Fraikin announces exclusive agreement with Asterion Industrial Partners to support its next phase of growth

PARIS, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The management of Fraikin, a leading pan-European provider of commercial vehicle leasing and fleet solutions platform, today announced that affiliates of its ultimate majority shareholders, Benefit Street Partners, Värde Partners and Canyon Partners, have entered into an exclusive agreement with Asterion Industrial Partners ("Asterion"), an independent investment management firm focused on mid-market infrastructure in Europe, relating to the contemplated acquisition of Fraikin.

The transaction follows a multi-year transformation of Fraikin, which today generates approximately €1 billion in revenue and operates a fleet with a gross book value of c. €3 billion, with significant improvements in financial performance and resilience across its European markets.

Under Asterion's ownership, Fraikin will pursue three priorities: continued investment in its fleet and European operating platform, the transition of its customers towards lower-carbon mobility, and the digitalisation of its fleet management offering.

Yves Pétin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fraikin Group, said:

"Our ambition is to establish Fraikin as the leading European commercial vehicle fleet management infrastructure platform. We will continue to invest in our fleet, people and digital capabilities, while accelerating the transition towards lower-carbon mobility and pursuing sustainable growth opportunities."

"We thank Benefit Street Partners, Värde Partners and Canyon Partners, together with our other shareholders, for their continued support and commitment, and look forward to partnering with Asterion."

Bice Di Gregorio, Partner at Asterion Industrial Partners, said:

"Fraikin provides essential infrastructure for commercial mobility across Europe. Its scale, integrated service model and longstanding customer relationships create a strong platform for growth. We see a significant opportunity to support the transition of its fleet towards lower-emission vehicles, in line with Asterion's commitment to the energy transition, and we look forward to partnering with Fraikin's management team."

Sergio Val, Operating Partner at Asterion Industrial Partners, said:

"Fraikin has served France's commercial vehicle sector for more than 80 years and is a key investment for our French franchise. By combining our industrial approach and local teams with Fraikin's operational expertise, we will support investment in its fleet, maintenance network and digital capabilities, strengthen customer service and pursue disciplined growth across its markets."

The contemplated transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to the completion of the applicable employee information and consultation processes and obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. BofA Securities and Lazard acted as financial advisers to the majority shareholders and management, and Latham & Watkins acted as their legal counsel, in connection with the transaction.

About Fraikin Group

Fraikin is a leading European provider of full-service operating leases for commercial vehicles, managing more than 50,000 vehicles across ten European countries. The Group provides contract hire, fleet management and flexible rental solutions to customers in essential sectors including healthcare, food distribution, utilities, waste management, logistics and public services, contributing to better urban living. www.fraikin.com

About Asterion Industrial Partners

Asterion Industrial Partners is an independent investment management firm focused on European infrastructure in the mid-market. Founded in 2018 and with $10 billion under management, the firm invests in essential infrastructure across the energy, digital, utilities and mobility sectors, with a hands-on, industrial approach that prioritizes long-term value creation and sustainability. Asterion Industrial Infra Fund III, which closed in September 2025, reached total commitments of €3.4 billion. For more information, please visit www.asterionindustrial.com

PR contact: 

Kable Communications

Tygénia El-Khattabi

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VICTOR, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- How can families in Victor, NY ensure that pest control treatments are safe for children and pets? A recent HelloNation article answers this question, featuring insights from Pest Control Experts Renee Bates and Justin Tubbs of Victor Pest Management. The article highlights how modern pest control combines low toxicity treatments, eco friendly pest control practices, and careful communication to protect both people and animals while keeping homes pest free.

According to the HelloNation article, professional pest control today is designed with safety in mind. Instead of broad spraying, technicians in Victor, NY use precise applications that target where pests live and breed. These low toxicity treatments are formulated to break down quickly after use, leaving little to no residue on surfaces. Each product is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and safe when applied according to label instructions. This approach reflects how the industry has evolved toward pet friendly pest control that keeps homes healthy and secure.

The experts explain that communication is the most important part of kid safe pest control. Before beginning a treatment, licensed technicians review exactly where products will be applied and how long children and pets should avoid those areas. Following these guidelines ensures that the home remains both pest free and family safe. By keeping open communication, families understand what to expect and how to reenter treated spaces confidently.

