The company will scale toward producing the first pharmaceuticals made in space for patients on Earth.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Varda Space Industries announced a Series D fundraising round today, bringing the total amount of capital raised by the microgravity-enabled life sciences company to $598 million. The $251 million fundraise was led by Lux Capital and Natural Capital, with participation from Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, 8090 Industries, Giant Step, and Also Capital.

The first product made in space for use on Earth will be a pharmaceutical. Due to the absence of gravity, materials such as the active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicines can be crystallized in ways that would be impossible on Earth, enabling novel drug formulations that can benefit patients.

The company is transforming in-space pharmaceutical processing to be a normal, reliable part of the drug development pipeline.

"In-space manufacturing means building what space needs, in space, and making what Earth can't. Varda is making life-saving drugs impossible to make under gravity. It's the first and only company delivering a real cadence of launches and re-entries, with capsules built to manufacture the impossible and return it home," said Shahin Farshchi, Partner at Lux Capital.

Building Toward the First Medicine Made in Space

Decades of ISS research have demonstrated microgravity's potential to produce drug formulations that are impossible to achieve on Earth, and Varda is now the only company with the launch cadence, reentry capability, and pharmaceutical science team to bring that potential to market.

"We started Varda with the conviction that the first product manufactured in space and consumed on Earth would be a pharmaceutical," said Varda co-founder and President Delian Asparouhov. "This round gives us the resources to increase our cadence, deepen our pharmaceutical partnerships, get closer to delivering the first medicine made in space."

Since its first mission launched in 2023, Varda has rapidly increased its flight cadence, completing six successful reentry missions with over a dozen more launches and reentries planned through 2028. Varda's W-Series vehicles, which reach Mach 25 on their reentry from orbit, offer government and commercial partners a reliable, repeatable, and economical way to return materials and data from space to Earth.

As launch cadence across the industry continues to increase, the ability to bring things back will become as foundational as the ability to send them up.

About Varda

Varda Space Industries is building the infrastructure for a thriving orbital economy, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical hypersonic reentry capsules. The company operates out of El Segundo, California with office and industrial production space and has office space in Washington, D.C. and Huntsville, Alabama. Follow Varda on X (@vardaspace), Instagram (@vardaspaceindustries), and LinkedIn.

Alex Pearlman, Head of Communications and Marketing: [email protected]

SOURCE Varda Space Industries Inc.

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BLOOMINGTON, Minn. and PURCELLVILLE, Va., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- White Pine Capital® announced today it has been named to the celebrated PSN Top Guns List of best performing separate accounts, managed accounts, and managed ETF strategies for Q2 2026 in two distinct universes.

White Pine Capital's Small Cap strategy ranked first in the PSN US Core Universe category out of 697 products and 271 firms for the one-year, and three-year periods ended second quarter 2026 (see performance). Tim Madey, Chief Investment Officer and lead manager on the strategy, said, "It's gratifying to help our clients meet or exceed their investment objectives. Our investment team is humbled by this recognition."

In addition, White Pine Capital had the top ranked returns for the one-year and three-year periods in the PSN Small Cap Core Universe ending second quarter 2026 (see performance). The PSN Small Cap Core Universe is comprised of 151 products and 123 firms. The highly anticipated PSN Top Guns list, published by YCharts, remains one of the most important references for investors and asset managers.

White Pine Capital's Small Cap strategy has a 26-year track record and has been recognized as a PSN Top Gun award winner in seventeen quarterly periods since 2018. The firm's investment team includes Tim Madey, Charlie Bellows, Mike Wallace, and new team member Randy Scherago.

"On behalf of YCharts, I want to extend my congratulations to this quarter's PSN Top Guns winners for their outstanding performance during a particularly challenging period for investment managers," says President and CEO of YCharts, Sean Brown. "The second quarter tested even seasoned professionals, as markets shifted from early optimism to a more challenging environment that caught many portfolios off guard. What distinguishes these winners is their disciplined approach and ability to navigate uncertainty with conviction. They positioned portfolios with precision and delivered standout results when it counted most."

Through a combination of PSN's proprietary performance screens, the PSN Top Guns List awards products in six proprietary categories in over 75 universes based on continued performance over time. White Pine Capital's Small Cap strategy earned a PSN Top Guns award, meaning our strategy had one of the top ten returns for the respective period(s) in the respective strategies.

The complete list of PSN Top Guns and an overview of the methodology can be located at https://psn.fi.informais.com/PSNTopGuns/topguns_zephyr.asp

With offices in Bloomington, Minnesota and Purcellville, Virginia, White Pine Capital is an independent registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission since 2000. White Pine Capital is co-managed by the firm's President, Michael Wallace, CFA, and Chief Investment Officer, Timothy Madey. White Pine Capital provides fee-based discretionary investment advisory services to high-net-worth, family office and institutional clients.

About PSN

For more than four decades, PSN has been a top resource for investment professionals. Over 2,800 firms, 285 universes, and more than 21,000 products comprise the PSN SMA database showing asset breakdowns, compliance, key personnel, ownership diversity, ESG, business objectives and strategy, style, fees, GIC sectors, fixed income ranges and full holdings. Unique to PSN is its robust historical database of over 40 years of data including net and gross-of-fee returns.

About YCharts

YCharts is a top-ranked investment research and client engagement platform that enables financial advisors and asset managers to make smarter investment decisions and better communicate with clients. Trusted by over 15,000 financial professionals and recognized as the Investment Research market leader by Kitces research, YCharts delivers intuitive tools for security research, portfolio construction, AI-enabled proposals, client communication, and market monitoring. In the 2026 T3 / Inside Information Technology Survey, YCharts was named a "Software All-Star" across five categories. YCharts also earned a 2025 Wealthie Award for its AI Chat feature and has been recognized ten consecutive times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. Learn more at www.ycharts.com.

