ACN Newswire

AVI urges the dismissal of two directors at Wacom

LONDON, May 14, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Asset Value Investors Limited (“AVI”) has submitted shareholder proposals on one of AVI Japan Opportunity Trust’s (“AJOT”) portfolio companies, Wacom Corporation (TSE: 6727, “Wacom”) calling for board changes ahead of Wacom’s upcoming Annual General Meeting in June. AVI, Wacom’s largest shareholder on behalf of all the portfolios it manages, is seeking the dismissal of two directors and the appointment of one external director.Alongside these proposals, AVI has disclosed additional material on its Wacom campaign, including a detailed presentation on an updated dedicated website (www.DrawWacomsFuture.com).Since initiating its investment in Wacom in August 2021, AVI has sought various forms of engagement aimed at enhancing the company’s long-term corporate value as Wacom’s largest shareholder. However, the Branded Business, one of Wacom’s principal business segments, fell into loss from FY2023/3 onwards, and business growth has stalled amid the implementation of large-scale restructuring measures. Furthermore, AVI has serious concerns regarding Wacom’s governance framework in light of the recently announced inappropriate acquisition of a company represented by one of Wacom’s own outside directors, despite the absence of tangible business synergies with Wacom, as well as the improper use of corporate resources, including the provision of preferential treatment to the children of the company representative director, Mr Ide.In light of these circumstances, AVI, as the company’s largest shareholder and a long-term investor on behalf of all the portfolios it manages, publicly launched a campaign last year to support sustainable improvements in corporate value. This year, AVI has decided to publish additional materials and submit shareholder proposals at the upcoming annual general meeting, as follows:- Appointment of one outside director - Dismissal of two directors (the Representative Director and one outside director)Kaz Sakai, Head of Japan Research at AVI, commented as follows:“Wacom has demonstrated serious deficiencies in governance oversight. These include the acquisition by Wacom of a loss-making company represented by Mr Nakajima, one of its own external directors, for more than ten million dollars, the subsequent transfer of Mr Nakajima into an internal director role, and conduct by Mr Ide, Wacom’s Representative Director and CEO, that can only reasonably be viewed as a conflation of personal and corporate interests, together with a board that has tolerated such behaviour.”“Wacom must restore the proper functioning of its governance framework without delay. In addition to proposing the dismissal of Mr Ide and Mr Nakajima, whom AVI has concluded are central to these governance failures, AVI has also nominated a candidate for outside director capable of strengthening governance and management. We are confident that, through the board structure recommended by AVI and the implementation of operational improvement measures, Wacom can further reinforce its position as the global market leader in the graphic tablet business.”About Asset Value Investors (AVI):AVI is an investment management company established in London, United Kingdom, in 1985. AVI has invested in Japanese equities for more than 40 years. AVI manages AVI Global Trust (AGT) and AVI Japan Opportunity Trust (AJOT) and other funds, collectively investing Y180bn into the Japanese market. AGT and AJOT are public companies whose shares are listed and traded on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.AVI is a signatory to Japan’s Stewardship Code and is committed to constructive engagement with management teams and boards of its portfolio companies, with the aim of contributing to sustainable growth and enhanced enterprise value.AVI’s holding in Wacom on behalf of all its funds is 13.8% making AVI the largest shareholder. (as of 30 April 2026) Wacom is a 5.5% holding in AJOT.Media Contacts:KL Communications AVI@kl-communications.com+44 (0)20 3882 6644Ashton Consulting avijapanpr@ashton.jpThis information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.RNS Reach: https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/AJOT/avi-urges-the-dismissal-of-two-directors-at-wacom/17592170  Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Euro Manganese Announces Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment

Vancouver, British Columbia--(ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com - May 14, 2026) - Euro Manganese Inc. (TSXV: EMN) (ASX: EMN) (FSE: E060) and its subsidiary Mangan Chvaletice, s.r.o. ("Mangan" and together the "Company", "Euro Manganese" or "EMN") is pleased to announce the results of a new Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the development of its Chvaletice Manganese Project ("Chvaletice Manganese Project", "CMP", or "Project") in the Czech Republic.The PEA is a result of the Company's Optimization Program previously announced1, and builds on the extensive knowledge presented in the Company's Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Chvaletice Manganese Project, Czech Republic, dated effective July 27, 2022[2], (the "2022 Feasibility Study"). The PEA responds to current market conditions and incorporates the Company's testing campaigns, demonstration plant learnings, and prospective customer testing and feedback to provide an updated preliminary and conceptual development path for the Chvaletice Manganese Project.With most permits secured, a finalized Environmental Impact Assessment ("ESIA"), and official designation as a Strategic Deposit under Czech law and a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, Euro Manganese is ready to respond to customers seeking a fully traceable battery-grade manganese supply chain, reducing dependence on Chinese sources and supporting strategic mineral independence objectives.The Chvaletice Manganese Project is well placed to take advantage of U.S. federal procurement and incentive frameworks that increasingly require that critical battery materials — including high-purity manganese used in electric vehicle and energy storage applications — be sourced from allied and US National Defense Act ("NDAA") compliant nations. The Czech Republic, as a NATO member and close U.S. ally, qualifies as an NDAA-compliant source country.HIGHLIGHTS(All economic values are in US dollars unless indicated otherwise)Strong Operating Margin of 48%, demonstrating resilience of the Project and the potential to generate significant returns across commodity price cycles.Robust Returns: Pre-tax IRR of 16.0% and Post-tax IRR of 13.8%, underpinned by a pre-tax NPV of $740M and post-tax NPV of $492M (8% discount rate), showing favorable preliminary economic indicators on historically conservative pricing assumptions.Higher Recoveries, 60% for High-Purity Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate (HPMSM) and 61% for High Purity Manganese Metal (HPEMM), reflecting additional metallurgical test work, operational learnings from the demonstration plant, and process engineering updates.Revised Flowsheet supports 50,000 tpa of HPEMM with full conversion to 150,000 tpa of HPMSM, aligning with battery industry demand while maintaining flexibility to deliver both HPEMM and HPMSM products as customer needs evolve.Newly incorporated magnesium carbonate ("MgCO3") resource as a by-product enables production of up to 20,000 tpa MgCO3, adding incremental value with minimal capital.CAPEX costs remain broadly consistent with the 2022 Feasibility Study, including with increased HPMSM output, despite an inflationary environment.OPEX reduced for per unit cost of HPMSM compared to the 2022 Feasibility Study, due to increased production of HPMSM and updated reagents and energy costs.Updated pricing assumptions demonstrates potential economic viability of the Project even under conservative current market conditions, underscoring its durability through price cycles.Phased development reduces upfront capital requirements, lowers funding risk, and allows further optimization before full-scale expansion.Phase II buildout planned shortly after Phase I commissioning to maximize project value and shareholder returns.Initial Capital, Phase One (50% capacity): $627.5M; Plant Capacity Expansion Capital, Phase Two (to 100% capacity): $197.8M.Annual nominal production: 150,000 tpa HPMSM.Project life: 26 years.Average life of project HPMSM price assumed at $2,888 per tonne.NEXT STEPSThe PEA has enabled the Company to optimize inputs based on current pricing, establishing the possibility for a two-stage construction strategy. This phased approach has the potential to allow for further optimization in phase two, lower upfront capital requirements, and enhance project economics by aligning investment with cash flow.The Company will now advance the Chvaletice Manganese Project further towards a full feasibility study, with a targeted completion in H1 2027.The Company will also continue to monitor high purity manganese markets and strategic sectors to which it contributes, including energy transition, grid-scale energy storage, e-mobility and aerospace and defence technologies.The Company will continue to engage with potential customers to secure additional offtake term sheets, pursue offtake agreements, and continue product testing.In addition, during 2026, the Company is focused on the following key priorities to position the Project for its next development phase by:Advancing the financing strategy by securing funding for Project priorities and progressing strategic financing discussions with potential partners;Completing the acquisition of, or access to, the remaining land surface rights required for full Project development;Strengthening the Project's regulatory foundation through the continuous advancement of permitting, further reducing development risk and demonstrating Project readiness; andMaximizing non-dilutive capital by actively pursuing grants and incentives available from the EU and the Czech state.Martina Blahova, President & CEO of Euro Manganese, commented:"The publication of these PEA results marks another important milestone for the Chvaletice Manganese Project. Our recent optimization work has delivered measurable improvements in recovery, confirming both the strength of our technical strategy and the reliability of our process. To enhance capital efficiency and align investment with market demand, we have adopted a phased construction approach that maximizes value while reducing execution risk. The addition of by-product revenue stream further incrementally strengthens the economics of the project."This disciplined approach, coupled with conservative product pricing assumptions, supports a robust project profile with a strong operating margin of 48%, underscoring the Project's ability to perform through market cycles. Despite the challenging market and pricing conditions, the PEA results demonstrate the strength and resilience of the Project. It provides a clear pathway to unlocking the full long-term value of the Chvaletice Manganese Project as demand accelerates for localized, traceable, and sustainably produced battery grade high purity manganese. We are built to perform in volatile markets, engineered for operational efficiency, and positioned to play a strategic role in securing resource independence and reducing vulnerability amid an increasingly complex global landscape."Rick Anthon, Chairman of Euro Manganese, commented:"As a Board, we are encouraged by the progress reflected in this PEA and confident the Chvaletice Manganese Project can deliver on these terms for its shareholders, customers and stakeholders. The team has advanced the Project with a clear focus on technical rigour, capital efficiency, and responsible development. The phased construction strategy and strengthened economic profile demonstrate a thoughtful approach to building a long-life asset that can scale with market demand."With no operating manganese mines in Europe and as the only integrated high purity manganese producer in Europe and North America, the Chvaletice Manganese Project is uniquely positioned to become a cornerstone of Europe's emerging battery materials supply chain. The Project's strategic relevance, combined with its strong environmental credentials and growing commercial traction, reinforces our confidence in its long-term value. We believe the foundations are now firmly in place for Chvaletice Manganese Project to move toward the next stage of development and deliver meaningful returns for shareholders."PEA SUMMARY AND ECONOMIC ANALYSISThe PEA was completed by Tetra Tech Canada Inc. ("Tetra Tech"). A NI 43-101 technical report on the PEA will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this news release and made available on the Company's website. A JORC report will be lodged with the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") ASX shortly thereafter.The following summarizes the material assumptions used in, and the results of, the PEA, assuming a targeted start of production in 2032.The Czech corporate income tax rate is 21%. In addition to the royalty of CZK 2,308 per tonne of unit Mn produced, the Czech Republic has various payroll and other taxes to generate revenue.The Company has modeled the economics of this project conservatively from a tax perspective, with a full tax burden, based on Czech legislated tax rates.Investment incentives exist in the Czech Republic and the European Union for certain, qualified investments, including investment tax credits, grants, and accelerated depreciation.The Company is actively pursuing these non-dilutive funding opportunities, including investment tax credits, grants, and accelerated depreciation available under both Czech and EU frameworks.Sensitivity AnalysisA sensitivity analysis for the Chvaletice Manganese Project was carried out to determine the effects of key variables in relation to the post-tax NPV of $492 million at a real discount rate of 8%. The results of the sensitivity analysis are presented in Table 3 below.Initial and Sustaining Capital EstimatesCapital expenditure estimates have been prepared for both initial and sustaining capital. A projected summary timeline of scheduled capital costs is shown in Table 4.The expected initial capital expenditures (Table 4) for the Project, inclusive of capitalized operating startup costs, as estimated by Tetra Tech, as of Q1, 2026, are $627.5 million, including all development-related costs that will be incurred prior to the envisaged commencement of commercial operations. Capital costs incurred after startup are assigned to sustaining capital and are projected to be paid out of operating cash-flows (also see Table 5). Contingencies on initial capital expenditure have been added at appropriate percentages to each component of the Project, excluding capitalized operating costs, resulting in an overall contingency of $66.7 million or 15.5% of direct costs.The Project site is served by excellent existing infrastructure, including rail, highway, a gas pipeline, and water and is adjacent to an operating power plant. The proposed plant site is zoned for industrial use and is the site of the former process plant that produced the Chvaletice tailings.New and refurbished infrastructure that will be built to service the Project include a tailings excavation and handling facility: a south and north site connection utility bridge for transporting tailings slurry, return water pipes and the tube conveyor that returns a mixture of non-magnetic tailings and washed leach residue to the residue dry stacking area; a magnetic separation beneficiation plant; enclosed and winterized process plant buildings and various reagent storage facilities and product warehouse; an upgraded rail spur system with related loading/unloading facilities; an internal road network; an incoming electrical 400kV high voltage grid connection including rectifiers, transformers, GIS switchgear, and local distribution step-down transformers; a process equipment maintenance workshop; a mobile fleet maintenance workshop; spare part and maintenance supply warehouses; a comprehensive water management system, onsite laboratories; and general administrative offices.Operating Cost EstimateOnsite operating costs are expected to average $181.99 per tonne plant feed ($4.14 per kg Mn equivalent) with offsite operating costs estimated to average $31.73 per tonne plant feed ($0.72 per kg Mn equivalent), as shown in Table 5.Resource EstimateTetra Tech was engaged to oversee the planning and execution of sampling and assaying, to prepare the updated Resource Estimate for EMN's Chvaletice Manganese Project, to prepare the Technical Report in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards and Disclosures for Mineral Projects, and to prepare the independent JORC Code technical report in accordance with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves 2012 Edition ("JORC Code"). The 43-101 Technical Report, entitled "Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Chvaletice Manganese Project, Chvaletice, Czech Republic", with an effective date of December 8, 2018 ("the Mineral Resource Estimate"), was filed on SEDAR on January 28, 2019. The corresponding JORC Code technical report with an effective date of December 8, 2018, was lodged on the ASX on February 6, 2019.No additional drilling or data collection pertaining to the technical disclosure of mineral inventory has been undertaken since the completion of the Mineral Resource Estimate, and the effective date for Mineral Resource Estimate is revised to April 27, 2026.The Project's combined Measured and Indicated Resources now amount to 26,960,000 tonnes, grading 7.33% total manganese (tMn) and 5.86% soluble manganese (sMn), as detailed in Table 6 below.PROCESSING FACILITIES DESCRIPTIONTailings Extraction, Residue Storage Facility and ReclamationIn the tailings extraction plan, the three tailings cells will be excavated in a counterclockwise sequence, starting with Cell #3, followed by Cells #1 and #2. Tailings will be extracted using shovel excavators and hauled by truck to an intermediate re-pulping and a covered storage station located between Cells #1 and #2. The storage station will create a 5-day material stockpile. Re-pulped tailings will be fed to the magnetic separation plant via a slurry pipeline on a continuous basis.A filtered blend of non-magnetic tailings and washed leach residue materials from the process plant will be conveyed using a tube conveyor to the storage station and placed and compacted in the Residue Storage Facility (RSF). The excavated area exposed after extraction of the existing tailings will be lined with a geomembrane liner. The RSF will be constructed in stages to suit residue storage requirements and progressively covered to limit the footprint of residue exposed to the air at any given time.RSF design features include a geomembrane lined bottom, perimeter surface water diversion and a contact water collection system that is integrated with the overall site water management system. Dust management includes the implementation of modern dust suppression methods on open faces, interim stack surfaces and haul roads, as required.Progressive reclamation will be undertaken as an integrated part of the residue stacking procedure. The filtered residue cover will consist of a low permeability soil and/or geomembrane cover to inhibit erosion and infiltration, and a growth layer to support vegetation growth.The site is expected to be fully reclaimed and brought back into a productive community to be established in consultation with local communities, regulators and national government agencies. The RSF will be monitored during the post-closure period for geotechnical and environmental performance.High Purity Manganese Products Production FacilityThe processing facilities, including ancillary facilities, for HPMSM production from the CMP tailings were designed by Beijing General Research Institute for Mining ("BGRIMM") together with EMN and Tetra Tech, based on the comprehensive metallurgical test results conducted during the previous PEA and validated through bench scale tests during the feasibility study. Additional metallurgical tests to recover manganese from anode slimes from electrowinning circuit were also conducted to support this PEA.The study was based on the design work completed for the 2022 Feasibility Study which included process circuit and process equipment optimization. Key equipment items were sized and selected based on the FS design by upgrading HPMSM circuit from the nominal capacity of 100,000 t/a to 150,000 t/a. In addition, two additional circuits, one for manganese recovery from anode slimes produced from the electrowinning circuit using reductive leaching and one for sodium and potassium removal from the HPMSM crystallization circuit by incorporating a high-temperature crystallization bypass system. One additional circuit to convert the magnesium carbonate from waste to a saleable by-product is incorporated into the magnesium removal circuit.The CMP process plant has been designed for a nominal nameplate production capacity of 150,000 tonnes per annum of HPMSM by processing approximately 1.1 million tonnes of the historical tailings per year.HPMSM is produced by converting HPEMM flakes produced by electrowinning process without the use of selenium and chromium. This product is expected to best meet the high purity manganese market demand anticipated in current and future battery formulations.The CMP HPMSM product is designed to contain no less than 99.9% high purity manganese sulfate monohydrate and a minimum of 32.34% manganese and will be sold in powder form, produced without the use of fluorine.The dried HPMSM powder product will be packed prior to being shipped in trucks or containers to customers .The process includes following unit circuits:High-intensity wet magnetic separation circuit, upgrading the excavated tailings manganese grade to approximately 15% tMn for acid leaching.Magnetic concentrate sulfuric acid leaching, neutralization to remove impurities and solid-liquid separation.Pregnant leach solution deep purification to further remove heavy metals.Manganese electrowinning to produce high purity HPEMM (high-purity electrolytic manganese metal) flakes using a selenium free process.A magnesium removal process circuit to ensure efficient electrowinning operations and high-quality product and magnesium carbonate produced as a by-product.HPEMM dissolution, solution purification and HPMSM crystallization and drying to produce battery-grade HPMSM for sale.Other supporting circuits, such as ammonium recovery system, water management systems, steam generation. The proposed process flow sheet is illustrated in Figure 1 below.Figure 1: Updated Simplified Process FlowsheetTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11453/297390_4c2a5f3814e549ad_001full.jpgENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, PERMITTING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTEnvironmental impacts are monitored over the long term as part of the project. The ESIA process was conducted in two phases, supplemented by several expert studies and on-site monitoring. The result of the ESIA process, which involved participation from relevant authorities and the public, is the positive Environmental and Social Binding Statement, which was issued by the Ministry of Environment in March 2024. The ESIA permit is a crucial permit demonstrating that the assessed impacts on individual environmental components and the social sphere are acceptable and that the project is feasible.The assessment results show that the implementation of the project will not worsen existing environmental conditions and will not have negative social impacts. Furthermore, the realization of the project will reduce the identified contamination of groundwater and surface water in the tailings and its vicinity, where the source of the pollution is demonstrably deposited material. As the deposit is of anthropogenic origin and the mined material is a waste-product, this constitutes the reuse or recycling of waste, aligning with the principles of the circular economy. The aim of remediation and reclamation is to create a near-natural area with high biodiversity and stability, which will be used for recreational and sports activities.The ESIA process is followed by a subsequent permitting process when a significant portion of the permits had already been obtained, such as the Permit for the location of the processing plant, the Permit for the location of the rail spur, Product registration under the EU's REACH Regulation, and other permits related to auxiliary activities (utility relocations, grid connection, and others). Another key permit is the Determination of the Mining Lease Permit, which was granted to MANGAN Chvaletice, s.r.o on January 23, 2025; this is another crucial permit which authorizes the company to conduct mining activities. In the following steps, the company will undergo the permitting process stipulated by the Building Act, followed by the final operating permit.In 2026, the Company will continue to advance the permitting process under the Building Act, targeting completion of the final operating permit pathway in line with the feasibility study timeline. Each permitting milestone achieved further reduces Project risk and reinforces the Company's readiness to move into the next phase of development.Key Highlights of the Social Commitment:Significant Economic Catalyst: The Project will act as a primary economic driver in the Pardubice Region, creating 800-1,000 jobs during construction and providing stable, long-term employment for approximately 400 direct staff during operations, with a strong 85% local hiring commitment.Commitment to Transparency: The Project has established a robust engagement framework, including a dedicated public information center in Chvaletice and dedicated digital platforms (project-specific website and online grievance tools).Validated Social Acceptance: On March 27, 2024, the Czech Ministry of the Environment issued a favorable binding ESIA opinion, confirming that the Project meets the highest environmental and social standards. The Project currently faces no material barriers to acceptance, reflecting a strong Social License to Operate.BENEFITS OF PEA AND NEXT STEPSThe PEA enabled the Company to optimize inputs based on current pricing, establishing the possibility for a two-stage construction strategy. This phased approach has the potential to allow for further optimization in phase two, lower upfront capital requirements, and enhance project economics by aligning investment with cash flow. The Company plans to explore this and other avenues to advance the Chvaletice Manganese Project further towards feasibility study, with targeted completion in H1 2027.The Company will also continue to monitor high purity manganese markets and strategic sectors to which it contributes, including energy transition, grid-scale energy storage, e-mobility and aerospace and defence technologies. The Company will continue to engage with potential customers to secure additional offtake term sheets, pursue offtake agreements, and continue product testing.In addition, during 2026, the Company is focused on the following key priorities to position the Project for its next development phase by:Advancing the financing strategy by securing funding for Project priorities and progressing strategic financing discussions with potential partners;Completing the acquisition of, or access to, the remaining land surface rights required for full Project development;Strengthening the Project's regulatory foundation through the continuous advancement of permitting, further reducing development risk and demonstrating Project readiness; andMaximizing non-dilutive capital by actively pursuing grants and incentives available from the EU and the Czech state.Competent and Qualified Person StatementAll production targets for the Chvaletice Manganese Project referred to in this news release are underpinned by estimated Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources prepared by Competent Persons and Qualified Persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code and NI 43 - 101, respectively. Additionally, the scientific and technical information included in this news release, is based upon information prepared, verified, and approved by Mr. James Barr, P. Geo, Senior Geologist, Mr. Jianhui (John) Huang, Ph.D., P. Eng., Senior Metallurgical Engineer, Mr. Hassan Ghaffari, P.Eng, M.A.Sc., Senior Process Engineer, Mr. Chris Johns, P.Eng, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, and Mrs. Maurie Marks, P.Eng, Senior Mining Engineer, all with Tetra Tech. Mr. Barr, Mrs. Marks, Mr. Ghaffari, Mr. Johns, Mr. Hasanloo and Mr. Huang are consultants to, and independent of, EMN within the meaning of NI 43-101, and have sufficient experience in the field of activity being reported to qualify as Competent Persons as defined in the JORC Code, and are Qualified Persons, as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Barr is responsible for the Mineral Resource Estimate, Mr. Huang is responsible for the metallurgical test work results, process engineering, operating cost and capital cost estimates, environmental studies, permitting, and social or community impact. Mr. Ghaffari is responsible for infrastructure, Mrs. Marks is responsible for mining and financial analysis, Mr. Johns is responsible for design of the residue storage facility. Mr. Barr visited the property during the 2017 drilling program and again during the 2018 drilling campaign, on July 30-31st, 2018, during which time he observed the drilling, sample collection and preparation, sample logging and sample storage facilities. Mr. Huang visited the Project site on February 5, 2018 and May 3, 2022, as well as visited the Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Co. ("CRIMM") laboratory and pilot plant facility five times between January 20, 2017 and September 20, 2018 to witness sample preparation and test/assay facilities and to discuss the test program and results with CRIMM's technical team. Mr. Huang also visited the SGS Minerals Services (SGS) laboratory on June 29, 2017, and oversaw the bench scale validation test work completed by BGRIMM. Mrs. Marks, Mr. Johns and Mr. Ghaffari also visited the project site on May 3, 2022. Barr, Huang, Ghaffari, Johns and Marks have no economic or financial interest in the Company and consent to the inclusion in this news release of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.In addition, technical information concerning the Chvaletice Manganese Project is reviewed by Dr. David Dreisinger, P. Eng, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Dr. Dreisinger has reviewed and approved the information in this news release for which he is responsible and has consented to the inclusion of the matters in this news release based on the information in the form and context in which it appears.Cautionary StatementThe PEA is a high-level review of potential, is preliminary in nature, and there is no certainty that the economics in the PEA will be realized. The PEA results are not equivalent to, and should not be construed as, a Pre-Feasibility Study or Feasibility Study. Accordingly, investors are reminded that the PEA is considered preliminary in nature and includes estimated costs that are subject to an approximate margin error of plus or minus 35%. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no guarantee the Project's resources will eventually be classified as reserves.The projected process plant design, potential production profile and project plan are conceptual in nature and additional technical studies will need to be completed in order to fully assess their viability. There is no certainty that a potential production decision will be made, or that a commercial operation will be achieved.A sensitivity analysis for the Project was carried out to determine the effects of key variables in relation to the post-tax NPV of US$492 million using a real discount rate of 8%. The results of the sensitivity analysis are presented in Table 3 of this announcement. Additional sensitivities from changes in capital and operating costs, recoveries, and metal prices are also included in Table 3.The PEA is also based on the material assumptions outlined in this announcement. These include assumptions about the availability of funding. While EMN considers all of the material assumptions to be based on reasonable grounds, including those related to funding, there is no certainty that they will prove to be correct or that the range of outcomes indicated by the PEA can be achieved.To achieve the range of outcomes indicated in the PEA, funding in the order of approximately US$670.9 million is assumed to be required for initial capital expenditures and working capital. It is anticipated that funding will be sourced through a combination of equity and debt, and possibly other means; however, given that the PEA is considered preliminary in nature, the Company expects to finalize its financing strategy for the Project in conjunction with, or after, the completion of the feasibility study.Investors should note that there is no certainty that EMN will be able to raise that amount of funding when needed. It is also likely that such funding may only be available on terms that may be dilutive to or otherwise affect the fundamental value of EMN's existing shares. It is also possible that the Company could pursue other 'value realisation' strategies such as a sale, partial sale or joint venture of the Project. If such strategies are pursued, it could materially reduce EMN's proportionate ownership of the Project. Given the uncertainties involved, investors should not make any investment decisions based solely on the results of the PEA.Euro Manganese is dual listed on the TSX-V and the ASX. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined by TSXV policies) or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Authorized for release by the President and CEO of Euro Manganese Inc.Martina BlahovaPresident and CEO+1 (604) 681-1010info@mn25.caJane Morgan ManagementJane MorganInvestor and Media Relations - Australia+61 (0) 405 555 618jm@janemorganmanagement.com.auLodeRock AdvisorsNeil WeberInvestor and Media Relations - North America+1 (647) 222-0574neil.weber@loderockadvisors.com  About Euro ManganeseEuro Manganese Inc. (TSXV: EMN) (ASX: EMN) (FSE: E060) is a battery materials company developing the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic, Europe's only near-term source of high-purity manganese, a critical ingredient in next-generation electric vehicles, energy storage batteries and defence applications.The Chvaletice Manganese Project aims to reprocess historic mine tailings to produce high-purity electrolytic manganese metal (HPEMM), and high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), establishing a fully traceable, low-carbon supply chain within the European Union.Euro Manganese is positioned to become Europe's first domestic producer of high-purity manganese, meeting the rising demand for sustainable, strategic battery materials while advancing Europe's clean-energy and supply-chain independence goals.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company, its Chvaletice Project, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company.Forward looking information or statements include all of the results of the PEA, including estimates of internal rates of return (including any pre-tax and after-tax internal rates of return, payback periods, net present values, future production, estimates of cash cost, assumed prices for HPEMM and HPMSM and by-products, proposed extraction plans and methods, operating life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal recoveries and estimates of capital and operating costs. Forward looking statements also include the possibility for a two-stage construction strategy, and the potential to allow for further optimization of the Project in phase two, with lower upfront capital requirements, and to enhance project economics by aligning investment with cash flow. The Company has based its assumptions and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain, including (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii) the ability to develop adequate processing capacity; (iii) the price of HPEMM and HPMSM and by-products; (iv) the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete development; (v) the size of future processing plants and future tailings extraction rates; (vi) the cost of consumables and extraction and processing equipment; (vii) unforeseen technological and engineering problems; (viii) currency fluctuations; (ix) changes in laws or regulations; (x) the availability and productivity of skilled labour; and (xi) the regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies.Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding the Company's strategy for its Chvaletice Project, ability to access high purity manganese markets and strategic sectors to which it contributes, including energy transition, grid-scale energy storage, e-mobility and aerospace and defence technologies and sell its products, the ability to complete a feasibility study in 2027, and the Company's ability to navigate current market conditions. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's next steps including: advancing financing efforts; seeking strategic partners, finalizing product testing, and negotiating offtake agreements with customers; Securing remaining land access; progressing key permits; and pursuing government funding.All forward-looking statements are made based on the Company's current beliefs including various assumptions made by the Company, including that the Chvaletice Project will be developed and operate as planned, the results of the PEA are reliable, that the Company will have sufficient financing to continue operations, and that the Company will be able to meet the conditions of its secured financing. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: results from the PEA are not accurate; insufficient working capital; inability to meet the conditions of its secured financing, risks due to granting security, lack of availability of financing for developing and advancing the Chvaletice Project; no available government funding or incentives; the potential for unknown or unexpected events to cause contractual conditions to not be satisfied; developments in electric vehicle battery markets and chemistries; risks related to fluctuations in currency exchange rates; and changes in laws or regulations by various governmental agencies. For a further discussion of risks relevant to the Company, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended September 30, 2025, available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/297390 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Assembly Rolls out Stagwell Search+ Across APAC as AI Reshapes Brand Discovery

HONG KONG, May 14, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - As search becomes increasingly AI-led and zero-click, brands need new strategies to shape how they appear in answers, not just in links. APAC has emerged as a global leader in AI Search adoption, with 78% of users reporting weekly usage. Increasingly, AI Search Experiences shape brand discovery and consideration before users ever visit a website.In response, global omnichannel media agency Assembly today announced the rollout of Stagwell Search+ in APAC - a new system designed to help brands understand and influence how they are represented across AI-driven search environments.The launch marks a fundamental shift away from treating search as a standalone channel. Instead, Stagwell Search+ operates across a full ecosystem of paid, owned, earned, and shared media, where AI-generated answers determine visibility and performance. This shift is especially complex in APAC, where a fragmented landscape of large language models, spanning multiple languages and cultural contexts, creates inconsistent brand visibility. A brand may appear authoritative in one model while remaining invisible or misrepresented in another, introducing a new and largely unmeasured risk for marketers.Built by Assembly in partnership with emberos, Stagwell Search+ is powered by the industry's first agentic operating system for AI search. The platform continuously monitors how brands appear across models and languages and orchestrates & measures the lift from actions across content, media, and digital channels to improve visibility. Rather than automating changes directly into platforms, the system is designed to guide human decision-making with AI agents - helping teams take precise, strategic action while protecting the quality and integrity of brand experiences.Stagwell Search+ is currently integrated with leading global models from OpenAI, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, and Anthropic with additional integrations across regional platforms such as DeepSeek planned for later this year."AI is already making brand decisions without marketers in the room - and in APAC, that challenge is amplified by language and cultural complexity," said Yi En Chye, VP of Experience and Activation, APAC. "Success is no longer defined by rankings or clicks, but by a brand's ability to secure share of prompt. Stagwell Search+ gives brands the visibility and control they need to compete in this new environment."ABOUT ASSEMBLYAssembly is a global omnichannel agency built for brands that want a more modern approach to building brands that perform. Backed by the Stagwell network, we are a literal assembly of data, talent, and technology built to unlock smarter, faster, and better-performing outcomes from the bottom up -not the top down. Curious, collaborative, and driven by change, we are an agency of builders who believe the better the experience, the better the performance. We don't see brand and performance as an either/or. For us, it's always both. The + symbol in our logo, known as the ORAD, represents this mindset. It's a mark of how we think, how we build, and how we deliver results across the full funnel. Assembly's foundation is built on three core elements: our purpose-built STAGE Experience Engine, the strategic product it powers-Brand Performance Planning (BPP) - and an organizational design built for speed, depth, and the demands of modern marketing. Together, they enable us to build better brand experiences that reimagine how brands connect, engage, and grow across data, tech, media, creative and commerce. With over 3,000 experts in 44 offices worldwide, Assembly delivers full-funnel solutions that help the world's most ambitious brands perform. Learn more at assemblyglobal.com.ABOUT STAGWELLStagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.MEDIA CONTACTKelvin LeeMarketing Director, APACKelvin.lee@assemblyglobal.comSOURCE: Assembly Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Sherlocq Launches the First AI-Native Regulatory Intelligence Platform for Global Financial Services

