NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)—- $VAIC #autocallables–VegaShares Expands Product Suite with Autocallable Conservative Income ETF (VAIC)
Month: September 2026
ARMADA, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–There’s a new way to keep things crisp this fall. Blake’s Hard Cider is introducing American Haze, a hazy, dry hard cider and the newest addition to its American Series, arriving on shelves this October. As the first addition to the American Series, where Blake’s best selling ‘American Apple’ sits, American Haze was made to be its counterpart. At 5% ABV, it brings a sessionable, apple-forward profile, finishing clean and dry and perfect for afternoon drinking wit
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Optimum Communications, Inc. and A+E Global Media™ today announced an expanded, multi-year distribution agreement that enables Optimum TV customers across the company’s 21-state footprint to continue enjoying A+E’s entertainment programming. The new deal spans A+E’s full linear portfolio, including A&E®, The History Channel®, Lifetime®, Lifetime Movie Network®, FYI®, VICE®, MHC® (Military History Channel), CI® (Crime +Investigation), Lifetime Real Women®, and The
TEL AVIV, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Similarweb Ltd. (NYSE: SMWB), a leading digital data and analytics company, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Michael Akkerman as Chief Executive Officer, effective November 2, 2026. Mr. Akkerman succeeds Founder and CEO Or Offer, who, as previously announced in May 2026, is stepping down after close to two decades leading the Company. Mr. Akkerman brings nearly 20 years of C-level and senior operating leadership across digital advertis
Mothercare plc Annual General Meeting 24 September 2026: Results
Annual General Meeting
At the annual general meeting held at 11.00am on 24 September 2026, the resolutions before the meeting were passed.
The following proxy votes had been received by the Company in respect of the resolutions:
Resolutions 11 to 13 were Special Resolutions.
| Resolution | Votes For | % | Votes Against | % | Total votes cast (including discretionary) | % Votes Cast |
Votes withheld* | |
| 1 | To receive the annual accounts, directors’ report, strategic report, directors’ remuneration report and auditor’s report | 361,966,801 | 99.99% | 21,324 | 0.01% | 361,988,125 | 63.20 | 153,370 |
| 2 | To approve the directors’ remuneration report | 361,543,704 | 99.87% | 460,739 | 0.13% | 362,004,443 | 63.20 | 137,052 |
| 3 | To re-elect Clive Whiley as a director | 361,795,670 | 99.93% | 251,702 | 0.07% | 362,047,372 | 63.21 | 94,123 |
| 4 | To re-elect Andrew Cook as a director | 361,570,491 | 99.87% | 475,108 | 0.13% | 362,045,599 | 63.21 | 95,896 |
| 5 | To re-elect Gillian Kent as a director | 361,857,059 | 99.95% | 197,769 | 0.05% | 362,054,828 | 63.21 | 86,667 |
| 6 | To re-elect Brian Small as a director | 361,896,929 | 99.97% | 126,214 | 0.03% | 362,023,143 | 63.20 | 118,352 |
| 7 | To re-appoint RPGCC as auditor of the company | 361,886,008 | 99.98% | 57,887 | 0.02% | 361,943,895 | 63.19 | 197,600 |
| 8 | Auditors remuneration | 361,869,077 | 99.94% | 220,773 | 0.06% | 362,089,850 | 63.21 | 51,645 |
| 9 | Authority for the directors to allot shares | 361,578,850 | 99.87% | 486,480 | 0.13% | 362,065,330 | 63.21 | 76,165 |
| 10 | To authorise political donations by the company and its subsidiaries | 360,497,924 | 99.56% | 1,604,285 | 0.44% | 362,102,209 | 63.22 | 39,286 |
| 11 | Authority to disapply pre-emption rights | 361,450,760 | 99.83% | 627,484 | 0.17% | 362,078,244 | 63.21 | 63,044 |
| 12 | Authority to further disapply pre-emption rights | 361,774,276 | 99.92% | 296,307 | 0.08% | 362,070,583 | 63.21 | 70,912 |
| 13 | Authority to purchase own shares | 361,562,957 | 99.98% | 62,093 | 0.02% | 361,625,050 | 63.13 | 516,445 |
Notes
* A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of votes ‘for’ and ‘against’ each resolution
As at 22 September 2026, the Company’s issued share capital and total voting rights consisted of 572,807,611 ordinary shares each carrying voting rights. There are no shares in treasury. As a result, proxy votes representing approximately 49 to 58% of the voting capital were cast for the AGM.
