NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oil Market Daily News Commentary - The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects Brent crude to average $87 a barrel across 2026 and does not expect Middle East oil production to return to near pre-conflict levels until early 2027. Goldman Sachs raised its December 2026 Brent and WTI forecasts by $5 to $85 and $80 respectively, and its 2027 numbers to $80 and $75, while flagging that Brent could clear $120 in 2027 in a scenario where Gulf output remains four million barrels a day below prewar levels. Those are three different institutions describing the same thing: a market that has repriced on delivery risk rather than on reserves, and a recovery that is being measured in years. In a market shaped that way, the capital has not gone into the drill bit. It has gone into barrels and pipelines that already exist.

Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Enbridge Inc. (NYSE: ENB) (TSX: ENB), The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE: WMB), Diversified Energy Company plc (NYSE: DEC) (LSE: DEC), Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. (TSX: TVE), and Headwater Exploration Inc. (TSX: HWX).

The price backdrop is not subtle. Brent settled at $101.21 on September 9, its highest close since May 22, after gaining 3.4% as fighting between the United States and Iran escalated in the Persian Gulf. West Texas Intermediate settled at $96.05. Roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne crude normally moves through the Strait of Hormuz, and the market is pricing the possibility that it will not.

Downstream, the pass-through has already happened. U.S. gasoline reached a Labor Day record of $4.15 a gallon, and GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, said diesel was expected to touch $6 a gallon for the first time on record within days. Refining margins have been running well above last year's comparable path, which is the mechanism by which a shipping problem in the Gulf becomes a freight cost in Ohio.

What has not followed is a conventional supply response. A chokepoint disruption puts existing barrels at risk of not reaching a buyer, and no amount of new drilling addresses that. So the money has moved to the two things that do work in a market defined by delivery risk: infrastructure that moves barrels inside North America, and producing assets that can be bought at a known decline rate rather than found. The transactions below, all announced or completed within the last ten days, are what that looks like in practice.

In industry developments and happenings in the market this week:

Enbridge Inc. (NYSE: ENB) (TSX: ENB) announced on September 9, 2026 that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the crude oil business of Tallgrass Energy, LP for aggregate cash consideration of approximately US$2.55 billion, expanding what the company describes as its leading North American crude oil franchise.

The portfolio includes a 75% equity interest in the Pony Express Pipeline, a 1,050-mile system of roughly 460,000 barrels a day connecting Rockies production to the Cushing, Oklahoma hub with direct access to approximately 500,000 barrels a day of refining capacity. It also includes a 51% interest in the Powder River Gateway system, approximately 8.4 million barrels of terminal storage across nine crude terminals, and Stanchion Energy, a crude marketing business. Full terms are set out in the company's announcement and related filings.

Enbridge expects the transaction to be accretive to distributable cash flow per share in the first full year of ownership, while noting that 2026 financial guidance is not materially affected given a closing expected later in the year. The acquisition remains subject to customary regulatory approvals including clearance from the Federal Trade Commission under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. An equity offering will partially fund it alongside the August 26, 2026 acquisition of Salt Creek Midstream's crude gathering business for US$600 million. The announcement came a day after Chief Executive Greg Ebel said he plans to retire at year end, with Michele Harradence, currently head of the gas utilities business, due to succeed him.

The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE: WMB) completed its $5.5 billion acquisition of Momentum Midstream, adding a gathering platform with approximately 6 billion cubic feet a day of capacity in the Haynesville shale.

The logic is a gas-side version of the same trade. Haynesville sits within pipeline reach of the Gulf Coast liquefied natural gas corridor, and a disrupted seaborne crude market has done nothing to reduce the pull on U.S. LNG export capacity. Acquiring a completed gathering system rather than building one removes several years of permitting and construction from the equation, which in the current environment is the scarcer commodity.

Diversified Energy Company plc (NYSE: DEC) (LSE: DEC) announced on September 2, 2026 definitive agreements to acquire Birch Permian Holdings, Inc. and certain affiliated companies from affiliates of Elliott Investment Management L.P. for approximately $1.8 billion, the largest acquisition in the company's 25-year history.

Birch produces approximately 68,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day based on estimated July 2026 output, split roughly 38% oil, 32% natural gas liquids and 30% natural gas, across around 46,000 net mineral acres and roughly 480 net wells in the Permian, with about 96% of production operated. Diversified expects the acquisition to increase its production by approximately 35% and adjusted EBITDA by approximately 55%. The full terms are in the company's release.

The strategic detail is the one worth noting. Diversified buys mature producing assets rather than drilling new ones, and roughly three quarters of the acquired wells date from 2022 or earlier. Alongside the transaction, Carlyle and Diversified agreed to expand their strategic partnership from an original $2 billion framework to a collaboration under which the parties may pursue up to $10 billion of potential proved developed producing acquisition opportunities over time. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, and carries a $50 million break fee.

Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. (TSX: TVE) and Headwater Exploration Inc. (TSX: HWX) announced on September 8, 2026 a definitive arrangement agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction valued at $10 billion, creating what the companies describe as the only publicly traded pure-play Clearwater producer.

