Plans Support Critical Minerals Supply Chain and Company's Angel Island Lithium Project;

Eight Offtake MOUs Signed for Chlor-Alkali Products

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LCE) (OTCQX: CYDVF) (Frankfurt: C1Z) ("Century Lithium" or "the Company") is pleased to announce its plans to develop a commercial-scale chlor-alkali plant ("CA Plant"). The CA Plant is intended to support the critical and strategic minerals supply chain in the Western United States and the Company's 100%-owned Angel Island Lithium Project ("Angel Island" or the "Project") in Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA, currently in the permitting phase.

"In the course of our work on Angel Island, Century Lithium identified chlor-alkali products as a fundamental component of the critical minerals supply chain," said Bill Willoughby, President and CEO of Century Lithium. "We also recognized a regional opportunity in the Western U.S. for a plant producing these products. The proposed CA Plant has the potential to generate revenue on its own, train an operating team and reduce future reagent supply risk to Angel Island. Century Lithium has evaluated a number of potential sites for the CA Plant in Nevada and Utah that could meet its criteria for proximity to infrastructure and resources and expects to finalize a selection shortly. The Company has obtained non-binding offtake interest for production from the CA Plant from a number of companies and is actively pursuing project-level financing."

Highlights

- Chlor-alkali products are essential inputs across the critical minerals supply chain, supporting lithium and battery-materials processing, rare earth element separation, and precious and specialty metals production, in addition to broader industrial and household uses.

- The proposed CA Plant would produce chlorine, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide from sodium chloride, water and electricity, at a target commercial production rate of 300 short tons per day ("st/d") of chlorine, with provision to double capacity to 600 st/d depending on regional demand and the supply needs of Angel Island.

- Century Lithium has entered into eight non-binding Memoranda of Understanding ("MOU") with third parties for offtake arrangements that could collectively account for the full initial production of the proposed CA Plant.

- Candidate sites in Nevada and Utah were evaluated against feedstock, power, rail access, market proximity, land tenure, and permitting criteria.

- The proposed CA Plant would use modern, proven technology in a location favorable for infrastructure development.

- Site due diligence is underway; the next step will be securing project-level financing to fund property acquisition, front-end engineering and design ("FEED") and permitting of the selected site.

Site Selection

The Company is in the process of selecting the preferred site for the CA Plant out of a number of candidate sites which included a combination of private industrial land, state land, and federally controlled land available under lease.

The site selection process has considered internal engineering and economic work and studies addressing equipment selection, power, water and sodium chloride supply, CA product handling and comparative site economics.

Relation to Angel Island

The Feasibility Study for Angel Island (Updated NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Feasibility of the Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA, January 3, 2026) includes an on-site chlor-alkali plant as the base case for the Project. The capital and operating estimates disclosed in the Feasibility Study are unchanged by this announcement. The proposed CA Plant in this announcement does not replace that facility, and none of its cost is added to Angel Island.

The economics of the proposed CA Plant are based solely on internal study and the assumption of commercial sales of all chlor-alkali products to third-party customers. No revenue, cost saving or capital credit associated with Angel Island is included in them, and the CA Plant is intended to be financed at the project level.

The supply of reagents from the proposed CA Plant to Angel Island would depend on the economics of transportation still to be determined. Century Lithium views the proposed CA Plant as a self-funding first step toward Angel Island rather than a change in the Company's lithium strategy.

Offtake and Commercial Arrangements

Century Lithium has entered into eight non-binding MOUs with companies in various industrial and chemical sectors in the Western U.S. to supply them with chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide produced by the proposed CA Plant. The Company is also in discussions with other prospective purchasers of these products.

Project Financing

Century Lithium intends to finance the proposed CA Plant through non-dilutive financing at the project level. The capital structure under evaluation contemplates a combination of vendor financing associated with site acquisition, institutional preferred equity, prepayments and similar support from offtake counterparties, and non-dilutive United States government programs that may be available to domestic critical minerals and industrial capacity. The Company has engaged financial advisors and has commenced consultations with United States government financing agencies. Land acquisition and front-end engineering are expected to be funded first, with construction financing arranged following completion of FEED and definitive offtake agreements.

Century Lithium's objective in structuring the proposed CA Plant separately is to fund it with capital appropriate to an industrial chemical asset with anticipated offtake, and to limit dilution to shareholders of Century Lithium. No financing has been secured at this time, and no definitive agreements have been entered into, and there is no assurance that financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all.

Next Steps

Due diligence is underway and includes property negotiations, project-level funding, and investigation of power supply terms with the serving utility, salt feedstock and transportation, water rights, land tenure and title, environmental condition, and the permitting pathway. Once the preferred site is selected and secured, the Company intends to advance the preferred site to FEED with a qualified engineering, procurement and construction contractor and to commence permitting, while continuing discussions with prospective commercial counterparties and sources of project financing. Long-lead electrical equipment is a recognized schedule constraint for United States chlor-alkali projects, and the Company is evaluating equipment sourcing in parallel with site selection.