Renee Bates and Justin Tubbs emphasize that every home is different. Homeowners should share any special concerns about pets, especially smaller animals such as birds or reptiles that may have greater sensitivity to chemical exposure. The HelloNation feature notes that technicians can adjust their methods in these cases, using physical traps, sealed barriers, or alternative low toxicity treatments. For outdoor work, keeping pets inside for a few hours after application is usually enough to prevent contact with freshly treated areas.

The HelloNation article also highlights a growing trend toward eco friendly pest control in Victor and the Finger Lakes region. This approach uses integrated pest management, a system that focuses on prevention rather than constant chemical use. By sealing cracks, fixing leaks, and maintaining clean living conditions, homeowners can reduce pest activity naturally. These practical steps not only minimize pesticide use but also make the home more energy efficient and durable over time.

Eco friendly pest control and pet friendly pest control are not less effective than traditional methods. As the HelloNation article explains, modern pest control products are designed to target pests' specific biology and behavior. This allows for precise control without overexposure to chemicals. In most cases, following a technician's instructions about timing and ventilation is all that's needed to ensure safety for the entire household, including pets.

In Victor, NY, pest control companies like Victor Pest Management focus on education as much as treatment. Homeowners are encouraged to ask questions about ingredients, safety procedures, and how each product works. Licensed technicians follow state and federal safety regulations and can explain why certain formulas or techniques are selected. This transparency builds trust and helps families feel comfortable with the pest prevention process.

Renee Bates and Justin Tubbs point out that homeowners often feel reassured once they understand how modern treatments are designed. Many products now use natural or reduced-risk ingredients that break down quickly after exposure to light and air. Combined with good ventilation and short waiting periods, this ensures a safe environment for kids, pets, and adults alike. The result is a cleaner, more comfortable home where pest prevention does not come at the cost of health or peace of mind.

The HelloNation article stresses that choosing the right provider makes all the difference. Families should look for pest control experts in Victor, NY who are trained in integrated pest management and who take time to explain their process. Professionals who value communication ensure that every step—from inspection to application—is done with family safety in focus. This approach turns pest control into a partnership between homeowner and technician, keeping homes protected without unnecessary chemicals.

By following professional guidance and choosing providers committed to safety, families in Victor can maintain pest-free homes all year. Pet friendly pest control and kid safe pest control represent a new standard in home care—one where science, communication, and responsibility come together to protect what matters most.

Are Pest Control Products Safe for Pets and Kids? Here's the Truth features insights from Renee Bates and Justin Tubbs, Pest Control Experts of Victor, New York, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation

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Barton brings more than two decades of leadership experience in assessment and learning

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Smarter Balanced has appointed Dr. Karen Barton as Deputy Executive Director, effective October 12, 2026. Working closely with Executive Director Tony Alpert, Barton will oversee major operational portfolios, coordinate work across teams, and align resources with the Consortium's strategic priorities and member needs.

"Karen earned unanimous support from our multidisciplinary interview panels, including representatives from our member education agencies," said Alpert. "She brings a student-centered focus and the combination of skills needed to lead our complex operations. I'm thrilled she is joining our staff as we innovate to help accelerate student learning across the country."

Barton brings more than two decades of experience in assessment and learning organizations. She has led teams spanning research and measurement, assessment development, human and AI scoring, and technology. Her work includes advancing assessment processes and platforms and partnering with state education agencies to strengthen quality, governance, and public trust.

"As a former special education teacher, I care deeply about whether assessments give every student a fair opportunity to show what they know and provide educators with information they can use," said Barton. "I'm excited to work with Smarter Balanced members and staff to put that commitment into practice and deliver tools that help educators support each student's learning."

About Smarter Balanced

Smarter Balanced is a member-led consortium providing the most comprehensive and innovative standards-aligned system that supports teaching and learning and improves local and statewide systems. Our dynamic system of educational tools — developed in collaboration with our members and educators — gives teachers integrated lessons, activities, and methods of gauging progress, along with interim and summative assessments that provide actionable data as students progress toward college- and career-readiness. www.smarterbalanced.org

SOURCE Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium

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NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Egan-Jones released an analysis examining how relatively inexpensive missiles and drones have given Shiite groups leverage over the chokepoints that carry Middle East petroleum exports, and what that shift could mean for global trade and credit markets.

