Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Reaffirms Commitment to Pursuing All Measures to Maximize Value for Shareholders, Including by Voting Against All Incumbent Whitestone Board Members

BALTIMORE, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MCB Real Estate (“MCB”), a leading commercial real estate developer and investment management firm with a diverse nationwide portfolio and approximately $4 billion in AUM, today sent a letter to the Board of Trustees of Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) (“Whitestone” or the “Company”) regarding MCB’s previously announced proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Whitestone REIT for $15.20 per share in cash, with no financing contingency.

The full text of the letter is as follows:

January 7, 2025

Board of Trustees
C/O David K. Holeman
Whitestone REIT
2600 S. Gessner Rd, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77063

Dear Whitestone REIT Board of Trustees:

MCB Real Estate has yet to receive a response from the Whitestone Board, management team or advisors since we submitted a compelling, fully-financed proposal to acquire Whitestone REIT at an attractive 21.0% premium to the Company’s unaffected share price on November 3, 2025. As a significant shareholder owning approximately 9.2% of outstanding shares, MCB is asking the Whitestone Board to do its job and advance the best interests of all shareholders by responding to the acquisition proposal submitted more than two months ago.

We stand ready to consummate the proposed acquisition of Whitestone for $15.20 per share – and are willing to consider increasing our proposal price if Whitestone would grant due diligence and demonstrate that more value is warranted. MCB is committed to taking all actions necessary to maximize value for Whitestone shareholders.

More than a year has passed since the Board rejected MCB’s previous acquisition proposal, but Whitestone has not made meaningful progress towards closing the Company’s significant value gap or addressing its material underperformance relative to peers. We remain resolute that a sale of the Company is the best and only way to maximize value, and that the incumbent board members must take action now or be removed. Accordingly, we remain committed to voting against all incumbent Whitestone directors at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

We know many of our fellow Whitestone shareholders share our frustration with the Board and management team’s inaction, evidenced by recent public events and reporting. We ask each member of the Whitestone Board to uphold their fiduciary duty to all shareholders by authorizing engagement with MCB or entering into a public strategic alternatives process. 

Sincerely,
/s/ P. David Bramble
P. David Bramble, Managing Partner

‍Advisors
MCB has engaged Vinson & Elkins LLP as lead counsel and Wells Fargo is serving as financial advisor to MCB. Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is serving as strategic communications advisor to MCB.

About MCB Real Estate
Founded in 2007, MCB Real Estate is a community-centric, privately held national commercial real estate investment management and development firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. MCB boasts a nationwide portfolio of $4 billion in assets under management totaling approximately 20 million square feet with approximately 6 million square feet in its development pipeline. Property types include industrial, retail, mixed-use, multi-family, office, and healthcare. The firm offers a seamlessly integrated suite of commercial real estate investment services, including acquisitions, development, construction, asset management, property management, leasing, marketing, financing and legal expertise, thus ensuring comprehensive support throughout every stage of an asset’s lifecycle. www.mcbrealestate.com.

Additional Information
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. This communication relates to a proposal which MCB has made to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company. In furtherance of this proposal and subject to future developments, MCB (and, if a negotiated transaction is agreed, the Company) may file one or more proxy statements, tender offer or other documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, prospectus, tender offer document or other document MCB or the Company may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction.

This communication is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC. Nonetheless, MCB and its executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in one or more proxy statements, tender offer documents or other documents filed with the SEC if and when they become available. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THESE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. These documents (if and when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

‍Media Contacts

‍Andrew Siegel / Lyle Weston
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449

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SOURCE MCB Real Estate

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On the anniversary of the January 2025 devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, experts at Plastic Pollution Coalition and Habitable stress the need to reduce plastics in homes and other buildings to reduce future health and wildfire risks.

Their report, “How Plastics Fuel Wildfires & How to Rebuild Better,” explores the links between plastics and wildfires, and shows how communities impacted by wildfires can build and rebuild better with safer, plastic-free materials. Plastic building materials burn hotter, faster, and more toxic than natural materials. And while the immediate threats of wildfire may diminish once fires are extinguished, long-term environmental threats can persist for years following a disaster. Plastics greatly exacerbate these risks.

