Archive: September 3, 2026

BUUU Group Limited Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Majority Stake in Brightray Science Inc. and Over US$60 Million of Private Placements, Making Industrialized AI Data Center Delivery Its Core Growth Business

Six-to-nine-month delivery — half the conventional timeline; 70MW in operation in Johor, Malaysia; pipeline expected to reach approximately 2GW. BUUU is concurrently relocating its headquarters to Singapore and signing over US$60 million of private placements

SINGAPORE, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BUUU Group Limited (Nasdaq: BUUU) (“BUUU” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 60% equity interest in Brightray Science Inc. (“Brightray”), a provider of fully integrated, prefabricated modular data center solutions. Founded by Mr. Bin Wang and previously supported by Tencent-affiliated investors, Brightray will become a consolidated subsidiary of BUUU upon completion of the transaction. In conjunction with the acquisition, the Company intends to relocate its corporate headquarters to Singapore.

Transaction Overview. The purchase consideration will consist of (i) newly issued BUUU Class A Ordinary Shares valued at a fixed price of US$20.00 per share and (ii) a promissory note convertible into up to 10 million BUUU shares, subject to adjustment based on Brightray’s financial performance as measured by its audited annual net income following the closing and beneficial ownership limitation of 19.99% of BUUU’s total outstanding shares. Upon completion of the transaction, the sellers will retain a 40% ownership interest in Brightray, while BUUU will hold a call option to acquire the remaining interest during the three-year period following closing. The current management and board of BUUU are expected to remain in place, and Mr. Bin Wang will join BUUU as Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Why Brightray

Delivery, not demand, is the AI build-out’s rate-limiting step. Data center demand is set to nearly triple by 2030, to some 219GW; NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang expects US$3–4 trillion of AI infrastructure spending this decade — yet build cycles stretch years, skilled labor is scarce, and a month’s delay on a 60MW facility costs some US$14.2 million. Brightray industrializes the data center: over 90% of a facility is built, integrated and tested in its factory, compressing delivery from 18–36 months to six to nine — worth around US$200 million of extra revenue-generating life on a single 50MW AI hall (McKinsey; JLL; SemiAnalysis). The industry is going modular; among 80-plus vendors, few have Brightray’s delivered hyperscale record.

NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin DSX reference design recasts the data center as one system built from pre-validated modular blocks — value accrues to whoever puts AI factories on the ground fastest. Brightray’s platform evolves with silicon: air-cooled facilities accept B300 racks today; field-delivered liquid-cooled modules interface with GB300 NVL; 300–600kW Rubin-generation architectures are under joint design, alongside 235kW systems such as AMD Helios. Post-completion, BUUU intends to pursue reference-architecture qualification with leading vendors.

Brightray at a Glance

Three delivery models on one prefabricated platform — FPD (full prefabrication: 15–50MW blocks in six to nine months), IPD (interior prefabrication, roughly 7–14 months) and CPD (containerized) — span 13.5kW air-cooled to 132–144kW liquid-cooled racks, backed by an ISO-certified 126,000-square-meter manufacturing base with 300MW annual capacity. The flagship delivery, the 120MW Sedenak Tech Park campus in Johor, Malaysia, runs 70MW for leading internet and cloud customers — the first 20MW built in eight months — with 50MW more scheduled; Johor is Asia Pacific’s largest data center market (Cushman & Wakefield).

Watch the eight-month build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNjXRsrs1_I. 

Pipeline and Singapore. Management targets roughly 1GW of deliveries over the next three fiscal years; the pipeline is expected to reach approximately 2GW — about US$9 billion in potential contract value — across Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the United States, subject to final agreements; no financial guidance is given. The Singapore headquarters puts BUUU beside the region’s customers, talent and capital markets.

Private placements. Concurrently, BUUU has entered into private placement agreements with certain investors that, together with the potential cash exercise of outstanding warrants at US$10.00 per share, are expected to generate aggregate gross proceeds of more than US$60 million. The proceeds are intended to support capacity expansion and working capital requirements. The financings remain subject to customary closing conditions.

Management Commentary

BUUU management said: “In the AI era the bottleneck is not the chips but the buildings, power and cooling they cannot run without. Brightray turned that bottleneck into a manufacturable product and proved it at hyperscale. We are acquiring the rate-limiting step of the AI economy.”

Brightray Founder Mr. Bin Wang said: “We made the data center one of the fastest parts of AI instead of the slowest. With BUUU we gain the capital base and international standing to take this model global.”

About BUUU Group Limited

BUUU Group Limited (Nasdaq: BUUU) is a premier MICE solutions provider spanning event management and stage production, serving public institutions, agencies, real estate corporations and established brands. As announced today, it is relocating its corporate headquarters to Singapore. Its Class A shares trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market as “BUUU”.