NEW YORK, USA AND ABU DHABI, UAE, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Sherlocq, the first AI-native regulatory intelligence platform for global financial services, today announced its public launch. Designed for compliance officers, lawyers, risk professionals, and regulators who operate at the intersection of law, governance, and institutional accountability, Sherlocq delivers regulatory intelligence that is precise, traceable, and usable at institutional scale.The launch marks the emergence of a new category in enterprise AI: regulatory intelligence, a vertical distinct from generic AI assistants, conventional regtech monitoring tools, and document management platforms. Sherlocq has been built from the ground up to meet the security, privacy, and domain standards that regulated institutions require, and which no general-purpose AI platform has been designed to deliver.THE PROBLEMFinancial institutions, law firms, regulators, and consultants collectively spend over $300 billion every year on regulatory compliance. More than ten million professionals carry the weight of that complexity daily, tracking regulatory changes across dozens of jurisdictions, reviewing thousands of documents, and making high-stakes decisions that can determine the fate of institutions and individuals alike.Until now, the tools available have been fundamentally inadequate: monitoring without interpretation, alerts without answers, search without synthesis. Regulatory research has remained a largely manual process for decades. Vertical AI has already demonstrated category-defining value in adjacent domains. Regulatory intelligence represents a larger, more global, and more complex opportunity.Sherlocq changes that.THE PLATFORMAt launch, Sherlocq covers the regulatory output of governments, supervisory authorities, and enforcement bodies across 30+ jurisdictions, including the US, UK, UAE, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It ingests, structures, and indexes this information continuously, so when a compliance officer, lawyer, or risk professional asks a question, Sherlocq returns a precise, sourced, and traceable answer in seconds. Research that previously required hours of manual work across multiple sources is completed in under a minute.The platform launches with three live capabilities:Regulatory Research and Analysis - Multi-jurisdiction research, cross-border regulatory comparison, compliance framework analysis, and obligation mapping across the full spectrum of financial services regulation, covering all major regulated financial centres.Document Intelligence - Structured review, gap assessment, benchmarking, and policy analysis against applicable regulatory standards, available on the native Sherlocq platform.Sanctions Intelligence - Real-time, multi-regime sanctions research across OFAC, OFSI, EU, UAE, and 320+ data sources in a single query, with full source traceability. The first AI-native platform to deliver this level of depth and auditability across multiple sanctions regimes simultaneously.Sherlocq is available on web, iOS, and Android, for individual professionals and enterprise organisations. AI connectors are live for Claude and ChatGPT, enabling regulatory research to be accessed directly within the tools professionals already use. Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini integrations follow shortly.Sherlocq is certified to ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 standards, meeting the security and data privacy requirements of regulated financial institutions globally.FOUNDER'S STATEMENT"I have spent my career sitting across the table from regulators, leading investigations at the highest levels, and advising institutions in the most consequential moments of their existence. In every one of those engagements, the same problem recurred: brilliant professionals, at world-class institutions, spending most of their time on research and cross-referencing that should have been automated years ago. Not because the technology did not exist. Because no one had built it with the rigour, the domain depth, and the institutional trust that this work demands. That is what we built. Sherlocq is not a general AI tool adapted for compliance. It is the intelligence infrastructure that this industry has always needed and never had," said Bhavin Shah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sherlocq.ABOUT THE FOUNDERBhavin Shah is a globally recognised regulatory and compliance leader with over twenty years of experience advising sovereigns, regulators, boards, and financial institutions across their most complex and politically sensitive challenges. His career spans multi-jurisdiction investigations, AML and financial crime reform, regulatory negotiations, crisis management, and governance advisory across the US, UK, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. He has advised some of the world's most consequential regulatory reform processes and financial institutions at moments of institutional stress, enforcement risk, and strategic transformation.Shah is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2020), a board member of the D2A2 digital assets and AI policy forum, and holds executive education credentials from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School. He serves as an independent non-executive director on the boards of regulated financial institutions, giving him direct and ongoing insight into the governance, compliance, and regulatory pressures that Sherlocq is designed to address.INDUSTRY VOICES"Regulatory complexity has been accelerating for years and this is only compounding with the recent trends toward fragmentation around the globe. The tools available to compliance professionals have not kept pace. Sherlocq addresses that gap in a way that is substantive, not superficial. What distinguishes this platform is that it has been built with a genuine understanding of how regulated institutions work and what they actually need to be more effective and more efficient. The depth, the traceability, and the institutional-grade approach reflect the kind of rigour that regulators and boards rightly expect. I am proud to support Bhavin and the Sherlocq team as they bring this important product to market," said Bryan Stirewalt, Former Chief Executive, Dubai Financial Services Authority; Former National Bank Examiner, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; Board Advisor, Sherlocq."Running a banking group across more than 35 markets meant living with regulatory complexity as a daily operational reality. Our teams were talented and diligent but the tools available forced them into a process that was slow, fragmented and heavily manual. Sherlocq solves that problem. It gives compliance and legal professionals the structured multi-jurisdictional intelligence that I would have wanted for my team. This is the platform the industry has always needed,” said Arnold Ekpe, Former Group Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group; Board Advisor, Sherlocq.ABOUT SHERLOCQSherlocq Inc. is a US-incorporated AI technology company (Delaware) with principal offices in New York and Abu Dhabi, UAE, and the creator of the first AI-native regulatory intelligence platform purpose-built for global financial services. The company has completed a pre-seed financing round backed by investors across the US, UAE, and Europe. Designed for compliance officers, lawyers, risk professionals, regulators, and governance teams, the platform delivers multi-jurisdiction regulatory research, document intelligence, and sanctions intelligence, with workflow automation and deeper enterprise capabilities on the near-term roadmap. Sherlocq is certified to ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 standards and is available globally on web, iOS, and Android. Financial institutions, law firms, and professional services organisations seeking enterprise access are invited to contact hello@sherlocq.com. sherlocq.com | sherlocq.ai | hello@sherlocq.com MEDIA CONTACTFor media enquiries, interview requests with Bhavin Shah, or access to additional materials including product demonstrations, founder biography, and platform assets:Press contact: press@sherlocq.com  Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Wellgistics Health Announces Pilot MSO Collaboration with Kare PharmTech Targeting $14 Billion U.S. Market for CCM and RPM Services

Highlights:According to third-party industry reports, the U.S. RPM market is currently $14 Billion alone and expected to reach approximately $29 Billion by 2030, representing a 12.6% CAGR, as healthcare providers continue shifting toward value-based and home-based care models¹Pilot initiative launched across multiple provider offices focused on chronic care management (CCM) and remote patient monitoring (RPM) through it's MSO infrastructureApproximately 1,500+ claims generated to date through the pilot infrastructure with expansion roadmap targeting additional providersWellgistics Pharmacy Network of 6,500+ independent pharmacies positioned to support patient engagement and care coordination initiativesParticipating pharmacists expected to gain access to new clinical service revenue opportunitiesTAMPA, FLA., May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Wellgistics Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:WGRX) ("Wellgistics" or the "Company"), a leading healthcare technology and pharmaceutical distribution company, today announced a pilot collaboration with Kare PharmTech and Kare Clinicals integrating its MSO infrastructure to support chronic care management ("CCM") and remote patient monitoring ("RPM") services across participating provider offices. According to third-party industry reports, the U.S. RPM market is currently $14 Billion and expected to reach approximately $29 Billion by 2030, representing a 12.6% CAGR, as healthcare providers continue shifting toward value-based and home-based care models.¹The pilot program currently includes multiple provider offices, with Kare Clinicals MSO serving as the billing provider on behalf of participating offices and rendering providers. The initiative is designed to support patient engagement, care coordination, and longitudinal monitoring programs through scalable operational and technology-enabled workflows. All CCM and RPM services are expected to be furnished and billed by appropriately licensed providers and participating entities in accordance with applicable federal and state healthcare laws, reimbursement requirements, and payor program rules.The companies stated that the pilot infrastructure has already generated 1,500+ claims and is intended to serve as the foundation for broader expansion efforts targeting approximately additional providers over time. As part of the collaboration, Wellgistics Health intends to leverage its network of more than 6,500 independent pharmacies to help identify and support eligible patients who may benefit from CCM and RPM services. Participating pharmacies within the Wellgistics Pharmacy Network may also have opportunities to participate in clinical engagement initiatives associated with the program.Prashant Patel, President and CEO of Wellgistics Health, Inc., stated, "We believe the convergence of pharmacy engagement, provider connectivity, and technology-enabled care coordination represents a significant opportunity to improve patient outcomes while creating new economic opportunities for independent pharmacies. Through this pilot collaboration with Kare PharmTech, we are establishing infrastructure designed to support scalable patient engagement models across chronic care management and remote patient monitoring programs."Mital Panera, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kare PharmTech, added, "Our focus has been on building an operationally efficient MSO platform capable of supporting providers with care coordination and reimbursement workflows. By collaborating with Wellgistics Health and its pharmacy network, we believe we can further expand patient participation, improve continuity of care, and create a scalable framework for future provider growth."The companies noted that the pilot program remains subject to ongoing operational development, provider participation, and regulatory compliance considerations as expansion efforts continue.About Wellgistics Health, Inc.Wellgistics Health (NASDAQ:WGRX) is a health information technology leader, integrating proprietary pharmacy dispensing optimization artificial intelligence platform EinsteinRx™ into its patented blockchain-enabled smart contracts platform PharmacyChain™ to optimize the prescription drug dispensing journey. Its integrated platform connects 6,500+ pharmacies (the "Wellgistics Pharmacy Network") and 200+ manufacturers, offering wholesale distribution, digital prescription routing, direct-to-patient delivery, and AI-powered hub services such as eligibility, adherence, onboarding, prior authorization, and cash-pay fulfillment as needed to optimize patient access. Wellgistics provides end-to-end solutions designed to restore access, transparency, and trust in the U.S. prescription drug market for independent pharmacies.About Kare PharmTech, LLCKare Clinicals is part of the larger ecosystem of companies owned by Kare PharmTech, LLC, a company controlled by Dr. Kiran Patel. Dr. Patel founded Medicaid provider WellCare in 1992 and sold it in 2002 for $200 million. In 2007, Dr. Patel founded America's 1st Choice Holdings and acquired Freedom Health and Optimum Holdings. In 2017, he sold America's 1st Choice Holdings to Anthem, Inc. Dr. Patel is a noted philanthropist and was named Floridian of the Year by Florida Trend Magazine.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, strategies, future events, or performance, including statements regarding the potential benefits, scalability, expansion, commercialization, provider participation, reimbursement opportunities, patient engagement initiatives, operational capabilities, and future development of the pilot collaboration with Kare PharmTech and Kare Clinicals, as well as the anticipated role of the Wellgistics Pharmacy Network in supporting CCM and RPM initiatives. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "project," "seek," "should," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to provider adoption and participation, reimbursement outcomes, patient engagement levels, operational execution, scalability of the pilot program, regulatory and healthcare compliance considerations, changes in applicable laws or reimbursement policies, market acceptance of the Company's services, competitive factors, and the Company's ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships and successfully implement its business strategy.The pilot collaboration described in this press release is exploratory in nature, and there can be no assurance that the initiative will result in expanded commercial relationships, material revenue opportunities, or long-term operational success.Additional information regarding these and other risks can be found in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors contained therein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.Wellgistics Media & Investor ContactMedia: media@wellgisticshealth.comInvestor Relations: IR@wellgisticshealth.com[1] MarketsandMarkets - U.S. Remote Patient Monitoring Market ReportSOURCE: Wellgistics Health, Inc. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

S&P Tear Sheet: GTJAI Continues to Play a Key Role in the Group’s International Strategy

HONG KONG, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Recently, in its latest Tear Sheet, S&P Global stated that it expects Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited (“Guotai Junan International” or “GTJAI”, Stock Code: 1788.HK), a subsidiary of Guotai Haitong Group, and its intermediate holding company Guotai Haitong Financial Holdings Ltd.  (“GTHTFH”), to continue to play a key role in the international strategy of their ultimate parent Guotai Haitong Securities Co. Ltd. (“GTHT”).In its Tear Sheet, S&P Global pointed out that the business synergies between GTJAI and its parent company, particularly in investment banking and wealth management, reinforce its importance within the group. International development is one of GTHT’s core strategic priorities, and GTJAI will continue to play a key role in the Group’s efforts to strengthen its global presence. In 2025, GTJAI and GTHTFH recorded 284% and 85% profits growth, respectively, and accounted for about 3% and 8% of GTHT’s net profit during the year. This strong financial performance robustly demonstrates the Company’s contribution to the overall business of the Group.S&P Global expects that GTJAI will remain one of the Group’s core subsidiaries over the next two years and will continue to receive support from GTHT, with its issuer credit rating and “stable” outlook moving in tandem with those of the parent. S&P Global believes that GTJAI has access to timely parental support, including indirect benefits from the Shanghai government through GTHT if needed.This Tear Sheet fully reflects the Company’s current situation and expectations for future development. GTJAI will resolutely align with the Group’s international strategy, continuously enhance its own professional capabilities and the efficiency of business synergies with the Group, and contribute to Guotai Haitong Group’s goal of becoming a first-class investment bank with international competitiveness and market leadership.Note: This article is based on an independent opinion document (Tear Sheet: Guotai Junan International Holdings Ltd. And Guotai Haitong Financial Holdings Ltd.) published by S&P Global Ratings on May 5, 2026. This document does not constitute a rating action.About GTJAIGuotai Junan International (Stock Code: 1788.HK), a subsidiary of Guotai Haitong Group, is the market leader and first mover for internationalization of Chinese Securities Company as well as the first Chinese securities broker listed on the Main Board of The Hong Kong Stock Exchange through initial public offering. Based in Hong Kong with subsidiaries in Singapore, Vietnam and Macau, GTJAI’s business covers major markets around the world, offering high-quality and diversified comprehensive financial services for clients' overseas asset allocation. Core business includes wealth management, institutional investor services, corporate finance services, investment management and other business. GTJAI has been assigned “Baa2” and “BBB+” long term issuer rating from Moody and Standard & Poor respectively, as well as an MSCI ESG “AAA” rating, Wind ESG “A” rating and SynTao Green Finance “A” rating in ESG. Additionally, its S&P Global ESG score leads 81% of its global peers. The controlling shareholder, Guotai Haitong Securities (Stock Code: 601211.SH/ 2611.HK), is the comprehensive financial provider with a long-term, sustainable and overall leading position in the China’s capital markets. For more information about GTJAI, please visit https://www.gtjai.com.     Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Asia Summit on Global Health and Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair concluded successfully