ABOUT CENTURY LITHIUM CORP.

Century Lithium Corp. is an advanced-stage lithium development company focused on its 100%-owned Angel Island Lithium Project in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Angel Island hosts one of the largest known sedimentary lithium deposits in the United States and is designed with an integrated, end-to-end process to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate on-site to support the electric vehicle and battery storage markets.

The Company has developed a patent-pending process that incorporates hydrochloric acid leaching combined with direct lithium extraction to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate. As part of the integrated chlor-alkali process, Angel Island is designed to produce sodium hydroxide as a co-product, with planned surplus sales expected to lower operating costs, reduce reliance on externally sourced reagents, and minimize environmental impacts.

Century Lithium is currently advancing Angel Island through the permitting process.

Century Lithium trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "LCE" the OTCQX under the symbol "CYDVF" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "C1Z".

To learn more, please visit centurylithium.com.

ON BEHALF OF CENTURY LITHIUM CORP.

WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, PhD, PE 

President & Chief Executive Officer

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

Forward-looking statements relate to any matters that are not historical facts and statements of our beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, without limitation, statements with respect to the potential development of a chlor-alkali plant, site selection, anticipated capacity and product slate, regional supply and demand conditions, and the intended financing structure and sources for the chlor-alkali plant, the anticipated benefits of the plant to the Angel Island Lithium Project, and anticipated engineering, permitting and financing activities and their timing. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management considers reasonable, including as to the availability of a suitable site, power, feedstock, permits, equipment and financing on acceptable terms, and as to regional demand. Actual results may differ materially. The Company has not made a construction decision, has not secured a site, and there is no assurance that any plant will be developed or that any memorandum of understanding will result in a definitive agreement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

July Results Support $430 Million Full-Year Revenue Objective; Planned Ultranet Acquisition Expected to Contribute $4.5 Million in Net Income

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IQSTEL Inc. (NASDAQ: IQST) ("IQSTEL" or the "Company"), a global telecommunications and technology company, today announced net revenue of $37.5 million for July, representing an annualized revenue run rate of $450 million based on the month's performance.

The July results support the Company's progress toward its $430 million full-year revenue objective. The annualized run rate reflects July net revenue multiplied by 12; it does not represent revenue already earned or a revision to the Company's full-year forecast.

Alongside this revenue performance, IQSTEL is preparing to complete its planned acquisition of Ultranet, which the Company expects to add $4.5 million in net income. The anticipated contribution remains subject to completion of the acquisition and subsequent operating performance.

Combining Telecom Scale with Digital Services Profit Potential

IQSTEL is developing its Digital Services business alongside its core telecommunications operations, with microdrama distribution representing one potential source of recurring profit contribution.

In its recent microdrama announcement, IQSTEL Digital presented an illustrative model estimating potential annualized profit contribution of $1.8 million to $3.6 million at 300,000 active paid monthly subscriptions. At that subscription level, the model illustrated annualized consumer billings of $14.4 million to $21.6 million, before revenue sharing among participating mobile operators, content partners and IQSTEL.

"While our core telecommunications business remains on track, we are developing Digital Services as an additional engine of profitability," said Leandro Iglesias, President and CEO of IQSTEL. "Our recent microdrama model illustrated potential annualized profit contribution of $1.8 million to $3.6 million for IQSTEL Digital at 300,000 active paid monthly subscriptions. These figures are illustrative, not financial guidance, but they demonstrate the opportunity we are pursuing. By combining our telecom scale with the earnings potential of Digital Services, we are building a Telecom and Digital Services powerhouse."

The microdrama model assumes monthly consumer subscription pricing of approximately $4 to $6 and estimated monthly profit contribution attributable to IQSTEL Digital of approximately $0.50 to $1.00 per active paid subscription, after anticipated revenue sharing and directly attributable operating expenses.

Annualized amounts assume that subscription levels, pricing and estimated unit economics remain constant for twelve consecutive months. These scenarios are mathematical illustrations and do not represent existing subscriptions, contracted revenue, forecasts or financial guidance. Consumer billings do not represent revenue attributable exclusively to IQSTEL, and estimated profit contribution is not consolidated net income.

Building a Telecom and Digital Services Powerhouse

IQSTEL's strategy combines the scale of its telecommunications business with the development of higher-margin digital services. Its telecommunications relationships provide a commercial foundation for introducing new offerings across entertainment, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech and digital health.

The Company's focus is on translating that commercial reach into stronger profitability through business development, planned acquisitions and the expansion of Digital Services. July's revenue performance, the planned Ultranet acquisition and the development of microdrama distribution reflect complementary elements of that strategy.

About IQSTEL Inc.

