U.S. Army awards Javelin Joint Venture $215 million contract for Lightweight Command Launch Unit production

New launcher supports Army modernization with improved capability

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army awarded the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, and Lockheed Martin, a $215 million production contract for Lightweight Command Launch Units, or LWCLU. The LWCLU, the next-generation launcher for the Javelin® weapon system, is replacing its legacy command launch unit.

The Javelin LWCLU is designed to be adaptable and compatible with all current, past and future Javelin variants. The award comes five months after the JJV delivered the first LWCLUs to the Army.

"This contract reflects the strong partnership between industry and the Army to sustain and advance the Javelin system," said Jenna Hunt Frazier, JJV president and Javelin program director at Raytheon. "By modernizing our factory and strengthening our production line, we're ensuring soldiers receive a lighter, more capable launcher that improves operational readiness across the force."

The Javelin LWCLU is 30% smaller and 25% lighter, while doubling target detection and recognition, compared to the current Block I Command Launch Unit. The LWCLU maximizes surveillance for soldiers, while offering day and night engagement capability.

"The LWCLU contract award is a powerful testament to the JJV's ongoing commitment to meeting the warfighter's most critical needs," said Rich Liccion, vice president, JJV and program director, Lockheed Martin Javelin. "This achievement reflects what we can accomplish when innovation is driven by purpose and a relentless focus on the mission we support."

Javelin is developed and produced by the JJV between Raytheon, in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida. To date, the JJV has produced more than 55,000 Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units.

About Raytheon

Raytheon, an RTX business, is a leading provider of defense solutions to help the U.S. government, our allies and partners defend their national sovereignty and ensure their security. For more than 100 years, Raytheon has developed new technologies and enhanced existing capabilities in integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, missiles, advanced sensors and radars, interceptors, space-based systems, hypersonics and missile defense across land, air, sea and space.

About RTX

With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected].

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.

Lockheed Martin Media Contact: Lockheed Martin Media Relations, +1 972-310-1979; [email protected].

SOURCE RTX

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High Lander develops an end-to-end software layer for managing the autonomous aviation ecosystem through its Orion (Drone Fleet Management solution) and Vega (Unmanned Traffic Management solution) platforms. Building on these capabilities, the company is expanding into the national security and defense sectors with Andromeda, an AI-powered operational intelligence platform designed to create a unified operational picture of low-altitude airspace.

Andromeda is built on an open, hardware-agnostic architecture, enabling sensor systems and effectors from multiple vendors to operate under a single intelligent control layer, serving as the operational brain for low-altitude airspace security. This allows High Lander to combine its own airspace management capabilities with advanced technologies from international partners across detection, classification, tracking, and operational response.

The capital will support High Lander's expansion in the United States and other international markets, the continued development of its Vega UTM, Orion DFM and Andromeda platforms, and the extension of its technology into defense, homeland security and dual-use applications. 

Alon Abelson, Founder and CEO of High Lander:

"High Lander is entering a new phase. Over the past several years, we have built the technological infrastructure that enables countries and organizations to manage a world in which autonomous systems are becoming an integral part of the airspace. We are now taking that same infrastructure to a new scale, expanding into new markets, the security sector, and strategic collaborations with leading technology players worldwide.

The completion of this funding round allows us to accelerate key strategic initiatives and significantly expand our international operations. Our vision is to become the software layer that connects autonomy, aviation, and security, giving countries the ability to understand and control what is happening in low-altitude airspace."

The investor group brings complementary strategic and financial expertise across autonomous systems, aerospace, defense technology, homeland security and international market expansion. EDGE Group's additional investment deepens an existing strategic relationship with High Lander, while the participation of STEP, Protego and Kinetica expands the company's network across the U.S. autonomous systems market and the global defense technology ecosystem.

Lital Leshem, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Protego: "As drone adoption continues to expand, the need for a unified aerial picture, threat detection, and coordinated real-time response is becoming increasingly critical. High Lander is developing technology that addresses these challenges, and its ability to integrate diverse systems and technologies under a single command-and-control layer is particularly significant. We believe the combination of the company's technology, team, and strategic partnerships provides a strong foundation for expansion into international markets."