HONG KONG, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The sixth Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and the 17th Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Medical Fair), organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong MedTech Association, have concluded successfully. As one of the two flagship events of International Healthcare Week, the ASGH gathered some 3,000 participants from 43 countries and regions and arranged over 400 one‑on‑one deal-making meetings, while also facilitating the signing of multiple cooperation agreements, with a strong focus on the application of artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the Medical Fair welcomed some 13,000 buyers from 61 countries and regions for sourcing and networking. More than 670 business matching meetings were arranged during the fair, supporting buyers and exhibitors in identifying potential partners and advancing concrete business discussions. Together, the two flagship events facilitated over 1,000 high-quality collaborations and connections, fully demonstrating the synergy between medical technology, investment and industry applications.Over 90 global leaders share insight into healthcare innovation development and AI applicationsThe sixth ASGH, a two-day event jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the HKTDC, has concluded under the theme Fuelling Healthcare Breakthroughs, focusing on public health, frontier healthcare technologies, AI breakthroughs, healthcare investment and the silver health. The ASGH brought together over 90 international healthcare officials, scientific pioneers, Nobel laureate, investors and corporate leaders to share insight and explore pathways to accelerate innovation across the global healthcare ecosystem.At Plenary Session I – Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness through Global Collaboration. Prof Ibrahim Abubakar, Vice‑Provost (Health) and Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University College London, said: “Research platforms need to be developed long in advance of pandemics, and we must invest in infectious disease infrastructure, and beyond, whether it’s in AI technology or in  disease management.”Plenary Session II – Fuelling Healthcare Breakthroughs centred on the commercialisation of medical research, biomedical innovation and healthcare investment opportunities. Jonathan Symonds, Chair of GSK, said: “All developed countries are now facing ageing, low birth rates and an increasing impact of chronic disease. So, it's no longer just a health system problem, but it's now an economic problem.”During the Dialogue with Global Pioneer in Health session, Prof Michael Levitt, 2013 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Robert W and Vivian K Cahill Professor of Cancer Research at the Stanford University School of Medicine, said that Hong Kong’s healthcare system possesses unique advantages and high-quality statistical data, making it potentially more valuable for research than the US and other countries or regions, in  areas such as longevity.The ASGH featured multiple thematic sessions spotlighting the application of AI in healthcare. Sustaining the momentum of the “Intelligence at Scale: How AI is Powering Real-World Healthcare Revolution” session on the first day, another thematic session on the second day, “Transforming Healthcare through Digital Health & AI Innovations”, explored how digital technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping healthcare systems. Natasha Chhatrapati, Senior Director, Business Transformation Lead for International, Pfizer Inc., said: “AI is compressing timelines across the entire healthcare journey, from drug development and clinical research to how we engage with physicians and how patients consume care.”The session “The Next Frontier in China’s Healthcare Industry” examined strategies to advance the Chinese Mainland healthcare sector. Dr James Xue, Founder, Chairman and CEO of CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc, said: “China has an edge because of the population. A bigger population base will allow companies to build better drug candidates.”With silver health emerging as a major global focus, the Silver Health Chapter included the session “Unlocking Growth in Silver Health: From Precision Medicine to Smart Ageing Innovations”, which brought together leading experts to discuss challenges and opportunities arising from population ageing. Dr Alex Mihailidis, Associate Vice‑President, International Partnerships and Professor at the University of Toronto and Scientific Director at AGE‑WELL, provided in‑depth insight into breakthroughs in prevention and treatment of age‑related diseases, offering guidance for the development of the silver health economy and smart ageing solutions. He said: “For a technology to be successful with older people, it’s not just the technology, but also the service delivery model, as well as the practice and policy.”The newly introduced session “CSO Insights: Catalysing Scientific Breakthroughs and Investments for Future Health” featured discussions on research strategy and the acceleration of scientific discoveries into practical applications. Dr Li Xiang, Senior Vice President, Co-President and Chief Scientific Officer, Innovative Medicines Division, Fosun Pharma, said: “In our business, it is very important to begin with the end in mind. When you set out to do your discovery program, you must already know what the unmet needs are and how difficult the clinical trials will be.”Over 400 deal‑making sessions drive investment and business matchingBeyond thought leadership, the ASGH continued to serve as an effective platform for deal‑making and investment matching. Dedicated deal-making at the ASGH facilitated one‑to‑one meetings to promote tangible collaboration.During the ASGH, over 400 business and investment matching meetings were arranged, attracting investment institutions and healthcare enterprises from Europe, the US, Asia and the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area to explore opportunities in investment, technology deployment and market expansion.Colin Tan, Director of Operations at TusPark Holdings, an investor from the UK, said: “This year, I brought around 15 UK healthcare and life sciences companies to exhibit at the UK Pavilion. The ASGH has been an excellent platform to forge such connections. We are now facilitating a significant partnership in cancer research between a leading UK organisation and a Hong Kong counterpart.”ASGH also featured the ASGH Business Hub and the InnoHealth Showcase, bringing together some 180 healthcare innovation companies from 12 countries and regions to present cutting‑edge solutions across biotechnology, digital health and medical technologies.Strategic Partner of this year’s Summit, Shanghai Industrial Investment (Holdings) led multiple subsidiaries in exhibiting at the ASGH. Gu Feng, Chief Finance and Investment Officer, said that the ASGH fully showcased Hong Kong’s international competitiveness: “Chinese companies expanding overseas will come to Hong Kong, and foreign companies seeking to procure will do the same. Here we can not only acquire resources, but also connect and match resources, talent, capital, and other key elements.”AQ Biotech from Finland, exhibiting at ASGH for the first time, said that their objective was to explore the Asian market. They view Hong Kong as a vital hub that adds internationally recognised credibility, connectivity and commercial acumen, helping them take their work global.Dr Iman Manavitehrani, Founder and Director of SDIP Innovations, the Australian exhibitor returning for the second year, said: “Last year’s visit led directly to an IGNITE grant from HSITP, and we are now part of the first Australian cohort based here. With Hong Kong as our gateway to the GBA and Chinese Mainland, I am confident the connections made at the ASGH will lead to further collaboration and partnership.”Third-time exhibitor, Prof Leung Kam-tong, Founder and CEO of local healthcare startup Homing Pharmaceuticals, said: “We’ve already reconnected with three investors here for in-depth discussions on our fundraising strategy, taking our navigated CAR-T therapy to first-in-human clinical trials. Sessions outside my field sparked new ideas around refining the therapy and exploring new directions. I also met professors from Australia and Singapore, and look forward to exploring international R&D collaborations as we bring this therapy worldwide.”Building bridges for “go global” and other cross‑border healthcare collaborationsBuilding on its track record of facilitating collaboration, the ASGH enabled the signing of 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), such as those between the HKSH Medical Group and Siemens Healthineers, as well as Australian AI-powered clinical documentation platform startup Heidi Health, which signed separate agreements with local medical group EC Healthcare and Hong Kong Metropolitan University. These collaborations will drive deeper cooperation, including AI‑enabled healthcare applications and clinical research, further reinforced the ASGH’s role as a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland and international healthcare ecosystems. Notably, HKSH Medical Group and Siemens Healthineers signed an agreement, formally establishing HKSH as Siemens Healthineers’ first Photon Counting Computed Tomography Simulation (PCCT-Sim) Reference Site in Asia.On the second day, the GoGlobal CONNECT series: Hong Kong as a Superconnector to Empower Global Expansion of Pharmaceutical Enterprises workshop brought together experts in regulation, clinical trials, IP protection and distribution to share practical insight on international expansion. Prof Bernard Cheung, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, said: “Public hospitals in Hong Kong have very good electronic medical records that go back 30 years. It’s a unique asset that benefits not just people in Hong Kong but the world, as it allows us to study the long-term progression of diseases.”The ASGH also featured the “GoGlobal Connect” and the Business of Healthcare Advisory Zone, enabling healthcare enterprises to connect with service providers and receive practical support for developing “go global” strategies. Xiang Jun, Chairman of 365 Intelligence (Beijing) Medical Technology Co., Ltd, said that the ASGH helped them gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong’s professional services and of HKTDC’s “GoGlobal Connect” initiative. The company is particularly interested in Hong Kong’s research data and service resources, and plans to establish research operations in Hong Kong in the long term. Mark Xu, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co, Ltd, also successfully connected with service providers, including DKSH and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, through this workshop. They engaged in in-depth discussions on potential collaboration opportunities for “going global”.During the summit, the HKTDC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association (HSBA), supporting Mainland enterprises’ “going global” via Hong Kong to target the Singapore and ASEAN markets. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Lawrence Wong visited Hong Kong in March this year, during which both governments agreed to deepen cooperation. The HSBA and the HKTDC, together with professional service providers, plan to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two cities. By leveraging their respective strengths and promoting complementary cooperation, they aim to drive business development, assist Chinese Mainland enterprises in expanding regionally and internationally, and enhance tripartite collaboration among Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Mainland.The Medical Fair brings together global industry players to foster diverse collaborations, strengthening Hong Kong’s status as a global healthcare hubThe Medical Fair was being held concurrently. Organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong MedTech Association, the Medical Fair adopted the theme Innovations Boosting Smart Health Experience. Focusing on three key areas: MedTech, GeronTech, and Preventive Healthcare, the event provided a high-efficiency trade and matchmaking platform for global R&D institutions, manufacturers, and medical professionals to showcase the latest industry trends. The number of exhibitors featuring smart ageing products and green solutions doubled this year, with many showcasing innovative solutions integrating AI and robotics to meet evolving market demands.The Medical Fair featured some 300 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Macao, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Korea, New Zealand, United States and Vietnam. The Fair featured seven major zones, including Startup Zone, Hospital Equipment and Digital Health, Biotech and Lab Diagnostics, Laboratory Technologies and Healthcare Services, Medical Supplies, and the World of Health and Wellness, showcasing the latest medical technologies and innovative solutions. Pavilions from leading local universities, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, and the Hong Kong MedTech Association underscored a multi-sector commitment to fostering collaborative innovation across government, industry, academia, research, and investment sectors.Exhibitors acknowledged that AI has become a core driver of healthcare services, while the Medical Fair serves as a one-stop platform that brings together a complete healthcare ecosystem, successfully integrating AI, robotics technology and a wide range of smart medical devices. Wong Cheung Hang, Sales and Marketing Manager of Health Care & Co, a medical and rehabilitation equipment company in Hong Kong, said, “Buyers showed particular interest in our AI management systems, AI-assisted robots and various smart healthcare applications. With healthcare providers increasingly adopting smart health solutions, the market outlook is promising. We expect this fair to drive at least 20% business growth compared with last edition and enable us to promote smart rehabilitation technologies.”  Many overseas exhibitors succeeded in securing business matching opportunities at the fair. Peter Li, Chief Executive Officer of first-time exhibitor GenomeMe Lab Inc from Canada, said, “We connected with buyers from Hong Kong, Thailand and India, and identified potential local partners in the healthcare and hospital sectors. This will help us explore entry into hospital channels, establish distribution networks, and lay the groundwork for future expansion into Southeast Asia, Australia and Korea.”The Medical Fair has facilitated numerous cross-regional collaborations, serving as a key platform for industry exchange and business matching. Dresio Limited, participating in the Fair for the third time under the banner of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, showcased its contactless physiotherapy assessment system Accudex, drawing strong interest from buyers across Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Singapore and the Philippines. Curtis Wong, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Research and Development of the company, said, “This year’s fair outperformed previous editions in footfall, business exchanges and partnership discussions. We have engaged with a large number of high-quality buyers from hospitals, rehabilitation centres and the insurance sector.” The company met with a Filipino buyer on the first day of the exhibition and subsequently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the third day, expanding its software into Southeast Asia, with the contract value expected to exceed HK$1 million.The Medical Fair was held concurrently with the ASGH and the Hospital Authority (HA) Convention, bringing together key industry stakeholders and generating strong synergy. Exhibitors were able to seize the opportunity to meet with numerous representatives from the Hospital Authority and major healthcare institutions, fostering meaningful exchanges and collaboration. Among them, first-time exhibitor PalmX Technology Limited showcased its palm vein biometric technology at the Startup Zone. Jeffrey Lo, Vice President of the company, was impressed by the Fair’s response, which exceeded his expectations. He added that within the first two days, they received over 20 enquiries from hospitals and healthcare institutions, including representatives from the Hospital Authority, and attracted interest from overseas buyers in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and India, with potential orders ranging from US$10,000 to several hundred thousand dollars.This year’s Medical Fair attracted a significant number of buyers from emerging markets seeking sourcing opportunities. Dr Keo Sovann, an otorhinolaryngologist from Orchid Hospital in Cambodia who visited the fair specifically for new medical equipment, said, “I met more than 10 exhibitors from Chinese Mainland, Australia and Malaysia, which has helped expanding our hospital’s procurement network and advanced our internationalization efforts. I am particularly interested in a Hong Kong company’s AI-powered medical imaging solutions and X-ray equipment; we are considering an order of 20 units.” A buyer from Morocco also attended the fair for the first time to source laboratory equipment. Rachid Zemmouri, Business Development Manager of Promamec, said he met with at least 15 exhibitors from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Taiwan and Indonesia. Discussions are underway on thermodynamics-related solutions with the aim of application to eye-disease treatment. Subject to satisfactory progress, he plans to invite partners to Morocco for site visits. He added that the company has an annual procurement budget of approximately US$70 million and intends to return for future sourcing.The Fair hosted over 50 themed forums and seminars, with leading technology companies, industry experts and academics sharing the latest industry trends, technological innovations and practical insights to foster in-depth exchange, collaboration and inspire trade buyers. Highlight sessions included “Accelerating Mental Health Innovation through AI Research and Adoption”, “HKMTA Medical Fair Forum 2026: The Medtech Solutions - Greater Bay Area & Overseas”, “The ASEAN Gateway: Navigating Regulations, Capital and Distributions from Hong Kong”, and “Decoding the Demand for Gerontechnology” among others, all of which attracted strong audience engagement. Selected sessions are available for replay on the Fair’s website for extended engagement.The exhibition continued to adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model. Global exhibitors, industry professionals, and buyers could make use of the Click2Match and explore sourcing opportunities via HKTDC Sourcing. Click2Match will remain available until 20 May.Photo download: https://bit.ly/4nokRfTThe sixth Asia Summit on Global Health was attended by some 3,000 participants from 43 countries and regions.Dr Alex Mihailidis, Associate Vice President, International Partnerships and Professor at the University of Toronto and Scientific Director at AGE WELL, attended and shared his insight.In the session Transforming Healthcare through Digital Health & AI Innovations, Natasha Chhatrapati, Senior Director, Business Transformation Lead for International at Pfizer Inc, engaged with fellow panellists to examine the practical implementation and the latest breakthroughs in AI within the healthcare sector.On the second day, the GoGlobal CONNECT series: Hong Kong as a Superconnector to Empower Global Expansion of Pharmaceutical Enterprises brought together experts in regulation, clinical trials, IP protection and distribution to share practical insights on international expansion.During the ASGH, over 400 business and investment matching meetings were arranged, attracting investment institutions and healthcare enterprises from Europe, Asia and the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area to explore opportunities in investment, technology deployment and market expansion.The ASGH also featured the ASGH Business Hub and the InnoHealth Showcase, bringing together around 180 healthcare innovation companies from 12 countries and regions to present cutting‑edge solutions across biotechnology, digital health and medical technologies.The ASGH also featured the “GoGlobal Connect” and the Business of Healthcare Advisory Zone, enabling healthcare enterprises to connect with service providers and receive practical support for developing “go global” strategies.HKTDC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association (HSBA), supporting Mainland enterprises to “go global” via Hong Kong and target the Singapore and ASEAN markets.The 17th Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair attracted buyers from 61 countries and regions, with some 13,000 buyers visiting the fair for sourcing and procurement.The Hong Kong MedTech Association led some 20 companies to exhibit at the fair, drawing strong buyer interest and encouraging in‑depth business discussions.The Canada Pavilion brought together a number of companies to promote their medical equipment, technology application solutions and related services, attracting buyers to explore opportunities and engage in business discussions.Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation led over 30 innovation and technology companies to exhibit at the Fair, showcasing the strength of Hong Kong’s local medical innovation and R&D capabilities.Industry experts at the themed session “ASEAN Gateway: Navigating Regulations, Capital and Distributions from Hong Kong” shared the latest market trends, fostering active exchanges among industry stakeholders.WebsitesInternational Healthcare Week: https://internationalhealthcareweek.hktdc.com/enAsia Summit On Global Health: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/enHong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/enList of Product: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en/product  Media enquiriesYuan Tung Financial Relations:Jasmine ZhangTel: (852) 3428 3278Email: jzhang@yuantung.com.hkLouise SongTel: (852) 3428 5691Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hkTiffany LeungTel: (852) 3428 2361Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hkHKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Noah QiuTel: (852) 2584 4575Email: noah.yl.qiu@hktdc.orgNavin LawTel: (852) 2584 4525Email: navin.cm.law@hktdc.orgSerena CheungTel: (852) 2584 4137Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.orgAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.  Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

