Leading nutraceutical contract manufacturer secures prime Irvine facility near John Wayne Airport, marking its tenth operational site and further elevating its gold-standard quality compliance.

SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Robinson Pharma, Inc. (RPI), a premier full-service contract manufacturer of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, today announced a milestone expansion of its Southern California footprint. Through a strategic real estate acquisition strategy totaling more than $115 million across two key properties secured just eight months apart, the company has substantially advanced its production and logistics capabilities.

To cap this momentum, Robinson Pharma has officially received United States Pharmacopeia (USP) certification following its latest facility launch, solidifying its status as an industry leader in quality assurance.

Strategic $115M+ Real Estate Expansion

The dual acquisitions represent a massive scale-up for the company, expanding its total operational space to meet soaring global demand for custom supplement formulations:

Combined, these two facilities represent a capital investment exceeding $115 million, introducing nearly 350,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehousing space into Robinson Pharma's network. The new Irvine location serves as the company's 10th warehouse and production hub, bringing its total regional footprint well beyond one million square feet.

Achieving the Gold Standard: USP Certification

Following the close of the Irvine airport property, Robinson Pharma underwent rigorous audits to secure prestigious USP certification. This milestone enhances an already robust compliance portfolio that includes registrations and audits from the FDA, NSF GRMA, UL GMP, SQF, CCOF, and SCCI. The addition of USP certification offers health and wellness brands unmatched verification that RPI's manufacturing lines, raw material controls, and finished product standards meet the absolute highest thresholds of purity and consistency.

"Our massive infrastructure investment over the last eight months reflects our absolute commitment to our clients' growth and the safety of the consumers they serve," said a Robinson Pharma representative. "Securing the Irvine airport facility gives us the physical capacity to scale throughput across all of our core formats—including softgels, tablets, capsules, powders, and liquids. Paired with our newly finalized USP certification, health brands can scale confidently with a manufacturing partner that operates at the pinnacle of efficiency and regulatory compliance."

About Robinson Pharma

Founded in 1989, Robinson Pharma is an established manufacturer for the nutraceutical industry. Known for its extensive production capacity, competitive pricing, and quality standards, the company manufactures a comprehensive range of dietary supplements, including softgels, veggie softgels, tablets, capsules, powders, and liquids. With cutting-edge facilities and a focus on custom formulations and custom packaging, Robinson Pharma is one of the largest supplement manufacturers in the US.

For more information about Robinson Pharma's expanded manufacturing capabilities and to learn how the company can help your supplement manufacturing needs, please visit www.robinsonpharma.com.

SOURCE Robinson Pharma, Inc.

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National Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist rises from WLRN intern to lead the weekly statewide conversation on the people, politics and issues shaping Florida

MIAMI, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As The Florida Roundup enters its second decade on the air, WLRN Public Media today announced a new voice at the center of its signature weekly public affairs program: award-winning journalist Carlton Gillespie has been named the show's new host.

For longtime listeners, Gillespie's voice will already be familiar.

As WLRN's Broward County Bureau Reporter, Gillespie has been a frequent contributor to The Florida Roundup, joining the program as an expert reporter on major stories, sitting in as a guest and fill-in host, and helping audiences understand the politics, policies and people driving news across one of Florida's largest counties.

Now, he takes the host's chair permanently as the program begins its next decade.

"Carlton has grown within WLRN from a talented young journalist into one of our newsroom's most trusted and distinctive voices," said Tom Hudson, WLRN Chief Executive Officer and longtime host of The Florida Roundup. "Our listeners already know his curiosity, his command of the issues and his ability to connect with people. He brings intelligence, authenticity and a genuine love of Florida to every story he tells. I can't think of a better journalist to lead The Florida Roundup into its next decade."

Gillespie's WLRN story began as an intern in the newsroom. From there, he quickly established himself as a versatile reporter and became WLRN's Broward County Bureau Reporter, covering government, elections, education, housing, public safety, culture, sports and the communities that make Broward County one of the most dynamic places in Florida.