About High Lander

Founded in 2018 by aviation and technology experts, High Lander provides software infrastructure for autonomous aviation, drone fleet operations and airspace management. Its Vega UTM platform enables the safe coordination of uncrewed aircraft across complex airspace environments, Orion DFM enables organizations to remotely manage drone fleets and autonomous missions, and Andromeda adds an AI-driven, hardware-agnostic sensor fusion and airspace security layer that combines data from multiple detection systems into a single operational picture, helping distinguish authorized activity from unidentified or unauthorized aircraft.

For more information, visit www.highlander.io.

Contact:

Elad Kafri

[email protected]

SOURCE High Lander

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Southern Idaho Brings Its "All Things Food" Story to Paris, Showcasing World-Class Agriculture and Food Innovation

Regional leaders pursue European investment, export opportunities and international partnerships at SIAL Paris 2026

TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From the world's largest yogurt processing plant to America's leading trout farms, Southern Idaho is bringing its "All Things Food" economy to the global stage this week. A delegation of Idaho business and government leaders is attending SIAL Paris 2026, one of the world's largest international food and beverage trade shows, to attract European investment, expand export opportunities for Idaho food producers and forge partnerships in food manufacturing, agricultural technology and innovation.

Organized by the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization (SIEDO), the visit aims to raise the region's international profile as a global food powerhouse. Home to industry leaders including Chobani, Agri Beef, Glanbia Nutritionals, McCain Foods, Lamb Weston and Riverence, Southern Idaho produces everything from dairy products and potatoes to premium beef, trout and specialty crops. Agribusiness accounts for 48% of the region's economic output, while more than 42% of regional jobs are directly or indirectly tied to the industry.

"Southern Idaho has built an extraordinary food ecosystem, combining the agricultural resources, manufacturing expertise and innovation that companies need to compete globally," said Jason Barnes, Executive Director of SIEDO. "Our visit to Paris is about creating opportunities in both directions: helping our producers reach new international markets while introducing European companies to the advantages of investing and doing business in Southern Idaho."

As part of the international mission, Southern Idaho will host an exclusive dinner on Tuesday, October 20, at the residence of the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Themed "All Things Food. One Shared Table," the event will bring together European business leaders, potential investors and international partners to experience the region's agricultural strengths firsthand.

The menu will feature an array of Idaho products, including white sturgeon caviar from Idaho Springs Foods served with Idaho potato chips, rainbow trout from Riverence, Snake River Farms filet mignon from Agri Beef paired with Idaho French fries, cheeses from Glanbia and Ballard Cheese, and a Chobani huckleberry parfait. Award winning wines Bitner and Huston Vinyards from Idaho's Snake River Valley will complement the meal.

Located in south-central Idaho, the region known as the Magic Valley has emerged as a nationally recognized center for agriculture, food production, processing and research.

Southern Idaho processes approximately 80% of Idaho's milk and produces roughly 70% of the food-size trout sold in the United States. The region is home to Chobani's Twin Falls facility, the world's largest yogurt processing plant; major cheese production facilities operated by Glanbia Nutritionals; and Riverence, which operates the world's largest commercial freshwater rainbow trout farm. Its productive agricultural lands support potatoes, sugar beets, barley, beans and specialty seeds, supplying major food processors and international markets.

The region's food industry is further supported by investments in agricultural research and technology, including the University of Idaho's developing Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE).

"Southern Idaho offers a combination of natural resources, agricultural expertise and food industry infrastructure that is difficult to replicate," said State Senator Kelly Anthon who is traveling with the contingent. "Our strong network of growers, producers, researchers and business partners helps us deliver exceptional products to customers around the world. SIAL Paris is an opportunity to strengthen those international relationships and introduce more companies to what Southern Idaho has to offer."

Held October 17–21, SIAL Paris is expected to attract approximately 8,000 exhibitors and 295,000 industry professionals from around the world, offering Southern Idaho an international platform to connect with food manufacturers, investors, distributors and potential business partners.

About the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization

The Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization (SIEDO) is a public-private partnership dedicated to strengthening and diversifying the economy of Southern Idaho's Magic Valley region. Founded in 2001, SIEDO works with regional communities, business leaders and economic development partners to support existing businesses, attract new investment and promote the region as a destination for business growth. With internationally recognized strengths in agriculture, food manufacturing, innovation and research, Southern Idaho offers businesses a strategic location and collaborative environment for long-term success. Learn more at www.southernidaho.org.

