Veteran executive to drive international expansion and build on company momentum in the U.S. residential energy storage market

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FranklinWH Energy Storage Inc., manufacturer of the FranklinWH System, today announced the appointment of Ke Bi as global chief executive officer.

Bi will lead worldwide operations and strategic growth, scaling the company’s U.S. market position into Europe and other international markets. Since joining the company in 2021, Bi has been instrumental in expanding the company’s growth across the United States and Australia, establishing FranklinWH as a recognized leader in whole-home energy management systems.

With more than 30 years of executive leadership experience spanning energy storage, renewable energy, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing, Bi brings deep expertise in building global technology businesses. Before joining FranklinWH, Bi served as chief executive officer of Boden Inc. and held senior leadership roles at Nokia and other technology companies, where he directed large-scale operations and strategic growth initiatives throughout North America.

“Homeowners trust FranklinWH to keep their homes powered, help manage their energy use and provide reliable backup when they need it most. That’s how we’ve grown across the United States and Australia,” Bi said. “As we expand into Europe, we’ll stay focused on delivering reliable home energy solutions and earning the trust of every homeowner, installer and utility partner we serve.”

“Ke Bi has a clear vision for where FranklinWH is headed because he’s helped shape that vision from the beginning,” said Vincent Ambrose, chief commercial officer of FranklinWH. “He brings together innovation, operational discipline and a genuine commitment to our customers and partners. I’m excited to see him lead FranklinWH as we continue providing energy independence to homeowners around the world.”

FranklinWH participates in more than 28 utility-led virtual power plant (VPP) programs across the United States, including partnerships with Duke Energy, National Grid and Austin Energy. The company was selected as the residential energy storage system provider for municipal programs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and New Orleans, Louisiana following competitive evaluations. The company’s aPower battery won the Connecticut Green Bank’s Outstanding Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Award in 2024 and 2025. In 2026 FranklinWH introduced an enhanced version of its 15 kWh aPower battery in Australia and New Zealand. FranklinWH manufactures its systems in Santa Clara, California, where it is on pace to quadruple production output in 2026.

About FranklinWH

FranklinWH Energy Storage Inc. is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH System, a next-generation whole-home energy management and storage solution. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team brings decades of expertise across energy system design, manufacturing, sales, and installation. The company is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions and is dedicated to empowering homeowners to achieve true energy independence. Learn more at FranklinWH.com

Media Contact: Press@franklinwh.com 

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global DIY smart tool brand XtraMaker launched the M1 Series on Kickstarter at 9:00 AM PDT, August 4.

As the World’s First 5-in-1 Smart Desktop DTF Studio, it fully automates all five DTF essential steps, printing, powdering, drying, curing, and purification, the M1 Series integrates the entire workflow into a single, compact unit. Built for Etsy sellers, apparel designers, and small studios, XtraMaker eliminates manual labor and tedious maintenance with professional print quality. With one-touch automation, creators can now deliver premium-quality custom apparel effortlessly.

Exclusive Kickstarter Launch Offers

To reward early backers, XtraMaker is offering limited-time launch perks on Kickstarter:

• Super Early Bird Pricing: Access the lowest prices of the XtraMaker M1 series, featuring limited-quantity discounts:

• • XtraMaker M1: Save 54% on MSRP

• • XtraMaker M1 Pro: Save 50% on MSRP

• • XtraMaker M1 & M1 Pro Bundle: Save 51% on MSRP

• 1-Year Warranty: All Kickstarter backers receive a 1-year warranty, priority shipping, and 1-on-1 technical support.

The Complete Studio Lineup: Printers & Heat Presses

From precision printing to final heat application, choose the ideal hardware setup engineered for any workspace and application:

• XtraMaker M1 (A4 Print Size) | Compact & Versatile

• • Highlights: Ultra-compact footprint designed for home studios and personal makers.

• • Best For: Small transfers, chest logos, hats, canvas bags, and custom t-shirts.

