New exclusive benefit program delivers collective buying power to small and mid-sized fleets — with three live programs available to customers today.

HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PCS Software today announced the launch of PCS Advantage™, a new exclusive benefit program that delivers enterprise-level pricing and vendor partnerships to small and mid-sized carriers. Built on the collective purchasing power of the PCS customer community, the program launches with three active benefits: fuel savings, driver recruiting, and lodging and travel — available immediately to all active PCS customers.

For decades, managed cost programs with negotiated national rates have been the exclusive domain of the country's largest fleets. The volume required to command real discounts has simply been out of reach for most mid-market operators. PCS Advantage changes that by aggregating the purchasing power of the entire PCS customer base and using that collective scale to negotiate on every customer's behalf. The result: pricing and partnerships that individual mid-sized carriers couldn't access on their own.

"Small and mid-sized carriers have always had to play the game on an uneven field. Through our platform, we've helped them run their operations like the majors. PCS Advantage takes that further — by pooling the buying power of our entire customer community, we're unlocking programs that were never available to them before. Now the collective becomes the advantage."

— Mark Hill, CEO, PCS Software

Three Benefits. Live on Day One.

PCS Fuel Savings Advantage provides enrolled customers with negotiated diesel pricing at thousands of locations nationwide. For most fleets, the per-gallon savings potential is significant enough to offset a meaningful portion — or in some cases all — of their annual PCS investment.

PCS Lodging & Travel Advantage gives customers access to pre-negotiated hotel rates at a substantial discount to retail, through a national network covering hundreds of thousands of properties. Direct billing is available, removing the friction of requiring drivers to use personal credit cards for work-related lodging. Fleets of all sizes have used the program for everything from driver layovers and resets to new hire orientation stays.

PCS Recruiting Advantage connects carriers with a dedicated driver lead generation service that delivers qualified CDL-A driver and diesel technician applicants directly into their hiring pipeline — at a fraction of the industry average cost-per-hire. PCS customers get a significant discount on their first month, with no setup fees.

"We built this program around one question: what are our customers paying full retail price on, and can we do better? Fuel, lodging, driver recruiting — these are costs that hit every fleet, every month, regardless of size. We've negotiated better rates on all three and we're passing every dollar of that back to our customers. This is just the beginning."

Jason Douglass, VP of Community and Engagement, PCS Software.

Built on Collective Buying Power

The foundation of PCS Advantage is straightforward: the PCS customer community collectively represents a major purchasing force. PCS Software negotiates contracts on behalf of that community and passes the benefit directly back to individual operators. Programs that were previously accessible only to the country's largest transportation companies are now within reach for carriers of any size — simply by virtue of being a PCS customer.

PCS Advantage is exclusive to active PCS customers. Participation is optional and à la carte — carriers can enroll in any or all active benefits through their PCS Customer Success Manager, with no fees and no new software required. Additional benefit categories are currently in development.

With three active benefits and more on the way, PCS Advantage gives mid-market carriers something they've never had before: the buying power of the industry's largest fleets, working for them.

About PCS Software

PCS Software is the TMS that takes you from stressed to streamlined. For more than 20 years, PCS has partnered with carriers and brokers to simplify operations, improve profitability, and strengthen customer relationships. With integrated solutions spanning dispatch, accounting, compliance, mobile communications, and AI-driven decision support, PCS gives fleets the tools they need to move more freight and grow with confidence. To learn more, visit pcssoft.com.

Media Contact:

Susan Collins

Media Relations Specialist

[email protected]

770-654-7054

SOURCE PCS Software

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Three in four organizations experienced Microsoft 365 governance incidents in the past year, as AI adoption outpaces the skills to govern it

ShareGate releases second annual State of M365 report highlighting a governance crisis, as 67% of organizations run two or more AI tools in their tenants

MONTREAL, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In the past year, 38% of organizations left former employees or guests with access they should have lost, 35% hit an audit or compliance gap, and 26% had sensitive content reach the wrong people. Altogether, 77% experienced at least one Microsoft 365 governance incident, as two-thirds now run two or more AI tools on that same content. Meanwhile, just 1% use a purpose-built governance tool. AI Adoption moved. Controls did not. The result is compliance and security exposure that most organizations can neither measure nor prove they control.

That is the central finding of the second annual State of M365 report, released today by ShareGate, the tool helping over 100,000 IT pros keep their enterprise content under control. Drawing on two surveys of nearly 1,800 IT professionals and leaders across nine countries, the report examines how organizations managed, secured, and migrated content in Microsoft 365 in 2026.

What makes those incidents more consequential than they were a year ago is what now reads across them. Full Copilot deployment roughly doubled, from 29% to 56%, and 28% of those tenants run three or more AI tools. Content that was once overshared has now become a liability that an AI tool can retrieve on request.