IQSTEL Inc. (NASDAQ: IQST) is a global telecommunications and technology company operating through two core business divisions: Telecom and Digital Services. The Telecom Division is the foundation of IQSTEL's global platform, operating across 24 countries with more than 600 telecommunications carrier interconnections and delivering international voice, SMS, messaging, and connectivity solutions to some of the world's largest telecom operators and enterprise customers. Through these customer relationships, IQSTEL's platform has the potential to reach approximately 2.3 billion end users worldwide. Building on this global infrastructure and commercial reach, the Digital Services Division is focused on higher-margin technology solutions across Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Communications, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Digital Health, Enterprise Automation, and Content Services. Built through nearly two decades of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, IQSTEL is leveraging the scale and reach of its Telecom business to accelerate the growth of Digital Services and drive its next phase of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA expansion.

For more information, visit:

Corporate website: www.iqstel.com 

Investor Relations Portal: www.ir.iqstel.com 

IQSTEL Telecom website: www.iqsteltelecom.com

IQSTEL Digital Services website: www.iqsteldigital.com

Official Investor Landing Page: www.landingpage.iqstel.com

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this news release may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions, or any other information relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend", "could" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about our business based partly on assumptions made by management. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: our ability to successfully market our products and services; our continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for our products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; our ability to successfully develop new products and services; our ability to complete complementary acquisitions and dispositions that benefit our company; our success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements with our industry partners; our ability to comply with applicable regulations; our ability to secure capital when needed; and the other risks and uncertainties described in our prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE iQSTEL

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Thunes Powers J.P. Morgan Payments' Xpedite Remit Solution to Accelerate Global Payouts

Expanded capabilities with Thunes will help J.P. Morgan Payments clients send faster payouts to bank accounts and mobile wallets across 100+ corridors.

SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Thunes has been selected by J.P. Morgan Payments to expand the business' cross-border capabilities through its Xpedite Remit solutions suite. The new solutions leverage both J.P. Morgan Payments' connectivity to local real-time payments rails and Thunes' extensive Direct Global Network in order to meet growing demand for fast, simple and reliable cross-border payments.

With Xpedite Remit, clients benefit from principal protection, end-to-end traceability, and faster payouts – either in the same currency or via seamless FX conversion – across more markets worldwide. The new capabilities will provide access to local bank accounts and mobile wallets via real-time, 24/7 payment networks, all from a single account and connectivity. The solution will enable clients to access 12 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts across more than 100+ corridors provided by Thunes' Network.

Gayathri Vasudev, Global Head of High Value Payments & FX at J.P. Morgan Payments, said: "Our clients want simpler, faster ways to move money across borders and to reach people through the payment methods they prefer. That's why we are continuing to enhance our cross-border capabilities and further expanding our solution through the collaboration with Thunes. Building on milestones, like our recent progress with Swift's retail payments scheme, we're helping clients grow in new markets while delivering the faster, more seamless experiences they have come to expect."

As digital payments continue to grow globally, local payment methods are increasingly the preferred way for consumers and businesses to send and receive money. For organizations operating in multiple markets, keeping up with those preferences can quickly add complexity.

Peter De Caluwe, Co-Founder and CEO of Thunes, said: "We are thrilled to welcome J.P. Morgan Payments to our Direct Global Network. Thunes offers the bank-grade compliance, security and resilience required to move money safely and quickly at global scale. Together, we are demonstrating how traditional banking infrastructure can connect with popular local payment methods to make global commerce smoother for everyone involved."

The Consumer and Community Bank at JPMorganChase will also benefit from the expanded cross-border capabilities. For Chase accounts, which serve approximately 94 million consumer and small business customers, the enhanced payment rails are expected to enable faster payout experiences and support real-time inbound payments into the U.S.

Ashish Ajmera, Head of Banking Payments at Chase, said: "As customers increasingly move money across borders as part of their everyday lives, they expect the experience to be fast, intuitive and reliable. These enhancements mark an important step in our efforts to modernize cross-border payments and expand the capabilities available through our broader suite of products and services, helping customers send money internationally with greater speed, transparency and confidence."

The initial rollout supports a range of payments use cases — including instant supplier settlements, bill payments, and remittances — and will be available globally, including key markets with significant cross-border remittance flows such as India, Mexico, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines.

To find out more, visit the news article on the J.P. Morgan Payments Newsroom: https://www.jpmorgan.com/payments/newsroom/cross-border-payments-thunes-expansion

For more information visit Thunes: https://www.thunes.com/

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CATL kicks off trial production of battery cells in Hungary

DEBRECEN, Hungary, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CATL begins trial production on 22 September 2026 in its newly built cell factory in Debrecen as the company had fulfilled all preconditions required to commence trial run. The purpose of trial production is to set up, optimise and validate the production equipment and manufacturing processes ahead of the start of series production. CATL Debrecen continues cooperating and working closely with the government and the authorities in order to keep high standards on the environmental issues as well as the health and safety of its employees.

CATL announced the construction of its second European battery plant in Debrecen in August 2022, with the aim of integrating to the European automotive and e-mobility supply chain and better serve leading European automakers. Construction of the first cell building started in summer 2023 and by spring 2026 the building had been equipped with the most advanced technology. After obtaining the occupancy permit in August 2026, the company obtained all relevant permits and completed all pre-conditions required by its IPPC permit prior to start trial operations from 22 September on the first two production lines of its cell manufacturing facility.

