make better decisions about what to sell, what to charge, and how to protect profitability as the business grows." 

The opportunity is already visible in Syncron's work with manufacturers. In a proof of concept with a major manufacturer, predictive models created using data from tens of thousands of vehicles showed cost-prediction accuracy of up to 95% when back-tested against more than 1,000 historical contract policies - a significant improvement on the manufacturer's current estimates.  

In a separate manufacturer analysis, Syncron Service Contract Performance helped uncover that 28% of agreements sold were generating negative profit due to poor understanding of the cost to serve, with a potential $13.6 million opportunity in bringing those contracts back to break-even. 

"The value comes from connecting decisions that have traditionally been made separately," said Daniel Shearly, Chief Product Officer at Syncron. "Historical service and asset data gives manufacturers a stronger basis for predicting future cost and setting prices. Once agreements are live, actual performance shows how those assumptions are holding up and can inform the decisions that follow. Bringing that together gives OEMs a more systematic way to manage cost, risk, and profitability as their service contract business grows." 

Syncron Service Contract Performance expands Syncron's Service Lifecycle Management offering, supporting manufacturers as they advance their servitization strategies and helping them manage profitability, strengthen customer relationships, and grow aftermarket revenue. 

About Syncron 

Syncron is the aftermarket growth platform for the world's leading manufacturers and distributors. Trusted by customers across more than 80 countries, Syncron offers connected solutions across parts and service pricing, service supply chain management, warranty management, and service contract performance. Global heavy equipment and automotive brands use Syncron to protect revenue, grow margins, and strengthen customer relationships across the asset lifecycle. For more, visit www.syncron.com. 

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

SINGAPORE, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE, OTCQX:VLERF) ("Valeura" or the "Company") provides an operations and financial update for Q3 2026.

Highlights

Oil production averaged 22.1 mbbls/d(1);

Sales of 2.013 million bbls;

Price realisations averaged US$97.4/bbl, resulting in revenue of US$196.1 million;

Cash position of US$384.9 million at 30 September 2026(2) and no debt;

Exploration discovery on Block G1/48(3) - the Suraphi oil field;

Final investment decision on the first phase of development of the Bussabong gas field, on Block G3/65(4);

Milestone cumulative production of 100 million bbls of oil from the Jasmine field as of 21 September 2026(5); and

Early completion of onshore construction of the Wassana central processing platform ("CPP"), on track for accelerated installation in the field in Block G10/48(6), starting in October 2026.

(1) Working interest share production, before royalties.

(2) Includes restricted cash of US$15.8 million.

(3) Block G1/48, 90% operated working interest.

(4) Block G3/65, 40% non-operated working interest; Thailand's cabinet has granted executive approval for the assignment of interest to Valeura. Completion anticipated in October 2026.

(5) Block B5/27, 100% operated interest.

(6) Block G10/48, 100% operated interest.

Dr. Sean Guest, President and CEO commented:

"Our Q3 2026 production was exactly on plan, and once again, confirms our guidance expectations for the full year 2026. Operational performance has been very strong, with no deviations from our high standards on health, safety, and environmental stewardship. At the same time, our financial performance has been remarkable as the Company is able to capture full benefit of current oil prices as it carries no hedging, operates under simple tax/royalty-based fiscal terms, and benefits from historic tax loss carry-forwards. Our balance sheet is stronger than ever before, with US$385 million in cash and no debt.

During Q3, we advanced several strategic priorities including securing government approval for our Block G1/65 and G3/65 farm-in(1), and thereafter taking a final investment decision to pursue the first phase of gas development on the Bussabong field. We are also encouraged by the potential for additional oil development on Block G1/48 as a result of our exploration discovery of the Suraphi field, which we believe has the potential to extend the productive life of the Manora field and may support further exploration and development opportunities in the area.

We also achieved a key milestone at our Jasmine field this quarter, with cumulative production hitting the milestone of 100 million barrels of oil produced to date. More recently, our Wassana redevelopment project achieved a key milestone as well. Onshore construction of our new-build CPP was completed early and is on track for accelerated installation, starting in October 2026.

Operationally and financially, our business is delivering extremely well and I am pleased to see external recognition of this across all aspects of our business. This quarter we were recognised by the Toronto Stock Exchange as one of the top 30 performing companies based on three-year share price performance. We received four awards from the Thailand Ministry of Environment for our environmental monitoring practices. And finally, our Company's approach to adopting new technology was recognised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Thailand in response to our introduction of complex multi-lateral drilling at the Nong Yao field. "

(1) 40% non-operated working interest.

Q3 2026 Update

Valeura's working interest share production before royalties was on plan for Q3 2026, averaging 22.1 mbbls/d. The Company sold a total of 2.013 million bbls of oil during the quarter with average realised prices of US$97.4/bbl, resulting in revenue of US$196.1 million. Revenue includes crude oil receivables of US$22.5 million at 30 September 2026, in respect of oil sales just prior to the end of the quarter. The Company anticipates collecting upon such receivable in the early part of Q4 2026.

The Company's cash position increased to US$384.9 million at 30 September 2026. Valeura has no debt.

Wassana CPP Completion

Onshore construction of the Wassana CPP was fully completed on 01 October 2026. Jacket and CPP have been loaded on to vessels for transportation and installation on the field, starting in October. This follows the installation of an oil export pipeline which will connect the new CPP to the floating storage and offloading vessel, which was completed in September, on plan and budget.    The Company is planning to begin development drilling late in 2026.  

Overall, the Company's plan to accelerate the original Wassana redevelopment project schedule by approximately two months is on track. Management continues to forecast first oil production from the CPP at approximately the beginning of Q2 2027.

Results Timing

Valeura intends to release its full unaudited financial and operating results for Q3 2026 on 11 November 2026 and will discuss the results in more detail through a management webcast.

Contact details for the Company's advisors, covering research analysts and joint brokers, including ATB Cormark Capital Markets, Auctus Advisors LLP, Beacon Securities Limited, Canaccord Genuity Ltd (UK), Research Capital Corporation, Roth Canada Inc., and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, are listed on the Company's website at www.valeuraenergy.com/investor-information/analysts/.

About the Company

Valeura Energy Inc. is a Canadian public company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas in Thailand and T?rkiye. The Company is executing a growth-oriented strategy, reinvesting into its producing asset portfolio while deploying capital toward further organic and inorganic growth across Southeast Asia. Valeura is committed to delivering value-accretive growth for all stakeholders, underpinned by high standards of environmental, social and governance responsibility.

Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Unaudited Financial Information

Certain anticipated financial and operating results for Q3 2026 in this news release are preliminary estimates based on unaudited financial information. These preliminary figures have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditor and remain subject to change, which changes could be material, upon completion of the Company's unaudited interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended 30 September 2026 and management's final review.

Advisory and Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information included in this news release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is for the purpose of explaining management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", "target" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to: the potential for more oil development on Block G1/48 as a result of the Company's exploration discovery of the Suraphi field; and timing for the installation of the Wassana CPP, development drilling, and first oil production.    Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things: political stability of the areas in which the Company is operating and the continuity of existing fiscal and regulatory regimes; continued safety of operations and ability to proceed in a timely manner; continued operations of and approvals forthcoming from governments and regulators in a manner consistent with past conduct, including approval of gas pricing and formalization of gas sales agreements; future drilling activity on the required/expected timelines; the prospectivity of the Company's lands; the continued favourable pricing and operating netbacks across its business; future production rates and associated operating netbacks and cash flow; decline rates; future sources of funding; future economic conditions; the impact of inflation on future costs; future currency exchange rates; interest rates; the ability to meet drilling deadlines and fulfil commitments under licences and leases; future commodity prices; the impact of geopolitical conflicts, including conflicts in the Middle East, and between Russia and Ukraine; royalty rates and taxes; future capital and other expenditures; the success obtained in drilling new wells and working over existing wellbores; the performance of wells and facilities; the availability of the required capital to fund its exploration, development and other operations, and the ability of the Company to meet its commitments and financial obligations; the ability of the Company to secure adequate processing, transportation, fractionation and storage capacity on acceptable terms, including access to processing facilities; the capacity and reliability of facilities; the application of regulatory requirements respecting abandonment and reclamation; the recoverability of the Company's reserves and contingent resources; future growth; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the impact of increasing competition; the ability to efficiently integrate assets and employees acquired through acquisitions; global energy policies going forward; future debt levels; the Company's continued ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner; PTTEP's continued participation as operator and joint venture partner in accordance with expectations; the timely completion of construction and deployment of wellhead platforms; and the continued applicability of customary Thai domestic gas pricing frameworks. In addition, the Company's work programmes and budgets are in part based upon expected agreement among joint venture partners and associated exploration, development and marketing plans and anticipated costs and sales prices, which are subject to change based on, among other things, the actual results of drilling and related activity, availability of drilling, offshore storage and offloading facilities and other specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, changes in partners' plans and unexpected delays and changes in market conditions. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Exploration, appraisal, and development of oil and natural gas reserves and resources are speculative activities and involve a degree of risk. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company including, but not limited to: the ability of management to execute its business plan or realise anticipated benefits from the Farm-in and the Bussabong development, including the risk that actual capital expenditures exceed estimates or that development timelines are delayed; the risk of disruptions from public health emergencies and/or pandemics; competition for specialised equipment and human resources; the Company's ability to manage growth; the Company's ability to manage the costs related to inflation; disruption in supply chains; the risk of currency fluctuations; changes in interest rates, oil and gas prices and netbacks; potential changes in joint venture partner strategies and participation in work programmes; uncertainty regarding the contemplated timelines and costs for work programme execution; the risks of disruption to operations and access to worksites; potential changes in laws and regulations, the uncertainty regarding government and other approvals; counterparty risk; the risk that financing may not be available; risks associated with weather delays and natural disasters; geopolitical risks and instability; and the risk associated with international activity. See the Company's most recent annual information form and the MD&A for a detailed discussion of the risk factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This news release is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

US$10 Billion in Venture Capital Convenes to Meet Hong Kong Start-ups; Government, Business and Young Professionals Explore Opportunities in the New Economy

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 October 2026 -The Global Youth Powerhouse Summit 2026, organised by Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy, was held on 5 October at the Conrad Hong Kong.

Now in its third edition, the Summit coincides with the release of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026?2030) and the latest Policy Address, which together set a clear blueprint for the city's future.

Anchored on these core themes and conducted entirely in English, the full-day programme focused on artificial intelligence, geopolitics, Hong Kong as an education hub, capital markets, life and health technology, and start-up financing. Government and business leaders, corporate representatives and young professionals were invited to examine Hong Kong's strategic opportunities in the new economic landscape.

The Summit aims to connect young professionals with international resources, enabling participants to engage directly with industry leaders, grasp developments at the frontier of industry, and look ahead to the opportunities and challenges arising from artificial intelligence and Greater Bay Area integration. Previous editions have drawn a strong response. Across three editions, the Summit has attracted more than thousands of in-person participants and about 17,000 online participants from over 30 countries and regions, with social media reach exceeding 50 million.

This year's Summit was the largest yet, bringing together more than 600 young professionals, government and business leaders and corporate representatives. Participants from over 60 countries and regions joined online. More than 30 distinguished speakers and moderators were invited, including officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and representatives of leading local and international organisations such as Huawei, the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Bullish and Endowus. In addition, consular representatives from up to 20 countries attended the Summit.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr John Lee, GBM, SBS, PDSM, PMSM, delivered a pre-recorded video speech, encouraging young professionals to seize the opportunities of the times and inject fresh momentum into Hong Kong's high-quality development. He said: "For our young people, I firmly believe that your opportunities ahead outweigh the difficulties. The HKSAR Government will join hands with all sectors to build platforms for you to thrive in Hong Kong, in our country, and in the global arena."

The Deputy Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, delivered an opening keynote entitled "Opportunities for the Professional Development of Young People", and stressed: "As the saying goes, 'Change is the only constant'-or as our Cantopop classic famously put it, '變幻原是永恆'. Today, we no longer measure change in years or decades, but in months and days. For our young professionals, this fast-paced era unlocks unprecedented career horizons. By accelerating Greater Bay Area integration through our new GBA Task Force and empowering you to act as the ultimate 'super-connectors' and 'super value-adders' helping Mainland enterprises go global, we are turning rapid change into your greatest professional advantage."

Dr Kevin Lau, MH, Founding Convenor of Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy, said: "This is more than a high-level forum. It marks a milestone in the maturing of our network of young professionals. This afternoon, venture funds managing an estimated US$10 billion in assets gathered in the room - and what they are looking at is Hong Kong's next generation. In life and health technology, our core belief is clear: artificial intelligence can assist imaging and diagnosis, but a physician's care, and the warmth of a human hand, can never be replaced by technology."

Other distinguished guests included Mr Kevin Choi, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Ms Bonnie Y Chan, JP, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; and Mr James Chau, President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals. Mr Bryan Che, Chief Strategy Officer of Huawei, and Ms Cindy Chow, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, also attended in person to exchange views with young professionals.

Panel discussions

Artificial intelligence: from first-time users to advanced users

The opening session began with remarks by Mr Kevin Choi, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and was moderated by Ms Stephaine Chan, Director of the Office of the Vice Chairman of Esquel Group. Panellists included Ms Ilaria Chan, Chair of the Tech For Good Institute; Mr Bryan Che, Chief Strategy Officer of Huawei; and Ms Cindy Chow, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund. The discussion focused on whether small and medium-sized enterprises, non-governmental organisations and schools can genuinely put artificial intelligence to use, and on the talent, trust and practical-application issues Hong Kong faces in driving "AI for all".