• XtraMaker M1 Pro (A3 Print Size) | Maximum Capacity

• • Highlights: Larger print width engineered for growing apparel brands and print shops.

• • Best For: High-margin large prints, hoodie backs, and jackets.

• Heat Press | Semi-Automatic Flatbed

• • Highlights: Hands-free, semi-automatic operation with auto-countdown and popup for consistent heating without constant monitoring.

• • Best For: T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and everyday flat garment orders.

• Cap Press | Curved Surface Specialist

• • Highlights: Semi-automatic mechanism with dedicated clamping designed specifically for curved surfaces.

• • Best For: Hats, caps.

• Heat Press Mini | Compact & Handheld

• • Highlights: Lightweight design (0.96 kg) for targeted detail work and hard-to-reach areas.

• • Best For: Sleeves, collars, pockets, and quick touch-ups.

Core Features: Complex Tech Made Simple

1. 5-in-1 Fully Automated Workflow

• Technology: Integrates printing, powdering, shaking, curing, and air purification into one automated process.

• Value: Zero learning curve. Replaces messy manual work with a clean, fully automated setup that prints in minutes.

2. G7-Certified Color & Multi-Resolution Modes

• Technology: G7-certified color system with smooth gradients and crisp details, featuring 3 adjustable resolution modes.

• Value: Premium output, flexible speed. Deliver high-value, color-accurate orders, or switch modes to speed up print runs.

3. All-Fabric & Multi-Material Transfer

• Technology: Transfers effortlessly onto cotton, denim, polyester, leather, blends, and cardboard packaging.

• Value: Beyond fabrics. Say goodbye to material limits and take on a wider range of custom orders.

4. Smart Auto-Maintenance System

• Technology: Zero-ink-waste white ink circulation during daily care. During power outages, the built-in UPS battery provides up to 1 month of backup power to keep white ink stirring and channels filled with moisturizing liquid to prevent clogs.

• Value: No clogs, lower costs. Keeps printheads protected even during extended holidays or power loss—saving time and money.

About XtraMaker

Backed by parent company EAI Tech (YDLIDAR) and a decade of hardware expertise from former Huawei engineers, XtraMaker delivers industrial-grade, affordable desktop DTF printing solutions for modern creators and small businesses.

Start Your Business Today

Leave the complexity to tech, keep the simplicity for creativity. With limited Super Early Bird discounts offering up to 54% off, this is the best time to claim super early bird pricing before limited reward tiers sell out.

Order Now on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1914891948/xtramaker-m1-your-5-in-1-smart-dtf-print-to-profit-partner?ref=9xxxry

ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi today announced the appointment of Dr. Valerie Hillings as the inaugural Director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Appoints Inaugural Museum Director

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a cornerstone of Saadiyat Cultural District, one of the world’s greatest concentrations of cultural institutions. Alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, it affirms Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision.

As Director, Dr. Hillings will bring this vision to life leading the museum’s strategic direction, overseeing its inaugural exhibitions and programmes, and establishing an institution that is rooted in Abu Dhabi and connected to the world, one that connects cultures, inspires people and celebrates art from the 1960s to the present.

Dr. Hillings brings deep familiarity with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to the role. From 2009 to 2018, she served as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s Curator and Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project, working closely with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi on the collection strategy and acquisitions, pre-opening programming and the Frank Gehry-designed building. Earlier, she spent five years on the Guggenheim’s curatorial staff in New York.

Since 2018, Dr. Hillings has served as Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art, where she led the reimagination of its permanent collection galleries, added some 400 works to the collection and oversaw a doubling of annual attendance to 1.2 million visitors. She holds a PhD and MA in Art History and Archaeology from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and an AB in Art History from Duke University, with a specialisation in modern and contemporary art.

Dr. Valerie Hillings said: “I am honoured to return to Abu Dhabi to complete the once-in-a-lifetime journey of founding and opening Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum developed in the United Arab Emirates by colleagues from both the region and around the world. I look forward to welcoming local and global audiences to the magnificent Frank Gehry-designed building and inviting them to explore points of interconnection and unique stories through the lens of art from the 1960s to our time.”

Through Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s collection, exhibitions, commissions, research and public programmes, the museum will foster dialogue across cultures and generations while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global centre for artistic innovation, creative production and cultural exchange. Housing 30 galleries across 11,600 square metres of interior exhibition space, alongside 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will provide one of the world’s most significant platforms for modern and contemporary art upon its opening.

NOTE TO EDITORS

GUGGENHEIM ABU DHABI IS NOW LIVE on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

REGISTER YOUR DETAILS TO RECEIVE FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS

www.guggenheimabudhabi.ae

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dctabudhabi.ae and visitabudhabi.ae and abudhabiculture.ae

Bolt-on acquisition expected to contribute to Group revenue and net income in the first full quarter following completion

SINGAPORE, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — YY Group Holding Limited (NASDAQ: YYGH) (“YY Group” or the “Company”), an AI-enabled workforce management platform and integrated facility management (IFM) provider operating across Asia and beyond, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a 95% interest in Xtreme Solutions Pte. Ltd., an established Singapore-incorporated distributor (the “Target”) for a total consideration of 4.5 million Singapore Dollars (“S$”) (approximately US$3.5 million), payable through a combination of S$0.9 million in cash and Class A ordinary shares of the Company with an aggregate value of S$3.6 million, which will be subject to a 12-month lock-up period (the “Acquisition”).

Based on unaudited and unreviewed financial statements prepared in accordance with Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (“SFRS”), the Target generated revenue of approximately S$6.0 million (approximately US$4.7 million), with a net profit of approximately S$600,000 (approximately US$0.47 million) in its financial year ended March 31, 2026. The Acquisition is expected to be accretive to the Company’s revenue and net profit in the first full quarter following completion.

YY Group believes the Target has grown into an established and profitable Singapore-incorporated distribution business, primarily through traditional sales channels and word-of-mouth referrals, while its digital sales channel remains underdeveloped and represents a significant growth opportunity. YY Group, through its digital marketing and technology subsidiary, MediaPlus Venture Group Pte. Ltd., expects to bring capabilities that the Target has not previously had access to: e-commerce and web development, digital marketing, and performance analytics. YY Group intends to modernize the Target’s digital storefront, inventory visibility, and customer acquisition channels, boosting the visibility and efficiency of a business already operating profitably. Additionally, the Target’s operational footprint is expected to provide a new, captive deployment environment for YY Group’s core YY Circle manpower outsourcing services, by creating ongoing demand for manpower to support the Target’s operations.

YY Group also plans to expand the Target’s business into overseas markets where YY Group already has an operating presence. YY Group intends to promote the Target’s products through the YY Circle platform, which has more than 500,000 members, creating additional cross-selling, customer acquisition, and regional distribution opportunities across YY Group’s ecosystem.

“Our approach to acquisition is straightforward: look for profitable, well-run businesses where we can add value without diverting attention from our core platform,” said Mike Fu, Chief Executive Officer of YY Group. “The Target fits that profile exactly: a strong operator with a loyal customer base that will generate cash immediately while offering an opportunity for digitalization-driven growth. We will continue to selectively pursue acquisitions of established, profitable businesses, apply our technology and marketing infrastructure, and grow revenue without disrupting what already works.”

The Target’s existing management team will continue to lead the business under a service agreement, preserving supplier relationships, product expertise, and customer trust built over its operating history. The Target will retain its current brand and store presence.

About YY Group Holding

YY Group Holding Limited (Nasdaq: YYGH) is an AI-enabled workforce management platform and integrated facility management (IFM) provider, headquartered in Singapore and operating across Asia and beyond. The Company’s intelligent workforce solutions platform, YY Circle, helps clients across hospitality, food and beverage, retail, and other service sectors predict, plan, and optimize workforce deployment. In YY Group’s IFM business, its 24IFM software platform and comprehensive IFM subsidiary portfolio support clients across hospitality, transportation, banking, retail, and mixed-use facilities.