SAP Unveils the Autonomous Enterprise

ORLANDO, FL, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - At SAP Sapphire in 2026, SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) introduced the Autonomous Enterprise to help enhance the world’s most critical business workflows, so that humans and AI work together to meet the accelerating demands of global business profitably, strategically and safely. “For the mission-critical processes of our customers, ‘almost right’ just isn’t good enough,” said Christian Klein, CEO of SAP SE. “By uniting SAP Business AI Platform with SAP Autonomous Suite, we anchor AI agents in the business processes, data and governance so they can deliver accurate, compliant and secure outcomes, unlocking new sources of revenue and meaningful cost savings.”The Autonomous Enterprise includes a unified AI platform for building, contextualizing and governing agents, an autonomous suite that executes core business operations and a new user experience that redefines how people work with enterprise software.Introducing SAP Business AI PlatformSAP Business AI Platform is a new foundation for building and deploying enterprise AI grounded in real business context. SAP Business AI Platform now unifies SAP Business Technology Platform, SAP Business Data Cloud and SAP Business AI into a single, governed environment.At its core is the SAP Knowledge Graph solution, which gives AI agents a structured map of business entities, processes and relationships across a customer’s SAP landscape. Joule Studio is SAP’s AI-first solution for building enterprise agents, applications and agentic workflows. Developers can build using the no-code, pro-code and AI frameworks of their choice on SAP-managed infrastructure that is secure, scalable and optimized for enterprise AI.Deploying SAP Autonomous Suite Across Every Business Function and IndustryBuilding on this foundation, SAP also introduced SAP Autonomous Suite, which enables SAP’s existing business applications with AI agents capable of running processes from start-to-finish.The suite will deploy more than 50 domain-specific Joule Assistants across finance, supply chain, procurement, human capital management and customer experience. These assistants will automate end-to-end processes by orchestrating a subset of over 200 specialized agents to execute precise tasks. For example, the new Autonomous Close Assistant can compress the financial close process from weeks to days by automating journal entries, reconciliation and error resolution across the entire process.SAP also launched Industry AI, expanding its deep industry portfolio through seven autonomous solutions that will enable start-to-finish industry processes and embed sector-specific process logic, data models and regulatory requirements. At SAP Sapphire, SAP showcased its work with European energy giant RWE to leverage Industry AI, helping reduce unplanned downtime across its offshore wind turbines. With SAP’s Autonomous Asset Management scenario, AI agents are designed to analyze data from thousands of past incidents, identify the likely root cause and generate pre-filled work orders with the right tools and proven fixes from other sites.Designing the Autonomous User ExperienceThe company also revealed Joule Work, redefining how users engage with SAP software. Instead of navigating individual applications and entering data across several screens, users will now interact primarily with Joule. By describing a desired business outcome, Joule will orchestrate the right combination of workflows, data and agents to get it done.Joule Work goes beyond conversation, proactively surfacing relevant insights and automating routine tasks behind the scenes so work moves forward even when humans aren’t actively steering it. It will be available on desktop, mobile and voice across SAP and non-SAP systems.Accelerating the Customer Journey Toward Autonomy with €100 Million InfusionSAP evolved its customer and partner programs to help accelerate the organization’s journey to the Autonomous Enterprise. To catalyze adoption, the company has launched a €100 million fund for SAP partners to help customers deploy SAP-built AI assistants and agents. The fund is also available to partners that extend or build new partner agents on the new SAP Business AI Platform using Joule Studio.SAP has enhanced its RISE with SAP and SAP GROW offerings to accelerate AI adoption. Both include access to the Joule Assistants portfolio; RISE with SAP customers will have three assistants activated within their first year, while SAP GROW customers receive full portfolio access at onboarding. SAP S/4HANA on-premises and SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) customers are not excluded: those that commit to transitioning the majority of their current landscape to SAP Cloud ERP gain access to select AI scenarios, bridging the gap between their current landscape and their cloud destinationSAP also introduced new agent-led transformation tooling that can reduce ERP migration efforts by more than 35 percent, driving faster and more predictable projects by automating system analysis, code remediation, configuration and testing at scale.Lastly, SAP announced a full slate of strategic partnerships across each category:- Platform and suite partnerships include Anthropic, with Claude among the foundation models SAP’s AI platform will leverage to power Joule agents across HR, procurement and supply chain; Amazon Web Services, bringing zero-copy data integration between SAP Business Data Cloud and Amazon Athena; Google Cloud and Microsoft, enabling bidirectional agent-to-agent interoperability between Joule and external agent frameworks; Mistral AI and Cohere, delivering sovereign model options on SAP’s cloud infrastructure; n8n, providing visual AI workflow orchestration inside Joule Studio; NVIDIA, whose OpenShell provides the trusted secure runtime for Joule Studio; and Parloa, bringing AI agents into SAP Service Cloud to handle customer interactions with full access to business data and service processes.- Implementation partnerships include Palantir and Accenture, partnering on complex data migration scenarios, and Conduct for AI-powered cloud ERP migrations.Learn more in the SAP Sapphire 2026 Innovation News Guide.Visit the SAP News Center. Get SAP news via LinkedIn and Bluesky.Photo download: https://bit.ly/42zNb5hAbout SAPAs a global leader in enterprise applications and Business AI, SAP (NYSE: SAP) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit www.sap.com/hk.For more information, press only:Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG)Andico TsuiEmail: andico.tsui@sprg.com.hkTel: 2114 4346 / 6902 3831 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Nissin Foods Announces 2026 Q1 Financial Results

 Financial HighlightsFor the three months Ended 31 March 2026(HK$ million)20262025ChangeRevenue 1,115.61,071.9+ 4.1%Gross Profit402.1376.1+ 6.9%Gross Profit margin36.0%35.1%+ 0.9ppProfit attributable to owners of the Company122.4110.0+ 11.3%Net profit margin11.0%10.3%+ 0.7ppAdjusted EBITDA 209.0201.5+ 3.7%Earnings per share (HK cents)11.7310.54+ 11.3%HONG KONG, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Nissin Foods Company Limited (“Nissin Foods” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) today announced its unaudited first quarter financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2026 (the “Reporting Period”).The Group reported revenue of HK$1,115.6 million for the Reporting Period, representing an increase of 4.1% from HK$1,071.9 million of the corresponding period of 2025. Gross profit increased by 6.9% year-on-year to HK$402.1 million, due to the continued implementation of cost efficiency initiatives. Gross profit margin increased by 0.9 percentage points to 36.0% from 35.1% of the corresponding period of 2025 mainly attributable to the increased sales volume of the core brands to absorb cost pressure. Profit attributable to owners of the Company notably increased by 11.3% year-on-year to HK$122.4 million, while Adjusted EBITDA grew by 3.7% year-on-year to HK$209.0 million.Revenue from Hong Kong and other regions operations increased moderately by 3.1% due to the stable performance of the noodles business, particularly the Group’s core brands of Cup Noodles and Demae Iccho. As for the Chinese Mainland operations, revenue increased by 4.6% due to the sales expansion in the inland areas and the appreciation of Renminbi to Hong Kong Dollars.Mr Kiyotaka ANDO, Executive Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nissin Foods, said, “Building on the solid momentum established in 2025, the Group delivered another quarter of resilient growth, with steady performance across our key markets. Revenue and profitability improved year-on-year, supported by stable sales volumes. Our core noodles business continued to perform well across regions, while our premiumisation and diversification strategies gained further traction in the Chinese Mainland. With a balanced regional footprint and enhanced operational execution, the Group remains well positioned to deliver sustainable growth and long-term value for shareholders.”About Nissin Foods Company LimitedNissin Foods Company Limited ("Nissin Foods”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) is a renowned food company in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, with a diversified portfolio of well-known and highly popular brands, primarily focusing on the premium instant noodle segment. The Group officially established its presence in Hong Kong in 1984 and is the largest instant noodle company in Hong Kong. The Group primarily manufactures and sells instant noodles, high-quality frozen food products, including frozen dim sum and frozen noodles, and also sells and distributes other food and beverage products, including retort pouches, snacks, mineral water, sauce and vegetable products under its two core corporate brands, namely “NISSIN ” and “DOLL” together with a diversified portfolio of iconic household premium brands. The Group’s five flagship product brands, namely “Cup Noodles”, “Demae Iccho”, “Doll Instant Noodle”, “Doll Dim Sum” and “Fuku” are also among the most popular choices in their respective food product categories in Hong Kong. In the Chinese market, the Group has introduced technology innovation through the “ECO Cup” concept and primarily focuses its sales efforts in first- and second-tier cities. In addition, Nissin Foods operates business in other regions including Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea and Australia markets.Nissin Foods is currently a constituent of five Hang Seng Indexes, namely: Hang Seng Composite Index, Hang Seng Composite SmallCap Index, Hang Seng Composite Industry Index - Consumer Staples, Hang Seng SCHK Consumption Index and Hang Seng SCHK Consumer Staples Index. Nissin Foods is eligible for trading under Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect. For more information, please visit www.nissingroup.com.hk. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Agnete Kirk Kristiansen Appointed Chair of the LEGO Foundation

BILLUND, DENMARK, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - At the LEGO Foundation's annual meeting, the Board of Directors elected Agnete Kirk Kristiansen as Chair of the Board. As fourth generation member of the Kirk Kristiansen family, owners of the LEGO Group, she becomes only the fifth Chair of the Foundation since it was founded in 1986.Agnete Kirk Kristiansen has served as Deputy Chair of the LEGO Foundation since 2023 and replaces her brother Thomas Kirk Kristiansen who steps down to assume the position of Deputy Chair. In addition to her role at the LEGO Foundation, Agnete Kirk Kristiansen also serves as Deputy Chair of KIRKBI A/S, the family-owned holding and investment company that owns 75% of the LEGO Group.As ascending Chair, Agnete Kirk Kristiansen highlighted the role of the LEGO Foundation in building a brighter tomorrow for children around the world:I am truly honored to step into the role as Chair of the LEGO Foundation and to continue our important work for children. The foundation holds a very special place in our family and has done so ever since it was established more than 40 years ago. A deep sense of responsibility to make a positive difference for children runs through our family and I strongly believe that every child should have the opportunity to thrive and grow. I am proud to contribute to this mission and help carry it forward.The change in chair takes place the year after Agnete stepped into the role as chair of non-profit foundation Ole Kirk's Fond. With the transition, the fourth generation of the owner family is broadening its engagement and commitment to active ownership.Descending Chair Thomas Kirk Kristiansen said:It has been a privilege to chair the LEGO Foundation for the past 10 years, and I am very happy to now pass on the role to Agnete. She is deeply committed to the LEGO Foundation mission, and I know she will do her utmost to further the cause of securing a childhood for all. During her tenure as Deputy Chair, she has played an integral part in shaping the foundation's current strategy and as she steps into the role as Chair, we further widen the active ownership and engagement from the family across the LEGO ecosystem.Thomas Kirk Kristiansen has served as Chair of the LEGO Foundation since 2016 and in that period the foundation has committed grants of more than DKK 15 billion (EUR 2 billion) through partner organisations across the globe to improve children's outcomes.For 40 years, the LEGO Foundation has been focused on giving back and building a better world for children. We are very mindful of the trust families and communities place in us, and it is not a responsibility we take lightly. Even in the most challenging settings, the foundation can help put a smile on a child's face, lift up learners of all abilities and change life paths. We do so with the utmost sensitivity and responsibility, said Agnete Kirk Kristiansen.In addition to safeguarding the continued development and success of the LEGO Group as part-owner, the LEGO Foundation pursues its philanthropic mission to support initiatives within education, research, and child development through funding of and close collaboration with organisations such as Brac, IRC, UNICEF, Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council and others.Further changes to the LEGO Foundation BoardIn addition to Agnete and Thomas Kirk Kristiansen changing roles as Chair and Deputy Chair, the LEGO Foundation Board of Directors at its May meeting also elected as member of the Board Ingrid Stange, who brings a wealth of experience in philanthropy, education and non-profit leadership. Further, both Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, former CEO of the LEGO Group, and El Hadji Amadou Gueye Sy (As), former Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, left the Board after 16 and four years of service respectively to the LEGO Foundation.Thomas Kirk Kristiansen thanked the two departing Board members for their long-standing commitment to the foundation:We look very much forward to welcoming Ingrid, who brings highly complementary expertise to the board. At the same time, I thank As for bringing invaluable insights and experience to help shape our work.I would also like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Jørgen for his unwavering dedication to the foundation. During his extensive tenure, Jørgen has been instrumental in defining our vision and strategy while never losing sight of the children we are here to serve.Additionally, Malou Aamund, who has served on the Board since 2021, stepped into the role of Second Deputy Chair of the Foundation.Biography: Agnete Kirk KristiansenLEGO Foundation2026 - Chair of the Board of Directors2023 - 2026 Second Deputy Chair of the Board of DirectorsFrom 2008 Member of the Board of DirectorsKIRKBI A/S2024 - Deputy Chair of the BoardCentre for ADHD+, Aarhus, DenmarkFounderOle Kirk's Fond2025 - Chair of the BoardDegreePsychology, Aarhus University, 2010Additional roles, present and past:Executive Manager, KIRK83 Holding ApSMember of the Advisory Board, RucaRepresentative of the fourth generation of the LEGO owner familyExtensive experience in family-owned companies, long-term stewardship and board workLEGO Foundation Board of DirectorsAgnete Kirk Kristiansen - ChairThomas Kirk Kristiansen - First Deputy ChairMalou Aamund - Second Deputy ChairHilary Pennington - Member of the BoardIngrid Stange - Member of the BoardLEGO Foundation Board of Directors Chairs1986 - 1993: Gotfred Kirk Kristiansen (2nd-generation LEGO owner)1993 - 2000: Bent Skov2000 - 2016: Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (3rd-generation LEGO owner)2016 - 2026: Thomas Kirk Kristiansen (4th-generation LEGO owner)2026 - Agnete Kirk Kristiansen (4th-generation LEGO owner)About LEGO Fonden:The LEGO Foundation is a Danish corporate foundation entrusted with 25 % ownership of the LEGO Group. The Foundation works with partners around the world to support children's needs and champion the dignity of childhood. Through both philanthropic donations and impact investments the Foundation exists to build the conditions and create the space for every child, everywhere, to thrive and grow. More information about the LEGO Foundation can be found at: https://www.legofoundation.com/Contact information:Mads Hvitved Grandmads.hvitved.grand@legofoundation.comSOURCE: LEGO Fonden Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Anytime Fitness Accelerates Asia-Pacific Expansion