Mr Kevin Choi, JP mentioned: "Every major technology shift brings uncertainty. Our theme today from entry-level shock to AI-powered users building the next talent leader."

Ms Stephaine Chan said: "Every AI conversation ends in the same place, right? More investment, better people, better models and stronger policy."

Ms Ilaria Chan said: "These days, Al is so powerful that they can scan the Internet and social media and find vulnerable young people or old people. They can find it instantly and have a very sophisticated way to trick them and fraud them from scamming."

Mr Bryan Che: "One of the opportunities of Al is because the interface is much more natural for most people to interact with. On one sense, it's a lot easier for everyone to get started."

Ms Cindy Chow said: "So I guess some of the most damaging thing is not allowing people to use or not, you know, really have the attitude to embrace all this new technology, what this new technology has to bring to you."

Geopolitics: the super-connector

This session was moderated by Mr James Chau, President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals. Speakers included Ms Ilaria Chan, Chair of the Tech For Good Institute; Ms Ellana Lee, Senior Vice President, Managing Editor, Asia Pacific, and Global Head of Productions at CNN; and Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Mr James Chau said: "Against this backdrop, we often hear Hong Kong described as a super connector, typically framed in terms of trade volumes, capital markets and logistics but I think that these connections that we're speaking of really only become very valuable and we understand and recognize the human bonds that pin these together."

Professor Frederick Ma , GBS, JP said: "We are part of China. And yet we are under one country 2 systems connected to the rest of the world. That is the power of Hong Kong."

Ms Ellana Lee said: "We made a very strategic decision when the times were tough to stay and remain in Hong Kong. I think that has and you know, we make these decisions not just out of a whim, but we are very calculative on why we need to stay. I have 8 cities across Asia Pacific. Hong Kong happens to be the hub for Asia Pacific. And there's it boils down to four major reasons."

Ms IIaria Chan: "Simple of how tech is helping people, there is an organization, WHO care for children that was founded 20 years ago that helps orphans in developing China back then Vietnam, Thailand now in Africa, Middle East to find loving permanent homes. But their bottleneck is how they train social workers and governments on how to take care of orphan welfare. Now this year we've actually been launching an online product that is able to scale these bottlenecks, especially in areas that are underfunded. This is a great example of Al tech."

Education: Hong Kong as Asia's education hub

This session was co-moderated by Mrs Jennifer Yu Cheng, JP, Founder of the Future Leaders Foundation, and Ms Jennifer Ma, Founder of JM Edu Consulting. Speakers included Ms Maggie Chau, School Partnership Advisor at the Academy for Educational Development and Innovation of The Education University of Hong Kong; Mr Dion CHEN, MH, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council; and Professor Charles Ng Wang-Wai, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Mrs Jennifer Yu Cheng, JP said: "An education hub is more than a place with excellent institutions. It is a place that students and families choose, where young people flourish, and connects education with research, innovation, careers and a wider community."

Professor Charles Ng said: "With our national policy. And I think we should do better to support this great initiatives and thinking back actually 2023 and home government already in in the government policy in October, if I remember correctly to start to increase the local student quota from 20% to 40%."

Ms Jennifer Ma said: "As a consultant we need demand to meet supply and we are definitely seeing the demand for Hong Kong education at K12 level....... The advocacy for Hong Kong to be the gateway for China Resources and talents to leave China and go into international arenas. But at the same time, we also see a lot of international people interested in what's happening in mainland, and therefore Hong Kong is a great gateway. So, with that global education, global education philosophy, that means they really appreciate Hong Kong trilingual education by cultural mindset."

Mr Dion CHEN, MH mentioned: "In 2026, a lot of DSS schools will work very hard to try to welcome and also promote welcome to Hong Kong and also promote Hong Kong's education to the students in different countries."

Ms Maggie Chau said: "Maggie: I can see that all the universities are actually implementing AI in their curriculum. Talking about teacher education, the programs we offer, I mean, not just The Education University of Hong Kong, the programs we offer in all universities implement Al in the curriculum in a way that we draw attention to the use of Al is it has to be ethical."

Capital markets: AI listings, asset tokenisation and the new economy

This session was moderated by Ms Emily CHAN Tan, a former CNBC anchor. Speakers included Ms Bonnie Y Chan, JP; Ms Clara CHAN Ka Chai, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited; Mr Michael Lau, Senior Vice President and Head of Group Business Development at Bullish and Chairman of Consensus; and Mr Samuel RHEE, Co-founder, Chairman and Group Chief Investment Officer of Endowus.

Ms Clara CHAN Ka Chai said: "We always say that from zero to 1 is the most challenging part. So, the patients in terms of having staying power is the core, but it has to go in hand with other qualities like being proactive, being professional."

Mr Michael Lau said: "I think it's an interesting proposition to consider that these types of companies that are so capital. I would start looking beyond the current horizon of where we are to see where it could go next. And so I do think that there is a demand looking to that future where this idea of a tokenized capital market could be quite interesting."

Mr Samuel RHEE mentioned: "First of all, maybe we just take a step back and just try to understand all of the capital markets, not just equities."

Ms Bonnie Y Chan, JP said: "I want to point out one thing. I mean, we are operating a stock exchange and I think capital markets at the end of the day, the basic function is to match capital with opportunity. So what I'm very focused on is that I'm not just focused on technology or AI."

Ms Emily CHAN Tan said: "We are not just witnessing a cyclical recovery, but also some would call this the threshold of a capital markets renaissance."

Life and health technology: building a health-industry hub

This session was moderated by Professor Lo Yuk-lam, BBS, Founding President of the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organisation. Speakers included Professor LI King-Chuen, Founding Dean of the School of Medicine at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Dr Sarah SALVILLA, Director of Health and Strategic Partnerships at FWD Group; and Professor Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, GBS, JP, former Chairman of the Hospital Authority and Non-executive Chairman of Trinity Medical Group. The discussion focused on how AI in healthcare can strengthen the competitiveness of Hong Kong's health industry.

Professor Lo Yuk-lam, BBS said: "Building HK's holistic wellness hub, this year marks a defining moment for HK. With the release of our first ever five year plan and their chief executive policy address just a few weeks ago, our city's road map for healthcare and biotechnology knowledge has never been clearer or more ambitious."

Professor Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, GBS, JP said: "Every country every city is trying to recruit more talent and I think Hong Kong is an ideal position to attract talents."

Professor LI King-Chuen said: "Our education system will be individualized. And we will do the factual knowledge transfer through mostly self-directed learning. So we guide them, we build an AI system with prescribed information."

Dr Sarah SALVILLA said: "Prevention for sure in terms of how do we educate people to be much more proactive in their everyday lives, yes you know, kind of the lifestyle things."

Start-up pitching: connecting with capital

The closing session was moderated by business journalist Ms Elaine Yu, with Mr LU Chin Yung, Senior Vice President (Start-ups) of the Sector Specialist Group at Invest Hong Kong. Representatives of 11 venture funds were present, including the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Clee Capital, Click Ventures, GT Healthcare Capital Partners, Gobi Partners GBA, HKSTP Ventures, MindWorks Capital, Ryoden Medical Holdings, Seveno Capital, Verge HealthTech Fund and W2 Venture Partners. Together, the funds manage an estimated US$10 billion, have invested in more than 600 start-ups across more than 30 economies, and have backed at least nine unicorns, including Airwallex, Animoca Brands, Prenetics and GoGoX. Start-ups taking part in the pitching session included CELLmeric, Entoptica, PointFit, Syngular, Kodifly, AilsynBio, EveryBaby, A-grade, Orimmune Biotech, Nordia Biotech, Oncolmmu Nostics Limited, The Harbour School (THS), VisionBridge, Eden's Garden, and CARE CONNECT.

Ms Elaine Yu said: "We have 15 startups and I think a group of students as well, very precocious students WHO are already thinking of ideas, real businesses with commercial viability at the cutting edge of science, research, healthcare and so forth. So, this should be a fun dynamic session."

Mr LU Chin Yung pointed out: "Hong Kong is great in a lot of rankings in the world and this is not given, this is hard earned by your parents, by some of you sitting here. But as a young founder in Hong Kong, if you come to Hong Kong, you get to enjoy all this very safe environment. You have efficiency and then you also have a very clean government. This one I can say for sure. Yeah. And and all this, it helps the the founders to focus on your business, focus on grow, growing instead of you have to deal with many, many things."

The Summit closed amid lively exchange. Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy said it will continue to build the Summit into a platform for dialogue between young professionals and leading figures in government and business, helping Hong Kong's young talent seize the opportunities of the new economy.

Photos and video: Selected materials can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XowvT4PLTkLo-Vx6k8UJ_YyuM0O0wSlQ?usp=sharing .

Official hashtag: #GYPS2026

Venture fund	Profile
Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund	A HK$1 billion venture fund under Alibaba Group; has invested in 84 start-ups and nurtured seven unicorns
Clee Capital	A Hong Kong venture fund focused on start-up and private equity investment
Click Ventures	A pioneer Hong Kong early-stage technology investor; now invests in 20 funds as a family office
W2 Venture Partners	Venture fund (profile to be supplemented)
Gobi Partners GBA	A pan-Asian venture platform managing about US$2 billion, with cumulative investments in more than 400 companies
GT Healthcare Capital Partners	A Hong Kong healthcare investment fund with investments across North America and Europe
HKSTP Ventures	The corporate venture arm of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, investing directly in seed to Series A start-ups
MindWorks Capital	A Hong Kong pan-Asian venture fund focused on logistics, fintech and enterprise technology
Ryoden Medical Holdings	A Hong Kong healthcare family office investing in biotechnology and regenerative medicine
Seveno Capital	A Singapore longevity and health-technology fund with US$70 million in committed capital over five years
Verge HealthTech Fund	A Hong Kong and Singapore digital-health venture fund with investments across 17 countries

Annex 2: Attending guests (in no particular order)

Guest	Title	Guest	Title
Ms Chan Hoi-yee	Director, Office of the Vice Chairman, Esquel Group	Ms Ilaria Chan	Chair, Tech For Good Institute
Ms Clara Chan	Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited	Ms Chan Nga-ying	Former CNBC anchor
Ms Bonnie Y Chan, JP	Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited	Mr James Chau	President, China-United States Exchange Foundation, and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals
Ms Irene Chow	School Partnership Advisor, Academy for Educational Development and Innovation (AEDI), The Education University of Hong Kong	Mr Bryan Che	Chief Strategy Officer, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Mr Adrian Chan, MH	Vice-Chairman, Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council	Mrs Carrie Cheng, JP	Founder, Future Leaders Foundation
Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP	Deputy Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	Mr Kevin Choi, JP	Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry
Ms Cindy Chow	Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund	Dr Kevin Lau, MH	Founding Convenor, Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy
Mr Lau Tak-ho	Senior Vice President and Head of Group Business Development, Bullish, and Chairman, Consensus	Ms Ellana Lee	Senior Vice President, Managing Editor, Asia Pacific, and Global Head of Productions, CNN
Professor King Li	Founding Dean, School of Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	Professor Lo Yuk-lam, BBS	Founding President, Hong Kong Biotechnology Organisation
Mr Raymond Lui	Senior Vice President (Start-ups), Sector Specialist Group, Invest Hong Kong	Ms Michelle Ma	Founder, JM Edu Consulting
Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP	Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council	Professor Charles Ng	Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Mr Samuel Rhee	Co-founder, Chairman and Group Chief Investment Officer, Endowus	Dr Sit Wai-nga	Director, Health and Strategic Partnerships, FWD Group
Professor Anthony Wu, GBS, JP	Former Chairman, Hospital Authority, and Non-executive Chairman, 全仁醫療集團	Ms Elaine Yu	Business Journalist
Ms Jeanne Cheng, JP	District Officer (Central and Western)	Dr Elsie Leung, GBM, JP	Former Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Professor Teresa Cheng, GBM, GBS, SC, JP	Secretary-General, International Organization for Mediation, and former Secretary for Justice	The Hon Tommy Cheung, GBM, GBS, JP	Non-official Member, Executive Council
The Hon Dr Lam Ching-choi, GBS, JP	Non-official Member, Executive Council	The Hon Chan Hoi-fung, BBS, MH, JP	Legislative Council Member
The Hon Chan Kin-por, GBM, GBS, JP	Non-official Member, Executive Council	The Hon Nixie Lam	Legislative Council Member
Mr Andrew Yao, SBS, JP	Hong Kong Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress	Professor Herman Hu, GBS, JP	Hong Kong Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress
Mr Gordon Lam	Hong Kong Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress	Mr Chan Chung-ni, SBS, JP	Hong Kong Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress
Mr Ho Hon-kuen, BBS, MH	Hong Kong Member, 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference	Mr Tu Haiming, BBS	Hong Kong Member, 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Mr Kung Wing-tak	Hong Kong Member, 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference	Dr Lo Kam-wing, BBS, JP	Hong Kong Member, 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and President, The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong
Mr Li Tai-chong, SBS, OM, JP	Member, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference	The Hon Lam Wai-chuen	Legislative Council Member
The Hon Lau Man-kwan, JP	Legislative Council Member	The Hon Chong Ho-fung	Legislative Council Member
The Hon Lee Kwong-yu, MH	Legislative Council Member	The Hon Leung Tsz-wing, MH	Legislative Council Member
Mr Ng Yuk-yeung	Hong Kong Member, 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference	The Hon Fong Kwok-shan	Legislative Council Member
The Hon Lau Ka-keung, BBS, MH, JP	Legislative Council Member	The Hon Revd Canon Peter Koon, SBS, JP	Legislative Council Member
Mr Pablo Macedo Riba	Consul General of Mexico in Hong Kong	Dr Esteban Ram?rez Gonz?lez	Consul General of Mexico in Hong Kong
Mr Alberto Mart?nez	Representative, Consulate General of Spain in Hong Kong	Ms Silvia Civera	Representative, Consulate General of Spain in Hong Kong
Mr Javier Sampedro	Commercial Representative, Consulate General of Spain in Hong Kong	Mr Juha Niemi	Consul General of Finland in Hong Kong and Macao
Mr O'Brien Ernesto Guerra C?rdova	Consul General of Venezuela in Hong Kong	Mr Ammala Saenchonghack	Consul General of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in Hong Kong
Mr Riaz Ahmed Shaikh	Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong	Mr Yos Sokhemrin	Consul General of Cambodia in Hong Kong
Mr Maurits Ter Kulve	Consul General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong	Ms Lim Kim Suan	Consul General of Brunei Darussalam in Hong Kong
Mr Hassan Doutaghi	Consul General of Iran in Hong Kong	Mr Ali Abdulla Al-Hitmi	Deputy Consul General of Qatar in Hong Kong
Ms Helen Silvester	British Council	Mr Wilhelm Brauner	Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
Professor Sin Kuen-fung, MH	Co-Executive Director, Academy for Educational Development and Innovation, The Education University of Hong Kong	Mr Lam Siu-hong, JP	Commissioner for Youth, Home and Youth Affairs Bureau
Mr Arnold Lau	Assistant Director-General, Invest Hong Kong	Professor James Dai	Associate Dean of Students, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Dr Chan Pui-yin	Vice-President, Hong Kong Medical Association	Ms Cecilia Ho	Chief Executive, Lee Hysan Foundation
Mr Quentin Merour	Consulate General of France in Hong Kong	Ms Christine Ma Lau	Founder and Principal, JEMS Character Academy
Ms Agnes Chan, BBS	Senior Advisor, Office of the Chairman, Greater China, EY	Ms Melissa Pang, BBS, MH, JP	Former President, The Law Society of Hong Kong, and Member, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Mr Patrick Yeung	Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce	Ms Kimberly Kwok	Founder, Mighty Oaks
Mr Larry Chiang	Founder and Chief Executive Officer, International Finance Capital Group Limited	Ms Sophia Kao, GBS, JP	Former Chairperson, Women's Commission, and founding Chairperson, Financial Reporting Council
Ms Marie Mercy	Consulate General of France in Hong Kong	Mr Peter Shum	Deputy Chairman of Federation of Hong Kong Industries
Mr Daryl Lin	JCI Hong Kong	Mr Jacky Chung	Hong Kong Trade Development Council (represented by Mr Andrew Chui)
Mr Silas Chu	Hong Kong Trade Development Council	Mr Lot Chan	Assistant Director of Health (Preparatory Office for Centre for Medical Products Regulation)
Dr Jeff Lee	Head of the Health Informatics and Technology Office

Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy

Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy is a community organisation founded in 2023 by young professionals in Hong Kong. It seeks to serve as a bridge between Hong Kong and the world, uniting Hong Kong young people globally through a range of exchange activities and cultivating an overseas youth network that supports "Hong Kong opportunities". The organisation brings together more than 120 young professionals across finance, real estate, building surveying, manufacturing, environmental protection, healthcare, law, accounting and technology, and works closely with professional bodies, industry associations and the media. Through monthly salons and online exchanges with the Greater Bay Area, Southeast Asia and countries along the Belt and Road, it promotes understanding of the development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese Mainland, explores opportunities for collaboration, and ultimately aims to build a stronger network of professional youth and deepen exchange and cooperation with young people around the world.

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

Hashtags: #全球青年力量峰會 #GYPS2026

https://hkypga.com/

https://www.facebook.com/hkyproadvocacy?locale=sk_SK

https://www.instagram.com/gypowerhouse/

TOKYO, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) has released the 19th edition of the APO Productivity Databook, which provides harmonized comparisons of Asia's economic growth and productivity from 1970 through 2024, with projections through 2035.

The 2026 edition presents economic growth and labor productivity indicators for 38 Asian economies: the 21 APO member economies (APO21) and 17 nonmember economies, collectively referred to as Asia38.

APO Productivity Databook 2026

For APO member economies, the Databook reports that average annual growth in per-hour labor productivity moderated from 2.9% in 2015?2019 to 2.5% in 2019?2024, while average annual total factor productivity (TFP) growth remained at 1.0% in both periods. Beyond these aggregate measures, the Databook examines changes in productivity, industrial structure, and the composition of demand within and across APO member economies.

Half-Century TFP Index by Country, 1970-2024

Built on the APO Productivity Database 2026, the Databook develops full productivity accounts for APO21 together with seven nonmember economies: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, the People's Republic of China, the Maldives, Myanmar, and Saudi Arabia. Together, these 28 economies are referred to as Asia28. Saudi Arabia is included in the full accounts for the first time, while Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are newly covered in the broader labor productivity indicators.

The 2026 edition incorporates revisions to official national accounts and related statistics released up to May 2026. The APO Productivity Database 2026 incorporates quality-adjusted labor input estimates from the Asia Quality-adjusted Labor Input Database 2026 and stock estimates of land and mineral and energy resources from the Asia Natural Resources Database 2026.

In addition to individual economy accounts, the database provides regional productivity accounts for ASEAN6, APO21, Asia28, CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam), East Asia, and SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), identifying the contributions of capital input, labor input, and TFP to each group's economic growth. Together, these sources strengthen the evidence available to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners developing productivity strategies.

Highlights of the APO Productivity Databook 2026

More than five decades of evidence and a forward look to 2035: Provides comparisons from 1970 through 2024 and projections through 2035.

Labor productivity growth moderated in APO21: Average annual growth in per-hour labor productivity moderated from 2.9% in 2015-2019 to 2.5% in 2019?2024, while average annual TFP growth remained at 1.0% in both periods.

Asia's economic weight continued to expand: At current exchange rates, Asia38's GDP reached USD40.3 trillion in 2024, 37% larger than that of the US. Asia38's real GDP grew by an average of 3.8% per year in 2019?2024, with China and India contributing 1.8 and 0.8 percentage points, respectively.

Several Asia28 economies recorded strong recent productivity growth: Per-hour labor productivity in Asia28 grew by 3.7% per year in 2019?2024. The highest country growth rates were recorded in China at 5.8%, Vietnam at 4.5%, India at 4.4%, and Bangladesh at 3.9%.

Capital was the main driver of Asia28 growth: The Databook's growth-accounting results show that capital input accounted for 57% of Asia28's economic growth over 2000?2024, while TFP contributed 28%. Capital deepening accounted for about 45% of Asia28's labor productivity growth.

New energy and emissions estimates: Provisional estimates indicate that Asia38 accounted for 50% of world final energy consumption and 60% of world CO2 emissions from fuel combustion in 2024.

Regional coverage expanded: Saudi Arabia is included in the full productivity accounts for the first time, bringing the number of economies covered to 28. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are newly included in the broader labor productivity indicators, bringing that coverage to 38 economies.

Stronger, comparable measurement: The 2026 edition combines harmonized national accounts with quality-adjusted labor input, detailed capital services, and stock estimates of land and mineral and energy resources.

The APO Productivity Databook 2026 is available in both digital and print formats and can be accessed and downloaded for free from the link below.

http://doi.org/10.61145/JHLU9970

The APO Productivity Database 2026 contains full productivity accounts for APO21 and seven nonmember economies and is available at https://www.apo-tokyo.org/productivitydatabook/.

About the APO

The APO is a regional intergovernmental organization dedicated to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region through mutual cooperation. Established in 1961, the APO supports its member economies through policy advisory services, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to promote sustainable socioeconomic development.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 October 2026 - Somerset Diamond Bay Garden Phnom Penh, the new serviced residence managed by The Ascott Limited (Ascott) - a Singapore-headquartered global hospitality company wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI) - has appointed Jamila Nsouli as General Manager ahead of its planned opening in November 2026.

In the role, Nsouli will lead the property's pre-opening programme and establish its operational and guest-experience priorities. The opening strategy will focus on practical, flexible accommodation for business travellers, leisure guests and families ? creating a welcoming home away from home while connecting each stay with the character of Phnom Penh.

Nsouli is a senior hospitality leader with over 20 years of experience in Cambodia, having held executive roles with Accor, Minor Hotels, Relais & Ch?teaux, LVMH, and Ascott. She excels in pre-openings, commercial strategy, and team development to drive sustainable growth.

"Phnom Penh is evolving so fast, yet its hospitality remains deeply personal," Nsouli said. "At Somerset Diamond Bay Garden, we are combining that local heart with spaces designed for modern life ? a place where guests can settle in, feel at home and experience the city on their own terms. Our entire team is eager to welcome our first guests and make their time here truly memorable."

The 168-unit property will offer accommodation ranging from studios to three-bedroom residences. Published property information lists private balconies, kitchenettes and in-room washing machines among the accommodation features. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, children's pool and play area, wellness spaces, and rooftop dining.

Located on Koh Pich, the property is near Connexion Mall and the Diamond Convention & Exhibition Centre, with access to other parts of Phnom Penh via Norea Bridge.

Somerset Diamond Bay Garden Phnom Penh is part of a management collaboration between The Ascott Limited and Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation. OCIC is active in major property and infrastructure developments in Cambodia, including Koh Pich and Techo International Airport.

For pre-opening enquiries, reservations or further information, visit discoverasr.com or call +855 23 900 664.

Somerset Diamond Bay Garden Phnom Penh

Somerset Diamond Bay Garden Phnom Penh is a premium riverside property on Koh Pich. Offering studios to three-bedroom suites with kitchenettes, balconies, and laundry, it features a pool, gym, rooftop restaurant, and kids' facilities. Ideally located near key venues, it caters to business, leisure, and families.

For more information, visit discoverasr.com or follow @SomersetDiamondBayPhnomPenh on social media.

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

Hashtags: #SomersetDiamondBayGardenPhnomPenh #LeadershipAnnouncement #GeneralManager #PressRelease #TheAscottLimited #OCICGroup

https://www.discoverasr.com/en/somerset-serviced-residence/cambodia/somerset-diamond-bay-garden-phnom-penh

https://www.linkedin.com/company/somerset-diamond-bay-garden-phnom-penh/

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), the world's largest cloud- and carrier-neutral data center platform, today announced the commencement of construction of KIX15, a new 24 megawatt (MW) data center at its KIX Campus in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

Developed by MC Digital Realty (MCDR), Digital Realty's 50/50 joint venture in Japan with Mitsubishi Corporation, KIX15 will be the fifth data center at the KIX Campus and is scheduled to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2028. The new facility is planned to further expand Digital Realty's presence across the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas. Upon completion, KIX15 will bring MCDR's Japan portfolio to 10 data centers, representing approximately 220 MW of aggregate IT capacity.

This expansion follows the opening of the NRT14 Data Center in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, earlier this year. NRT14 is one of the first facilities in Japan to achieve the DGX-Ready Data Center certification.

KIX15 will be part of PlatformDIGITAL, Digital Realty's global data center platform spanning 300+ data centers across 55+ metros in 30+ countries on six continents.

Serene Nah, Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific, Digital Realty, said, "Japan is a strategic market for Digital Realty and a key part of our long-term growth in Asia Pacific. Our continued investment in Japan reflects both our confidence in the market and our commitment to building the infrastructure customers will need for the long term.

"KIX15 is the next step in that commitment. As customer requirements become more distributed and complex, the combination of local scale and global reach will become increasingly important."

Advancing AI Infrastructure in Kansai

KIX15 is a key component of MCDR's Kansai AI Infrastructure Co-Creation Project, an initiative centered on the KIX Campus to support the development of AI infrastructure across the Kansai region.

The project brings together the expansion of the KIX Campus with stronger domestic and international connectivity and deeper collaboration with telecommunications and technology partners.

Kohei Yamashita, Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of MC Digital Realty, said, "Kansai has a growing opportunity to play a larger role in Japan's AI economy. Realizing that potential will require an ecosystem that can support businesses as they build and scale AI, bringing together computing infrastructure, connectivity and technology expertise."

As adoption of generative AI and cloud services grows, demand is increasing for higher-density computing environments, advanced cooling and reliable connectivity in Japan. KIX15 is designed to support hybrid air- and liquid-cooling technologies. Designed to provide a high level of security and campus-based scalability, the facility is expected to support a broad range of customers, including hyperscalers, cloud service providers and companies deploying AI infrastructure.

Through Digital Realty's ServiceFabric orchestration and interconnection platform and collaboration with multiple network service providers, customers will have access to low-latency connectivity to key locations and cloud services in Japan and more than 300 Digital Realty data centers worldwide. This enables customers to expand into high-power, high-density infrastructure at the KIX Campus while maintaining connectivity with their existing IT environments.

About Digital Realty

Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges.

Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 55+ metros across 30+ countries on six continents. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About MC Digital Realty

MC Digital Realty, Inc., established in September 2017, is a 50/50 joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation and Digital Realty. The company provides the full spectrum of data center services in Japan, including colocation and interconnection solutions, by leveraging Mitsubishi Corporation's real estate and infrastructure investment expertise and customer network, as well as Digital Realty's global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the Asian markets, the company's development plans, expected completion dates, expected growth in digital transformation and demand, customer demand and the company's strategy.