SOURCE The Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization

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- New U.S. real-world evidence demonstrates high-volume hemodiafiltration (HvHDF) can be successfully delivered in routine clinical practice, with treatment targets comparable to those reported in Europe

- GLP-1 receptor agonist use associated with significantly lower mortality and fewer hospitalizations among dialysis patients

- U.S. study reports clinical experience with automated regional citrate anticoagulation during continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients

BAD HOMBURG, Germany, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical Care (FME), the world's leading provider of products and services for people with kidney disease, presents new research and evidence-driven innovations aimed at improving patient outcomes during the American Society of Nephrology's (ASN) Kidney Week 2026, taking place October 21-25 in Denver, Colorado.

Company research demonstrates how real-world evidence, advanced technologies, and insights generated in routine clinical practice can help inform treatment decisions and improve care for patients with kidney disease.

"At Fresenius Medical Care, we are leveraging real-world evidence generated at scale to improve patient outcomes and help inform future standards of kidney care," said Charles Hugh-Jones, MD, FRCP, Global Chief Medical Officer of Fresenius Medical Care. "The studies we are presenting at Kidney Week 2026 reflect our commitment to advancing evidence-based care, from expanding our understanding of high-volume hemodiafiltration in U.S. clinical practice to generating new insights into therapies associated with improved outcomes for dialysis patients and supporting the safe delivery of renal replacement therapy in critical care settings."

As adoption of HvHDF continues to expand in the United States, Fresenius Medical Care researchers are studying its implementation in routine clinical practice. These studies provide important real-world insights from U.S. treatment settings and contribute to broader evidence-generation efforts, including the company's BEACON-US research initiative, which is advancing understanding of online HDF therapy and patient outcomes in the U.S.

Key Fresenius Medical Care presentations at Kidney Week 2026 include:

- High-Volume Hemodiafiltration in the United States: Real-World Achievement of Target Convective Dose: Demonstrates achievement of recommended HvHDF convective dose targets in a cohort of patients receiving more than 10,000 treatments using the 5008X™ CAREsystem in the U.S. The study found that 74% of treatments achieved the target threshold of 23 liters or greater.

- Convective Volume, Body Size and Mortality in Hemodiafiltration: An Individual Patient Data Analysis of Randomized Trials: Examines the relationship between body size, convective volume, and survival among patients receiving HDF and explores a more individualized approach to assessing effective HDF dose.

- Near-Real-Time Surveillance of U.S. 5008X High-Volume Hemodiafiltration: An Accelerated Real-World Evidence Platform: Highlights a quality improvement surveillance platform designed to rapidly analyze real-world clinical data during the U.S. rollout of HvHDF, helping researchers evaluate outcomes including mortality, hospitalization, and missed treatments.

- Real-World Mortality and Hospitalization Outcomes Associated with GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use in Patients on Dialysis: Presents findings from an analysis of approximately 5,000 dialysis patients associating GLP-1 receptor agonist use with significantly lower mortality and fewer hospitalizations. A second GLP-1-related abstract, "GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Initiation and Mortality in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Target Trial Emulation," was selected for presentation during the late-breaking research poster session on October 22 from 10 a.m. to noon.

- Calcium Control and Electrolyte Stability During Regional Citrate Anticoagulation Using a Fully Integrated CRRT System: Insights from a Prospective Multicenter Study: Reports findings from a multicenter U.S. study demonstrating that regional citrate anticoagulation delivered through an integrated continuous renal replacement therapy system maintained anticoagulation targets with infrequent, manageable electrolyte disturbances and no observed citrate toxicity in critically ill patients.

- AI-Based Extraction and Temporal Classification of Symptoms and Signs from Hemodialysis Notes: Evaluates a large language model-based approach using more than 455,000 dialysis treatment notes to extract and classify symptoms and clinical signs. The quality improvement effort demonstrated high accuracy and highlights how AI may help transform routine clinical documentation into actionable insights that support research, quality improvement, and future clinical decision-making.

In addition to scientific presentations, attendees can visit Fresenius Medical Care at Booth #571 and FME's Renal Research Institute at Booth #255 to learn more about the Company's latest research and innovations, including the 5008X CAREsystem and multiFiltratePRO™.

For more information on Fresenius Medical Care's presence at Kidney Week 2026, visit https://freseniusmedicalcare.com/en/media/events/asn-2026/.