HONG KONG, May 12, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Anytime Fitness (the “Company”), a globally renowned 24-hour fitness chain, has seen strong growth across the Asia-Pacific region in recent years. Benefiting from a significant rise in public health awareness in the post-pandemic era, it has continued to accelerate its market expansion. In particular, Hong Kong, as a strategic growth market for the Company, is expected to reach the milestone of 50 clubs by the end of the year. A further 25 clubs have already secured funding, with potential to open an additional 30 to 40 clubs over the next few years. Meanwhile, the Company projects that its total number of clubs across the Asia-Pacific region will reach 2,500 to 3,000 over the next two to three years, underscoring its long-term commitment to and confidence in the regional market.A Truly Global Brand, Powered by Regional ExpertiseAnytime Fitness operates as a truly global brand, with a presence across 42 countries and territories on all seven continents, offering members seamless access to clubs worldwide. Unlike competitors that are merely international, Anytime Fitness delivers a globally connected fitness ecosystem, combining scale, consistency, and member-centric innovation.In Asia-Pacific, growth is led by Inspire Brands Asia (“IBA”), the master franchisee for Anytime Fitness across key markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Malaysia. This structure enables strong regional execution while maintaining global brand standards.Community-Based Approach: Replicating Singapore’s Success in Hong KongThe core philosophy of Anytime Fitness is to bring fitness services into the community and provide a convenient, stress-free workout experience — a model that has proven successful worldwide. Ryan Cheal, Group Chief Operating Officer of IBA, said: “As a highly mature market in the region, we’ve sold around 200 franchises and operate more than 160 clubs in Singapore. Its market penetration and consumer patterns have provided a clear blueprint for our expansion in Hong Kong. With a similar market profile but a larger population base, Hong Kong offers substantial potential for community-based development. We are confident that we can replicate the success achieved in Singapore, and expect that once Hong Kong surpasses the critical milestone of 50 clubs, network effects will drive even faster growth.”Franchising Drives Scalable Expansion with End-to-End Support for PartnersIn terms of its operating model, Anytime Fitness operates a hybrid model of corporate-owned and franchised clubs. Currently, around 50% of clubs in Hong Kong are corporate-owned, enabling the brand to gain deep insights into the local market and provide more effective support to franchise partners. In contrast, the proportion of corporate-owned clubs in Singapore stands at around 20%. This structure ensures that the Company can maintain high service standards and brand consistency while expanding rapidly.The Company’s franchise ecosystem offers end-to-end support, including:- Site selection and club development; - Equipment and operational setup; - Marketing and member acquisition; - Training and business coaching for franchise partners. This integrated approach ensures consistency in member experience while enabling rapid and sustainable expansion. At present, around 80% of new clubs are opened by existing franchisees. Investors from sectors such as retail and F&B are also increasingly shifting their investments towards the health industry, demonstrating the model’s strong appeal and the market’s recognition of its growth potential.Tech-Powered Member Experience: Building a Comprehensive Health EcosystemIn response to the trend of intelligent transformation, Anytime Fitness is actively leveraging technology to enhance service value. To enhance member experience, Anytime Fitness continues to invest in technology and personalised wellness solutions. Its next-generation member app integrates:- Personalised training plans; - Class and trainer bookings;- Recovery guidance and nutrition support.The ecosystem is further supported by tools such as Evolt, a body composition analysis system capable of measuring over 40 biometric indicators, giving members deeper insight into their health and fitness progress. Currently, the app’s average daily member usage rate is around 30% to 35%, effectively strengthening user engagement and retention.Understanding the Hong Kong Member: Strength, Wellness, and LifestyleRecent member insights highlight evolving fitness priorities in Hong Kong:- 57% of members (3 in 5) prioritise strength training; - 16% (1 in 6) are driven by broader wellness goals, including mental health and overall lifestyle improvement. These trends reflect a structural shift in consumer behaviour, where fitness is no longer discretionary, but an essential part of modern living.Focusing on “Essential Health Needs” and “Human-Centered Connection”, with a Stable and Positive Industry OutlookDespite the complex macroeconomic environment, the Company remains optimistic about the outlook for the industry. Ryan noted that the fitness population is continuing to grow, with participation among seniors steadily increasing and health awareness rising. Consumer spending priorities are also undergoing a structural shift, with health and fitness having evolved from “discretionary spending” to “essential lifestyle”. Notably, younger demographics have shown a particularly strong willingness to invest in health, wellness, and longevity, providing the industry with resilience that transcends economic cycles.Looking ahead, Anytime Fitness will continue to innovate its products and services. It launched a new club design last month, enhancing the strength training and exercise recovery areas, and plans to further improve its nutrition guidance services next year. Ryan concluded, “In this technology-driven era, the Company will continue to uphold the core value of ‘human-centered connection’, using convenient, friendly, and professional services to help more people establish consistent exercise habits and embrace a healthier lifestyle. We are confident in the Asia-Pacific and Hong Kong markets and believe that future growth will be even faster and more innovative.”About Anytime FitnessAnytime Fitness is the largest and fastest-growing global fitness brands in the world, averaging 300 new clubs per year while serving over 5 million members at nearly 6,000 clubs in 42 countries and territories on all seven continents. Open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, Anytime Fitness delivers personalized and affordable health and wellness training, coaching, nutrition, and recovery guidance for our members—in the club, in their homes, in their pockets, wherever they are and anytime they need it. All franchised clubs are individually owned and operated, and members have access to any Anytime Fitness club worldwide.For more information, please visit：https://www.anytimefitness.com/.Media Inquiries:Inspire Brand AsiaJerry Chow Email: Jerry.chow@inspirebrandsasia.com  Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Dr. Shui On Leung Invited to the 2026 LifeArc Translational Science Summit in the UK

HONG KONG, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - SinoMab BioScience Limited (“SinoMab” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 03681.HK) is pleased to announce that Dr. Shui On Leung, Executive Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, was invited as a special guest to present at the 2026 LifeArc Translational Science Summit in London,UK. As one of the most influential global events in translational medicine, the summit brought together top scientists, practicing clinicians, industry leaders, policymakers and institutional investors from across the globe. During the event, Dr. Shui On Leung delivered a keynote speech, systematically outlining SinoMab’s R&D strategies for autoimmune diseases and the latest clinical progress of its core pipeline, while engaging in in-depth dialogues with international peers.Hosted by LifeArc, a prestigious UK medical research charity, the annual summit is committed to bridging early-stage scientific research and real-world clinical application, with profound expertise and influence in addressing rare diseases and wide-ranging unmet medical needs. This year’s summit centered on how translational research can accelerate the entire journey from laboratory discoveries to patient access, by advancing novel treatment modalities, transforming clinical practice, shaping health policies and driving commercial innovation. Attendees held interdisciplinary discussions on cutting-edge areas including antibody drugs, gene therapy and cell therapy, exploring solutions to break through core bottlenecks in translational medicine and boost integrated development across industry, academia, research and clinical sectors. Dr. Shui On Leung’s invitation to this high-profile event marks high recognition from leading international authorities of SinoMab’s innovative efforts in immunotherapy.In his keynote address, Dr. Shui On Leung analyzed the current landscape and prevailing challenges in global R&D for autoimmune disease therapeutics, and elaborated on SinoMab’s differentiated innovation framework anchored in “First-in-Class” and “Best-in-Class” drug development. He gave a detailed introduction to SM17, the Company’s flagship humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the interleukin-25 (IL-25) receptor. By precisely binding to IL-25 receptor, a key upstream alarmin molecule regulating type 2 immune responses, SM17 blocks inflammatory cascade reactions at the source. It holds broad therapeutic potential for a spectrum of inflammatory and immune-mediated disorders, including atopic dermatitis (AD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Dr. Leung shared a series of landmark milestones achieved by SM17 recently. In the AD treatment landscape, Phase 1b clinical data demonstrated outstanding therapeutic efficacy. In the high-dose cohort, 91.7% of patients reported significant itch relief measured by the NRS-4 scale, 75% achieved EASI 75 skin lesion improvement, and 41.7% attained complete or near-complete clearance of AD symptoms (IGA 0/1). Such clinical outcomes outperform existing IL-4/IL-13 targeted monoclonal antibodies, while the product also boasts a more favorable safety profile compared with JAK inhibitors. Building on these promising results, the Phase II clinical trial of SM17 for moderate-to-severe AD completed first patient dosing in mainland China on 31 March 2026. The trial plans to enroll approximately 210 participants, with full enrollment expected in the second half of 2026 and topline clinical data slated for release in the first half of 2027. In terms of administration convenience, the Phase I bridging study of SM17 subcutaneous formulation released positive topline results on 25 March 2026. Data from 30 healthy volunteers confirmed the subcutaneous injection route with satisfactory safety and stable pharmacokinetic performance. Only one mild Grade 1 injection site rash was reported, which resolved spontaneously without intervention, and robust absolute bioavailability was validated, laying a solid foundation for the development of more user-friendly subcutaneous dosing regimens. Furthermore, SM17 has successfully expanded its therapeutic indications to IBD. Its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis was officially approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on 24 February 2026. Relevant bridging studies were finalized in the same month, paving the way for direct progression to Phase II clinical development. Dr. Leung also highlighted the Company’s innovative early-stage pipeline, including the anti-CGC antibody (a first-in-class humanized anti-γc antibody), which has demonstrated potential in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata and vitiligo, with an IND submission planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. A novel bispecific antibody targeting RANKL and sclerostin has demonstrated superior efficacy over marketed therapies in preclinical studies for bone-related disorders, and its IND filing is targeted for the first half of 2027. Dr. Leung emphasized that by focusing on innovative and untapped drug targets, SinoMab has built a synergistic product portfolio, striving to deliver safer, more effective and more accessible breakthrough therapies for patients worldwide.Being invited to this LifeArc Translational Science Summit is not only a strong recognition from a respected international institution of SinoMab’s innovative edge and exploratory work in antibody R&D, but also a key opportunity to deepen our global partnerships. Through in-depth exchanges with leading scientists, clinical researchers and senior executives of multinational pharmaceutical companies, SinoMab has further expanded its international academic network and potential partnership channels, laying a solid foundation for future technology in-licensing, co-development, out-licensing and commercialization. Dr. Shui On Leung stated that the Company will remains focused on addressing unmet clinical needs in autoimmune diseases. It will accelerate global multi-center clinical development of core pipeline assets such as SM17, while actively exploring how AI and other new technologies can boost novel target discovery. In addition, drawing on strategic collaborations with institutions like the Sun Yat-sen University Institute of Advanced Studies Hong Kong, SinoMab aims to strengthen its translational capabilities from bench to bedside. Looking ahead, SinoMab will seize the rapid growth opportunities in China’s biotech out-licensing market, stay true to a differentiated global innovation path, and actively pursue diversified collaboration models with global partners, and accelerate the delivery of innovative therapies to patients worldwide, while creating long-term value for shareholders.About SinoMab BioScience LimitedSinoMab BioScience Limited (Stock Code: 03681.HK) is a pioneer in the research and development of first-in-class and potential best-in-class therapeutic antibody drugs, focusing on autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and other debilitating diseases, committed to addressing unmet medical needs. SinoMab has consistently focused on developing therapeutic antibodies targeting novel targets and employing innovative mechanisms, aiming to achieve differentiated clinical outcomes in areas where existing therapies have shown limited efficacy. Its rich R&D pipeline includes: SM17, which has demonstrated exceptional anti-pruritic effects, skin clearance rates, and safety profiles in the treatment of AD, with potential applications in asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); its flagship anti-CD22 antibody, Suciraslimab , which has been clinically validated for efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is currently undergoing clinical evaluation for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Alzheimer's disease; another innovative anti-CGC (common gamma chain) monoclonal antibody, which is preparing to enter clinical studies for the treatment of alopecia areata and vitiligo; and a bispecific monoclonal antibody developed by SinoMab that simultaneously stimulates bone growth and inhibits bone loss for the treatment of osteoporosis. With breakthrough efficacy as its core pursuit, SinoMab continuously redefines patient care standards and maintains a leading position in the field of breakthrough therapies.  This press release is issued by Zhenzhuo Group on behalf of SinoMab BioScience Limited.Investor and Media InquiriesContact Person: Bunny LeeNomia ZhouQiuyan DengPhone: (852) 5316 9995Email: ir_sinomab@zhenzhuoglobal.com Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Ansons’ and POSCO Holdings’ Boards Approve Terms for Binding Agreement for DLE Demonstration Plant at Green River

Anson Resources and POSCO Holdings have received board approval for a binding agreement to develop POSCO's Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") Demonstration Plant at the Green River Lithium Project in Utah.POSCO to lead the project at its own expense including the design, construction and operation of its proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") Demonstration PlantPOSCO to pay ~AUD $7.2 million (USD $5.2 million) non-dilutive facilitation fee to Anson.The collaboration positions Green River as a potential cornerstone asset in the emerging U.S. critical minerals and battery supply chain.During operation of the demonstration plant, the parties will evaluate broader commercial opportunities, including potential future joint investment and strategic cooperation.NEWPORT BEACH, CA, May 13, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Anson Resources Limited (ASX:ASN) ("Anson" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that both POSCO Holdings Inc. ("POSCO")'s board and the Company's board have approved the terms for a definitive Demonstration Plant Agreement ("Agreement") relating to the construction and operation of a Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") demonstration facility at the Green River Lithium Project in the Paradox Basin, Utah, USA.The board approvals mark a significant progression from the previously announced Memorandum of Understanding (see ASX Announcement 30 June 2025), establishing a framework under which POSCO will operate its own non-commercial DLE demonstration plant designed to validate lithium extraction at continuous industrial scale.Under the agreement POSCO committed to setting up its DLE demo-plant to extract lithium from brines produced from the Bosydaba #1 well owned by Anson at the Green River Lithium Project. POSCO will be responsible for engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility, while Anson will provide access to property, infrastructure and brine supply. POSCO will pay Anson a non-dilutive facilitation fee of AUD ~$7.2 million (USD $5.2 million).The definitive agreement is expected to be signed before the end of Q2 2026. POSCO is expected to commence operation of the demonstration plant in 2027 and complete the work in 2028.The two companies will continue to explore potential business cooperation opportunities, including joint investment in the Project, during the operation of the demonstration plant, as outlined in the MoU Agreement, see ASX Announcement 30 June 2025.Strategic ImportanceDemonstrates strong industry validation of Green River's low-cost lithium potential.Accelerates technical de-risking through continuous demonstration-scale testing.Positions Green River as a key participant in the emerging U.S. domestic battery materials supply chain.Executive CommentaryExecutive Chairman & CEO, Mr. Bruce Richardson commented:"Securing a definitive agreement with POSCO represents a transformational step forward for the Green River Lithium Project.Moving from a non-binding MoU to a fully executed agreement underscores the strong technical confidence POSCO has in our asset and highlights the increasing strategic importance of domestic U.S. lithium supply."POSCO Holdings commented:"With the approval of the terms for a binding agreement, POSCO Holdings will advance validation of DLE technology in the United States and evaluate commercialisation pathways for future lithium production.We believe collaboration with Anson Resources at Green River will contribute to strengthening the North American lithium supply chain."Key Elements of the Definitive AgreementItemKey TermsProjectNon-commercial DLE Demonstration Plant - Green River Lithium ProjectResponsibilityPOSCO to bear cost for the design, construction, operations and maintenance for Demonstration PlantFacilitation FeeUSD $5.2MTermTo December 2028Brine SupplyProvided from Bosydaba #1 well with defined performance targetsAbout POSCO HoldingsPOSCO Holdings Inc. is a leading South Korean industrial group with strategic investments across steel, energy, and battery materials. POSCO Group is developing a global supply chain to support the transition EV and has invested in a total of 93,000 tonnes of lithium production annually in Argentina and South Korea. The company has made significant investments in both brine and hard-rock lithium resources across South America and Australia and is advancing proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technologies to accelerate low-carbon lithium production.This announcement has been authorized for release by the Executive Chairman and POSCO Holdings.For further information please contact:Bruce Richardson Will MazeExecutive Chairman and CEO Head of Investor RelationsE: info@Ansonresources.com E: investors@Ansonresources.comPh: +61 7 3132 7990 Ph: +61 7 3132 7990www.Ansonresources.com Follow us on Twitter @Anson_irSOURCE: Anson Resources Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Redington MD and Group CEO V.S. Hariharan Appointed to GTDC Executive Committee