The report points to three factors behind the incident rate: fragmented visibility into their own environments, overconfidence in how well governed those environments are, and an AI governance skills gap that has not closed. On the first, nothing has changed: purpose-built governance tooling still sits at 1%, the same share as in 2025, while 57% use built-in Microsoft tools, 38% rely on manual/internal policies, and 4% have no governance at all.

The research also reveals that many organizations rely on periodic reviews to catch problems that everyday collaboration in a professional Microsoft 365 environment creates. 65% of teams learn about them only after the fact through quarterly audits or user complaints, while just 35% rely on proactive monitoring and automated alerting. Surprisingly, governance self-assessment runs in the opposite direction. 63% of organizations describe their governance as operationalized or better, drawn from the same 77% group who reported an incident, with just 1% using tooling built for the job. 

"Most of the tenant environments I look at aren't broken; they just don't know what's happening within them. Teams feel confident because nothing has surfaced yet, but that doesn't mean there's nothing wrong," said Richard Harbridge, Principal Industry Advisor at ShareGate. "That gap between 'no news' and 'no problems' is exactly where the governance incidents live, and when you layer in multiple AI tools, the visibility problem compounds fast. The fix isn't more diligence or a bigger team. It's tooling and processes that surface and fix problems in week one instead of month three." 

Other findings from the report include:

- Copilot is now close to universal in Microsoft 365 tenants. 93% of organizations have it in production in some form, up from 82% in 2025.

- The AI stack is fragmented. Alongside Copilot, 54% use ChatGPT Enterprise, 36% Gemini, and 32% Claude for Work.

- AI is already a material line item. 22% of organizations say AI has taken more than a fifth of their IT budget, rising to 32% among teams that have fully deployed Copilot.

- Better controls for AI agents is the #1 thing IT professionals say would help most, named by 34%, ahead of executive buy-in (20%) and automated remediation (18%). More budget finished last at 3%.

- Compliance is stopping Microsoft 365 migrations at a growing rate. 34% of organizations said compliance concerns caused them to delay or avoid a migration outright in the past 12 months, up from 20% in 2025. 87% said compliance significantly or moderately impacts migration decisions, up from 82%.

- Almost nobody would run their last migration the same way. Only 7% would change nothing. The top regrets are planning earlier (45%), buying tooling sooner (38%), and cleaning up the source environment first (36%).

- Most environments are still split between cloud and on-premises. 68% run hybrid, which means every control has to be applied twice. Only 28% are fully in the cloud, up from 22% last year.

The State of M365 report combines two self-reported surveys, each conducted across nine countries: 943 IT professionals, ranging from managers to VPs, on Microsoft 365 migration, compliance, and governance, and 851 IT leaders on AI deployment, costs, and exposure. Percentages are based on each question's response data. Governance incidents counted oversharing, stale access, audit gaps, and shadow IT/AI. A fifth category, users unable to find content, was reported by 41% of organizations but kept out of the headline figure, which would otherwise have been 82%.

The full State of M365 research is available on ShareGate's website, with market-by-market insights across the United States, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia and Japan. The interactive microsite includes the Microsoft 365 Governance Index, which lets IT teams benchmark their own environment against the results by country, industry, or organization size.

About ShareGate   

ShareGate keeps enterprise content ready for whatever comes next. It helps organizations understand what's in their Microsoft 365 tenant, move content where it belongs, and keep it under control so they always know what they have, where it is, and who can reach it. 

More than 100,000 IT professionals use ShareGate: in-house teams running their own Microsoft 365 environment, and the consultants, systems integrators and resellers who deliver that work for clients. It moves over 5 petabytes of data every month and has spent 15 years in the trenches alongside them.

ShareGate is developed by Workleap Technologies, a Montréal-based software company.

Media Contact  

Tanner Garza  

PANBlast for ShareGate  

[email protected]

SOURCE ShareGate

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Enjoy Brilliant Fall Foliage, Festivals, Music and Outdoors

LEIPERS FORK, Tenn., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nashville's Big Back Yard is rolling-hill central in Tennessee, which means breathtaking fall foliage, scenic vistas, serene rivers, and natural wonders. The historic Natchez Trace Parkway serves as the anchor of the Back Yard: 100 miles of great fall adventures to explore around every turn.

