Published multicenter study found higher complete wound closure rates and faster healing with Symphony plus standard of care

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aroa Biosurgery Limited (ASX: ARX), a soft tissue regeneration company, today announced positive results from a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Symphony™, published in the International Wound Journal.

The study enrolled 143 patients across 10 U.S. sites and found that adding Symphony to standard of care significantly improved healing outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs):

- 55% of DFUs achieved complete wound closure within 12 weeks, compared with 35% receiving standard of care alone (p=0.039).

- Mean time to complete wound closure was reduced by 7.8 days: 65.4 days with Symphony plus standard of care, compared with 73.2 days with standard of care alone (p=0.041).

The trial enrolled patients with challenging Wagner Grade 1 or 2 DFUs, ranging from ulcers involving the full thickness of the skin to deeper ulcers extending into ligaments, tendons, joint capsules or deep fascia. Patients were randomly assigned to receive weekly Symphony plus standard of care or standard of care alone, for up to 12 weeks or until complete wound closure.

The findings provide high-quality clinical evidence supporting Symphony's effectiveness and are expected to support product differentiation, clinical adoption and evolving U.S. reimbursement requirements.

"New technologies and high-quality randomised clinical evidence are essential if we are to continue improving outcomes for patients with diabetic foot ulcers," said lead investigator Dr David Armstrong. "The Symphony trial demonstrates that combining a novel extracellular matrix bioscaffold with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid can significantly improve wound healing when added to good standard of care. Studies like this help clinicians make informed treatment decisions based on robust evidence."

"This is a major milestone for Symphony. The study delivered clear, statistically significant results: adding Symphony to standard of care for DFUs increased complete wound closure at 12 weeks to 55%, compared with 35% for standard of care alone, and reduced mean healing time by 7.8 days," said AROA CEO Brian Ward.

"The multicentre design and involvement of recognised key opinion leaders strengthen the evidence's credibility and clinical relevance. Amid growing demand from clinicians, payors and reimbursement authorities for robust RCT data, this publication places Symphony among a small group of CAMPs with Level I effectiveness data, strengthening its differentiation and commercial value proposition."

The full study, A Composite Ovine Forestomach Matrix and Hyaluronic Acid CAMP for the Treatment of Full Thickness Wounds of the Foot in People with Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial, is available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42823610/.

About Symphony™

Symphony is AROA's Cellular, Acellular and Matrix-like Product (CAMP, or "skin substitute"), combining AROA ECM™ with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMWHA). It is designed to treat hard-to-heal wounds such as DFUs and venous leg ulcers.

HMWHA is a naturally occurring polymer with anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to retain approximately 1,000 times its weight in water, making it well suited to chronic wounds with persistent inflammation and moisture imbalance.

While CAMPs are commonly used to treat DFUs, AROA understands Symphony is the only commercially available product incorporating HMWHA.

About Aroa Biosurgery

Aroa Biosurgery Limited (ASX: ARX) is a New Zealand-based soft tissue regeneration company developing and commercializing products to improve healing in complex wounds and soft tissue reconstruction.

SOURCE Aroa Biosurgery

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Cannes, Venice, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, Hawaiʻi and New York mark a season of international visibility and growth for the Las Vegas-based swim and resortwear brand.

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KEED & CO completed a six-destination 2026 fashion tour spanning Cannes, Venice, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, Oʻahu and New York City, combining international fashion-industry appearances with a series of U.S. runway presentations.

Led by founder and designer Amy Keed, the tour extended KEED & CO's presence across international and U.S. fashion destinations while further developing the travel-inspired identity behind the swim and resortwear label.

Explore the latest KEED & CO collections and discover more from the brand at www.KEEDandCO.com

2026 Tour Highlights

Cannes, France — International fashion and entertainment industry appearance

Venice, Italy — European fashion, cultural and creative destination

Virginia Beach, Virginia | July 17–19 — Iconic Style Week

Las Vegas, Nevada | August — Las Vegas Swim Week at The Stirling Club

Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi | August — Hawaiʻi Swim Show at Wai Kai

New York City | September 10 — New York Fashion Week at Sony Hall in Times Square

Keed's international travels brought her first to Cannes, France, where her presence within the global fashion and entertainment community connected the creative world behind KEED & CO with an international audience.

Her European journey also included Venice, Italy, adding another iconic fashion and cultural destination to a year shaped by travel, creativity and global inspiration.

From Europe, the momentum continued into KEED & CO's U.S. runway season.

In July, KEED & CO appeared at Iconic Style Week in Virginia Beach, presenting its swimwear during the July 17–19 fashion weekend.

The tour then returned home to Las Vegas for one of the brand's largest productions of the season.

KEED & CO took the runway during Las Vegas Swim Week at The Stirling Club, where Keed expanded her role beyond designer by helping co-produce the event.

The presentation transformed the runway into a zodiac-inspired fashion experience, with models representing the twelve signs through individual swimwear looks and styling.