TAMPA, FLA., May 12, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC), the world's largest consortium of technology distributors, named V.S. Hariharan, Managing Director and Group CEO of Redington Limited, to its Executive Committee. The committee provides operational oversight and helps guide GTDC's long-term strategy, advancing the organization's mission to strengthen distribution's role in the global technology marketplace."Hari is a respected global IT leader and a strong advocate for distribution," said Frank Vitagliano, CEO of GTDC. "He brings valuable insight to our leadership team and will help shape our long-term strategy and initiatives that highlight the expanding role of distributors in today's technology ecosystem."GTDC's executive leadership group oversees the organization's vision, develops and updates its strategic plans and advocates for its members' common interests. Comprised of senior executives from member distributors, the EC carries out the non-profit association's mission to educate, advocate and influence the tech community on the evolving role of IT distributors. Council leaders also sponsor and oversee GTDC research, the association's three regional executive level events and other member driven initiatives. Hariharan will support these efforts, strengthening partnerships between distributors and vendors and reinforcing distribution's value across the global technology marketplace."Delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the technology community has been my core focus at Redington, and I look forward to working with other distribution leaders to serve GTDC in a similar capacity," said Hariharan. "As a Technology Orchestrator, we are focused on connecting partners, platforms and possibilities to unlock next opportunities across markets. I see this role as a natural extension of that commitment, and look forward to strengthening collaboration, sharpening our view of global industry trends, and helping the ecosystem navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead."Hariharan is the Managing Director and Group CEO of Redington, an $11.8 billion distribution and supply chain solutions provider, where he leads operations across 40 markets. A seasoned industry leader, he brings over 35 years of experience across sales, marketing, and general management, including senior leadership roles at Hewlett Packard and Wipro Infotech, along with entrepreneurial experience in scaling solar solutions for off grid markets.Under his leadership, Redington is accelerating its role as a Technology Orchestrator, bringing together OEMs and partnersQ to drive innovation, agility, and growth across emerging markets.About the GTDCThe Global Technology Distribution Council is the industry consortium representing the world's leading technology distributors. GTDC members drive an estimated $180 billion in annual worldwide sales of products, services and solutions through diverse business channels. GTDC conferences foster strategic supply-chain partnerships that address the fast-changing needs of vendors, end customers and distributors. Members include AB S.A, Arrow Electronics, CMS Distribution, Computer Gross Italia S.p.A., D&H Distributing, ELKO Group, Esprinet S.p.A., Exclusive Networks, Exertis, Infinigate, Ingram Micro, Intcomex, Logicom Public Limited, Mindware, Nexora, Redington Limited, SiS Technologies, Tarsus Distribution, TD SYNNEX, TIM AG and Westcon-Comstor.Brian ShermanCommCentric Solutions (on behalf of GTDC)814-882-4432bsherman@commcentric.comSOURCE: Global Technology Distribution Council Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

GMG Leases New Site for Production & Office Expansion

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia--(ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com - May 12, 2026) - Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd (TSXV: GMG) (OTCQX: GMGMF) ("GMG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has signed a 3 year lease, with options for term extension, to support production expansion and to provide additional office space for staff. The site is within the Richlands suburb of Brisbane, nearby to the existing headquarters of the Company. The site has over 2,100 square metres of covered space — including offices, meeting rooms and a high ceiling warehouse.Craig Nicol, CEO & Managing Director of the Company, commented "This is the first site for expansion for our company — for both staff and production assets. We will look to expand our production assets here after the Gen 2 Project is completed — which is expected at the end of June 2026."Jack Perkowski, Non-Executive Chairman and Director of the Company, commented: "As we look to expand our production plants around the world — this is the first significant step in our global growth plan."Operations UpdateGMG is focused on delivering its Gen 2.0 Graphene Production Project (the "Gen 2.0 Project") by end of June 2026 — which is expected to produce at least 10 tonnes per annum of graphene at its headquarters in Richlands, Queensland, Australia.Once the Gen 2.0 Project is commissioned and operating, GMG plans to replicate and establish other production plants around the world to enable scaled production for potential sales, diversify and lower production risks, and reduce operating costs by locating the plant in countries with lower operating costs, including low cost natural gas — one of GMG's key production input costs.Currently, GMG is planning three potential expansion projects — two in North America (potentially one in US and one in Canada) in addition to an expansion production project in Australia (located on the expansion lease outlined in this release). GMG proposes to mature these projects and expand production in line with sales for all of its products.The expansion program for GMG includes the following 5 production plants:Graphene Production (from natural gas)Coating Blend Plant (for the graphene coating THERMAL-XR®)Lubricant Blend Plant (for the graphene lubricant additive G® LUBRICANT)Graphene Slurry Plant (for the SUPA G Lithium-Ion Battery Additive)Battery Assembly Plant (for the Graphene Aluminium Ion Battery)Figure 1To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/297118_53e7bb85547cbaac_001full.jpgAbout GMG:GMG is an Australian based clean-technology company which develops, makes and sells energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene manufactured via in house production process. GMG uses its own proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its natural elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, 'tuneable' and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications.The Company's present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications. In the energy savings segment, GMG has initially focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC-R") coating (or energy-saving coating) which is now being marketed into other applications including electronic heat sinks, industrial process plants and data centres. Another product GMG has developed is the graphene lubricant additive focused on saving liquid fuels initially for diesel engines.In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Batteries"). GMG has also developed a graphene additive slurry that is aimed at improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries.GMG's 4 critical business objectives are:Produce Graphene and improve/scale cell production processesBuild Revenue from Energy Savings ProductsDevelop Next-Generation BatteryDevelop Supply Chain, Partners & Project Execution CapabilityFor further information please contact:Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "believes" "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward‐looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements as to GMG's focus on, and the timing and production expectations of, the Gen 2 Project, intentions regarding the number, purpose and location of expansion projects, intentions to de-risk, reduce operating costs and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, GMG's focus in the energy savings segment, GMG's intentions for the use of graphene lubricant additive on saving liquid fuels, expectations for R&D and commercialization of G+AI Batteries, GMG's ability to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries and GMG's critical business objectives.Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including the patent and potential market size of G® LUBRICANT. Additionally, forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of GMG to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation that GMG does not receive or receive on a timely basis the fully signed consent notice from the and the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated November 4, 2025 available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/297118 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

CANEX and Gold Basin Resources Announce Arrangement Agreement to Facilitate CANEX’S Acquisition of Remaining Gold Basin Shares

CALGARY, AB AND VANCOUVER, BC / ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com / May 12, 2026 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX") (TSXV:CANX) and Gold Basin Resources Corporation ("Gold Basin") (TSXV:GXX) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") to combine their respective businesses by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement"). The combined company will be managed by the CANEX executive team.Under the terms of the Arrangement, shareholders of Gold Basin ("Gold Basin Shareholders") will receive 0.592 shares of CANEX ("CANEX Shares") per share of Gold Basin ("Shares") held, the same consideration received by Gold Basin Shareholders who tendered to the CANEX offer to acquire Shares which expired on February 10, 2026. This represents a premium of 242.0% to the last trading price of the Shares prior to the Cease Trade Order, based on the closing price of the CANEX Shares as of May 8, 2026.Dr. Shane Ebert, President and CEO of CANEX stated: "Today's announcement of an agreement to combine the two companies will allow us to consolidate and advance a promising gold district in Arizona. CANEX will be pleased to welcome Gold Basin Shareholders as new shareholders of CANEX."Jordan Ross, independent director and Chair of the Gold Basin Special Committee, commented: "The Arrangement Agreement represents a strategic milestone for our shareholders. By partnering with CANEX, we are unlocking the full potential of our Arizona project while providing a stable, clear-cut path forward that resolves previous liquidity and regulatory challenges. Following a rigorous review with our professional advisors, we are confident this agreement offers the most robust and value-driven future for our investors."Benefits to Gold Basin ShareholdersSignificant Upfront Premium to Shareholders. The consideration offered under the Arrangement represents a 242.0% premium to the last trading price of the Shares prior to the Cease Trade Order, based on the closing price of the CANEX Shares as of May 8, 2026.Consolidation of Gold Districts and Near-Term Exploration and Expansion. The Arrangement will consolidate an advanced oxide gold exploration camp in Mohave County, Arizona hosting multiple zones of gold mineralization with strong drill results across an eight kilometre by eight kilometre area, opening up potential near-term exploration on favourable targets.Diversification. Completing the Arrangement will provide Gold Basin Shareholders not only with exposure to a consolidated gold district in Mohave County, Arizona, but also to CANEX's Louise Project in British Columbia. On July 31, 2025, CANEX announced results from an induced polarization geophysical survey which identified a new and previously unknown chargeability target two kilometres west of the historic Louise deposit and a large steeply dipping zone of high chargeability below and to the north of the historic Louise deposit.Focused, Professional and Cost-Effective Management Team. The Arrangement places the consolidated district under CANEX's highly focused, professional and cost-effective management team, which will provide strong operational and governance oversight.Experienced Board of Directors. Following the Arrangement, the Resulting Issuer's board of directors will be led by experienced industry professionals, comprised of members of the current board of directors of CANEX.Liquidity. The Arrangement will provide Gold Basin Shareholders with a more liquid investment. On May 6, 2025, the British Columbia Securities Commission imposed a Cease Trade Order against the Gold Basin Shares. The next day, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization imposed a halt in trading of the Gold Basin Shares on the TSXV. There is no expectation that the Cease Trade Order will be rescinded if the Arrangement were not to proceed and Gold Basin were to continue with the status quo.Enhanced Financial Capacity. CANEX has demonstrated an ability to raise capital and has strong support from a number of high profile industry professionals. With an enhanced capital markets profile, the Resulting Issuer is expected have even better access to lower-cost capital and an increased capability to advance its exploration properties.Going Concern. In the absence of the Arrangement, there is considerable risk that Gold Basin will not have the ability to continue as a going concern and realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. Currently, Gold Basin has asserted liabilities of over $2 million, no cash or marketable securities and no revenue. Gold Basin's ability to raise equity financing is restricted by the Cease Trade Order.Details of the ArrangementCANEX and Gold Basin entered into a definitive Arrangement Agreement on May 11, 2026, pursuant to which CANEX will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Gold Basin ("Gold Basin Shares") by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).Holders of Gold Basin Shares ("Gold Basin Shareholders") will receive 0.592 common shares in the capital of CANEX (the "CANEX Shares", and such ratio being the "Exchange Ratio") in exchange for each Gold Basin Share held immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement. Upon completion of the Arrangement, existing holders of CANEX Shares and former Gold Basin Shareholders will own approximately 67.7% and 32.3% of the total issued and outstanding CANEX Shares, respectively, on a fully diluted basis.CANEX expects to issue an aggregate of approximately 38,505,033 CANEX Shares to Gold Basin Shareholders, based on the number of Gold Basin Shares outstanding as at the date of this announcement.The Arrangement is expected to close in June 2026, subject to the receipt of all required court, shareholder, regulatory, and stock exchange approvals. Following completion of the Arrangement, the CANEX Shares will remain listed on the TSXV and the Gold Basin Shares will be delisted from the TSXV.Term LoanConcurrently with the entering into of the Arrangement Agreement, CANEX and Gold Basin have agreed to enter into a senior secured term loan (the "Term Loan") as soon as practicable pursuant to which CANEX will lend up to $900,000 to Gold Basin at an interest rate per annum equal to the Royal Bank of Canada Prime Rate plus 5.0%. The maturity of the Term Loan shall be six months and the Term Loan shall be secured by a first ranking general security agreement over all of Gold Basin's present and after-acquired assets, a first ranking mortgage charge over Gold Basin's split mineral rights and first ranking security agreements encumbering all of Gold Basin's other mineral tenure. The proceeds from the Term Loan will be used by Gold Basin for aged payables, day to day working capital and general corporate expenditures, direct advances paid by CANEX to third party suppliers, service providers and creditors of Gold Basin, and expenses in connection with the Arrangement. The Term Loan is not contingent on the completion of the Arrangement.The Term Loan is subject to the approval of the TSXV. No fees are payable in connection with the Term Loan.Arrangement Conditions and TimingThe Arrangement will be effected by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and will require the approval of: (i) at least 66⅔% of votes cast by Gold Basin Shareholders, and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by disinterested Gold Basin Shareholders, excluding for this purpose the votes held by any person specified under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Gold Basin Shares held by CANEX will not be excluded from either vote. CANEX currently holds 70,088,199 Gold Basin Shares, representing 51.86% of the issued and outstanding Gold Basin Shares.The Arrangement Agreement includes customary representations and warranties for a transaction of this nature as well as customary interim period covenants regarding the operation of CANEX's and Gold Basin's businesses. The Arrangement Agreement also includes customary deal protections in favour of each of CANEX and Gold Basin. With respect to CANEX, these protections include non-solicitation covenants, and a right to match any superior proposals. With respect to Gold Basin, these protections include a fiduciary-out provision. The Arrangement Agreement includes a termination fee of $211,777 payable by Gold Basin in the event the Arrangement Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances.In addition to securityholder and court approvals, the Arrangement is subject to applicable regulatory approvals, stock exchange approvals and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature.None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the Arrangement are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.Further details of the Arrangement will be included in a management information circular to be prepared by Gold Basin (the "Gold Basin Circular") that will be delivered to Gold Basin Shareholders in advance of a special meeting of Gold Basin Shareholders (the "Gold Basin Meeting") which is scheduled to be held on June 4, 2026. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement will be made available on CANEX's and Gold Basin's respective SEDAR+ profiles at www.sedarplus.com. The Gold Basin Circular will also be made available on Gold Basin's SEDAR+ profile in advance of the Gold Basin Meeting.Board of Directors' and Special Committee RecommendationBased on the recommendation of a special committee comprised of an independent director of Gold Basin (the "Special Committee") and after consultation with independent external financial and legal advisors, the board of directors of Gold Basin (the "Gold Basin Board") unanimously approved the Arrangement and has determined the Arrangement is in the best interests of Gold Basin, and that the consideration to be received by Gold Basin Shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to Gold Basin Shareholders (other than CANEX). The Gold Basin Board unanimously recommends that Gold Basin Shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement at the Gold Basin Meeting.Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. has provided a fairness opinions to the Gold Basin Board and Special Committee in connection with the Arrangement.Voting Support AgreementsEach of Gold Basin's directors and officers support the Arrangement and all who own Shares have entered into customary voting support agreements agreeing to vote their Gold Basin Shares, respectively, in favor of the Arrangement. The voting support agreement may be terminated in certain circumstances, including, without limitation, upon termination of the Arrangement Agreement.About CANEX MetalsCANEX Metals (TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company and the controlling shareholder of Gold Basin Resources, owning 51.86% of Gold Basin. CANEX is advancing its 100% owned Gold Range Project in Mohave County, Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early-stage opportunity for investors. Gold Basin Resources holds the adjacent Gold Basin Project which hosts large, mineralized trends containing near surface oxide gold mineralization and has seen over 800 historic and current drill holes into mineralized deposits up to 1.7 kilometres in length.CANEX is also advancing the Louise Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in British Columbia. Louise contains a large historic copper-gold resource that has seen very little deep or lateral exploration, offering investors copper and gold discovery potential. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX: ALS), a large shareholder of the Company.About Gold Basin Resources CorporationGold Basin Resources Corporation holds the Gold Basin Project in Mohave County Arizona. The project hosts large, mineralized trends containing near surface oxide gold mineralization and has seen over 800 historic and current drill holes into mineralized deposits up to 1.7 kilometres in length."Shane Ebert"Shane Ebert, President/Director of CANEX and Gold BasinFor Further Information Contact:Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 orJean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636Web: http://www.canexmetals.caNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Although information provided by Gold Basin for inclusion in this news release is believed by CANEX to be reliable, CANEX has not independently verified such information and cannot provide any assurance of its accuracy, currency, reliability or completeness. Although information provided by CANEX for inclusion in this news release is believed by Gold Basin to be reliable, Gold Basin has not independently verified such information and cannot provide any assurance of its accuracy, currency, reliability or completeness.Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", "potential", "risk", "anticipated", "future", or "opportunity" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "can", "shall" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, statements regarding: the proposed acquisition by CANEX of all of the Gold Basin Shares pursuant to the Arrangement and the terms thereof; the benefits of the Arrangement; the receipt of necessary shareholder, court and regulatory approvals for the Arrangement; the anticipated timeline for completing the Arrangement; the Gold Basin Meeting and mailing of the management information circular regarding the same; the Term Loan; the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Arrangement will be completed, if at all; the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement; the anticipated filing of materials on SEDAR+; and continuation of CANEX and delisting of Gold Basin. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements.In respect of the forward-looking statements, CANEX and Gold Basin have relied on certain assumptions that they believe are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, court, shareholder, stock exchange and other third party approvals and the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement. This timeline may change for a number of reasons, including unforeseen delays in preparing meeting materials; inability to secure necessary regulatory, court, shareholder, stock exchange or other third-party approvals in the time assumed or the need for additional time to satisfy the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times.Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: the risk that the Arrangement or the Term Loan may not be completed on a timely basis, if at all; the conditions to the consummation of the Arrangement or the Term Loan may not be satisfied; the risk that the Arrangement or the Term Loan may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the possibility that legal proceedings may be instituted against CANEX, Gold Basin, and/or others relating to the Arrangement or the Term Loan and the outcome of such proceedings; the possible occurrence of an event, change or other circumstance that could result in termination of the Arrangement Agreement; risks relating to the failure to obtain necessary regulatory, court, shareholder, and stock exchange approvals; other risks inherent in the mining industry. Failure to obtain the requisite approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to or complete the Arrangement or Term Loan, may result in the Arrangement or Term Loan not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. In addition, if the Arrangement or Term Loan are not completed, the announcement of the Arrangement and the Term Loan and the dedication of substantial resources of CANEX and Gold Basin to complete the Arrangement and the Term Loan could have a material adverse impact on each of CANEX's and Gold Basin's share price, its current business relationships and on the current and future operations, financial condition, and prospects of each of CANEX and Gold Basin. CANEX and Gold Basin disclaim any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.SOURCE: Gold Basin Resources Corporation Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