Part of America's National Park System, the Natchez Trace features stunning fall foliage and historical sites from Nashville, Tenn., through the Big Back Yard, The Shoals of Alabama, all the way to Natchez, MS. The small towns and rural communities that are part of NBBY, border the Trace. Natchez Trace Parkway

Near Hohenwald is the Oak Grove Lavendar Farm and an all-day Fall Festival. Taking place from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sept. 26, the event features artisan vendors, tasty seasonal eats, and a fun dog costume contest. The best part of the day is enjoying the fragrance of lavender wafting through the air. Lavendar Farm Fall Festival

One of the region's most popular events is The National Banana Pudding Festival happening in Centerville, Oct. 3-4. Enjoy great music, the NBP Cook-off, and "The Puddin' Path," where guests sample scrumptious banana pudding recipes. Visit Banana Pudding Festival 2026

In the historic village of Leiper's Fork, just south of Nashville, is the highly curated Patina Home & Garden's Fall Market, 12-4 p.m. CDT Oct. 3. The day will also feature a special book signing with author Courtney Allison. Patina Fall Market

Leiper's Creek Gallery will celebrate 25 years of inspiring connections through fine art, 6-8 p.m. CDT, Oct. 3. The evening will include live music by Bob Irwin, catering by Blue Diamond, drinks from Leiper's Fork Distillery. 25th Anniversary Celebration

The popular Fork Fest is happening at 3 p.m. CDT, Oct. 25. Fork Fest in Leiper's The 10th annual Pickin' Leiper's Fork Antiques and Vintage Show is Nov. 13-15 on the grounds at PROPS.

Shoals Fest, Jason Isbell's premiere music festival in Florence, Alabama's McFarland Park, is happening Oct. 3-4. Muscle Shoals music is in the spotlight at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville with the continuation of the popular exhibit, Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising.

Step right up to Oktoberfest in Loretto, with a week of special activities and events, Oct. 4-11. Events include Family Fun Night with farmers market, graveyard walk, Loretto merchants' day, German beer tasting and more. Oktoberfest in Loretto

Spend a fall afternoon on a Buffalo River Horseback Trail Ride in Waynesboro. The trails meander through some of the most breathtaking country in the Tennessee hills. Horseback Riding on The Buffalo

Lodging options:

Fork And Field Cottages in Leiper's Fork, TN

GunRunner Hotel in Florence, AL

Renaissance Shoals Resort & Spa in Florence, AL

The Commodore Hotel in Linden, TN

Woodland Parkview Motel in Lawrenceburg

Visit Nashville's Big Back Yard.

SOURCE Leiper’s Fork Foundation / Nashville's Big Back Yard

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Lennar's Venue at Leaf Creek Sets a New Standard for 55-and-Better Living in Douglassville, PA

DOUGLASSVILLE, Pa., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders, today announced Venue at Leaf Creek, a one-of-a-kind active adult destination in Amity Township in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. Anticipated to open this fall, the community brings over 300 single-family homes paired with resort-style amenities designed to make everyday living feel like a getaway.

"Active adult living should be about more than just the home itself – it's about the lifestyle that comes with it," said Tench Tilghman, Lennar Pennsylvania-Delaware Division President. "At Venue at Leaf Creek, residents will enjoy a vibrant new destination surrounded by beautiful views, thoughtfully designed amenities and everyday conveniences, creating an exceptional place to live, connect and enjoy what's next."

Named for the scenic creek that winds through the property, Venue at Leaf Creek is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where wooded farmland, scenic waterways, and more than 300 years of local history create a tranquil setting, with shopping, dining, and major regional destinations still close by.

Venue at Leaf Creek features 10 distinct floorplans ranging from 1,570 to 3,700 square feet, with two to four bedrooms and two to four bathrooms. The collection showcases open-concept single-level layouts with exterior decks included. Pricing starts in the $400,000s.

Every home offers Lennar's signature Everything's Included® program, where the homebuilder's most popular features and finishes are built into the base price of the home. At Venue at Leaf Creek, this includes gourmet kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances, luxury bathroom finishes, premium flooring, ring doorbells, wireless thermostats, and much more.

The community's private clubhouse serves as a central hub, hosting social programming, wellness activities, and everyday gathering spaces. Planned amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, pickleball courts, and walking trails, complemented by walkable streets and shared outdoor spaces throughout the neighborhood, creating natural opportunities for residents to stay active and build lasting friendships.

Located in historic Amity Township, Venue at Leaf Creek residents enjoy parks, walking and biking trails, and the Schuylkill River corridor all within easy reach, while major thoroughfares including Route 422 and Route 100 provide connections to Reading and Collegeville, with King of Prussia approximately 30 minutes away and Philadelphia within an hour's drive.

The community is located at 677 Old Swede Road in Douglassville.

For more information on these new home opportunities, call (484) 960-8193 or visit the community website.