Prior to issuing the occupancy permit, the Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office carried out regular on-site inspections at CATL's facilities in order to follow up on previous issues creating serious worries in local inhabitants. Authority representatives confirmed that the company had resolved all deficiencies identified earlier in the permitting process.

As a strategic manufacturing hub, CATL's Debrecen plant will supply the most well-known, leading European automakers, which have already built significant electric vehicle production capacity in Hungary in recent years. As a global technology leader CATL implemented the most advanced, flexible production lines in Debrecen in order to fulfil the needs of its valued clients at all times. The company has already been manufacturing battery modules since autumn 2024 in Debrecen and has already produced 537,000 modules ever since. Once all facilities ready, the Hungarian plant will be CATL's largest manufacturing base outside China with a 100 GWH capacity.

Alongside obtaining the permits and completing pre-conditions required to launch trial operations, CATL Debrecen remains committed to working closely with the Government and the authorities to prioritize the health and safety of its employees. Furthermore, employee health, safety and environmental factors will be thoroughly monitored during the trial operation as well, and results will be submitted to the Authority proactively. CATL's investment is not only important for Debrecen and its region, but also for the Hungarian economy and the European e-mobility supply chain. CATL is committed to transparency and welcomes the authorities to visit its site at any time.

SOURCE CATL

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Anyone can try an expert-built agent for free to see how it creates ready-to-use work grounded in transparent evidence and proven methodology

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Findem, the people intelligence platform, today launched Findem Studio to turn complex people questions into finished work teams can review, defend and act on. Studio combines Findem's proprietary people intelligence with expert-backed AI agents to deliver work such as succession plans, market maps, leadership benchmarks, hiring briefs, skills gap analyses and org charts, giving teams a stronger starting point without having to create and verify the work from scratch. Studio agents can now be tried for free at https://studio.findem.ai/solutions.

Each Findem Studio agent brings together three requirements for trusted AI work: the right intelligence and context from Findem's expert-labeled people data, a proven methodology from a leading practitioner and checks that connect conclusions to evidence. Talent teams can use that foundation to tackle complex people questions and produce enterprise-ready work.

For example, a talent leader can ask Studio to build a succession plan for a critical role. Rather than return a candidate list, the agent evaluates potential successors against expert-defined criteria and develops a plan explaining its recommendations. Teams can examine the evidence, challenge the conclusions and refine the plan before acting.

"The next phase of enterprise AI is about completing meaningful work, not simply helping people find information," said Findem co-founder and CEO Hari Kolam. "That requires more than a capable model. It requires trusted intelligence, deep expertise and clear accountability for the result. People can now try Studio agents for free and experience what that next phase of AI looks like in practice."

Three ways to put Studio to work

- Run an expert-backed agent: Choose a ready-to-use agent shaped by a leading practitioner's proven methodology and receive completed work with supporting evidence. Examples include agents that create succession plans, candidate intake documents, hiring briefs, CHRO and VP of Talent Acquisition benchmarks, market maps and talent intelligence reports.

- Build an agent around your expertise: Organizations can encode their own methodology, standards and decision criteria into a Studio workflow. They provide the method, while Studio provides the people intelligence, execution and validation.

- Work in the AI environments you already use: Teams can use Studio through the Findem platform, access its agents from compatible AI environments such as Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Gemini or use Findem MCP to bring Findem intelligence into their own agents, applications and workflows.

What industry leaders are saying

"HR has moved from asking, 'Can AI do this?' to 'Can I trust AI?' This means people data must be accurate, current and complete. Findem has done the work to structure and label people data and validate the data by practitioners who understand how people decisions are made. This combination turns Findem people data into information an enterprise can trust," said Josh Bersin, global industry analyst and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company.

"The Findem MCP agent we have in Camunda is doing extraordinary work, and people are impressed every time we show it to them," said Casey Firey, head of global talent operations at Camunda. "We wanted people intelligence available to the processes we already run, and that's what the Findem MCP gives us. We feel like we've only scratched the surface of the depth of insight we can get from Findem and then act on inside Camunda."

"For years, talent tech vendors have left data readiness and governance to the client, and that is not partnership. Findem took the opposite position with Studio," said Kyle Lagunas, founder and principal of Kyle & Co. "Every agent carries a point of view on how the work should be done, drawn from practitioners who have done it well, and a talent leader can read that point of view, agree with it or change it. That is a very different starting place than a blank prompt. The final mile of AI is where the real differentiation happens, and this is one of the first I've seen built for it on purpose."

The foundation behind work teams can trust

Trust starts before an agent receives a prompt. Findem's AI Labeling Engine transforms fragmented people data into structured context, while Findem MCP gives Studio agents access to the 3D People Graph's 1.6 trillion expert-labeled data points across people, companies and time. This puts the right people, companies and evidence in front of the model from the start. Agents then apply a defined methodology created by a named practitioner or supplied by the organization. The resulting work shows the evidence, criteria and rationale behind its conclusions. Agent outputs serve as recommendations for teams to review and refine, with people making the final decisions.

