Author: Ravi Shankar

Three-year commitment provides greater pricing certainty and drives innovation as FHFA announces VantageScore 4.0 availability for all approved Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lenders

CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) today announced that it will extend its mortgage pricing for VantageScore® 4.0 through December 2028, providing lenders, mortgage resellers and other industry participants with long-term pricing certainty as adoption of modern credit scoring models continues to accelerate.

Under the extended program, VantageScore 4.0 will continue to be available for $0.99 per mortgage origination score when ordered on a standalone basis. TransUnion was the first of the credit bureaus to announce that reduction earlier this year to help make home buying more affordable. TransUnion will also continue to offer VantageScore 4.0 at no additional cost to mortgage customers who purchase a FICO® score.  

The announcement follows the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) September 2026 expansion of VantageScore 4.0 availability to approved Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lenders, further advancing access to modern credit scoring solutions and greater choice across the mortgage industry. This momentum continues with the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) planned acceptance of mortgage collateral backed by VantageScore 4.0 beginning January 1, 2027, helping broaden access to homeownership opportunities for more creditworthy Americans.

“Broad availability of VantageScore 4.0 gives lenders another accepted credit scoring option, and predictable pricing will help them adopt that option with greater confidence,” said Satyan Merchant, senior vice president and mortgage business leader at TransUnion. “By extending our pricing through the end of 2028, TransUnion is offering three years of price stability while supporting greater competition and score choice in the mortgage market.” 

VantageScore 4.0 is a next-generation credit scoring model that leverages trended credit data insights along with rental and utility tradelines, giving lenders a more complete view of consumer credit behavior. To help lenders and investors confidently assess and adopt VantageScore 4.0, TransUnion will continue to offer historical data and analytical support at no cost, allowing testing through TransUnion’s TruIQ™ Data Enrichment platforms. 

“Mortgage lenders should not have to choose between innovation and affordability,” Merchant added. 

TransUnion continues to see growing interest from lenders evaluating or implementing VantageScore 4.0-driven strategies across origination, prequalification and portfolio risk management. Between January and September 2026, VantageScore 4.0 adoption expanded to more than 1,100 mortgage lenders, including 9 of TransUnion’s 15 largest mortgage lender customers.  At the same time, participants across the mortgage capital markets are increasingly recognizing the value of incorporating multiple credit score perspectives into mortgage-backed securities, helping improve transparency and broaden investor insight. 

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru™ picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments, we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.

http://www.transunion.com/business

Contact	Dave Blumberg
	TransUnion
E-mail	david.blumberg@transunion.com
Telephone	312-972-6646

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY
Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

1.        KEY INFORMATION

(a)        Name of exempt principal trader:	Investec Bank plc
(b)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:         Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	Gamma Communications Plc
(c)        Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected:	Investec is Joint Broker to Gamma Communications Plc
(d)        Date dealing undertaken:	28th September 2026
(e)        In addition to the company in 1(b) above, is the exempt principal trader making disclosures in respect of any other party to this offer?         If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	N/A

2.        DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a)        Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchases/ sales	Total number of securities	Highest price per unit paid/received	Lowest price per unit paid/received
Ordinary shares	Purchases	6,000	1118	1118
Ordinary shares	Sales	6,000	1119	1119

(b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(ii)        Exercise

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Exercising/ exercised against	Number of securities	Exercise price per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

3.        OTHER INFORMATION
        
(a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

(b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)        the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)        the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

Date of disclosure:	29th September 2026
Contact name:	Abhishek Gawde
Telephone number:	+91-9923757332

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s dealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that SABIC Agri-Nutrients (SABIC AN) has selected its Purifier^® technology for a new grassroots ammonia plant in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide technology licensing, basic engineering design, proprietary equipment, and catalyst supply for a 3,500 metric tons per day (MTPD) single-train ammonia plant. KBR will work alongside EPC contractor Samsung E&A to deliver the project. The facility will produce 1.2 million metric tons of ammonia annually.

The project is expected to increase SABIC AN’s urea production capacity from 4.8 million to 7.4 million metric tons per year, supporting the company’s strategy to expand fertilizer production. KBR’s Purifier^® configuration will enable lower carbon intensity per ton of ammonia produced compared with conventional ammonia process designs.

The award represents one of the largest ammonia capacity plants licensed in the Kingdom and KBR’s largest ammonia license by capacity in the Middle East and Africa. The project supports Saudi Arabia’s industrial development objectives under Vision 2030 while strengthening the Kingdom’s role in global food security through increased fertilizer production.

“This award confirms the strength of our Purifier^® ammonia technology and the trust that leading producers such as SABIC AN place in KBR to deliver reliable, high-performance solutions at world scale,” said Stuart Bradie, President and CEO, KBR. “We are proud to support SABIC AN’s growth ambitions and help expand fertilizer production capacity in the Kingdom while contributing to global food security.”

This award marks KBR’s second large-scale single-train ammonia award of 2026, following a 3,430 MTPD plant in Latin America and further strengthens KBR’s position as a leading provider of ammonia technology for large-scale fertilizer projects. Since 1943, KBR’s ammonia technology has been deployed in more than 260 grassroots facilities, and the company continues to improve energy efficiency, emissions and plant performance through innovations including KBR INSITE^®, its physics-enabled AI advisor for smarter operations.

About KBR
KBR is a global, capital-light lifecycle solutions company serving customers in high-complexity industrial, energy and infrastructure markets. Through its advisory, technical, engineering and operating expertise, KBR helps customers shape investments, reduce risk, deploy complex technologies, improve performance and deliver reliable outcomes across the asset lifecycle.

Following the planned separation of the Mission Technology Solutions business, KBR will operate as a focused standalone company with differentiated customer relationships, global execution capabilities and a capital-efficient business model. The company is positioned to benefit from long-term secular growth trends across energy security, energy transition, industrial modernization, and infrastructure investment. KBR’s 15,000 employees operate across more than 40 countries.

About Trinzic
KBR’s Mission Technology Solutions business is expected to be spun off as an independent public company in January 2027 and will then operate under the new name Trinzic. The name is inspired by the word intrinsic, reflecting the essential capabilities, deep expertise, speed and trusted performance that have defined the business for decades. Trinzic will enter the market as a global company and partner to customers supporting some of the highest priority missions across national security, human performance, global operations and space. Trinzic will launch with more than $5 billion in annual revenue, established partnerships and contracts, 18,000 employees and a global footprint.    

Forward Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding KBR’s ammonia technology and related services, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

For further information, please contact:

Investors
Rachael Goldwait
Vice President, Investor Relations
713-753-5082
Investors@kbr.com

Media
Philip Ivy
Vice President, Global Communications and Marketing
713-753-3800
MediaRelations@kbr.com

HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westlake Corporation (NYSE: WLK) (“Westlake” or the “Company”) announced today that, in light of challenging market conditions, the Company is taking action to improve profitability by closing its polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) plant in Cologne, Germany.

Chemical production in Europe continues to face difficult conditions, including weak demand, elevated energy costs and increased import pressure from Asia. Due to its smaller scale and higher logistical burden, the Cologne plant has higher costs than the Company’s other European PVC sites. The Company will continue to serve its customers from its remaining, lower-cost PVC facilities in Germany, including its recently acquired Wilhelmshaven site.

The broader global market is also experiencing pricing and cost pressures. In the third quarter of 2026, PVC and polyethylene average prices in North America are lower than the second quarter of 2026 as the price increases initially realized in the second quarter following the onset of the Iran conflict have moderated. Furthermore, in its Housing & Infrastructure Products segment, the Company has experienced higher freight costs caused by a surge in diesel prices and a moderate decline in sales volume caused by the slowdown in housing activity resulting from a rising interest rate environment.

In line with these more challenging market conditions, Westlake expects sequentially lower financial performance in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the second quarter of 2026.

“Given the persistent, challenging market conditions facing the global chemical industry, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations at our Cologne, Germany PVC site as part of our ongoing optimization of business operations,” said Westlake President and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Marc Gilson. “We will continue to supply our valued customers with PVC produced at our other German facilities. I want to recognize the dedication and contributions of all our employees, including those who will be leaving us. We appreciate their efforts over the years, and we are committed to treating everyone impacted with respect and to supporting them through this transition.”

The Cologne facility has annual production capacity of approximately 165,000 metric tons of PVC per year. In connection with the Cologne closure, Westlake expects to record total pre-tax charges of approximately $205 million, consisting of cash charges of approximately $100 million and non-cash charges of approximately $105 million. Approximately $110 million of these cash and non-cash charges are expected to be recorded in 2026, with the remaining portion to be recorded in 2027. The site is expected to cease operations in the first quarter of 2027. These actions are expected to improve the ongoing profitability of Westlake’s European chlorovinyl operations.

About Westlake

Celebrating 40 years of operations in 2026, Westlake is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, we provide the building blocks for vital solutions — from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer goods.

Contacts

Media Inquiries: Chip Swearngan, 713-960-9111

Investor Inquiries: Jeff Holy, 713-960-9111

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements regarding the timing of the anticipated cessation of certain operations at the Cologne PVC plant, the anticipated effects of the closure on production capacity, the estimated pre-tax costs and expected cash outflows associated with the closure, anticipated financial performance of the Company in the third quarter of 2026, and the expected impact of the closure on the profitability of the Company’s European chlorovinyl operations are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Actual results could differ materially, based on factors including, but not limited to, the ultimate cost of closure of such facilities, the outcome of consultations with works councils, unions and governmental authorities, and other risks and uncertainties. For more detailed information about the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 26, 2026, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, which was filed with the SEC on August 5, 2026.

New solution captures AI agent intent to continuously assess trust, supporting organizations in more securely engaging with trusted agents while helping to protect applications, business processes and sensitive data

MAHWAH, N.J., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware^® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in AI and application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, today introduced Radware Agent Trust Management, a new solution designed to help organizations participate more securely in the emerging AI agent economy by facilitating how trusted AI agents interact with their applications.

As AI agent traffic grows, organizations face a new challenge: blocking agents can result in lost business, while allowing them unrestricted access can expose applications, sensitive data and business processes to new risks. Radware Agent Trust Management addresses this challenge by directly capturing their declared intent, continuously assessing whether their actions remain consistent with that intent and controlling what they are permitted to do. This is designed to move businesses beyond broad allow-or-block decisions and more securely capture the value of agent-driven interactions.

“AI agents are fundamentally changing how applications are accessed and used,” said David Aviv, chief technology officer at Radware. “Organizations need to be able to embrace this shift while maintaining visibility and control over agent activity. Agent Trust Management enables them to establish trust and control what agents can do, so they can participate in the agent economy while protecting critical applications, business processes and data.”

According to Radware’s H1 Global Threat Analysis Report, 77% of organizations are actively deploying or implementing AI agents, yet only 17.2% report full visibility into the AI agents operating within their environments. AI agents are increasingly interacting with applications across industries and performing tasks that can involve sensitive data, transactions and critical business processes. In e-commerce and retail, agents can research products and complete transactions; in financial services, they can interact with applications involving sensitive information and financial activities; and in travel and hospitality, they can search, make bookings and interact with inventory, pricing and loyalty programs. Radware Agent Trust Management is designed to assist organizations in supporting these emerging use cases while maintaining greater visibility and control over how AI agents interact with their applications.

Identifying an AI agent alone does not establish whether it can be trusted. Even a verified agent can have malicious intent, deviate from its stated purpose or attempt harmful actions. Radware Agent Trust Management is designed to go beyond relying solely on identity and observed behavior by also directly capturing an agent’s declared intent through active conversation and continuously evaluating whether its actions remain consistent with that intent. This helps organizations distinguish legitimate agent interactions from potentially harmful activity.

Key capabilities of Radware Agent Trust Management include:

• Understand AI agent activity and intent. Prompt-aware, session-level visibility provides insight into an agent’s identity, declared intent, actions and navigation path, supporting security teams in investigating activity and making informed policy decisions.
• Identify agents across the ecosystem. Multi-signal identification combines request headers, client-side behavioral signals and direct agent responses to identify and classify both Web Bot Auth-compliant and non-compliant agents. Standards-compliant agents are cryptographically verified.
• Continuously assess whether agents can be trusted. Radware captures declared intent through active conversation and uses AI-based behavioral analysis, prompt profiling and anomaly detection to assess whether an agent’s activity remains consistent with that intent. Trust assessments evolve as new signals emerge.
• Control what agents are permitted to do. Permission-based governance is designed to enable organizations to control access to specific workflows, providing more granular options beyond broad allow-or-block decisions. For example, an organization can permit an agent to browse while restricting sensitive actions such as login or checkout.

