Findhelp's specialty exchange services support social care referral and reporting under the Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Findhelp, the nation's leading social care technology platform, today announced it is the first specialty exchange that has registered with the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC).

Findhelp is uniquely positioned to advance the goals of the Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) by helping grant awardees easily navigate social risk screening, referrals, data exchange, and reporting requirements. By equipping health care providers and community-based organizations (CBOs) with these specialized technical capabilities, Findhelp can help reduce barriers to care coordination and strengthen connections between rural patients and essential non-medical resources.

Streamlining Whole Person Care Across Maryland

As a dedicated partner to health information exchange (HIE) organizations like CRISP, Maryland's State-Designated HIE, Findhelp supports the exchange of referrals and social care information. By integrating social needs screening and referral processes into electronic health record systems, Findhelp allows providers to connect patients with community resources and receive information about referral outcomes within existing workflows. This can give health care organizations a more complete view of patients' needs, support coordination between clinical and community partners, and help address non-medical drivers of health.

"Building on existing data-sharing infrastructure and partnerships can promote greater sharing of social needs information and support the State's broader health care transformation goals," said Douglas Jacobs, MD, MPH, Executive Director at MHCC. "Findhelp's registration as a specialty exchange represents an important step toward connecting clinical care with community-based resources and interoperability across platforms."

Supporting Maryland's Rural Health Transformation Program

Findhelp's interoperable platform is designed to simplify how care teams collect, exchange, and report social care information across systems in a standardized way. These capabilities can support RHTP grant recipients as they coordinate referrals, monitor outcomes, and work to align with Maryland's existing health information exchange infrastructure. Findhelp's integration with CRISP supports bidirectional data exchange, allowing participating clinicians to review community referral information and outcomes within their existing workflows.

Strengthening Regional Data Sharing with CRISP

Findhelp's role in Maryland reflects its commitment to complement traditional HIEs rather than replace them. Findhelp users who choose to share information through CRISP can allow other authorized CRISP users to see community program information, referral status updates, and referring provider information. This gives participating providers a more complete view of patients' interactions with community-based services, regardless of where care was initiated.

"We're proud to achieve registration status with MHCC," said Jaffer Traish, Chief Operating Officer at Findhelp. "By connecting directly into EHR workflows and feeding social care insights into regional partners like CRISP, we're helping Maryland advance RHTP goals while keeping care human, efficient, and accessible."

Findhelp offers a solution to primary care practices and health systems looking to expand access to social care services and makes it easy for organizations to deliver whole person care and support rural health transformation across the State. The platform has demonstrated it meets rigorous, nationally recognized standards for privacy and security and has the advanced technical capabilities necessary to support the secure, interoperable exchange of electronic health information across clinical and community networks. Maryland RHTP grant recipients can deploy Findhelp's social care infrastructure immediately; it links seamlessly with EHRs without any upfront technical integration.

About Findhelp

Findhelp is the leading social care platform, powering a connected safety net. We enable health systems, governments, payers, and more to identify social needs, coordinate services, and manage benefits enrollment through a unified digital infrastructure. Our technology provides a smarter, faster, and more efficient way to deliver social care—at scale. Visit company.findhelp.com to learn more about our solutions.

SOURCE Findhelp

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Tissue Distribution Study Shows Highest Exposure in Adipose Tissue and Prolonged Retention Consistent with Once-Weekly Dosing Findings Provide Mechanistic Support for the Differentiated Profile of DA-1726

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MetaVia Inc. (Nasdaq: MTVA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming cardiometabolic diseases, today announced results from a preclinical tissue distribution study demonstrating that DA-1726-derived radioactivity is slowly absorbed and extensively distributed throughout the body following subcutaneous administration, with broad tissue distribution and the highest tissue exposure observed in adipose (fat) tissue.

Data from the study showed that tissue-to-plasma ratios increased over time, indicating prolonged retention of DA-1726-derived radioactivity in tissues relative to plasma. Consistent with this finding, the greatest exposure outside of the injection site occurred in abdominal, subcutaneous and brown fat, as well as the liver.