For a list and description of risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Orfali Bros is promoted to Two MICHELIN Stars, while Dubai's existing Three and Two MICHELIN Star restaurants retain their distinctions

KIGO and Birch debut in the selection with One MICHELIN Star

The selection features 122 restaurants, with 19 new additions, including 2 new One MICHELIN Star restaurants, 4 new Bib Gourmand restaurants and 13 new MICHELIN-Selected restaurants

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The MICHELIN Guide today unveiled the 5th edition of its Dubai selection at a ceremony held at Atlantis The Royal. With 122 restaurants representing 38 cuisine types, this edition celebrates Dubai's growing global culinary credentials alongside destination partner the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). From homegrown neighbourhood eateries to glamorous fine dining destinations, the selection reveals a culinary scene that continues to develop and expand apace.

Dubai's Three and Two MICHELIN Star restaurants retain their distinctions, with Orfali Bros promoted to Two Stars. The 19 new additions, 2 One MICHELIN Star restaurants, 4 Bib Gourmands and 13 MICHELIN-Selected restaurants highlight the rise of standalone concepts and menus increasingly tailored to local diners.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, said: "We are delighted to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai today. The selection has grown significantly since its inception and now features nearly twice as many establishments as it did when it was first launched. This remarkable evolution demonstrates that Dubai's culinary scene continues to thrive, with our Inspectors discovering new internationally acclaimed dining destinations year after year. This year's combination of homegrown talent and international arrivals reflects a city that is developing its own culinary identity while embracing traditions from around the world. The strength of Dubai's hospitality sector underlines the city's hunger, passion and determination to enhance its reputation as a global gastronomic destination, giving food lovers compelling reasons to visit and to return."

2 restaurants retain Three MICHELIN Stars

The MICHELIN Guide's highest distinction recognises exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.

FZN by Bj?rn Frantz?n and Tr?sind Studio retain their Three MICHELIN Star distinctions.

4 restaurants recognised with Two MICHELIN Stars

This year's selection includes one promotion to Two MICHELIN Stars, while three restaurants retain their distinctions.

Orfali Bros is promoted to Two MICHELIN Stars, two years after earning its first MICHELIN Star. The promotion marks its evolution from a brilliant neighbourhood bistro into a flagship of Middle Eastern gastronomy. Rooted in the brothers' Aleppian, Armenian and Turkish heritage, its signature dishes and Voyage menu reveal cooking of increasing refinement, depth and personality.

While Il Ristorante-Niko Romito, Row on 45, and STAY by Yannick All?no maintain their distinctions for the 2026 Selection.

2 new restaurants receive One MICHELIN Star

Birch enters the selection with One MICHELIN Star. Chef Arslan Berdiev's Turkmen roots and travels shape a contemporary menu built around top-quality produce, including Uzbek tomatoes. An immaculate open kitchen brings the cooking into view, while a striking hanging installation reminiscent of birch bark gives the room its character.

KIGO enters the selection with One MICHELIN Star. The Sushi Omakase experience at the counter and the Kaiseki option at a table offer two ways to discover its seasonal Japanese cooking. Superb produce is handled with care to create delicate, harmonious flavours, while the presentation adds an understated sense of theatre.

Two new additions join 12 restaurants, retaining their distinction, bringing this year's One MICHELIN Star selection to 14.

4 new restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand

The Bib Gourmand recognises restaurants offering exceptional food at great value. Dubai's 2026 selection features 22 Bib Gourmand restaurants, including four new additions.

Middle Child serves fresh, generous Italian dishes in a relaxed bistro and deli where diners can browse cookbooks as well as the menu.

S.E.A Bistrot is an intimate setting for Chef Shane's bold, authentic Asian cooking. Mango & Sticky Rice and Milk Cake have earned a following of their own.

Three Bros is the bright, busy sister restaurant to Orfali Bros. Its dishes bring the three Syrian brothers' childhood, heritage and travels to the table.

YUBI Dubai serves hand rolls made to order straight across the counter. Homemade pickles and condiments bring bold flavours to its fun, relaxed approach to Japanese dining.

MICHELIN Special Awards

The MICHELIN Special Awards celebrate the professionals whose skill, care and individuality shape Dubai's dining experiences.

The MICHELIN Opening of the Year Award celebrates Gonzalo Platero and Window, an Alserkal restaurant distinguished by exceptional wood-fired cooking that brings out the ingredients' natural flavours.

The MICHELIN Sommelier Award is presented to Ninad Jani of avatāra for his approachable service and expertly curated pairings with the restaurant's vegetarian Indian cuisine.

The MICHELIN Service Award recognises Akinori Tanigawa and the team at KIGO for their warm, professional service, complementing the restaurant's refined Japanese cuisine.

The MICHELIN Young Chef Award goes to R?my Marquignon, Executive Chef of Ossiano, for his creative modern cooking rooted in classic French technique, helping the restaurant retain its One MICHELIN Star.

The MICHELIN Exceptional Cocktails Award is presented to Zahra Erfanian Azmoodeh of Carbone Dubai for cocktails that enhance its glamorous Italian-American dining experience.

The 5th edition reflects Dubai's confident dining scene, where established restaurants and new arrivals give residents and visitors more reasons to explore the city through food.

The MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2026 selection at a glance:

2 restaurants with Three MICHELIN Stars

4 restaurants with Two MICHELIN Stars (1 promotion)

14 restaurants with One MICHELIN Star (2 new)

22 Bib Gourmand restaurants (4 new)

80 MICHELIN-Selected restaurants (13 new)

A replay of The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony and other highlights are available on the official MICHELIN Guide Middle East Facebook page and the MICHELIN Guide Global YouTube channel. 

The full selection of The MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2026 is available on the MICHELIN Guide website https://guide.michelin.com/ae-du/en and the MICHELIN Guide app, available free of charge on iOS and Android. 

The MICHELIN Guide is a benchmark in gastronomy. Now, it's setting a new standard for hotels. Visit the MICHELIN Guide's official website, or download the MICHELIN Guide mobile app (iOS and Android), to discover every restaurant in the selection and book an unforgettable hotel.

The MICHELIN Guide Worldwide app for iOS and Android devices.

Mindful Voices

New for 2026 and making its Dubai debut, Mindful Voices is the MICHELIN Guide's global editorial platform bringing together chefs and hoteliers who are rewriting the rules in their respective fields. It gives them a space to share their stories and pioneering practices with one another and a worldwide audience.

"Dubai's culinary ambition is reflected in the choices its chefs make every day," said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. "Mindful Voices draws directly from what our inspection teams witness firsthand: encounters and experiences that are transforming how things are done and deserve to be shared. By amplifying these stories through the MICHELIN Guide, we hope the ideas and convictions behind them will inspire others to explore new approaches to gastronomy."

Zachary Roy, Operational Manager of LOWE is featured as a Mindful Voice, On stage at the ceremony, he shared the restaurant's approach to sourcing and making the most of every ingredient. He explained that its fire-led cooking follows a nose-to-tail ethos, using traceable ingredients sourced as locally as possible and turning organic waste into compost for its garden.

About Michelin:

Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare.

The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 175 countries and employs 122,600 people. (www.michelin.com).

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

First Digital, the group behind FDUSD, which has recorded more than $4 trillion in cumulative trading volume, has entered into a definitive business combination agreement with CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III valuing First Digital at $250 million on a pre-money equity basis; on closing, the post-combined company is expected to become a Nasdaq-listed company

Transaction Highlights

First Digital is the group behind FDUSD, a USD-referenced stablecoin launched in 2023 that has recorded more than $4.7 trillion in cumulative trading volume (as of June 30, 2026) and a historical peak circulation of more than $4.4 billion (reached in April 2024)

Every FDUSD is backed by cash and cash equivalents, including short-dated US Treasury bills and reverse repurchase agreements, held with a licensed custodian in segregated client accounts, with monthly attestations by an independent accounting firm

First Digital generated approximately $87 million in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Finance District, an on-chain ecosystem for the agentic economy developed by First Digital, is live with four products: District Pass, Agent Wallet, Prism and an AI assistant

The Proposed Transaction values First Digital at $250 million on a pre-money equity basis; on closing, the post-combined company is expected to become a Nasdaq-listed company

Closing is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions

HONG KONG and NEW YORK, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Digital Group Limited (together with its subsidiaries, "First Digital") has signed a definitive business combination agreement (the "BCA") with CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd. (Nasdaq: KOYN) ("KOYN"). First Digital is the group behind the FDUSD stablecoin and the developer of Finance District. KOYN is a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, listed on Nasdaq.

Upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the BCA (the "Proposed Transaction"), First Digital would become a wholly owned subsidiary of a new holding company formed in the Cayman Islands (the "Listed Company"). The Listed Company's shares are expected to trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq"). The closing of the Proposed Transaction is subject to regulatory approval, approval by the shareholders of KOYN and First Digital, and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions.

First Digital is pursuing a listing for three reasons. A listing would give it access to public capital markets to fund the continued build-out of Finance District. It would also bring the transparency and reporting obligations of a listed company. First Digital expects those to matter to the institutions, partners and regulators it works with. And it would let public-market investors take part in what First Digital is building.

FDUSD

First Digital launched FDUSD in 2023. Its early adoption came through Binance, one of the world's largest digital-asset exchanges, which listed FDUSD trading pairs and integrated it across a range of trading and product offerings; Binance remains the largest centralised secondary market for FDUSD. FDUSD reached $1 billion in market capitalisation within four months of launch. As of June 30, 2026, FDUSD had recorded more than $4 trillion in cumulative trading volume, a single-day trading-volume high of approximately $25 billion and a peak circulation of more than $4.4 billion (reached in April 2024) and traded in more than 100 pairs across 16 exchanges on six blockchain networks, including Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Solana, Sui Arbitrum and TON.

FDUSD is issued by a First Digital group company. Every FDUSD in circulation is backed by reserves of cash and cash equivalents, including short-dated US Treasury bills, held for the issuer by First Digital Trust Limited ("FDT"), a Hong Kong-licensed trust or company service provider and a First Digital group company, as custodian, in segregated accounts. Reserves are subject to independent monthly attestations. FDUSD does not pay interest or yield.

First Digital is extending the range of venues and applications in which FDUSD is used for settlement on two fronts: across centralised exchanges, decentralised exchanges and DeFi platforms; and within Finance District, the ecosystem developed by First Digital, in which FDUSD is the primary settlement asset.

South Korea, one of the world's most active digital-asset markets, is a strategic priority for First Digital as the country develops its digital-asset and stablecoin framework. First Digital has signed memoranda of understanding with a subsidiary of the ITCEN Group, a KOSDAQ-listed Korean IT and digital-asset group, and with Wavebridge Inc., a virtual asset service provider registered with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU), to explore distribution and settlement infrastructure for FDUSD in Korea and to share First Digital's stablecoin issuance experience with Korean institutions. First Digital does not intend to issue a won-referenced stablecoin itself. Vincent Chok, First Digital's Founder and Chief Executive Officer, has participated in industry and policy discussions on stablecoins in Korea, including at the National Assembly in May 2026. First Digital plans to open a branch office in Korea in the first quarter of 2027, subject to business, regulatory and operational considerations.

Finance District and the Agentic Economy

Finance District (fd.xyz) is an ecosystem for the agentic economy developed by First Digital: financial infrastructure for people and for the AI agents acting on their behalf. Four products are live today. District Pass is the single identity credential used across the ecosystem. Agent Wallet is a multi-chain wallet that AI agents operate through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), with a graphical interface for the people they act for. Prism is tooling that allows merchants and e-commerce platforms to accept digital-asset payments, including stablecoins, from their customers and from AI agents purchasing on their behalf. An AI assistant helps users transact and manage their activity across the platform.

Third-party projections indicate the scale of the opportunity: Edgar, Dunn & Company projects global agentic consumer-to-business spend of $136 billion in 2025, growing to $1.7 trillion by 2030, and Standard Chartered forecasts global stablecoin supply of approximately $2 trillion by 2028. The agentic economy is at an early stage, and Finance District does not yet contribute material revenue to First Digital; it is being built to provide the infrastructure that this economy will require.

Finance District is designed to be governed by holders of FDFI, a governance token with a fixed supply of two billion tokens. Supporters of the ecosystem include Moca Services Limited (Animoca Brands) and Wintermute Trading Ltd (Wintermute) FDFI is a governance token and does not represent any equity, ownership or other interest in First Digital or FDUSD.

Founder-Led Since 2019

Vincent Chok founded First Digital in 2019 as a trust and custody services business. In 2022 the group incorporated First Digital Group Limited in Gibraltar as its holding company, and in 2023 it launched FDUSD. First Digital today has more than 75 employees across multiple jurisdictions, and its senior team combines experience in digital assets, regulatory compliance, financial operations and technology infrastructure. First Digital currently holds a Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence in Hong Kong and two Money Services Business (MSB) registrations in Canada. It has a licence application pending with the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) for the issuance of fiat-referenced tokens, and intends to seek authorisations in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the United States

Today's announcement is the next step: a definitive business combination agreement to take the company public to build the infrastructure for the agentic economy.

Management Commentary

Vincent Chok, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Digital, said: "First Digital was built by taking one thing at a time and getting it right. We launched FDUSD in 2023, and it has become one of the most actively traded stablecoins on centralised exchanges, fully backed by reserves that are attested every month. The next thing is Finance District: which we believe provides the infrastructure that people and their AI agents will need as commerce becomes agentic. We are at the beginning of that industry. A Nasdaq listing would give us access to public capital markets, the transparency of a listed company, and shareholders who can participate in building it with us."

Vik Mittal, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of KOYN, said: "We are honored to partner with a visionary of Vincent's standing. Custody, integrity, and trust, these foundational principles define First Digital's approach. Programmable money collapses the world's payment networks into one global dollar network. We're finally rewriting the world's financial rails from scratch. The emergence of agentic payments represents a paradigm shift, and First Digital is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation with FDUSD as the native settlement asset within Finance District."