Radware Agent Trust Management is available now as part of Radware Cloud Application Protection services, extending Radware’s bot management capabilities to address the distinct visibility, trust assessment and governance requirements of AI agents.

For more information, visit Radware Agent Trust Management. Additional product materials, including the solution brief, are available from Radware.

About Radware

Radware^® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application and AI security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, API and AI security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, behavior-based, real-time protection against sophisticated web, application and DDoS attacks, API abuse, business logic threats and malicious bots. Radware delivers end-to-end API security, including discovery, posture management, testing and runtime protection, along with advanced protection for AI agents and models. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware to address evolving cyberthreats, protect their brands and business operations, and reduce costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, the Radware Blog, X and YouTube. ©2026 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice. The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and are not part of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. securities laws. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, objectives, expectations, beliefs, projections, future financial performance, business strategies, market opportunities and developments in its industry, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast” and “target,” and similar expressions, as well as future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could.” For example, statements in this press release about the capabilities, benefits, availability and intended use of Radware Agent Trust Management and related competitive differentiation and market positioning are forward-looking statements.

Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include global market and economic conditions; dependence on independent distributors; supply-chain disruptions; reliance on a limited number of vendors; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; intense competition; the ability to develop and enhance solutions; defects, vulnerabilities or failures in products and services; risks associated with artificial intelligence technologies and evolving regulatory frameworks; information-technology failures or security breaches; hosting or cloud-service disruptions; interoperability risks; global operations; and geopolitical risks, including instability in the Middle East and Israel.

These factors are not exhaustive. For a more detailed description of risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, please refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and other reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no obligation to update or revise them. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website or on Radware’s website.

Media Contact:

Gina Sorice
GinaSo@radware.com

Investor Contact:

Yisca Erez
YiscaE@radware.com

Customers can now shop millions of unique secondhand finds directly from ThredUp’s distribution centers, powered by Whatnot

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ThredUp (Nasdaq: TDUP, LTSE: TDUP), one of the world’s largest online resale platforms, today announced plans to expand into live shopping on Whatnot, the largest live commerce platform in the US, UK, and Europe.

Beginning today, ThredUp will launch live shows directly from its distribution centers in Atlanta, GA, and Dallas, TX. This represents ThredUp’s official foray into live commerce. The live shopping market has reached an estimated $22 billion across North America and Europe*, with fashion being Whatnot’s largest category by order volume. This launch brings ThredUp’s millions of unique secondhand fashion SKUs and purpose-built resale infrastructure to Whatnot’s community-driven marketplace.

As ThredUp increases live show frequency, it aims to grow into a trusted destination for secondhand fashion on Whatnot. Buyers who shop with ThredUp on Whatnot will have instant access to millions of unique and curated secondhand garments across value, contemporary, and luxury brands directly from ThredUp’s distribution centers.

Beyond the Whatnot channel launch, ThredUp is exploring additional ways to empower Whatnot’s seller community with its proprietary resale technology. Areas of focus include providing access to ThredUp’s inventory directly to Whatnot fashion sellers, equipping them with data-driven curation tools to build selections tailored to their audiences, and using ThredUp’s logistics infrastructure to make receiving that inventory seamless.

“Live shopping is one of the most dynamic channels in retail today, and we’re excited to expand into this opportunity on Whatnot,” said James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp. “With fashion as one of Whatnot’s largest categories, and with a highly engaged community of buyers, we see this as an incredible opportunity to meet the next generation of secondhand shoppers where they are. This launch is also just the beginning of what we can do together as we explore the endless possibilities for how our combined technologies can further support existing Whatnot sellers grow their businesses.”

ThredUp’s first live show on Whatnot will take place on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT. Follow ThredUp’s official channel and turn on live notifications at whatnot.com/user/thredup. Live sellers interested in learning more can visit thredup.com/livehost.

