More Tools for Wind & Seismic Design: AWC Publishes 2027 SDPWS Standard

New edition adds two new construction systems and updated CLT diaphragm provisions giving engineers more tools to build safely in seismic and wind-prone regions.

LEESBURG, Va., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Wood Council (AWC) published the 2027 edition of the Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (ANSI/AWC SDPWS-2027), the wood product industry's standard for designing in high seismic and wind zones. The new edition has been approved as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and will be referenced in the 2027 I-Codes.

The 2027 SDPWS is the result of five years of technical work and two years of balloting under ANSI's consensus-based process, including 13 rounds of balloting and a full public review period before reaching final approval. As an ANSI-approved standard, SDPWS is typically updated every six years to ensure its provisions stay aligned with other design references and new research, which gives designers assurance that they are using the most up-to-date provisions.

"This edition of SDPWS gives engineers research-based and tested tools to design with confidence in the highest-hazard regions of the country," said Brad Douglas, Vice President of Engineering at AWC. "Adding new systems isn't just about expanding the toolbox, it's about demonstrating that wood can meet the performance demands of the most challenging seismic and wind-prone regions."

These new tools include two new systems, the Post-Tensioned Timber Rocking Wall and a new sheathed wood-frame High-Capacity One-Sided Shear Wall system, that ultimately give designers more flexibility in wood construction.

Among numerous other changes, the design provisions for cross-laminated timber (CLT) diaphragms were also revised, drawing on new full-size CLT diaphragm test data, the same research that is now being used to support new seismic design force reduction factors for CLT diaphragms in ASCE 7-28.

With SDPWS complete, AWC is finishing updates to the Permanent Wood Foundation Design Specification (PWF) later this year, then turning to updates for the 2024 National Design Specification for Wood Construction® (NDS®), the 2024 Fire Design Specification for Wood Construction (FDS), and the 2024 Wood-Frame Construction Manual for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (WFCM).

The 2027 SDPWS is available to view online, and will be available for purchase in 2027.

The American Wood Council (AWC) represents 87.5 percent of the structural wood products industry and the almost 465,000 men and women working family-wage jobs in mills across the country. From dimension lumber to engineered wood products, we champion the development of data, technology, and standards to ensure the best use of wood products and recognition of their unique sustainability and carbon-reduction benefits. http://www.awc.org

SOURCE American Wood Council

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Parke Bancorp, Inc. Appoints Entrepreneur Michael L. Regina to Board of Directors

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Parke Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PKBK), the holding company for Parke Bank, today announced the appointment of prominent South Jersey and South Carolina entrepreneur Michael L. Regina to its Board of Directors.

Regina brings more than two decades of business leadership, entrepreneurship, and commercial real estate development experience to the board. He is the co-founder and principal of Big Sky Enterprises, a commercial real estate development, design-build, and finance firm founded in 2003 based in South Jersey. Big Sky Enterprises manages and oversees real estate projects, project financing, and construction across commercial, medical, educational, and community sectors.

In addition to his success with Big Sky Enterprises, Regina co-founded the Charleston, South Carolina based company Global Post Auditing Solutions in 2016, which specializes in auditing, cost recovery, and financial technology logistics.

"To say I'm excited would be an understatement," said Regina upon learning of his appointment. "I'm eager to roll up my sleeves and help bring forward the vision that was cast 27 years ago when the bank was founded."

Daniel J. Dalton, Chairman of the Board, echoed that enthusiasm, by saying "we are thrilled to welcome Michael Regina to the Board of Directors. His extensive experience in commercial real estate development, finance, and operational management—combined with his deep roots in the communities we serve—will bring valuable perspective to the board."

Regina's leadership in business and community development has previously earned him recognition as one of South Jersey's leading young business executives.

About Parke Bancorp, Inc. and Parke Bank

Parke Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for Parke Bank, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Washington Township, New Jersey. Parke Bank provides a comprehensive range of financial services to individuals, small-to-medium-sized businesses, and commercial real estate developers through multiple branch locations across Southern New Jersey, the Philadelphia metropolitan region and the Greater Charleston, South Carolina metropolitan region. Parke Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "PKBK."

SOURCE Parke Bancorp, Inc.

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NEW YORK and ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At this week's Paraguay Investment Forum NYC 2026, the Office of the President of the Republic of Paraguay and J.P. Morgan Natural Capital announced an investment of approximately USD 200 million to develop a large-scale sustainable forestry platform in Paraguay.