The full text of the resolutions can be found in the Notice of Meeting on the Company’s website, www.mothercareplc.com.
Further details:
Investor and analyst enquiries to:
Mothercare plc Email: investorrelations@mothercare.com
Clive Whiley, Chairman
Andrew Cook, Chief Financial Officer
Deutsche Numis Tel: 020 7260 1000
(NOMAD & Joint Corporate Broker)
Luke Bordewich
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
(Joint Corporate Broker) Tel: 020 7220 0500
Matt Goode
LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– DB ETC PLC Dated: 24 September 2026 COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT Immediate Release 24 September 2026 DB ETC plc (the Issuer) Law 1991 (as amended) with registered number 103781) Re: Issuance of ETC Securities Announcement The Issuer has agreed to issue ETC Securities for the following Series as set out in the table below. Series Tranche Number of Securities to be issued Trade Date Settlement Date ISIN: Series 10 – Xtrackers Physical Silver ETC (EUR) 470 500 22 September 202
214-unit Class A multifamily property expands Stewards’ Real Assets platform with operating plan targeting NOI growth from $1.7 million to $4.2 million at stabilization
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stewards, Inc. (Nasdaq: SWRD) (“Stewards” or the “Company”), a diversified financial platform spanning private credit, real assets and technology, announced that on Sept. 23, 2026, it completed its previously disclosed acquisition of Envy Pompano Beach (“Envy”), a 214-unit Class A mixed-use multifamily community in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Stewards acquired 100% of the membership interests in the entities that own Envy for a contractual purchase price of $90.0 million. The transaction included approximately $42.7 million of contractual rollover equity, represented by 14.2 million restricted shares of Stewards common stock, together with a $47.7 million property-level loan from LoanCore Capital Credit REIT LLC.
The shares were issued using a negotiated contractual value of $3.00 per share solely to determine the number of shares issued under the transaction documents. The $3.00 contractual value does not represent the market price of Stewards common stock at closing. The accounting value of the shares and resulting purchase accounting remain subject to final valuation and auditor review.
As of August 26, 2026, Envy was 89.3% physically occupied and 93.0% leased. The property generated approximately $5.3 million in trailing 12-month revenue. Stewards’ operating plan targets approximately 95% occupancy and NOI of over $4.2 million at stabilization. NOI represents property revenue less property operating expenses and is calculated before interest, depreciation, amortization, corporate overhead and income taxes.
The operating plan targets over $2.5mm in NOI growth through a combination of increased residential occupancy, improved collections, reduced concessions and non-revenue units, greater operating efficiency, and additional revenue from the property’s retail and marina components.
“The acquisition of Envy represents another important step in the continued expansion of our Real Assets platform,” said Shaun Quin, Chief Executive Officer of Stewards, Inc. “We are adding a substantial South Florida multifamily asset with a defined operating plan and clear opportunities to improve performance. Our focus now turns to execution, increasing occupancy, strengthening property-level economics and realizing the long-term potential of the asset.”
A Defined Operating Plan
Envy consists of two 11-story buildings completed in 2020 and includes 214 residential units, a 26-slip marina and a three-story community center. The property’s residential, retail and marina components provide multiple opportunities for Stewards to drive improved operating performance through its stabilization plan.
Stewards Realty, led by the recently integrated JOSS Realty Partners team, will oversee execution of the property’s operating plan and oversee the property-management transition. The Stewards Realty team brings an institutional real estate track record spanning over 30 acquisitions, approximately 3.4 million square feet and more than $1.2 billion in transaction value.
In addition to increasing residential occupancy toward approximately 95%, Stewards plans to lease approximately 5,575 square feet of retail space and increase utilization of the property’s 26-slip marina.
The Company’s current business plan does not include a condominium conversion.
“Envy gives us several identifiable levers to improve property-level performance without relying on a major renovation program,” said Larry Botel, President of Stewards Realty. “Our immediate focus is on occupancy, collections, concessions and operating discipline, while also capturing additional revenue opportunities from the property’s retail and marina components. We believe there is a clear path to improving NOI as we execute the stabilization plan.”
Transaction Structure
The acquisition was financed through the $47.7 million LoanCore property-level loan, representing approximately 53% of the contractual purchase price, together with contractual rollover equity. The transaction was arranged by BayBridge Real Estate Capital, with Jay Miller, Spencer Miller, AJ Felberbaum, Noah Rothman and Jonah Gentleman leading the placement effort on behalf of the Company.