Black Spade Advisory, strategic advisor to First Digital, added: "We are supportive of innovative developments in the digital asset sector and note the potential significance of the proposed business combination. This transaction could help advance the market presence of stablecoin-related infrastructure. We believe stablecoins can play an important role in future cross-border settlement and money flows. We are pleased to support Vincent and the First Digital team, who have positioned themselves at the forefront of this rapidly evolving sector."

Transaction Overview

Under the terms of the BCA, (1) First Digital will redomicile from Gibraltar to the Cayman Islands by way of continuation as an exempted company limited by shares; (2) KOYN will merge with and into the Listed Company, a newly formed Cayman Islands exempted company, with the Listed Company as the surviving entity; and (3) a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Listed Company ("Merger Sub") will merge with and into First Digital, with First Digital as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Listed Company.

Upon the closing of the Proposed Transaction, shareholders of KOYN and First Digital will exchange their existing equity interests in KOYN and First Digital, respectively, for the securities of the Listed Company. Such shareholders of KOYN and First Digital will receive Class A ordinary shares of the Listed Company, carrying one vote per share, except that Mr. Chok will receive Class B ordinary shares of the Listed Company, carrying ten votes per share.

The Proposed Transaction values First Digital at $250 million on a pre-money equity basis and contains no minimum cash condition.

First Digital has entered into a non-binding term sheet with Millennial Trading Limited for a $25 million convertible note bearing a 0% coupon, with a $12.00 conversion price; there can be no assurance that definitive agreements will be entered into or that the note will be issued on these terms or at all. First Digital's existing investors include Kenetic (through Chainer Consultants Limited) and Nogle (through Nogle Limited).

The Proposed Transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of First Digital and KOYN. Closing is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to, among other things, the approval by the shareholders of First Digital and KOYN, regulatory approvals, the registration statement on Form F-4 to be filed by the Listed Company being declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), approval of the Listed Company's listing application by Nasdaq, and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions in the BCA. No assurance can be given that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms or timeframe currently contemplated, or at all.

Information about the Proposed Transaction, including a copy of the BCA and the investor presentation, will be provided in one or more Current Reports on Form 8-K to be filed by KOYN with the SEC.

Advisors

Cohen & Company Capital Markets is serving as exclusive capital markets and M&A advisor to First Digital. DLA Piper LLP (US) and DLA Piper UK LLP are serving as legal counsel to First Digital. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as legal counsel to KOYN. Black Spade Advisory is serving as strategic advisor to First Digital.

About First Digital

First Digital provides trust and custody services through First Digital Trust Limited, a Hong Kong-licensed trust or company service provider, and issues FDUSD, a USD-referenced stablecoin. It is also the developer of Finance District (fd.xyz), an ecosystem for the agentic economy. Founded in 2019, First Digital holds licences and registrations in Hong Kong and Canada and has more than 75 employees.

For additional information about First Digital, please visit https://1stdigital.com, https://www.firstdigitallabs.com and https://fd.xyz.

Separately, First Digital had filed a writ of summons on April 3, 2025, in the High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Court of First Instance initiating a defamation action against Sun Yuchen (a/k/a Justin Sun) in response to his public allegations. Additional information and publicly available filings regarding this matter can be found at: https://1stdigital.com/ir-and-disclosures

About CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd. (KOYN)

KOYN is a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company focused on high-growth, frontier-technology sectors including digital assets, regulated financial infrastructure, and next-generation fintech. KOYN is led by an experienced SPAC team with a track record of sourcing, executing, and stewarding complex public-market transactions. KOYN's Class A Ordinary Shares trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "KOYN".

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All information in this press release concerning First Digital has been provided solely by First Digital and has not been independently verified by KOYN or any of its directors, officers, employees, advisors, or affiliates, none of whom make any representation or warranty, express or implied, or accept any responsibility or liability, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness, or reasonableness of such information or any other information contained herein. This press release is provided solely for informational purposes, should not be relied upon for any investment, voting, or other transactional decision, and any such reliance is at the reader's sole risk.

The expectations, estimates, and projections of the businesses of First Digital and KOYN may differ from their actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements also include, without limitation, statements regarding projections, estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and expectations, the estimated implied enterprise value of the Listed Company, First Digital's ability to scale and grow its business, the size and growth of the agentic economy and the stablecoin market, the development and adoption of Finance District and its products, the intended governance of Finance District by FDFI holders, the anticipated transition toward decentralized governance, First Digital's plans in Korea and other jurisdictions and its pending and intended licence applications, the proposed convertible note with Millennial Trading, the purposes and expected benefits of the listing, the advantages and expected growth of the Listed Company, the Listed Company's ability to source and retain talent, the cash position of the Listed Company following closing of the Proposed Transaction, KOYN's and First Digital's ability to consummate the Proposed Transaction, and expectations related to the terms and timing of the Proposed Transaction. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of KOYN's and First Digital's management and are not predictions of actual performance.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Although each of First Digital and KOYN believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, each of First Digital and KOYN cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. Most of these factors are outside of the control of First Digital and KOYN and are difficult to predict.

Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the BCA; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against First Digital, KOYN, or others following the announcement of the Proposed Transaction; (3) the inability to complete the Proposed Transaction, including due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of First Digital and KOYN, certain regulatory approvals, or other conditions to closing; (4) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the Listed Company's securities on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange following the Proposed Transaction; (5) the risk that the Proposed Transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Proposed Transaction; (6) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Listed Company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (7) costs related to the Proposed Transaction; (8) changes in applicable laws or regulations, including those governing stablecoins and digital assets; and (9) other risks and uncertainties included in documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by KOYN or the Listed Company.

The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. In addition, there will be risks and uncertainties described in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form F-4 relating to the Proposed Transaction, which is expected to be filed by the Listed Company with the SEC, and in other documents filed by the Listed Company, First Digital and/or KOYN from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Neither First Digital nor KOYN can assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate.

In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved.

You should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. First Digital and KOYN do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Past performance by First Digital's or KOYN's management teams is not a guarantee of future performance.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Proposed Transaction. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities will be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the Proposed Transaction, the Listed Company will prepare a registration statement on Form F-4, which will include a proxy statement/prospectus containing information about the Proposed Transaction and the respective businesses of KOYN and First Digital, as well as the prospectus relating to the shares to be issued to First Digital's and KOYN's shareholders in connection with the completion of the Proposed Transaction, to be filed with the SEC. After the registration statement is declared effective, the proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to KOYN's shareholders. KOYN urges investors and other interested persons to read, when available, the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because these documents will contain important information about the Proposed Transaction.

Such persons can also read KOYN's reports filed with the SEC for a description of the security holdings of its officers and directors and their respective interests as security holders in the consummation of the transactions described herein. The proxy statement/prospectus, once available, and KOYN's reports can be obtained, without charge, at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov).

Participants in the Solicitation

KOYN, the Listed Company, First Digital and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of KOYN's shareholders in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of KOYN's directors and officers in KOYN's reports filed with the SEC.

Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to KOYN's shareholders in connection with the Proposed Transaction will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Proposed Transaction when available. Information concerning the interests of First Digital's and KOYN's participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their respective equity holders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Proposed Transaction when it becomes available.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release may contain certain non-GAAP financial measures and key metrics relating to First Digital's projected future performance. These non-GAAP measures are preliminary and subject to risks and uncertainties.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis is not available because the various reconciling items are difficult to predict and subject to constant change. Any variation between First Digital's actual results and the projected financial information included herein may be material.

Use of Data

The industry data contained herein is derived from various internal and external sources that First Digital and KOYN believe to be reliable. Although First Digital and KOYN are not aware of any misstatements regarding the external data presented herein, their estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those described under "Forward-Looking Statements" above.

Any data on past performance or modeling contained herein is not an indication as to future performance, and each of First Digital and KOYN disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise the information in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Acquisition expands Constellation's portfolio into an emerging, consumer-led demand space within the fast-growing RTD category

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ), a leading U.S.-based total beverage alcohol company, today announced the acquisition of SpikedAde, a differentiated, consumer-led spirit-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage brand competing in the emerging sports drink-inspired "Ade" segment.

Constellation's strong brand building and go-to-market capabilities to help SpikedAde expand distribution across the U.S.

Transaction includes a $75 million payment at close for 100% ownership of the business, as well as additional contingent consideration of up to $278 million payable over five years based on the future performance of the SpikedAde business, reflective of Constellation's disciplined approach to capital allocation.

The acquisition strengthens Constellation's position in the fast-growing RTD category and expands its portfolio into an emerging, consumer-led demand space.

SpikedAde is well positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for flavorful, sessionable RTDs designed for modern social occasions and evolving consumer preferences.

The spirit-based RTD category is one of the fastest-growing areas in beverage alcohol, with dollar sales increasing by 25% in the last year.1

About SpikedAde

SpikedAde is a spirit-based RTD beverage brand competing in the emerging "Ade" segment. The brand combines familiar sports drink flavors with a vodka base in a zero-sugar, 100-calorie, non-carbonated format. As a first mover in the space, SpikedAde has demonstrated strong early momentum through expanding distribution, rapid account growth, and high reorder rates. With an established presence across the eastern U.S. and significant runway for growth, SpikedAde represents a compelling opportunity to accelerate its expansion and extend its reach.

Message from Constellation's President & CEO

"SpikedAde has successfully carved out a distinctive position in an emerging segment and built a brand that is clearly connecting with consumers," said Nicholas Fink, Constellation's President and Chief Executive Officer. "As consumer preferences evolve and new occasions continue to emerge, we're excited to build on the strong foundation the SpikedAde team has created and leverage our proven capabilities to accelerate growth, expand the brand's reach, and unlock new opportunities for the platform over time."

Message from SpikedAde Founder and CEO

"When we created SpikedAde, it was with the goal of helping define a new era for RTDs - one that meets consumers where performance, lifestyle, and social energy intersect ? and our team and distributor partners turned that vision into reality faster than we ever imagined," said Jason Cohen, Founder and CEO of SpikedAde. "With Constellation's scale and expertise behind it, we're excited to see SpikedAde reach even more consumers with its distinctive positioning and continue its remarkable growth trajectory."

FAQ

Why did Constellation acquire SpikedAde?

Constellation Brands acquired SpikedAde on October 6, 2026 to strengthen its position in the fast-growing RTD category and expand its portfolio into new consumer demand spaces aimed at sustainable consumer trends.

What is SpikedAde?

SpikedAde is a spirit-based RTD beverage brand competing in the emerging "Ade" segment. The brand combines familiar sports drink flavors with a vodka base in a zero-sugar, 100-calorie, non-carbonated format.

What is the "Ade" segment?

"Ade" is an emerging segment of spirit-based RTD beverages inspired by familiar sports drink flavors. SpikedAde was one of the first brands to establish a presence in the segment.

Will SpikedAde continue to operate as its own brand?

The SpikedAde team will be integrated into Constellation's Beer Division, and Constellation will assume production oversight, marketing, and distribution of the brand. The company intends to align SpikedAde distribution with Gold Network Distributor partners, in accordance with applicable law.

1Circana MULOC+ 52 weeks ending 8-30-26

ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS

Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), a leading U.S.-based company, is an international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe elevating human connections is Worth Reaching For. It's worth our dedication, hard work, and calculated risks to anticipate market trends and deliver for our consumers, shareholders, employees, and industry. This dedication is what has driven us to become one of the fastest-growing, large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what's next.

Every day, people reach for brands from our high-end, imported beer portfolio anchored by the iconic Corona Extra and Modelo Especial, a flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas, and favorites like Pacifico, and Victoria; our exceptional wine brands including The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Kim Crawford, Schrader Cellars, and Lingua Franca; and our craft spirits brands such as Mi CAMPO Tequila and High West Whiskey.

As an agriculture-based company, we strive to operate in a way that is sustainable and responsible. Our ESG strategy is embedded into our business and we focus on serving as good stewards of the environment, investing in our communities, and promoting responsible beverage alcohol consumption. We believe these aspirations in support of our longer-term business strategy allow us to contribute to a future that is truly Worth Reaching For.

To learn more, visit www.cbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The word "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.

These statements may relate to business strategy, future operations, prospects, plans, and objectives of management, including expanding SpikedAde's distribution, the amount of contingent consideration, if any, that may be paid, strengthening Constellation's position in the fast-growing RTD category, emerging, consumer-led demand spaces, SpikedAde's ability to capitalize on growing demand and connect with consumers, SpikedAde's runway for and continuing growth, building on SpikedAde's foundation and unlocking new opportunities, and integration and distribution plans for SpikedAde, as well as information concerning expected actions of third parties.

All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will in fact occur or will occur on the timetable contemplated hereby. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and Constellation does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

In addition to risks and uncertainties associated with ordinary business operations, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including the accuracy of all projections and other factors and uncertainties disclosed from time-to-time in Constellation Brands' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2026, which could cause actual future performance to differ from current expectations.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*Strategic Milestone: Official opening of the Robotics Training, Data and Experience Center in Singapore to support humanoid training, workflow testing, and customer demonstrations.

*Tapping a US$68.1 Billion Market: Capitalizing on the global service robotics market-estimated at US$68.1 billion in 2026 and projected to reach US$107.8 billion by 2030-alongside the US$5.41 billion humanoid robot sector.

*Commercial Pathway: Designed to evaluate Robotics-as-a-Service ("RaaS"), robot leasing, and managed services as potential recurring revenue streams supporting the Company's 2030 vision.