Try a Findem Studio Agent for Free

Findem Studio and Findem MCP are now available. Visit studio.findem.ai/solutions to try an agent for free.

About Findem

Findem is the AI infrastructure for people-centric work. Its People Intelligence platform turns fragmented people data into context that teams and their AI systems can reason over and act on. Powered by Findem's 3D People Graph, it connects trillions of data points across individuals, companies and time. Expert labeling translates that data into consistent, evidence-backed signals about experience, capabilities and relationships, designed to provide explainability at every step so teams can make confident decisions. Findem's agents and enterprise applications run on this foundation with human review built in, and partners can build on this infrastructure and bring the same intelligence into their own products. Named one of the most innovative companies by Fortune and Fast Company, Findem is trusted by industry leaders including FedEx, Intuit, RingCentral and Emirates.

SOURCE Findem

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OSCP open-sources a ROS 2 driver for its MK2 inertial measurement units

Released under the MIT licence for ROS 2 Humble and Jazzy. The Montreal company is a silver sponsor at ROSCon Global in Toronto, booth 29.

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Robots that work indoors never had a satellite fix to lose. Warehouse floors, inspection tunnels, greenhouses and building interiors are GNSS-denied by default, and a ROS 2 stack navigating there is running on wheel odometry and an inertial measurement unit. When the wheels slip or the surface changes, heading is the first thing to go, and heading error is set by the gyroscope.

OSCPS Motion Sensing Inc., operating as OSCP, today released an open-source ROS 2 driver for its MK2 family of inertial measurement units. The driver is published under the MIT licence at github.com/OSCPS/oscp_ros2_driver, with documentation at docs.oscp.com. OSCP is a silver sponsor of ROSCon Global in Toronto, September 22 to 24, and is exhibiting at booth 29.

The driver connects an MK2-family unit to a ROS 2 system over RS-422 or CAN-FD and publishes on standard sensor_msgs topics, so the unit feeds an existing navigation stack without custom parsing work. It ships as three packages: the node itself, a library handling COBS decoding and frame definitions, and a set of OSCP message types stamped with the unit's internal clock. Configuration is a YAML file, and the node exposes services for querying configuration, stationary bias calibration, zeroing orientation and applying a magnetometer calibration.

It supports ROS 2 Humble and Jazzy on Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04. Builders can start with the MK2M2, a MEMS unit measuring 40 by 40 by 25 millimetres, weighing 75 grams and drawing 1.2 watts, and move up to the MK2E2, which replaces the Z-axis MEMS gyroscope with a photonic one while keeping MEMS on X and Y, on the same driver and the same interfaces.

"The ROS community does not need another sensor that arrives with a datasheet and a serial protocol," said Kazem Zandi, founder and chief executive of OSCP. "It needs the thing to publish clean data into the stack people already run. We wrote the driver so that integration stops being a project of its own."

The company's published road test is the case for the photonic option. Over 21 minutes through downtown Montreal, with satellite positioning denied and heading coming from the gyroscope alone on a one-hertz speed input, the MK2E2 finished 5.7 metres from ground truth. An MK2M2, OSCP's MEMS unit, ran the same drive on identical aiding and finished 20.5 metres out. Both units carry the same 0.5 degrees per hour minimum in-run bias on their datasheets. What changed was the Z-axis gyroscope. The full write-up, including the route and the error over time, is at oscp.com/case_studies/photonic-vs-mems-proven-real-roads.

Vibration is the second reason to look at the photonic axis. MEMS gyroscopes are g-sensitive, so bias error grows under vibration and sustained acceleration, which is the normal working life of a legged platform or a vehicle on rough ground. A photonic gyroscope has no proof mass to shake. OSCP is characterising the MK2 family under vibration and will publish the results.

For robots that run for hours without a fix, there is a third option. The MK2Z, currently a prototype, puts a navigation-grade optical gyroscope on the heading axis, at 0.005 degrees per hour typical, roughly two orders of magnitude better than the MEMS heading gyro in the drive above. It is larger and draws more power, at 475 grams and 4.5 watts, and it runs on the same driver and the same interfaces. Mines, tunnels, subsea vehicles and large indoor sites are where that trade starts to pay.

"We put it out under MIT because a driver you cannot read is a driver you cannot trust," said Thibaut Gravey, vice-president, product. "Integrators change the timing, change the frame they publish in, change how they want the thing calibrated. All of that is easier when the source is in front of you."

The driver was written by Rayan Raad, a robotics engineering intern at OSCP, who is at booth 29 for the conference.

OSCP sensors are designed and manufactured in Montreal. The team is at booth 29 at ROSCon Global, Sheraton Centre Toronto, September 22 to 24, and is happy to talk through an integration. To arrange a meeting, contact [email protected].