The acquisition resulted in the issuance of 14.2 million restricted shares of Stewards common stock. Based on 211.4 million common shares outstanding immediately prior to closing, Stewards has approximately 225.6 million common shares outstanding following the transaction.
All consideration shares issued in the transaction are initially restricted and none are freely tradable solely as a result of the closing. Seven million of the consideration shares are subject to an escrow and settlement arrangement and may require up to seven monthly cash payments of $3 million, beginning Oct. 5, 2026. One million escrowed shares are subject to cancellation upon each scheduled payment. If all seven payments are made, the aggregate cash settlement will total $21 million, approximately seven million of the initially issued shares will be canceled and Stewards would have approximately 218.6 million common shares outstanding, assuming no other changes to shares outstanding.
“We were deliberate in structuring the transaction around both the operating opportunity and its impact on our capital structure,” said Katy Murless, CFA, Chief Financial Officer of Stewards, Inc. “The transaction increases our common shares outstanding at closing, and we believe it is important to be transparent about that. At the same time, all consideration shares are initially restricted, and the escrow arrangement provides a mechanism under which up to seven million shares may ultimately be canceled as the corresponding settlement obligations are satisfied.”
Additional information regarding the acquisition, financing, escrow arrangement and other transaction terms will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC.
About Stewards, Inc.
Stewards, Inc. (Nasdaq: SWRD) is a diversified financial platform spanning private credit, real assets and technology. Through Stewards Business Capital, the Company provides revenue-based financing to small and midsized businesses through its origination, underwriting and servicing platform. Stewards’ Real Assets business expands the platform through income-producing real estate, while the Company continues to develop technology and infrastructure designed to improve efficiency and connectivity across its businesses.
About Envy Pompano Beach
Envy Pompano Beach is a Class A mixed-use multifamily property located in Pompano Beach, Florida. Completed in 2020, the property consists of two 11-story buildings with 214 residential units, a 26-slip marina and a three-story community center, along with approximately 5,575 square feet of retail space. The property is located in the South Florida market and combines residential, retail and marina components within a single waterfront community.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws. These statements include, among other things, statements regarding Envy’s expected occupancy, NOI, revenue and operating performance; the Company’s stabilization and operating plans; expected benefits of the acquisition; potential retail and marina revenue; the Company’s ability to fund scheduled settlement payments and the potential cancellation of escrowed shares; and the Company’s broader Real Assets strategy. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include the Company’s ability to execute its operating plan, improve occupancy and collections, reduce concessions and expenses, lease retail and marina space and satisfy its financing and other transaction-related obligations. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in Stewards’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Stewards undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Investor Relations
Stewards, Inc.
IR@Stewards.com
Stewards.com
Media Contact
Scott McGowan
Chief Marketing Officer
Stewards, Inc.
IR@Stewards.com
TROY, Mich., Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Viper Networks (OTCID: VPER) announced the shipment of its first smart city project in Saudi Arabia. The deliveries of its Apollo Smart Lighting System, one of the marquis products in the company’s Community line, began arriving on September 21 and will continue through early October.
The system included AC smart lights with smart grid control systems that allow the lights to dim and turn on and off on demand along with status and power consumption monitoring, solar powered lights with self-cleaning systems and high powered smart flood lights to illuminate facilities and can be controlled on demand during some sports activities. Certain lights were outfitted with smart cameras to detect and read license plates entering and exiting the target facilities, while other cameras will be used with surveillance cameras to monitor visitor safety. The system is equipped with WiFi network capabilities to service the premises.
“This is the first of many projects in our pipeline in Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka” said Erik Levitt, the company’s CEO. “As a management team we are committed to all five pillars of the Everything Wireless: Telecom+Energy Strategy, and our Community line of products, which includes our smart poles and Apollo smart lighting system are the foundation of our smart city business practice.” The company designs and manufactures the Apollo smart lighting system and several models of its poles which vary in size and capacity. The largest Community poles have up to three edge data centers enclosures capable of light to moderate edge computing loads and can support AI edge applications. Earlier this year the company announced its US mobile and smart city pilot in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, which will include the deployment of its entire Community line. “The integration of utility scale energy solutions, smart cities and wireless telecommunications is the future and 0Wire is at the forefront of these solutions,” added Levitt.