The initiative is being developed in partnership with Grupo Robinson, a Paraguayan business group with a strong track record in the agricultural and forestry sectors. Grupo Robinson will contribute local knowledge, production expertise, and a long-term vision for the sustainable development of the sector.

The investment focuses on establishing commercial forests, advancing native forest restoration, and creating long-term value through the sustainable production of high-quality timber, carbon credits, and wood-products.

The partners have a long-term vision: to advance Paraguay's industrialization by processing timber locally, adding value at the source, and producing finished products for domestic and export markets. Capital deployment is expected to begin in early 2027, marking the start of an investment intended to deliver significant regional and economic benefits.

The initiative is expected to support broader regionalized development, create quality employment in rural areas, and strengthen local communities by combining international capital, Paraguayan capabilities, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

"This announcement reflects Paraguay's commitment to creating quality opportunities outside our major cities—building stronger rural communities while stewarding our natural resources responsibly," said Santiago Peña, President of the Republic of Paraguay. "We welcome long-term partners who invest with a focus on sustainable development, job creation, and adding value in Paraguay."

"This investment in Paraguay is a compelling opportunity to build a scalable, long-term forestry platform grounded in sustainable resource management and rural development," said Angela Davis, CEO of J.P. Morgan Natural Capital. "We are pleased to partner with Grupo Robinson on bringing this impactful initiative to life."

About J.P. Morgan Natural Capital

J.P. Morgan Natural Capital is a leading global investment manager focused on forestland and nature-based assets. With headquarters in Portland, Oregon, the firm manages more than 1.5 million acres across three continents and oversees 11 billion in assets under supervision for institutional investors. The team is supported by approximately 150 employees located across 15 U.S. states, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. In March 2025, J.P. Morgan Natural Capital closed its Forest & Climate Solutions Fund II, raising $1.5 billion, successfully closing the industry's largest forestry fund to date. Including separate account mandates, total capital raised for the strategy reached $2.3 billion.

J.P. Morgan Natural Capital is part of J.P. Morgan Asset Management's $326B alternative investment business.

About J.P. Morgan Asset Management

J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of $4.6 trillion (as of 06/30/2026), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information, visit: www.jpmorgan.com/am.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America ("U.S."), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $5.0 trillion in assets and $375 billion in stockholders' equity as of June 30, 2026. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

SOURCE J.P. Morgan Asset Management

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FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leopard Imaging®, a global leader in AI perception and spatial intelligence solution design and manufacturing, together with Lumotive, a pioneer in programmable optical semiconductor technology, today announced Sirius Max (LI-AR0234-AF0130-TX10-GMSL2-140H), a next-generation solid-state 3D LiDAR designed for advanced AI perception, robotics, industrial automation, autonomous machines, and intelligent edge systems.

Powered by Lumotive's programmable beam-steering technology and Leopard Imaging's high-performance embedded AI Perception expertise, Sirius Max delivers a compact, low-power, and software-defined 3D sensing solution optimized for next-generation machine vision and AI perception applications.

Sirius Max is Leopard Imaging's next-generation long-range RGB + depth perception platform, combining high-performance imaging, intelligent iToF depth sensing and processing, embedded synchronization, and programmable beam-steered illumination into a fully integrated GMSL2 camera system capable of real-time RGB-depth fusion and long-range active depth perception.

Unlike conventional flood-illumination ToF systems, Sirius Max utilizes directional beam steering to dynamically control illumination and depth scanning. This architecture significantly improves optical efficiency, ambient light rejection, signal-to-noise ratio, and long-range sensing performance while maintaining a fully solid-state design with no moving mechanical components.

The platform enables software-defined scanning and programmable sensing regions, opening new possibilities for intelligent perception systems in humanoid robotics, autonomous navigation, automotive monitoring, industrial automation, and smart infrastructure.

"Sirius Max represents a major advancement in programmable optical perception systems," said Bill Pu, CEO of Leopard Imaging. "By combining Leopard Imaging's AI perception and spatial intelligence expertise with Lumotive's breakthrough beam-steering technology, Sirius Max delivers long-range, software-defined 3D perception in a compact embedded platform. We are enabling AI systems to perceive farther, react faster, and perform more intelligent tasks with a single sensor platform."