ABOUT OSCP

OSCPS Motion Sensing Inc., operating as OSCP, designs and manufactures photonic gyroscopes and inertial measurement units. Founded in 2015 and based in Montréal, Québec, it builds sensors that deliver tactical-grade accuracy at a fraction of the size, weight and power of traditional optical gyroscopes, for navigation where GNSS is jammed, degraded or unavailable. Its customers work in space, defence, marine and subsea, rail, robotics and ground autonomy. OSCP products are made in Canada and are ITAR-free.

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GRAFINE PARTNERS NAMES SUZANNE FLANNERY AS MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Appointment strengthens Grafine's leadership team and supports the firm's continued growth and commitment to investors

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Grafine Partners, a principal investment firm focused on generating alpha in the lower middle and middle market, today announced that Suzanne Flannery has joined the firm as Managing Director, Head of Strategic Initiatives. In this newly created role, Ms. Flannery will work across the investment, capital formation and operations teams to further institutionalize Grafine as it continues to attract capital from sophisticated global investors and increase its direct investment activity.

Since founding Grafine in 2019, Founder and Managing Partner Elizabeth Weymouth has built a distinctive investment firm around seeking to identify exceptional sector-specialist private equity investors launching new firms and investing alongside them in high-alpha opportunities.

"We are delighted to welcome Suzanne to Grafine," said Ms. Weymouth. "She brings a unique and valuable combination of investment experience, strategic perspective, and operating discipline to our growing platform. Her experience will strengthen our ability to serve our investors as we grow, helping us scale thoughtfully while continuing to provide the performance and high level of engagement that are central to Grafine."

Ms. Flannery brings more than two decades of experience spanning alternative investments, business strategy and institutional asset management. Most recently, she served as Managing Director and Head of Product Marketing Platform at Neuberger Berman, where she led a global team supporting the firm's investment offerings. Previously, she spent nine years at Goldman Sachs in senior roles across portfolio management, client solutions and hedge fund investing. Earlier in her career, she worked at J.P. Morgan and Monitor Group.

Ms. Flannery holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an Honors Business Administration degree from Ivey Business School at Western University.

About Grafine Partners

Grafine Partners is a principal investment firm focused on generating alpha in the lower middle and middle market - segments offering some of private equity's most compelling risk-adjusted return opportunities. The firm pursues this opportunity by partnering with sector-specialist investors launching new firms whose proprietary deal flow, deep domain expertise, and demonstrated track records of outperformance create what Grafine believes is a differentiated and repeatable sourcing advantage.

Zach Kouwe

Dukas Linden Public Relations

[email protected] 

SOURCE Grafine Partners

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2027 travel trends point toward fewer crowds, longer stays, emerging destinations, and more meaningful ways to explore.

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, as travelers begin looking ahead to their next adventures, Tripmasters takes a closer look at the destinations, travel styles, and booking behaviors shaping the year ahead. Drawing on traveler search and booking trends, we're highlighting the emerging patterns we expect to influence independent travel in 2027.

"Travelers are becoming much more deliberate about when and where they go," said Rudy Tan, Tripmasters' Chief Technology Officer and Head of Marketing. "Rather than giving up on Europe's most popular destinations, many are simply changing the timing of their trips or pairing familiar favorites with lesser-known places where they can experience a different side of the region."

As we set our sights on 2027 travel trends, we're considering why and how travelers choose to experience these destinations. Several key themes are emerging:

- Independent travel: Travelers want the freedom and flexibility of independent travel while finding ways to minimize logistical stress.

- Shoulder seasons: More travelers are looking beyond peak summer months for a less crowded experiences.

- Beyond the usual hotspots: Less-frequented destinations are gaining attention, with destinations on the Adriatic Coast offering a compelling alternative.

- Slower, longer stays: Rather than packing too much into one trip, travelers are using one destination as a base to explore the surrounding region.

Travelers are increasingly looking beyond the busiest destinations and peak travel periods. According to Skyscanner's Horizons research, 34% of travelers plan to seek out quieter destinations, while 31% intend to visit popular destinations during shoulder seasons when crowds are lighter. Another 26% say they will choose less-touristy destinations as a way to save money.

Discover Tripmasters vacation options inspired by the emerging travel trends shaping 2027:

- Unpack, Relax, and Explore - Single-city vacations that allow travelers to slow down, settle in, and explore a destination and its surroundings more deeply.

- Overtourism Alternatives - As overtourism impacts Europe's most popular destinations, we're seeing a shift to alternative destinations with increased searches for destinations such as Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, and Croatia.

- European Chauffeured Collection - Private door-to-door transfers reduce the logistical stress of multi-destination travel while providing opportunities to explore lesser-known towns and undiscovered gems along the way, making the journey itself parf ot he experience.