Receipts from the project will be reflected as deferred revenue in the current quarter and will be recognized as revenue in the fourth quarter when all shipments have been received and reflected in the company’s 2026 annual financial statements.
ABOUT VIPER NETWORKS, INC.
Viper Networks is a service provider of telecommunications, smart city and energy generation projects. Our “Everything Wireless” strategy is designed to integrate mobility, fixed wireless, over-the-top (“OTT”) technologies and smart cities into a single platform that can deployed in any market globally. For more information go to www.ViperNetworks.com or follow on X (formerly Twitter) Twitter@vipernetworks.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains projections and other forward-looking statements regarding future events or our future financial performance. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this release, including any statements regarding our future results of operations and financial positions, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). These statements are only predictions and reflect our current beliefs and expectations with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risk and uncertainties and subject to change at any time. We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Company Investor Relations Hotline: +1 248-724-1300
Consumers are looking backward to move forward in their nutrition. In an era flooded with health claims, ultra-processed foods, and ingredient lists longer than a novel, a growing number of shoppers and diners are gravitating toward something that feels both familiar and honest: the healthy foods their grandparents and other ancestors grew up eating.
The World Health Organization defines a healthy diet as one rich in vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fruits. This description maps almost perfectly onto traditional cuisines that have sustained populations for centuries.
For food processors, foodservice operators, food manufacturers, and retailers, this shift is an invitation to develop more nutritious portfolios and minimally processed foods that connect with where consumers already are. It’s also central to Griffith Foods’ 2030 aspiration: developing a nutritious and sustainable portfolio.
Why Consumers Are Turning to Traditional Foods
The numbers tell a clear story about where consumer priorities have shifted.
Consumers Are Paying Closer Attention to Ingredients and Claims
Around 58% of consumers1 are now paying closer attention to ingredient lists than they were just a year ago. They’re scanning for things they recognize, questioning what they don’t, and growing more skeptical of health halos built on marketing rather than substance.
Jackie Schulz, Sr. Director of Global Nutrition at Griffith Foods, is direct about what earns longterm trust:
Claims that have evidence to support their efficacy are those that carry the most weight. Including meaningful amounts of ingredients with scientific evidence that they can have an impact on health, through demonstrated mechanisms, will help build trust much more than including ingredients that imply health without it.
Consumers Are More Interested in Vegetable-Based Entrées
FMCG Gurus data shows that 55% of consumers1 actively want to maximize their intake of “good” ingredients. Meanwhile, about 54% of global consumers2 want a wider variety of vegetable-based entrées on menus.
This echoes what we see in traditional diets around the world—many of the world’s longestlived, healthiest populations, like those eating along the Mediterranean, in parts of Latin America, and across Asia, have frequently centered on vegetables and plant-based foods.
Emily Schlag, Corporate Executive Chef at Griffith Foods, points to social media as an accelerant for this trend:
“We see an increased desire to learn about other cultural foods, especially those from countries that are known to have healthy populations.”
How Traditional Foods Deliver Nutrient Density
Nutritional performance is a primary appeal of traditional foods. At Griffith Foods, nutrient density is defined rigorously, using the Nutrient-Rich Foods Index. This framework measures the quantity of beneficial nutrients relative to those we should limit, like sodium, saturated fat, and sugar.
Chain Yin, Regional Nutritionist at Griffith Foods, adds that this thinking extends beyond individual ingredients:
We carefully craft nutrient-dense foods and solutions at the level of the full eating experience, not just a single ingredient. We look at each component of a product to identify opportunities to reduce nutrients of concern while incorporating ingredients that enhance nutritional value.
Which Nutrient-Dense Foods Have Stood the Test of Time?
Three categories stand out for their nutritional credentials, culinary innovation and versatility.
1. Ancient Grains
Bulgur, sorghum, farro, barley, millet, quinoa, amaranth, and fonio have been foundational to diets across the Middle East, West Africa, and beyond for thousands of years. Today they’re earning renewed attention as fiber-rich foods that support digestive health, steady energy, and longer-lasting satiety.
Improved processing has also unlocked new applications for these grains. As Chef Emily puts it:
“In years past, major complaints were long cooking times and bitter flavors. With improvements in processing, we can have tender grains with pleasantly nutty and earthy flavors.”
The result? Ancient grains that slot naturally into modern menus—toasted millet as a crispy salad topping, popped sorghum seasoned like popcorn, creamy farro porridge as a morning staple, barley risotto as a weeknight centerpiece.