That path — from intern, to reporter, to recurring voice on The Florida Roundup, to host — gives Gillespie a unique connection to both WLRN and the audience he will now serve each week.

"I'm a lifelong Floridian and lifelong public radio listener. I grew up here, I started my career at WLRN, and have worked alongside and learned from so many talented journalists. Now taking on this new role is so special for me," Gillespie said. "Florida is complicated, diverse and constantly-changing. I want the show to be a place where people can have important conversations, ask hard questions and come away understanding our state— and one another — a little better."

Gillespie assumes the role on the heels of one of the most significant honors of his career. He received a 2026 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Feature Reporting for "Bending the Bars: Hip-hop album showcases the talent at Broward County jails," a story examining a music project featuring current and formerly incarcerated artists.

The story also received a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2025, Gillespie and WLRN reporter Veronica Zaragovia earned first place in Feature Reporting at the Green Eyeshade Awards for their work examining the health risks facing South Florida outdoor workers during extreme heat.

A lifelong Broward County resident and graduate of Florida International University and Florida State University, Gillespie has also contributed work to The Miami Herald, The Miami Times, The Biscayne Times and Caplin News.

A New Decade for a Florida Institution

For more than a decade, The Florida Roundup has given listeners a place to go beyond the headlines and understand the forces shaping life in the Sunshine State.

Airing live Fridays at noon, the program brings together journalists, policymakers, experts, newsmakers and Floridians themselves for lively, substantive conversations about politics, the economy, housing, education, the environment, health care, culture and the stories defining the state.

As Florida has changed, so has the conversation — and Gillespie will bring a new generation of perspective to a program built around curiosity, context and civil dialogue.

The Florida Roundup is also expanding its reach beyond radio. The program now streams live on YouTube, giving audiences another way to watch the weekly conversation. Viewers can tune in live each Friday on the WLRN YouTube page at noon for the latest discussions, interviews and reporting from across the Sunshine State.

"The show is at its best when Floridians hear themselves in the conversation," Gillespie said. "I want us to talk with the people making the decisions, the journalists uncovering what's happening and the people actually living with the consequences. And I want listeners to feel like they're having those conversations with us every Friday."

Gillespie succeeds Hudson, who founded the program and helped shape The Florida Roundup into what it is today. Hudson recently transitioned from Interim CEO to permanent CEO of WLRN Public Media and will now focus on leading the organization.

About The Florida Roundup

The Florida Roundup is WLRN's live weekly public affairs program examining the news, people and issues shaping Florida. Featuring journalists, newsmakers, experts and voices from communities throughout the state, The Florida Roundup airs Fridays at noon.

About WLRN Public Media

WLRN Public Media is South Florida's premier public media organization, providing trusted journalism, educational programming and cultural content across radio, television and digital platforms. Through NPR, PBS and original local reporting and programming, WLRN informs, educates and connects communities throughout South Florida.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Giselle Reid, VP of Marketing

WLRN Public Media

[email protected]

305.749.8500

SOURCE WLRN Public Media

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New research could help scientists understand how anxiety disrupts sleep — and eventually inform new ways to treat it

MIAMI, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Anxiety may change how the brain regulates sleep in preteens, according to a new Florida International University study that identifies a potential biological pathway connecting anxiety and sleep problems during a critical period of development.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed children ages 10 to 13 recruited across a range of anxiety severity. Researchers found that anxiety altered the relationship between sleep and the pineal gland — the small structure in the brain involved in producing melatonin and regulating the sleep-wake cycle.

Among highly anxious preteens, having more melatonin-producing pineal tissue was associated with taking longer to fall asleep and lower sleep efficiency. Anxiety also changed the relationship between pineal tissue volume and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep — the stages when the body progresses from light to deep sleep.

"If your anxiety is elevated and you have a larger pineal gland, you're going to have worse sleep outcomes than if you are high anxiety with a small pineal gland," said Aaron Mattfeld, an FIU associate professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscientist who led the study.