Headwater shareholders will receive one Tamarack common share for each Headwater share held, with Tamarack issuing 237.8 million shares in total. On closing, Tamarack shareholders will own 66.5% of the combined company and Headwater shareholders 33.5%. Tamarack plans to increase its quarterly dividend a further 20% from $0.05 to $0.06 per share, or $0.24 annualized, commencing December 2026, contingent on closing. It would be the company's second dividend increase of 2026.

The structure includes an unusual feature. Shareholders of both companies retain exposure to exploration upside through Tributary Exploration, a newly formed company to be led by the current Headwater management team, which separates the mature cash-generating asset base from the higher-risk exploration function rather than carrying both inside one balance sheet. For a heavy oil play in a $100 crude environment, splitting the dividend story from the exploration story is a defensible piece of financial engineering, and it is the second transaction on this list where a producer chose to buy or consolidate developed barrels rather than chase new ones.

The Common Thread

Four transactions, roughly $20 billion of announced value, and not one of them is a bet on finding oil. Two are pipelines and gathering systems. One is a portfolio of wells mostly drilled before 2023. One is a merger of two producers into a single dividend-paying entity with the exploration arm carved out into a separate vehicle.

That is a coherent read of the market rather than a coincidence. If the risk premium in crude comes from delivery rather than from scarcity, then the assets that benefit most reliably are the ones that move and monetize barrels already in the ground, in jurisdictions where nothing has to transit a contested strait. And if the forecasters are right that the disruption persists into 2027 but that prices settle in the $80s rather than the $100s, then paying for proved developed production at a known decline rate is a more defensible use of capital than funding a drilling program against a price that may not last.

The risk in that logic is straightforward. Every one of these transactions was priced against a curve that has moved substantially in three weeks and could move back. Announced deals are not closed deals, and each of the four above remains subject to regulatory approval on timelines that extend into late 2026 and beyond.

CONTINUED... Read daily coverage of crude prices, OPEC policy, natural gas, refining margins and upstream activity at: https://oilmarketdaily.com/

Article Sources:

[1] Enbridge Inc., news release and prospectus supplement regarding the acquisition of Tallgrass Energy's crude oil business, September 9, 2026.

[2] Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. and Headwater Exploration Inc., joint news release announcing a strategic combination, September 8, 2026.

[3] CNBC and Al Jazeera oil market reporting, September 7 to 9, 2026, and U.S. Energy Information Administration market outlook (price levels, forecasts, fuel prices, Strait of Hormuz disruption).

[4] Public disclosures of the referenced companies.

Contact Information

Oil Market Daily | [email protected]

DISCLAIMER:

Nothing in this publication should be considered personalized financial advice.

Fermi Founder Parties File Formal Proposal for Independent Strategic Review of Extraordinary Transactions, Press Board on Restoring Texas-Style Governance Ahead of October 30 Annual Meeting

- Toby Neugebauer says the Board must act quickly to restore stakeholder confidence.

- Shares down roughly 20% since Board announced they had met all 90-day objectives on August 13, 35% since the Board removed the choice of a dual-path strategic process on July 2, and 20% since the Board removed Neugebauer as CEO on April 17.

- Reiterates Fermi is significantly undervalued as one of one asset: a private power utility with private power, private transmission, and private water, all on a scalable campus, with minimal use of public infrastructure, empowering America to win the AI race while protecting the ratepayers.

- Files proposal under SEC Rule 14a-8 for Board to retain an independent, nationally recognized investment bank to review the full range of extraordinary transactions available to the Company

DALLAS, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Toby R. Neugebauer, with Vicksburg Investments Management LLC and the Melissa A. Neugebauer 2020 Trust (collectively, the "Fermi Founder Parties"), the largest shareholder of Fermi Inc. (Nasdaq: FRMI) at approximately 22% of shares outstanding, has taken three actions ahead of the Company's October 30 Annual Meeting: a letter to Fermi's Board of Directors sent September 9, followed by a detailed presentation delivered September 10, and a formal shareholder proposal submitted September 10 under SEC Rule 14a-8 requesting that the Board retain an independent, nationally recognized investment bank to review the full range of extraordinary transactions available to the Company. [View the supporting documents in the media kit.]

Fermi shares touched an intraday low of $5.26 in early trading on September 10. Despite the Board's public announcement on August 13 that it had completed all five objectives of its 90-day plan: shares are down roughly 20% since that announcement, 35% since the Board removed the choice of a dual-path strategic process on July 2, and 20% since the Board removed Neugebauer as CEO on April 17.

In this week's filings, Neugebauer points to specific gaps behind that market reaction: the Company's 222 MW TensorWave lease represents less than 5% of Fermi's stated 4.8 GW of near-term power opportunity; as of the morning of September 10, the Company had not confirmed the guaranteed agreement it previously said would support that lease, nor that the underlying project financing had been secured; a 2.5% ownership cap in Fermi's charter continues to limit the size of position any single institutional investor can hold; and four months and a search firm later, the Board named one of its own (Lee McIntire) as CEO. The timing was proof there was no outside taker for the role. Intending no disrespect to Lee's career, the Company itself indicated him as only a temporary solution. Counterparties and executive teams considering staking billions on Project Matador rightfully want to know who is running the Company.

"The issue is not simply that Fermi's stock has declined – it's that the stock is only one of many indicators of the lack of confidence that stakeholders have in the Company. When I paused the proxy contest, I had expected the Company to finalize the agreements with the counterparties my team and I had engaged while at the Company on the same terms we had agreed on. I hoped to see the volume of execution increase as opposed to stagnate. The Board and management team have fallen significantly short on the promises they made to the institutional and retail investor communities post my termination, during the proxy contest, and as part of the convertible note offering.