About Fresenius Medical Care:

Fresenius Medical Care is the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which around 4.5 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment. Through its network of 3,513 dialysis clinics, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatments for approx. 290,000 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the leading provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or dialyzers. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME) and on the New York Stock Exchange (FMS). For more information visit the company's website at www.freseniusmedicalcare.com.

Disclaimer:

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, legal changes, regulatory approvals, results of clinical studies, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.

Media contacts

Ryan Jimenez

T +1 781 699 3900

[email protected]

Christine Peters

T +49 160 60 66 770

[email protected]

Contact for analysts and investors

Dr. Dominik Heger

T +49 6172 609 2525

[email protected]

SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.

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Missouri school district replaces a patchwork of legacy devices with one connected, standardized Avive AED program built around a 3-minute response goal.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Avive has deployed 27 Avive Connect AED®s across Affton School District in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. The rollout covers five campuses serving roughly 2,500 students and 400 staff, along with the parents, volunteers, and visitors who fill Affton's facilities every day. It replaces an AED program built one purchase at a time with a single, connected system designed so that every campus is ready.

Affton's campuses draw large crowds for Friday night games and community rentals, so the number of people on site at any moment is far greater than enrollment alone suggests. When it came time to replace its aging AEDs, the district saw an opportunity to rethink its approach to cardiac readiness.

"Having to stop, figure out which of the four models you're holding, physically swap out the pads for pediatric pads, could severely delay that time to shock," said Adam Jasinski, Executive Director of Operations at Affton School District. Before the rollout, buildings held four or five different AED models, with inconsistent signage, separate adult and pediatric pads, and a monthly maintenance routine that fell to school nurses.

A plan built around three minutes

Affton set a goal of reaching an AED within three minutes from anywhere on campus and built its placement plan around it. District leaders and nurses walked each building, prioritized high-occupancy areas like cafeterias and auditoriums, and covered public gathering spaces such as the football field. They studied floor plans to estimate walking times and ran mini-drills to the farthest corners of fields and the easy-to-overlook corner classroom.

"No matter where a student or faculty member was, we could get to them within that 3-minute window," said Stephanie Garibay, District Nurse Coordinator.

Readiness without the legwork

Avive's REALConnect™ platform gives district leadership a view of every AED in the district, while each building nurse can see the devices in their own building. Automated readiness checks and reporting replace manual walkthroughs and paper logs, so staff no longer need to walk the halls checking batteries and pad expiration dates.

"We're all able to have an all-hands-on-deck approach, which takes it a little off of just the building nurse to be responsible for all of the AEDs within their building," said Garibay.

The Avive Connect AED is designed to be simple for anyone to use. Responders pull the tab at the top, and the device guides them with on-screen visuals and clear audio prompts, including built-in CPR instructions and Spanish-language support. A dedicated Child Mode button and a single pad set for adults and children remove the guesswork of choosing a pad size or swapping pads in an emergency. Training Mode with swappable training pads lets nurses and staff rehearse on the same device they would use in a real emergency.

An AED that goes where athletic trainers go

Affton's athletic trainers cover more than 200 athletes across practices, home games, off-campus matches, and middle school events. Previously, they relied on larger units stored in a shed, or on whatever the host school had available. Each trainer now carries a portable Avive AED weighing just 2.1 lbs.

"We don't want to be spending 5 minutes tracking down an administrator to get us in this building. So that immediate access, having it right there in my kit, you just can't go wrong," said Becky Stigen, Head Athletic Trainer at Affton High School, who has served the district for 18 years.

Part of a broader commitment to cardiac readiness

The AED deployment is one part of Affton's larger cardiac emergency strategy. The district partnered with Project ADAM and was certified as a Heartsafe School District, a recognition that reflects its awareness efforts, training, and practiced response plans. As part of that effort, Affton mapped AED locations to meet its 3-minute response goal, monitored devices through the REALConnect dashboard, wrote a cardiac emergency response plan for each school community, and committed to annual training and cardiac drills.

About Affton School District:

Located in South St. Louis County, Missouri, Affton School District empowers each student to become a capable, curious, and confident lifelong learner. Serving a diverse community across an early childhood center, primary, intermediate, middle, and high school, Affton is dedicated to academic innovation, emotional growth, and future-readiness. Guided by its core pillars—Our Students, Our Team, Our Connections, and Our System—the district fosters an inclusive environment where every voice matters. For more information, visit afftonschools.net or follow #OneAffton on social media. 