The commentary points to recent events as evidence. Yemen-based Houthis have taken control of Mayun, a strategic island in the Red Sea, and Saudi Arabia's cross-peninsula pipeline was shut after drones launched from Iraq struck it. Saudi Arabia has fought the Houthis for the past decade without success, which Egan-Jones attributes in part to Yemen's mountainous terrain and the persistence of the fighters.

Egan-Jones sets these developments against the trading system built over several centuries, in which surplus output moved by sea at low cost and petroleum exports later underpinned manufacturing worldwide. Shiite strongholds now sit at the major chokepoints for those exports, and weapons cheap enough to be used at scale have narrowed the gap between a small armed group and a state.

A military remedy looks unlikely, according to the firm. Prolonged campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq have made the United States reluctant to undertake similar engagements, the European Union is preoccupied with Ukraine, and China, India, and Japan, though exposed, can draw on other suppliers and are shifting toward electric vehicles. United States vessels cleared mines near the Strait of Hormuz, but Egan-Jones considers missile and drone attacks a continuing threat.

The current Western approach relies on economic pressure. Iran's currency weakened from roughly 186,500 per dollar in 2021 to about 2.3 million in September 2026, a loss of approximately 91.9 percent in dollar terms, though the firm cautions that currency deterioration alone does not guarantee political change.

Two paths follow. Egan-Jones suggests a negotiated arrangement covering the movement of petroleum, accompanied by wider nuclear proliferation in the Gulf, would be unpalatable but manageable over time. Sustained curtailment of regional energy exports would be far costlier, forcing adjustments in food production, which depends on petroleum-based fertilizer, and in transportation, and weighing on global output while sovereigns and other borrowers already strain to meet obligations. The firm publishes the analysis so institutional investors and risk managers can weigh those conditions early.

About Egan-Jones Ratings

Egan-Jones, an NRSRO founded in 1995, offers timely and accurate credit ratings and proxy services.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

+1 212 425 0460

SOURCE Egan-Jones Ratings Co.

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RESTON, Va., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) continues helping the U.S. Army identify and address technology integration challenges sooner through its participation at Reveille Forge, the service's new enduring integration and testing environment.

Why it matters: Reveille Forge follows the Army's Operation Jailbreak exercise held earlier this year. It's intended to identify system interoperability challenges earlier in development, before technologies are deployed to soldiers in the field.

Expert perspective: "Operation Jailbreak showed how open architectures can help turn integration from a barrier into an advantage," said Matt Becker, Leidos Defense Sensors vice president and Operation Jailbreak Leidos representative. "Now, Reveille Forge gives the Army and industry an enduring environment to integrate early, test together and mature capabilities faster."

The big picture: Reveille Forge is designed to move Army integration from periodic events to a persistent "integrate-first" environment where government, industry and academia can test how technologies work together earlier.

- The effort also supports the Army's Modular Open Systems Approach, using open interfaces to help connect sensors, weapons and software from different providers and adapt as mission needs change.

What's next: Leidos plans to continue advancing open architectures, strengthening interoperability and helping mature integrated capabilities for future testing and operational use through ongoing participation in Reveille Forge.

Operation Jailbreak: Leidos recently completed Jailbreak Sprint 1.5 at Redstone Arsenal's Reveille Forge in Alabama, where the Army and industry continued integrating and hardening capabilities from the first Operation Jailbreak sprint, held in June at Fort Carson, Colorado.

During the Jailbreak sprints, Leidos:

- Demonstrated capabilities in approved test environments.

- Validated interoperability with approved Army systems.

- Tested tools focused on cybersecurity and information sharing.

- Worked with Army stakeholders to identify priorities for future testing.

Leidos systems included:

- Sprint 1.0 (Fort Carson): IFPC Inc 2, MXR and ALPS

- Sprint 1.5 (Redstone Arsenal): ALPS

- IFPC Inc 2: A mobile, ground-based weapon system capable of countering unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missile threats.

- ALPS: The Army Long-Range Persistent Surveillance system uses passive, 360-degree sensing to detect aerial threats without revealing its position.

- MXR: An AI-enabled counter-drone radar designed to detect, track and identify small unmanned aerial systems in high-clutter environments.

The work also supports NorthStar 2030, Leidos' growth strategy focused on combining Defense Tech, mission expertise and integration capabilities to address complex customer challenges.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with approximately 50,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.

Media Contact:

Philip Carder

(571) 926-6698

[email protected]

SOURCE Leidos Holdings, Inc.