Using high-resolution MRI scans and overnight sleep monitoring, researchers separated the pineal gland's melatonin-producing tissue from fluid-filled cysts. They found no significant relationship between anxiety severity and the size of the pineal gland, its cysts or its melatonin-producing tissue alone. Instead, anxiety changed how the volume of that tissue related to sleep.

Why it matters

Sleep problems and anxiety are closely connected and can escalate during the transition into adolescence. Yet researchers still do not fully understand the biological mechanisms linking them. Identifying how anxiety interacts with a part of the brain central to sleep regulation provides a new avenue for investigating that connection.

The findings point to the pineal gland and melatonin system as one potential piece of the puzzle. The study did not directly measure melatonin or establish that pineal gland differences cause anxiety or poor sleep. Future studies will need to directly measure melatonin and investigate how serotonin and norepinephrine systems may affect its production.

Understanding those mechanisms could ultimately help researchers develop new approaches to treating anxiety and its associated sleep problems.

What parents can do now

For parents navigating preteen sleep struggles, Mattfeld emphasizes that consistency is key: keep regular sleep schedules, maintain a cool and screen-free bedroom, and seek behavioral therapy rather than over-the-counter supplements if issues persist.

"We need to help kids find that 'Goldilocks' amount of sleep," Mattfeld said, "because the brain is doing remarkable, necessary work while they rest."

Photos for media use are available via Dropbox. A media asset guide featuring captions, descriptions and other metadata is also available.

Media Contact:

Michelle Arean

(305) 348-4492

[email protected]

news.fiu.edu

@FIU

SOURCE Florida International University

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Two Cortland Street homes, vacant for more than five years, are now listed for income-qualified buyers — the latest result of a $2.625 million statewide appropriation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, with support from Assemblywomen Eliana Pintor Marin and Shanique Speight.

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) has partnered with the Legislative District 29 team to expand housing stability for New Jersey families through down payment assistance and the rehabilitation of for-sale homes. Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex, Hudson) and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D-Essex, Hudson), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, sponsored the resolution restoring $1,125,000 for the program in the FY27 State Budget, building on the $1,500,000 investment secured in FY26. Together with Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-Essex, Hudson), Legislative District 29 worked collaboratively to bring these resources back to the district, delivering a total of $2,625,000 over two years to help expand homeownership opportunities and strengthen housing stability for local families.

Appropriated directly through the state, the funding provides flexible capital that NJCC has directed to a range of homeownership and housing-stability efforts, with a growing focus on Newark. That commitment builds on more than 35 years of NJCC investment in Newark. Since 1990, NJCC has deployed more than $411 million in the city, leveraging $1.29 billion in total capital investment and serving close to 54,000 residents. That work includes 350 affordable for-sale homes and 930 affordable rental units created, 114 households engaged in homeownership preparation and down payment assistance, 22,406 school and child care seats created, 1.91 million square feet of community and commercial space developed, and 74 small businesses supported.

Recent Newark commitments include $3.2 million in construction financing for 16 affordable for-sale homes on Badger Avenue, a $650,000 working capital loan to Newark Educators Community Charter School, and a $2.3 million construction loan to Newark Community Health Centers, Inc., which serves 55,000 patients annually.

The affordable housing work supported by the state appropriation is carried out through NJCC subsidiary Community Asset Preservation Corporation (CAPC), which acquires, rehabilitates, and returns vacant and abandoned properties to productive use. Since 2009, CAPC has created or preserved more than 1,465 homes across New Jersey. Among the projects made possible by this funding is CAPC's rehabilitation of two single-family homes on Cortland Street in the Ironbound. The two Cortland Street homes, vacant for more than five years, were acquired through the New Jersey Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act (APRA) in partnership with the City of Newark and fully rehabilitated. Each is now listed at $384,900, compared with an estimated market value of $435,000, and is available to income-qualified first-time buyers. By reducing the purchase price by roughly $50,000, this initiative helps make homeownership attainable for households that might otherwise be priced out of the market.

The Ironbound, part of the 29th Legislative District represented by Senator Ruiz and Assemblywomen Pintor Marin and Speight, is known for its rich immigrant history, dense walkability, and strong sense of community identity. As home prices in the neighborhood continue to rise, restoring long-vacant properties helps keep quality housing within reach — a priority both Pintor Marin and Speight have championed through their support for this funding.

The newly announced appropriation will continue to support the creation of affordable for-sale housing along with homeownership preparation services and down payment assistance grants, administered by NJCC's Address Yourself program. Previous funding allocations from the State deployed through Address Yourself have reached more than 1,076 households, giving individuals the opportunity to receive one-on-one housing counseling services or grants of up to $30,000. This support is crucial to bridging the gap between what families have saved and what they need for a down payment and closing costs.

"Accessible housing remains one of our top priorities for New Jersey," said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. "This project shows that the smartest path forward often means rehabilitating existing homes, not just building new ones. New Jersey Community Capital has been a trusted partner in doing that work well, helping revitalize neighborhoods, narrow wealth gaps, and make the dream of homeownership a reality for New Jersey families in every community."

"New Jersey Community Capital has been a strong partner in preserving housing and expanding opportunities for homeownership, said Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin. "As Newark continues to grow and rental properties increase, their work helps create the balance we need by giving working families the opportunity to own a home, build equity, and stay rooted in their communities. Legislative District 29 is proud to support that mission."

"Projects like this show what's possible when government and community partners work together," said Assemblywoman Shanique Speight. "This collaboration with NJCC is a model for how we should be tackling housing across the state."

Bernel Hall, President and CEO of NJCC, said, "Senator Ruiz's support was crucial to rehabilitating these homes, and her commitment to affordable housing is clear. For nearly four decades, NJCC has worked to build stability and wealth in neighborhoods throughout New Jersey. This funding turns that mission into homes families can actually move into."

More information about NJCC's homeownership programs is available at newjerseycommunitycapital.org.

About New Jersey Community Capital

New Jersey Community Capital is a nonprofit community development financial institution dedicated to advancing opportunity through strategic investments and knowledge-based programs. NJCC finances individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and communities; preserves and develops affordable housing, community facilities, and schools; and supports economic development that creates quality jobs and strengthens neighborhoods. Founded in 1987, NJCC drives economic stability and wealth generation in underserved communities across the state.

SOURCE New Jersey Community Capital

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Consumer Alert video from Consumer Watchdog exposes the fossil fuel money and billionaire investors behind organizations urging the U.S. Supreme Court to shield ExxonMobil and Suncor from lawsuits accusing the companies of deceiving the public about climate change.

The Consumer Alert draws from Consumer Watchdog's new investigation, A Field Guide to Fossil Fuel Front Groups: Coordinating a Supreme Court Campaign to Shield Big Oil, which found that 25 of the 38 organizations — 66% — that filed briefs supporting Exxon and Suncor have documented financial ties to fossil fuel defendants, the broader fossil fuel industry, or climate denial and dark-money networks.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments October 5 in Suncor Energy Inc. v. Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County. The case could determine whether communities across the country can use state laws to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for allegedly deceiving the public about climate change and shifting billions of dollars in climate costs onto taxpayers.

Explore the Interactive Fossil Fuel Front Group Field Guide

The Consumer Alert highlights two organizations that filed briefs supporting Exxon and Suncor: the Manhattan Institute and Landmark Legal Foundation.

The Alert says:

"Take the Manhattan Institute. It filed a brief supporting Exxon and Suncor. Its chairman emeritus and longtime major donor is billionaire Paul Singer.

"Why does that matter? Singer's Elliott Investment Management owns more than $1.58 billion in Suncor stock.

"And there's another connection. Justice Samuel Alito's wife leased family land to oil and gas producer Citizen Energy. Citizen was later acquired for more than $2 billion by a company majority-owned by Singer's Elliott Investment Management.