2. Legumes and Plant-Based Protein
Lentils, adzuki beans, and chickpeas sit at the crossroads of plant-based protein and fiber-rich foods. The American Heart Association champions legumes as a heart-healthy protein source.
Schulz notes that traditional diets across Latin America, Asia, and Africa tend to be higher in legume and vegetable content. They can be higher in fiber, as well as micronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and phytonutrients—areas where Western diets tend to fall short.
3. Herbs and Spices
Turmeric and lemon verbena aren’t just garnishes. In traditional cuisines from South Asia to North Africa, herbs and spices have long served as both flavor carriers and functional ingredients.
Chain Yin highlights how this plays out in practice:
“In Chinese and Indian cuisine, herbs, spices, pulses, and whole grains are often paired with time-honoured cooking methods like fermentation and slow boiling, which help create depth of flavor while supporting overall nourishment.”
Nutritious Tradition from Around the World
When considering cultures that can inspire your menu development, four regions stand out.
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean diet remains the most rigorously studied traditional eating pattern in the world, with the strongest evidence for longevity and chronic disease prevention.
This diet is rooted in an abundance of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, and herbs, with animal proteins playing a supporting role rather than leading. Fiber, potassium, magnesium, and phytonutrients flow naturally from the pattern as a whole.
China
In Chinese cuisine, nutrient density is built into technique as much as ingredient choice.
Fermentation, slow boiling, and careful spice layering preserve and enhance nutritional value while developing flavor.
Today, health-focused cafés in China are putting ancient grains front and center, such as pairing barley, lentils, and soba noodle bowls with pomegranate-marinated sea bass, demonstrating that the tradition already has a modern expression ready to scale.
West Africa
West African culinary traditions have long relied on legumes, whole grains, and vegetables as dietary staples. Fonio and sorghum, fiber-rich foods with strong micronutrient profiles, have sustained populations across the region for centuries.
Aboboi, a hearty bean and red pepper stew, is a representative example: plant-based protein and fiber at the center of a dish built entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients.
Korea
Korean cuisine offers one of the most compelling models for integrating plant-based protein and fermented foods into everyday eating. Adzuki bean bibimbap places legumes at the heart of a balanced, complete meal, while fermented staples like kimchi contribute beneficial cultures alongside vitamins and fiber.
Move Forward by Looking to the Past
Consumer appetite is clear, and the food innovation opportunity is now.
Anchoring product development in nutrient-dense and clean-label food ingredients from traditional foods can spark new opportunities.
To discover how these food and nutrition trends are shaping the next wave of product development, explore Griffith Foods’ 2026 Food & Flavor Outlook.
FAQs
Why are food developers turning to traditional foods now?
Consumer trust in heavily processed foods is eroding. With 58% of consumers paying closer attention to ingredient labels, traditional foods offer recognizable ingredients, proven nutritional profiles, and an authenticity that health claims alone can’t replicate.
What makes ancient grains, legumes, and herbs so relevant to modern menus?
These ingredients sit at the intersection of nutrient density and culinary versatility. Improvements in processing have made ancient grains easier to cook and more palatable. Ancient grains, legumes, and herbs also bring plant-based protein, fiber, and functional benefits that align with where consumer demand is heading.
Which traditional food cultures offer the most menu development inspiration?
The Mediterranean, China, West Africa, and Korea each offer well-documented, nutrientdense eating patterns that translate naturally into modern formats—from barley risotto and adzuki bean bibimbap to fonio-based dishes and fermented staples like kimchi.
View original content here.
About Griffith Foods
Griffith Foods is a global product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers with high-quality, culinary driven, customized products. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, USA, Griffith Foods is a family-owned business known for collaborative innovation guided by its purpose to “Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World.” Operating in over 40 countries across six continents, Griffith Foods employs more than 5,000 people, including over 40 chefs and 340 food scientists, who work together to create solutions that nourish people, planet, and communities. The company’s product capabilities include seasonings, sauces, dressings, coating systems, and alternative protein solutions. Griffith Foods’ primary areas of focus include Foodservice, Food Manufacturers, Protein Processors, and Retail.
1 FMCG Gurus June 2025.
2 Technomic, “Global Consumer Trends: Q2 2025 biannual update of shifting consumer usage and attitudes,” 2025.
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”) 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. (on behalf of funds managed jointly with Farallon Capital Europe LLP and Farallon Partners, L.L.C.) (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming