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VertiGIS Acquires 1Spatial to Expand its Product Portfolio and Global Reach

Take-private deal, valued at £87 million, to help VertiGIS power the next generation of intelligent, insight-driven geospatial networks

London, UK. 30 April 2026 – VertiGIS, a global leader in geospatial solutions for utilities, governments and commercial enterprises, today announces it has closed its acquisition of 1Spatial, a longstanding VertiGIS partner and a global provider of advanced Location Master Data Management (LMDM) software. VertiGIS is backed by global, technology-focused investment firm Battery Ventures.

Together, VertiGIS and 1Spatial will offer customers a comprehensive geospatial technology portfolio, combining 1Spatial's data-management platform with VertiGIS' industry-focused business applications. While VertiGIS has built its reputation delivering high-value workflows at the application tier, 1Spatial adds a powerful data-quality and automation layer, giving customers the tools to evaluate, enrich, and govern the spatial data that underpins those applications. As organizations increasingly look to leverage AI agents and large language models in their geospatial workflows, the quality of underlying data becomes critical. 1Spatial's rules engine can prepare that data for AI consumption.

The combination also significantly expands VertiGIS' geographic reach, specifically into new markets including the U.K., France, and the Benelux region while strengthening existing footprints in North America and Australia. Customers will benefit from a deeper product portfolio that includes 1Spatial's popular 1Integrate rules engine and its innovative 1Streetworks solution, which helps municipalities better manage infrastructure construction projects, as well as a broader suite of complementary, vertically focused solutions for water utilities, telecoms, transportation authorities, and other infrastructure-focused organizations.

Under the terms of the deal – valued at GBP £87.10 million and first announced in December 2025 – 1Spatial shareholders received 73 pence in cash per share. The offer represented a premium of 56.99% to the closing price of 46.50 pence per 1Spatial Share on 11 December, 2025, the last business day before the Possible Offer Announcement.

“High quality, trustworthy data is the foundation of every modern geospatial system and is critical for the autonomous and predictive future we are building,” said Andy Berry, CEO of VertiGIS. “1Spatial’s expertise and technology complement our portfolio and strengthen our ability to help customers accelerate digital transformation. We’re delighted to welcome the 1Spatial team into VertiGIS.”

1Spatial customers can expect continuity of service and uninterrupted access to current products and support channels, along with access to a broader set of market-leading geospatial solutions from VertiGIS.

Expanding VertiGIS’ Data Management and Automation Capabilities

1Spatial’s solutions are used by national and regional governments, utilities, telecoms, transport agencies, and infrastructure operators – sectors where VertiGIS already has a strong and expanding footprint. Integrating 1Spatial’s technology directly into the VertiGIS portfolio will accelerate VertiGIS’ strategy to deliver end-to-end geospatial solutions, from data creation and validation to analytics, operations, and field execution.

1Spatial is recognised for its patented, automated rules engine that enables organisations to manage, validate, and enhance large-scale geospatial and location data with high accuracy and consistency. Its LMDM platform provides:

Automated data validation and correction
Complex, rules-based data governance
Cross-system data synchronisation
High-volume processing for national scale datasets
Tools that ensure geospatial, asset, and operational data remain complete, current, and trustworthy

This high data accuracy is foundational for delivering AI-enabled insights, supporting the reliability and effectiveness of predictive maintenance models and advanced analytics.

The acquisition enhances VertiGIS’ ability to deliver enterprise-grade data integrity, enabling customers to unlock greater value from their GIS investments. For 1Spatial’s customers, the transaction provides access to VertiGIS’ global product suite, international support network, and industry specific innovations and roadmap.

A Transforming Industry with VertiGIS Neo Leading the Next Wave of Innovation

This acquisition strengthens VertiGIS’ position at a pivotal moment for the geospatial industry, with the Total Addressable Market projected to grow from $700M in 2025 to $1.3B by 2030. As the market shifts toward advanced SaaS adoption and infrastructure modernization, VertiGIS is leading the way with its VertiGIS Neo technology philosophy. Central to this strategy is a unified, cloud-native foundation that breaks down silos and enables continuous innovation through seamless integrations. By combining this cohesive architecture with domain-focused capabilities, VertiGIS addresses the specific workflows of utilities, government bodies, and telecommunications providers, embedding deep industry knowledge directly into its solutions.