*Whatnot’s 2026 State of Live Selling Report

About ThredUp

ThredUp is transforming resale with technology and a mission to inspire the world to think secondhand first. By making it easy to buy and sell secondhand, ThredUp has become one of the world’s largest online resale platforms for apparel, shoes and accessories. Sellers love ThredUp because we make it easy to clean out their closets and unlock value for themselves or for the charity of their choice while doing good for the planet. Buyers love shopping value, premium and luxury brands all in one place, at up to 90% off estimated retail price. Our proprietary operating platform is the foundation for our managed marketplace and consists of distributed processing infrastructure, proprietary software and systems and data science expertise. With ThredUp’s Resale-as-a-Service® (RaaS®), some of the world’s leading brands and retailers are leveraging our platform to deliver customizable, scalable resale experiences to their customers. By extending the life cycle of clothing, ThredUp is changing the way consumers shop and ushering in a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.

Media Contacts:
ThredUp PR: media@thredup.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/392b0582-c670-4395-9030-b53ff20ebf26

Auto, mortgage and telecommunications application fraud decline

– Equifax Canada Market Pulse Fraud Trends and Insights –

TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Credit card application fraud climbed eight per cent year-over-year in Q2 2026, bucking the trend of declines across auto, mortgage and telecommunications applications, according to Equifax Canada’s latest Market Pulse Fraud Trends and Insights.

The overall credit card application fraud rate, defined as the proportion of fraudulent credit card applications relative to the total credit card applications, rose by eight per cent compared to one year ago, reaching 0.91 per cent in Q2 2026, driven primarily by third-party identity theft.

The overall consumer application fraud rate stood at 0.66 per cent in Q2, up five per cent from a year earlier. The first-party fraud rate, where applicants misrepresent their own personal or financial information, was 0.35 per cent, while third-party identity theft was 0.27 per cent. “While these percentage number increases may look small, the impact and dollar value could have a major impact on Canadians,” noted Carl Davies, Head of Fraud and Identity at Equifax Canada.

The increase in credit card application fraud is occurring against a backdrop of continued financial pressure on Canadian households. Separate Equifax Canada consumer credit data shows total consumer debt reached $2.68 trillion in Q2 2026, up 4.18 per cent year over year.

Alongside rising debt levels, the overall severe delinquency rate (payments 90 or more days past due) increased 11.7 per cent to 0.68 per cent, and severe credit card delinquency climbed 6.8 per cent to 4.2 per cent. This is notable because rising delinquencies and financial pressure can be linked to increased fraud rates.

Targeting Canadians with greater access to credit
Canadians aged 56 to 65 were the most frequently targeted group, as identity thieves seem to be focusing on established cardholders, exploiting their potentially higher credit limits. Because Canadians aged 56 to 65 tend to check credit their reports less frequently, fraudsters have a longer window to operate undetected. Meanwhile, Quebec recorded the country’s highest rate of third-party credit card application fraud.

“Credit card application fraud is increasingly being driven by identity theft, and fraudsters focusing their efforts on Canadians aged 56 to 65 deserves attention,” said Davies. “Fraudsters are looking for opportunities to use legitimate personal information to open new accounts, which makes it important for consumers of all ages, but especially the 56 to 65 age group, to monitor their credit reports regularly and act quickly when they see any activity they do not recognize.”

True identity fraud, where a criminal uses another person’s genuine personal information without consent to open an account, was the leading source of third-party credit card application fraud nationally.

Auto Fraud Cools, but First-Party Misrepresentation Dominates
The auto application fraud rate declined to 0.21 per cent in Q2 as auto credit inquiries fell nine per cent year-over-year and new originations declined by 9.2 per cent. First-party fraud accounted for 0.19 per cent, compared with just 0.02 per cent for third-party fraud.

Nearly 90 per cent of fraudulent auto applications involved first-party misrepresentation, including falsified employment information, altered financial documents and conflicting personal information. Ontario recorded the country’s highest auto application fraud rate, while applicants aged 26 to 35 accounted for the largest share of fraudulent activity.

“The fraud picture is not moving in one specific direction,” explained Davies. “With credit cards, identity theft is the biggest concern. In auto lending, it is applicants misrepresenting their own circumstances. Understanding the differences in what type of fraud is occurring is important because the methods used to detect and prevent fraud also need to be different.”

Mortgage and Telecommunications Application Fraud Decline: Ontario and Alberta record highest mortgage application fraud rates
Mortgage application fraud rate declined to 0.20 per cent in Q2 and consisted almost entirely of first-party misrepresentation. Ontario recorded the highest provincial mortgage application fraud rate at 0.28 per cent, followed by Alberta at 0.19 per cent.