About Brightray

Brightray is an AI infrastructure industrialization company that accelerates data center deployment through prefabricated, modular and standardized solutions — design, manufacturing, delivery and lifecycle support across IPD, CPD and FPD — and is expanding across Southeast Asia, the United States, the Middle East and Europe. See www.brightraydc.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the completion and benefits of the proposed acquisition, the consideration issuable, the call option, Brightray’s pipeline and its conversion, delivery targets and capacity plans, reference-architecture qualification, and the headquarters relocation. Words like “may”, “will”, “expect” and “target” identify them. They are not guarantees of performance and involve risks and uncertainties — closing conditions, the target group’s performance (on which the consideration depends), integration — that could cause actual results to differ materially; see the “Risk Factors” in the Company’s SEC filings at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update them except as law requires. The ~2GW pipeline (~US$9 billion, on a Brightray solution-scope contract-value basis) comprises signed projects, projects under final review and letters of intent — not all final contracts; delivery targets are management plans, not orders, backlog or guidance, and may not be realized. The profit guarantee is a contractual consideration-adjustment mechanism, not a forecast. Neither company has any agreement with NVIDIA Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. or any other accelerator vendor regarding qualification or cooperation, with no assurance that qualification will be obtained. Third-party market data comes from public sources, not independently verified. This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities; the consideration shares have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the U.S. absent registration or an exemption. The private placements are signed, not completed; the anticipated proceeds assume PIPE completion and full cash warrant exercise, neither assured; those securities are likewise unregistered. NVIDIA, Vera Rubin, DSX, GB300 and B300 are trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation, and AMD and Helios of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; third-party references imply no affiliation or endorsement. Photographs and video are Brightray’s, used with permission.

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Mantle Joins Global Dollar Network as USDG Circulation Surpasses $3B Across 150+ Partners

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mantle, the open financial network connecting global market participants to institutional-grade capital market assets on-chain, today announced that USDG, the dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Paxos, is now live on Mantle as one of the first natively minted stablecoins on the network. The integration makes Mantle a Network Partner for the Global Dollar Network (GDN), which has grown to more than 150 partners with over $3 billion of USDG in circulation.

Joining the Reward-Sharing Economy

Most stablecoin integrations follow the same pattern: a chain adds an asset, the issuer retains the economics, and the relationship ends there. Mantle’s entry into GDN works differently. Joining as a Network Participant puts Mantle inside GDN’s reward sharing structure directly, standing alongside more than 150 partners, including Robinhood and Kraken, in a system built to share rewards with the partners who drive adoption.

USDG’s growth reflects the scale of that system. Circulation has climbed past $3.5 billion, making it one of the largest regulated dollar stablecoins in the market, and among the very few operating under dual regulatory oversight from Singapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS) and the European Union’s MiCA framework. For a network built to connect global market participants with institutional-grade capital markets, plugging into an economy of this size is a structural step toward that goal.

Expanding Mantle’s Institutional-Grade Stack

USDG adds to Mantle’s existing lineup of institutional-grade assets, including AUSD by Agora, USDe by Ethena, USDY by Ondo, and USDT0 by Tether, reinforcing the network’s position as a destination where institutional RWA capital concentrates on-chain. Mantle’s stablecoin TVL crossed $982M and RWA TVL has grown from roughly $22 million to approximately $240 million over the past year with its tokenized assets count across leading equities, ETFs, commodities, treasuries, asset-backed credit and stablecoins expanding to over 700 and counting.

One of Mantle’s missions has always been to onboard more institutional-grade assets, including tokenized equities, yield-bearing stablecoins, and tokenized funds, to provide borderless access for anyone. That push requires a reliable stablecoin backbone underneath it. USDG becomes that dollar, backed by Paxos, one of the most established names in regulated stablecoin issuance, with monthly reserve reports published for full transparency.

The Compliance Layer Institutional Capital Needs

USDG will serve as the regulated dollar and institutional-grade asset across Mantle’s ecosystem, from DeFi utilities to capital allocation for institutions. Dual regulatory oversight, MAS supervision in Singapore and MiCA compliance in the EU, remains rare among stablecoins, and USDG is one of the few to carry both. Mantle’s connection to USDG signals that a major asset on-chain now carries clear regulatory standing. It moves Mantle closer to being an open financial network that can connect institutional-grade assets to users without borders.

“Alongside Bybit, one of our closest partners, Mantle has spent the last year building towards powering borderless access to RWA, and an institutional-grade stablecoin stack has been a core part of that: AUSD, USDe, USDY, and USDT0, each one bringing us closer to a network where global market participants can reach institutional-grade assets across the ecosystem,” said Emily Bao, Key Advisor at Mantle and Head of Spot at Bybit. “Joining Global Dollar Network and bringing USDG onto Mantle puts us inside a more active economic system. Our builders and partners now have a settlement asset they can trust as we bring more of the world’s financial products onto the network.”

“Mantle is building the rails that bring traditional financial assets on-chain, and that future runs on regulated dollars. Native USDG issuance puts one at the center of the ecosystem, and as a Global Dollar Network partner, Mantle shares in the upside it helps create,” said Walter Hessert, Head of Strategy at Paxos.

About Mantle

Mantle is the open financial network powering borderless access to global capital markets, connecting global market participants to institutional-grade capital market assets onchain. Mantle brings the full lifecycle of real-world assets onchain, from issuance and liquidity to distribution and settlement, spanning tokenized equities, treasury yield, private credit, commodities, and money markets. Anchored by one of the largest community-owned treasuries in the industry, Mantle combines credibility, deep liquidity, and institutional-grade infrastructure to support real-world finance onchain.

For more information visit mantle.xyz.