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Forget the judges' panel. Twelve architecture and engineering firms earn top honors based on actual performance data from BQE CORE.

TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The best-run businesses in architecture and engineering have been revealed. 12 firms have won 2026 Operational Excellence Awards, with 24 more earning honorable mentions, in a program that celebrates the business behind the buildings. The awards are presented by BQE Software, Inc., the leading business management platform for architecture and engineering firms.

Countless awards recognize great architecture and engineering. The Operational Excellence Awards are different because they are decided by real, quantifiable business data, with no nominations, subjective judging, or popular vote. Every honoree runs its firm on BQE CORE and opted in to be evaluated on its actual performance data within the platform, using benchmarking metrics tied to profitability, efficiency, financial strength, client value, and employee productivity.

Architecture and engineering firms were evaluated separately, with one winner and two honorable mentions per industry in each of six categories.

The 2026 winners are:

Profitability & Growth Award

Architecture: Butler Armsden Architects. Honorable mentions: ID & Design International; Alloy Architecture.

Engineering: Mbroh Engineering. Honorable mentions: Trotter and Associates; PRVN Consultants.

Operational Efficiency Award

Architecture: STITCH Design Shop. Honorable mentions: ARKO Architecture; Evergreen Design Group.

Engineering: Clark Land Resources. Honorable mentions: Edwin Hancock Engineering Co.; Kurt Fischer Structural Engineering.

Financial Health Award

Architecture: JP Architecture and Design. Honorable mentions: Summerour Architects; Meier Architects.

Engineering: QSPEC Solutions. Honorable mentions: Avalon Mechanical Consultants; C-P Systems Corporation.

Client Value Award

Architecture: Hereford Dooley Architects. Honorable mentions: ADM Group Inc; Risepointe.

Engineering: Arc Surveying & Mapping Inc. Honorable mentions: Edison Engineers Inc.; VP Engineering.

Talent Productivity Award

Architecture: Brandstetter Carroll. Honorable mentions: Abacus Architects; Forge Craft Architecture + Design.

Engineering: Shear Structural. Honorable mentions: Contour Engineering; Arrow Consulting Group.

Balanced Excellence Award

Architecture: DMS design, llc. Honorable mentions: Webber + Studio, Inc.; Collaborative Design Architects.

Engineering: Northeast Infrastructure. Honorable mentions: Dynotec Inc; Globex Corporation.

Each category weighs several metrics in combination, considering datapoints such as profit per FTE, profit margin, multiplier achieved, realization rate, utilization, collection period, and backlog. The strongest firms manage these factors together, enabling them to understand what is happening across their projects and make timely business decisions that benefit their employees, collaborators, and clients.

"I believe that delivering great architecture and engineering is unlocked through a well-run business. These firms know their numbers, they act on them early, and the results show up for their clients and their teams. We're proud that they run their firms on BQE CORE," said Matt Cooper, CEO.

The complete list of 2026 winners and honorable mentions is available here. For firms looking to follow in the winners' footsteps, the path starts with better visibility into their business. Firms can schedule a live demo of BQE CORE and take the first step toward next year's list.

About BQE Software

BQE Software is the developer of BQE CORE, an all-in-one project management, time tracking, billing, and accounting platform purpose-built for architecture and engineering firms. BQE CORE helps thousands of A&E professionals worldwide run more profitable, efficient practices with real-time visibility into projects, people, and financial performance. Learn more at https://www.bqe.com.

Media Contact

Paul Keskeys, Director of Campaigns and Content, BQE Software

SOURCE BQE Software

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Operator-driven update enables authorized Army units to conduct geospatial analysis from all available sources

BOZEMAN, Mont., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Reveal Technology Inc., a defense company building mission software for the tactical edge, announces the launch of Farsight 2.0, the latest version of its 3D mapping and terrain intelligence platform. The update introduces a global world model that pulls imagery from every available source into one continuously updated terrain picture, including imagery crossing command and control networks.

Farsight gives units imagery in an operational interface for geospatial analysis at the edge. With 2.0, units no longer depend on what they can collect themselves. Every authorized collection feeds the same model, so operators start from the most current terrain available and spend their time on analysis rather than on building the picture.

"Units have more imagery available than ever, but it's scattered across sensors, networks, and organizations, and an operator planning a mission doesn't have time to go find it all," said Garrett Smith, co-founder and CEO of Reveal Technology. "Farsight 2.0 brings every authorized source into one world model on the device. Our users asked for analysis from every source available to them, not just what they collected themselves, and that is what we delivered."

Farsight 2.0 reaches operators on an agile software timeline rather than a traditional programmatic cycle

Farsight 2.0 Updates:

Global world model: Drone, satellite, and sensor imagery from all available sources fuse into one terrain model that updates as new data arrives.

Authorized data sharing: Authorized Army users across units contribute to and build on the same model.

Autonomous asset tasking: Operators specify what they need, and Farsight tasks drones and manages the collection, reducing operator workload.

Offline model updates: Operators update and analyze the model in the field without a network connection.

Continuity with existing tools: Line-of-sight and viewshed analysis, HLZ and DZ assessments, AI-assisted route planning, and measurement tools remain available.

The update will be delivered across Reveal's existing Farsight user base, and newly fielded units will receive Farsight 2.0 at initial installation. The platform runs on hardware soldiers already use and integrates with Nett Warrior, the Army's soldier-worn situational-awareness and battle-command system.

The launch coincides with a new $9.5 million U.S. Army purchase order under Reveal's existing GSA IDIQ contract. The second delivery order supports procurement, distribution, training, and sustainment of Farsight for additional infantry brigades.

About Reveal Technology, Inc.

Reveal Technology is a veteran-founded defense technology company building the ecosystem for autonomy and intelligence at the tactical edge. Founded by former U.S. Marine Corps officers and Stanford technologists, Reveal delivers software and hardware platforms that work when connectivity doesn't—enabling warfighters to make faster, safer, and more informed decisions in contested environments.

Reveal's flagship products, Farsight (geospatial intelligence) and Identifi (mobile biometrics), are deployed across the U.S. Army, Special Operations Command, Marine Corps, and allied forces. Based in Bozeman, Montana, Reveal's team is more than 50 percent veterans and active service members.

Learn more: https://www.revealtech.ai/

SOURCE Reveal Technology, Inc.

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KARLSKOGA, Sweden, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In June, Cell Impact announced that the company had received a follow-up order for the production of flow plates for a leading US-based OEM in the fuel cell and electrolyser industry. At the time, deliveries were expected to take place over a two-year period starting in the third quarter of 2026.

"The customer has now informed us that they would like to increase the delivery rate for the volume already ordered. As a result, most of the order will be manufactured and delivered during the next two quarters, with an expected final delivery in April 2027," says Daniel Vallin, CEO of Cell Impact.

Bringing the deliveries forward strengthens Cell Impact's cash flow and has a positive effect on the company's liquidity. The order, valued at SEK 5.3 million, will have a particularly strong cash flow impact as the material for the flow plates is already in stock.

About Cell Impact

Cell Impact AB (publ) is a global supplier of advanced flow plates to fuel cell and electrolyzer manufacturers. The company has developed and patented a unique method for high velocity forming, Cell Impact Forming™ which is significantly more scalable and cost-efficient compared to conventional forming methods. Cell Impact Forming is an environmentally friendly forming technology that consumes no water and very little electrical power. The Cell Impact share is listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market and Mangold Fondkommission AB is the company's Certified Advisor (CA).

SOURCE Cell Impact AB

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IRVING, Texas, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Conference Board of Directors voted unanimously today to admit James Madison University (JMU) as a full member of the conference. James Madison will begin competition in the American no later than July 1, 2028.

Following a formal written application from James Madison University, the American conducted a deliberate and comprehensive due diligence process to evaluate the institution, its alignment with the American and the long-term value of the relationship. The evaluation considered six primary areas: institutional and academic alignment; competitive strength and trajectory; institutional investment; financial sustainability and member value; brand, media value, fan engagement; and geography and operational fit. The conference used multiple sources of analysis, including a quantitative media-value study examining market characteristics, audience performance, fan engagement, competitive performance and other value drivers.

"The American Conference is a destination, and James Madison University represents everything we value and strengthens our membership," said Commissioner Tim Pernetti. "The Dukes have rapidly built a nationally recognized brand through a culture of innovation, investment, bold leadership and competitive success. JMU's trajectory aligns with who we are and where we are going. We look forward to welcoming the entire JMU community to the American and building something special together. Thank you to our highly engaged presidents, chancellors, and athletics directors for their thoughtful and collaborative work that led to a unanimous vote."