SINGAPORE, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YYForce Inc. (NASDAQ: YFOR) ("YYForce" or the "Company"), a technology-enabled workforce solutions and integrated facility management company, today announced the official opening of its Robotics Training, Data and Experience Center (the "Center") in Singapore.

The facility supports humanoid robot training, operational data collection, workflow testing, and customer demonstrations across hospitality, cleaning, security, delivery, and facility management applications.

The Center is designed to help YYForce translate robotics technologies into practical customer solutions, drawing on its existing workforce and facility management operations. It also supports the Company's evaluation of Robotics-as-a-Service ("RaaS"), robot leasing, and managed robotic services as potential sources of recurring revenue.

Capitalizing on the US$68.1 Billion Commercial Robotics Opportunity

YYForce believes Singapore offers an attractive environment for robotics adoption as service operators seek to improve productivity, manage manpower constraints, and maintain consistent service quality. In May 2026, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), JTC Corporation (JTC), and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) announced a physical AI testbed at Punggol Digital District, planned for later in 2026, with applications including delivery, cleaning, and security patrolling. This initiative provides wider market context; YYForce is not announcing participation in that programme.

Globally, Grand View Research estimates the service robotics market at US$68.1 billion in 2026 and projects it to reach US$107.8 billion by 2030. Separately, MarketsandMarkets estimates the global humanoid robot market at US$5.41 billion in 2026 and projects US$50.27 billion by 2035. These forecasts cover different, potentially overlapping categories and are not additive. They provide industry context, rather than estimates of Singapore demand or YYForce's addressable revenue.

For the 2026?2031 period, YYForce sees opportunities to evaluate specialized service robots for defined commercial tasks while developing humanoid applications through training and testing. The Company intends to assess deployment opportunities based on task performance, safety, reliability, required human supervision, and customer economics.

Humanoid Training and Operational Data Collection

The Center includes simulated service environments for training and evaluating humanoid robots in selected hotel housekeeping, restroom cleaning, banqueting, and hospitality support workflows. It also supports testing of collaboration among human workers, humanoid robots, and specialized service robots.

Through repeated training and testing, YYForce is collecting operational data relating to navigation, movement, object interaction, task execution, and environmental conditions. Though training and demonstration activities do not establish that humanoid robots can yet perform complete housekeeping or restroom-cleaning duties autonomously, these activities are intended to help evaluate performance and adapt workflows to specific service environments.

Service Robotics and Integrated Security Demonstrations

The Center showcases indoor and outdoor commercial cleaning robots, food and item delivery robots, autonomous security and surveillance robots, swimming pool cleaning robots, humanoid service robots, and other specialized systems. Customers and potential partners can evaluate how these technologies may fit within their operations.

A live Security Command Center, as part of the Center, demonstrates the integration of robotic patrol capabilities, surveillance systems, sensors, cameras, and centralized monitoring. This environment enables YYForce to evaluate how robotic and monitoring technologies can complement security personnel and broader facility management services.

Building a Path to Recurring Robotics Revenue

The Center anticipates to support a structured commercialization pathway: training and data collection, workflow testing, customer demonstrations, proofs of concept, and, where viable, commercial deployment. Potential applications include hotels, commercial buildings, residential developments, retail premises, warehouses, and other service environments.

YYForce is evaluating commercial arrangements that could combine robot access with deployment support, maintenance, monitoring, and human service capabilities. Potential RaaS and leasing models would allow customers to access robotics through recurring arrangements without necessarily purchasing hardware outright. Integrated service contracts could combine people and robots within a single service-delivery model.

The Company believes its existing operating experience can help identify suitable tasks, evaluate customer requirements, and coordinate human-robot workflows. Commercial viability will depend on productivity gains, service quality, deployment and integration costs, maintenance requirements, and the level of human intervention needed.

At this stage, the Company has not yet announced material revenue attributable to these proposed robotics business models. The Center's opening does not represent an announcement of material robotics orders or contracted recurring revenue. Future commercialization remains subject to customer adoption, technology performance, deployment economics, and other factors.

Supporting the YYForce 2030 Vision

The Center anticipates to support YYForce's 2030 vision of becoming a Future Workforce Solutions Provider by integrating human talent, AI-enabled technologies, humanoid robots, and specialized autonomous robots. Human workers would continue to perform activities requiring judgment, communication, and flexibility, while suitable robotic systems could support repetitive, physically demanding, and monitoring-intensive tasks.

Chief Executive Officer Commentary

Mike Fu, Chief Executive Officer of YYForce, commented:

"Our objective is to help customers put robotics to work in everyday service operations. Our existing workforce and facility management experience gives us direct insight into the tasks customers need completed and the standards they expect."

"This center provides a dedicated working environment to train humanoid robots, collect operational data, and evaluate service robots prior to customer deployment. We see clear opportunities to develop recurring service relationships through leasing and managed robotics, while rigorously testing each application against performance and cost requirements."

"Our 2030 vision brings people, AI, and robotics together to elevate how services are delivered. We will pursue that vision through practical applications and disciplined commercial execution - Forging Forward Together."

About YYForce Inc.

YYForce Inc. (NASDAQ: YFOR) is a technology-enabled workforce solutions and integrated facility management company focused on how businesses access, manage, and deploy workforce and facility services. The Company is developing an ecosystem combining on-demand workforce technology, integrated facility management, artificial intelligence, automation, humanoid robotics, and specialized service robots to support productivity, operational flexibility, and scalability.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's robotics strategy, training and data collection activities, potential customer applications, RaaS and leasing models, managed services, recurring revenue opportunities, and YYForce's 2030 vision, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Company bases these forward-looking statements on its expectations and projections about future events, which the Company derives from the information currently available to it. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "contemplates," "estimates," "believes," "plans," "projected," "predicts," "potential," or "hopes" or the negative of these or similar terms. . Third-party market forecasts are estimates and may not be realized.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about the Company and a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, customer adoption, technology reliability and safety, integration requirements, data governance, financing and hardware availability, maintenance costs, and deployment economics.

There can be no assurance that the Company's robotics initiatives or proposed commercial models will be successfully implemented or generate material revenue. For a more detailed discussion of risk factors, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, as amended. Readers should also consider the risks described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. YYForce undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by applicable law.

Investor Contact

Jason Zhi Yong Phua, Chief Financial Officer

YYForce Inc.

enquiries@yyforce.ai

Investor Relations Contact

Piacente Financial Communications

yfor@thepiacentegroup.com

Market Sources

[1] JTC, Singapore Government and Eight Industry Leaders to Research, Test and Deploy Physical AI in Punggol Digital District, May 20, 2026.

[2] Grand View Research, Service Robotics Market 2024?2030, public report summary accessed October 2, 2026.

[3] MarketsandMarkets, Humanoid Robot Market - Global Forecast to 2035, July 2026.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ), a leading U.S.-based total beverage alcohol company, today reported its second quarter fiscal 2027 financial results.

A conference call to discuss the financial results and outlook will be hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Fink, and Chief Financial Officer, Garth Hankinson, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET. Visit ir.cbrands.com to locate information for joining the conference call, or a live, listen-only webcast of the conference call.

ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS

Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), a leading U.S.-based company, is an international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe elevating human connections is Worth Reaching For.

It's worth our dedication, hard work, and calculated risks to anticipate market trends and deliver for our consumers, shareholders, employees, and industry. This dedication is what has driven us to become one of the fastest-growing, large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what's next.

Every day, people reach for brands from our high-end, imported beer portfolio anchored by the iconic Corona Extra and Modelo Especial, a flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas, and favorites like Pacifico, and Victoria; our exceptional wine brands including The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Kim Crawford, Schrader Cellars, and Lingua Franca; and our craft spirits brands such as Mi CAMPO Tequila and High West Whiskey.

As an agriculture-based company, we strive to operate in a way that is sustainable and responsible. Our ESG strategy is embedded into our business and we focus on serving as good stewards of the environment, investing in our communities, and promoting responsible beverage alcohol consumption. We believe these aspirations in support of our longer-term business strategy allow us to contribute to a future that is truly Worth Reaching For.

To learn more, visit www.cbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 October 2026 - ESG Symposium 2026 is advancing from a forum for dialogue to regional-level action. Under the theme "ASEAN in Action: Powering Inclusive Green Transition," the Symposium builds on last year's proposals to advance three key agendas: Energy Transition, Just Transition and Climate Adaptation.

It also links these agendas with Public-Private-People Partnership (4P) collaboration, in order to move approaches from the policy level to implementation in the business sector and local communities, and to bring lessons from Thailand into consideration for adaptation in other ASEAN contexts.

ESG Symposium 2026 is organized as a regional collaboration platform by SCG together with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and partners from all sectors. It connects leaders and experts from government, business, finance, international, organization and academia

to exchange knowledge and practices. It also brings them together to shape responses to ASEAN's key challenges, namely energy security, adaptation to climate change, and the creation of a green economy and green jobs that distribute opportunities and strengthen the region's resilience.

Mr. Joe Phelan, Executive Director - Asia Pacific, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said: "The sustainability transition is linked to competitiveness, security and investment, which presents both a significant challenge and an important opportunity for ASEAN. The key lies in connecting policy, investment, technology and people through collaboration among government, business, the financial sector and communities, in order to drive ASEAN toward sustainable growth over the long term."

In Thailand, the business sector will play an important role in turning global direction into collective action, particularly by helping SMEs and entrepreneurs in the supply chain adapt and grow alongside the green economy. Dr. Phacharaphot Nuntramas, Krungthai Chief Economist & JSCCIB Economist, noted: "Thailand must use the Green Transition as an opportunity to enhance its competitiveness and attract future investment. The key is end-to-end implementation, creating an inclusive transition in which large businesses help upgrade SMEs in their supply chains so that they can adapt and grow together. In addition, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is ready to carry the proposals from this forum forward through the Reinvent Thailand platform, together with the business sector and other stakeholders."

Three Key Agendas: From Progress to the Challenges Ahead This year's discussions build on the proposals from last year, with each agenda reflecting both the progress made and the new challenges that must be advanced jointly. The aim is to develop approaches suited to Thailand's context and to apply the lessons to other areas and contexts.

1) Energy Transition: Building energy security alongside competitive costs and decarbonization

Last year's proposals aimed to unlock access to renewable electricity through Third Party Access (TPA), Direct PPA and the reduction of regulatory constraints, so that the private sector could genuinely drive the transition. This year, the discussion moves toward raising the "readiness of the energy system," including enhancing the capacity and flexibility of the power grid, grid-forming technology, and adjusting the Power Development Plan (PDP) to align with future energy demand. It also looks further ahead to new technologies and energy sources such as Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and biofuels, as well as ASEAN-level cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid. Dr. Areeporn Asawinpongphan, Research Fellow in Energy Policy at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), proposed establishing an energy system that balances security, competitive costs and decarbonization targets. She recommended accelerating the development of resilient infrastructure and energy systems, increasing the role of solar and bioenergy, upgrading grid infrastructure, developing energy sources, and liberalizing the energy market. This would enable businesses to access clean energy, ensure uninterrupted power transmission and distribution, and support future demand.

2) Just Transition: Enabling SMEs, workers and communities to grow together Last year, SMEs were supported through knowledge and tools such as NZAP and Go Together. This year, additional approaches include Funding Connect and SME Green Transition Plus for industrial SMEs, to help entrepreneurs gain greater access to knowledge, technology, funding and business opportunities.

Mr. Veerachai Monsintorn, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and Chairman of Small and Medium Industry Institute and Chairman of Thai-Chinese Economic and Investment Institute, proposed that support for entrepreneurs be tailored to their capacity to adapt, so that assistance is designed to match their needs. He suggested starting with a selected pilot group to create a comprehensive prototype, covering support in knowledge, technology, skills, standards, market access and funding sources through Funding Connect, before distilling lessons and scaling up. The goal is for entrepreneurs, workers and communities to access opportunities from the green economy and grow together.

3) Climate Adaptation: From post-disaster response to advance preparedness Building on last year's discussion of Water Resilience, this year the focus extends to an AI Simulation Platform for assessing flood risk and infrastructure vulnerability. There are plans to make the platform publicly accessible, and to look further toward ASEAN-level Risk Mapping and Simulation to help prepare for risks from floods, storms and other disasters. Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongsak Suttinon, Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, proposed shifting from addressing problems after impacts occur to forecasting and reducing risks in advance. He suggested developing a One Water Data Center to integrate water data, forecasting systems and early warning systems together with local communities. This would go alongside investment in dual-use infrastructure that serves both normal and crisis conditions. He also proposed extending water management toward a Water Economy, in order to reduce losses, sustain business continuity, and create economic and social value in local areas.

Mr. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of SCG, said: "From the proposals and actions of the past year, we now see clear progress across all three agendas: Energy Transition, Just Transition and Climate Adaptation. The key challenge today is to take what we have learned and done over many years and scale it up more broadly. We have seen that Public-Private-People Partnership, or 4P, can deliver real results: the public sector creates conditions conducive to action, the private sector brings technology and capital to experiment, and the people's sector participates in defining the needs of each area, which is the Area-Based Approach. Drawing on lessons from Saraburi Province, we should take this 4P model and scale it to other areas, starting by studying the needs and problems of each area while identifying suitable partners, so that lessons can be turned into real action and cooperation can be extended with other countries.

If we can expand this kind of collaboration in a concrete way, it will accelerate change and build a competitive economy while effectively addressing climate change. Most importantly, it will open the way for every sector to grow together."