"Fermi was capitalized and taken public as something scarce: a private utility with private power, private transmission, and private water, all on a scalable campus, with minimal use of public infrastructure. That makes Project Matador the most extraordinary place to generate AI compute at scale while not taking advantage of citizens in the midst of an AI crisis that is taxing local ratepayers. The problem is that shareholders have watched five months of Company announcements and a stock price that keeps saying the market doesn't believe this Board or management team. I've never asked the Board to sell this company. I've asked it to fulfill its fiduciary responsibility, find out with a real independent banker and a real process, what it's actually worth — and to stop making it harder for the people who own it to have a say in its future." - Toby Neugebauer.

The Actions

1. Rule 14a-8 Shareholder Proposal (submitted September 10): Vicksburg Investments Management LLC has submitted a formal proposal requesting that the Board retain an independent, nationally recognized investment bank to evaluate the full range of extraordinary transactions — including a full-value sale or a majority recapitalization with a strategic counterparty — that could maximize long-term, risk-adjusted shareholder value, and to report the results of that review to shareholders. The proposal explicitly does not ask the Board to pursue any predetermined transaction or to disturb the Company's existing standalone plan; it asks only that extraordinary transactions be tested against it.

2. Letter and Presentation to the Board (September 9–10): Separately, Neugebauer wrote to Fermi's Board asking it to voluntarily place two additional non-binding, advisory questions before shareholders at the Annual Meeting: restoring the Company's bylaws to the voting standards they themselves intentionally discussed and passed prior to the IPO — a majority of shares outstanding to amend bylaws and a plurality of votes cast to elect directors — in place of the 70% supermajority and majority-of-all-outstanding-shares standards adopted since April; and raising Fermi's general REIT ownership limit from 2.5% to 9.8%, in line with peers such as Digital Realty, Equinix, and Prologis, so institutional investors can build meaningful positions in the Company. The letter and presentation are linked here.

Finally, so that all shareholders as they evaluate these proposals can make the most informed decision at the upcoming Annual Shareholder Meeting, Mr. Neugebauer encourages Mr. Haas and Mr. McIntire to release all written communications between Mr. Neugebauer and the Board since the Company went public on October 1, 2025, so that each shareholder has all the facts.

Toby and Melissa Neugebauer have not sold a share since Fermi's IPO. The Neugebauers notified the Board that the Donor Advised Fund will soon fulfill charitable commitments previously made in Fermi's name to organizations in the Amarillo community; Neugebauer said his family's commitment to Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle "remains steadfast."

P.S. To understand Fermi speed is to understand there is no time for "a breather."

About the Fermi Founder Parties

The Fermi Founder Parties are Toby R. Neugebauer, Vicksburg Investments Management LLC, and the Melissa A. Neugebauer 2020 Trust, together the largest individual shareholder group in Fermi Inc. at approximately 22% of shares outstanding.

This press release has been issued by Toby Neugebauer and his affiliated entities, Vicksburg Investments Management LLC and Melissa A. Neugebauer 2020 Trust (collectively with Mr. Neugebauer, the "Fermi Founder Parties"). The Fermi Founder Parties are not soliciting authority to vote any proxy of any shareholder, are not able to vote any proxy from any shareholder, and will not accept any proxy from any shareholder.

SOURCE Toby Neugebauer

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Waters Corporation to Present at the J.P. Morgan U.S. All Stars Conference

MILFORD, Mass., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) announced that Udit Batra, Ph.D., Waters President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the J.P. Morgan U.S. All Stars Conference on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 12:00 PM BST (GMT+1) / 7:00 AM Eastern Time.

A live webcast of the event will be available on the 'Events & Presentations' section of Waters Investor Relations website at https://ir.waters.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days.

About Waters Corporation

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.

Caspar Tudor, Head of Investor Relations

[email protected] 

SOURCE Waters Corporation

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ALLSWIFIT Introduces ActiveRise+, a Stable Carbon-Plate Running Shoe Built to Help Everyday Runners Train Smarter and Run Stronger

Designed for runners ready to train smarter, ActiveRise+ combines a lightweight 6.56 oz build, full-length carbon plate, structured support, and 80%+ energy return for confident speed training from tempo runs to long-distance sessions.

NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ALLSWIFIT, the performance footwear brand focused on helping everyday athletes move stronger and smarter, today introduces ActiveRise+, a new carbon-plate running shoe designed to bring lightweight propulsion and responsive performance to everyday training. Positioned as a more approachable alternative to aggressive race-day footwear, ActiveRise+ is built for runners looking to increase pace, improve efficiency, and progress through their training without compromising stability.

Engineered specifically for the demands of speed-focused training, ActiveRise+ combines an ultra-lightweight construction, full-length carbon plate, structured support, and 80%+ energy return to deliver a responsive yet controlled ride. While carbon-plated footwear has traditionally been associated with race-day performance, ActiveRise+ takes a more training-focused approach, offering everyday runners the propulsion of a carbon plate while maintaining the controlled, confidence-inspiring feel needed to consistently train at faster paces. Built for tempo runs, interval sessions, long-distance training, and the everyday workouts that help runners run faster and move more efficiently, ActiveRise+ provides a versatile option for runners ready to move beyond their current limits.

A Carbon-Plated Design Built for Speed and Stability

At the core of ActiveRise+ is a full-length carbon plate engineered to deliver efficient forward propulsion, but its performance goes beyond the plate itself. An integrated arch-support structure works in tandem with strategically placed reinforcement ribs to enhance stability and optimize energy transfer, helping guide each stride through a smoother, more controlled transition. A one-piece woven upper and wraparound TPU support further secure the foot and reinforce lateral stability, providing a supportive fit without adding unnecessary weight or bulk. Together, these elements create a balanced, confidence-inspiring ride that delivers the responsiveness of carbon-plated footwear without the overly aggressive feel often associated with race-focused shoes. For runners incorporating tempo runs, intervals, or faster long-distance efforts into their training, ActiveRise+ provides the stability and control needed to push the pace while staying focused on consistent, purposeful progress.

Responsive From the First Step to the Final Mile

For speed-focused training, efficient energy return can make every stride count. ActiveRise+ features supercritical foam in both the insole and midsole, creating a responsive cushioning system engineered to deliver energetic rebound while maintaining the comfort needed for repeated training. With 80%+ energy return, the cushioning is designed to provide a lively, responsive feel underfoot without sacrificing the support and cushioning required for longer efforts. The result is a balanced ride that combines responsive rebound, lightweight cushioning, and sustained comfort, helping runners maintain efficient movement from the first step through the final mile.

Performance Without the Weight

ActiveRise+ is engineered to keep weight low without compromising the structure required for performance training. The one-piece woven upper weighs approximately 2.5 oz, while the complete shoe weighs approximately 6.35 oz - 6.56 oz in a US Men's Size 9. The lightweight construction helps minimize weight underfoot, while integrated TPU support maintains a secure, structured fit through faster efforts. By balancing a lightweight feel with dependable support, ActiveRise+ delivers the versatility runners need across tempo runs, interval workouts, long-distance sessions, and the faster training miles that build toward their next breakthrough.

Train Smarter. Run Stronger.

ActiveRise+ is designed for the miles that turn everyday running into purposeful training. By combining carbon-plated propulsion with a stable, responsive ride, the shoe gives runners a balanced approach to building speed, improving efficiency, and progressing toward their goals. From tempo runs and interval workouts to long-distance sessions, its lightweight construction, energetic cushioning, and structured support are engineered to keep pace as training demands increase. Rather than chasing the most aggressive race-day setup, ActiveRise+ delivers the balance of propulsion, stability, and comfort that everyday runners need to train with confidence and run stronger.

Availability

ALLSWIFIT ActiveRise+ will launch exclusively through the brand's official website on September 15, 2026. For more information about ActiveRise+ and ALLSWIFIT's latest performance footwear, visit the ALLSWIFIT official website.

About ALLSWIFIT

ALLSWIFIT is a performance-driven athletic and athleisure footwear brand dedicated to redefining everyday movement through a seamless blend of innovation, comfort, and modern design. Built at the intersection of athletic performance and daily comfort, the brand develops sneakers that integrate adaptive cushioning, ergonomic stability, and biomechanical support to enhance the way people walk, run, commute, and live. By combining modern design language with advanced comfort technologies, ALLSWIFIT creates versatile footwear solutions that transition seamlessly across workouts, workdays, and everyday routines. The brand's mission is to make high-performance comfort more accessible, empowering consumers to move with confidence, ease, and consistency throughout their day.

SOURCE ALLSWIFIT

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The 12th annual Wealthies honored sustained excellence, emerging leaders and technology-driven innovation before more than 600 industry executives in New York City

NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Wealth Management last night announced the winners of the 2026 Wealth Management Industry Awards, the 12th annual celebration of outstanding achievement by the companies, organizations and individuals supporting financial advisor success. More than 600 executives and team members from leading asset management firms, registered investment advisors, broker/dealers, custodians, technology providers and other industry organizations gathered for the red carpet, cocktail reception and black-tie awards ceremony at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The 2026 program set a new record with 1,392 nominations from 508 unique companies, up from 1,210 nominations in 2025 and nearly four times the 350 nominations submitted in the program's inaugural year in 2015. This year's finalist class represented 315 unique companies across 107 categories, including the Rising Star awards program. Nearly 40% of submissions recognized entirely new initiatives, underscoring the pace of change across the advisor ecosystem.

"The growth of the Wealthies reflects both the expanding range of organizations serving advisors and the extraordinary amount of work being done to help advisors build stronger businesses and improve outcomes for their clients," said David Armstrong, Head of Editorial Operations, Wealth Management Group. "Our independent judges evaluate the usefulness, innovation, scope and impact of each initiative - not the company behind it. To be named a finalist, and especially a winner, is meaningful recognition in a year with a record field."

New categories introduced for 2026 recognized emerging priorities across the industry, including Partnership Development Executive of the Year, Advisor Intelligence Platforms, RIA Leadership Executives of the Year, Video Series of the Year, Recruiting Firm Enterprise Executive of the Year, Corporate Innovation and Model Portfolio Selection. Together, the new categories generated 142 nominations and 59 finalists.

The 2026 winners reflected both the strength of established industry leaders and the emergence of a new generation of innovators. Several honorees extended long-standing records of achievement, demonstrating sustained excellence across changing market conditions. Technology providers continued to feature prominently, reflecting the industry's ongoing digital transformation, while many winners earned recognition across multiple categories—evidence of broad capabilities rather than success in a single specialty. At the same time, several newer entrants have accumulated multiple wins in just the past few years, signaling fresh momentum and the rise of influential new industry leaders.

The evening also marked the introduction of the Tina Powell Inspiration Award, which will be presented annually to an individual who exemplifies Powell's generosity and service to others. A longtime industry participant and former Wealthies judge, Powell spent two decades as one of wealth management's most beloved voices. After receiving a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, she shared her journey publicly and turned an extraordinarily difficult chapter into a source of strength for others. The award honors her authenticity, courage and genuine care for the people around her.

"Tina brought an uncommon combination of courage, candor and generosity to this industry," Armstrong said. "The Tina Powell Inspiration Award gives us a lasting way to honor her memory and recognize the people who lead with the same commitment to lifting others up."

The 2026 program began earlier in the day at Convene 360 Madison Avenue, where senior executives from finalist companies joined a CEO panel examining emerging risks and opportunities in the business of financial advice, new competitors and trends challenging the RIA model, and what firms now need from vendors and strategic partners. The panel was followed by a roundtable on AI's impact on wealth management and the delivery of advice, as well as networking among industry leaders.

The afternoon's Focused on the Future Think Tank, themed "Leaning Into the Human: Building the Advisory Firm of the Future in an AI-Driven World," explored how firms can use technology to strengthen the human side of advice. Through facilitated discussion and peer exchange, participants considered the future talent pipeline, the skills advisors will need as entry-level work becomes increasingly automated, ways to retrain and support existing teams, and how to create a more human-centered client experience.

Wealth Management extends its sincere thanks to the independent judging panel, whose expertise, insight and thoughtful evaluation uphold the integrity of the Wealth Management Industry Awards.

For more information about the Wealth Management Industry Awards and the 2026 winners, visit https://informaconnect.com/wealth-management-industry-awards/.

About the Wealth Management Industry Awards

Now in its 12th year, the Wealth Management Industry Awards recognize outstanding achievements by companies, organizations and individuals that support financial advisor success. Winners are selected based on quantitative measures including scope, scale, adoption and feature set, along with qualitative measures such as innovation, creativity and user experience. Additional information is available at https://informaconnect.com/wealth-management-industry-awards/.

SOURCE Wealth Management

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Unveiled at CINC Up 2026, Community Intelligence reflects a multiyear platform rebuild and CINC research showing 79% of managers want one connected platform, while context-aware intelligence ranked first among AI approaches tested.

DULUTH, Ga., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CINC Systems today announced Community Intelligence℠, its proprietary differentiator and a new standard for evaluating AI in community management, following its unveiling last week at CINC Up 2026 in Chicago.

For CINC, the announcement was not the start of something new. It was the culmination of years of deliberate platform work designed to bring the information, intelligence and experiences surrounding a community together.

As AI features, chatbots and agents rapidly become commonplace, CINC is challenging the industry to move beyond whether a platform has AI and ask a more consequential question:

Does your AI understand the whole community, or only the task in front of it?

The distinction reflects what management companies are asking for. In CINC's 2026 client research, 79% of respondents said they want one connected platform where everything works together. When asked separately what they want from AI, context-aware intelligence ranked first among the approaches tested, selected by 45% of respondents, more than any other AI approach.

Community Intelligence is CINC's answer to both.

It is the advantage created when trusted community information and actions work together across CINC. Instead of treating an invoice, resident request, communication, budget or board packet as an isolated task, CINC can bring the relevant context around that work into the moment and help make what comes next smarter.

The difference is context: not simply recognizing the task in front of the system but understanding the relevant information surrounding it. For example, CINC's ACC Skill can bring governing requirements into an architectural request as a resident is submitting it, helping identify what is still needed before the request reaches management and the board for review.

Cephai, the AI engine inside CINC, powers that intelligence across the platform while people remain in control of the decisions and approvals that require them.

"AI is quickly becoming table stakes. Context is not," said Ryan Davis, CEO of CINC Systems. "The next era of community management technology will not be won by the platform with the most agents. It will be won by the platform that understands the work around the task and can turn that context into meaningful progress. Community Intelligence is the standard we believe management companies should expect."

Built for This

CINC's position is simple: AI amplifies the foundation beneath it.

An AI tool attached to an isolated product or workflow can only work from the information and actions available there. Adding more AI features to fragmented systems does not inherently connect the work or the context behind it.

CINC chose to rebuild around a different foundation.

The company undertook a redesign across the platform, rebuilding the foundation beneath CINC so data, identity, permissions and community context could work together and Cephai could operate natively across the platform. The result is not AI sitting beside the software. Intelligence is built into how the platform works.

Management and accounting teams run their work in CINC, while boards and residents engage through branded experiences delivered by CINC Connect. Because those experiences operate within one CINC platform, information, identity, permissions, context and intelligence can stay connected as work moves rather than forcing people to reconstruct the story across systems.

That intelligence can be felt across the people the platform serves: the manager preparing a budget, the board reviewing a packet and the resident checking on a request.