"Leopard Imaging has extensive experience delivering high-performance embedded camera systems for AI and edge computing applications," said Apurva Jain, Senior Vice President of Product & Marketing at Lumotive. "Together, Sirius Max combines Lumotive's programmable beam-steering technology with Leopard Imaging's high-performance imaging platform to extend iToF sensing performance beyond 20 meters in both indoor and outdoor environments. With 1MP depth resolution and software-defined scanning capabilities, customers can leverage a single sensor platform for applications such as SLAM, collision avoidance, object handling, and navigation. Sirius Max enables AI systems to detect objects farther away, operate at higher speeds, and perform more intelligent tasks while reducing overall system complexity."

Advanced AI Perception Architecture

Sirius Max integrates synchronized RGB imaging, intelligent iToF depth sensing and processing, embedded processing, and Lumotive's TX10 programmable beam-steering transmitter into a compact GMSL2 camera module platform optimized for real-time AI perception workloads.

The platform supports synchronized RGB video, depth data, and control transmission over a single coaxial cable, simplifying integration into advanced embedded computing and edge AI systems. Through programmable scanning and region-of-interest control, Sirius Max can consolidate multiple sensing functions into a single camera platform. Customers can leverage one sensor for applications such as SLAM, cliff detection, collision avoidance, visual inspection, object handling, and navigation, reducing system complexity while improving performance and deployment flexibility.

Core technologies include

High-performance RGB imaging with integrated ISP

Intelligent iToF depth sensing based on the onsemi AF0130 depth sensor

High resolution extended-range depth perception in indoor and outdoor conditions

Software-defined sensing in regions of interest

Compact, low-power embedded camera module design

Enhanced dynamic range, reduced multipath, and reduced saturation noise in all conditions

Embedded processing and synchronization

Low-latency GMSL2 connectivity

Optimized for robotics, industrial automation, automotive, and edge AI applications

About Leopard Imaging Leopard Imaging is a global leader in AI perception and spatial intelligence solution design and manufacturing, providing advanced imaging technologies for autonomous systems, robotics, AIoT, automotive, industrial automation, healthcare, and edge AI applications. Leopard Imaging specializes in high-performance imaging, optics, and AI processing technologies for next-generation intelligent vision systems. www.leopardimaging.com

About Lumotive Lumotive is pioneering the era of programmable optics, where for the first time, light is controlled as intelligently and flexibly as software. Lumotive's patented Light Control Metasurface (LCM™) transforms photonics into a digital platform, unlocking breakthroughs in sensing, optical switching, and communication.

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The financing demonstrates continued institutional capital interest in best-in-class office assets with experienced sponsorship, predictable cash flows and significant embedded value creation opportunities in supply-constrained, high-growth markets like Dallas

Key Takeaways

- JLL arranges $406M CMBS loan through Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley for Regent Properties' Trammell Crow Center

- The 50-story trophy office tower is located at the epicenter of Dallas' Arts District with 92% occupancy

- Recently completed $182 million capital improvement program, including new parking structure, 27,000 SF of ground-floor retail and best-in-class amenity package

Dallas, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL's Capital Markets group announced today that it has arranged $406 million in financing for Trammell Crow Center, a 1,226,825-square-foot trophy office tower in Dallas' highly sought-after Arts District.

JLL worked on behalf of the borrower, Regent Properties, LLC, to secure the five-year, fixed-rate, single-asset single-borrower (SASB) loan through Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley.

Trammell Crow Center stands as one of Dallas' most renowned office destinations, featuring 50 stories and occupying a premier 2.2-acre site at the confluence of the city's most important districts. The property is 92% leased to a diverse roster of creditworthy tenants, including major corporations such as Goldman Sachs, Baker & Botts LLP, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Orix and Prudential. The asset continues to benefit from a transformative $182 million renovation completed in 2019 by the prior ownership group, which included construction of a new parking structure providing a competitive 3.0 per 1,000 square feet parking ratio, 27,000 square feet of ground-floor retail that enhanced walkability, a complete lobby renovation and a full suite of Class AA amenities, including the TCC Athletic Club, conference center, outdoor pavilion and on-site dining options.

Located at the epicenter of Dallas' Arts District overlooking Klyde Warren Park and the Nasher Sculpture Center, Trammell Crow Center benefits from an unmatched mixed-use environment with seamless connectivity to over 400 shops and restaurants, 2.7 million square feet of retail and 29,000+ multifamily units within walking distance. Trammell Crow Center's position in the Dallas Arts District provides tenants with unparalleled access to cultural amenities, including the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, Crow Museum of Asian Art, Winspear Opera House and Meyerson Symphony Center. The 118-acre Dallas Arts District is the largest contiguous urban arts district in the United States, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually and generating an estimated $400 million in economic impact.

The JLL Capital Markets Debt Advisory team representing the borrower was led by Managing Director Greg Napper and Associates Jordan Buck and Rett Daugbjerg.

JLL's Capital Markets group is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The group's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients, including investment sales and advisory, debt advisory, M&A and corporate finance, loan sales, equity & fund placement, net lease, derivative advisory and energy & infrastructure advisory. JLL's Capital Markets group has more than 3,000 specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries.

For more news, videos and research resources, please visit JLL's newsroom.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE:JLL) is a leading global commercial real estate services and investment management company with annual revenue of $26.1 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 112,000 as of June 30, 2026. For over 200 years, clients have trusted JLL, a Fortune 500® company, to help them confidently buy, build, occupy, manage and invest across a variety of industries and property types, including office, industrial, hotel, multi-family, retail and data center properties. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAY. Powered by rich global datasets and leading technology capabilities, we provide coordinated, end-to-end delivery of real estate services for a broad range of global clients who represent a wide variety of industries. Through LaSalle Investment Management, we invest for clients on a global basis in both private assets and publicly traded real estate securities. For further information, visit jll.com.

About Regent Properties

Founded in 1989, Regent Properties, LLC is an SEC-registered investment advisor and is a real estate investment management and development firm based in Los Angeles, California and Dallas, Texas. The company is a vertically integrated operator and fund manager with current investments concentrated in six Sun Belt markets. Regent Properties manages a variety of investment vehicles, including comingled funds and separate accounts, on behalf of a sophisticated institutional investor base. For more information, visit www.regentproperties.com.

Contact: Kristen Murphy, JLL Director, PR

Phone: 617 543 4873

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL

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Announced by CPT Group, Inc.

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CPT Group, Inc., announces a proposed Settlement in a class action lawsuit called Meyer, et al. v. Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health Authority, Case No. 01-CV-2026-901158.00, In the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, Birmingham Division (the "Litigation").

What is this about? The action arises from an alleged cyberattack that occurred on or around November 25, 2025 (the "Data Security Incident"). While Defendants deny any wrongdoing, the parties agreed to settle the case before trial rather than pursue litigation. The entity sued, Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health Authority, is referred to as "Defendant."

Who is affected? You are a Settlement Class Member if you are an individual residing in the United States or its territories whose Private Information was determined to have been potentially impacted in the Data Security Incident, including if you were sent a Notice Letter.

What does the Settlement provide? The Settlement provides monetary relief. Settlement Class Members may submit a Claim for cash payment. All Settlement Class Members are also eligible to submit a Claim for Credit Monitoring Services.

How do I file a claim? Claim Forms are available for download and online submission at www.JBSSettlement.com. The deadline to submit a Claim Form, either online or via email or U.S. Mail, is December 23, 2026.

What are my other options? You can do nothing, exclude yourself, or object to the Settlement.

Do Nothing: If you do nothing, you will not receive a cash payment or Credit Monitoring Services. You will remain a member of the Settlement Class, be bound by the Settlement if it is approved by the Court and give up the right to sue Defendant over the claims resolved by the Settlement.

Exclude Yourself: If you exclude yourself, you will not be able to enroll in credit monitoring or receive a cash payment, but you may be able to file your own lawsuit against Defendant, for the same claims. This is the only option that leaves you the potential to file your own lawsuit against Defendant for the claims that are being resolved by the Settlement. To be effective, you must submit a request for exclusion by November 23, 2026.

Object: If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you may submit an objection, by November 23, 2026, telling the Court why you do not like the Settlement. If your objection is overruled, you will be bound by the Settlement.

What happens next? The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on February 16, 2027, at 10:30 A.M. before Judge Chuck Price In the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, Birmingham Division to consider final approval of the Settlement, payment of attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses and the Plaintiffs' service awards. You may attend the hearing at your own expense, or you may pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.

How do I get more information? For more information and to view the full notice, Claim Form, a copy of the Settlement Agreement, and other documents, go to www.JBSSettlement.com. You may also contact the Settlement Administrator toll-free at 1-888-716-0970, by email at [email protected] or by writing to Meyer, et al. v. Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health Authority, c/o CPT Group, Inc., PO Box 19504, Irvine, CA 92623.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR THE COURT CLERK'S OFFICE

SOURCE CPT Group, Inc.

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NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board has been named one of the Best Places to Work in New York City by Crain's New York Business, marking the fourth consecutive year the organization has earned the recognition.

"What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it reflects the experience of our colleagues," said Jennifer Tarlow, Chief Human Resources Officer of The Conference Board. "For four years in a row, they've told us that The Conference Board is a place where they can learn, collaborate, and do work that matters. That's something we're incredibly proud of."

In collaboration with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm, Crain's identified the city's best organizations to work for based on employee surveys and employer questionnaires that cover topics including company culture, leadership, advancement opportunities, and benefits.

The recognition reflects The Conference Board's continued commitment to creating a rewarding and engaging workplace for employees in New York and across its offices worldwide.

Employees benefit from:

- Purpose-driven work on the ideas and issues shaping the future of business and society, helping leaders navigate an increasingly complex world.

- A truly global experience, with opportunities to engage with executives and colleagues across industries, functions, and geographies.

- Competitive total rewards, including hybrid work, employer-sponsored learning and development, and opportunities for continued professional growth.

- A strong commitment to work-life balance, including Summer Fridays, a company-wide winter holiday break, and generous vacation time throughout the year.

- A focus on employee well-being, supported by on-site health and wellness initiatives.

- A connected and collaborative community, with volunteer opportunities, sports teams, clubs, and other employee events that bring colleagues together.

Learn more about The Conference Board and our career opportunities at ConferenceBoard.org.

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is the global, Member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Ahead®. Founded in 1916, we are a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization. TCB.org  l  Learn about Membership

SOURCE The Conference Board

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INDIANA, Pa., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- S&T Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of S&T Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ, STBA), has been recognized by the American Bankers Association (ABA) with a Marketing Excellence Award in the brand awareness category for its "S&T Bank Draft Headquarters" campaign. S&T Bank Draft Headquarters was an immersive marketing experience that took place during Pittsburgh's highly anticipated NFL Draft week in April and was designed to elevate awareness of S&T and its growing presence across Western Pennsylvania.

The three-day draft headquarters experience combined customer engagement, strategic media partnerships and regional outreach efforts to strengthen connections and enhance visibility during one of the region's most high-profile events. The bank's commitment to the region extended beyond the fan experience, culminating in a $50,000 donation to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Inc. made possible through ticket proceeds from draft-themed events hosted in partnership with iHeartRadio.

"The NFL Draft in Pittsburgh gave us an incredible opportunity to meet people where the excitement was happening, strengthen existing relationships and connect new audiences with S&T in a way that felt authentic to who we are," said Chris McComish, chief executive officer of S&T Bank. "This recognition honors a campaign that brought our people-forward purpose to life and reinforced our commitment to the communities we serve."

"In a city where football plays such a defining role in the culture, having the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh gave us a unique platform to create something special for our customers and communities," said Jordyn Kemats, director of sales strategy and marketing at S&T Bank. "Bringing draft headquarters to life took tremendous creativity, collaboration and commitment. I'm incredibly proud of the team and our partners who turned an ambitious idea into an unforgettable three days."

The ABA Marketing Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding bank marketing campaigns from across the country. Entries are evaluated on concept, strategy, creativity, execution and impact. The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation's banking industry, which is comprised of small, regional and large banks.

About S&T Bancorp, Inc. and S&T Bank

S&T Bancorp, Inc. is a $9.9 billion bank holding company that is headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol STBA. Its principal subsidiary, S&T Bank, was established in 1902 and operates in Pennsylvania and Ohio. For more information, visit stbancorp.com or stbank.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram,  LinkedIn and  X.

SOURCE S&T Bank

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FHU Earns Three Spots in 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings

HENDERSON, Tenn., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Freed-Hardeman University has earned recognition in three categories of the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, including No. 4 for Best Value Regional University in the South, No. 18 among Top Private Schools in the South and No. 35 (tied) among Regional Universities in the South. Full rankings for U.S. News Best Colleges may be found at usnews.com/best-colleges.