"Then there's the Landmark Legal Foundation. Its brief says no party or lawyer in the case financed or authored it.

"What it doesn't tell you is that Landmark has received ExxonMobil funding, including grants earmarked for 'environmental accountability,' and a longtime Exxon employee once served on its board. Supreme Court rules don't require that history to be disclosed."

The investigation found the same overlapping funding relationships throughout the network. ExxonMobil funded 11 organizations supporting the companies before the Court, entities connected to Singer are tied to nine, the Koch network to 16, and the Bradley Foundation to 16. Many organizations have connections to multiple funding networks at once.

The Consumer Alert concludes:

"These may look like dozens of independent voices supporting Exxon and Suncor.

"Follow the money, and you see something very different."

Explore Consumer Watchdog's interactive Fossil Fuel Front Group Field Guide at ConsumerWatchdog.org/fieldguide.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

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Urban Operas will launch with 15 original micro dramas produced by Robinson and his production team, while creating a new streaming destination for independent vertical filmmakers

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Filmmaker, director, producer, studio owner, distributor, and streaming entrepreneur Mann Robinson is expanding his growing entertainment ecosystem with the launch of Urban Operas, a new vertical streaming platform created to bring culturally connected, mobile first storytelling directly to audiences.

Built around the tagline, "Stories That Know Us", Urban Operas will feature serialized dramas created specifically for mobile viewing, with short, fast moving episodes built around compelling characters, emotional storytelling, cliffhangers, relationships, romance, crime, family, betrayal, ambition, money, power, and the experiences of audiences that Robinson believes remain underserved within the rapidly expanding vertical entertainment marketplace.

Urban Operas is not being created in opposition to the major companies already operating in the vertical entertainment space. Instead, he sees this as an opportunity to expand the marketplace by creating a platform with a specific cultural identity and programming philosophy. When speaking of what makes Urban Operas unique, Robinson says, "The major platforms have their audiences and the types of programming that make sense for their businesses. I respect that. I saw an opportunity to build something from our perspective. There should be a destination where our stories aren't simply another category somewhere inside the platform. They are the foundation of the platform. That's what Urban Operas is being built to become. Original content will remain at the center of Urban Operas."

Independent filmmakers can find submission details through the official Urban Operas website at www.urbanoperas.com. Selected outside productions will have the opportunity to be distributed through Urban Operas under a creator focused revenue share model, allowing qualified filmmakers and content owners to participate financially in the performance of their programming on the platform.

Urban Operas will begin appearing on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in November 2026, with its official launch scheduled for Winter 2026.

ABOUT MANN ROBINSON

Mann Robinson has produced and directed more than 30 film and television projects and has built an independent entertainment operation spanning film and television production, content distribution, production equipment, marketing, props and production resources, and direct to consumer streaming.

SOURCE Mann Robinson

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SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PayrollOrg®, the leader in payroll education, publications, and training, will bring payroll professionals together for the 2026 Payroll Leaders Conference (PLC), Sept. 14-16 in San Antonio, Texas. The three-day conference will prepare current and emerging payroll leaders to strengthen payroll operations, manage organizational change, and make more strategic business decisions.

The conference will open with leadership expert Pegine, who will explore strategic leadership in the midst of chaos and communicating with command presence. Carolyn Hayden-Garner, global executive at Tesla, will close the conference with a session examining the systems that influence accuracy and accountability within organizations.

Attendees will also combine leadership development with in-depth payroll education and choose from one of four certificate programs to complete:

- Payroll System Selection and Implementation

- Strategic Payroll Practices

- The Art and Science of Building Strong Vendor Alliances

- Managing Payroll Operations Across the Globe

"Payroll leaders today are managing far more than the payroll process. They are navigating new technologies, leading teams through change, managing critical business relationships, and demonstrating payroll's strategic value," said Dan Maddux, executive director of PayrollOrg. "The Payroll Leaders Conference gives professionals tools to address these growing responsibilities and become stronger leaders within their organizations."