Because Cephai operates inside CINC rather than as a separate AI destination, intelligence can go beyond generating an answer. Depending on the workflow, CINC can retrieve relevant information, prepare work, surface recommendations and help move the next step forward while preserving the review, approval and judgment that remain with people.

"AI does not fix fragmentation. It amplifies whatever architecture it sits on," said Duri Chitayat, chief technology officer at CINC Systems. "Our investment has been in the foundation underneath the AI: the data, identity, permissions, systems and context behind community work. That is what allows intelligence to become more useful as the platform becomes more connected."

Community Intelligence reflects four principles: it brings the relevant community story into the work, works across the whole platform, helps move work from information toward action and preserves meaningful human control.

Intelligence recommends. People decide.

The approach creates a different standard for comparing technology providers. The question is no longer simply whether a vendor offers AI. It is what that AI can securely understand about the community around the task, where that intelligence can work and what it can responsibly help people do.

Proof in the Work

The impact of Community Intelligence is already visible across significant volumes of real community work.

Powered by Cephai, CINC's AI engine, nearly half a million invoices have been AI-coded year to date, while clients are currently using the same intelligence to work on nearly 2,500 budgets representing roughly $500 million in proposed association spend. Across AI-supported invoice, budget and board packet workflows, CINC estimates that this work has saved more than 36,000 hours year to date, representing approximately $1.13 million in realized labor cost savings. These figures reflect work supported by Cephai, not total activity across the CINC platform.

Adoption is also deepening within individual management companies, with leading CINC clients logging tens of thousands of AI actions and one client approaching 100,000 AI actions across its communities.

Those aggregate results are also showing up in the day-to-day work of individual CINC clients.

At RISE Association Management Group, budget drafts that previously took approximately five to 10 hours were reduced to about one minute using CINC's Budget Skill.

At GUD Community Management, which processes approximately 15,000 invoices per quarter, invoice processing in the measured workflow fell from roughly 10 minutes to about 30 seconds per invoice.

At DTA Community Management, board packet preparation that previously took days now takes minutes.

At Atlanta Community Services, the ACC Skill helps homeowners identify what is still needed so architectural requests can be more complete and ready for review before they reach management and the board.

Different workflows. The same underlying advantage: the context stays with the work.

CINC is not positioning Community Intelligence as an autonomous workforce. Cephai can help interpret information, organize work, prepare drafts and recommendations and bring relevant context forward. Source-of-truth systems continue to govern financial records and calculations, and authorized people remain responsible for review, approval and decisions where the work requires them.

"The industry does not need another AI label," Davis said. "It needs a higher bar. What does the intelligence understand? Can it help the actual work move? Does it preserve the controls that matter? And does it create meaningful capacity for the people doing the job? Those are the questions management companies should be asking."

From Platform Strategy to Adoption at CINC Up

CINC brought that strategy to life at CINC Up 2026: Built to Break Through, welcoming nearly 600 attendees to Chicago and a record number of banking and technology partners.

The conference moved from strategy to product to proof, with demonstrations of real workflows and client leaders sharing their experiences with CINC Connect, Cephai capabilities and the increasingly unified CINC experience.

CINC also announced that the unified experience created through its broader platform rebuild will reach all clients before year-end at no additional cost, bringing CINC and CINC Connect together through one login, universal navigation and global search.

The company is also accelerating CINC Connect adoption. More than 330,000 doors are live today, with CINC committing to more than 3 million doors live by year-end, representing more than half of its total door base. That expansion brings the same platform foundation and intelligence to a significantly larger share of the communities CINC already serves.

Together, the platform rebuild, unified experience and CINC Connect expansion are designed to make the promise of one platform tangible: one place to begin, fewer seams between experiences and intelligence built into the work rather than bolted onto it.

For more information, visit https://cincsystems.com/community-intelligence.

About CINC Systems

CINC Systems is one platform for the full work of community management, trusted by more than 1,000 management companies serving more than 55,000 associations and more than 6 million doors.

CINC unifies management and accounting work with branded experiences for boards and residents, delivered through CINC Connect. Cephai is the AI engine inside CINC, and Community Intelligence℠ is CINC's proprietary differentiator: the advantage created when trusted community information and actions work together to make what comes next smarter.

Built on more than 20 years of experience across accounting, operations, banking, payments and community engagement, CINC helps management companies reduce tedious work, create capacity and deliver better experiences for the boards and residents they serve. CINC is backed by Hg and Spectrum Equity.

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Former OpenAI CEO of AGI Deployment appointed as Independent Director

LONDON, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nscale, a full-stack AI cloud platform, today announced that Fidji Simo, former OpenAI CEO of AGI Deployment, has been appointed to its Board of Directors effective immediately.

"Fidji is one of the most accomplished product leaders in tech, having built products used by billions of people around the world," said Josh Payne, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nscale. "Very few leaders understand what products at that scale demand of the systems underneath them. That's what we're building for at Nscale. Fidji joins a board we've built deliberately, with the experience of scaling platforms to the largest in the world, and the independence, financial rigor and operating depth to which companies at this scale are held."

"I've seen firsthand that access to compute can determine how fast companies can turn AI breakthroughs into products used by millions of people," said Fidji Simo. "But the next generation of AI infrastructure won't be won on compute alone. It will be won by companies that integrate the entire stack — from the physical infrastructure that powers AI to the software that makes it usable at scale — and make that enormous complexity disappear for their customers. Nscale is building exactly that, and I'm excited to join the Board as the company scales the infrastructure that will power the next generation of AI."