About Avive Solutions:

Avive Solutions, Inc. is a Brisbane, CA-based company dedicated to developing state-of-the-art Automated External  Defibrillators (AEDs) designed to be accessible, intuitive, and effective in saving lives during Sudden Cardiac  Arrest emergencies. Avive's mission is to ensure that lifesaving AED technology is available in every community  across the nation. Learn more at avive.life.

Learn more

Read the full Affton case study at avive.life/customer-stories, or request a demo at avive.life/contact.

Media Contacts:

Mackenzie Kirk

Content Marketing Manager, Avive Solutions

[email protected] 

Erica Chandler, APR

Director of Communications

(314) 633-5908

[email protected]

SOURCE Avive Solutions, Inc.

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Life has its bumpy moments, and so does skin. Between the 3 p.m. oily shine and the irritation that often comes with retinol, acne-prone skin can be tricky to manage, especially once early signs of aging start to show. Finding one product that addresses texture, oil, and fine lines without harsh or pore-clogging ingredients that compromise the skin barrier has long been a challenge. SMOOTH OVER was designed to tackle it all in a single step: effective enough to deliver real results, yet gentle enough for everyday use.

"So many of our clients come to us stuck between two problems. They're still dealing with texture and breakouts, and now they're seeing fine lines too. The retinol they tried was too harsh on their skin, but they don't want to lose valuable anti-aging benefits" said Danielle "The Acne Guru®" Gronich, CEO and Co-Founder of CLEARSTEM. "SMOOTH OVER ends that tradeoff, giving them a smoother, more even look without the irritation or the pore-clogging fillers found in most anti-aging serums. It's the kind of serum you'll actually want to reach for every morning and night."

SMOOTH OVER's formula is built around four key ingredients:

- Bakuchiol (Smooth): A next-generation, plant-derived alternative to retinol that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve firmness, refine texture, and promote a more even-looking tone.

- Tripeptide-85 (Oil Control): A targeted peptide that helps control excess oil production in maturing skin. It keeps skin looking less shiny through the day without the stripped, tight feeling that comes from over-drying.

- Plant Stem Cells (Renew): Rich in antioxidants and protective nutrients that help support the skin's natural renewal process.

- Milk Thistle + TXA Derivative (Calm): Milk Thistle seed extract delivers antioxidants that help defend against the look of environmental stress. Tranexamic Acid helps visibly calm redness and even the look of skin tone. Together, they help skin look calmer, more comfortable, and more even.

SMOOTH OVER visibly smooths skin from the first use, with 96% of participants showing improved smoothness immediately.*

It also supports a balanced, healthy-looking complexion. 100% of participants showed reduced sebum levels at 2 weeks. At 4 weeks, 96% showed improvement in the look of redness, and 90% showed improvement in the look of fine lines.*

*Based on a clinical study of 30 participants.

To use, apply generously to the face, neck, and chest after cleansing and toning, once or twice daily. In the morning, follow with moisturizer and SPF.

SMOOTH OVER Daily Texture Perfecting Serum (1 fl oz / 30 mL, $62) will be available beginning October 16, 2026, at clearstemskincare.com.

ABOUT CLEARSTEM

Incorporating the knowledge from San Diego Acne Clinic, founders Danielle "The Acne Guru®" Gronich and Integrative Health Practitioner Kayleigh Christina built CLEARSTEM, the first acne brand that targets breakouts and aging at the same time with no pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Through innovative formulation practices, root-cause wellness regimens, and masterclass-style education, CLEARSTEM empowers consumers to build confidence in their skin from a brand that truly understands them.

Because Clear Skin Changes Everything®.

SOURCE CLEARSTEM

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RBC Wealth Management named Outstanding Private Bank in three categories at the Private Banker International Global Wealth Awards

A testament to what matters most in private banking: the relationships, expertise and experience clients can count on

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RBC Wealth Management, Canada's largest full-service wealth management firm, has been named Outstanding Private Bank in three categories at the Private Banker International Global Wealth Awards: Global, North America and Growth Strategy—a mark of excellence in private banking globally. The wins extend RBC Wealth Management's streak to three consecutive years for the Global category and six for North America.