Telecommunications application fraud also continued its downward trend, falling to 0.32 per cent. The first-party fraud rate declined to 0.25 per cent, while the third-party fraud rate held at 0.02 per cent.

“The shift in fraud rates really shows a growing split between different types of fraud. The increase in fraud for everyday banking products such as credit cards and banking/deposits may indicate broader household stress. While the declines in auto, mortgage, and telecommunications fraud are in part due to population contraction and sluggish credit demand,” noted Davies. “Canadians lost an estimated $645M to fraud last year. It’s a problem we are committed to continuing to fight, evidenced by the estimated $3B in fraud losses we help prevent annually. We want to do everything we can to help better protect Canadians from any type of fraud,” concluded Davies.

Equifax Canada^® Market Pulse Fraud Trends and Insights leverages market-leading data and analytics to deliver critical insights for Canada’s financial ecosystem to help protect consumers and help Canadians live their financial best. Equifax Canada offers a full suite of credit monitoring and ID protection solutions to protect Canadian consumers.

About Equifax
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.ca.

Contact:
Andrew Findlater
SELECT Public Relations
afindlater@selectpr.ca
(647) 444-1197

Angie Andich
Equifax Canada Media Relations
MediaRelationsCanada@equifax.com

Utrecht, 29 September 2026

Aalberts today reports that it has repurchased 81,000 of its own shares in the period from 21 September 2026, up to and including 25 September 2026 for an amount of EUR 3,401,044.68 so at an average share price of EUR 41.99.

This is part of the share buyback programme as announced on 26 February 2026, for a total amount of EUR 75 million. The repurchase of shares commenced on 27 February 2026 and will be completed no later than 9 October 2026. It is intended that the shares will be cancelled following repurchase.

Up to and including 18 September 2026, a cumulative total of 1,902,711 shares was repurchased under the share buyback programme for a total consideration of EUR 67,907,987.

Aalberts has engaged an intermediary to repurchase the Aalberts shares in the open market, during open and closed periods, independent of Aalberts.

The share buyback will be executed within the limitations of the authority granted by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 10, 2025. The programme will be conducted within the parameters prescribed by the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 and the safe harbour parameters prescribed by the Commission Delegated Regulation 2016/1052 for share buybacks.

Visit aalberts.com/sbb for the weekly progress overview.

Attachment

• press release

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY
Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

1.        KEY INFORMATION

(a)        Name of exempt principal trader:	Investec Bank plc
(b)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:         Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	Gooch & Housego plc
(c)        Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected:	Investec is Advisor and Broker to Gooch & Housego plc
(d)        Date dealing undertaken:	28th September 2026
(e)        In addition to the company in 1(b) above, is the exempt principal trader making disclosures in respect of any other party to this offer?         If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	N/A

2.        DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a)        Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchases/ sales	Total number of securities	Highest price per unit paid/received	Lowest price per unit paid/received
Ordinary shares	Purchases	9	1225	1225

(b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(ii)        Exercise

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Exercising/ exercised against	Number of securities	Exercise price per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

3.        OTHER INFORMATION

(a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

(b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)        the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)        the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

Date of disclosure:	29th September 2026
Contact name:	Abhishek Gawde
Telephone number:	+91-9923757332

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s dealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY
Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

1.        KEY INFORMATION

(a)        Name of exempt principal trader:	Investec Bank Plc
(b)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:         Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	Advanced Medical Solutions Group Plc
(c)        Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected:	Investec is Advisor & Joint Broker to Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc
(d)        Date dealing undertaken:	28th September 2026
(e)        In addition to the company in 1(b) above, is the exempt principal trader making disclosures in respect of any other party to this offer?         If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	N/A

2.        DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a)        Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchases/ sales	Total number of securities	Highest price per unit paid/received	Lowest price per unit paid/received
Ordinary shares	Purchase	9,625	282.25	282.25
Ordinary shares	Sales	54,010	282	282

(b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(ii)        Exercise

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Exercising/ exercised against	Number of securities	Exercise price per unit
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

3.        OTHER INFORMATION

(a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

(b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)        the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)        the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

None

Date of disclosure:	29th September 2026
Contact name:	Abhishek Gawde
Telephone number:	+91-9923757332

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s dealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at ssssssswwww.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.