Fidji most recently served as CEO, AGI Deployment at OpenAI, leading the business and product teams responsible for bringing the company's research to users, and continues to serve as an advisor to the company. Prior to OpenAI, she was CEO and Chair of Instacart. In that role, she led the company to profitability and through its public listing in 2023. Fidji brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling consumer technology products across social, commerce, and artificial intelligence.

Prior to Instacart, Fidji spent a decade at Meta, where she served as Head of the Facebook App, overseeing News Feed, Video, Groups, Marketplace, and Ads, and earlier led the company's mobile advertising products. She began her career at eBay. Fidji currently serves on the board of directors of Shopify.

Fidji's appointment follows the addition of Sheryl Sandberg, Susan Decker, and Nick Clegg to the Nscale Board earlier this year.

About Nscale

Nscale is a vertically integrated AI infrastructure company headquartered in London. Founded in 2024, Nscale designs, builds and operates AI data centres and delivers GPU cloud services to AI labs and enterprises, with campuses under development in Norway and the United States.

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Tineco's Latest Floor Care Innovations Earn Multiple Honors at IFA 2026

FLOOR ONE S11 Artist Fusion Steam, FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam and PURE ONE STATION 7 ZeroTouch recognized across steam, wet-dry and cordless floor care

SEATTLE, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tineco wrapped IFA 2026 with multiple industry and media honors across three of its latest floor care innovations. The FLOOR ONE S11 Artist Fusion Steam, FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam and PURE ONE STATION 7 ZeroTouch each earned recognition during the show, marking a strong showing for Tineco across steam, wet-dry and cordless floor care.

Among the standout honors, all three products received the Gadgety Award Best of Showstopper IFA 2026, highlighting Tineco's latest innovations among the products attracting attention at the show. The FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam also received the Global Product Technology Innovation Awards 2026 – Indoor Cleaning Technology Gold Award, while the PURE ONE STATION 7 ZeroTouch was named a Digital Trends IFA 2026 Innovation Winner.

The recognition follows Tineco's broader presence at IFA 2026, where the brand showcases technologies designed to simplify different parts of the cleaning routine, from tackling everyday and stubborn floor messes to reducing the hands-on maintenance that follows.

The FLOOR ONE S11 Artist Fusion Steam earned the Gadgety Award Best of Showstopper IFA 2026, alongside an Editor's Choice recognition from TuttoTech, Poderak Best of IFA 2026 and inclusion among MAXIM's Best of IFA 2026 selections. Bringing wet-dry floor washing and steam functionality together in one system, the FLOOR ONE S11 Artist Fusion Steam allows users to spray hot water and steam at the same time, giving users greater flexibility when moving between routine floor cleaning and more stubborn messes.

The FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam received the Gadgety Award Best of Showstopper IFA 2026 and the Global Product Technology Innovation Awards 2026 – Indoor Cleaning Technology Gold Award, along with recognition from Smarthome Assistant. The product also earned a Tech Star 2026 honor from GameStar Tech. Its 230°C BoostSteam technology delivers steam almost instantly – in just 20 seconds on first use and as quickly as five seconds for subsequent uses. Combining high-temperature steam cleaning with Tineco's intelligent floor-washing technology, the FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam brings multiple hard-floor cleaning capabilities together in a single system.

Rounding out the recognized products, the PURE ONE STATION 7 ZeroTouch received the Gadgety Award Best of Showstopper IFA 2026 and was named a Digital Trends IFA 2026 Innovation Winner, in addition to being included among MAXIM's Best of IFA 2026 selections. As Tineco's first vacuum cleaner with a fully automated base station, the PURE ONE STATION 7 ZeroTouch is designed to take the hands-on work out of post-clean maintenance. Its station automatically collects dust, self-cleans and seals the dust bag, eliminating the need for users to come into contact with dust throughout the process. The cordless vacuum extends Tineco's focus on convenience beyond the cleaning session itself.

Across the three products, the breadth of recognition at IFA 2026 reflects Tineco's continued focus on using technology to simplify more of the floor care routine. From combining multiple cleaning functions in a single device to reducing hands-on maintenance after cleaning, Tineco continues to develop intelligent cleaning solutions around the practical needs of the modern home.

Tineco has been recognized as the world's No. 1 household wet & dry vacuum cleaner brand for the fourth consecutive year*. Since pioneering the floor washer category with the launch of the FLOOR ONE S1 in 2020, Tineco has continued to advance the category through product innovation, quality standards and industry leadership, supported by a CNAS-accredited laboratory and participation in the development of relevant IEC and ASTM international standards.

Within the broader ECOVACS Group, ECOVACS has similarly advanced robotic home cleaning since beginning its robotics development in 2000 and launching its first DEEBOT in 2006, introducing technologies including LDS laser navigation, vacuum-and-mop functionality, All-in-One OMNI Stations, Roller Washing and PowerBoost fast charging. Together, the brands continue to advance their respective categories through ongoing innovation in home cleaning technology.