Beyond the educational programming, PayrollOrg will also recognize its Prism Award recipients. The annual awards honor payroll departments that demonstrate excellence and innovation in areas including management, technology, and shared services. Previous companies recognized with Prism awards include Palm Beach State College, Cloudera, Inc., ArcBest, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Banfield Pet Hospital, and Bridgestone Americas.

The Payroll Leaders Conference, sponsored by Corpay Prepaid, is being hosted at the Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk hotel. Visit PayrollOrg online to view the full conference agenda and to register.

About PayrollOrg

PayrollOrg® (PAYO) is the leading global authority in payroll education, publications, and professional development. Established in 1982 as the American Payroll Association, PAYO provides payroll professionals and organizations worldwide with trusted education, training, certifications, certificate programs, publications, and compliance resources. Through its global network and industry expertise, PAYO advances the payroll profession, supports career growth, and helps organizations navigate the evolving demands of payroll compliance and management.

SOURCE PayrollOrg

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Strong Revenue, Gross Margin, Earnings and Sales Booking Results Set Record

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarion Communications LLC ("Clarion") a leading cloud-based Unified Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) and Managed Service Provider (MSP) announced today that its IPitomy Communications LLC ("IPitomy") subsidiary achieved record 1H '26 revenue, gross margin, earnings and sales bookings.

- Revenue for 1H '26 increased 6.4% year-over year

- Gross Margin for 1H '26 increased 2.6% year-over-year

- Adj EBITDA for 1H '26 increased 32.8% year-over year

- Sales Bookings for 1H '26 increased 10.9% year-over year

"We delivered a strong start to fiscal 2026, exceeding our goals for revenue, adj EBITDA, gross margin and sales pipeline, while continuing to build momentum across the business" said IPitomy CEO, Joseph Haines, Sr. "We are encouraged by the progress we are seeing across the business and remain focused on disciplined execution to drive long-term growth and shareholder value."

In addition to its record organic growth achievements, Clarion remains active regarding acquisition opportunities as it seeks to enhance the growth trajectory of IPitomy. "Together, Clarion and IPitomy are uniquely positioned to acquire smaller UCaaS / MSP operators affected by the changing network economics," said Clarion President & CEO, Vincent M. Oddo.

"Clarion and its predecessor companies have completed more than 30 acquisitions in the past 20+ years," said Oddo. "We are aggressively pursuing M&A growth through tuck-in acquisitions in the highly fragmented UC / MSP industry."

About Clarion Communications:

Clarion is a leading cloud-based Unified Communications-as-a-Service and Managed Service Provider to SMB customers throughout North America. Clarion provides UCaaS, contact center, AI tools, SIP, broadband, and managed services. Clarion also has an expansive cloud-based network, experienced leadership, and support staff. For additional information about Clarion, please visit clarioncomm.com.

About IPitomy Communications:

IPitomy, founded in 2005, is a leading cloud-based Unified Communications and Managed Service provider. IPitomy provides UCaaS, contact center, AI tools, SIP, broadband and managed services to SMB customers throughout North America. For additional information about IPitomy, please visit ipitomy.com.

Press Contact:

Vincent M. Oddo

President & CEO

Clarion Communications LLC

[email protected]

SOURCE Clarion Communications LLC

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Capstone Partners Reports: Aerospace & Defense M&A Activity Shines in Muted Market

BOSTON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Capstone Partners' annual Aerospace, Defense, Government & Security (ADGS) Industry M&A Report and 2026 Outlook examines Public market valuations, macroeconomic trends, and deal activity across each of the four industry pillars. Capstone Partners' ADGS Investment Banking Team provides merger and acquisition (M&A), capital formation, and financial advisory services to the owners of middle market businesses in the ADGS industry that serve growing end markets. Our team provides proprietary experience advising scaled, technology-enabled services and solutions providers across multiple mission-critical end markets.