SOURCE White Pine Capital

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HFS replaces its flagship Horizons assessments with Services-as-Software™ Star Ratings built on more than 400 enterprise client verdicts, zero vendor influence and no analyst scoring, ending a decades-old industry model in which provider rankings were shaped by briefing decks and vendor relationships rather than delivery reality

BOSTON, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HFS Research today launched HFS Services-as-Software™ (SaS) Stars Ratings and retired HFS Horizons, its flagship analyst-scored provider assessment. SaS Star evaluations rate providers purely on how enterprise clients experience their capabilities in live delivery and whether they help those enterprises achieve real business outcomes. Every rating comes from enterprise clients running live engagements; providers submit no scoring inputs and cannot influence the ratings in any way, and HFS analysts do not score providers.

The move is a deliberate break from the analyst industry's long-standing provider rating model, in which rankings are assembled from vendor briefings, RFI responses, and vendor-selected references, then scored by analysts whose judgments are inevitably shaped by their relationships with the providers they evaluate. That model has served providers well and enterprises poorly, rewarding briefing power and marketing scale over what actually happens once the work is live. The SaS Stars methodology replaces pitch with proof, giving enterprises a current view of where providers create value, where friction persists, and includes a customizable dashboard that shows how the field changes when enterprises apply their own priorities.

From this point forward, HFS provider ratings will be driven by enterprise client experience rather than any subjective scoring. HFS will continue to design the methodology, test the evidence, provide market context, and explain what the findings mean, but providers do not determine the inputs and analysts do not determine the scores.

"The analyst industry has spent two decades ranking providers on briefing decks, RFI responses, and analyst opinion, and everyone in the market knows how much those rankings are shaped by vendor relationships. Horizons was part of that model, and we are retiring it because enterprises deserve better," said Phil Fersht, Founder, CEO, and Chief Analyst, HFS Research. "SaS Stars removes the analyst and the vendor from the scoring entirely. The only people who rate a provider are the enterprise clients living with the work, and we believe that is the only credible basis for provider evaluation from here on."

A provider rating built from lived enterprise client experience

SaS Stars Ratings are built around five dimensions that distinguish Services-as-Software delivery from legacy services: AI-first delivery, proprietary IP and codified expertise, investment velocity, outcome-aligned commercials, and production scalability. Only current enterprise clients rate a provider. Participants must own or govern the engagement, have at least 12 months of experience with it, and be independent of the provider being rated. Ratings are weighted by engagement scope, tenure, and deal size and confidence-adjusted to reduce the impact of thin or divided samples. Providers cannot buy inclusion, influence their scores, select the client references, or submit scoring inputs.

What changes with SaS Stars

- 100% enterprise client-sourced ratings, zero vendor influence: Scores come from enterprise clients running live engagements, not vendor briefings, RFIs, or vendor-selected references.

- An enterprise decision tool, not a static scoreboard: Enterprises can re-weight the criteria to their own priorities and re-rank the provider field to build a more relevant shortlist for their own context.

- A broader field of view: The model gives specialists and challengers a fairer chance to be seen alongside established firms, based on who enterprises use and how those clients experience delivery - not provider market presence or briefing power.

- Current evidence at market speed: The model is built in weeks rather than the roughly six-month cycle common to traditional provider studies.

- Context without analyst scoring: HFS analysts design the methodology, interpret the market evidence, and identify implications, but do not determine provider scores.

"Every number in SaS Stars comes from enterprise clients running these providers in live environments. That changes the starting point completely," said Saurabh Gupta, President, HFS Research. "We are not building another 2X2 matrix for providers to optimize against. We are giving enterprises a decision tool grounded in the experience of their peers, one they can tailor to what matters to them. It also means specialists and challengers can earn visibility through delivery performance, not marketing scale."

Inaugural Agentic AMS ratings expose the gap between AI ambition and production reality

The first SaS Star Ratings study focuses on Agentic Application Management Services (AMS), drawing on more than 400 enterprise client evaluations across 34 providers. The research finds strong enterprise demand but a significant gap between the agentic AMS narrative and what is operating at scale: approximately 54% of enterprise clients expect to increase AMS spending over the next 12 months, yet only around 14% of engagements combine autonomous resolution, AIOps, and live-volume scale. Just 12% use outcome-based, gain-share, or risk-share pricing.

Every SaS Star rating combines two enterprise client verdicts. The star rating reflects how clients score a provider's capabilities as they experience them in delivery across five Services-as-Software towers. It is confidence-adjusted based on how consistently clients agree, and that determines the tier: Leader, Challenger, or Aspirant. Client advocacy—the share who would actively recommend the provider—then positions providers within each tier. Accenture, TCS, Infosys, Capgemini, Publicis Sapient, Cognizant, HCLTech, IBM, and Wipro make up the Leaders tier. No provider earned five stars, which clearly highlights that SaS Stars is not designed to manufacture winners. The data also surfaces strength beyond the largest firms: Challengers Hexaware and Genpact receive the highest scores for Outcome-Aligned Commercials, the lowest-rated tower across every Leader.

The findings suggest the constraint is increasingly commercial and operational rather than purely technical. Enterprise clients report that AI is lowering run costs and improving resolution speed, but fixed-price, capacity-based, and time-and-materials commercial models still dominate.

"Enterprises are automating the work while still paying for effort, and that leaves enterprise clients carrying most of the automation risk. It is the single most important finding in this first study, and it explains why clients rate commercials and delivery consistency as bigger watch-outs than the technology itself," Fersht added.

The research also surfaces a gap between provider marketing and day-to-day client experience. Enterprise clients identified delivery consistency, commercials and pricing, continuity, and scale as more prominent watch-outs than technology capability itself.