For more social updates, please follow: Mantle Official X & Mantle Community Channel

For media enquiries, please contact: contact@mantle.xyz

About Global Dollar Network

Global Dollar Network is the world’s fastest-growing stablecoin network with unmatched economic upside. Powered by Global Dollar (USDG), a US dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Paxos Digital Singapore and Paxos Issuance Europe, Global Dollar Network offers a transparent and equitable economic model that rewards partners for their contributions. Global Dollar Network partners include industry leaders such as Bullish, Kraken, Mastercard, OKX, Paxos, Robinhood, Worldpay and more.

About USDG in the EU

Paxos issues USDG in the EU through Paxos Issuance Europe OY (“PIE”). USDG is fully redeemable from Paxos on a one-to-one basis for U.S. dollars. All USDG token holders in the EU have a right of redemption against PIE at any time and at par value for USDG.

Further information is available at paxos.com/eu, and the EU USDG White Paper is available at www.paxos.com/terms-and-conditions/usdg-eu-whitepaper. 

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Uttarbanga Festival 2026 to Celebrate Indian Classical Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Siliguri

Siliguri, September 3, 2026: Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, will organise Uttarbanga Festival 2026, a two-day celebration of Indian classical music, dance and fine arts, in Siliguri on October 5 and 6, 2026.

The festival will bring together artistes, performers, students and connoisseurs of Indian classical traditions, offering audiences an opportunity to experience a diverse range of classical dance and music performances alongside a dedicated art exhibition.

The art exhibition will be held at Ramkinkar Hall, Siliguri, on October 5 and 6 from 2 pm to 9 pm on both days. The classical music and dance programmes will take place at Dinabandhu Mancha, Siliguri, beginning at 6 pm each evening.

Classical dance performances on October 5

The opening day, October 5, will focus on Indian classical dance, featuring performances in Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kathak.

The programme will begin with the opening ceremony, followed by group Bharatanatyam presented by Vidushi Sangita Chaki and her disciples, Smt. Rimpi Saha & disciples, and group Odissi by Dr. Pompi Paul and disciples.

The evening will also feature Kathak performances by Ms. Dona Dutta and disciples, Vidushi Sahelee Basu Thakur and disciples, Mrs. Debjaya Sarkar and disciples, and Hakimpara Nritya Malancha.

Further Bharatanatyam presentations will be made by Mr. Prosenjit Deb and Mr. Shuvam Ghosh, while Kathak performances will be presented by Ms. Sanchari Sarkar and disciples, Shri Gobinda Saha and disciples, and Shri Ayan Bhattacharjee and Smt. Sujata Chatterjee.

The Odissi segment will include a performance by Dr. Dripta Chakraborty and disciples. The first day’s programme will conclude with all participating dancers coming together for a rendition of Vande Mataram.

Vocal and instrumental music on October 6

The second day, October 6, will shift the spotlight to Indian classical vocal and instrumental music.

The programme will open with a song by Shadaj Music Academy, followed by a group song by Sristee Music Academy and a group presentation by Vidushi Barnali Basu and disciples.

A tabla group performance by Pandit Subir Adhikari and disciples will be followed by solo performances by Vidushi Malobika Chakraborty, Nibedita Bhattacharjee, Sutapa Dutta, Shri Ashish Banerjee, Satyaki Chakraborty, Aviman Roy and Deborshi Hore.

The evening will culminate in a sitar solo recital by Pandit Debopratim Roy, accompanied on tabla by Pandit Subir Adhikari.

The instrumental segment will also feature tabla artists Shri Sudip Chakraborty, Dhrupad Ray Acharya, Amit Saha, Riju Saha and Priyanshu Nandi, with Shri Ashis Kansa Banik on harmonium.

Bringing classical traditions closer to audiences

Through Uttarbanga Festival 2026, Pracheen Kala Kendra aims to create a platform that brings India’s rich classical artistic traditions to audiences in North Bengal. The combination of dance, music and fine arts is expected to make the two-day event a significant cultural gathering in Siliguri.

Shri Sajal Koser, Secretary, Pracheen Kala Kendra, has extended a cordial invitation to art and culture enthusiasts to attend the festival.

For further information, visitors can access the official Pracheen Kala Kendra website: Pracheen Kala Kendra

Program Schedule – 

Day 1 on the 5th Oct at 6 PM ( Indian Classical Dance ) – 
 
Opening ceremony 
1.  Group Bharatanatyam by-  Vidushi Sangita Chaki & Disciples
2.  Group Odissi by-   Dr. Pompi Paul & Disciples  
3.  Group Kathak Dance – Ms. Dona Dutta & Disciples
4.  Group Bharatanatyam by- Smt. Rimpi Saha & Disciples
5.   Group Kathak by-  Vidushi  Sahelee Basu Thakur & Disciples
6.   Group Kathak by – Mrs. Debjaya Sarkar & Disciples
7.   Group Kathak by – Hakimpara Nritya Malancha 
8.   Group Bharatanatyam by- Mr. Prosenjit Deb and Mr. Shuvam Ghosh 
9.   Group Kathak by – Ms. Sanchari Sarkar & Disciples
10. Group Odissi by  – Dr. Dripta Chakraborty & Disciples
11. Group Kathak by – Shri Gobinda Saha & Disciples
12. Group Kathak by – Shri Ayan Bhattacharjee and Smt. Sujata Chatterjee 
13. Concluding part by all Dancers –    Vandemataram 
 
Day 2 on the 6th Oct at 6 PM  ( Indian Classical Vocal & Instrumental ) –
 
1. Opening Song by Shadaj Music Academy 
2. Group Song by Sristee Music Academy
3. Group Song by Vidushi Barnali Basu & Disciples
4. Tabla group performance by – Pandit Subir Adhikari & Disciples
5. Solo performance by-   Vidushi Malobika Chakraborty | Nibedita Bhattacharjee | Sutapa Dutta | Shri Ashish Banerjee | Satyaki Chakraborty | Aviman Roy | Deborshi Hore

J.S. Held Lending Climate Survey Finds Growing Lender Caution Amid Rising Economic and Geopolitical Risks

Q3 2026 survey reveals weaker economic expectations, elevated recession concerns, more selective underwriting practices, and continued borrower investment in growth initiatives.

The Q3 2026 J.S. Held Lending Climate in America survey finds US lenders are becoming increasingly cautious as geopolitical instability, recession concerns, and broader economic uncertainty intensify. Survey respondents reported weaker expectations for both near-term and long-term economic performance, continued selectivity in underwriting larger loans, and heightened focus on risk management. At the same time, borrowers continue to pursue growth initiatives, including product development, capital investment, market expansion, and hiring, creating a lending environment characterized by both opportunity and increased discipline.

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global consulting firm J.S. Held today published the results of its Q3 2026 Lending Climate in America survey, offering insight into how US lenders are assessing economic conditions, credit risk, borrower activity, and market expectations. The latest findings point to a lending environment marked by growing caution. Concerns regarding geopolitical instability, recession risk, and policy uncertainty remain elevated, while lender expectations for both near-term and longer-term economic performance have weakened. Despite this more guarded outlook, borrowers continue to pursue investment and expansion initiatives, highlighting a notable disconnect between lender sentiment and borrower activity.

To review the complete findings from the Q3 2026 J.S. Held Lending Climate in America survey, visit: https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/lending-climate-in-america.

Lenders Grow More Cautious About the Economic Outlook

The survey found a meaningful decline in lender expectations for both the next six months and the period beyond. Weighted average economic outlook scores fell from Q2 levels, while the percentage of respondents assigning below-average grades to the US economy increased across both time horizons. Recession concerns also remained among the most frequently cited risks affecting the economy.

“The Q3 results indicate lenders are approaching the market with a heightened awareness of downside risk,” said J.S. Held Senior Managing Director and Strategic Advisory Practice Lead, Michael Jacoby. “While capital remains available for well-positioned borrowers, lenders are placing greater emphasis on disciplined underwriting, liquidity strength, and resilience in uncertain economic conditions. The survey suggests that risk management has become as important as growth in current lending decisions.”

Geopolitical and Recession Concerns Continue to Shape Decision-Making

Geopolitical Risk/War remained the most frequently cited factor expected to affect the economy in the coming six months, while concerns regarding a potential US recession ranked second. Policy risk, political uncertainty, debt-related concerns, and stock market stability also remained prominent among respondents. Collectively, the findings suggest lenders continue to evaluate a broad range of risks extending beyond traditional credit fundamentals.

“What stands out in this quarter’s results is the persistence of geopolitical concerns alongside growing recession expectations,” said Livia Paggi, Senior Managing Director and political risk and business intelligence expert at J.S. Held. “Many of the risks lenders identified are interconnected. Geopolitical tensions increasingly influence economic forecasts, trade dynamics, supply chains, commodity markets, and investment decisions, making them a more central consideration in financial planning and risk assessment.”

Borrowers Continue Investing Despite Greater Economic Uncertainty

While lender sentiment became more cautious, respondents reported that their customers continue to pursue growth-oriented initiatives. Introducing new products and services, raising additional capital, making capital investments, entering new markets, and hiring employees were among the most frequently cited customer priorities. Acquisition activity remained comparatively limited, suggesting organizations continue to favor organic growth and internal investment strategies.

The contrast between lender caution and borrower expansion plans indicates that many companies remain committed to long-term growth opportunities despite a more uncertain economic backdrop.

Underwriting Remains Selective as Risk Management Takes Priority

Although maintaining existing loan structures remained the most common response across all loan categories, lenders continued to demonstrate greater conservatism toward larger credits. Tightening remained most prevalent among loans exceeding $25 million, while smaller loans saw comparatively greater willingness to relax lending terms.

“Capital has not disappeared from the market, but lenders are becoming increasingly selective in how they deploy it,” said Kevin Doyle, Director in J.S. Held’s Strategic Advisory practice. “Borrowers who can clearly demonstrate financial performance, operational stability, and preparedness are likely to be better positioned in this environment. The survey reflects a market where underwriting standards remain disciplined even as competition for certain opportunities persists.”

Volatility Expectations Broaden Across Industries

Financial Services remained the industry most frequently identified as likely to experience volatility in the coming six months, followed by Energy and Power, Consumer Products and Services, Agriculture, and Real Estate. The results suggest lenders expect potential disruption across a wide range of sectors rather than concentrating risk within a single portion of the economy.

Interest Rate Expectations Remain Balanced

Respondents’ expectations regarding Federal Reserve policy remained relatively stable compared with Q2. While more lenders continued to anticipate some degree of rate increases than decreases, the overall distribution of responses remained balanced, resulting in a weighted average expectation that was essentially unchanged from the prior quarter. The findings point to a more measured and data-dependent outlook for monetary policy than was evident earlier in 2026.