The Private Banker International Global Wealth Awards recognize institutions that deliver excellence across all dimensions of private banking. The awards recognize RBC Wealth Management's strategy of pairing a client-first approach with Canadian market leadership and continued expansion across North America and globally, reflecting its leadership across key markets:

- In Canada, RBC Wealth Management is the No. 1 retail mutual fund company and a leader in high-net-worth market share, with RBC Dominion Securities achieving the highest advisor rating among bank-owned investment dealers in Investment Executive's 2026 Brokerage Report Card for 20 consecutive years

- In the U.S. and U.K., it ranks among the top six wealth management firms by assets under administration, with U.S. earnings growing 91 per cent over five years and a client base of 320,000 households

Central to the client experience is RBC Wealth Management's continued investment in the technology and tools that help advisors prioritize client relationships. In April 2026, RBC Wealth Management was recognized with two PWM Wealth Tech Awards for its AI strategy and RBC Assist, an in-house GenAI tool. The tool has been rolled out to 100 per cent of advisors, with more than 75,000 RBC employees globally now using RBC's AI platforms to improve productivity and free up time for high-value client interactions.

"Wealth management is about understanding a client's life in its entirety—their family, their business and their long-term goals," said Neil McLaughlin, Group Head, RBC Wealth Management & Insurance. "Few clients today have simple needs; their wealth increasingly spans borders and generations. It's through our team of dedicated experts that we can serve their holistic needs with the kind of advice and relationships that earn trust for generations. These awards affirm we're on the right track, and the credit belongs to the advisors, private bankers and trust officers who make that experience real for the clients they serve."

Looking ahead, RBC Wealth Management remains focused on deepening client relationships and investing in the talent and technology that make differentiated client experiences possible.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 105,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

About RBC Wealth Management

RBC Wealth Management directly serves affluent, high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients globally with a full suite of banking, investment, trust and other wealth management solutions, from its key operational hubs in Canada, the United States, the British Isles, and Asia. The business also provides asset management products and services directly and through RBC and third-party distributors to institutional and individual clients, through its RBC Global Asset Management business (which includes BlueBay Asset Management). It also includes our Investor Services business. RBC Wealth Management has over C$5.8 trillion of assets under administration, C$1.7 trillion of assets under management and more than 6,000 financial consultants, advisors, private bankers, and trust officers. For more information, please visit www.rbcwealthmanagement.com.

For more information, please contact:

Vanessa Romano, RBC Wealth Management Canada, [email protected]

Tianna Goguen, RBC Wealth Management Canada, [email protected] 

SOURCE RBC Wealth Management

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Partnership enables banks, fintechs, and technology companies to expand rewards into mobile wallets and merchant offers into wallet passes

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Wildfire Systems, a loyalty and consumer insights platform, and Badge, a mobile wallet infrastructure provider, today announced a strategic partnership that brings personalized merchant offers and rewards into consumers' native mobile wallets, making savings easier to find and use and creating new value for the programs that offer them. Wildfire clients can now extend their existing rewards programs into Apple® Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet through Badge's technology, while Badge clients gain access to the offers from Wildfire's network of more than 50,000 merchant programs - all without building new infrastructure or merchant relationships.

Together, the companies will help clients expand their rewards programs to a broader set of touchpoints in the consumer shopping journey. Customers who add their rewards pass will see personalized cashback and savings from Wildfire's merchant network right in their wallet. Badge keeps the pass current as offers change through dynamic updates, push notifications, and location-aware reminders. This ensures offers reach consumers when and where they're ready to buy. The partnership also creates opportunities for Wildfire clients to provide more value for their customers, while Wildfire's merchant partners gain another way to reach shoppers and drive sales.

The announcement comes as loyalty and rewards programs have become table stakes for financial and technology companies to drive engagement with their customers and mobile wallets are evolving beyond payments into a broader channel for commerce and loyalty. According to PYMNTS, 31% of shoppers now use mobile wallets weekly, underscoring the growing opportunity for brands, financial institutions, and technology companies to connect with consumers through a channel they already use.