“Building homes and neighborhoods from flammable and toxic plastic is a giant risk to our health, safety, and futures. Last year, my family nearly lost our home in the wildfires that swept across LA. I saw first hand how countless neighborhoods, schools, and lives were upended in this unnecessary chain reaction. While there were of course other factors at play, I believe choosing plastic-free building materials and passing legislation to make these materials more affordable and accessible can help prevent heartbreaking loss like this from happening in the future.” — Grace Potter, Musician

“As LA rebuilds from last year’s fires, we must build resilience—that means using less plastic and more natural and nontoxic building materials.” — Dianna Cohen, Co-Founder & CEO, Plastic Pollution Coalition

Cohen and Potter, who both live in California, recently teamed up to write about the serious impacts of the 2025 disaster, its connections, and Los Angeles’ opportunity to build back better—with safer natural materials instead of harmful plastics.

Habitable CEO Gina Ciganik’s November 2025 TEDx Talk, “The Plastic Problem Hidden in Plain Sight” further describes the harms from plastic building materials and related chemicals, including links to cancer, reproductive harm, and developmental issues, and proposes solutions. Ciganik’s talk was part of TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch, focused on solutions to plastic pollution.

The building and construction industry is the second-biggest driver of plastic production and pollution, after the packaging industry. Better decisionmaking tools for builders and policies encouraging safer, plastic-free building materials use can help usher in necessary change that better protects communities from plastics’ dangers. The report and TEDx Talk present readily available healthier and more sustainable alternatives to plastic building materials, often with comparable cost and performance. They spotlight Habitable’s Informed^™, a free, publicly available product guidance grounded in science-based research, using a red-to-green ranking that allows building industry practitioners to easily avoid worst-in-class products (red), and prefer those that tend to be no or low-plastic (yellow or green).

Press contact:
Erica Cirino
Communications Manager
Plastic Pollution Coalition
press@plasticpollutioncoalition.org 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/experts-stress-reducing-plastics-in-homes-as-los-angeles-rebuilds-from-wildfires-302655638.html

SOURCE Plastic Pollution Coalition

Beneficiaries include Maui United Way, Maui Food Bank, and Aloha Puʻu Kukui

MAUI, Hawaii, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sentry is donating $1 million to three Maui-based nonprofit organizations in recognition of their vital contributions to community well-being, environmental restoration, and the island’s continuing recovery.

For the past eight years, Sentry has built relationships across Maui through its title sponsorship of The Sentry PGA TOUR event. And while the tournament was cancelled this year due to drought conditions that made play impossible, these contributions illustrate the company’s commitment to partnership with organizations on the island.

“The relationships we’ve built in Maui continue to guide how we support this community in thoughtful and appropriate ways,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry Chairman and CEO. “We admire the resilience of the Maui community but also recognize that needs remain high as rebuilding continues. We know these three organizations are well-equipped to help the community move forward—because we’ve watched their dedication up close for many years.”

About the donations

Representatives from Sentry recently met with local partners at the University of Hawai’i Maui College campus to present the following donations:

• $250,000 to Maui Food Bank to support safe, nutritious food distribution and hunger relief for local families.
  • Lisa Paulson, CEO, Maui Food Bank:
    “We’re deeply grateful for Sentry’s continued support. This gift will help us provide safe and nutritious food and hope to thousands of families across Maui who are at risk of going hungry.”
• $250,000 to Aloha Puʻu Kukui to help restore the native Hawaiian forest and ecosystem that captures rain and provides water, protecting long-term environmental health.
  • Kainoa Pestana, Conservation Manager, Pu’u Kukui Watershed:
    “Sentry’s donation allows us to accelerate our work— keeping invasive plants and animals out of the forest, restoring damaged lands, planting native trees and shrubs, and preserving the natural beauty and balance of the island for future generations.”
• $500,000 to Maui United Way to provide continued support the Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki initiative—launched in 2023 following the wildfires—to provide trauma-informed mental health services for children and families.

  Since its launch, Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki has supported more than 7,690 children and families, with new funding ensuring these services continue for Maui’s youth. Entering its third year, the program will help provide mental health services for children and families impacted by the Lahaina wildfires—providing counseling, stress management cultural training, and community events. Since November 2023, Sentry has contributed $2.5 million to the effort.

  • Jeeyun Lee, CEO, Maui United Way:
    “Through the Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki initiative, we have seen firsthand how targeted, trauma informed care can support our community’s healing and resilience. This new funding will allow us to continue to reach more children and families while also strengthening and sustaining the local providers who serve them, helping prevent burnout, build skills, and ensure a more resilient Maui County.”

About Sentry
Founded in 1904, Sentry is known for maintaining long-term customer relationships and supporting its communities. Sentry Insurance is part of one of the largest and most financially secure mutual insurance groups in the United States, holding an A+ (superior) Financial Strength Rating from AM Best as of June 2025. Sentry and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of insurance products, including property and casualty insurance, life insurance, annuities, and retirement programs for businesses and individuals nationwide. For a complete list of underwriting companies, visit sentry.com. 

About Sentry Insurance Foundation
The Sentry Insurance Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sentry. Giving priorities include education, workforce development, United Way, and local organizations that work to improve the quality of life and build equitable communities where we live and work, including the Maui community.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentry-donates-1-million-to-support-maui-nonprofits-302655537.html

SOURCE Sentry Insurance

Beneficiaries include Maui United Way, Maui Food Bank, and Aloha Puʻu Kukui

MAUI, Hawaii, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sentry is donating $1 million to three Maui-based nonprofit organizations in recognition of their vital contributions to community well-being, environmental restoration, and the island’s continuing recovery.

For the past eight years, Sentry has built relationships across Maui through its title sponsorship of The Sentry PGA TOUR event. And while the tournament was cancelled this year due to drought conditions that made play impossible, these contributions illustrate the company’s commitment to partnership with organizations on the island.

“The relationships we’ve built in Maui continue to guide how we support this community in thoughtful and appropriate ways,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry Chairman and CEO. “We admire the resilience of the Maui community but also recognize that needs remain high as rebuilding continues. We know these three organizations are well-equipped to help the community move forward—because we’ve watched their dedication up close for many years.”

About the donations

Representatives from Sentry recently met with local partners at the University of Hawai’i Maui College campus to present the following donations:

• $250,000 to Maui Food Bank to support safe, nutritious food distribution and hunger relief for local families.
  • Lisa Paulson, CEO, Maui Food Bank:
    “We’re deeply grateful for Sentry’s continued support. This gift will help us provide safe and nutritious food and hope to thousands of families across Maui who are at risk of going hungry.”
• $250,000 to Aloha Puʻu Kukui to help restore the native Hawaiian forest and ecosystem that captures rain and provides water, protecting long-term environmental health.
  • Kainoa Pestana, Conservation Manager, Pu’u Kukui Watershed:
    “Sentry’s donation allows us to accelerate our work— keeping invasive plants and animals out of the forest, restoring damaged lands, planting native trees and shrubs, and preserving the natural beauty and balance of the island for future generations.”
• $500,000 to Maui United Way to provide continued support the Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki initiative—launched in 2023 following the wildfires—to provide trauma-informed mental health services for children and families.

  Since its launch, Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki has supported more than 7,690 children and families, with new funding ensuring these services continue for Maui’s youth. Entering its third year, the program will help provide mental health services for children and families impacted by the Lahaina wildfires—providing counseling, stress management cultural training, and community events. Since November 2023, Sentry has contributed $2.5 million to the effort.

  • Jeeyun Lee, CEO, Maui United Way:
    “Through the Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki initiative, we have seen firsthand how targeted, trauma informed care can support our community’s healing and resilience. This new funding will allow us to continue to reach more children and families while also strengthening and sustaining the local providers who serve them, helping prevent burnout, build skills, and ensure a more resilient Maui County.”

About Sentry
Founded in 1904, Sentry is known for maintaining long-term customer relationships and supporting its communities. Sentry Insurance is part of one of the largest and most financially secure mutual insurance groups in the United States, holding an A+ (superior) Financial Strength Rating from AM Best as of June 2025. Sentry and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of insurance products, including property and casualty insurance, life insurance, annuities, and retirement programs for businesses and individuals nationwide. For a complete list of underwriting companies, visit sentry.com. 

About Sentry Insurance Foundation
The Sentry Insurance Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sentry. Giving priorities include education, workforce development, United Way, and local organizations that work to improve the quality of life and build equitable communities where we live and work, including the Maui community.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentry-donates-1-million-to-support-maui-nonprofits-302655537.html

SOURCE Sentry Insurance

At CES 2026, Company Highlights Measurable Progress, Bold 2030 Targets, Cross-sector Collaboration

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At CES^® 2026, LG Electronics reaffirmed its global circularity goals, outlining measurable progress and underscoring its commitment to embedding circular economy principles across the entire product lifecycle. Supporting its “Better Life for All” ESG vision, LG is focusing on innovation, partnerships and consumer engagement to help reduce environmental impact while delivering long-term value to customers and society.

LG’s circularity mission was spotlighted today at a CES circularity session that explored the future of sustainable design, responsible resource use and cross-industry collaboration. The lively panel discussion reflected LG’s belief that meaningful progress toward a circular economy requires coordinated action across technology, policy, business and consumer behavior.

“Circularity is not a single initiative; it’s a system-wide transformation,” said LG Electronics USA Senior Vice President John I. Taylor, reinforcing the company’s role as a catalyst for change in building a more sustainable, circular future. “Through innovation, collaboration and transparent goals, LG is committed to the transition to a circular economy while delivering on our ESG commitments and our Better Life for All vision.”

Addressing Barriers to Circularity
While momentum around circularity is accelerating globally, LG recognizes that challenges remain. Among the most significant barriers is cost. Depending on material type, recycled or next-generation materials are typically 10-20 percent more expensive than conventional alternatives, impacting competitiveness. LG is investing in technology development and scaling up to help close this gap and make sustainable choices more accessible.

Consumer awareness also plays a critical role. LG is strengthening education and communication to encourage customers to take part in used product and packaging collection initiatives, providing clear guidance on how and where products can be returned and recycled responsibly.

Clear Targets, Measurable Progress Toward 2030
LG has set ambitious, transparent goals to advance circularity by 2030. The company aims to apply 600,000 tons of recycled plastics across its products by 2030, building on strong momentum with 188,000 tons already utilized as of 2024. In the same timeframe, LG targets the collection of 8 million tons of waste globally, having already surpassed 5.01 million tons cumulatively since 2006.

These commitments are supported by a comprehensive resource circulation system spanning four stages—Production, Use, Distribution and Disposal—each delivering tangible result:

• Production: Scaling Recycled and Eco-Friendly Materials. In 2024, LG used 74,079 tons of recycled plastics, representing a 36 percent year-over-year increase. To achieve its 2030 target, the company is expanding the use of recycled plastics to include exterior product components, supported by material innovation and quality assurance.

  LG is also accelerating the adoption of pulp mold packaging to replace conventional expanded polystyrene. An industry-first pulp mold technology developed by LG can withstand loads exceeding 44 pounds and is now used as cushioning for medium-sized products such as air purifiers and soundbars, reducing plastic consumption while maintaining product protection.

• Use: Extending Product Lifespan Through New Business Models. LG’s growing subscription business in South Korea is redefining product use by combining convenience with sustainability. Beyond rental, professional care managers provide regular maintenance, cleaning and replacement of consumable parts, extending products’ lifespan.

  Complementing this approach, LG’s “ThinQ UP” appliances, which allow customers to add new features via software updates after purchase, have recorded more than 20 million cumulative global upgrade actions. This innovation reduces premature replacement, enhances customer satisfaction and maximizes product value over time.

• Distribution: Sustainable Packaging and Closed-Loop Logistics. Across distribution, LG is transitioning to plastic-free packaging for small appliances, with internal cushioning materials being converted to pulp and corrugated cardboard to improve recyclability. The company is also expanding closed-loop recycling at logistics sites, collecting waste stretch film and recycling it into new logistics film, reducing virgin plastic use and operational waste.
• Disposal: Advancing Global E-Waste Collection and Responsible Recycling. LG continues to expand its global e-waste collection efforts. In 2024 alone, the company conducted collection campaigns in 56 countries, gathering 532,630 tons of waste electronics. Initiatives such as the “Battery Turn” campaign enable the recovery of valuable metals, including nickel and lithium, from used cordless vacuum batteries, while partnerships with organizations such as E-Circulation Governance provide free home collection services.

Taylor said the establishment of a circular economy is essential—and expected to become even more critical—for addressing resource depletion, protecting the planet and securing sustainable economic growth. In 2026 and beyond, the company’s Circularity Team is advancing high-strength pulp molds, high-content EPS alternatives, material-specific circular systems and component collection campaigns to support long-term impact.

About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a smart life solutions company with annual global revenues of more than $60 billion. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR^® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com

Media Contact:

LG Electronics USA
Kimberly Regillio
kim.regillio@lge.com
+1 815 355 0509

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SOURCE LG Electronics USA