Fervent Aerospace & Defense M&A Demand Backed by Resilient Market Dynamics

The ADGS industry entered 2025 after a prior-year-period that saw significant gains in deal count and strong valuation performance despite a volatile macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape that depressed dealmaking elsewhere in the market. Yet, Aerospace & Defense M&A continued to expand throughout 2025, posting a 10.3% year-over-year (YOY) uptick in deal count matched by a 73.1% increase in total disclosed enterprise value (EV) and robust deal valuations averaging 3.0x EV/Revenue and 11.4x EV/EBITDA. The first quarter of 2026 suggested no slowdown in buyer interest, marked by a 37% YOY increase in Aerospace & Defense M&A volume totaling $47.1 billion of disclosed EV. While Q1 2026 EBITDA multiples contracted nearly two turns from full-year 2025 to 9.5x, revenue multiples expanded significantly to 4.8x—a signifier of the growing demand for subscription-based solutions within the Government and Security markets, and early-stage technology-enabled developers in the Aerospace and Defense spaces.

Aerospace dealmaking in 2025 was defined by depressed aircraft production levels, delivering strong end market opportunities—and subsequent buyer interest—across the Manufacturing, Maintenance, and Leasing segments. Volatile fuel prices pushed low-cost carriers (LCCs) to their limits, providing a pool of eager sellers for airline consolidation through the first quarter of 2026. Fragmentation continued to define the Component Manufacturing segment as strategics and sponsor-backed platforms alike sought scale, specialization, and geographic expansion.

Defense spending underpinned continued expansion in military-focused M&A in 2025, extending gains through Q1 2026. A record-breaking fiscal year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was followed by an even loftier FY 2027 President's Budget request, lifting proposed spending to $1.5 trillion, according to The White House. The Department of War (DOW) reformed the historically conservative acquisition process, incentivizing renewed investments in strategic inorganic growth and wider investment in the U.S. industrial base to align with new contracting opportunities and practices. Private market financing was accompanied by an active Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) and preference for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions, delivering critical lifelines to small, innovative defense technology developers.

Government contracting M&A experienced an acute pullback in 2025. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) injected uncertainty into the Federal Contracting space, exacerbated by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Acquirers adapted by shifting target criteria to diverse revenue streams across both federal and state, local & education (SLED) levels of government. The first quarter of 2026 saw M&A restored to stable levels of growth, signifying renewed confidence in government contracting.

Security remained a top concern in both the physical and cyber realms in 2025 and Q1 2026. A nationwide focus on inner-city law and order supported M&A demand across the Physical Security landscape, while chronic law enforcement staffing shortages brought uniformed guard services to the forefront of dealmaking. Software integration offered unique opportunities for service providers and systems integrators capable of upgrading legacy security systems with new technology enablement. Artificial intelligence (AI) defined Cybersecurity sector M&A, with buyers vying for solutions both powered by AI as well as those used to secure the vast amounts of sensitive data behind AI models and agents.

Looking ahead, Capstone expects the ADGS industry to continue embracing M&A as the preferred method of adapting to change, bringing innovation to market, and capitalizing on strong macroeconomic tailwinds. The industry is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of a geopolitically unstable world, and industry participants have displayed eager willingness to achieve the growth required to address global concerns.

Aerospace & Defense M&A Activity Trends by Sector

The full report, available for download below, includes M&A commentary and analysis on 14 key sectors within the ADGS industry:

- Aircraft Leasing

- Aircraft Maintenance

- Aircraft Manufacturing

- Flight

- Air, Land, Sea & Space (ALSS) Systems

- Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR)

- Electronic Warfare, Defense Electronics & Sensors

- Tactical Products

- Training & Simulation

- Unmanned Systems

- Government Services

- Cybersecurity

- Governance, Risk & Compliance

- Security Solutions

To access the full report, click here.