"Our clients are constantly looking for ways to deliver more value to customers," said Jordan Glazier, CEO of Wildfire Systems. "Our partnership with Badge gives clients a way to extend their existing rewards programs into mobile wallets, meeting their customers where they are to discover and use offers. In turn, our merchant network gives Badge's clients a steady stream of relevant offers to put in front of their customers."

The agreement also creates opportunities for joint product innovation. By combining Badge's technology with Wildfire's commerce platform, merchant relationships, and distribution network, both companies can develop new capabilities and expand their reach across the growing market for digital payments and loyalty services.

"The next evolution of mobile wallets is about what happens beyond the transaction," said Eric Senn, CEO of Badge. "By combining our technology with Wildfire's merchant offer network, we can help our clients put relevant savings opportunities directly into consumers' hands, whether they're shopping online or walking into a store. It's about making rewards more accessible, timely and useful in everyday life."

The companies are announcing the partnership at Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas, where they will co-host a cabana October 19-20, 2026. Please go here to schedule a meeting with Wildfire, or here to meet with Badge.

About Wildfire Systems, Inc.

San Diego-based Wildfire provides a commerce intelligence platform that powers white-label shopping rewards programs and retail media for financial services and technology partners. The platform helps organizations drive customer engagement with cashback, coupons, and savings while capturing shopping behavior insights, which help drive incremental sales from more than 50,000 merchant programs in 50+ countries and enable advertisers to reach high-intent shoppers through the Wildfire Commerce Network (WCN). Ranked on the Inc. 5000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Learn more at Wildfire-corp.com.

About Badge

Badge is the wallet platform businesses use to build, operate, and measure experiences across Apple® Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet. By making wallets programmable and real time, Badge turns wallet cards and passes into dynamic customer surfaces that drive engagement and commerce. Trusted by leading enterprise brands and platforms, Badge delivers secure, scalable wallet infrastructure designed for production use. For more information, visit trybadge.com.

Apple Wallet is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Wallet is a trademark of Google LLC. Samsung Wallet is a trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

SOURCE Wildfire Systems

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Certification brings Polycore, Twenty Labs' composable platform for government, to federal agencies modernizing mission-critical programs

MIAMI and WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty Labs, a leading provider of purpose-built technology solutions for government programs, today announced it has achieved Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Class C Certification in partnership with Knox Systems (Knox), the largest, longest-running federal managed cloud. Twenty Labs' technology powers Healthy Together, its established health and human services business serving Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, SUN Bucks, and child services programs across 9+ states and territories, using Polycore to support modern program operations and applied AI capabilities. The certification now brings Polycore, Twenty Labs' composable platform for government, to federal agencies.

Government programs often run on rigid legacy systems that are slow and expensive to change, while policy, demand, and expectations keep shifting. Staff lose time to heavy manual processes and poor-quality or incomplete information upstream, while the people in those programs they serve experience unnecessary friction. Agencies need technology that can adapt quickly, improve the quality and flow of information, and modernize how work gets done, whether replacing legacy capabilities or working alongside existing systems.

Twenty Labs uses a forward-deployed model, with teams working alongside policy, program, and operational experts to solve mission-critical problems with Polycore, its composable platform for government. Polycore combines configurable workflows, applied AI, and interoperable services to help agencies deploy faster, adapt quickly, and modernize how the mission gets done. With Twenty Labs' FedRAMP Class C Certification, Polycore provides federal agencies with access to:

- Composable, configurable solutions: Production-ready capabilities can be assembled around each agency's needs and deployed independently or alongside existing systems, enabling faster modernization.

- A fully-connected workflow: Bring agencies, partners, data sources, and the public together to reduce friction and keep information and work moving across the mission.

- Quality at the source: Collect, verify, and structure information before it reaches systems of record, reducing manual work, errors, and downstream delays.

- Applied AI: Polycore's AI capabilities, including operator assistance, document intelligence, and voice agents, are designed to automate routine work and support staff across operational workflows.

"Our mission is to make the government the best-run organization in the world, and our FedRAMP Class C Certification affirms that Twenty Labs meets the federal bar for security and trust that mission demands," said Jared Allgood, CEO of Twenty Labs. "Polycore is already proven in health and human services, where states see the speed and AI-driven efficiency it brings to their programs. Now federal agencies can access those same capabilities, with modernization that can work independently or with the systems they already run and is designed around the people who use them."