About Lennar Corporation

Lennar Corporation is one of the nation's leading homebuilders, dedicated to making the American dream of homeownership attainable for more people. Since its founding in 1954, Lennar has built more than 1.5 million homes for buyers at every stage of life in communities across the country, from first-time and move-up buyers to active adults. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments, shaping the future of homebuilding. For more information, visit www.lennar.com.

Contact: Danielle Tocco

Vice President Communications

Lennar Corporation

[email protected]

Direct Line: 949.789.1633

SOURCE Lennar

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Fashion Trust U.S. is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Omar Mir to its Board of Directors. Bringing a distinguished global background in business, philosophy, and culture, Dr. Mir joins one of American fashion's most influential platforms dedicated to fostering emerging talent.

In addition to his board appointment, Dr. Mir will serve as the driving force behind the 2027 Sustainability Award. This prestigious honor celebrates a new generation of American designers who are redefining the boundaries of responsible luxury and ethical production.

"Omar brings a rare combination of global perspective, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine commitment to the next generation," said Tania Fares, Founder of Fashion Trust U.S. "We are thrilled to welcome him to our Board and to have his support behind the Sustainability Award. He understands that the future belongs to people willing to challenge the way things have always been done, and that is exactly what these young designers are doing."

The Sustainability Award has quickly become a cornerstone of the Fashion Trust U.S. honors, recognizing visionaries who prove that high-level creativity and desirability can coexist with environmental and social responsibility. Since its introduction, the award has brought together leading voices in fashion and culture with some of American design's most exciting emerging talent: Laura Brown presented the 2024 award to Batsheva Hay of Batsheva; Kate Hudson presented the 2025 honor to Nana Kwame Adusei of Kwame Adusei; and Jodie Turner-Smith presented the 2026 award to Maxwell Osborne and Kristy Chen of AnOnlyChild

"The most exciting ideas often begin with someone willing to imagine what doesn't exist yet," said Dr. Omar Mir. "Fashion has always possessed that power. Sustainability asks us to go further and imagine not only what is beautiful, but what is possible. I am honored to join the Board of Fashion Trust U.S. and to support a generation of designers with the courage to shape the future of the industry."

ABOUT FTUS

Fashion Trust U.S. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to recognizing and supporting the next generation of U.S.-based emerging fashion designers. Launched in 2022 with its first Award Gala in 2023, the Fashion Trust U.S. initiative provides financial support and fashion industry mentorships to promising designers across the U.S.

Founded by Tania Fares, her vision began in 2011 with the launch of the British Fashion Council's Fashion Trust in the U.K., which she led for a decade. Tania now serves as co-chair of the British Fashion Council (BFC) Foundation.

Each year, winners receive financial grant funding and a one-year intensive mentorship covering budgeting, brand strategy, marketing, social media optimization, merchandising, and overall business growth. As part of the program, each winner is also flown to London to take part in the British Fashion Council's Fashion Trust initiative, an immersive mentorship experience designed to help scale fashion businesses. There, designers are connected with respected industry voices, who generously share their insights, experience, and strategies for long-term success. It's a strong network and community that embodies the true spirit of Fashion Trust.

U.S.-based designers in the categories of Ready-to-Wear, Jewelry, Accessories, as well as recent fashion school Graduates, are invited to apply during the open application period from June through end of November. Applications are free to submit via our website. Eligible designers are required to be in business between two to seven years.

ABOUT DR. OMAR MIR

Dr. Omar Mir is a global business leader, academic, and philanthropist whose work intersects technology, culture, and social empowerment.

A recognized expert in the global technology ecosystem, Dr. Mir serves as the Advisor on AI and Advanced Technology to The King's Trust International founded by HM King Charles III and as Chief Digital Advisor to HM Princess Royal Anne's Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA UK). His academic contributions include serving on the Imperial College Business School London Advisory Board and holding an appointment as Honorary Visiting Professor. He also serves as a Strategic Advisor to the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and is a member of their Honour Guard.

Dr. Mir's philanthropic efforts are centered on expanding opportunity for youth. Beyond his role with The King's Trust International, he has provided personal support to over 50,000 children via educational initiatives and holds board or advisory roles with the American Ballet Theatre, Holocaust Museum LA and WeProtect.

SOURCE Fashion Trust U.S.

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Hundreds of events nationwide will celebrate military families, build connections, and help military children feel at home in their new communities

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Star Families, the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military and veteran families, will host Blue Star Welcome Week 2026 presented by Target from September 26 through October 4, bringing communities across the country together with hundreds of events to welcome and support the more than 600,000 military-connected families who relocate each year.

The annual nationwide event raises awareness of the unique challenges military families face while inspiring neighbors, businesses, schools, and community organizations to help military families build connections and a sense of belonging in their new communities after permanent change of station (PCS) moves, the military term for a move to a new duty station. Through get-to-know-your community events like city tours and scavenger hunts, volunteer opportunities, and community partnerships, Welcome Week helps military families connect with the communities in which they live.

Welcome Week will feature nationwide community experiences from coast to coast, bookended by two marquee "All Hands on Deck: To Nourish The Service" gatherings: one aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego on September 28 and the other at the Virginia Air & Space Science Center in Hampton, Virginia, on October 5.

Hosted by Blue Star Families, in partnership with Welcome Week Presenting Sponsor, Target, these events will bring together hundreds of volunteer employees from Target to assemble and distribute 1,000 pantry kits in each location filled with Target-owned brand food essentials for military families who have recently relocated to the San Diego and Hampton Roads areas and who, like many relocating families, face unexpected costs and challenges associated with moving.

Communities nationwide will host events throughout the week, including block parties, scavenger hunts, community tours, outdoor experiences, and other activities designed to help military families connect with their new neighbors and learn about their new community. Highlights include:

- The New England Chapter will host an event with the Navy Band Northeast at the USS Constitution Museum.

- The Tampa Bay Chapter will welcome families to Legoland, a Tampa Bay Lightning game, and the largest Welcome Week event ever at the Florida Aquarium.

- The Chicagoland Chapter will bring families to a multicultural fair and hold a Welcome Home Fall Festival.

- The Maryland Chapter will host a train ride into Washington, D.C. and visit the Baltimore Museum of Art.

- The Puget Sound Chapter will hold a scavenger hunt in Seattle and host families at the Woodland Park Zoo.

- The Craig Newmark New York Tri-State Chapter will host a tour in the city.

- The Dayton & Southwestern Ohio Chapter will tour the Sharonville Transmission Plant during Ford Family Day.

- The Sheila and George Casey National Capital Region Chapter will host families for a Washington Nationals baseball game and D.C. United soccer game.

- The Military Families Outdoors program will provide nature guides along with outdoor education kits to help families explore their new communities.

In addition, Welcome Week sponsors will participate in events throughout the week. Macy's will host select military spouses for a private shopping experience in three store locations, and Starbucks Coffee Company will host more than 50 Coffee Connects at coffeehouses across the country. Expect OREO Cookie Challenges at all 14 Blue Star Families Chapter events donated by Mondelez International.

A full list of events is available at the Blue Star Welcome Week website, welcomeweek.bluestarfam.org/events.

A Longstanding Focus on Military Children

This year, Blue Star Welcome Week will build on its longstanding focus on military children by highlighting the unique challenges they face as they move between communities and schools throughout their childhood.

According to the Department of War's 2024 Active Duty Spouse Survey, military families move approximately every two to three years, three times as often as non-military families, and military children often attend multiple schools before graduating. Each move means leaving behind friends, teachers, and familiar routines and starting over in a new community.

"Military families move frequently and uproot their lives as they follow the mission. We all have a role to play in making sure they feel welcome and connected," said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. "Blue Star Welcome Week is a chance for military families to find community and for Everyday Americans to discover how they can show up and do their part. Whether you're a military family or an Everyday American who wants to support those who serve, join Blue Star Families to find your place and learn how you can make a difference during Welcome Week and all year long."

That sense of connection matters. Blue Star Families' research has found that military families continue to face significant challenges related to belonging, financial strain, and food security. Only 37% of military families say they would recommend military service to a young family member, down from 60% a decade ago, underscoring the importance of strengthening the communities that support those who serve.

A National Moment

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Blue Star Welcome Week provides an opportunity to recognize the families who serve alongside our nation's service members and turn gratitude into action.

Blue Star Welcome Week 2026 is supported by presenting sponsor Target, as well as craig newmark philanthropies, CSX, Macy's, Starbucks, Chobani, OREO, Leonardo DRS, Morgan Stanley, T-Mobile, Amazon, along with other corporations, private foundations, local small businesses, and nonprofit partner organizations.

Blue Star Families encourages Everyday Americans to Do Your Part to welcome military families during Welcome Week and beyond by joining or hosting an event, sharing resources to spread the word, or making a donation. For more information and to get involved, visit bluestarwelcomeweek.org.

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation's largest military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. A "blue star family" is the family of a currently serving military member, including active duty, National Guard, reserve forces, and those transitioning out of service. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts. Blue Star Families launched Blue Star Welcome Week in 2020 as a national week of activation designed to help military families feel welcome and inspire community members to do their part to support them.

SOURCE Blue Star Families

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This addition marks the second major Canadian benchmark inclusion following the Company's addition to the S&P/TSX Composite Index in 2025

STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, today announced that it has been added to the FTSE Canada All Cap Index, effective after the close of trading on Friday, September 18, 2026.

"A year ago, we became the first U.S.-based cannabis operator in the S&P/TSX Composite Index. Joining the FTSE Canada All Cap Index now puts Curaleaf in a second major Canadian benchmark," said Boris Jordan, Chairman and CEO of Curaleaf. "Every index we join brings our shares in front of a new set of passive and active institutional funds, which means more liquidity, a broader shareholder base, and more investors paying attention to what U.S. cannabis can be."

The FTSE Canada All Cap Index, maintained by FTSE Russell, measures the performance of large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies listed in Canada. This is the second major Canadian index fund Curaleaf has joined since the company was added to the S&P/TSX Composite Index under the Health Care sector in September 2025.

About Curaleaf Holdings

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to enhance lives by cultivating, sharing and celebrating the power of the plant. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf, Select, Grassroots, Find, Dark Heart, and Anthem provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult use markets. Curaleaf International is powered by a strong presence in all stages of the supply chain. Its unique distribution network throughout Europe, Canada and Australasia brings together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This media advisory contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward–looking statements or information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "proposed", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information concerning the inclusion in the FTSE Canada All Cap Index. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and uncertainties is discussed in the Company's Form 8-K dated August 5, 2026 together with the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, attached as exhibits thereto, as well as the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, each of which documents have been filed on the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov/edgar and SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and as described from time to time in documents filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

Investor Contact:

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc.

Camilo Lyon, Chief Investment Officer

[email protected]

Media Contact:

MATTIO Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Curaleaf Holdings, Inc.

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Werfen Announces US FDA 510(k) Clearance and CE Mark for Aptiva® Antiphospholipid Syndrome IgA Reagent

FDA Clearance and CE Mark Complete Aptiva's Antiphospholipid Syndrome Portfolio, Expanding Global Access to Comprehensive APS Testing

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Werfen today announced that its Aptiva Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Reagent has received both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and CE Mark under the European Union's In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR). Together, these milestones complete the Aptiva APS testing portfolio, which now offers all three APS isotypes, IgA, IgG, and IgM, for both anti-cardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (aβ₂GP1) antibodies.

The achievement expands global access to comprehensive APS testing on Aptiva and further strengthens its growing portfolio of assays, which also includes testing for Celiac Disease and Connective Tissue Diseases (CTD). Together, these assays provide laboratories with a more comprehensive solution for autoimmune testing and patient evaluation.

The Aptiva APS IgA Reagent utilizes Aptiva's particle-based multi-analyte technology (PMAT) for the semi-quantitative determination of anti-cardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (aβ₂GP1) IgA antibodies in human serum. When used alongside the Aptiva APS IgG and IgM Reagents, and in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical findings, the IgA assay provides additional diagnostic information that may aid in the diagnosis of both primary and secondary APS.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by thrombotic events and pregnancy-related complications and can be difficult to diagnose because its clinical manifestations often overlap with other conditions. Having access to a complete APS antibody profile may provide clinicians with valuable diagnostic insight and support patient management decisions.

"Completing the APS isotype panel with the addition of IgA significantly enhances the clinical value of the Aptiva system," said Anthony Prestigiacomo, Vice President of Research and Development at Werfen. "APS can present with nonspecific or overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis challenging. By offering all three isotypes, clinicians and laboratories can obtain a more comprehensive assessment that supports informed clinical decision-making and improved patient care."

Aptiva is a fully automated, next-generation multi-analyte system designed to streamline autoimmune testing workflows. Powered by PMAT, the system processes multiple analytes simultaneously from a single patient sample, delivering high throughput with minimal hands-on time. Aptiva helps laboratories improve efficiency while providing comprehensive diagnostic information to clinicians.

"As the Aptiva menu continues to expand, with additional key biomarkers in development, we are building a platform that advances laboratory efficiency while delivering deeper clinical insight," said Vijay Namasivayam, PhD, Chief Operating Officer at Werfen. "The FDA clearance and CE Mark for APS IgA represent important milestones in our commitment to expanding access to innovative autoimmune diagnostics worldwide."

With the addition of APS IgA, the Aptiva portfolio now comprises a comprehensive menu of autoimmune markers across key disease states. This continued expansion underscores Werfen's commitment to delivering innovative, consolidated solutions that help laboratories achieve high-quality diagnostic results and support better patient outcomes.

About Werfen

Werfen (werfen.com) founded in 1966, is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and distributor of specialized diagnostic instruments, related reagents, automation workcells, and data management solutions for use primarily in hospitals and independent clinical laboratories. The Company's clinical areas of focus include Autoimmunity, Hemostasis, Acute Care Diagnostics, Transfusion, and Transplant.

Werfen's solutions help improve the way patients with autoimmune diseases are diagnosed, monitored, and treated. The autoimmunity portfolio includes Aptiva®, BIO-FLASH®, NOVA View®, and QUANTA-Lyser® 3000 systems, and QUANTA Link® data management solution.

The Werfen logo is a trademark of Werfen. Aptiva, QUANTA-Lyser, QUANTA Lite, QUANTA Link, QUANTA Flash, NOVA View, NOVA Lite are registered trademarks of Inova Diagnostics, Inc., a Werfen company. BIO-FLASH is a registered trademark of Biokit S.A. All other product names, company names, marks, logos, and symbols are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Werfen

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Theragen, a Jacksonville, Florida–based medical device company, today announced new data demonstrating how patients' demographics, health histories and surgical techniques may predict their recovery following spinal fusion surgery using a bone growth stimulator. The findings were presented at the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) 2026 Annual Forum.

"We set out to build ActaStim®-S, a bone growth stimulator, that does more than deliver therapy. We built it to listen," said Chris McAuliffe, CEO of Theragen and co-inventor of ActaStim®-S. "Across nearly 7,000 patients and almost 200,000 days of recovery data, ActaStim has taught us that recovery after spinal fusion surgery isn't random. It follows patterns. We can now identify which patients need extra support and what a meaningful recovery target looks like."

The patented product, ActaStim®‑S, integrates a clinically proven therapeutic electrical signal with a modern, easy‑to‑wear design and a first‑of‑its‑kind, data‑rich digital health platform. Its small form factor supports continuous, comfortable and discreet wear in real‑world patient settings, enabling longer daily usage and increasing the likelihood of spinal fusion success.

"These findings further demonstrate the potential value of longitudinal, real-world data in helping clinicians better understand each patient's recovery after spinal fusion surgery," said Ryan D. Snowden, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery at the Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance located in Nashville, TN. "Identifying meaningful patterns early may allow care teams to provide more individualized support and help patients remain engaged throughout the recovery process."

Theragen presented the following findings:

Poster 1: Clinical Predictors of Pain Improvement Following Spinal Fusion: SHAP-Based Interpretation of a Machine Learning Model Using Longitudinal Bone Growth Stimulator Data

- Bone growth stimulator (BGS) wear adherence emerged as the strongest modifiable predictor of clinically meaningful pain improvement. Predicted improvement increased with daily wear time up to approximately 13 hours before plateauing.

- Baseline pain severity was the strongest predictor of achieving minimal clinically important difference (MCID), with patients beginning at higher pain levels having greater opportunity to demonstrate measurable improvement.

- Multilevel fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgical approach were associated with a higher likelihood of predicted non-improvement.

- Patients tracking below the approximately 13-hour daily wear threshold at six weeks postoperatively could potentially benefit from additional adherence counseling or closer postoperative monitoring.

Poster 2: Machine Learning Prediction of Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Pain Following Spinal Fusion Using Longitudinal Bone Growth Stimulator Data

- The machine learning model (XGBoost) outperformed the standard logistic-regression baseline across all reported performance metrics, supporting the value of nonlinear modeling for predicting clinically meaningful pain improvement.

- A standardized device-to-electronic medical record (EMR) pipeline achieved 99.2% completeness across approximately 195,000 patient-day observations, demonstrating that real-world BGS data can be integrated for large-scale predictive modeling.

- The model achieved a 96.4% negative predictive value, potentially supporting: (a) early identification of patients unlikely to achieve clinically meaningful pain improvement; and (b) the development of postoperative risk-stratification tools, pending external validation.

Poster 3: A Novel, Granular, Longitudinal Dataset Identifies Patient and Surgical Factors Associated with Clinically Meaningful Post-operative Spinal Fusion Pain

- Stratified clinical significance tiers (SCST) capture both the magnitude and direction of longitudinal pain change, providing a novel, clinically graded alternative to a single pass/fail MCID threshold.

- Several patient-specific and surgical factors were statistically associated with different postoperative pain trajectories. Degenerative disc disease, diabetes and renal disease were associated with improvement at six weeks, while anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgical approach was associated with improvement at six months. Pseudoarthrosis, tobacco use and spinal stenosis were associated with persistent pain.

- Although several associations reached statistical significance, effect sizes were generally modest, reinforcing that postoperative recovery is multifactorial.

- These findings support the potential value of granular longitudinal BGS data in identifying patient and surgical factors associated with clinically meaningful postoperative pain trajectories and informing future risk-stratification and prediction models.