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

Hashtags: #SCG

Totals 786 Events in FY 2025-2026; Reinforcing Hong Kong's Position as the "International Convention and Exhibition Hub"

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 October 2026 - The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre ("HKCEC") has reaffirmed its standing as the venue of choice for leading global and Chinese Mainland organisers.

Throughout the financial year 2025-2026 (July 2025 to June 2026), the HKCEC hosted 786 events, including 128 exhibitions, 81 international and local conferences, and hundreds of corporate meetings, banquets and entertainment events. This year was highlighted by 25 new conferences and exhibitions, including several Hong Kong and Asian debuts, drawing an impressive total attendance of over 7.7 million.

Ms Monica Lee-M?ller, Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited ("HML"), commented, "Leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantage as a gateway between Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world, HML has exemplified Hong Kong's role as a 'Super Connector' and 'Super Value-Adder' by strategically aligning our business development focus on four key sectors-Medical, Innovation and Technology, Finance, and Education, and secured some landmark debuts.

We are thrilled that these inaugural events were met with resounding success and have already confirmed their return to the HKCEC next year. Looking forward, we will continue to provide a world-class platform that empowers Mainland enterprises to go global while attracting international investment, creating a powerful engine for Hong Kong's long-term economic growth."

Several landmark events made their debuts at the HKCEC during the year. Notably, the inaugural Hong Kong Comic Con 2026 demonstrated the immense appeal of launching major international IPs in the city, achieving unprecedented success, generating substantial economic value and business opportunities. Following this resounding debut, the organisers have confirmed that the event will return to the HKCEC in 2027.

Highlighting Hong Kong's position as an international health and medical innovation hub, multiple international medical conferences were held in the city and at the HKCEC for the first time this year. Among them, the 9th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery brought together leading experts and more than 3,000 global participants, underscoring Hong Kong's professional standing in medical.

Additionally, the HKCEC welcomed the 15th China Chest Pain Centers Congress, marking the first time ever this national medical association convention has been held in Hong Kong. The HKCEC serves as a two-way platform to showcase national healthcare standards and support Mainland enterprises in their global expansion.

These milestones further demonstrate Hong Kong's vital role as a regional hub connecting Chinese Mainland and the world, while continuing to reinforce city's leading position in the medical sector.

In addition, Asia's flagship events have reaffirmed Hong Kong as their long-term host city, confirming their return to the HKCEC in 2027. Art Basel Hong Kong, which has been held annually at the HKCEC since 2013, has reached an agreement with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to designate Hong Kong as the sole Asian venue over the next four years. Meanwhile, Vinexpo Asia-one of the region's premier wine and spirits trade events since 1998-is ending its rotation with Singapore. Organiser Vinexposium announced that Vinexpo Asia will officially make Hong Kong its home starting in 2027.

Looking ahead, HML will continue to actively secure prestigious exhibitions and conferences, generating high-value business and international exchange opportunities for Hong Kong. Recent additions include the inaugural LEAP East-the Asian edition of the Middle East's flagship tech fair in July, the inaugural Global Unicorn Summit in August, and the World Cancer Congress 2026 in September. Later this year, the HKCEC will also host the city's premier art toy exhibition-Amazing Toy Show Hong Kong 2026 for the first time in December.

By continuously introducing high-profile global events, HML will enrich Hong Kong's vibrant events landscape and further cement its status as a leading convention and exhibition hub.

About the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

This award?winning 306,000?sqm building, first opened in 1988, offers 91,500 sqm of rentable space. An iconic Hong Kong landmark, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre ('HKCEC') is located on a prime waterfront site in the central business district of Hong Kong. It is owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

About Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited ('HML') is a professional private management and operating company responsible for providing day-to-day management for the HKCEC, where it oversees administration, marketing, booking, scheduling, event co-ordination, maintenance and security. It also manages food and beverage operations at the HKCEC, including restaurants and catering services.

HML provides world-class services for users, visitors and guests of the HKCEC, a venue which has been consistently awarded the title of 'Best Convention and Exhibition Centre in Asia' by leading industry professionals. Events at the HKCEC, including exhibitions, conferences, corporate meetings, entertainment events, seminars and banquets, contribute significant economic benefits to the city and help raise the international image of Hong Kong.

HML is a member of CTF Services Limited. Listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, CTF Services Limited (Hong Kong Stock Code: 659) is a conglomerate with a diversified portfolio of market-leading businesses, predominantly in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland. The Group's businesses include financial services, toll roads, logistics, construction, and facilities management. Through the Group's sustainable business model, it is committed to creating more value for all stakeholders and the community.

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

Hashtags: #HKCEC

http://www.hkcec.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-convention-and-exhibition-centre/

https://www.facebook.com/HKCECofficial/

XHS: https://xhslink.com/m/D2yI1jiKjp

Live Platform Enables Users to Purchase AI Tokens and Access Supported Models, Including OpenAI GPT, Kimi, Meta Llma and Qwen

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VCI Global Limited (NASDAQ: VCIG) ("VCI Global" or the "Company") today announced that VGAIN Compute, an AI token platform developed by its subsidiary V Gallant Limited ("V Gallant"), has gone live, marking another step in the Company's expansion into AI infrastructure, GPU computing and AI services.

VGAIN Compute enables users to purchase AI tokens to access supported large language models (LLMs), including OpenAI GPT models associated with ChatGPT, Kimi, Meta Llama and Qwen. By bringing multiple AI models into a single access platform, VGAIN Compute is designed to serve a broad range of use cases, including content generation, coding, research, business applications and workflow automation.

The launch gives V Gallant a direct, customer-facing platform for AI services while creating a commercial layer that can complement the Company's broader investments in AI computing infrastructure.

Connecting AI Infrastructure with AI Demand

VCI Global's AI strategy spans both the infrastructure required to power AI workloads and the platforms through which users consume AI services.

Through V Gallant, the Company is developing capabilities across AI computing and infrastructure while building commercial channels that connect computing capacity with end-user demand. VGAIN Compute represents an important component of this approach, providing a usage-based platform through which customers can purchase AI tokens and access supported AI models.

As the platform develops, V Gallant expects to evaluate opportunities to expand its model catalogue, introduce additional enterprise-focused capabilities and support increasingly sophisticated AI workloads.

The platform is also designed to support developers and businesses exploring agentic AI applications, where AI models can be used to execute tasks, coordinate processes and automate workflows. Such applications can generate recurring demand for AI inference, the computing process through which AI models produce responses and outputs.

"Our objective is to build an AI business that connects infrastructure with real-world customer demand," said Victor Hoo, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of VCI Global. "With VGAIN Compute now live, we have established a customer-facing platform through which users can purchase AI tokens and access a range of leading AI models. This gives us a foundation to develop the services side of our AI strategy as we continue expanding our computing capabilities."

The launch of VGAIN Compute provides V Gallant with an initial platform from which to develop a broader AI services ecosystem.

Going forward, the Company expects to focus on expanding the supported model catalogue, increasing platform adoption, developing enterprise use cases and aligning additional computing capacity with customer requirements.

For VCI Global, the opportunity extends beyond providing access to individual AI models. The Company sees potential across AI inference, enterprise automation, agentic AI and other compute-intensive workloads, with infrastructure expansion to be guided by customer demand, hardware availability and project economics.

About VCI Global Limited

VCI Global Limited (NASDAQ: VCIG) is an AI-native operating platform designed to scale and optimize businesses through centralized intelligence, data, and capital discipline.

The Company operates a platform-based model in which subsidiaries, affiliates, and portfolio companies plug into VCI Global's centralized AI, data, governance, and capital allocation systems, enabling faster execution, improved capital efficiency, and scalable growth across multiple industries.

VCI Global's platform centralizes AI-enabled execution, standardized KPI frameworks, financial and governance controls, and strategic capital allocation, while operating businesses focus on revenue generation, customer relationships, and local execution.

The Company maintains exposure across advisory, AI, and digital infrastructure, digital assets, energy, automotive, and consumer sectors, and continuously evaluates opportunities to scale, spin off, divest, or discontinue businesses based on performance, scalability, and return on capital.

VCI Global's platform-centric approach is designed to enhance productivity, improve IPO readiness, and unlock long-term value through disciplined growth and selective capital deployment.

For more information on the Company, please log on to https://v-capital.co/.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding the Company's ability to grow its business and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be accompanied by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and other future conditions.

Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements.

Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including without limitation, the Company's ability to achieve profitable operations, customer acceptance of new products, the effects of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and future measures taken by authorities in the countries wherein the Company has supply chain partners, the demand for the Company's products and the Company's customers' economic condition, the impact of competitive products and pricing, successfully managing and, general economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release, except in accordance with applicable law.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Tuesday October 6, 2026

Dear Shareholders and Investors,

I am pleased to inform you that my son, Monaco based Alexander Hansson, Vice-Chairman of NAT has bought 300,000 shares at $8.44 per share, bringing his holding to 6,300,000 shares.

Following this transaction, members of the Hansson family collectively own 12 million NAT shares. 

As in the past, the Hansson family is the largest private shareholder group in the company.

We are experiencing an exceptional tanker market and prospects for NAT are good.

For further information on Nordic American Tankers, please see www.nat.bm

Sincerely,

Herbjorn Hansson

Founder, Chairman & CEO

Nordic American Tankers Ltd

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Tealium now integrates with the ChatGPT Ads Measurement Pixel and Conversions API, helping enterprises recover signals traditional tracking misses

San Diego, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tealium today announced it now offers both client-side Measurement Pixel and server-side Conversions API (CAPI) integration capabilities with ChatGPT Ads. This partnership allows for enterprises to improve visibility into customer acquisition, engagement, and conversion across AI-influenced journeys. 

As consumers increasingly use large language models (LLMs) and agentic experiences to discover, evaluate, and act, enterprises need reliable visibility. Morgan Stanley estimates that agents could drive up to 20% of U.S. ecommerce sales by 2030, while McKinsey estimates agentic commerce could represent a $5 trillion global opportunity within that same timeframe. Yet, many enterprises are experiencing significant signal loss because traditional measurement infrastructure wasn't built to track these new interactions, creating significant blind spots across the customer journey. 

Tealium's combined capabilities with ChatGPT Ads address this visibility gap by giving customers complementary measurement paths. The Measurement Pixel captures browser-side conversions and lifecycle events, while the Events CAPI connector sends conversion and lifecycle events server-side to ChatGPT Ads. Together, these capabilities help customers create a more complete measurement foundation for outcomes such as page views, product and content views, leads, checkouts, purchases, trials, and subscriptions within agentic experiences. 

Both capabilities also extend Tealium's trusted data foundation to help enterprises measure AI-influenced customer journeys with greater confidence, while maintaining consent and governance across client-side and server-side experiences. Together, they give organizations greater control over the signals shared with ChatGPT Ads and help support more responsible, resilient measurement.

"AI is changing how people discover products, make decisions, and engage with brands," said Jeff Lunsford, CEO at Tealium. "Enterprises need more than visibility into clicks or isolated interactions. They need trusted, consented signals and governance controls that connect AI-influenced journeys to meaningful business outcomes. Through these new capabilities with ChatGPT Ads, we are helping customers measure those journeys with greater coverage and act on the resulting intelligence through the same governed data foundation."

The ChatGPT Ads Measurement Pixel is a client-side Tealium iQ tag that records website conversions and lifecycle events for ChatGPT Ads measurement and optimization. Customers can configure event mappings, e-commerce data, custom events, consent behavior, and debugging within Tealium iQ rather than building and maintaining custom implementations.

The Ads Conversion API provides a server-side path for sending conversion and lifecycle events from Tealium to ChatGPT Ads. Because server-side events can include authoritative data from backend and enterprise systems, customers can extend measurement beyond what is captured in the browser and improve the quality and resilience of signals used for reporting and optimization. 

Learn more about Tealium's capabilities with ChatGPT Ads. 

To keep up with the latest company news, visit Tealium's Newsroom.

About Tealium

Tealium delivers trusted data for AI at enterprise scale with its leading customer data orchestration platform. As the foundational data layer, Tealium delivers a hybrid customer data platform (CDP) built for both composable architectures and real-time activation, including intelligent data streaming, a context engine, enterprise tag management, and a robust API Hub. Its turnkey integration ecosystem connects seamlessly with leading data clouds and technology providers, including more than 1,300 prebuilt integrations and a growing AI Partner Ecosystem. By delivering real-time, contextual, enriched, and consented data, Tealium helps enterprises accelerate AI performance, improve operational efficiency, and power customer experiences in the moments that matter.

Natalie Passarelli

natalie.passarelli@tealium.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Platform ini mematuhi lima prinsip utama yang dirancang khusus untuk industri penerbangan, dengan ratusan agen yang direncanakan akan melayani segmen penerbangan komersial, bisnis, dan militer

PARIS, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jeppesen ForeFlight hari ini memperkenalkan agen pertama dari ratusan agen yang direncanakan untuk Jeppesen ForeFlight Airflow, platform Intelijen Operasional Penerbangan miliknya. Pelanggan dapat menggunakan atau membangun agen mereka sendiri di platform ini, memanfaatkan agen Jeppesen ForeFlight maupun alat pihak ketiga, atau mengombinasikan semuanya.

Seluruh agen beroperasi pada lapisan konteks unik yang dirancang khusus untuk industri penerbangan. Data dan pengetahuan pelanggan tetap berdaulat, tata kelolanya berlandaskan kerangka Sistem Manajemen Keselamatan (Safety Management System/SMS) industri, dan tingkat otomatisasi dapat disesuaikan dengan tetap menempatkan manusia sebagai pusat pengambilan keputusan.

Perusahaan memperkenalkan Jeppesen ForeFlight Airflow sebagai strategi berbasis agen AI pada bulan Juli lalu. Platform ini mematuhi lima prinsip utama yang dirancang khusus untuk industri penerbangan, dengan kebebasan memilih dan kendali pelanggan sebagai fondasi utamanya. Operator dapat menentukan sendiri kecepatan adopsi dan tingkat otomatisasi. Mereka juga dapat memilih untuk menggunakan agen mereka sendiri, alat pihak ketiga, agen Jeppesen ForeFlight, atau kombinasi dari ketiganya.

Setiap opsi melakukan penalaran berdasarkan data penerbangan tersertifikasi yang sama dan mengikuti aturan tiap operator. Perusahaan memperkenalkan sejumlah agen dalam konferensi tahunan pengguna penerbangan komersialnya, sekaligus menyiapkan ratusan agen lainnya. Setiap agen dirancang untuk mendorong pertumbuhan pendapatan, menekan biaya, dan meningkatkan perlindungan terhadap aset paling berharga milik maskapai.

"Industri kami unik dari segi standar keselamatan, efisiensi, kenyamanan, dan regulasi global yang harus dipenuhi dalam penerbangan penumpang maupun kargo. Jeppesen ForeFlight Airflow merupakan platform berstandar penerbangan yang dapat diadopsi setiap operator sesuai dengan kecepatan penerapan dan tingkat otomatisasi yang mereka tentukan, dengan kombinasi agen milik mereka sendiri atau agen kami," ujar Brad Surak, CEO Jeppesen ForeFlight. "Setiap opsi pemulihan, dinilai dan direkomendasikan dalam hitungan detik, disertai alasan yang mendasarinya untuk mendukung pengambilan keputusan yang tepercaya. Menurut operator, itulah hal yang paling mereka butuhkan."

Jeppesen ForeFlight Airflow melakukan penalaran berdasarkan hubungan sebab-akibat operasional, bukan sekadar mencocokkan pola umum. Platform ini dikembangkan dengan memanfaatkan lebih dari 90 tahun keahlian di industri penerbangan. Pengembangannya juga didasarkan pada wawasan dari lebih dari 60 juta penerbangan yang setiap tahunnya menggunakan produk perusahaan. Setiap rekomendasi yang dihasilkan agen di platform ini disertai fakta, sumber, dan penalaran yang mendasarinya. Dengan demikian, operator dapat meninjau dasar suatu keputusan tanpa harus menerimanya begitu saja, sedangkan tanggung jawab akhir atas keputusan tersebut tetap berada pada manusia.

Agen Jeppesen ForeFlight Airflow pertama berupaya mengatasi tiga sumber kendala operasional terbesar dalam penerbangan komersial:

Trip Trading membantu ratusan ribu awak yang setiap tahun melakukan pertukaran jadwal memperoleh hasil yang lebih cepat dan lebih adil. Fitur ini membantu meningkatkan kualitas hidup awak saat bertugas sekaligus mengurangi ketidakhadiran yang tidak terencana dan biaya tambahan bagi maskapai ketika pertukaran jadwal sulit dilakukan.

Target Mastery mengubah cara penyusunan rangkaian tugas dan jadwal kerja awak pesawat. Perencana menetapkan sasaran bisnis yang ingin dicapai, seperti biaya, tingkat kelelahan, ketahanan jadwal, waktu cadangan antar-penerbangan, hingga ketersediaan awak cadangan. Target Mastery lalu menerjemahkan sasaran tersebut langsung ke dalam sebuah rencana, tanpa mengharuskan perencana menyesuaikan parameter melalui proses coba-coba.

Augmented Ops Control menjadi langkah awal Jeppesen ForeFlight dalam menangani salah satu tantangan AI paling sulit di industri penerbangan, yaitu manajemen gangguan. Solusi ini memberi pengendali operasi alat yang konkret dan praktis untuk meninjau berbagai opsi pemulihan yang telah dievaluasi dan diberi peringkat, disertai penalaran di baliknya, selama opsi termurah masih dapat dipertimbangkan.

Agen tambahan untuk segmen penerbangan bisnis dan militer juga akan segera debut. Hal ini menjadi bagian dari rencana Jeppesen ForeFlight untuk memperluas Jeppesen ForeFlight Airflow secara cepat ke seluruh pasar yang dilayaninya. Perusahaan telah mulai mencari mitra dari sektor penerbangan komersial untuk tahap pengembangan bersama, menjelang peluncuran yang lebih luas pada awal tahun depan.

Berbeda dengan pendekatan lain di industri penerbangan, agen Jeppesen ForeFlight Airflow menerapkan lima prinsip utama yang sangat penting:

Penalaran Kontekstual - Alur kerja tepercaya yang memahami cara kerja industri penerbangan secara menyeluruh, bukan sekadar mengacu pada pola kejadian sebelumnya.

Penalaran dari Input Tersertifikasi - Intelijen dengan sumber yang terverifikasi, dengan setiap hasil berlandaskan otoritas regulasi dan akurasi tersertifikasi dari fondasi data penerbangan Jeppesen ForeFlight yang sudah lama digunakan.

Menyertakan Jejak Alasan yang Jelas - Setiap rekomendasi menampilkan logika sebab-akibat yang mendasarinya, mulai dari input spesifik dan kendala operasional hingga alternatif yang telah dievaluasi beserta tingkat ketidakpastian yang terkait.

Beroperasi di dalam Sistem Manajemen Keselamatan (Safety Management System/SMS) - Menerapkan kerangka keselamatan yang telah digunakan dalam operasional penerbangan.

Penilaian yang Berpusat pada Manusia - AI menangani beban kerja yang besar. Pelanggan dapat menentukan tingkat otomatisasi yang dibutuhkan, dengan kepastian bahwa manusia tetap memegang kendali atas pengambilan keputusan.

Operator yang tertarik bergabung dalam tahap pengembangan bersama dapat memperoleh informasi lebih lanjut di ai.jeppesenforeflight.com.

Tentang Jeppesen ForeFlight

Jeppesen ForeFlight menyediakan data, perangkat lunak, dan wawasan yang mendukung setiap segmen penerbangan. Pilot, operator, dan awak penerbangan memercayai kami untuk merencanakan, menavigasi, memantau, dan mengoptimalkan lebih dari 60 juta penerbangan komersial, militer, bisnis, dan penerbangan umum setiap tahun.

Platform kami mendukung perencanaan awak, armada, dan penerbangan; manajemen jaringan dan operasional; serta solusi kokpit penerbangan. Data navigasi kami tetap menjadi standar global. Kami telah menciptakan peta penerbangan berbasis kertas sejak satu abad lalu dan kini memimpin era penerbangan berbasis AI. Sebagai platform bagi industri penerbangan, kami menghadirkan keahlian mendalam serta wawasan yang tak tertandingi.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Octave Intelligence plc (Nasdaq New York: OCTV and Nasdaq Stockholm: OCTV SDB), a global leader in software for the world's mission critical facilities and infrastructure, will release its third quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The company will host a conference call that same day to discuss its results and business outlook at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To register for the live event, please visit: https://octave-q3-earnings-call-2026.open-exchange.net/

A live webcast of the conference call and the financial results press release will be accessible from the Octave investor relations website at investors.octave.com. A webcast replay of the call will be available at investors.octave.com.

About Octave: Octave provides mission-critical software that empowers organizations to make informed decisions across every stage of the asset lifecycle - Design, Build, Operate and Protect - where performance, safety, and reliability are non-negotiable and failure is not an option.

Turning complex operational data into actionable intelligence, Octave connects expertise, real-world conditions and enterprise-scale insight to improve performance, resilience and incident response where it matters most.

Octave has approximately 7,200 employees in 45 countries. Learn more at octave.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Octave Investor Contact: Elizabeth Chwalk, VP, Investor Relations, elizabeth.chwalk@octave.com  

Octave Media Contact: media@octave.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

CHICAGO and LONDON, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, introduced the Descartes Agent Control Plane at its Innovation Forum in Chicago, which this year brings together a record number of customers, speakers and sponsors to explore innovation in supply chain and logistics technology.

Built on the Descartes Global Logistics Network (Descartes GLN), the Agent Control Plane is designed to build trust in AI agents by coordinating them across applications and trading partners to execute multi-step workflows within defined guardrails, policies and human oversight.

"Even with connected systems, supply chain teams devote significant time to interpreting updates from emails, messages and portals, rekeying information and coordinating next steps to move orders forward," said Ken Wood, Executive Vice President, Product Management at Descartes. "The Agent Control Plane brings our logistics capabilities together so AI agents can take on more of that work across applications, conversations and company boundaries; keep it moving as replies and approvals arrive; and act on events as they occur within permissions and approval points defined by customers. It's an important step in our AI strategy, helping customers build on the Descartes solutions and AI platforms they already use and apply AI to the operational outcomes that matter, from reducing manual follow-up to keeping customer commitments on track."

The Agent Control Plane combines the operationally ready data and connectivity of the Descartes GLN with capabilities from Descartes solutions to help AI agents coordinate work across applications and trading partners, and to make Descartes agents available within the AI platforms customers already use.

The GLN supplies the logistics context to connect changes in one part of a shipment's journey with actions needed elsewhere, while the Agent Control Plane applies customer-defined permissions and approvals and maintains a traceable record of agent actions. Together, they help reduce manual handoffs, accelerate responses to changing conditions and give teams more time to focus on exceptions and customer relationships.

"We're pleased to welcome such a strong community of customers, sponsors and speakers to this year's Innovation Forum," said Edward J. Ryan, CEO at Descartes. "Record participation reflects the value of bringing this community together to share experiences, learn from one another and explore new possibilities. The conversations we have here help us understand our customers' priorities and shape how we continue to innovate in support of their success."

Bringing together 1,000+ attendees and 200+ speakers this year, the three-day Innovation Forum features sessions across fleet performance management, transportation management, global trade intelligence, logistics service providers and ecommerce operations. Industry and customer presentations, discussions with Descartes product specialists and hands-on demonstrations at the Technology Fair give attendees opportunities to explore practical ways to improve operations and gain more value from their technology investments.

To learn more about event speakers, sessions and sponsors, visit www.descartes.com/innovation-forum.

About Descartes

Descartes powers more responsive, efficient, secure and sustainable international and domestic supply chains by uniting logistics-intensive businesses on its Global Logistics Network (GLN). Shippers, carriers, and logistics service providers connect and collaborate on the GLN leveraging technology, data and AI to manage last mile deliveries, domestic and international shipments, transportation rating and payment, global trade research, customs compliance and a variety of regulatory processes. Learn more about Descartes at www.descartes.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") that relate to Descartes' logistics and supply chain solution offerings and potential benefits derived therefrom; the innovations Descartes intends to present at its Innovation Forum in Chicago; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such factors include, but are not limited to, the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities regulatory authorities across Canada including Descartes' most recently filed annual and interim management's discussion and analysis which are available under Descartes' profile through the EDGAR website at http://www.sec.gov or through the SEDAR+ website at http://www.sedarplus.com/. If any such risks actually occur, they could, among other consequences, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Except as required by applicable law, Descartes undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GTC Prime, a provider of institutional liquidity solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Centroid Solutions, a global fintech provider of the One-Centroid Ecosystem.

Through the partnership, GTC Prime will leverage CS 360 Bridge, Centroid's multi-asset connectivity and execution engine, to manage and distribute its liquidity through a centralized environment. The collaboration will enable brokers and institutional clients to access GTC Prime's liquidity efficiently, supported by tailor-made pricing, low-latency execution, real-time monitoring, reporting, and risk management.

The partnership responds to growing demand for centralized multi-asset liquidity access with robust connectivity and execution control. By leveraging CS 360 Bridge, GTC Prime aims to simplify liquidity distribution, reduce connectivity complexity, and support faster client onboarding and deployment.

GTC Prime provides liquidity across eight asset classes, including forex, indices, equities, futures, ETFs, digital currencies, precious metals, and commodities. Its offering includes tailor-made pricing sourced from tier 1 banks, DMA execution, ultra-fast price feeds, competitive spreads and commissions, and up to 10 levels of market depth.

CS 360 Bridge will provide the core connectivity and execution layer, allowing GTC Prime to centralize liquidity distribution, aggregate pricing, manage client connectivity, and support smart order routing across multiple platforms and distribution channels.

GTC Prime's Team commented: "Brokers and institutional clients today need more than access to liquidity; they need deep market access, efficient connectivity, operational visibility, and technology that can support multi-asset growth at scale. By partnering with Centroid Solutions and leveraging CS 360 Bridge, we are strengthening how our liquidity is constructed and distributed while supporting clients with faster access to our pricing, execution, and risk management solutions."

Cristian Vlasceanu, CEO at Centroid Solutions, said: "We are pleased to partner with GTC Prime and support its liquidity distribution through CS 360 Bridge. As liquidity providers expand across asset classes and client segments, connectivity, execution control, and real-time visibility become essential. This collaboration reflects our commitment to providing scalable technology that supports the continued growth of financial institutions."

About GTC Prime

GTC Prime provides liquidity, connectivity, and risk management solutions for brokers, hedge funds, asset managers, professional traders, and private trading desks. Its solutions combine deep liquidity access, reliable connectivity, transparent pricing, and dedicated support to meet institutional and professional trading requirements.

For more information, contact sales@gtcprime.com or visit gtcprime.com.

About Centroid Solutions

Centroid Solutions is a capital markets technology provider offering the One-Centroid Ecosystem, a modular suite of solutions supporting embedded finance and multi-asset trading. Its technology covers liquidity access, risk intelligence, client lifecycle management, infrastructure, connectivity, and brokerage operations for financial institutions worldwide.

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