A Company Rooted in Trust and Credibility

Founded in 1984, Tripmasters.com is a leader in customizable, multi-destination travel. With a pioneering online platform, Tripmasters empowers travelers to design flexible, personalized itineraries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Canada, the Pacific, and beyond. Whether planning a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a luxury escape, customers can choose from thousands of destinations, mix and match flights, hotels, and activities, and build trips with up to 12 cities, all in one seamless booking process. Tripmasters combines the convenience of technology with expert customer support to deliver exceptional value and unforgettable travel experiences. Its long-standing credibility is supported by:

- 4.8-star average rating on Trustpilot

- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

- IATA and ARC certifications

- Flexible payment options, Affirm, PayPal, and major credit cards

- Staggered payment plans designed to help travelers budget with confidence

- Experienced travel professionals available to help customize and plan every step of your journey

Media Contact: Stephanie Merrithew, [email protected]

SOURCE Tripmasters

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Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter

- Net sales of $2.31 billion, Net income attributable to THOR of $40.8 million and EBITDA of $130.0 million in the quarter

- European segment continues to provide valuable geographic diversification with resilient results relative to a pressured North American market

- Used our strong liquidity position advantageously, repurchasing an additional $34.3 million of shares during the quarter

- Independent dealer inventory turns improved compared to the prior quarter, with dealer inventory at healthy levels entering our fiscal 2027

- Adjusted EBITDA of $131.7 million in the quarter excludes, among other items, nonrecurring costs associated with strategic reorganization initiatives and the impact of gains on investments

Fiscal Year 2026

- Net sales of $9.61 billion, Net income attributable to THOR of $177.5 million and EBITDA of $541.9 million for the fiscal year

- Net sales for the European segment increased 3.1% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year, and the segment is well positioned for the coming fiscal year following restructuring initiatives to optimize its production capacities and further improve its gross margin profile

- Prudently deployed capital during a muted retail market, reducing debt by $59.7 million and repurchasing shares of $115.1 million during the fiscal year

- Further year-over-year content-per-unit ("CPU") growth within our owned supplier group as our strategic growth strategy for these businesses advances

ELKHART, Ind., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) today announced financial results for its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter and full year ended July 31, 2026.

"Our fiscal 2026 proved to be more challenging than we anticipated at the outset of the year due to the headwinds impacting the RV industry. The retail market never reached the inflection point many in the industry expected, as stubborn interest rates, elevated fuel costs and ever-present inflationary pressures have strained household budgets and kept retail soft throughout the critical selling season," stated Bob Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Against this backdrop, our teams executed by delivering net sales of $9.61 billion for fiscal 2026, exceeding the high end of our guidance — evidence of both our geographic diversity and the sustained appeal of the RV lifestyle. Our European segment was a key contributor with net sales for fiscal 2026 up 3.1% compared to the prior-year period on a constant currency basis.

"Our earnings performance did not keep pace with our top-line performance. As the fiscal year progressed, heightened affordability concerns and increasing material costs resulted in significant pressure on our gross margins. We responded with restructuring actions and began evolving our North American RV operating model. We directed those initiatives towards protecting attainable price points for consumers, accepting near-term margin pressure in exchange for long-term health of the business. The strength of our brands, the health of our balance sheet and our leadership across the RV market remain firmly intact and we are using this cycle to build a permanently stronger THOR," stated Martin.

"Our fiscal fourth quarter results reflected the macroeconomic pressures of our fiscal 2026 while also demonstrating the disciplined approach we have brought to our operations," added Todd Woelfer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "We managed production closely against global independent dealer inventory levels, which have declined 11.5% as of July 31, 2026 compared to July 31, 2025. This leaves the product channel well positioned even under a conservative outlook and positions THOR to achieve meaningful results once the market simply stabilizes, even if it stabilizes at a depressed level. Despite the difficult market conditions, both the North American Motorized and European segments gained market share for the six months ended June 30, 2026, with the North American Motorized segment up 130 basis points compared to the prior-year period. Additionally, our owned supply companies continued to grow despite the challenged North American RV market, posting strong year-over-year CPU gains.

"Regardless of where projected industry levels settle, we are not easing off the initiatives that improve our earnings power: expanding our enterprise purchasing programs, growing our owned-supplier business and optimizing our organizational structure. These are the levers that will make THOR structurally stronger through and beyond this downturn. Our initiatives are being executed now with strong momentum and, even assuming a flat retail market against fiscal 2026 volumes, THOR can materially improve its earnings profile," concluded Woelfer.

"The near-term industry backdrop has been difficult, but our capital deployment reflects continued confidence in our financial position," said Colleen Zuhl, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "With much of our business impacted by macroeconomic headwinds, we remain focused on what we can control. During fiscal 2026, we reduced debt by $59.7 million and repurchased shares of $115.1 million, of which $34.3 million was repurchased during the fiscal 2026 fourth quarter.

"This year's pressure has been concentrated in gross margin, and the structural actions now underway are designed to lower our cost base durably — not temporarily — and to expand margins as volumes and mix recover. The restructuring costs we have incurred in fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 have put us on an advantageous path going forward. We have made difficult decisions in a down market, and will continue to do so as we assess additional opportunities to strengthen our earnings profile and streamline our business in fiscal 2027. Our balance sheet strength enabled us to execute these actions without compromising financial stability. That strength and our healthy leverage ratio leave us well positioned to operate in any environment and to act on opportunities as they arise, generating value for our independent dealers, RV customers and shareholders," concluded Zuhl.