The FedRAMP program is designed to standardize security assessment and authorization for cloud service offerings, accelerating the adoption of government-grade cloud solutions by federal agencies. Knox eliminated the FedRAMP Certification bottleneck and significantly reduced compliance timelines and costs for Twenty Labs, allowing its forward-deployed engineers and policy, program and human-centered design experts to focus on delivering outcomes for agencies and the people they serve.

"Public benefits services work best when government, private partners, and citizens operate on a shared workflow," said Irina Denisenko, CEO of Knox Systems. "Twenty Labs has already shown states how AI can help agencies accelerate and modernize without tearing out the systems they rely on. With FedRAMP Class C Certification through Knox, federal programs can now put that same approach to work, and the public will feel the difference."

To learn more about how Twenty Labs helps government agencies modernize with Polycore, visit twentylabs.com and to learn more about obtaining FedRAMP Certification with Knox, visit knoxsystems.com.

About Twenty Labs

Twenty Labs is a technology company delivering cloud-native, composable solutions for government and regulated industries, including financial services. Its technology powers Healthy Together, its established health and human services business serving programs across 9+ states and territories. Twenty Labs combines forward-deployed teams with Polycore, its composable platform, to help organizations modernize complex workflows, adapt quickly, and deliver outcomes. Across government, Twenty Labs is advancing its mission to make the government the best-run organization in the world. Learn more at twentylabs.com.

About Knox Systems

Knox Systems operates the largest managed federal cloud, trusted by top agencies and partners across defense and civilian sectors. Built for speed, resilience, and compliance, Knox delivers FedRAMP authorization in 90 days – turning the biggest bottleneck in government IT into the fastest path to modernization. Knox proudly serves Adobe, Celonis, OutSystems, Armis, BigID, and more AI and SaaS providers, accelerating secure innovation across the federal landscape. Learn more at knoxsystems.com.

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Hidden Water Leaks Can Go Unnoticed Until the Bill Arrives

Free online calculator helps homeowners estimate unexplained water use before losses add up

SEATTLE, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A July 2026 report about a Phoenix homeowner's $2,777 water bill highlights how hidden leaks and delayed billing can leave households unaware of mounting water use. Simply Leak Detection is encouraging homeowners to check their meters and use its free Water Leak Rate Calculator to investigate unexpected flow. Following Imagine a Day Without Water on October 15, the company is highlighting a practical way homeowners can reduce unnoticed water loss.

Arizona's Family reported that Cameron Green's bill covered seven months and 344,000 gallons of water use after a city-owned transmitter stopped reporting readings. Green said an underground leak, invisible from the surface, contributed to the high usage. The reported total was overall consumption, not a measurement of the leak alone.

Homeowners do not have to wait for their next bill to look for warning signs. A meter that continues to register water use when fixtures, irrigation and water-using appliances are off can help reveal a problem that otherwise goes unnoticed.

The calculator uses two meter readings and elapsed time to estimate the rate of water use. Available online to homeowners anywhere, it provides a starting point for deciding what to investigate next. It does not identify a leak's location or cause.

"Every homeowner should know where their water meter is, how to shut off their water in an emergency, and how to recognize a possible leak when the meter moves with no water in use. Knowing these basics helps homeowners take action before a leak leads to significantly higher water bills or expensive damage to their home," said Lincoln Spencer, owner of Simply Leak Detection.

How to check for unexpected water use

Stop all indoor and outdoor water use, including automatic irrigation and appliances. Record the meter reading and time, wait at least five minutes without using water, then take a second reading. Enter the readings and times in the calculator.

A short test may miss slow or intermittent leaks. EPA WaterSense recommends comparing meter readings over two hours with no water use. Unexpected flow warrants further investigation with a water utility or qualified professional; visible leaks or active water damage need prompt attention regardless of the result.

Try the free Water Leak Rate Calculator at simplyleakdetection.com/water-leak-rate-calculator/.

About Simply Leak Detection

Simply Leak Detection locates leaks for homes and businesses across Greater Seattle and the Puget Sound region. The company uses non-invasive detection techniques to help avoid exploratory yard digging and unnecessary openings in walls.

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Homeowner resource: EPA WaterSense Detect and Chase Down Leaks checklist (PDF)

Media contact: Lincoln Spencer, Simply Leak Detection | (253) 800-1412 | simplyleakdetection.com

SOURCE Simply Leak Detection

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