VertiGIS Neo solutions guide organizations from insight to impact, turning potential into performance. Beyond data visualisation, VertiGIS Neo solutions offer AI-enabled insights for predictive analytics and automated decision-making. This is paired with mobile-first field solutions designed for any device, empowering field teams with instant access to data and workflows anywhere. “GIS has become a strategic platform that delivers real operational and financial impact,” concludes Berry. “We see the trends shaping the industry, and we’re ready to help organisations prepare for the next era of modernisation.”

– ENDS –

About VertiGIS
VertiGIS unlocks the power of location to help organisations work smarter. Its innovative geospatial solutions connect complex location data with real-world operational workflows for utilities, government bodies, telecom providers, and commercial and industrial teams. This empowers them to manage assets with precision, drive efficiencies, and achieve superior outcomes.

VertiGIS’ Neo technology vision powers this transformation. Cloud-first, industry-informed, AI-enabled tools are paired with a portfolio of applications including VertiGIS Studio, VertiGIS Networks, VertiGIS FM, VertiGIS LM, and VertiGIS ConnectMaster. These solutions extend and enhance Esri’s ArcGIS® platform, adapting to the needs of both small teams and enterprise-scale deployments.

More than 5,000 organisations worldwide rely on VertiGIS to turn geospatial data into actionable insights. To learn more about VertiGIS, visit www.vertigis.com

About Battery Ventures
Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure/AI, and industrial technology and life-science tools. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London and Tel Aviv. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.

About 1Spatial
1Spatial is a provider of advanced location master data management software and services. Using a patented, automated, rules-based approach, 1Spatial enables organisations to validate, cleanse, transform, and enhance large and complex geospatial datasets with exceptional accuracy and speed. Its solutions are used by governments, utilities, and transport and infrastructure organisations across multiple regions.

CONTACT:
Jim Pople
C8 Consulting on behalf of VertiGIS
[email protected]

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001178839)

VertiGIS Acquires 1Spatial to Expand its Product Portfolio and Global Reach

Take-private deal, valued at £87 million, to help VertiGIS power the next generation of intelligent, insight-driven geospatial networks

Expanding VertiGIS’ Data Management and Automation Capabilities

Automated data validation and correction
Complex, rules-based data governance
Cross-system data synchronisation
High-volume processing for national scale datasets
Tools that ensure geospatial, asset, and operational data remain complete, current, and trustworthy

This high data accuracy is foundational for delivering AI-enabled insights, supporting the reliability and effectiveness of predictive maintenance models and advanced analytics.

A Transforming Industry with VertiGIS Neo Leading the Next Wave of Innovation

– ENDS –

More than 5,000 organisations worldwide rely on VertiGIS to turn geospatial data into actionable insights. To learn more about VertiGIS, visit www.vertigis.com

CONTACT:
Jim Pople
C8 Consulting on behalf of VertiGIS
[email protected]

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001178842)

PU Prime Bridges the Gap Between Knowledge and Success with Launch of Interactive “PU Community” Platform

EBENE, Mauritius, April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PU Prime, a global multi-licensed online brokerage, announced the launch of the PU Community, an all-in-one ecosystem designed to transform retail trading from a solitary, high-risk activity into a collaborative and guided professional journey. To celebrate the rollout, PU Prime is hosting a series of engagement initiatives throughout May and June, offering early-bird participants opportunities to earn exclusive rewards, branded merchandise, and trading vouchers as they begin their journey within the ecosystem.

In an era of information overload, most retail traders face a significant gap: not in access to data, but in the lack of structure, judgment, and guidance. The company's research indicates that a vast majority of retail traders struggle due to inconsistent mentorship and the absence of practical learning environments. The PU Community is built specifically to address these pain points by offering a transparent ecosystem that prioritizes risk management and disciplined growth over market hype.

“The most common challenge I see for traders today isn’t a lack of information, it’s the absence of a clear, actionable path through the noise,” said Ahmed Yousre, Global Market Strategist at PU Prime. “With the launch of PU Community, we are moving beyond static education into a space of active, guided mentorship. I’m excited to be personally involved in this initiative, where I can engage directly with members and help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and disciplined market execution!”

Commenting on the launch, Daniel Bruce, Managing Director, said, “PU Community is where trading meets human connection. We are moving beyond the traditional brokerage model of simply acquiring customers to actively develop them.” By combining human expertise with AI-driven efficiency, we aim to help users transition from reactive learners to confident, disciplined market participants, he added.

Some key highlights of the community:

– Dedicated Guided Courses: Through a series of 17 Progressive lessons, traders transition from passive spectators to active participants, equipped with their own judgment to navigate volatile markets.
– Direct Expert Access: Users gain seamless, real-time interaction with professionally certified analysts (CFA, CISI, and SCA level), allowing for direct feedback on trade ideas and market analysis.
– AI-Assisted Intelligence: The ecosystem utilizes AI to provide summaries of top news for high-interest assets, ensuring traders stay informed without being overwhelmed.
– Interactive Gamification: A dynamic leaderboard system allows users to progress from “New Trader” to “Market Legend,” earning recognition and rewards based on their contributions to the community.

Looking ahead, the launch of the PU Community represents a fundamental shift in the brokerage landscape. By recognizing that market success is hindered not by a lack of information, but by an overwhelming volume of data without the structure to filter it, PU Prime is pivoting from a traditional acquisition led model to one focused on long-term client development.

About PU Prime

Founded in 2015, PU Prime is a leading global fintech company and trusted CFD broker. Today, it offers regulated financial products across forex, commodities, indices, shares, and bonds. Operating in over 190 countries with more than 40 million app downloads, PU Prime provides innovative trading platforms and an integrated copy trading feature, empowering traders worldwide to achieve financial success with confidence.

For media enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95cd7189-b3cf-4993-a1a2-78075e2b78c3

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001179020)

BULGARIA: ‘We Protested Against a Whole System of Corrupt Governance and State Capture’

By CIVICUS
Apr 30 2026 –
CIVICUS discusses Bulgaria’s Gen Z-led protests with Aleksandar Tanev, founder of Students Against the Mafia, an informal student organisation that took part in mass protests against corruption and state capture.

Aleksandar Tanev

Bulgaria has been gripped by political instability, holding eight general elections in five years, with the latest held on 19 April. In late 2024, the government proposed a budget featuring tax increases and no institutional reforms, triggering the largest street protests since the 1990s. What began as opposition to the budget quickly became a broader movement against the corrupt governance model that has dominated Bulgarian politics for over a decade.

What brought you to activism and these protests?

I am a Russian-Bulgarian citizen, because my father is Bulgarian and my mother is Russian. I lived in Bulgaria until I was about five years old and then moved to Russia, where I lived until a few years ago. From around the age of 12 I became interested in politics and started asking questions. I took part in my first protest in Russia at age 17 and participated in campaigns for independent parliamentary candidates. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, my life changed drastically. On the first day I took part in a protest that turned out to be my last. I immediately started receiving threats, and on the same day I received a draft notice from the military registration office. I decided to leave.

Bulgaria was one of the first countries to suspend flights from Russia. But my brother, who was doing an internship at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told me a humanitarian flight was being organised to evacuate Bulgarian citizens. I managed to sign up and flew to Sofia. I started a new life in Bulgaria, remembering the language and meeting new people.

When I arrived, I found so many people had been exposed to Russian propaganda. I had to explain over and over what the real situation in Russia was. For two and a half years I worked at the Bulgarian Red Cross helping Ukrainian refugees. I enrolled at Sofia University and gradually reintegrated into my home country.

When the protests broke out, I was in Germany and saw the photos and videos of young people taking to the streets. I thought the time had finally come to do something. What triggered the protests was a government budget that included tax increases but no institutional reforms. People may struggle to understand complex political issues, but when the government takes money from them, they understand. Very quickly, the protest went beyond the trigger issue and turned into a protest not just against the government, but against a whole system of corrupt governance and state capture.

At that moment, I realised students were the driving force, and started an informal group called Students Against the Mafia. We told major media about it and began preparing our first action. We attached a three-by-four metre banner reading ‘Students Against the Mafia’ to the balcony of Sofia University’s rector’s office while an international conference was being held inside. We held a student march and joined the big protest.

What’s the current level of trust in institutions?

Bulgarians, including young people, are very disappointed by the actions of those in power. Bulgaria is a parliamentary democracy and people had a lot of expectations when it joined the European Union (EU) but have since become increasingly disappointed. Trust in state institutions is overall very low, and so is trust in civil society organisations and other parts of society. This is dangerous, because it may mean a loss of trust in democracy.

People don’t really understand the difference between government and civil society. They think NGOs are organisations created by the government to control society or financed by foreign states to lobby for their own interests. There is very little critical thinking. People don’t fact-check information and instead absorb propaganda and dangerous narratives.

My personal goal is to try to bring back trust in civil society, showing that civil society groups are instruments of people power. That’s why we show our faces, our goals and our actions.

Who took part in the protests?

Very different parts of Bulgarian society protested, and with very different ideas. There were pro-European people, Eurosceptics and people who had never been interested in politics before. What united them was that they were tired of the injustice of a system in which you can’t change anything for the better because power is captured by a small elite.

Politics is a revolving door: Boyko Borissov, the prime minister at the time, was prime minister three times, and his party was in power for over a decade. Delyan Peevski, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, was sanctioned under the US Magnitsky Act for corruption in a controversial scandal, representing a merger between political power, media influence, institutional dependence and impunity. The same group of politicians captured the government, parliament and the most important institution, the courts. This meant that change wasn’t going to come from institutions.

While protesters had many different complaints and demands, they all shared the hope for normal governance and the feeling that this couldn’t go on.

How were protests organised, and what role did social media play?

The first big protest was half organised, half spontaneous: the call came from a political party, but it echoed well beyond party supporters, so the turnout was much bigger than anybody expected. It was a broad national protest.

The organiser was the pro-European, anti-corruption coalition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria. After the party made the announcement, people started sharing it on social media and in personal conversations, and soon there was this protest energy in the air. Everyone was talking about it.

In between protests, people waited for the signal from this political party to come back out. We didn’t think to organise our own protests. Instead, we prepared actions and performances to stage at the next protests the party organised. And each time, more and more people came, because those who had previously protested shared the call within their own small networks.

Social media helped us enormously, because traditional media in Bulgaria is captured too. Corrupt politicians have a strong influence over traditional television channels but they don’t control social media. So Facebook, Instagram and other platforms filled the space of independent media. On social media, we can share and talk freely. To Gen Z protesters, the protests became an extension of this space: they came to the protests to speak their minds.

One problem was that during the protests, the internet was very slow. We thought the authorities caused this deliberately, but it’s also possible mobile operators simply couldn’t handle so many people in one place. Either way, social media was key to the success of the protests.

Do you agree with the label that these were Gen Z protests?

I do. In fact, to one of the protests we brought a five-metre banner that read ‘Gen Z is coming’. It was shown by the Daily Mail, Reuters and other international media.

While I think the label is correct, we shouldn’t interpret it literally. Many different age groups took part in the protests. What made them Gen Z protests was the participation of so many young people who gave them a face of hope. But it was only because all Bulgarian society joined in that we succeeded in bringing down the government.

What risks did protesters face?

Honestly, compared to Russia, the risk wasn’t very high. But that doesn’t mean everything was okay. For instance, some students faced pressure from their universities not to go to protests. Students who helped me spread the word about Students Against the Mafia at their university got warnings from the administration not to do it again. That’s not acceptable. Students have the right to express their opinions freely, including through protest.

Provocateurs showed up towards the end of each protest. They covered their faces and brought some kind of explosives, and police started beating protesters. Because of this, most regular people left after a couple of hours. We think these provocateurs may have been sent by the parties in power to discredit protests.

Some people were unnecessarily scared. I protested very actively and nothing happened to me, though I should be honest that when you become visible, that gives you a degree of protection, and this may not be true of everyone.

What did the protests achieve, and what comes next?

The government fell. That’s a big achievement. And Bulgarian society woke up. A lot of people who previously thought politics was something dirty, something separate from their personal lives, understood they had a responsibility.

But there’s still a long way to go. All this protest energy needs to be transformed into electoral energy. Power is built not only in the streets but also within institutions. If we don’t turn this energy into votes, all the effort will have been useless. Voter turnout in the last election prior to the protests was under 40 per cent. This is not representative democracy; it is a disaster. We cannot expect change to happen when only 40 per cent of voters actually turn out.

Diaspora voting rights are also under threat. The opposition Revival party proposed limiting polling stations outside the EU to just 20 locations, far too few for the large Bulgarian communities in the UK, the USA and elsewhere. The proposal was backed by most governing parties; only Peevski opposed it. Revival’s stated aim was to limit votes from Turkey, which tend to go to Peevski’s party. But the measure would hit all diaspora communities: over 60,000 voter applications were submitted for the 19 April election, over twice the figure from the previous election. Unlike voters in Turkey, who can travel to Bulgaria to vote in person, those in the UK and USA cannot. This was a deliberate attempt to suppress the votes of people who have left and who tend to vote for change.

Following the main protests, we also started organising actions against the chief prosecutor, Borislav Sarafov, the one who ultimately decides whether a corruption case will be investigated. According to Bulgarian law, a temporary chief prosecutor can only hold the post for up to six months. But now they say that this law doesn’t apply to him because he was already in the role when the law was passed. So this temporary prosecutor can now potentially stay in this position for life. We have held four or five protests against him, but so far we have not succeeded.

What keeps me going is the desire to live in a fair society where the state is at the service of the people, and not the other way around. But in a democracy, you have to change things yourself. You can’t wait for someone to do it for you. Living in Russia, I understood that if you don’t fight for justice and truth, there is always a danger that power will take over everything. There’s this phrase I keep coming back to: if you are not interested in politics, politics will start to take an interest in you. That’s my motivation.

CIVICUS interviews a wide range of civil society activists, experts and leaders to gather diverse perspectives on civil society action and current issues for publication on its CIVICUS Lens platform. The views expressed in interviews are the interviewees’ and do not necessarily reflect those of CIVICUS. Publication does not imply endorsement of interviewees or the organisations they represent.

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SEE ALSO
Gen Z protests: new resistance rises CIVICUS | State of Civil Society Report 2026
‘People reacted to a system of governance shaped by informal powers and personal interests’ CIVICUS | Interview with Zahari Iankov 18.Dec.2025
Bulgaria: stuck in a loop? CIVICUS Lens 24.Oct.2022

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The Ocean Also Has Memories: From Our Territories to the Global Seafood Marketplace

By Yohana Coñuecar Llancapani
LLANCHID ISLAND, Hualaihué, Chile, Apr 30 2026 – Coming from an island in southern Chile, where the sea is not an industry—but it is daily life, work, food and memory. Growing up in a family that is part of an artisanal fishers’ cooperative. Learning from a young age how to cultivate oysters, work with mussels, and understand the rhythms of the sea.

Yohana Coñuecar Llancapani

My story, like that of many women in my territory, is deeply connected to small-scale aquaculture and to knowledge passed down from generation to generation.

It is this same knowledge that we brought from Chile to Barcelona, to the Global Seafood Marketplace. As a Chilean delegation made up of Indigenous leaders and small-scale fishers, we were not just attending a trade fair—we were opening a conversation that has too often been left out of these spaces.

The Seafood Expo Global has established itself as one of the main platforms where the future of the global fishing industry is shaped. It is a space where standards, innovation, efficiency and markets are discussed. Yet one dimension continues to remain secondary: the role of Indigenous peoples who sustain marine ecosystems and inhabit the very spaces where the industry operates.

From Chile, our participation seeks to contribute to this debate from a strategic perspective. It is not about confronting the industry, but about demonstrating that its long-term sustainability depends on integrating other forms of knowledge and governance.

The industry has made progress in sustainability criteria, but often from a technical standpoint. What is still missing is the recognition that the spaces where it operates are not merely production zones, but inhabited territories. The knowledge developed by coastal communities is not just tradition—it is a living system of management.

In Chile, the Indigenous Coastal Marine Spaces (ECMPOs) have shown that it is possible to articulate conservation, productive use and territorial governance. However, the amendments currently under discussion to the Lafkenche Law send a worrying signal: instead of strengthening an instrument that has contributed to sustainability and territorial governance, there is a risk of weakening it in response to short-term production pressures.

This is not just a regulatory debate. It has direct implications for the stability of the industry. That is why we seek to bring this conversation to a global stage. And the space we are bringing to the Global Seafood Marketplace in Barcelona is not a traditional stand—it is an invitation to pause, to sit down and to engage in dialogue.

We want decision-makers in the industry to listen to these experiences. To understand that behind every product there are territories, people and ways of life. That their decisions have real impacts.

But we also want to show that there is an opportunity here.

Integrating Indigenous traditional knowledge is not only a matter of justice—it is a strategy for the sector’s real sustainability. It helps ensure continuity, traceability and quality over time. It is also a smart economic decision.

The ocean is not infinite. And we need new ways of relating to it.

From our territories, this is already happening. The question is: is the global industry willing to listen?

Yohana Coñuecar Llancapani is Mapuche Williche leader from Llanchid Island, Hualaihué, Chile

IPS UN Bureau

Driving Elegance Together — LEPAS Global Partner Conference Successfully Concludes

WUHU, China, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From April 26 to 28, 2026, LEPAS, the NEV brand under Chery Group, hosted its first Global Partner Conference in Wuhu under the theme “Drive Elegance Together.” The event gathered over 500 distributors, strategic partners, and industry representatives from nearly 20 countries and regions, marking a key step as LEPAS transitions from brand launch to the operational rollout of its global network.

Following its European debut at Milano Design Week and its NEV strategy unveiling at Auto China 2026, the conference translated the vision of “Elegance Moves the World” into concrete global action.

Strategy in Action: From Vision to Execution
LEPAS outlined its brand architecture, product portfolio, and global channel roadmap, with L4, L6, and L8—built on the Intelligent LEX Platform—set for phased global rollout, alongside localized market strategies and a replicable business model leveraging Chery Group’s supply chain and technology to ensure long-term partner profitability, as emphasized by CEO Zhai Xiaobing.

Strategic Signings: Expanding the Global Network

LEPAS signed partnership agreements across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America—including Spain, Italy, Greece, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Tunisia, South Africa, and Chile—accelerating its global expansion and large-scale market deployment.

Immersive Experience: Bringing Elegance to Life

Experiential zones demonstrated “Elegant Technology” in real-world scenarios, including automated parking and remote summon in the VPD area, while AiMOGA robots Mornine and Argos added a human-centered touch; test drives of the LEPAS L8, L6, and L4 further highlighted smooth handling, cabin quietness, and ADAS capabilities powered by the Intelligent LEX Platform.

The LEPAS Elegant Lifestyle House opened for the first time, offering hands-on activities such as leather crafting, fragrance blending, and coffee-making — extending the brand experience beyond the vehicle.

An evening Garden Gathering combined live music, art, and interactive installations, where technology and lifestyle naturally converged.

Ecosystem Synergy: Entering the Delivery Phase

From its debut at Milano Design Week to validation at Auto China 2026 and co-creation in Wuhu, LEPAS has rapidly advanced into a new phase of scaled global delivery, driven by technology and an ecosystem-led approach alongside its partners.

Chery Group
Peiwen Tan
Email: [email protected]
Website: lepasinternational.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4ec3709-aac5-4e04-bad6-9b4f3b2fe3ef

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6d17510-6530-4edf-9262-ff6b94811b5d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cafd3224-0a80-4b93-adf4-2291191fcc5b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1aa3bcad-7e87-4011-ad11-cf8d77b18da3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5ff2c89-78b5-4540-91f6-24db6f434c7c

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9709756)

From “Automaker” to “Travel Lifestyle Service Provider”: JETOUR's “Travel+” Strategy Enters New Phase

BEIJING, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the product homogeneity in the auto market intensifies, building long-term brand competitiveness beyond vehicle manufacturing has emerged as a major industry-wide challenge. At Auto China 2026, JETOUR unveiled its “Travel+” strategy, delivering a distinctive solution: transitioning from product-centric thinking to positioning vehicles as connectors of life experiences. This shift empowers JETOUR to transcend conventional competition, evolving from carmaking to curating travel lifestyles.

Beyond Manufacturing: Production Differentiation and User-Centricity
As Ke Chuandeng, President of JETOUR International, noted: “From a tiny seed to a lush tree, what defines JETOUR is our ‘Travel+’ DNA, which transforms us beyond an automaker into a bridge linking users to the world.” The strategy is anchored in two core pillars: differentiation and user-centricity.

JETOUR integrates boxy design, off-road capability, intelligent comfort and travel-oriented lifestyle to meet users’ pursuit of freedom and exploration. Its user-centric philosophy covers far more than product development. By operating signature events and a complete benefits system, JETOUR maintains close user connections. It boasts over 50 million global fans, more than 2.2 million owners and 300+ owner clubs, acting as a professional travel lifestyle enabler that connects users, vehicles and the world via travel culture.

Technology: The Strategic Backbone
Solid technological strength underpins the implementation of the “Travel+” strategy. Dai Lihong, President of JETOUR Auto, stated: “Every JETOUR product goes through rigorous global testing in extreme environments, ensuring world-class quality.”

JETOUR has upgraded its hybrid technology to the sixth generation. Its core systems, including the C-DM hybrid system, XWD intelligent four-wheel drive system and GAIA Architecture, have been widely applied to SOUEAST, JETOUR T Series and G Series, covering urban mobility, light off-road and premium off-road scenarios and verified by global markets. At Auto China 2026, JETOUR exhibited SOUEAST S08 DM, T2 i-DM, G700, G700 Whistling Arrow and other models. Over 200 global media representatives participated in dynamic test drives and witnessed the public fording test of the G700 (Ark Edition) on site.

2.000+ Sales and Service Outlets: Accelerating Global Expansion
Guided by the “In somewhere, For somewhere, Be somewhere” localization philosophy, JETOUR has expanded its business to 100 countries and regions with over 2,000 sales and service outlets.

On April 23rd, JETOUR held a dual-brand global dealer conference, gathering over 1,000 global partners to summarize achievements and plan future development. It also hosted the Annual Conference of the JETOUR International Media Alliance (JMA), communicating with 200+ global media representatives to explore brand communication paths for global expansion and intelligent and new energy transformation.

Cross-industry Collaboration: “Travel+” Ecosystem Gains Momentum
JETOUR has deepened cross-industry cooperation to enrich its “Travel+” ecosystem. It has partnered with global celebrities from various fields, including Brand Friend Sir Mo Farah, explorer Hazen Audel, racing legend Robby Gordon, and Cheetah Conservation Fund founder Dr. Laurie Marker. At Auto China 2026, brand ambassador Alan Walker and G Series art consultant Paula Scher joined JETOUR’s launch events, further enriching the cultural connotation of the “Travel+” strategy and turning it into a shareable global cultural symbol.

From a seed to a growing ecosystem, the path of “Travel+” is now clear. It centers on user needs, is powered by technology, and expands through an evolving ecosystem. It builds a full-scenario mobility system—more resilient, more scalable, and ready for long-term growth. What it represents is not just a brand strategy. It is a clear statement about the future mobility and a confident step toward it.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/408856e3-4515-4ea6-b8c2-2e29d0f426ea
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/636492c5-89ef-481e-85aa-7645810dfce2

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9709577)

Nearly Half a Million Users Utilize Bitget’s AI-Trading Infrastructure, Messari Report Highlights

VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), highlighted findings from a newly published Messari Pulse report documenting early adoption across its AI trading stack, a four-layer product system built as part of Bitget's broader trading infrastructure serving 125 million users worldwide.

The Messari report identifies four core layers within Bitget's AI architecture: GetAgent for conversational market analysis, GetClaw for autonomous execution, Agent Hub for developer access to exchange functions, and Gracy AI, a strategic guidance interface built around the public market voice of Bitget CEO Gracy Chen. Together, these products extend AI across analysis, executions, infrastructure, and user engagement inside the Bitget platform.

According to Bitget data cited in the report, Gracy AI attracted more than 460,000 users and generated over 2.6 million replies within its first eleven days after launch in February, producing over 390 million impressions in the same period. GetAgent has also surpassed 450,000 registered users since its launch. Its invite-only phase, which ran from July to August 2025, drove 100 million+ impressions and a waitlist exceeding 25,000 users.

Messari also highlights Agent Hub, infrastructure layer for connecting AI systems directly to exchange functions. Launched in February 2026, it supports MCP Server, Skills, REST and WebSocket APIs, and a command-line interface. The report notes Bitget is the only exchange to offer all four simultaneously. The platform has since expanded to include five analytical AI Skills and 15+ integrated data tools spanning macro analysis, technical signal detection, sentiment monitoring, market intelligence, and news aggregation.

GetClaw, the autonomous execution layer, operates through a constrained structure designed for retail risk control. Trades execute via dedicated sub-accounts isolated from user-held assets, while sandbox environments and fund limits define where the agent can operate and how much capital it can deploy. The product is currently live on Telegram, with Discord, WhatsApp, and in-app expansion planned in later releases.

“We want to provide billions of people with the ability to trade like Wall Street professionals,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “AI is becoming part of how modern trading infrastructure is built. Early adoption across our AI infra shows that users increasingly expect analysis, execution, and strategy integrated inside one trading platform.”

The full Messari Pulse report is available at messari.io.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

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BitMEX Expands TradFi Perpetual Swaps with FX for 24/7 Crypto Trading

VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMEX today announced the launch of six FX Perpetual Swap contracts, enabling traders to access global currency markets using cryptocurrency as collateral on a 24/7 basis.

The new offering includes EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CHF, and USD/CAD, providing exposure to some of the most traded currency pairs without relying on traditional brokers or fiat funding. The contracts remain open continuously, including weekends when conventional forex markets are closed.

The launch builds on BitMEX’s experience in crypto derivatives and marks a renewed expansion into forex-linked perpetual products, designed to meet evolving trader demand with a more focused and scalable offering.

“Forex is the largest and most liquid market globally, yet access still depends on fragmented and time-bound systems,” said Stephan Lutz, CEO at BitMEX. “With FX Perpetual Swaps, traders can access major currency pairs at any time using crypto as margin, without the operational friction of traditional brokerage models. This reflects a broader shift toward always-on, borderless trading.”

FX Perpetual Swaps allow traders to post crypto as margin, removing the need for fiat deposits, bank transfers, or broker onboarding. The contracts offer up to 100x leverage and operate with a 0% base interest rate, eliminating overnight swap fees commonly charged by traditional forex providers.

The selected pairs represent a significant share of global forex activity. EUR/USD alone accounts for roughly 23% of daily trading volume, while USD/JPY and GBP/USD are widely used to express views on interest rates, monetary policy, and global risk sentiment.

Unlike traditional forex markets, which close for approximately 48 hours over the weekend, BitMEX’s perpetual product offering enables continuous trading and real-time response to macroeconomic events. Pricing is derived from aggregated external data during market hours and transitions to internal order book activity during off-hours to maintain uninterrupted access.

BitMEX plans to expand its range of TradFi perpetual products based on user demand, building on its existing offerings across equities and commodities—including products such as WTI crude oil and silver (XAG). This broader expansion reflects BitMEX’s strategy to bridge crypto-native infrastructure with traditional financial markets through a unified derivatives platform.

More details about BitMEX’s FX Perpetual Swaps can be found on their blog.

About BitMEX

BitMEX is the OG crypto derivatives exchange, providing professional crypto traders with a platform that caters to their needs with low latency, deep crypto native and especially BTC liquidity and unmatched reliability.

Since its founding, no cryptocurrency has been lost through intrusion or hacking, allowing BitMEX users to trade with confidence that their funds are secure and that they have access to the products and tools required to be profitable.

BitMEX was also among the first exchanges to publish on chain Proof of Reserves and Proof of Liabilities data. The exchange continues to publish this data twice a week, providing assurance that customer funds are safely stored and segregated.

For more information, users can visit the BitMEX Blog or www.bitmex.com and follow Discord, Telegram and Twitter.

Media Contact

BitMEX Press

[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/63338553-9734-4da7-86f7-34d7116340f6

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001178730)

GC Partners expands its payment capabilities through its DIFC entity to Deliver Settlements for Corporate Clients

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GC Partners has strengthened its operational capabilities in the UAE with its DIFC-based entity, GC Partners (DIFC) Limited, which is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). This development marks a significant enhancement in the firm’s ability to support corporate clients with efficient international payment services and payment-related foreign exchange services, including local AED settlement for eligible payment flows.

This capability enables same-day settlements for qualifying payments, reduces banking charges and is supported by upgraded backend infrastructure designed to enhance reliability across every stage of the transaction.

By combining the company’s established global expertise with a fully established local settlement framework, corporate clients benefit from improved speed, reduced friction and greater operational efficiency when managing international cash flows from or within the UAE.

As Senior Executive Officer of the DIFC entity, Zoheb “Zane” Piranditta is responsible for leading GC Partners’ growth in this strategically important market, further strengthening the firm’s presence and capabilities across the region.

“Local settlement capability represents a major step forward in the way we support our corporate clients in the region. By processing payments locally, we can shorten settlement cycles, lower costs and deliver a more responsive and reliable service that aligns with the fast-moving needs of businesses today.” – Zoheb “Zane” Piranditta, SEO, GC Partners DIFC.

This enhancement is supported by GC Partners’ local banking partnerships and strengthened operational infrastructure within the DIFC. Clients will continue to benefit from the company’s rigorous compliance standards, transparent processes, and human-first service model, including direct access to their dedicated Account Manager for support throughout each transaction as required.

The advancement reinforces GC Partners’ long-standing commitment to the UAE market, building on the wider GC Partners group’s international experience and expanding service capabilities across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

“As we continue to invest in our presence in the UAE, our focus remains unchanged: to provide efficient and secure support for every international transaction. The introduction of local settlement in the UAE enables us to deliver even greater value to the corporate clients we serve.” – Andrew Fundell, CEO, GC Partners

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001178765)

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