Experienced Support for Complex Business Challenges

When organizations, lenders, investors, and stakeholders face decisions that materially affect enterprise value, J.S. Held provides strategic, financial, and operational expertise to help clients evaluate risk, navigate uncertainty, and make informed decisions. Through its Strategic Advisory practice, J.S. Held helps clients address evolving credit conditions, restructuring challenges, liquidity concerns, operational issues, and complex stakeholder matters.

About J.S. Held

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high stakes matters demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, proven experience, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.

More than 1,500 professionals serve organizations across six continents, including 84% of the Global 200 Law Firms, 75% of the Forbes Top 20 Insurance Companies, and 71% of Fortune 100 Companies.

J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not certified public accounting firm(s) and do not provide audit, attest, or any other public accounting services. J.S. Held is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Securities offered through PM Securities, LLC, d/b/a Phoenix IB or Ocean Tomo Investments, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/SIPC.

Contact

Kristi L. Stathis | Global Public Relations | +1 786 833 4864 | Kristi.Stathis@jsheld.com

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Microland Foundation Supports Project SHOLA to Restore Upper Nilgiris Wetlands and Empower Community-Led Conservation

OOTY, India, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Microland Foundation is strengthening its commitment to environmental sustainability through initiatives that focus on restoring local ecosystems, building environmental awareness and enabling communities to play an active role in protecting their surroundings.

As part of this commitment, Project SHOLA (Shola Habitat Outspread & Local Action) – Community-Led Wetland Restoration and Demonstration Centre has been launched in the Upper Nilgiris. The initiative brings together the Nilgiris District Administration, Microland Foundation, Edhkwehlynawd Botanical Refuge (EBR), District Forest Officer, Government of Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission (TNSRLM), along with the active participation of civil society, NGOs, local & tribal leaders, the Kota Tribe community and Women Self-Help Groups.

The project focuses on restoring degraded wetlands and conserving the interconnected shola, grassland and wetland ecosystems of the Upper Nilgiris. These ecosystems play an important role in supporting biodiversity, water security and local communities. The Centre at Katlada Bridge, Doddacombai, will serve as a space for native plant propagation, restoration activities, community training and environmental education. A native plant nursery is established to produce locally suitable planting materials for wetland, shola and grassland restoration. 

A key focus of Project SHOLA is to make the community an active part of the restoration process. The Kota Tribe community and Women SHGs will participate in activities such as native seed collection, nursery development, plant propagation, restoration and maintenance. The initiative will help build local skills and create livelihood opportunities linked to nursery and restoration activities. It will also provide opportunities for students, visitors and other stakeholders to learn about the unique ecosystems of the Nilgiris and understand the importance of protecting them.

Speaking about the importance of community participation and Public-Private-Partnership, Kalpana Kar, Managing Trustee, Microland Foundation, said, “For us, community participation is at the heart of Project SHOLA. It is important that communities are aware of the value of the ecosystems around them and have the opportunity to participate in protecting and restoring them. This is not about doing something for the community; it is about working with the community, bringing together their knowledge and experience with technical expertise, and creating a sense of ownership that can sustain the work for the long term.”

Project SHOLA is part of Microland Foundation’s broader environmental work in the Nilgiris, with a strong focus on building better waste management and sanitation systems across the district. This includes on-ground waste management initiatives in locations such as Coonoor and Masinagudi. The Foundation has also undertaken capacity building for sanitation workers and sanitary inspectors, through a first-of-its-kind training initiative in the Nilgiris focused on strengthening the people and systems responsible for sanitation and waste management. Together, these efforts reflect Microland Foundation’s approach of working at both the community and systems level to address environmental challenges in the district.

Tmt. Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru, I.A.S., District Collector, The Nilgiris, said, “The Nilgiris has a unique and fragile ecosystem, and protecting it requires sustained effort and participation from all those who are connected to the landscape. It is encouraging to see restoration, community participation and livelihood opportunities coming together through one initiative. We hope that the learning from this effort will help strengthen similar conservation efforts across the district.”

The initiative brings together the strengths of its partners, with ecological and restoration expertise, government support and community participation coming together with Microland Foundation’s commitment to supporting meaningful and sustainable environmental action.

Dr. Tarun Chhabra, Founder, Edhkwehlynawd Botanical Refuge (EBR) Centre Trust, said, “Restoration is not simply about planting more trees or removing invasive species. It is about understanding the landscape, restoring its natural processes and bringing back the native biodiversity that belongs here. The Centre will demonstrate practical approaches to wetland restoration, native plant propagation, invasive species management, shola-grassland restoration and nursery development.”

For Microland Foundation, environmental sustainability is not limited to restoring a particular site. It is about creating greater awareness, building local skills and enabling communities to take ownership of the environment around them.

About Microland Foundation

Established in 2016, Microland Foundation is advancing inclusive, lasting social change across four interconnected priorities: Employability, Health, Education, and Environment. We work alongside communities to design solutions that respond to their most urgent needs while building the confidence, capabilities, and systems required for long-term progress. Our initiatives harness technology, innovation, and local knowledge, recognising that complex challenges cannot be solved in isolation. By connecting our programmes across sectors, we create stronger pathways to opportunity, wellbeing, learning, and environmental resilience. At the heart of our approach is a commitment to incubating bold ideas, enabling community ownership, and building models that can be replicated and scaled for wider impact. We combine experimentation with deep respect for cultural traditions and lived experience, ensuring that every solution is relevant, sustainable, and rooted in the aspirations of the people it serves. Meaningful impact is a shared endeavour. Microland Foundation actively collaborates with NGOs, civil-society organisations, government agencies, and other mission-aligned partners to unlock collective expertise and resources. Together, we are helping communities move beyond immediate challenges towards a more equitable, resilient, and opportunity-rich future.