"Las Vegas gave us an opportunity to create something beyond a traditional runway presentation," said Keed. "It was about bringing fashion, entertainment and storytelling together."

The journey continued across the Pacific to Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, where KEED & CO participated in the Hawaiʻi Swim Show at Wai Kai in August.

Surrounded by Hawaiʻi's destination lifestyle, the setting naturally reflected the identity behind the label: swim and resortwear inspired by travel, experiences and a life without an off-season.

On September 10, KEED & CO made its New York Fashion Week appearance at Sony Hall in Times Square, bringing the brand's evolving resortwear vision to Manhattan.

The presentation featured a curated collection of swim and statement looks, elevated styling and dramatic headpieces, marking another step in KEED & CO's continued expansion.

Arriving in New York followed months of travel, production, fittings, casting, collection development and investment across the season.

"Every destination brought something different to the journey," said Keed. "From being inspired internationally in Cannes and Venice to seeing KEED & CO on runways across the country, each city became another chapter in where we're taking the brand."

The 2026 journey also reflected the expanding world surrounding KEED & CO, where fashion, beauty, travel, entertainment and international culture increasingly intersect.

From the French Riviera and the historic streets of Venice to the beaches of Hawaiʻi and the lights of Times Square, the tour reflected the destination-driven identity behind KEED & CO and the inspirations that continue to shape its collections.

For an independent fashion brand, completing a six-destination season required far more than what audiences saw on the runway. Behind the appearances were months of collection development, casting, fittings, travel, production, marketing and creative direction.

The season expanded KEED & CO's presence across multiple U.S. fashion markets while connecting the brand's creative direction with international destinations in France and Italy.

The broader creative world also extends into beauty through Keed Cosmetics, a sister brand centered around glamour, color and self-expression. Together, KEED & CO and Keed Cosmetics reflect an evolving vision that brings fashion and beauty together through imagination, experiences and creative storytelling.

With the 2026 tour complete, attention now turns toward new collections, campaigns, expanded product categories and further opportunities in international markets.

"This year showed me how far a vision can travel," Keed said. "We're still building, still evolving and still discovering where KEED & CO can go next."

Explore the latest KEED & CO collections and discover more from the brand at www.KEEDandCO.com

About KEED & CO

KEED & CO is a contemporary luxury swim and resortwear brand inspired by a world imagined through dreams, visions, travel and fashionable living. Drawing from founder Amy Keed's creative visions and destination style, each collection transforms inspiration into statement pieces that feel expressive, glamorous and transportive.

From sun-soaked escapes and iconic cities to dreamlike concepts and unexpected moments of inspiration, KEED & CO embraces fashion as a way of experiencing the world. The brand creates swim and resortwear for those who dress for the destination and the life they envision.

No off-season. Just new destinations.

About Keed Cosmetics

Keed Cosmetics is a beauty brand inspired by glamour, color and creative expression. Through imaginative concepts and statement beauty products, the brand brings its own perspective to the expanding KEED world while celebrating individuality, transformation and beauty as a form of self-expression.

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Celaid Therapeutics Completes Second Close of Series B Financing Round

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Teikoku Ventures, Inc. Join the Round to Accelerate 

U.S. Clinical Trial Preparations for CLD-001

TOKYO, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Celaid Therapeutics Inc. (Head Office: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Nobuyuki Arakawa; "Celaid") today announced the completion of the second close of its Series B financing round. The round welcomed Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Teikoku Ventures, Inc. as new investors, raising a total of JPY 400 million (approximately USD 2.6 million). In addition, Celaid passed the second stage-gate review of AMED's "Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem" and was selected for Stage 3 funding. With this financing and AMED support, Celaid's cumulative funding raised to date, including grants, now totals approximately JPY 3.42 billion (approximately USD 22.1 million).

The participating investors cited CLD-001's development progress and its therapeutic potential as key factors in their investment decisions. The new participation from pharmaceutical companies represents significant momentum for Celaid as it advances the U.S. development of CLD-001.

CLD-001 is a novel ex vivo-expanded hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapy product being developed for severe pediatric non-malignant diseases. Celaid is advancing the CLD-001 program toward the initiation of a first-in-human clinical trial in the United States, with preparations underway across the nonclinical, cell manufacturing and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls), clinical, and regulatory activities. To date, the CLD-001 program has achieved the following key milestones:

Key Development Milestones for CLD-001

- Positive nonclinical data supporting the efficacy and safety profile of CLD-001 in animal models

- Established the manufacturing process for CLD-001 and completed technology transfer to a U.S. contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO)

- Completed a Pre-IND Meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and advanced preparations toward an IND submission and clinical trial initiation

Proceeds from this financing will be allocated primarily to manufacturing, safety assessment, clinical development, and regulatory activities in support of CLD-001's IND application and the initiation of clinical trials in the United States. Celaid will also continue to strengthen its proprietary hematopoietic stem cell expansion platform and pursue its application to new therapeutic modalities and business opportunities in the cell and gene therapy field.

"We are greatly encouraged by the participation of Shionogi & Co. and Teikoku Ventures as new investors in this round. We are also deeply grateful for AMED's approval of our advancement to Stage 3 under the "Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem" and for its continued support. Through this financing and AMED's support, we will steadily advance our preparations toward initiating clinical trials for CLD-001 in the United States. Our goal is to become a global leader in the hematopoietic stem cell field and, from Japan, deliver innovative treatment options to patients worldwide by advancing both our HSC-based pipeline and our platform business."

— Nobuyuki Arakawa, President and CEO, Celaid Therapeutics, Inc.

Series B Second Close Overview

Amount Raised: JPY 400 million (approximately USD 2.6 million)

Method: Third-party allocation of new shares (private placement)

New Investors (Underwriters):

- Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

- Teikoku Ventures, Inc. (a corporate venture capital company within the TEIKOKU SEIYAKU Group)

Grant Awarded:

AMED "Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem" – Stage 3

Comments from Investors

"Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can offer the only curative treatment option for certain serious hematologic and inherited diseases, particularly in pediatric patients. However, significant challenges remain, including donor shortages and post-transplant complications.

We believe Celaid's hematopoietic stem cell expansion technology represents an innovative approach with the potential to overcome these challenges and provide treatment opportunities to more patients. We highly value Celaid's technology and vision, which strongly align with SHIONOGI's commitment to protecting people's health and addressing societal challenges through the creation of new value. For these reasons, we have decided to invest in Celaid Therapeutics Inc.

We look forward to Celaid's continued progress in global development and hope that CLD-001, an innovative cell therapy, will ultimately reach as many patients as possible."

— Keisuke Kusumoto, Director, Head of CVC, Corporate Planning Department, Corporate Strategy Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

"We are highly encouraged by Celaid Therapeutics' novel ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell expansion technology, which has the potential to serve as a foundational platform for cell and gene therapies targeting hematologic malignancies, other severe hematologic disorders, and genetic diseases, as well as for ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies.

We also view this investment as an important opportunity to support a Japan-originated startup with innovative scientific capabilities. Furthermore, we believe it represents a significant milestone in our efforts to advance open innovation and contribute to the creation of new treatment options for patients."

— Mitsuhiro Matsumura, Chief Executive Officer, Teikoku Ventures, Inc.

About Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are stem cells capable of differentiating into the various blood and immune cell types, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. HSCs also possess the capacity for self-renewal, ensuring lifelong maintenance of the hematopoietic system. Because HSCs are typically present only in very limited quantities within the body or within collected samples, securing a sufficient quantity for therapeutic use remains a significant challenge.

About CLD-001

CLD-001 is being developed as an HSC product for severe pediatric non-malignant diseases. For serious diseases such as primary immunodeficiency, inherited metabolic disorders, aplastic anemia, and sickle cell disease, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation represents an important treatment option with curative potential. However, allogeneic HSC transplantation continues to face significant unmet needs, including donor-related challenges such as a shortage of matched donors and HLA mismatches, as well as serious complications following transplantation, including graft failure, transplant-related mortality, and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).

Using frozen umbilical cord blood stored in cord blood banks as its cell source, CLD-001 applies Celaid's proprietary hematopoietic stem cell expansion technology to overcome the limited number of hematopoietic stem cells contained in cord blood, while enabling greater flexibility in selecting cord blood units with more favorable HLA matching. Through this approach, Celaid aims to contribute to improved overall survival following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

About Celaid Therapeutics Inc.

Celaid Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology startup originating from the University of Tokyo and the University of Tsukuba, with proprietary technology for the selective ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which give rise to all blood cells. By enabling the safe and efficient expansion of human HSCs, Celaid aims to advance next-generation cell and gene therapies, including HSC-based therapies for hematologic and genetic diseases, ex vivo HSC gene therapies, and regenerative therapies for ischemic diseases.

Contact Information

Celaid Therapeutics Inc.

Address: UTokyo Entrepreneur Lab., South Clinical Research Bldg., 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8485, Japan

E-mail: [email protected]

URL: https://celaidtx.com/en/

SOURCE Celaid Therapeutics Inc.

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Latitude Air Ambulance Statement on Heartbeat 104 Medevac

HAMILTON, ON, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Latitude Air Ambulance today issued the following statement regarding Heartbeat 104 Medevac, which was operating from Bermuda to Boston, Massachusetts:

It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the decision by the United States Coast Guard to conclude active search and rescue operations and transition to recovery efforts.

Given the information shared by authorities and the conclusion of the search and rescue phase, we must now face the heartbreaking reality that the four members of our Latitude team, our patient and the patient's family escort, who were aboard Heartbeat 104, are presumed to have died.

Our thoughts are first and foremost with their families, loved ones, friends, and colleagues.

Our four crew members were valued members of the Latitude family. They dedicated themselves to providing care to people at some of the most difficult moments in their lives, and they were carrying out that mission when this tragedy occurred. We are grieving their loss deeply and will continue to support their families and our employees through the difficult days ahead.

We extend that same care and compassion to the family and loved ones of our patient and family escort. We ask that the privacy of all of the families involved be respected as they grieve.

Latitude will continue to cooperate fully with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and all other relevant authorities as recovery efforts and the investigation proceed. Determining the circumstances and cause of an aviation accident is a careful and methodical process, and we will not speculate about what occurred.

We are deeply grateful to the United States Coast Guard and to the air traffic controllers, search and rescue crews, first responders, government agencies and others in Canada, the United States and Bermuda who worked tirelessly in the search for those aboard Heartbeat 104. Their professionalism, determination, and compassion will never be forgotten.

"This is an unimaginable loss for our Latitude family and for everyone who loved the six people aboard Heartbeat 104," said Peter Byl, President of Latitude Air Ambulance. "Our focus now is on supporting their families, supporting our people and assisting the authorities. We will honour our colleagues by remembering the care, professionalism, and commitment they brought to their work every day."

Latitude may provide further relevant information when confirmed by the appropriate authorities and can be shared with respect for the families involved.

About Latitude Air Ambulance

Latitude Air Ambulance is a Canadian air medical transport provider delivering specialized medical evacuation and patient transport services in Canada and internationally.

SOURCE Latitude Air Ambulance

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Payward and Singapore Gulf Bank Partner to Bring 24/7 Settlement to Institutional Digital Asset Markets

Payward has integrated SGB Net, Singapore Gulf Bank's real-time clearing network, allowing institutional clients in Asia and the Gulf region to settle instantly at any hour. SGB will also onboard Kraken Prime as an additional source of digital asset liquidity.

SYDNEY, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Payward, the unified financial infrastructure platform behind Kraken, and Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB), a fully licensed digital bank regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, today announced a strategic partnership to bring always-on settlement to institutional digital asset markets available to specific jurisdictions only.

With this partnership, Payward has integrated SGB Net, SGB's real-time multi-currency clearing network. It allows institutional clients of both firms to now settle transactions instantly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The settlement offering initially starts with US dollar transactions for a select number of clients, with plans to expand to more clients and additional currencies over time.

Settlement between banks and trading venues have historically taken days and been held to fixed cut-off times, even as digital asset markets trade around the clock. Through SGB Net, an SGB client can deposit funds with Payward and put them to work instantly, at any hour. SGB is also partnering with Kraken Prime, Payward's full-service prime brokerage solution, to access liquidity for its digital asset offerings. Over the coming months, it will draw on Payward's markets to price trades for its own customers.

SGB launched SGB Net in 2025 for digital asset businesses with growing operational needs, and the network has since scaled to process more than $20 billion in fiat transactions each month. SGB is backed by Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, and by Singapore's Whampoa Group, and it onboards corporate clients digitally across markets.

"Exchanges, payment providers, OTC desks and fintechs all run into the same banking constraint. Settlement stops when the business day does, while their markets do not. SGB has built settlement infrastructure that reflects the future of digital asset banking and payments," said Mark Greenberg, Chief Commercial Officer of Payward. "Every regulated bank we connect with this way brings us closer to a world where settlement and cross-border payments happen in real time, wherever our clients are."

"Access to liquidity is only useful if clients can move funds when they need to," said Shawn Chan, Chief Executive Officer, SGB. "By connecting SGB Net with Payward and partnering with Kraken Prime, we are bringing settlement and liquidity closer together, giving clients more flexibility in how they fund and manage their digital asset activity."

To support clients across borders and asset classes, SGB offers corporate and personal banking accounts to businesses and individuals worldwide, combining multi-currency accounts, international payments and remote account opening with access to digital asset services.

The partnership is part of enhancing Payward Banking, the money layer behind the Payward platform, which modernizes how clients move cash across deposits, payments, cards, custody, and lending. As digital asset markets and traditional banking offerings converge, clients expect their cash to move as quickly as the assets they trade. Working with leading regulated banks lets Payward bring that speed to new markets, and Payward will keep adding banking partners to offer a broader suite of banking services to clients worldwide.

About Payward:

Payward, Inc. is a unified financial infrastructure platform that powers a family of products advancing an open, global financial system. Built on a single shared architecture, Payward enables customers to hold, trade, earn, pay, and invest across asset classes without friction or fragmentation.

At its core, Payward provides the infrastructure layer behind Kraken and a growing set of purpose-built products, including NinjaTrader, Breakout, xStocks, and CF Benchmarks.

Payward separates infrastructure from product expression. Each product surface is designed for a specific customer segment, regulatory regime, and use case, while operating on the same global foundation:

- One global liquidity pool

- One unified risk and margin engine

- One collateral and settlement system

- One compliance and licensing framework

This shared architecture allows Payward to scale efficiently, launch new products at low marginal cost, and serve diverse global markets while maintaining consistent risk management, regulatory integrity, and operational resilience.

For more information about Payward, please visit www.payward.com.

About Singapore Gulf Bank:

Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) is the bank for all of finance, serving businesses and individuals worldwide. Backed by Whampoa Group, a Singapore-based investment holding company, and Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, SGB is fully licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

For more information, visit https://www.sgb.com/

SOURCE Payward

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TOKYO, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg announced the first successful fully automated Japanese Government Bond (JGB) Market-on-Close trade, following the introduction of a new workflow. Aligned to BB3P (Hikene Trading), the Market-on-Close reference rate for JGBs, the automated workflow helps minimize tracking error and provides certainty of execution at a specific close time.

Available as part of Bloomberg Electronic Markets, the workflow combines the Bid/Offer List Trading functionality with Rule Builder, Bloomberg's trade automation tool, enabling clients to define execution criteria and automate order routing based on predefined conditions within an integrated order and execution management workflow, through TSOX.

Yudhveer Chaudhry, Head of Emerging Markets, FX, Commodities & Digital Assets at BlackRock observed, "The ability to combine Market-on-Close execution with rule-based automation is a significant step forward for the JGB markets. By accelerating time to market and enabling more systematic execution at the BB3P market reference, this workflow will help minimize transaction costs, reduce manual intervention, and deliver more consistent, optimized outcomes for investors, particularly during high-volume periods. It is an exciting development for one of the highest volume bond markets in Asia, and we were pleased to collaborate with Bloomberg on introducing the protocol."

"We continue to enhance our global Market-on-Close capabilities, bringing greater automation and efficiency to Fixed Income trading for our global clients," said Norman Tweeboom, Japan Enterprise Sales Head at Bloomberg. "The powerful combination of Bloomberg Electronic Markets capabilities enables clients to more efficiently negotiate pricing while reducing operational complexity in a critical market."

The JGB workflow expands Bloomberg's Market-on-Close capabilities across global Fixed Income, which also supports U.S. Treasuries, Canadian government bonds, U.K. Gilts and European government bonds.

About Bloomberg Electronic Markets

Bloomberg's Electronic Markets solutions are used by leading financial institutions to trade efficiently in over 175 markets around the world. More than 9,000 client firms use Bloomberg Electronic Markets to access industry-leading depth and breadth of liquidity across asset classes from over 1,500 dealers globally. Bloomberg Electronic Markets provides market participants with comprehensive solutions across the trading lifecycle, including robust price transparency, analytics, automation and execution, powered by Bloomberg's high-quality, multi-asset class data and tools.

About Bloomberg

Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets. The company helps connect influential communities across the global financial ecosystem via reliable technology solutions that enable our customers to make more informed decisions and foster better collaboration. For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company or request a demo.

SOURCE Bloomberg

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TOKYO, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TIER IV, the pioneering force behind open-source software for autonomous driving, has been selected by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for a grant program supporting collaborative technology initiatives in the Global South. Through this program, TIER IV will conduct autonomous bus field operational tests (FOTs) in Saudi Arabia. Using autonomous driving technologies with a proven track record in Japan, the company aims to help deliver safe, scalable mobility services adapted for local conditions. TIER IV will also promote talent development initiatives that contribute to the local workforce.

Background

Under the Saudi Arabian government's Saudi Vision 2030 strategy, the country is pursuing economic diversification and social transformation with a focus on building a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. It has set a target of making 15% of public transportation autonomous by 2030. As urban development continues, there is a growing need to develop sustainable mobility solutions that improve the convenience of public transportation, enhance traffic safety, and address challenges of training skilled driving personnel.

In September 2025, TIER IV signed a memorandum of understanding with Elm, a developer of digital services and autonomous technologies. Leveraging this initiative alongside its experience and expertise in deploying autonomous buses using open-source technologies and developing talent in Japan, TIER IV will contribute to the advancement of next-generation mobility in Saudi Arabia.

Project overview

Through the following initiatives, TIER IV aims to deepen collaboration with automakers, autonomous driving technology providers and local transportation operators while establishing a business model for the future commercial operation of autonomous vehicles.

1. Vehicle integration

TIER IV will develop autonomous buses for deployment in Saudi Arabia, working with a European automaker to integrate its autonomous driving system. Autonomous vehicles developed in Japan will serve as a reference.

2. Local adaptation and FOTs

TIER IV will adapt and deploy an autonomous driving system based on open-source technologies and AI models. Training these models with local data will create an autonomous driving system tailored to local conditions, including the desert climate and right-hand traffic. FOTs will initially take place in closed environments before expanding to public roads.

3. Co-creation with local partners and talent development

TIER IV will work with local partners and transportation operators to gain insights into operational environments and regional transportation needs, while also collaborating with government authorities to share knowledge regarding local transportation challenges and requirements for deployment.

With educational institutions, the company will promote programs designed to foster talent in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics through competitive events.

Government support

To date, TIER IV has conducted autonomous driving FOTs in more than 120 regions across Japan, as well as in the United Kingdom and Australia. To further improve the performance of autonomous driving systems, however, systems must be adapted to the unique driving environments and traffic rules of each country and region. This requires substantial upfront investment for large-scale data collection, AI model training and other costs.

Deploying autonomous solutions in new markets involves uncertainties regarding demand and the establishment of viable business models. For private companies, these upfront investments can therefore represent a significant burden and entail substantial risks associated with commercialization.

Supported by this grant, TIER IV will work on establishing a high-precision autonomous driving system tailored to the local environment and advance talent development programs toward goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.

Future outlook

This initiative will contribute to economic development and innovation through collaboration between Japan and Saudi Arabia, with TIER IV driving the deployment of autonomous mobility solutions to help build a sustainable future for transportation.

TIER IV will apply the knowledge gained from deploying Japanese autonomous driving technologies in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries to the development of autonomous driving technologies in Japan, contributing to further technological advancement. By fostering talent and expanding collaboration with related industries, the company also aims to contribute to the growth of Japan's autonomous driving industry.

TIER IV will leverage these insights in vehicle development, FOTs and technology adoption across different vehicle types in other markets. Through these efforts, the company aims to further strengthen the international competitiveness of Japanese autonomous driving technology.

About TIER IV

TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep tech innovation, pioneering Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving. With a comprehensive suite of platforms and services built around Autoware, TIER IV provides everything from software development and vehicle procurement to operational support. Through the Autoware ecosystem, TIER IV works with partners worldwide to shape the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, aiming to create mobility that is safer, more sustainable, and accessible to all.

The word marks and logos of TIER IV are trademarks or registered trademarks of TIER IV, Inc. in Japan and other countries. All other company names, product names, service names, and logos referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.

SOURCE TIER IV, INC.

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E&R Engineering to Launch New Malaysia Plant: Expanding Global Packaging Materials Production and Localized Services

KAOHSIUNG, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- E&R Engineering Corp., (TWSE: 8027) an international provider of semiconductor packaging equipment, announced today the upcoming grand opening of its new Malaysian subsidiary—E&R SEMICONDUCTOR (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD.—at the Melaka Free Trade Zone on October 13.

To meet surging Southeast Asian demand, E&R Engineering is upgrading its global strategy for the packaging materials business unit. While its plant in China continues to experience steady business growth, E&R is strategically shifting a portion of its production focus to Malaysia while expanding overall capacity. The new facility is currently undergoing sample testing and qualification, with mass production scheduled to begin early next year. The plant is expected to create 50 local job opportunities and strengthen E&R's supply capabilities for semiconductor and OSAT customers in Southeast Asia.

Deepening Roots in Southeast Asia's Packaging Hub: Localized Mass Production of Advanced Carrier Tapes

Accounting for approximately 13% of the world's backend packaging and testing capacity, Malaysia's semiconductor market is projected to reach $16.51 billion by 2030, driven by robust policy support. Capitalizing on this momentum and increasing regional customer demand, E&R has established a footprint in Phase III of the Batu Berendam Free Trade Zone in Melaka. The facility brings its manufacturing expertise in high-end Embossed Carrier Tapes and Cover Tapes directly to local production.

Through "local manufacturing and fast response," the new plant directly addresses the needs of OSAT and semiconductor customers—shortening lead times while providing high precision, excellent electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, and robust packaging interfaces to support advanced packaging trends such as chip miniaturization and Chiplet integration.

Opening a New Chapter with "Innovation, Collaboration, and Growth"

E&R President KS Chen stated: "To address growing customer demand in Southeast Asia, we have shifted part of our production focus for packaging materials to Malaysia while expanding capacity. Furthermore, this facility serves as a local hub for E&R's semiconductor equipment Field Service Engineers. We will focus on hiring local talent and building our specialized equipment engineering team, enabling us to provide immediate, localized technical support and after-sales services."

AK Ong, General Manager of the Malaysia plant, added: "The completion of our new facility allows us to stay closer to our customers, offering real-time support. We remain committed to delivering top-quality products and strictly monitoring every quality checkpoint to create a win-win future for all."

E&R Website: https://en.enr.com.tw/

SOURCE E&R Engineering Corp.

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Seatrium and Karpowership Extend Collaboration with Ninth FSRU Conversion

SINGAPORE, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the successful naming and sail away of LNGT Türkiye, Seatrium Limited ("Seatrium" or the "Group") and its strategic partner Karpowership are advancing their long-standing collaboration with the ninth Floating Storage Regasification Unit ("FSRU") conversion project, LNGT Akdeniz. The vessel will form part of the LNG fleet of Kinetics, Karpowership's energy transition initiative. The award follows the delivery of seven FSRUs since 2018 and the ongoing conversion of LNGT Karadeniz, the partnership's eighth FSRU project.

Mr Gokhan Kocak, Chief Technical Operations Officer, Karpowership, said, "The successful delivery of LNGT Türkiye and the award of LNGT Akdeniz are important milestones in the continued growth of Karpowership's LNG-to-Power business. Together, these FSRUs strengthen our ability to provide reliable and flexible energy solutions to markets where energy security is critical. Seatrium has been a key enabler of this journey, consistently delivering high-quality FSRU conversions that support our operational requirements and long-term growth plans. As global demand for flexible energy infrastructure continues to grow, we look forward to advancing our ongoing projects and exploring new opportunities together."

Mr Alvin Gan, Executive Vice President, Repairs and Upgrades, Seatrium, said, "What began as a bold vision in 2018 has evolved into a strong and enduring partnership built on trust, shared success and a commitment to excellence. The award of LNGT Akdeniz, our ninth FSRU project with Karpowership and the second unit in Karpowership's next-generation FSRU series, is a testament to the strength of this collaboration and further reinforces Seatrium's position as a global leader in floating LNG infrastructure solutions. Featuring a regasification capacity of up to 600 MMscfd[1], LNGT Akdeniz will play a vital role in supporting reliable and flexible energy supply. We are grateful to Karpowership for its continued trust and confidence in Seatrium, and we look forward to building on this successful partnership to deliver innovative energy solutions for the future."

The newly awarded LNGT Akdeniz project involves the conversion of an LNG carrier into a FSRU, with work scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2027. Seatrium's scope includes the engineering, conversion, integration, installation and commissioning of regasification equipment and associated systems. Upon completion, LNGT Akdeniz will enhance LNG import and regasification capabilities in its target market, supporting energy security and a reliable supply of cleaner energy.

Following the award of LNGT Karadeniz, LNGT Akdeniz is the second project to materialise under the previously announced Letter of Intent (LOI) between the two parties. Apart from three FSRU conversions, the LOI had also provided for the potential integration of up to six new-generation Powerships, creating opportunities for both companies to support evolving global energy needs through integrated floating energy solutions.

With a track record of 22 successful FSRU and FSU conversion projects completed since 2007, Seatrium is a global leader in floating LNG infrastructure solutions, setting industry benchmarks in engineering excellence and project execution. Karpowership, meanwhile, operates the world's only Powership fleet, comprising 45 vessels, while Kinetics, its energy transition initiative, will expand its LNG fleet to 12 vessels with the addition of LNGT Akdeniz. Together, these capabilities reinforce the companies' ability to deliver integrated floating power and LNG infrastructure across global markets.

About Karpowership

Karpowership is a global energy company specializing in fast-track and integrated power solutions. With a fleet of 45 Powerships and a total installed capacity exceeding 8,500 MW; the company delivers turnkey energy solutions wherever and whenever they're needed.

As the only owner, operator, and builder of the world's only Powership fleet, Karpowership offers a plug-and-play solution that can be directly connected to the grid and start generating electricity in less than 30 days.

In addition to its signature Powerships, Karpowership offers floating LNG solutions, with a fleet of 12 LNG assets, including the ones in the pipeline, that is composed of FSRUs and LNG carriers. Its LNG-to-Power model supports a cleaner and flexible energy future.

With over 30 years of experience, Karpowership remains committed to delivering sustainable, reliable power; empowering nations and communities beyond the grid.

Discover more: Website | LinkedIn

About Seatrium Limited

Headquartered and listed in Singapore, Seatrium Limited is a leading provider of specialised engineering solutions for the global offshore, marine, and energy sectors. Seatrium plays a pivotal role in delivering offshore energy infrastructure assets globally that is the backbone of some of the world's essential energy systems.

With over 60 years of proven expertise, Seatrium operates across 15 countries through an integrated network of advanced yards, engineering and technology centres; supported by a diverse and dedicated workforce of more than 24,000 employees.

Seatrium's diversified business positions it to play a critical role in the global energy transition. Its core business segments mainly include Oil & Gas Newbuilds and Conversions; Offshore Wind; Repairs & Upgrades. Its expanding product portfolio includes FPSOs, FPUs, Offshore Converter Platforms and a wide range of offshore installation vessels, amongst others.

Longstanding customer relationships with the world's largest energy majors, asset operators and owners, and Transmission System Operators underscore Seatrium's ability to consistently deliver high standards of safety, quality and timeliness.

Amidst the global energy transition, Seatrium has robust capabilities in developing new technologies and solutions (such as Carbon Capture & Storage and New Energies). Guided by a culture of innovation; and core values prioritising people, safety and sustainability; Seatrium strives to create enduring value for all stakeholders, engineering towards a sustainable energy future.

Discover more: Website | LinkedIn

[1] MMscfd, or million standard cubic feet per day, is a standard measure of gas flow rate.

SOURCE Karpowership

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- New framework delivers independent risk transparency for onchain investment vehicles, furthering S&P Global's offerings across the DeFi space

SINGAPORE, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), today launched its Vault Risk Assessment (VRA), a new analytical approach that delivers independent, forward-looking insights into the risks associated with digital asset lending vaults. The initiative brings institutional-grade transparency to the rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem and supports informed decision-making for market participants.

What is a vault?

Digital asset lending vaults are investment vehicles that operate on a blockchain. They pool investor deposits and deploy them according to defined strategies, working much like managed fixed income funds. Total deposits in vaults reached US$10 billion as of September 2026, demonstrating rapid growth from US$1.5 billion two years earlier. While blockchain-based activity enables point-in-time transparency, strategy and risk disclosures for vaults have typically been limited.

The VRA Analytical Approach

S&P Global Ratings' VRA is a forward-looking opinion about the overall relative risk of impairment to an investor's position in a lending vault. The VRA provides a comprehensive view of a vault's overall risk profile across six key risk factors:

- Portfolio credit quality risk

- Liquidity mismatch risk

- Curator risk

- Blockchain risk

- Protocol risk

- Vault security and governance risk

A VRA is not a credit rating and does not comment on yield levels. To read more about the VRA analytical approach, including the letter-based scale, visit spglobal.com/ratings/en/products/vault-risk-assessments.

"As digital assets continue to institutionalize, the demand for independent risk assessments that bridge traditional finance and decentralized innovation is paramount," said Yann Le Pallec, President, S&P Global Ratings. "Our commitment to bringing transparency and rigorous analysis to all financial markets extends to this rapidly growing segment. The Vault Risk Assessment will empower investors and foster greater confidence and stability as capital flows into these new digital structures."

The VRA analytical approach moves beyond transaction transparency to deliver essential risk transparency, enabling institutions to enhance their investment governance and selection processes and supporting broader adoption of the vault market.

"Digital asset vaults represent a significant evolution in onchain finance, offering new avenues for pooled investment and capital efficiency," said James Wiemken, Executive Managing Director and Head of Global Ratings Services. "However, the inherent complexities and varying disclosure standards in this nascent market create a clear need for a standardized, independent risk perspective. The VRA fills this critical gap, providing market participants with the deep insights necessary to navigate vault investments with greater clarity and confidence."

S&P Global Ratings will publish initial Vault Risk Assessments in future announcements.

A Strategic Focus on Digital Assets

S&P Global has established itself as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized finance, leveraging its legacy of trusted risk frameworks, benchmarks, and analytical standards to support the institutionalization of digital asset markets.

Recent firsts include:

- The industry's first Stablecoin Stability Assessments

- The first credit rating of a DeFi protocol (Sky Protocol)

- Its first rating of a structured finance transaction backed by bitcoin: "Ledn".

- S&P DJI and Kaiko tokenize the iBoxx U.S. Treasuries Index on the blockchain.

In September 2026, S&P Global announced an agreement to acquire OpenZeppelin, the security standard for onchain finance. Earlier the same month, S&P Global led a strategic investment in Kaiko, the independent leader in digital asset market data, indices and data infrastructure. For more information on S&P Global's capabilities in digital assets, visit: spglobal.com/ratings/en/products/solutions/digital-assets

Notes to Editors

- What are Digital Asset Vaults? Digital asset lending vaults are investment vehicles that operate on a blockchain. They pool investor deposits and deploy them according to defined strategies, working much like managed fixed income funds.

- Functionality: These strategies can be fully automated via smart contracts or managed discretionarily by human managers.

- What is a smart contract? A self-executing program on a blockchain that enforces the terms of an agreement automatically, without an intermediary. In a vault, smart contracts hold the pooled capital and enforce the allocation and risk parameters the curator sets.

- Ownership: Depositors receive share tokens that represent their proportional claim on the vault's assets and any accrued returns.

- Role in Finance: Vaults are designed to replicate functions typically performed by traditional financial institutions, such as money market funds, private credit funds, private equity funds, and hedge funds, but within a blockchain environment. They enable pooled investment vehicles to exist directly onchain.

- Growth: The market for digital asset lending vaults, although nascent, has expanded significantly, with total deposits reaching approximately US$10 billion as of September 2026, demonstrating rapid growth from US$1.5 billion in September 2024.

- S&P Global Ratings Digital Assets Primer: How Vaults Can Shape The Capital Markets Of Tomorrow (May 25, 2026)

Media Contacts

Russell Gerry, S&P Global Comms, London, [email protected] 

Jeff Sexton, S&P Global Comms, New York, [email protected] 

Michelle Lei, S&P Global Comms, Beijing, [email protected] 

About S&P Global Ratings

At S&P Global Ratings, our analyst-driven credit ratings, research, and sustainable finance opinions provide critical insights that are essential to translating complexity into clarity so market participants can unlock opportunities and make decisions with conviction. By bringing transparency to the market through high-quality independent opinions on creditworthiness, we enable growth across a wide variety of organizations, including businesses, governments, and institutions. S&P Global Ratings is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). Learn more at www.spglobal.com/ratings.

About S&P Global

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) enables businesses, governments, and individuals with trusted data, expertise and technology to make decisions with conviction. We are Advancing Essential Intelligence through world-leading benchmarks, data, and insights that customers need in order to plan confidently, act decisively and thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape.

From helping our customers assess new investments across the capital and commodities markets to navigating the energy expansion, acceleration of artificial intelligence, and evolution of public and private markets, we enable the world's leading organizations to unlock opportunities, solve challenges and plan for tomorrow – today. Learn more at www.spglobal.com.

SOURCE S&P Global Ratings

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