The SaS Star ratings include an interactive dashboard built for subscribed enterprise clients making real decisions. The published leaderboard uses the aggregate weighting selected by participating enterprise clients as the study default. Users can adjust any of the five tower sliders to reflect their own priorities and instantly re-rank all 34 providers. An enterprise that puts outcome-aligned commercials first, for example, will see a different shortlist from one that prioritizes AI-first delivery.

The inaugural Agentic AMS edition of HFS SaS Star Ratings is available free to all at https://www.hfsresearch.com/sas-stars/. Future SaS Star Ratings will be available exclusively to HFS premium clients.

About HFS SaS Star Ratings

HFS Services-as-Software (SaS) Star Ratings are provider ratings built entirely from enterprise client evaluations of live provider engagements. HFS designs the methodology and provides research context, but providers have no influence over their scores or ratings: they do not submit scoring inputs, cannot pay to be included or rated, and analysts do not score providers. The ratings help enterprise decision makers compare the providers their peers actually use, understand strengths and watch-outs, adjust criteria to their own priorities, and build evidence-backed shortlists.

About HFS Research

HFS Research is a global research and advisory firm focused on helping enterprise leaders make critical technology and services decisions. HFS combines independent research, enterprise data, and direct engagement with enterprise clients and market leaders to examine how AI, technology, and new operating models are reshaping business outcomes.

SOURCE HFS Research

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VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp" or the "Company") (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) announces that the Company has approved a further variation to the special resolution (the "Amended Articles Resolution") concerning proposed amendments to the Company's Articles to be considered at the Company's annual general and special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held on October 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific time), as further described below. The proxy voting deadline has accordingly been extended to September 30, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (Pacific time).

As described in the press release issued by the Company on September 22, 2026, the proposed amendments to the Articles include an initial set amendments that, if approved by shareholders, will be implemented immediately following the Meeting. These amendments include proposed amendments to Article 16, which sets forth the process by which shareholders may nominate individuals for election to the Board at a general meeting of shareholders. Among other things, the Company initially proposed to amend Article 16 to limit the amount of information the Company can require a nominating shareholder to provide in order for the Company to assess the independence of the director nominee. Following further deliberation, the Company has determined to amend Article 16 by removing the ability of the Company to request any information with respect to the proposed nominee other than the information specifically enumerated in Article 16, paragraph 4.

A redline showing the proposed amendments to be implemented immediately following the Meeting, including the amendment described, can be found under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca (filed under the heading "Other Securityholder Documents" on September 29, 2026). The full text of the Amended Articles Resolution, as revised to reflect the proposed amendments described above, is set forth below:

"BE IT RESOLVED as a special resolution that:

- The Company be and is hereby authorized and directed to amend the current Articles of the Company in the manner set forth in draft Articles filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedarplus.ca on September 29, 2026.

- Subject to the Company determining to list the common shares of the Company on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the "Hong Kong Listing"), the Company be and is hereby authorized (but not required) to replace the current Articles of the Company with the Amended Articles as set out in Schedule "1" to the management proxy circular of the Company dated August 12, 2026 (updated to reflect the changes in paragraph 1) concurrently with or shortly before completion of the Hong Kong Listing.

- Any one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the Company, to take all necessary steps and proceedings, including filing of such documents and taking such further actions that may be necessary to effect the amendment to the current Articles; to execute, or cause to be executed, and to deliver or cause to be delivered all such other documents and instruments; and to do or to cause to be done all such other acts and things, as such director or officer the Company may consider to be necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolutions, such necessity or desirability to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery of any such documents or instruments or the taking of any such actions."

The Board of Directors of the Company recommends that Shareholders vote IN FAVOR of the Amended Articles Resolution, if they have not already done so, ahead of the proxy voting deadline on September 30, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (Pacific time).

Proxies and voting instructions previously submitted will remain valid. A shareholder who has already voted and wishes to change their vote may submit a new proxy or voting instruction form before the extended deadline by following the instructions in the Circular and the proxy or voting instruction form included therewith. A properly submitted later-dated proxy or voting instruction will replace the shareholder's earlier instructions, provided it is received before the extended voting deadline.

The Company has retained Laurel Hill Advisory Group ("Laurel Hill") to act as its proxy solicitation agent and shareholder engagement manager in connection with the Meeting. Laurel Hill will receive a fee of $30,000 for its services, plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Company has agreed to indemnify Laurel Hill against certain liabilities arising from its engagement. All costs associated with the solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. Proxies may be solicited by mail, telephone, email, internet or other means of communication by Laurel Hill and by directors, officers and employees of the Company.

Shareholder Questions & Assistance

Shareholders who have questions about the Meeting or require assistance voting may contact Laurel Hill toll-free in North America at 1-877-452-7184, by collect call outside North America at 416-304-0211, or by email at [email protected].

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a Canadian mining company producing silver, gold, lead, and zinc with a long history of profitability and growth potential. The Company's strategy is to create shareholder value by 1) focusing on generating free cash flow from long-life mines; 2) organic growth through extensive drilling for discovery; 3) ongoing merger and acquisition efforts to unlock value; and 4) long term commitment to responsible mining and ESG. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorpmetals.com.

For further information

Silvercorp Metals Inc.

Lon Shaver, President

Phone: (604) 669-9397

Toll Free 1(888) 224-1881

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.silvercorpmetals.com

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to, among other things, without limitation, statements regarding the Hong Kong Listing and statements regarding the benefits and implementation of the proposed amendments to the Articles. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may in some cases be identified by words such as "will", "anticipates", "expects", "intends" and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance.