James Madison brings a rapidly growing national brand, proven competitive performance, strong fan engagement and meaningful reach across Virginia, Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic states. JMU and the American share a commitment to higher education, student development and creating an outstanding student-athlete experience. This addition reinforces the American's identity of innovation, grit and service and advances a conference that is Built to Rise.

James Madison's membership reflects a meaningful investment in the American and has been structured to protect and enhance the value of the conference's current membership. The additional media inventory associated with JMU's membership expands the conference's existing media platform, while current members' distributions will be enhanced. JMU has also made a significant financial and commercial commitment to joining the American and investing alongside its members.

About the American Conference

The American Conference is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The league was founded in 1979, reconstituted in 2013 as the American Athletic Conference, and rebranded as the American Conference in 2025. With the conference office in Irving, Texas, the American includes the following institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States Military Academy West Point (Army, in football only), University of North Carolina at Charlotte, East Carolina University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Memphis, United States Naval Academy (Navy, in football only), University of North Texas, Rice University, University of South Florida, Temple University, University of Texas at San Antonio, Tulane University, University of Tulsa and Wichita State University (basketball and Olympic sports). Under the leadership of Commissioner Tim Pernetti, the American sponsors 20 sports, nine for men and 11 for women; is a member of the College Football Playoff; has television partnerships with ESPN and CBS Sports; and in the spring of 2019 signed a foundational television agreement with ESPN that commenced in 2020-21 and extends through the 2033-34 academic year. 

For more information, visit TheAmerican.org.

SOURCE American Conference

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Hyosung TNC Joins SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26 as Main Sponsor

Bringing the Value of Recycled Materials to the Influence of K-pop

Hyosung TNC supplied its recycled performance yarn regen™ ASKIN for the official race shirts at SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26, hosted by SM Entertainment.

- SM Entertainment artists and fellow participants wore shirts made with recycled yarn during the event.

- regen™ ASKIN's cooling, quick-drying and UV protection features supported race-day performance.

- At the on-site booth, visitors learned how PET bottles can become yarn, and shared the technologies they want in future performance wear.

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyosung TNC, a leading textile materials company, joined SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26 as main sponsor, held on Oct. 3 at Wangsan Marina in Incheon. The company applied regen™ ASKIN, its recycled functional polyester yarn, to the event's official race shirt.

As demand for recycled materials continues to grow across fashion and sports, the event offered an opportunity to showcase their practical use in performance apparel. Artists from SM Entertainment and other participants wore the official race shirts during the run, putting the recycled material to use in a real-world running environment.

Recycled Material, Without Compromising Performance

regen™ ASKIN combines recycled content with performance features designed for running. Cooling and moisture management with quick-drying properties help keep runners comfortable during physical activity, while UV protection and enhanced opacity add everyday practicality. Participants and artists from SM Entertainment wore the same official shirt on the course, putting Hyosung TNC's technology to work in a real running environment.

Engaging Directly with Consumers

Hyosung TNC operated an on-site experience booth that welcomed many visitors. The booth introduced how PET bottles can be turned into yarn, and invited visitors to share their running experiences and the functions they would like to see in future performance apparel. The company plans to use this feedback as a reference in developing future functional materials.

Ahead of the event, Hyosung TNC also held a field-testing session with Stone of 262WAVE, a well-known figure in Korea's running community, and Hyosung TNC employees who run regularly. Stone and the employee runners returned on race day to take part in the event course together.

"We believe that creating opportunities for people to experience recycled materials firsthand is key to encouraging their wider use. SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26 provided a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the performance of our recycled yarn in a real-world setting. We will continue engaging with consumers to better understand their needs and reflect their feedback in our future material development."

— Chang Hwang Lee, CEO, Hyosung TNC

About Hyosung TNC

Hyosung TNC is a sustainable textile solutions provider delivering continuous innovation to the global textile industry. As one of the world's leading spandex manufacturers, the company offers a broad range of stretch textile solutions through its CREORA® and regen™ brands, backed by differentiated technology and quality.

Hyosung TNC is also expanding the transition toward more sustainable materials through bio-based spandex using sugarcane-derived feedstock and an integrated bio-based value chain. In addition, the company supplies high-performance nylon and polyester solutions designed to combine functionality with sustainability.

Working with global customers and partners, Hyosung TNC continues to develop innovative material solutions for the evolving needs of the textile and fashion industries.

SOURCE Hyosung TNC

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