GTJAI Assists State Bank of Mongolia in Completing a US$100 Million Reg S Bond Tap Issuance

HONG KONG, May 12, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Recently, Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited (“Guotai Junan International” or “GTJAI”, Stock Code: 1788.HK), a subsidiary of Guotai Haitong Group, successfully assisted the State Bank of Mongolia in completing a US$100 million Reg S bond tap issuance as the sole global coordinator. This issuance is a tap-on of the State Bank (Mongolia) initial US$ 200 million 3-year bond issued in September 2025. Upon completion of this tap issuance, the outstanding size of the bond has increased to US$300 million.The issuer has been assigned a “B1” issuer rating by Moody’s, with a “stable” outlook, aligned with Mongolia’s sovereign rating. This issuance also received formal support letters from the Ministry of Finance of Mongolia and the Central Bank of Mongolia. The tap offering was priced at a yield of 8.5%, representing a significant improvement from the original issuance's level of 8.9%. This not only reflects the solid financial fundamentals of the State Bank (Mongolia), but also signals continuously growing confidence among international investors in Mongolia’s economic prospects.The successful completion of this bond tap issuance marks a significant milestone for the State Bank (Mongolia) in the international capital markets. It also represents another in-depth collaboration between the bank and GTJAI, following the latter’s assistance in the bank’s initial US$200 million 3-year bond issuance in September 2025, demonstrating the high level of mutual trust and long-term rapport between the two parties. Amid a complex and volatile global capital market environment, GTJAI precisely seized the market window and efficiently executed the project. This not only further strengthens the Company’s business presence in facilitating offshore bond financing for issuers outside the Greater China region, but also fully showcases its capabilities in professional pricing, global investor resource integration, and cross-market comprehensive financial services in the global capital markets.About GTJAIGuotai Junan International (Stock Code: 1788.HK), a subsidiary of Guotai Haitong Group, is the market leader and first mover for internationalization of Chinese Securities Company as well as the first Chinese securities broker listed on the Main Board of The Hong Kong Stock Exchange through initial public offering. Based in Hong Kong with subsidiaries in Singapore, Vietnam and Macau, GTJAI’s business covers major markets around the world, offering high-quality and diversified comprehensive financial services for clients' overseas asset allocation. Core business includes wealth management, institutional investor services, corporate finance services, investment management and other business. GTJAI has been assigned “Baa2” and “BBB+” long term issuer rating from Moody and Standard & Poor respectively, as well as an MSCI ESG “AAA” rating, Wind ESG “A” rating and SynTao Green Finance “A” rating in ESG. Additionally, its S&P Global ESG score leads 81% of its global peers. The controlling shareholder, Guotai Haitong Securities (Stock Code: 601211.SH/ 2611.HK), is the comprehensive financial provider with a long-term, sustainable and overall leading position in the China’s capital markets. For more information about GTJAI, please visit https://www.gtjai.com. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Casa Minerals Inc. Receives Proceeds of $432,777 from Warrant Exercises

Vancouver, British Columbia--(ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com - May 12, 2026) - Casa Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CASA) (OTCQB: CASXF) (FSE: 0CM) ("CASA" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has received aggregate gross proceeds of $432,777.30 to date in 2026 through the exercise of 4,453,364 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants").The Warrants were originally issued pursuant to the Company's private placements completed in April of 2025 and February of 2026. Each Warrant entitled the holder to acquire one common share of the Company upon exercise.Net proceeds will be deployed to advance Casa's 2026 exploration programs at the Congress Gold Mine in Arizona and the Arsenault Copper-Gold-Silver Project in British Columbia, and for general working capital purposes."The continued support from our warrant holders is greatly appreciated," said Farshad Shirvani, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This additional capital meaningfully strengthens our balance sheet as we mobilize for an aggressive 2026 drilling and exploration season across our core projects."​​About Casa Minerals Inc.Casa Minerals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on gold, copper, and strategic minerals exploration in North America. The Company holds a 90% interest in the historic Congress Gold Mine in Arizona and is advancing multiple projects in British Columbia, including the Arsenault copper-gold-silver project. Casa's experienced management team is committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery and development of economic mineral deposits. For more information, please visit: www.casaminerals.comON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSFarshad Shirvani, M.Sc. GeologyPresident, CEO and DirectorFor more information, please contact:Casa Minerals Inc.Farshad Shirvani, President & CEOPhone: (604) 678-9587Email: contact@casaminerals.comNEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/297081 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

CleverTap and Rabbit Rewards win Silver at Thailand MarTech Awards 2026 for real-time, agentic customer engagement

MUMBAI, INDIA, May 12, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - CleverTap, the all-in-one customer engagement platform, has won Silver at the Thailand MarTech Awards 2026 in the Impact MarTech category, in partnership with Rabbit Rewards, the loyalty and lifestyle platform for Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain and a widely used commuter ecosystem in Southeast Asia.The recognition highlights how CleverTap and Rabbit Rewards have transformed customer engagement by building a real-time, agentic engagement model powered by autonomous decisioning, designed to serve millions of commuters in a high-frequency environment.Rabbit Rewards operates at the intersection of daily commuting, payments, and lifestyle services, where user behavior shifts constantly based on routine, timing, and location. Traditional campaign-led approaches, built on static segmentation and fixed schedules, were unable to keep pace and often resulted in delayed or irrelevant engagement.To address this, Rabbit Rewards partnered with CleverTap to implement a real-time decisioning layer that continuously interprets live behavior and determines the next best action for each user.With CleverAI™, and its suite of tools — including IntelliNODE and Best Time Optimization among others — Rabbit Rewards deployed trigger-based, omnichannel journeys across push notifications, in-app messaging, email, and SMS. These journeys span onboarding, renewals, promotions, and re-engagement, and adapt continuously to commuter behavior.The shift to real-time, behavior-led engagement delivered clear, measurable outcomes:85% uplift in click-through rates (CTR)62.6% week-4 repeat transactions among engaged users, compared to 18.7% for non-engaged users2.4% of total transactions directly influenced by CleverTap-powered engagementBeyond these results, Rabbit Rewards significantly improved the quality of customer engagement. Communication became more timely, contextual, and aligned with commuter needs, strengthening trust and positioning the platform as a more intuitive, lifestyle-oriented companion for daily users.“Our vision has always been to make everyday commuting more seamless, rewarding, and relevant for our users. Through our partnership with CleverTap, we have successfully transitioned from traditional campaign execution to a real-time engagement model that understands and responds to commuter behavior in the moment.CleverAI™ has enabled us to deliver more personalized and timely experiences at scale, strengthening both customer engagement and long-term loyalty. This collaboration goes beyond technology — it is about ensuring Rabbit Rewards shows up for our members in ways that feel personal, timely, and genuinely useful throughout their daily journeys,” said Kamolwan Korphaisarn, Program Director, Rabbit Rewards“Enterprises today sit on a surplus of data, but turning those data points into timely, meaningful action remains a big challenge. With CleverAI™, we’re enabling brands to move beyond static campaigns to intelligent systems that continuously interpret behavior, determine the next best action, and deliver truly personalized experiences in real time. Our work with Rabbit Rewards shows how this approach drives stronger engagement while enabling seamless, context-aware customer journeys at the scale of the individual,” said Anand Jain, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, CleverTap.About Rabbit RewardsRabbit Rewards is Thailand’s leading loyalty and lifestyle platform built around Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain ecosystem, one of Southeast Asia’s busiest urban transit networks serving millions of daily commuters.The platform connects commuting, payments, and everyday lifestyle experiences into a single ecosystem, enabling members to access rewards, offers, and partner benefits across Bangkok.As part of BTS Group Holdings, Rabbit Rewards serves a diverse member base ranging from daily riders and students to tourists and lifestyle-focused members, making it a deeply embedded companion in Bangkok’s urban lifestyle.Rabbit Rewards continues to evolve its customer engagement capabilities to deliver more contextual, real-time experiences that align with the rhythm of everyday commuting and lifestyle needs.For more information, visit rabbitrewards.co.thAbout CleverTapCleverTap is the world’s leading AI-first, all-in-one customer engagement and retention platform, helping brands turn data into lasting customer relationships. Powered by its proprietary CleverAI™: Decisioning Engine and Agentic AI-verse, CleverTap enables organizations to maximize customer lifetime value at scale. Its unified platform brings together AI-powered segmentation, personalization, experimentation, journey orchestration, and deep analytics—seamlessly integrated with 100+ leading martech solutions.Leading brands such as Burger King, Levi’s, IKEA, Decathlon, Domino’s, Jio, Carousell, AIA Thailand, Sasom, 12Go, and Ngern Tid Lor,  rely on CleverTap to drive measurable growth through meaningful customer engagement. With backing from global investors including Accel, Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, CDPQ, and 360 One, CleverTap has presence across  US, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/X: https://twitter.com/CleverTapFor more information:ADITYA SANYALDirector, Digital Marketing, CleverTap+91 9177110080aditya.sanyal@clevertap.comASHMIT CHAUDHARYAssociate Consultant, Archetype+91 8850752121ashmit.chaudhary@archetype.co Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Gold Peak completes a HK$675 million Green and Sustainability Linked Term Loan Facility

HONG KONG, May 12, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - May 11, 2026, Gold Peak Technology Group Limited (SEHK: 40) completed a syndicated green and sustainability-linked loan facility (the “GSLL Facility”) of HK$675 million with 10 major banks. With Hang Seng Bank Limited as the mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited is the mandated lead arranger and Malayan Banking Berhad the lead arranger. Other arrangers include Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd. Hong Kong Branch; Bank of Dongguan International Limited; China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd. Hong Kong Branch; Taiwan Cooperative Bank, Ltd. Hong Kong Branch; Taiwan Shin Kong Commercial Bank Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Branch; First Commercial Bank, Ltd., Macau Branch; and Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Ltd., Offshore Banking Branch.Notwithstanding the challenging global environment, this HK$675 million GSLL Facility underscores strong confidence and backing from the banking sector in Gold Peak’s commitment to, and track record of, upholding and advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) principles.Victor Lo, Chairman & Chief Executive of Gold Peak, said, “Gold Peak remains steadfast in its commitment to long-term sustainable development and has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver in this area. The establishment of the GSLL Facility not only validates our strategic direction but also enables us to explore innovative financing options and adopt operational best practices that will drive sustainable business growth.”Dr Brian Li, Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President of Gold Peak, commented, “As a prominent player in the batteries, audio, and electronics industries, Gold Peak is committed to embedding sustainability into every aspect of its operations. We have made solid and measurable progress in advancing our sustainability strategy, reflecting our dedication to responsible corporate citizenship and long-term value creation.”“We champion the use of rechargeable batteries to reduce waste. Our GP Recyko rechargeable range has been met with strong market acceptance, and we are continuously improving our charging efficiency to enable full charging in just one hour, a boost to shifting the consumers’ habit from single-use batteries to rechargeables.”“We continued to reinforce our packaging sustainability efforts by replacing plastic packaging with paper-based alternatives for more than 1,000 GP-branded consumer battery products across Europe. As a result of this initiative, we achieved an annual reduction of 48 tons of plastic and 30 tons of material waste.”GP Energy Tech, the Group’s sustainable energy solutions business, reached a key milestone with the opening of our first Nickel Zinc (NiZn) manufacturing facility in Dongguan, China, in January 2026. This marks an important step toward positioning Gold Peak to develop next- generation NiZn battery solutions, engineered to enhance immediate power performance through high power density, improved recyclability, and non-flammable characteristics.The NiZn batteries are designed to provide reliable, sustainable power for Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems for data centers and other critical infrastructures. Through the GSLL Facility, the Group will receive funding to further advance the NiZn initiative — supporting progress toward a safer and more sustainable future.Gold Peak views sustainability as a crucial value driver for achieving profitable, long-term growth. In FY24/25, it achieved a 4% year on year reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions compared to FY23/24 baseline year. It remains committed to its interim and long-term reduction targets as follows:- a 20% reduction by 2030 compared to the FY23/24 baseline;- a 60% reduction by 2040; and- the achievement of net-zero operational emissions (i.e., 100% reduction) by 2050.Among many sustainability awards, six of the Group’s battery manufacturing facilities have achieved Zero Waste to Landfill Platinum and Gold validation from UL Solutions, demonstrating its commitment to diverting 95-100% of waste from landfills through effective waste reduction and diversion strategies. Additionally, GP Batteries and GP Energy Tech have gained EcoVadis Bronze medal during FY25/26. The Group is also continuously ramping up the solar panels in factories to realize its decarbonization goals.Regina Lee, Head of Commercial Banking at Hang Seng Bank Limited, said, “This syndicated facility reflects the market’s confidence in Gold Peak’s long-term strategy and sustainability efforts. Hang Seng Bank is honoured to act as sole mandated lead arranger and bookrunner for a green and sustainability-linked loan facility, delivering a structure that incentivises performance against clear sustainability targets and supporting the Group’s continued investment in rechargeable battery manufacturing. Building on our long-standing relationship with Gold Peak, we’ll continue to work closely with the Group to align financing with sustainability outcomes, creating long-term value for stakeholders and the wider community.”The 3-year GSLL Facility features a tiered incentive mechanism that rewards progress toward sustainability targets, with Gold Peak eligible for an interest rate reduction upon achievement. Gold Peak plans to deploy the proceeds to further strengthen its financial position, accelerate the expansion of its rechargeable battery and sustainable energy solutions businesses, support long-term investment in advanced manufacturing technologies, drive operational excellence, and deepen its commitment to green and sustainable business practices.(Center) Brian Li, Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President of Gold Peak, signed the GSLL Facility of HK$675 million with 10 major banks.(7th from the left) Victor Lo, Chairman and Chief Executive of Gold Peak, expressed gratitude to the banks for their continued and unwavering support of the GSLL Facility.Gold Peak Technology Group Limited Charlotte WongSenior Manager, Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 2485 5328Email: charlotte_wong@goldpeak.comAJA Capital LimitedAvy Yu / Janet LouieTel: (852) 9500 4443 / (852) 9155 5615Email:avy.yu@ajacapital.com.hk / janet.louie@ajacapital.com.hkAbout Gold PeakGold Peak Technology Group is a global battery and electronics company with an aspiration to become one of the leaders in providing energy and sound solutions that enlighten and empower lives, and with sustainability as a focus.The parent company, Gold Peak Technology Group Limited (SEHK: 40), was established in 1964 and has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 1984. Gold Peak holds a majority stake at 86.18%* in the Singapore-listed GP Industries Limited as its major industrial investment vehicle and operates manufacturing, R&D, marketing and distribution operations in more than 10 countries around the world.Gold Peak Technology Group Limited not only develops its consumer batteries, electronics and audio products, but also puts great emphasis on R&D of new rechargeable battery and B2B battery technologies. The Group has built renowned brand names for its major product categories, including GP batteries, GP Recyko batteries, KEF premium audio products and Celestion professional speaker drivers.www.goldpeak.com(* shareholding % as at 11 May 2026) Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com