We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently subject to change and uncertainty and that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including fluctuating commodity prices; recent market events and condition; estimation of mineral resources, mineral reserves and mineralization and metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; climate change; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into existing operations; permits and licences for mining and exploration in China; title to properties; non-controlling interest shareholders; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China; regulatory environment and political climate in Bolivia and Ecuador; integration and operations of Adventus; environmental risks; natural disasters; dependence on management and key personnel; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; conflicts of interest; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; outcome of current or future litigation or regulatory actions; bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws; cyber-security risks; public health crises; the Company's investment in New Pacific Metals Corp. and Auro Metals Inc.; and the other risk factors described in the Company's latest 40-F/Annual Information Form, and Management's Discussion and Analysis, each under the heading "Risk Factors" available on www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov; could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information or could cause our current objectives, strategies and intentions to change. Accordingly, we warn investors to exercise caution when considering statements containing forward-looking information and that it would be unreasonable to rely on such statements as creating legal rights regarding our future results or plans. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking information will materialize and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents expectations as of the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. However, we are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter any statements containing forward-looking information, the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements herein.

Company expects skilled trades workforce development investment to exceed $200 million by 2030

BROOKFIELD, Wis., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Milwaukee Tool today announced it has joined the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades, a national effort bringing together companies committed to strengthening the skilled trades workforce and expanding pathways into rewarding careers.

Milwaukee Tool joins the Alliance with a longstanding commitment to the people and organizations building the skilled trades workforce across the United States. For more than 100 years, the company has built its business around serving the professional trades, including investing in workforce development initiatives that support skilled trades education, training and career pathways. Based on investments made since 2010 and those planned through 2030, Milwaukee Tool expects its total investment in U.S. skilled trades workforce development to exceed $200 million.

"Milwaukee Tool has built our business around the skilled trades, and we believe America grows when the trades grow," said Shane Moll, Group President of Milwaukee Tool. "Joining the Alliance gives us another opportunity to build on the work we've been doing alongside the organizations that train and support the next generation of skilled tradespeople. We're proud to bring those relationships, our experience, and our continued investment to this effort."

"When we launched the Alliance, our focus was to help people get the training and support they need to build great careers in the skilled trades," said Lisa Gevelber, Founder of Grow with Google. "Milwaukee Tool has long walked the walk, supporting thousands of apprentices each year and investing deeply in local training centers across the country. Having them join this collective effort allows us to do even more for working people, including expanding access to training and opportunities they can be proud of."

Today, Milwaukee Tool supports more than 16,000 apprentices annually who are actively enrolled in skilled trades programs, working alongside more than 1,300 training centers and 25 national union and non-union partners across the United States.

That work is grounded in longstanding relationships with organizations throughout the skilled trades.

"Developing the next generation of skilled professionals requires a sustained commitment from across our industry. Milwaukee Tool has demonstrated that commitment through its longstanding partnership with MCAA and its direct engagement with the mechanical trades. By listening to the people who perform this work every day and investing in education, training and workforce development, Milwaukee Tool is helping strengthen the skilled trades for the future," said Curtis Harbour, President, Mechanical Contractors Association of America.

"Milwaukee Tool has been a longstanding and valued partner to NECA because they understand that supporting the skilled trades means investing in the people who power our industry," said David Long, CEO of the National Electrical Contractors Association. "Their commitment to listening directly to electrical contractors and the workforce, while continuing to invest in education, training and career pathways, is exactly the kind of sustained industry partnership we need to develop the next generation of skilled professionals."

Through the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades, Milwaukee Tool will work alongside companies and organizations focused on increasing awareness of skilled trades careers, expanding access to training, and helping strengthen the workforce needed to support America's infrastructure and economy.

Milwaukee Tool's commitment to the skilled trades is part of the company's broader investment in the United States. Over the past decade, Milwaukee Tool has invested more than $2 billion in its U.S. operations and added more than 4,000 American jobs in the past five years. All Milwaukee Tool global innovation originates from the company's headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, where the company leads the development of solutions for professional tradespeople around the world. Today, Milwaukee Tool employs more than 11,000 people nationwide and operates 34 facilities across the United States, spanning manufacturing, research and development, engineering, distribution, service and corporate operations.

To learn more about Milwaukee Tool's impact in the United States, visit milwaukeetool.com/company/usa-impact.

About Milwaukee Tool

For over 100 years, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry with innovative solutions that redefine performance, productivity, and safety for the professional trades. Fueled by an unwavering commitment to its users, Milwaukee Tool pioneers breakthrough technologies, products, and services that empower tradespeople to excel in their work and return home safely each day. Milwaukee Tool continues to invest in U.S.-based innovation, workforce development, and advanced manufacturing, alongside its global research, design, and development operations, including major facilities across southeast Wisconsin, Mississippi, Tennessee, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

Milwaukee® is a subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI), a world leader in cordless technology. For more information about Milwaukee Tool, visit www.milwaukeetool.com.  

About the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades

The Alliance for America's Skilled Trades is a coalition of leading American companies committed to closing the nation's skilled trades gap by expanding access to training, apprenticeships, and meaningful career pathways. The Alliance was founded in 2026 and includes members AT&T, Barton Malow, BlackRock, Carhartt, Cintas, DEWALT, Ford Motor Company, Google, The Hershey Company, ManpowerGroup, America's Workforce Academy built by Meta, Microsoft, Milwaukee Tool, and Verizon. 

SOURCE Milwaukee Tool

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Princeton NuEnergy and SK Battery America Expand Collaboration on U.S. Closed-Loop Battery Recycling

COMMERCE, Ga., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Princeton NuEnergy Inc. (PNE) today announced its ongoing collaboration with SK Battery America (SKBA) to advance the development of a closed-loop recycling pathway for battery manufacturing scrap generated at SKBA's facilities in Commerce, Georgia.

Under the planned collaboration, PNE will receive battery manufacturing scrap from SKBA. The company is exploring a recycling facility near the manufacturing site to develop a streamlined system for battery materials recycling. Designed to process battery manufacturing scrap, the facility would recover and rejuvenate cathode active material for potential return to battery manufacturing, helping support a more integrated domestic battery supply chain.

PNE recently announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to enter award negotiations for up to $50 million in support of a proposed $110 million project to develop a Cathode-to-Cathode® rejuvenation facility in the United States.

Unlike conventional recycling methods that break battery materials down into their constituent elements, PNE's direct recycling process is designed to preserve and rejuvenate the engineered structure of cathode materials.

The collaboration reflects PNE and SKBA's shared interest in improving material circularity, recovering value from battery manufacturing scrap, and strengthening domestic supply chain for critical battery materials. A localized recycling pathway also reduces reliance on imported inputs while supporting U.S. energy security and industrial competitiveness.

PNE and SKBA are continuing discussions regarding the technical and commercial framework for the collaboration.

"Our business collaboration with SK Battery America reflects growing interest in direct recycling solutions for U.S. battery manufacturing," said Chao Yan, Co-Founder and CEO of PNE. "By leveraging PNE's Cathode-to-Cathode® process, we aim to support a more localized and circular domestic battery materials supply chain."

About Princeton NuEnergy, Inc.

Princeton NuEnergy Inc. (PNE) is a U.S.-based advanced battery materials company developing and commercializing proprietary technologies for lithium-ion battery materials production. PNE's platform includes Cathode-to-Cathode® direct recycling for the production of Rejuvenated Cathode Active Material, Advanced Black Mass™ production, and additional battery-material technologies and capabilities in development.

PNE is building a domestic battery materials platform designed to reduce production costs, strengthen critical-mineral security, and support a more resilient U.S. battery supply chain. The company has received strategic and financial support from Honda Motor Co., Ltd., LKQ Corporation, Samsung, Shell Ventures, Traxys, Wistron Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Energy. For more information, visit www.pnecycle.com.

About SK Battery America

SK Battery America, Inc. (SKBA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of SK On and a leading developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. SKBA operates electric vehicle battery manufacturing facilities in Commerce, Georgia, with a combined annual production capacity of approximately 22 GWh. The company has invested approximately $2.6 billion in its Commerce operations, supporting the continued growth of the U.S. electric vehicle and battery manufacturing supply chain.

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

For media inquiries, please contact:  

Arsalan Khan  

[email protected]  

SOURCE Princeton NuEnergy

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FRISCO, Texas, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Netwrix, a recognized leader in identity and data security, today released new healthcare findings from its 2026 Data and Identity Security Report. Thirty-one percent of healthcare organizations experienced unauthorized identities accessing sensitive data in the past year, compared with 24% in other industries. Among those that experienced an incident, 33% put the cost above $250,000, compared with 21% in other industries.

Healthcare also ranked lowest among 16 industries for confidence that its Active Directory (AD) environments are free of privilege escalation risks, with 86% lacking full confidence in their Active Directory security. Only 14% of healthcare organizations said they were fully confident, compared with 26% across all industries.

"In healthcare, nobody is starting from a clean slate," said Jeff Warren, Chief Product Officer at Netwrix. "These environments are built on decades of legacy systems, typically underpinned by Active Directory and all the permissions that have accumulated in it. Instead of inheriting the access you meant to give it, an AI agent inherits what's already there."

AI is adding identities faster than healthcare can govern them

Seventy-nine percent of healthcare organizations said their non-human identities are not fully governed. Seventy-five percent said AI and automation have increased identity-related risk to sensitive data over the past two years, and 70% said their data access governance is behind the speed of AI adoption.

Most healthcare organizations can't immediately see who has access

Seventy-seven percent can't immediately determine who has access to a specific piece of sensitive data, a challenge that AI is likely to exacerbate as agents proliferate. Sixty-one percent said it would take hours and multiple tools. Forty-eight percent said a compromised identity is the most common starting point for unauthorized access to sensitive data.

An account with limited permissions in Active Directory can still have a route to more sensitive resources through relationships such as delegation and group membership. Permissions that are no longer needed can make those paths harder to identify. Netwrix PingCastle assesses Active Directory environments for security risks and provides remediation guidance.

"Before adding more AI agents and other non-human identities, healthcare organizations need to understand the access that's already there," said Darryl Baker, Senior Staff Security Researcher at Netwrix. "An account can appear to be pretty limited and still have a route to something much more sensitive. Proactively discovering privilege escalation paths and cleaning up permissions give you a much clearer view of what you're handing to a new identity."

Methodology

The Netwrix 2026 Data and Identity Security Report is based on a global survey of 2,317 security professionals conducted in early 2026. The research benchmarked 1,889 organizations across more than 60 industries and 12 security dimensions.

The healthcare findings are based on 145 healthcare respondents, primarily in the United States. Sixteen industries had sufficient representation for industry-level comparisons. Healthcare responses were compared with responses from other industries where noted.

Additional Resources

Download the Netwrix 2026 Data and Identity Security Report

Assess Active Directory security risks with Netwrix PingCastle

Data, Identity & AI Security Assessment: A free benchmarking tool that evaluates organizations across 12 security dimensions and five maturity tiers for AI readiness.

About Netwrix

Netwrix's vision is to create a world where every organization has secured its data and identities. The 1Secure™ platform unifies identity and data security to provide complete visibility into where data lives, who can access it, and how it's governed. With Netwrix, security teams strengthen data protection, safeguard identities, and stay ahead of evolving threats. Today, more than 13,000 customers, including nearly 25% of the Fortune 500, rely on Netwrix solutions across hybrid and AI-driven environments. With a 95% customer satisfaction rating, Netwrix offers flexible delivery models that are quick to deploy, easy to use, and built to scale for organizations of all sizes.

Media Contacts:

Natalie Reina

Director of Public Relations, Netwrix

[email protected]

SOURCE Netwrix

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New year-round initiative unites a dedicated news desk, a flagship conference, original research, and an advisory board, grounded in the engineering community's most trusted editorial brands

CLEVELAND, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arrowfly, an award-winning B2B media and marketing company, today announced the launch of AI for Engineers, a year-round resource for engineers and technical leaders applying artificial intelligence in their work. Anchored by Arrowfly's network of 20+ flagship engineering brands, collectively reaching 2.1 million verified industry readers, 29 million website visitors, 1.6 million email subscribers, and generating 202 million monthly impressions, AI for Engineers brings together four interconnected pillars: a dedicated News Desk, a flagship annual conference, and an Advisory Board. Together, they form a year-round platform equipping engineers with practical knowledge, peer connections, and professional guidance as AI reshapes the engineering profession.

The demand is already there. More than 30,000 engineering and technical professionals have engaged with AI topics across Arrowfly's engineering portfolio through webinars, newsletters, and editorial content. Engineering organizations are now investing in AI across every core function, from design and R&D to automation, manufacturing operations, cybersecurity, and workforce development. As AI adoption accelerates, the need for practical, hands-on knowledge is becoming increasingly important. AI for Engineers was built to meet that demand: a year-round destination combining rigorous editorial coverage, peer-driven applied learning, and an advisory structure accountable to practitioners.

"AI is no longer a future-state consideration for engineers. It is a present-tense operational reality across product design, manufacturing, robotics, medtech, and energy," said Amanda Buehner, Senior Vice President, Sales & Strategy, Engineering, Arrowfly. "What we're hearing from engineering leaders is that the challenge isn't whether to adopt AI. It's how to move from experimentation to practical, repeatable applications that deliver results. AI for Engineers is built around that need, bringing the industry together around trusted information, real-world implementation, and direct exchange between practitioners."

Four Pillars, One Mission

News Desk: The AI for Engineers News Desk puts specialized editors inside each engineering discipline to report on how AI is changing the work: the tools practitioners are adopting, the workflows being rebuilt, and the decisions engineers are navigating right now. Backed by more than 20 engineering brands and 2.1 million verified readers, it is the only editorial resource built from the ground up for engineers who are already building with AI.

Live Event: AI for Engineers takes place September 20–22, 2027, at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas. The three-day conference brings together an expected 700 engineers and technical leaders to learn how AI is being designed, built, and deployed across the product and plant lifecycle. Engineers attending arrive with a shared pressure: leadership has committed to AI, budgets are moving, and the question is how to build something that works. The program spans five discipline-specific content tracks covering Engineering Design and Automation, Medical Devices and Medtech, Robotics, Energy and Electronics, and Industrial Operations and Smart Manufacturing, drawing mechanical engineers, design engineers, CAD/CAE specialists, product development managers, R&D directors, medical device engineers, regulatory affairs professionals, clinical engineers, biomedical researchers, robotics engineers, automation engineers, warehouse operations managers, systems integrators, manufacturing executives, and electrical engineers. The format combines daily keynotes, editorial sessions, pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings, and speaking slots, with Day 3 closing in peer-to-peer guided conversations structured around specific AI topics. A welcome reception on Day 1 and an offsite dinner on Day 2 round out the program. Attendees leave with practical, vendor-tested AI workflows they can apply immediately.

Registration for AI for Engineers 2027 is open now. Engineers and technical leaders can register at aiforengineers.arrowfly.com/event.

Original Research: The AI for Engineers research program launches the 2027 Outlook of AI, an original peer-to-peer study spanning five engineering disciplines: AI in Engineering Design and Simulation, AI in Medical Devices and Medtech, AI in Robotics and Automation, AI in Energy and Electronics, and AI in Industrial Operations and Smart Manufacturing. The study captures how engineering organizations are adopting AI by function, what is working, where the barriers remain, and what leaders expect by 2030. Results are compiled into a gated report published in Q4 2026 and distributed across Arrowfly's engineering portfolio and beyond. Engineers who complete the survey and qualify receive a complimentary pass to AI for Engineers 2027.

Advisory Board: Completing the initiative is the AI for Engineers Advisory Board, a council of engineering and technical leaders shaping the standards, ethics, and best practices of AI in engineering. The Advisory Board holds the entire program accountable to the engineering professionals it serves, ensuring that editorial coverage, conference programming, and research priorities reflect real practitioner priorities, not vendor agendas.

Solution providers and technology companies can reach AI for Engineers' audience of 2.1 million verified engineering professionals, spanning every discipline from mechanical and design to robotics, Medtech, energy, and industrial operations, at organizations including Amazon, NVIDIA, Boeing, Siemens, Medtronic, and Tesla. To learn about sponsorship and partnership opportunities, contact Arrowfly's Engineering team.

About Arrowfly

Arrowfly is a live and digital B2B destination serving professionals across the engineering, healthcare, food, retail, and hospitality sectors. Across 40+ brands, the company delivers trusted journalism, original content, live and digital events, video, and demand generation programs to the decision-makers shaping their industries. Powered by Clara, Arrowfly's proprietary performance platform, partners get real-time visibility into audience engagement, lead quality, and campaign ROI. The company is backed by an established reputation for editorial independence and credibility across the markets it serves. For more information, visit arrowfly.com.

Media Contact:

Annie Wissner

VP of Marketing

SOURCE Arrowfly

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EBGLYSS monotherapy met its primary endpoint with more than half of patients achieving clear or almost clear skin on their hands and feet (HF-IGA 0/1) by Week 16, with significant skin clearance as early as one month

EBGLYSS delivered significant itch and pain relief, with significant itch improvements as early as two weeks in the Phase 3b ADtouch study

In first-of-its-kind patient satisfaction data, nearly eight out of 10 patients treated with EBGLYSS reported being satisfied or very satisfied with hand clearance at Week 16

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab-lbkz) monotherapy met its primary and secondary endpoints at Week 16 in the Phase 3b ADtouch study, showing significant and rapid improvements in hand and foot skin clearance, itch and pain in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe hand and foot atopic dermatitis (AD). In first-of-its-kind patient satisfaction data for moderate-to-severe hand AD, significantly more patients treated with EBGLYSS were satisfied or very satisfied with how much the skin on their hands had cleared than those on placebo, as measured by the validated Atopic Hand Dermatitis Clearance Satisfaction (AHDCS) scale. These late-breaking results will be presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, Sept. 30-Oct. 3 in Vienna.1

"When atopic dermatitis affects the hands and feet, persistent itch and pain can make simple things like walking or holding your child's hand a daily struggle," said Mark Genovese, M.D., senior vice president of Lilly Immunology development. "Data from the ADtouch study provide further evidence that EBGLYSS has the potential to rapidly improve skin clearance and itch and provide pain relief in the hands and feet without the need for topical treatments, giving people with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis the opportunity to spend less time managing symptoms."

EBGLYSS is an interleukin-13 (IL-13) inhibitor that selectively blocks IL-13 signaling with high binding affinity and slow dissociation rate.2,3,4 The cytokine IL-13 is a primary cytokine in AD, driving the type-2 inflammatory cycle in the skin, leading to skin barrier dysfunction, itch, skin thickening and infection.5,6

"For people with hand and foot atopic dermatitis, a relatively small area of affected skin can have an outsized impact on daily life," said Shawn G. Kwatra, M.D., Joseph W. Burnett Endowed Professor and Chair in Dermatology, Chief of Service, Dermatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland Medical Center. "Patients treated with lebrikizumab experienced significant improvements in pain and itch, with nearly three times as many patients achieving meaningful pain improvement compared with placebo. The ADtouch data reinforce that disease burden extends beyond what clinicians can see and highlight the importance of evaluating outcomes that matter to people in improving their everyday lives."

Atopic dermatitis affecting the hands and feet can carry substantial burden for people living with this chronic skin disease, despite involving limited areas of the body.1,7 Up to 60% of people with AD have hand involvement, and roughly 30% also have foot involvement.8,9

The ADtouch clinical trial evaluated EBGLYSS monotherapy in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe hand and foot AD who had an inadequate response to topical therapies. In the ADtouch clinical trial, participants were randomized to receive placebo or EBGLYSS every two weeks. The trial assessed physician- and patient-reported outcomes across skin clearance, itch, pain, patient satisfaction with hand clearance, and quality of life. Patients enrolled had moderate-to-severe hand and foot involvement, though most had limited AD across the rest of the body. At baseline, patients were living with severe itch of the hands and feet, moderate pain and substantial impairment in quality of life, despite limited overall skin involvement.

The safety of EBGLYSS in ADtouch was consistent with the known profile in adult and adolescent patients, with no new safety signals observed. Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 41.8% of patients receiving EBGLYSS and 39.6% receiving placebo, and all were mild or moderate in severity.1 The most common (≥5%) adverse reactions reported with EBGLYSS were nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infection. Adverse events leading to discontinuation were reported in 0.9% of patients receiving EBGLYSS and 2.7% receiving placebo.

Lilly has submitted these data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and plans to submit to select global regulatory authorities for a potential label update to include these data for localized AD with moderate-to-severe hand and foot involvement.

Almirall will also present EBGLYSS data at EADV, including five-year results from the Phase 3b ADlong trial highlighting the long-term durability of EBGLYSS in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. These results reinforce previously reported four-year ADlong results for EBGLYSS.10

EBGLYSS is approved in the U.S. to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg) with moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. In June 2026, the U.S. FDA approved a regimen of one maintenance dose every eight weeks of a single injection (250 mg/2 mL) of EBGLYSS for subcutaneous use, building on its already approved once-monthly maintenance dose. EBGLYSS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids.11

Lilly has exclusive rights for development and commercialization of EBGLYSS in the U.S. and the rest of the world outside Europe. Almirall has licensed the rights to develop and commercialize EBGLYSS for the treatment of dermatology indications, including atopic dermatitis, in Europe.

About ADtouch

ADtouch (NCT06921759) is a Phase 3b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of EBGLYSS 250 mg dosed every two weeks (Q2W) in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic hand and foot dermatitis for a total of 16 weeks. Adults and adolescents (ages 12-17, weighing at least 88 pounds, ≥40 kg) with history of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, atopic hand and foot dermatitis of at least one year's duration, involvement in at least two of four hand and foot anatomical areas, a Hand and Foot Investigator Global Assessment (HF-IGA) score of moderate (3) or severe (4), Hand and Foot Peak Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score of 4 or higher, and inadequate response to topical therapies were eligible to enroll. Patients (N=221) were randomized 1:1 to receive EBGLYSS 250 mg or placebo every two weeks after an initial loading dose, with all participants applying moisturizer to the hands and feet throughout the study.1 The approved maintenance dose of EBGLYSS is 250 mg every four weeks (EU and U.S.) or 250 mg every eight weeks (U.S.), after taking EBGLYSS every two weeks for the four-month initial dosing phase (or later once achieving adequate clinical response).11

About EBGLYSS(lebrikizumab-lbkz)

EBGLYSS is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets and neutralizes IL-13 with high binding affinity and a slow dissociation rate.1,3,4 EBGLYSS binds to the IL-13 cytokine at an area that overlaps with the binding site of the IL-4Rα subunit of the IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα heterodimer, preventing formation of this receptor complex and inhibiting IL-13 signaling. IL-13 is implicated as a primary cytokine tied to the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis, driving the type-2 inflammatory loop in the skin, and EBGLYSS selectively targets IL-13.1

The EBGLYSS Phase 3 program in atopic dermatitis consists of seven key global studies evaluating more than 1,600 patients, including two monotherapy studies (ADvocate 1 and 2), a combination study with topical corticosteroids (ADhere), long-term extension (ADjoin) and adolescent open-label (ADore) studies. The program also includes a study assessing the impact of EBGLYSS on vaccine immune response in adults (ADopt-VA). EBGLYSS has been studied in patients with skin of color (ADmirable) and in dupilumab-experienced patients (ADapt).

EBGLYSS was approved in the U.S., Japan and Canada in 2024 and in the European Union in 2023. EBGLYSS is a first-line biologic treatment, administered with or without topical corticosteroids, that offers every-four-week (EU and U.S.) or every-eight-week (U.S.) maintenance dosing for adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg) with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis that is not well-controlled with topical prescription therapies.1 In the U.S., the recommended initial starting dose of EBGLYSS is 500 mg (two 250 mg injections) at Week 0 and Week 2, followed by 250 mg every two weeks until Week 16 or later when adequate clinical response is achieved; after this, maintenance dosing is 250 mg every four weeks or every eight weeks.1

Lilly is committed to serving patients living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and is working to enable broad first-line biologic access to EBGLYSS for patients not well-controlled with topical prescription therapy through commercial insurance. Lilly has coverage with all three major national pharmacy benefit managers, and EBGLYSS is covered on nearly 95% of national commercial plans. We have expanded Medicaid coverage and are pursuing similarly broad Medicare coverage as part of Lilly's health equity and affordability initiative. Through Lilly Support Services for EBGLYSS, Lilly offers a patient support program including co-pay assistance for eligible, commercially insured patients.

The Most Flexible Layout in the Storyteller Lineup

GEAR MODE is built around two ideas. GearWall™ opens the rear of the van into a full cargo bay, ready for moto gear, climbing ropes, tools, or whatever else needs a real place to be stored. GearShift™, the modular panel system, reconfigures the interior into four distinct settings—

Gear: Clears the floor to store your large equipment, for use of the GearWall and maximum cargo

Bed: An RV queen bed for real rest

Bench: Seating for downtime

Table: A dining or work surface for meals, planning, or remote work

L-track runs throughout the floor and walls, giving every piece of gear a secure tie-down point.

"Our community is filled with people who have an adventurous spirit, and most of them have a garage full of equipment for their activities to prove it. GEAR MODE was built for exactly that— a rig that carries everything their next adventure requires, while still providing all the comforts of home," said Neil Grimmer, CEO of Storyteller Overland.

That flexibility isn't just for adventure seekers. For contractors and business owners, GEAR MODE doubles as a mobile tool bay, remote office, and home base, with Starlink Mini prewiring, onboard power, and a workspace that's ready when the job site is.

Power and Comfort, Off-Grid

A Lithionics power system in 4kWh or 8kWh configurations (upgradeable to 11.9kWh), a high-output auxiliary alternator, a 2000W inverter, and prewiring for up to 1,500W of solar keep everything running. Diesel-fired hydronic heat, a 12V rooftop air conditioner, a 20-gallon fresh water tank, and an exterior shower round out a cabin built for extended trips.

Three Trims, Built to Go Further

Every GEAR MODE includes running boards, a city/fresh water connection, a heavy-duty shore power inlet, two exterior 110V outlets, a solar panel port, and Starlink Mini prewiring.

STR is the clean, capable foundation, riding on BFG KO3 all-terrain tires with prewiring for KC HiLites 360 lighting package.

ADV adds an nVader roof rack and grab rails, an nVader ladder and rear rack, a manual awning, a second soft storage cabinet, an upgraded wheel and tire package, and a second Lithionics battery.

MAX is built for the hardest trails, with the Evictus Advanced Kit, a KC HiLites 360 lighting package, an nVader rear rack with spare tire bucket, an nVader brush guard, and no-rub fenders and flares.

Every GEAR MODE is backed by a 1-year/15,000-mile Storyteller Overland limited warranty and a 5-year/75,000-mile Mercedes-Benz Extended Limited Warranty.

Pricing and Availability

GEAR MODE will be available nationwide starting in Q4 at see-thru pricing: STR $149,497. 67, ADV $171,477.89, MAX $187,493.42. Explore more at StorytellerOverland.com.

Live Free. Explore Endlessly. Tell Better Stories.

About Storyteller:

Storyteller Overland is widely regarded as the world's most all-encompassing and highest quality overland vehicle manufacturer. Launched in 2018 by a dedicated group of automotive and outdoor enthusiasts, Storyteller has always believed that capability is only half the story — what matters most is how that capability lets its community live and experience life exactly the way they want to. That belief drives the mission: to inspire and equip a growing community of adventurers with the proper gear, resources, and mindset to "live free, explore endlessly and tell better stories." Storyteller is honored to serve its STORYTELLERS owners group, a diverse, kind, helpful, and inclusive gathering of rugged individualists drawn together by a shared belief that life's greatest luxury is saying "yes" to the next grand adventure. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, the Soul of Storyteller is the unique connection that exists between the stellar group of people who design, engineer, and build our vehicles and gear, and the incredible people who experience them.

Media Contact:

Summer Trammell

VP, Marketing Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Storyteller Overland

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