"We're grateful for this recognition from U.S. News & World Report and are especially grateful for the people who make these accomplishments possible," FHU President Keith Harris said. "Every day, our faculty and staff invest in our students through excellent teaching and a shared commitment to faith. We're proud to offer students an education that challenges them academically and prepares them to make a difference wherever God leads them."

The Best Value ranking recognizes institutions that combine academic quality with affordability. U.S. News determines Best Value rankings by considering a university's overall academic quality alongside the net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student receiving average need-based financial aid. The methodology is designed to identify colleges and universities that provide strong educational outcomes at a reasonable cost.

Freed-Hardeman's latest U.S. News recognition comes as the university continues to see strong indicators of student success. The university's 89% fall-to-fall retention rate reflects the percentage of students who return to FHU for another year of study, while its five-year graduation rate reached an all-time high of 71%.

For the 2026-27 academic year, FHU saw a 5% increase in new students. Full-time undergraduate enrollment increased by 3% while graduate enrollment saw 13% growth, and the university welcomed a record number of international students representing more than 20 countries.

Together, the U.S. News rankings and student-success measures reflect FHU's commitment to providing students with an education grounded in Christian faith, academic excellence and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

U.S. News & World Report evaluates colleges and universities using a range of measures related to academic quality, student outcomes, faculty resources, financial resources, student selectivity and other factors. The Best Colleges rankings are designed to help prospective students and families compare institutions based on factors important to their college search.

The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. Located in Henderson, Tennessee, FHU offers associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.

SOURCE Freed-Hardeman University

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Agroz Inc. (NASDAQ: AGRZ) ("Agroz" or the "Company"), an innovative, fully vertically integrated agricultural technology company designing, building, managing, and operating indoor Controlled Environment Agriculture vertical farms, today announced that it will effect a 1-for-20 reverse stock split (the "Split") of its issued and outstanding and authorized Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.001 per share ("Ordinary Shares"), effective at 12:00 am, Eastern time, on September 29, 2026.

Key Details of the Reverse Stock Split:

- Conversion Ratio: Every 20 issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares will be consolidated into one Ordinary Share.

- Fractional Shares: Shareholders entitled to fractional shares will receive one full share for each fractional portion.

- Updated Stock Identifier: While the trading symbol for the Ordinary Shares will remain "AGRZ," the Ordinary Shares will be designated a new CUSIP number G0136M119.

- Equity Adjustments: Outstanding stock awards, options, and the shares reserved will be adjusted proportionally to reflect the Split.

- Warrant Share and Exercise Price Adjustments: Any Ordinary Shares underlying outstanding warrants and the exercise price of the outstanding warrants will be adjusted proportionally to reflect this stock split.

Impact on Shareholders:

- Certificate Holders: Shareholders with physical certificates can exchange them, if desired, through VStock Transfer, LLC, the transfer agent of the Company, which will provide detailed instructions.

- Share Value: The reverse split does not impact the overall value of shareholder equity; it only reduces the number of shares outstanding while proportionally adjusting the share price.

Impact on our Ordinary Shares:

The Company anticipates that there will be approximately 1,842,675 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately following the anticipated reverse stock split on September 28, 2026. The Company anticipates that there will be approximately 36,853,485 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the anticipated reverse stock split on September 28, 2026.

About Agroz Inc.

Agroz Inc. is an innovative, fully vertically integrated agricultural technology company designing, building, managing, and operating indoor and outdoor Controlled Environment Agriculture ("CEA") vertical farms. Agroz also operates CEA vertical farms in local communities to grow and deliver clean, pesticide free, fresh and nutritious rich vegetables directly to consumers and businesses, and to educate the public on how its vegetables are grown. Agroz believes its competitive advantage stems from its proprietary Agroz OS system, a vertical farm operating system comprised of (i) digitally automated hardware systems enabling management of vertical farm conditions, and (ii) certain software solutions enabling email and communication systems for vertical farm organization.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." You can identify forward-looking statements as those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "contemplates," "estimates," "believes," "plans," "projected," "predicts," "potential," or "hopes" or the negative of these or similar terms. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Agroz. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including, without limitation, statements regarding the closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds from the sale of our ordinary shares in the Offering. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking statements discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us more fully described in Agroz's filings with the SEC. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws.

SOURCE Agroz Inc

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