*Source: Euromonitor International (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; measured in terms of the brand's global retail sales volume (in units) of household wet & dry vacuum cleaners in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Household wet & dry vacuum cleaners are defined as household cleaners that dispense clean water (or cleaning solution) to wash hard floors and vacuum the dirty water and debris thereafter. Based on research completed in March 2026.

About Tineco

Tineco ("tin-co") was founded in 1998 with its first product launch as a vacuum cleaner and, in 2019, pioneered the first-ever smart vacuum. Today, the brand has evolved into a global leader in intelligent appliances spanning floor care, kitchen, and personal care categories. With a growing user base of over 24 million households and availability in approximately 30 countries worldwide, Tineco remains committed to its brand vision of making life easier through smart technology and continuous innovation. For more information, visit Tineco U.S.

SOURCE Tineco

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CROWN BREAKS GROUND ON THE COMPANY'S FIRST BEVERAGE CAN MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN INDIA

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) celebrated on September 9, 2026 the groundbreaking of its first beverage can manufacturing facility in India, marking a major milestone in the Company's expansion into one of the world's fastest-growing beverage markets. The ceremony brought together Crown leaders, local government representatives, customers and guests to commemorate the start of construction on the new facility in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh.

Announced in April 2026, the state-of-the-art plant will feature two production lines with an annual capacity of approximately 2.2 billion aluminum beverage cans. Operations are scheduled to commence in the second half of 2027.

The groundbreaking ceremony, which reflected local traditions and marked the official commencement of construction, underscored Crown's long-term commitment to India and the state of Uttar Pradesh. Following the event, Crown executives had the honor of meeting with the Honorable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, to discuss the progress of the Company's investment and its vision for supporting the continued growth of the beverage industry in India. During the meeting, Crown received the official land allotment letter for the project, representing another important milestone in the development of the Company's first beverage can manufacturing facility in the country.

Djalma Novaes, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said: "This investment reflects Crown's confidence in the future of the Indian beverage market, and the growing role of the beverage can as a sustainable packaging solution. The Unnao facility will combine advanced manufacturing technology, operational excellence and responsible resource management to support our customers' growth while creating long-term value for the region."

Designed to incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies and the highest quality and sustainability standards, the facility will support growing demand for aluminum beverage cans across both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage categories. The investment reinforces the Company's commitment to serving customers in high-growth markets and reflects the strong partnership Crown has established with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

The Company continues to expect full year capital expenditures of approximately $550 million.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida. Learn more at www.crowncork.com.

For more information, contact:

Kevin C. Clothier, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (215) 698-5281, or

Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs, (215) 552-3720

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.

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12 schools. 12 limited collections. One fall spent celebrating school spirit with Aviator Nation.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, Aviator Nation is heading back to campus. Beginning September 12th and running through November, the Aviator Nation College Tour 2026 is the brand's largest collegiate rollout yet, introducing 12 new college collections through weekly product drops, on-campus activations and pop-up experiences at some of the country's most iconic schools.

As demand for Aviator Nation's licensed collections continues to grow, the College Tour is an expansion of the brand for its student fanbase. The team is bringing its signature take on American-made apparel directly to campuses through immersive retail experiences, game day activations and exclusive school merchandise.

Each week, a new collection will launch on AviatorNation.com with select schools hosting in-person experiences in partnership with university bookstores. From game day tailgates to campus gathering spots, the tour brings Aviator Nation's laid-back California vibe to college football season.

"We're incredibly excited to bring Aviator Nation's iconic style to the collegiate space through these university collections. Each school has its own traditions and these collaborations give students, alumni, and fans a fresh way to celebrate that spirit through Aviator Nation. Our events team is looking forward to bringing this to life on campus connecting with communities that make each university special," said Jennifer Crawford, Vice President Partnerships at Aviator Nation.

No two stops on the tour will look exactly alike. Some schools will feature in-store pop-ups inside campus bookstores during major game weekends while others will host larger outdoor activations with entertainment in high-traffic campus locations. Each experience is designed to feel like stepping into an Aviator Nation store, complete with the brand's recognizable identity, visual displays and music-filled atmosphere.

The limited drops will also be available online, making it easy for alumni, students and fans everywhere to shop as each school debuts. For updates on events and collection releases, visit AviatorNation.com.

COLLEGE TOUR 2026 DATES

- September 12 - University of Notre Dame

- September 19 - University of Mississippi

- September 25 - The Ohio State University

- October 3 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

- October 10 - Vanderbilt University

- October 17 - LSU

- October 24 - Harvard University

- November 4 - UCLA

- November 6 - SMU

- November 13 - University of Georgia

- November 20- University of Miami

- November 21 - University of California, Berkeley

ABOUT AVIATOR NATION:

Aviator Nation is the inimitable 1970s-inspired California lifestyle brand founded by Paige Mycoskie in Venice Beach in 2006. Since launch, Aviator Nation has grown into a global lifestyle brand with 20 retail locations stocking the brand's women's, men's and kids' collections. Hand-made in the USA, Aviator Nation's hoodies and sweatpants are the foundation of what we do, but our aim is to unite a tribe of passionate individuals who want to inspire the world. Creating products that reflect our values and highlight the beauty of imperfection is the dream combo. Through our products, we celebrate a time when music, surfing, and a love for community shaped our culture. Our mission is to keep this energy alive. Live. Love. Fly. www.aviatornation.com.

SOURCE Aviator Nation

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