ABOUT CAPSTONE PARTNERS

For over 20 years, the firm has been a trusted advisor to leading middle market companies, offering a fully integrated range of investment banking and financial advisory services uniquely tailored to help owners, investors, and creditors through each stage of the company's lifecycle. Capstone's services include M&A advisory, debt and equity placement, corporate restructuring, special situations, valuation and fairness opinions and financial advisory services. Headquartered in Boston, the firm has 300+ professionals in multiple offices across the U.S. With 12 dedicated industry groups, Capstone delivers sector-specific expertise through large, cross-functional teams. Capstone is a subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN). For more information, visit www.capstonepartners.com.

SOURCE Capstone Partners

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Oosterdam's Evolution being pulled forward by five weeks, adding several new cruises and opportunities to sail on the newly reimagined ship

SEATTLE, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Holland America Evolution transformation of Oosterdam will now occur five weeks earlier than previously scheduled, meeting strong guest demand for cruises on the newly reimagined ship. Oosterdam will start its renovation earlier than planned, returning to service with its first post-Evolution voyage departing Oct. 31, 2027.

The revised schedule has allowed Holland America Line to add five additional voyages aboard the transformed Oosterdam, spanning the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Caribbean. To accommodate the accelerated Evolution, several previously published voyages from Sept. 11, 2027, to Dec. 9, 2027, have been canceled, and affected guests and travel advisors are being contacted directly about their rebooking options. The ship's refurbishment will take place in Marseille, France.

"We're very happy with the unprecedented response we've received to Holland America Evolution, and we're thrilled we can move up Oosterdam's dry dock to meet guest demand," said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line. "Starting earlier allows us to create five additional cruises on the newly reimagined ship. Guests will have more opportunities to enjoy all of the enhancements coming to Oosterdam, from new stateroom and suite categories to the Grand Dutch Café and redesigned Ocean Bar. We're excited to welcome guests aboard as Oosterdam begins this new chapter and to give them the opportunity to be among the first to experience her transformation."

Holland America Evolution builds on the experiences that have long defined the cruise line, pairing new enhancements with the premium service, carefully crafted itineraries and welcoming atmosphere guests have come to expect.

New Cruises Showcase Transformed Oosterdam

Following her dry dock, Oosterdam will embark on an inaugural post-transformation voyage: a 10-day cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Trieste, Italy, departing Oct. 31, 2027. Guests aboard the sailing will be among the first to experience the reimagined ship while visiting destinations in Italy, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia.

The four additional new cruises include an 11-day Mediterranean voyage from Trieste to Piraeus (Athens), Greece, departing Nov. 10, 2027; a seven-day Mediterranean cruise from Piraeus to Barcelona, Spain, departing Nov. 21, 2027; a 13-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, leaving Nov. 28, 2027; and an 11-day Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale departing Dec. 11, 2027, providing guests with early opportunities to experience Oosterdam's Evolution enhancements across a variety of regions.

Guests booked on what were previously the inaugural cruise and first transatlantic cruise in December 2027 will have the opportunity to move to the corresponding new cruises and remain among the first guests aboard the post-Evolution Oosterdam. The new voyages will be open for sale in early October.

Additional details about Holland America Evolution and upcoming ship transformations are available at hollandamerica.com/evolution.

For more information about Holland America Line or to book a cruise, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Facebook, Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line

Holland America Line has been exploring the world for more than 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to the destinations. Offering a perfectly-sized ship experience, its fleet of 11 vessels visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared the thrill of Alaska for more than 75 years — longer than any other cruise line. Savour the Journey isn't just a tagline, it's a reinforcement that the cruise line provides experiences too good to hurry through, connecting travelers to the world and each other. Award-winning enrichment programming, entertainment and cuisine that brings each locale on board, including a revolutionary Global Fresh Fish Program, put Holland America Line at the forefront of premium cruising. Holland America Line is part of Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company with a portfolio of cruise lines operating in over 800 ports & destinations worldwide. (NYSE: CCL).

SOURCE Holland America Line

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