Fourth Quarter Financial Results

THOR's consolidated results were primarily driven by the results of its individual reportable segments as noted below.

Segment Results

North American Towable RVs

- North American Towable net sales declined in our fiscal 2026 fourth quarter compared to the prior-year period due to a 19.7% decrease in unit shipments, with fifth wheel unit shipments down 34.7%. Sales volumes remain challenged by the retail environment and cautious independent dealer ordering patterns that have led to a 16.0% decline in independent dealer inventory levels of towable product as of July 31, 2026 compared to July 31, 2025. The gross profit margin percentage in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 declined by 280 basis points compared to the prior-year period, primarily due to lower sales volumes, an unfavorable product mix, increased promotional activity and an increased material cost percentage. Income before income taxes included gains on sales of fixed assets for the three months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025 of $0.1 million and $21.4 million, respectively, and for the twelve months ended July 31, 2026 and July 31, 2025 of $36.9 million and $24.1 million, respectively.

North American Motorized RVs

- Net sales for the North American Motorized segment decreased 10.4% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to the prior-year period, influenced by higher promotional activity and a 13.1% decrease in unit shipments that was partially offset by a 2.7% increase in the overall net price per unit as mix within our Class C and Class B products improved. The gross profit margin percentage declined 600 basis points compared to the prior-year period due to the decline in net sales and the combined increases in the material, overhead and warranty cost percentages. Income before income taxes in the prior-year period included an $11.2 million insurance settlement benefit.

European RVs

- European RV net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 5.0% compared to the prior-year period, driven by the combined impact of a 3.9% increase in unit shipments and a 1.1% increase in the overall net price per unit, of which 0.1% was due to favorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Net sales benefited from a lower promotional environment compared to the prior-year period along with product mix continuing to shift towards higher-priced motorized products from lower-priced caravans. The gross profit margin percentage declined just 30 basis points compared to the prior-year period, reflecting the more favorable supplier dynamics in our European operations compared to North America. The slight margin decline was primarily due to a higher warranty cost percentage, partially offset by a lower overhead cost percentage. Income before income taxes included restructuring costs of $11.1 million and $25.2 million for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2026, respectively.

Fiscal 2027 Guidance

"We are confident in our ability to operate successfully in the current market and expect a relatively flat retail environment in fiscal 2027 compared to fiscal 2026, with many of the same headwinds we experienced in fiscal 2026 facing us in the near term. We have two early and critical North American industry events during the second half of September: the Hershey, PA show and the Elkhart, IN Open House. These events will provide us with additional insight regarding our fiscal year expectations as we connect with our independent dealer partners and other industry leaders. Due to the key insights these events provide, we have determined that it is prudent to allow time to gather this input prior to providing fiscal 2027 guidance.

CHiQ Sponsors Cologne Junior Wheelchair Tennis Open, Deepening Its Commitment to Community Sports

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart home appliance brand CHiQ sponsored Germany's inaugural ITF Juniors Wheelchair Tournament, held September 19–20 at the Marienburger Sport-Club. Following its support of the Para Youth Development Day in August, this sponsorship marks CHiQ's latest initiative in expanding its international corporate social responsibility (CSR) footprint from grassroots activities to elite youth competitions.

The tournament drew young athletes from across Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and the United Kingdom. For many of the competitors, it was not only a valuable opportunity to test their skills and gain international experience, but also a springboard to higher-level competitions. The field brought together seasoned players and newcomers making their international debut, all pushing for breakthroughs with every serve, return and rally—showing a wider audience what wheelchair tennis can be.

"The value of a tournament is in the connections it builds and the progress it sparks," said Felix Feng, General Manager of CHiQ Europe. "CHiQ is delighted to support this event, helping bring greater visibility to wheelchair tennis while giving young athletes more opportunities to compete internationally."

Niklas Höfken, tournament director and head coach of the German national wheelchair tennis team, also praised CHiQ's support: "We are grateful to CHiQ for backing this event. Through competitions like this, we hope to help more young athletes gain experience and support the development of the next generation of wheelchair tennis talent in Germany."

The progression from grassroots sports participation to sponsorship of an international tournament reflects CHiQ's broader commitment to young athletes with disabilities in Europe. Its involvement in community sports is giving more of these athletes the opportunity to experience elite competition, while helping CHiQ build deeper ties with local communities.

Social responsibility has long been a hallmark of CHiQ's global growth. Across Europe, while pursuing product innovation and strengthening its market presence, CHiQ integrates corporate responsibility into its international development. Looking ahead, CHiQ will continue to support community sports in Europe through long-term investment and practical action, giving more people the opportunity to participate in and enjoy sports while turning its brand values into real, lasting action.

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