"We believe these findings provide important mechanistic support for the differentiated profile we continue to observe with DA-1726," stated Hyung Heon Kim, President and Chief Executive Officer of MetaVia. "In our previously reported Phase 1 study, patients receiving the 48 mg dose of DA-1726 achieved a mean reduction in waist circumference of 9.8 cm after only eight weeks of treatment (Day 54). We believe the preferential distribution of DA-1726-derived radioactivity to adipose tissue observed in this preclinical study provides an important biological rationale that is consistent with these encouraging clinical findings. In addition, the prolonged retention of DA-1726-derived radioactivity in tissues observed throughout the study may contribute to the sustained pharmacokinetic exposure of DA-1726 and may also help explain the excellent tolerability profile observed across our clinical studies, to date. Together, these findings further reinforce our confidence in the unique potential of DA-1726 as a next-generation obesity therapy. As patients in our ongoing 24-week dose-titration study continue to receive extended treatment at their highest achieved dose levels, we look forward to evaluating whether longer treatment can further enhance reductions in waist circumference, weight loss and other important cardiometabolic measures. We anticipate reporting 16-week topline data in the fourth quarter of this year, followed by 24-week topline results in the first quarter of 2027."

The preclinical study data also demonstrated prolonged retention of DA-1726-derived radioactivity in tissues through the final 144-hour assessment, consistent with the prolonged pharmacokinetic profile supporting once-weekly dosing of DA-1726. In addition, only minimal radioactivity was detected in the central nervous system, consistent with the limited brain penetration typically observed with peptide-based therapies.

About DA-1726

DA-1726 is a novel GLP1R/GCGR dual agonist for the treatment of obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) that is to be administered once weekly subcutaneously. DA-1726 acts as a dual agonist of GLP-1 receptors (GLP1R) and glucagon receptors (GCGR), leading to weight loss through reduced appetite and increased energy expenditure. DA-1726 has a well understood mechanism and, in preclinical mouse models, resulted in improved weight loss compared to semaglutide (Wegovy®), a leading GLP-1 receptor agonist. Additionally, in preclinical mouse models, DA-1726 elicited similar weight reduction, while consuming more food, compared to tirzepatide (Zepbound®) and survodutide (a drug with the same MOA), while also preserving lean body mass and demonstrating improved lipid-lowering effects compared to survodutide. In the Phase 1 multiple ascending dose (MAD) trial in obesity, the 32 mg dose of DA-1726 demonstrated best-in-class potential for weight loss, glucose control, and waist circumference reduction.

About MetaVia

MetaVia Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming cardiometabolic diseases. The company is currently developing DA-1726 for the treatment of obesity, and is developing vanoglipel (DA-1241) for the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). DA-1726 is a novel oxyntomodulin (OXM) analogue that functions as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR) dual agonist. OXM is a naturally-occurring gut hormone that activates GLP1R and GCGR, thereby decreasing food intake while increasing energy expenditure, thus potentially resulting in superior body weight loss compared to selective GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide. In a Phase 1 multiple ascending dose (MAD) trial in obesity, DA-1726 demonstrated best-in-class potential for weight loss, glucose control, and waist reduction. Vanoglipel is a potential first-in-class drug candidate targeting G-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119). In preclinical studies, vanoglipel demonstrated a positive metabolic effect on glucose and lipid control, and also proved differentiated hepatic benefits reducing hepatic steatosis, hepatic inflammation, and liver fibrosis regardless independent of metabolic improvement. In a Phase 2a clinical study, vanoglipel demonstrated direct hepatic action in addition to its glucose lowering effects.

For more information, please visit www.metaviatx.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "may", "will", "should", "seeks", "approximately", "potential", "intends", "projects", "plans", "estimates" or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including, without limitation, those risks associated with MetaVia's history of net losses, the sufficiency of its existing cash on hand to fund operations and raising additional capital; adverse global economic conditions; MetaVia's ability to execute on its commercial strategy; the timeline for regulatory submissions; the ability to obtain regulatory approval through the development steps of MetaVia's current and future product candidates; the ability to realize the benefits of the license agreement with Dong-A ST Co. Ltd., including the impact on future financial and operating results of MetaVia; the cooperation of MetaVia's contract manufacturers, clinical study partners and others involved in the development of MetaVia's current and future product candidates; potential negative interactions between MetaVia's product candidates and any other products with which they are combined for treatment; MetaVia's ability to initiate and complete clinical trials on a timely basis; MetaVia's ability to recruit subjects for its clinical trials; whether MetaVia receives results from MetaVia's clinical trials that are consistent with the results of preclinical and previous clinical trials; impact of costs related to the license agreement, known and unknown, including costs of any litigation or regulatory actions relating to the license agreement; the effects of changes in applicable laws, regulations or Nasdaq listing rules; the effects of changes to MetaVia's stock price; and other risks and uncertainties described in MetaVia's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including MetaVia's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made. MetaVia does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts:

MetaVia

Marshall H. Woodworth

Chief Financial Officer

+1-857-299-1033

[email protected]

Rx Communications Group

Michael Miller

+1-917-633-6086

[email protected]

SOURCE MetaVia Inc.

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Albaron Partners Completes Sale of Prime Psychiatry to Beacon Behavioral Partners

Prime Psychiatry to Continue Its Growth as Part of Beacon Behavioral Partners

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Albaron Partners, LP ("Albaron"), a middle-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that it has completed the sale of Prime Wellness LLC d/b/a Prime Psychiatry ("Prime Psychiatry"), a Texas-based leader in outpatient and interventional psychiatry services, to Beacon Behavioral Partners ("Beacon").

In 2022, Albaron partnered with Dr. Efosa Airuehia, founder of Prime Psychiatry, to grow the practice into a regional leader in outpatient and interventional psychiatric care. As part of Beacon's national behavioral health platform, Prime Psychiatry will expand its established Texas presence, positioning both companies for their next phase of growth. "We've greatly valued our partnership with Dr. Airuehia in building Prime Psychiatry into what it is today," said Debo Adesina, partner at Albaron. "We believe that joining Beacon's platform will further accelerate Prime Psychiatry's ability to scale its clinical offerings to patients across Texas and beyond."

Cozen O'Connor P.C. served as sell-side legal counsel to Albaron and Prime Psychiatry, while Citizens Capital Markets & Advisory acted as sell-side financial advisor on the transaction.

About Prime Psychiatry

With operations in DFW and Austin, TX, Prime Psychiatry is a regional leader in outpatient psychiatric services for children, adolescents, and adults. Prime Psychiatry offers various treatment options including anxiety treatment, depression treatment, medication management, TMS, and Spravato (https://primepsychiatrymd.com).

About Beacon

Beacon Behavioral Partners is a physician-driven organization supporting a growing network of independent psychiatric practices across the U.S. They partner with providers to deliver exceptional behavioral healthcare in their communities by removing operational burdens, investing in smart growth, and upholding clinical autonomy. With decades of healthcare management experience and a commitment to data-driven decision-making, their mission is to set the standard for interventional psychiatry through trusted local practices, accountable leadership, and continuous innovation. Beacon helps partners scale sustainably while focusing on what matters most: delivering high-quality, patient-centered care (beaconbhpartners.com).

About Albaron

Founded in 2017, Albaron is an operationally focused, middle-market healthcare private equity firm. Its dedicated team of healthcare investors and seasoned operators partners with founders and management teams to scale their businesses and build leading platforms within their respective specialties. Albaron is currently investing out of its latest fund, a $185 million vehicle that closed in May 2026 (https://albaronpartners.com).

SOURCE Albaron Partners

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Chart Assist, Ask Avo, and AI Scribe are now all part of the MEDITECH Alliance, expanding Avo's AI platform across MEDITECH Expanse

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Avo, the clinical AI platform that transforms Electronic Health Records into intelligent systems of action, today announced the expansion of its MEDITECH Alliance partnership with the addition of Chart Assist and Ask Avo. MEDITECH health systems now have access to Avo's full clinical AI platform, with AI-powered solutions that improve care quality, revenue, and compliance, supporting clinical decision-making, streamlining documentation, and automating workflows directly within the EHR.

"Healthcare AI should do more than generate a better note. It should support clinicians at the point of care, while a decision can still change," said Joongheum Park , MD, Chief Product & AI Officer at Avo. "By bringing Chart Assist and Ask Avo into the MEDITECH Alliance alongside AI Scribe, we can support not only what is said during the encounter, but the clinical reasoning and decisions around it. We're excited to continue helping MEDITECH hospitals reduce administrative burden, support better clinical decisions, and improve clinician efficiency."

Through this extended MEDITECH Alliance partnership, MEDITECH health systems can now access Avo's three AI-powered solutions.

- Chart Assist: An AI-powered clinical workflow assistant that synthesizes patient charts, identifies care gaps, assesses discharge readiness, and automates documentation across inpatient, ED, and outpatient care.

- Ask Avo: The first context-aware clinical AI assistant that combines live patient information with trusted medical evidence from DynaMed to answer clinical questions, support clinical decision-making, and draft documentation and letters at the point of care.

- AI Scribe: An ambient AI documentation solution that converts patient-provider conversations into structured, reimbursement-ready clinical notes directly within the EHR.

"We're excited to expand our partnership with Avo and welcome Chart Assist and Ask Avo into the MEDITECH Alliance alongside AI Scribe," said Brian Schuller, Director, Business Development at MEDITECH. "Avo continues to expand its clinical AI platform with novel solutions that help hospitals improve workflows, documentation, and clinical decision-making, and we're excited to expose more of those capabilities to MEDITECH health systems through the MEDITECH Alliance."

Across health systems nationwide, Avo has delivered measurable clinical, operational, and financial outcomes, including:

- $11.6M in cost savings across a multinational ambulatory organization

- 35% reduction in note-writing time per patient at a large inpatient hospital

- $7.5M in increased annual reimbursement through clinical documentation improvement at a large academic medical center

- 28% increase in completed outpatient encounters across primary care clinics

- $1.6K uplift per discharge at a large academic medical center

Avo solutions are used by over 35 MEDITECH customers including Berkshire Health Systems, Ozarks Healthcare, Moab Regional Hospital, Deborah Heart and Lung Center, and Pella Regional Health Center.

"Clinicians don't need more technology, they need technology that works together within their existing workflow," said William Gustin, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Moab Regional Hospital. "Avo's solutions have helped us reduce administrative burden while giving clinicians faster access to the information they need. Expanding Avo's platform through the MEDITECH Alliance will make it even easier for hospitals like ours to adopt AI that delivers meaningful value."

About Avo

Avo is the clinical intelligence platform that brings clinical evidence and patient context into the clinician workflow, helping health systems improve quality, revenue, and compliance at the point of care. Integrated with leading EHRs, Avo unifies patient data, trusted clinical knowledge, and health system guidance into AI-powered workflows that help clinicians make more informed care decisions and ensure documentation accurately reflects the complexity of care. By putting clinical evidence to work in real time, Avo helps health systems move beyond retrospective documentation, coding, and revenue cycle processes. Avo partners with more than 60 healthcare organizations, including VCU Health, Marathon Health, MSU Health Care, Emanate Health, NeighborHealth, Mass General Brigham, PM Pediatric Care, Ozarks Healthcare, DynaMed, Pinson & Tang, and Cibolo Health. Learn more at avomd.com.

About MEDITECH

MEDITECH empowers healthcare organizations to expand their vision of what's possible with Expanse, the intelligent EHR. Expanse provides a future-ready foundation for health systems of all sizes, leveraging the power of AI, cloud computing, and advanced interoperability to support world-class care in 28 countries and territories. Boost clinician satisfaction, patient engagement, and organizational efficiency. Visit ehr.meditech.com and follow us on YouTube, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

SOURCE AvoMD

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BOSTON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearway Health, a company that partners with hospitals and health systems to plan, build and operate specialty pharmacy programs, announces the growth of its operations capabilities with the appointment of a chief operating officer. Rishi Seth joins the Clearway Health executive leadership team as chief operating officer.

Seth's focus will be on building scalable operations that enable hospital and health systems to expand access to specialty medications, improve patient experiences and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.

An accomplished healthcare executive with 20 years of experience building, scaling and transforming healthcare organizations to better serve patients, Seth's leadership spans operations, integration and enterprise transformation. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of integration at Millennium Physician Group, one of the nation's largest independent physician groups, where he led the integration of new provider groups and strategic partnerships. Prior to that, Seth held senior leadership roles at both Optum Health and Privia Health where he focused on multidisciplinary scalability for the organizations. His responsibilities focused on operational integration and optimization, working across clinical operations, finance, technology, human resources, revenue cycle and other enterprise functions.

Throughout his career, Seth has built high-performing teams, strengthened operational performance and scaled healthcare organizations in ways that enable sustainable growth and, ultimately, deliver an exceptional service and experience for patients.

At a time when the specialty pharmacy industry is evolving rapidly, there is an opportunity to rethink how operational excellence can support better experiences and outcomes. Clearway Health remains committed to sustainable growth while delivering a consistently excellent experience to their clients, patients and communities who depend on them.

"Clearway Health's mission to help hospitals and health systems strengthen their operational performance while expanding access to affordable medications—particularly for underserved patients—is a purpose that truly resonates with me," said Rishi Seth, chief operating officer, Clearway Health. "Throughout my career, I have focused on helping healthcare organizations grow and evolve in ways that enable them to better serve patients, making this opportunity a natural fit. I'm honored to join Clearway Health at such an exciting time in specialty pharmacy, and I look forward to contributing to the company's continued expansion and impact."

"We are thrilled to welcome Rishi to our Clearway Health executive leadership team," said Brandon Newman, PharmD, MMHC, CSP, chief executive officer, Clearway Health. "His expertise in expanding and optimizing operations will be invaluable as we continue supporting our hospital and health system partners in expanding medication access and delivering superior patient care."

About Clearway Health

Clearway Health's specialty pharmacy services create sustainable assets and build lasting legacies for hospitals and health systems, providing a service that every patient deserves. Our team began at Boston Medical Center Health System, improving access to care and managing the complex medication needs of vulnerable patient populations. Equipped with this unique experience to solve challenges, Clearway Health partners with other hospitals and health systems to:

- Provide transformative specialty pharmacy services that put patients first.

- Build and strengthen the infrastructure for specialty pharmacy programs by improving operational workflows, implementing clinical programs, hiring and embedding skilled pharmacists and patient liaisons into the clinical team.

- Deliver proprietary software technology.

- Unlock drug access and lead accreditation processes.

- Grow revenue at healthy margins for health systems and reduce costs for patients.

To learn more, visit www.clearwayhealth.com.

SOURCE Clearway Health

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CHINO, Calif., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly published study shows that SlimSEB™‡, a new ingredient from Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics, provides compelling scientific evidence for supporting healthy glucose metabolism.

A dual-track research program paired advanced in vitro digestion modeling with a controlled human clinical trial. Across both studies, SlimSEB™ reduced sugar availability and moderated post-meal glucose response, demonstrating targeted metabolic support.

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial, SlimSEB™ supplementation led to a 16.90% reduction in AUC (Area Under the Curve), showing significant improvement in post-prandial glycemic control.

Complementary in vitro analysis using the globally recognized INFOGEST digestion protocol revealed a 34% reduction in the release of simple sugars during digestion, attributable to the conversion of sugars into fiber-like oligosaccharides with prebiotic potential.

"SlimSEB™ helps formulators deliver the precise glucose support consumers need," said Reshma Rathi, Vice President of Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics. "The results are supported by real science, not vague promises."

With its dual-action scientific validation, SlimSEB™ sets a new standard for next-generation glucose support.

‡previously GlucoSEB PB™

About Specialty Enzymes and Probiotics:

Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics is a research-driven manufacturer with more than 45 years of fermentation experience. The company's innovative and scientifically formulated synbiotic, probiotic and enzyme solutions are supported by clinical trials and research studies published in reputable peer-reviewed journals. Specialty's branded products are shown in studies to promote joint, muscle, cardiovascular, immune, gut and digestive health, as well as promote sports nutrition.

Products are manufactured in the company's state-of-the-art, NSF GMP-certified manufacturing facilities, which boast a long list of elite accreditations, including The Non-GMO Project, OK Kosher and ISA Halal. Ingredients and finished products are extensively tested by a third-party ISO-17025-certified laboratory. Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics is a proud member of the International Probiotic Association (IPA) and Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

SOURCE Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics

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Cheche Group Announces Proposed Strategic Investment in Global Residential Energy Storage Business, Advancing Green Mobility to Green Energy Strategy

Proposed strategic investment in Long Way Fortune's residential solar-plus-storage business, with potential to increase ownership over time, supporting Cheche's new "Green Mobility + Green Energy" two-pillar strategy

BEIJING, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheche Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CCG) ("Cheche" or the "Company"), a leading auto insurance technology platform, today announced that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet in connection with a proposed strategic investment in Long Way Fortune ("Target"), a residential solar-plus-storage business with operations currently in Australia and Singapore. The term sheet is non-binding and does not obligate Cheche to consummate the proposed investment.

The proposed transaction would mark Cheche's entry into the global residential energy market and advance its new "Green Mobility + Green Energy" strategy, with residential energy storage positioned as a potential new long-term growth engine for Cheche.

"This investment represents an important step in Cheche's potential evolution beyond a technology platform serving the automotive industry toward a broader green energy and mobility platform serving households internationally," said Lei Zhang, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cheche Group. "Building on our financing, insurance and mobility capabilities, we see residential energy storage as a significant long-term growth opportunity and a natural extension of our vision for a more integrated, intelligent and increasingly climate-conscious energy ecosystem."

Proposed Strategic Investment

The term sheet contemplates an initial 20% minority investment in the Target with the potential for Cheche to increase its ownership interest in the Target to up to 51% over time, subject to agreed conditions and performance milestones. The transaction will be a stock-for-stock investment in the Target at an overall implied equity value of US$490 million, with Cheche's consideration being stock-linked and subject to a delayed schedule of release over the next few years. Completion of the proposed transaction remains subject to, among other things, satisfactory due diligence, negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, approval by the respective boards and shareholders, if required, and receipt of all applicable regulatory and third-party approvals, including Nasdaq's clearance. Subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions, the Company currently aims to complete the initial investment by December 31, 2026, although there can be no assurance that definitive agreements will be executed or that the proposed transaction will be completed by that date, or at all.

From Green Mobility to Green Energy

Cheche has built deep capabilities, supporting the growth and expansion of Chinese NEV brands, and as China's NEV industry has expanded globally, Cheche has extended these capabilities.

The proposed investment represents the next step in this evolution, expanding Cheche's platform from serving the vehicle to serving the household. If the proposed transaction is completed, Cheche intends to develop its business around two complementary pillars:

- Green Mobility

Financing, insurance and mobility services supporting the global growth of Chinese NEVs and their networks.

- Green Energy

Subject to completion of the proposed transaction, participation in residential solar and energy storage, which Cheche views as a potential second long-term growth engine.

Cheche believes these businesses have significant potential strategic synergies. As households increasingly adopt both electric vehicles and distributed energy, the home can become an integrated energy platform, where solar generates power, storage optimizes it, software manages it, and NEVs consume it.

The Target's residential energy storage business offers integrated solar-plus-storage solutions for households. Its systems combine LFP battery technology, energy management software and multiple layers of safety protection, supported by established manufacturing and local installer networks.

Starting with Australia as its entry market, the Target is expanding internationally by setting up regional branches and distribution networks in Europe and Asia.

Building an Intelligent Home Energy Platform

Cheche's longer-term ambition extends beyond selling batteries or solar systems. It aims to build an intelligent home energy platform connecting generation, storage, energy management and mobility.

AI and data will play an increasingly important role, enabling the platform to forecast household demand, optimize energy flows and improve system economics over time.

If the proposed transaction is completed, the combined platform's potential competitive advantages could be developed around four reinforcing capabilities:

- Local market expertise: Developing and applying market-specific knowledge of grid, regulatory and tariff requirements.

- Engineering: Tight integration of hardware, software and intelligent controls.

- Channel ecosystem: Building relationships with local installers and service partners.

- Data and AI: The potential to develop a growing data foundation that enables increasingly intelligent energy management.

If the proposed transaction is completed and successfully integrated, these capabilities could support Cheche's longer-term objective of expanding beyond financial and mobility services toward a broader platform connecting green energy, mobility and climate-conscious homes.

The term sheet is non-binding, except for certain customary provisions, and the proposed transaction remains subject to negotiation. There can be no assurance that the parties will enter into definitive agreements or that the proposed transaction will be completed on the proposed terms, within the anticipated timeframe or at all.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the entry into definitive agreements, the completion of the proposed transaction, the realization of the anticipated synergies from the proposed transaction, the growth potential of the new business initiatives, and the outlook of the relevant industries and geographics, as applicable. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company's management, and are not predictions of actual performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, the Company 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. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of the Company as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

About Cheche Group Inc.

Established in 2014 and headquartered in Beijing, China, Cheche is a leading auto insurance technology platform with a nationwide network of around 108 branches licensed to distribute insurance policies across 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. Capitalizing on its leading position in auto insurance transaction services, Cheche has evolved into a comprehensive, data-driven technology platform that offers a full suite of services and products for digital insurance transactions and insurance SaaS solutions in China. Learn more at https://www.chechegroup.com/en.

About Long Way Fortune

Long Way Fortune is a home energy technology company focused on building an AI-enabled home energy platform for residential users in Australia and, longer term, in Europe and Asia. Long Way Fortune provides integrated household energy solutions designed around the transition from standalone rooftop solar installations to combined solar, energy storage and intelligent energy management systems. Through software, data and intelligent dispatch capabilities, Long Way Fortune aims to improve residential energy-use efficiency and provide safe, reliable and practical home energy solutions for everyday life. Learn more at https://www.energy-lib.com/en.

Cheche Group Inc.:

[email protected]

IR and Media Inquiries:

Crocker Coulson

[email protected]

(646) 652-7185

SOURCE Cheche Group Inc.

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CSC Expands Capabilities with Launch of CrossBite Side Lap Deck Connection Tool

New proprietary tool enables CSC to deliver a complete single-source package of joists,

decks, and high-strength fastening technology

POINT OF ROCKS, Md., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Canam Steel Corporation (CSC), a leading manufacturer of custom engineered steel joists and deck products, today announced the official launch of CrossBite, a proprietary, high-strength, pneumatic side lap connection tool engineered to maximize speed, safety, and structural integrity on steel deck installations.

CrossBite delivers the optimal balance between high-strength performance and everyday job site usability, providing structural consistency without slowing down field crews or requiring bulky machinery. By requiring fewer total connection points compared to screws or welds, the tool enables faster deck installation, drastically reduces jobsite labor costs, and minimizes material waste.

"Our goal with CrossBite is to simplify the joist and deck experience for our partners while elevating safety and performance on the job site," said Michael Martignetti, Chief Commercial Officer of CSC. "CrossBite allows CSC to now offer a deck solution in areas where structures experience high lateral loads and also provides the option of economizing designs to save on the number of connections and/or lighten the deck gage. CrossBite can be used on a variety of CSC roof and floor deck products backed by the support that our customers depend on."

Engineered specifically for steel deck applications where shear and stiffness demands are highest, CrossBite delivers superior diaphragm performance under extreme seismic and lateral wind forces, ensuring a strong, consistent lock at every connection.

Designed around the practical needs of field crews, CrossBite incorporates a dual-direction crimp featuring four symmetrical penetrations that lock deck panels tightly in both directions for a tighter seam. Mobility and ergonomics are prioritized through an integrated rolling wheel that lets workers glide along deck side laps without heavy lifting, paired with a transport handle centered at the tool's natural center of gravity. Safety remains a top focus, with built-in triggers guarding against accidental activation and integrated hard stops limiting over-travel to ensure a consistent connection every time.

"We were able to test out the CrossBite tool and the comfort level stood out immediately," said David Van Horn at AF Steel Fabricators. "You don't have to fight the tool to get a tight connection, and rolling it right along the seam makes it virtually effortless to use. It's a smart addition that makes using CSC deck a no-brainer."

CrossBite is engineered for seamless operation across a broad range of standard interlocking steel deck profiles, including BI, BLI, NI32, NI32-XS, LF2, and LF3. By combining joist fabrication, deck manufacturing, and now a proprietary side lap tool, CSC simplifies jobsite execution while providing localized availability and complete single-source package delivery.

Technical details, code compliance reports including ICC-ES, and additional product specifications will be available soon. To learn more about CrossBite or to request a quote for an upcoming project, visit CSCSteelUSA.com/Contact or call 833-888-0545.

About Canam Steel Corporation:

Canam Steel Corporation (CSC) is a service-oriented manufacturer of open web steel joists, joist girders, steel deck profiles and more. By custom engineering and manufacturing steel building solutions, their team of nationwide experts can turn any complex project into reality. With six manufacturing facilities across the country, CSC is able to serve customers in all 50 states. To learn more, visit cscsteelusa.com.

SOURCE Canam Steel Corporation (CSC)

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WESTMINSTER, Colo., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BALL) today announced the appointment of Darlene J. Nicosia, Chief Executive Officer of Maker's Pride, and Sherry L. Buck, former Chief Financial Officer of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., to its board of directors. Nicosia and Buck are experienced directors who bring to the Board the knowledge, skills and insights gained from distinguished careers in manufacturing, operations and finance.

Nicosia is the CEO of Maker's Pride, a leading U.S. contract packaged food manufacturer. She brings more than 30 years of deep operational experience in the food and beverage industry, gained during her tenure at The Coca-Cola Company, Inc., where she held various leadership roles in general management and operations, including President of Canada and Northeast U.S. and Chief Procurement Officer. She began her career at PepsiCo and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. Nicosia also served on the Board of Directors of Foot Locker, Inc. from 2020 to 2025 and was Chair of the Audit Committee. Nicosia will be appointed to serve on the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and Finance Committee.

Buck retired from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., a global advanced materials company, in 2025 as Chief Financial Officer, a position she held for five years, and brings extensive financial and industrial experience. Prior to W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Buck was Chief Financial Officer of the Waters Corporation from 2017 to 2020 and Chief Financial Officer of Libbey, Inc. from 2012 to 2016. She spent nearly two decades at Whirlpool Corporation where she held various senior finance and operating leadership roles after starting her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Buck also serves on the Board of Directors of Lennox International, Inc. and is Chair of the Audit Committee. Buck will be appointed to serve on the Audit Committee and Finance Committee.

"We're thrilled to welcome Darlene and Sherry to our board," said Stuart A. Taylor II, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "They are both proven executives with strong financial expertise grounded in operations. Their combined leadership across global manufacturing, procurement and finance will strengthen the Board's ability to support management as we advance our operational performance and profitable growth priorities."

About Ball Corporation

Ball Corporation (NYSE: BALL) is the global leader in sustainable aluminum packaging solutions, serving a robust portfolio of global customers in the beverage, personal care and household products industries. With 16,000 employees in more than 65 manufacturing plants and facilities worldwide, Ball reported 2025 net sales of $13.16 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and operational performance. Words such as "will," "continue" and similar expressions typically identify forward looking statements, which are generally any statements other than statements of historical fact. Such statements are based on current expectations or views of the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should therefore not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, and they should be read in conjunction with, and qualified in their entirety by, these cautionary statements. Ball undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be different are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in Ball's Form 10-K.

SOURCE Ball Corporation

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CORK, Ireland, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI), a global leader in thermal management, mission-critical building systems, energy efficiency and decarbonization, has approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock, payable on Oct. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 21, 2026. Johnson Controls has paid a consecutive dividend since 1887.

About Johnson Controls:

Johnson Controls, a global leader in thermal management, mission-critical building systems, energy efficiency, and decarbonization, helps customers use energy more productively, reduce carbon emissions, and operate with the precision and resilience required in rapidly expanding industries such as data centers, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and higher education.

For more than 140 years, Johnson Controls has delivered performance where it really matters. Backed by advanced technology, lifecycle services and an industry-leading field organization, we elevate customer performance, turn goals into real-world results and help move society forward.

Visit johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnsoncontrols on social platforms.

SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc

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