"ActaStim® isn't just collecting more data. It's translating that data into guidance patients and providers can use," said Chris Mills, Chief Marketing Officer at Theragen. "We've learned that no two spine surgery recoveries look the same. Many factors, including a patient's age, health and surgical technique, can shape a patient's path forward. Our Theragen care team can now help guide that path with real-world evidence."

About Theragen

Theragen, Inc. is a leader in the development and manufacture of non-invasive, electrical stimulation DME products that deliver therapeutic energy to improve fusion success and empower patients to play an active role in their recovery. The company is committed to continuous innovation and expanding our reach to help improve outcomes for more patients. To learn more, please visit actastim.com.

About ActaStim®-S

ActaStim®-S uses safe, effective, FDA-approved stimulation technology that's been prescribed clinically for over 20 years to improve spinal fusion success and help patients get back to the activities they enjoy.1

Media Contact

Dawn Fallon

New Dawn Communications LLC

[email protected]

732-771-7808

References

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020). PMA P190030: FDA Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data.

SOURCE Theragen

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Report details settlement trends in Delaware M&A litigation

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of settlements in litigation related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the Delaware Chancery Court reached 25 last year, its highest level since 2012. However, aggregate settlement amounts declined to $326.6 million, down significantly from the 2023 inflation-adjusted peak of $734.8 million, according to a new Cornerstone Research report released today.

The report, M&A Litigation Settlements in the Delaware Court of Chancery: 2012–2025 Review and Analysis, is based on a hand-collected sample of 143 settlements with known monetary amounts over the 14-year period. It documents a significant drop-off in settlement values in 2025.

In addition to the dip in aggregate settlement amounts, the median settlement in 2025 fell to $10 million, the lowest recorded over the period analyzed. The median settlement amount as a percentage of transaction value also declined, continuing a multi-year downward trend.

"The data point to a number of factors behind the declining settlement amounts in 2025, most notably the surge in litigation over special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), which tend to involve lower claimed damages," said Senior Vice President Frank Schneider, a report coauthor and Cohead of Cornerstone's Valuation, M&A, and Bankruptcy Practice. "Because the SPAC cases at issue tended to involve more modest claims, settlements were smaller. Compounding that trend, settlement values in non-SPAC cases fell as well."

All 2025 settlement amounts were below $50 million, and 80% were below $20 million. In comparison, only 42% of settlements between 2020 and 2024 were below $20 million.

"Based on the sample of 143 settlements, we observe that larger transactions and transactions with larger claimed damages have on average higher settlement amounts and these relationships are statistically significant," said Vice President Paul Zurek, Cohead of Cornerstone's Valuation, M&A, and Bankruptcy Practice and report coauthor.

The report found a strong correlation between claimed damages and settlement outcomes. Claimed damages explain 71% of the variation in settlement amounts, with a 10% increase in damages associated with a 6.4% increase in settlement amount. At the same time, the settlement amount as a percentage of claimed damages tends to decline as the claim size grows, from a 44.0% median for claims under $25 million (2025) to just 2.2% for claims over $1 billion (2020–2024).

Additional Key Findings:

- Surge in SPAC settlements: Litigation related to de-SPAC transactions accounted for 68% of 2025 settlements and 53% of the year's aggregate settlement value. The average settlement in SPAC litigation in 2025 was $10.1 million (median $8.8 million).

- Settlement value of traditional M&A litigation falls: The value of non-SPAC settlements in 2025—an average of $19.4 million and a median of $14.6 million—was down from 2024, when the average and median were $41.5 million and $24.1 million, respectively.

- Falling settlement amounts as a percentage of transaction value: Transaction value was positively correlated with settlement amounts. But the median settlement as a percentage of transaction value fell to 0.5% in 2025, continuing a downward trajectory from the 2020 high of 3.9%.

- Shift in plaintiff profile: In 2025, 72% of settlements involved stockholders of the acquirer (mostly SPAC stockholders), a sharp increase from the 29% observed between 2020 and 2024.

- Counsel fees trending down: Median and average plaintiff counsel fees reached their lowest levels in 2025, driven by smaller settlement amounts and a decrease in the percentage of the settlement awarded as fees.

About Cornerstone Research

Cornerstone Research is at the forefront of economic and financial consulting, delivering the rigorous analytical solutions required to navigate complex disputes. The firm draws from an extensive network of prominent academic and industry experts to support each matter effectively. Pairing a deep understanding of economics and finance with a suite of industry-leading artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, Cornerstone provides clients with a sophisticated, tailored approach. A reputation for innovation, precision, and excellence has defined Cornerstone since 1989. That momentum continues with over 1,000 professionals collaborating across nine offices in the US, UK, and EU. Learn more at https://www.cornerstone.com/.

SOURCE Cornerstone Research

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