About EBR Center Trust

The Edhkwehlynawd Botanical Refuge (EBR) Centre Trust is a dedicated organization established to address the urgent need for both ecological restoration and cultural conservation in the Nilgiris, South India. With its roots deeply connected to the Toda people, the Trust seeks to protect and revitalize the natural landscape that has been under threat from human activities and environmental degradation. The Trust operates with a multi-faceted approach to conservation, combining scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, and community involvement. Its initiatives focus on restoring native ecosystems, particularly the shola-grassland mosaic unique to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. By reintroducing endemic plant species and addressing habitat loss, EBR strives to bring balance back to areas where biodiversity has been diminished.

For more information, visit: https://www.microland.com/about/microland-foundation

Media Contact: mohammedabaubacker.ali@microland.com

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Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) Reports Total Holdings of Approximately $380 Million, Includes OpenAI, Beast Industries, More Than 16,000 ETH and Nearly 302 Million WLD Tokens

Eightco treasury composition as of September 2, 2026: $90M OpenAI equity (indirect), $18M Beast Industries equity, 16,278 ETH, nearly 302 million WLD holdings, and $122M cash and equivalents, totaling approximately $380 million

Eightco recently repurchased over 25 million shares of common stock in the last month under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program

Eightco previously participated in World Foundation’s $52.5M funding round, led by Pantera with participation from Bain Capital Crypto, Selini Capital, Susquehanna Crypto, and additional investors

Eightco provides indirect exposure to some of the most innovative private companies including OpenAI and Beast Industries

EASTON, Pa., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) (“Eightco” or the “Company”) today provided an update on its total holdings, highlighting its position across digital assets and strategic investments in leading private technology companies. Over the past month, Eightco has repurchased over 25 million shares of its common stock under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program.

As of September 2, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET, ORBS’ holdings include a $90 million investment (indirectly, through SPVs) in OpenAI, an $18 million funded investment in Beast Industries, a $1 million investment in Mythical Games, 301,971,219 Worldcoin (WLD) at $0.37 per WLD (per Coinbase), 16,278 Ethereum (ETH), and approximately $122 million in total cash and stablecoins, for total holdings of approximately $380 million.

Top Headlines Driving the News:

Eightco’s management believes the Company’s treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system. This week’s top headlines include:

• On September 2, World announced it has open-sourced ProveKit, a zero-knowledge identity proving toolkit. The launch makes ProveKit available to developers outside World. ProveKit is built into World ID and powers the privacy-preserving features that make proof of human useful for enterprises, consumer platforms, and developers (World).
• On September 1, SB Energy, an AI power infrastructure company backed by Softbank, OpenAI and Nvidia, filed for a potential IPO. In its initial filing, the company said it is “substantially dependent” on the performance of OpenAI as both a tenant and equity investor in SB Energy (CNBC).
• On September 1, MrBeast released a book with one of the world’s bestselling authors James Patterson, called The Most Dangerous Games (HarperCollins).
• On August 31, OpenAI announced that its advertising business, ChatGPT Ads, reached $1 billion in annualized revenue run rate less than 200 days after launch. The platform is now used by tens of thousands of advertisers and continues to expand globally (Axios).
• On August 31, OpenAI announced its support for the California Senate Bill 1119 to advance youth AI safety. This legislation is intended to establish meaningful safeguards for how young people use AI while preserving their access to tools that can help them learn, create, and prepare for the future (OpenAI).
• On August 21, it was announced that peaqOS and World ID partnered to enable Proof of Human for robots and machines. A machine can check that the person in front of it is a real human, and the same one who placed the order. It never learns a name, a face, or a number (peaq).

“AI stocks have been under pressure recently, partly a result of backlash against data centers. This seems to be an issue resonating with voters,” said Tom Lee, Board Member of ORBS. “But despite this setback, AI progress continues at a rapid pace as evidenced by the multiple meaningful announcements in the past week.”

“Eightco executed additional share buybacks as the Company has judged that accretively acquiring shares is a high return use of capital,” stated Lee.

Eightco: Exposure to key mega-trends

Eightco is built around three mega-trends the Company expects to shape the next decade of innovation: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy, with positions in each trend through indirect investment in OpenAI (24% of ORBS’ treasury holdings), Worldcoin (29%), and Beast Industries (5%).

Artificial Intelligence — OpenAI

Eightco has invested approximately $90 million in special purpose vehicles with exposure to equity interests in the parent company of OpenAI, representing approximately 24% of treasury assets, one of the highest disclosed concentrations of any listed vehicle.

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s consumer app, is the #1 consumer AI app worldwide (Sensor Tower). On July 31, 2026, OpenAI announced that its models now reach more than one billion active users and more than two million businesses. Six months after signing up, people send roughly 50 percent more messages each day and use ChatGPT for about twice as many kinds of work.

Digital Identity — WLD Token

Eightco holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.3% of circulating supply, the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally and approximately 29% of the Eightco treasury’s assets.

Worldcoin is the native token of World, a global Proof of Human network built by Tools for Humanity (co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania) and stewarded by the World Foundation. Its Orb devices issue a privacy-preserving World ID that verifies a user is a unique human, not an AI agent.

Under World’s announced business model, applications pay per-verification fees while end-user verification remains free, with both credential issuers and the World protocol monetizing verified-human authentication. World identifies a $6.35 trillion combined addressable revenue opportunity across 13 industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI (per Tools for Humanity).

Creator Economy — Beast Industries

Eightco has invested $18 million in Beast Industries equity, approximately 5% of treasury assets.

Beast Industries operates one of the largest direct-to-consumer reach footprints in the world, with a combined 500 million-plus follower base across platforms, anchored by MrBeast as the most-watched person on YouTube globally. As AI commoditizes content production, distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets.

About Eightco Holdings Inc.

Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company executing a first-of-its-kind Worldcoin (WLD) treasury strategy, providing investors single-ticker indirect exposure to three of the defining trends of this cycle: artificial intelligence through its indirect investment in OpenAI, digital identity through its position as the largest public holder of WLD and the Proof of Human protocol, and the creator economy through its equity stake in MrBeast’s Beast Industries. Backed by leading institutional investors including Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera, and GSR, Eightco is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era.

For more information:

X: @iamhuman_orbs

Website: 8co.holdings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ORBS stock?

Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq. ORBS provides indirect exposure to OpenAI and Beast Industries, and holds one of the largest publicly disclosed positions in Worldcoin (WLD).

Who owns the most Worldcoin (WLD)?

Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.3% of circulating supply and the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally.

What is Proof of Human?

Proof of Human is cryptographic verification that a user is a unique, living person, not a bot or AI agent. It is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring “one person, one account” in the agentic AI era.

How does Eightco (ORBS) relate to Proof of Human?

Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) is the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of Worldcoin (WLD), the token powering World’s Proof of Human network.

Who is the CEO of Eightco Holdings?

Kevin O’Donnell is the CEO of Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). The Company’s Board includes Tom Lee (Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) and, as an advisor to the Board, Brett Winton (Chief Futurist at ARK Invest).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company’s expectations that artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy will shape the next decade of innovation; management’s belief that the Company’s treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system; management’s belief that accretively acquiring shares is a high return use of capital; statements that AI progress continues at a rapid pace; statements regarding World’s addressable revenue opportunity of $6.35 trillion across industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI; statements that distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets as AI commoditizes content production; statements that the Company is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era; statements that Proof of Human is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and systems requiring verified human identity; statements regarding the Company providing indirect exposure to defining trends through its investments in OpenAI, WLD, and Beast Industries; and statements regarding continued share repurchases under the Company’s $125 million share repurchase program. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “expand,” “advance,” “develop,” “believes,” “guidance,” “target,” “may,” “remain,” “project,” “outlook,” “intend,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “positioned,” “view,” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s inability to direct the management or operations of private businesses where it is not a controlling stockholder, including OpenAI and Beast Industries; risk of loss or markdown on the Company’s strategic investments, including its indirect position in OpenAI equity (held through special purpose vehicles), its position in WLD, and its position in Beast Industries equity; the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; unexpected costs, charges, or expenses that reduce the Company’s capital resources or otherwise delay capital deployment; inability to raise adequate capital to fund or scale its business operations or strategic investments; volatility in digital asset prices, including WLD and ETH, which could materially affect the value of the Company’s treasury holdings; regulatory changes, future legislation, and rulemaking negatively impacting digital assets, artificial intelligence adoption, or biometric data collection; risks related to the development, adoption, and market acceptance of Proof of Human technology and the World network; uncertainty regarding the pace and trajectory of agentic AI deployment in enterprise and consumer applications; uncertainty regarding OpenAI’s product roadmap, business model developments, and any future liquidity events; risks related to Beast Industries’ ability to achieve its growth projections; competition in the digital identity and AI infrastructure markets; reliance on third-party sources for the valuation of certain investments; uncertainty regarding MrBeast’s continued success and the performance of Beast Industries’ creator-driven business model; risks related to the Company’s concentrated positions in certain digital assets and private company investments; risks related to the Company’s share repurchase program, including the timing, pricing, and amount of any repurchases; shifting public and governmental positions on digital assets or artificial intelligence-related industries, including potential backlash against data centers; risks related to the timing, features, and commercial reception of OpenAI’s model releases; risks related to OpenAI’s advertising business and its ability to sustain revenue growth; and risks that WLD supply dynamics may not result in anticipated market effects. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Eightco’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements herein, see Eightco’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors and other disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2026 and other publicly available SEC filings. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Eightco undertakes no duty to update this information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in its expectations.

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Vadodara Earns Spot as Host for 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy Matches

Vadodara, Sep 3: Vadodara is set to strengthen its position on the international cricket map after being chosen as one of the venues for the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027.

The city will host matches at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium, which will share hosting responsibilities with Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium. The six-team tournament is scheduled to feature Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Baroda Cricket Association CEO Snehal Parikh welcomed the decision, saying Vadodara’s selection reflects the city’s growing reputation as a venue capable of staging major women’s cricket events.

The stadium has emerged as an important venue for women’s cricket in recent years. It hosted its first international matches during India’s home series against the West Indies in 2024 and has since featured prominently on the women’s cricket calendar.

Vadodara has also become a regular venue for the Women’s Premier League, hosting several matches in recent seasons. The successful staging of these games has helped strengthen the venue’s credentials and build a strong connection with local cricket fans.

The upcoming Champions Trophy will provide another major opportunity for Vadodara to showcase its facilities while bringing some of the world’s leading women cricketers to the city.

For local fans, the tournament is expected to be a significant occasion, offering an opportunity to watch high-level international cricket close to home. For the city’s cricket administration, it also represents recognition of the progress made in developing Vadodara as a major sporting destination.

With international fixtures and major domestic tournaments continuing to come to the city, Vadodara is steadily establishing itself as an important centre for women’s cricket in India.

66th SIAM Annual Convention PM Modi Calls on Auto Industry to Pursue Excellence to Advance Viksit Bharat

Mumbai, Sep 03: During the 66th Annual Convention of The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, the  Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi shared a special message at the convention stating,

“India’s automobile industry is well placed to further expand its global presence as the country’s mobility ecosystem undergoes a fundamental transformation. Continued innovation, pursuit of excellence and a bold pathway towards Viksit Bharat will unlock transformative opportunities for the sector and accelerate the journey towards a faster, greener and self-reliant future.”

Chief Guest Mr Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, mentioned,

“With quality, innovation, research and competitive pricing, India has the potential to become the largest automobile industry in the world, with the sector playing a key role in Viksit Bharat. We should also encourage the expansion of driver training centres, vehicle fitness centres and vehicle scrapping centres, which can contribute to the economy as well.”

In his video message, Guest of Honour Mr H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, Government of India, said,

“The Indian automobile industry is strengthening its domestic capabilities and advancing vehicle technologies, creating a strong foundation to transform the local market into a global hub. The sector will continue to grow as a cleaner, more inclusive and globally competitive industry, contributing meaningfully to the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.”

Mr Shailesh Chandra, President, SIAM and Managing Director & CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle Ltd. added,

“The Indian Automobile Industry continues to play a defining role in shaping India’s Amrit Kaal, contributing significantly to realising the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Alongside this progress, significant strides have been made in aligning with global and national priorities of sustainability, decarbonisation, and safety.”

In his concluding remarks, Mr Shenu Agarwal, Vice President, SIAM and Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland Ltd., highlighted,

 “The Indian automobile industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience, and India can simultaneously become a large mobility market, a global manufacturing hub and a technology leader. But the next phase of this journey will require looking beyond growth alone, with sustainability and resilience going hand in hand.”

The session concluded with a shared commitment to building resilience in sustainable mobility, harnessing technology to strengthen global competitiveness and advancing India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.

FutureCeuticals , Inc. (FC) and Aura Scientific Resolve Coffee Fruit Patent Dispute, Recognize FC Patent Rights, and Initiate Seamless Transition to CognatiQ®

MOMENCE, Ill., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FutureCeuticals, Inc. (FC) and Aura Scientific (Aura) are pleased to announce the resolution of FutureCeuticals’ patent and trademark suit related to Aura’s NeuroRush^® ingredient and FutureCeuticals’ whole coffee fruit extract marketed under the tradenames CognatiQ^® and NeuroFactor^®.

“We are pleased that Aura has acknowledged the validity and applicability of our cognitive health IP, reinforcing its value and strength in the marketplace,” said J. Randal Wexler, FutureCeuticals’ Vice President & General Counsel. “Our ongoing vigilance in protecting FutureCeuticals’ IP ensures the value of continued investment in clinical research and innovation, while also safeguarding our customers’ and partners’ interests.”

Although this resolution marked the end of Aura’s NeuroRush^® ingredient, it also marked the beginning of a new joint effort between the companies; a seamless transition by Aura to CognatiQ is already underway. “We are excited for the opportunity to share CognatiQ^® with our current and prospective customers,” remarked Mr. Kyle Seymour, Director of Product Development at Aura. “It offers a like-for-like compositional substitution with NeuroRush, while adding FutureCeuticals’ robust clinical support and scientific expertise,” Seymour concluded.

“This outcome represents a true win-win between our organizations, offering an exciting path forward,” Mr. Wexler added. “Aura’s growing impact on the wellness market through its ideation and logistics capabilities aligns well with our objective of supporting brands seeking ingredients with meaningful health benefits. We look forward to exploring opportunities together around highly differentiated, clinically supported ingredients.”

“We appreciate FutureCeuticals’ willingness to work constructively with Aura as we move forward,” said Mr. Seymour. “Our goal is to focus on projects where Aura’s customer perspective and product development experience can complement FutureCeuticals’ strong ingredient portfolio, clinical support, and scientific expertise. We believe that creates a better path for our customers and for the broader wellness market.”

About FutureCeuticals, Inc.

FutureCeuticals, Inc. is a leader in the research, development, and manufacture of fruit, vegetable, and grain-based powders and extracts. CognatiQ^® and NeuroFactor^® are available exclusively from FutureCeuticals.

About Aura Scientific

Aura Scientific is an ingredient innovation company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of differentiated nutraceutical ingredients for dietary supplements. Aura’s portfolio includes EndoFlo™, ProtoTest™, and other functional ingredient solutions developed to support consumer wellness applications.

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