As both business lines scale, the Company is systematically embedding AI and automation capabilities – progressing from intelligent decision support toward increasingly autonomous workforce management – to improve service quality, reduce deployment costs, and drive long-term margin expansion. Listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, YY Group is committed to infrastructure innovation, measurable client outcomes, and long-term value creation.

Exchange Rate Information

Translations of amounts from Singapore dollars into U.S. dollars in this press release are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at a rate of S$1.00 to US$0.7801, being the exchange rate on August 3, 2026. No representation is made that the Singapore dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at that rate or at any other rate.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the YY Group Holding Limited’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) growth of the hospitality market across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and other markets in which the Company operates, (ii) capital and credit market volatility, (iii) local and global economic conditions, (iv) our anticipated growth strategies, (v) governmental approvals and regulations, (vi) our ability to successfully develop, deploy, and commercialize our AI-powered and automation products and capabilities, including through strategic partnerships, and (vii) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and YY Group Holding Limited undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Contact
Jason Zhi Yong Phua, Chief Financial Officer
YY Group
enquiries@yygroupholding.com

Purpose-built to bring the full power of Lockton’s proprietary data, advanced analytics, AI-enabled capabilities, and specialized expertise to client decisions, at scale 

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lockton, the world’s largest privately held insurance brokerage and risk management firm, today announced the expanded availability of Lockton SAGE, its enterprise intelligence platform purpose-built to bring the full power of Lockton’s proprietary data, advanced analytics, AI-enabled capabilities, and specialized expertise to client decisions. 

First introduced within Lockton Re, Lockton SAGE is now being extended across the firm’s US broader business with capabilities spanning Risk Solutions, People Solutions, and Reinsurance.  

As organizations navigate increasingly complex workforce, financial, and risk decisions, many are challenged by disconnected data, siloed insights, and a growing wave of standalone AI tools that fail to deliver the full picture. 

“No firm is better positioned to lead clients into the age of AI than Lockton, but technology alone is never the advantage; real impact comes from combining powerful intelligence with exceptional people,” said Ron Lockton, Chairman and CEO of Lockton. “Our data, technology, and expertise were built together over time, not bolted on through acquisition, so they work as one, and we built Lockton SAGE to make our advisors better; giving them the insight to deliver a smarter, more personal way for clients to navigate risk and reach stronger outcomes. The firms that lead the next decade will be the ones that pair great technology with great people, and that is exactly where we are focused.” 

Lockton SAGE was built to bring it all together. 

Lockton SAGE uses AI-enabled capabilities to surface the patterns, priorities, and recommendations that matter most to each client’s business.

From Data to Decision — at Speed 

Lockton SAGE connects policies, quotes, claims, and exposures, applying AI-enabled analytics with human experience to provide clients with faster, smarter guidance when decisions matter most. By uncovering patterns, anticipating emerging risks, and delivering actionable recommendations earlier, the platform helps organizations mitigate issues before they grow, reducing costs today while creating greater financial and operational resilience for the future.  

What Clients Receive 

For clients, that means moving beyond a fixed insurance platform to a personalized operating environment – one that combines best-in-class services with an experience designed around their business, their priorities, and the metrics that matter most. 

Across every stage of the insurance lifecycle, Lockton SAGE translates connected intelligence into a deep understanding of the client business and risk profile, paired with insights specific to their goals and objectives — from the data that starts the process to the advisory that follows the placement:  

• Richer data, lighter lift — Real-time collaboration and automated data capture replace manual information gathering, reducing the administrative burden of buying and managing coverage while building a more complete, higher-quality view of each client’s risk.
• Deeperanalytics — Insights extend across all of a client’s exposures and move beyond generic benchmarking to customized, forward-looking views of that client’s specific risk profile.
• Smarterstructuring — Clients gain more options for risk transfer and management, with real-time visibility into the financial tradeoffs of any program structure before decisions are finalized.
• Optimizedplacement — All products, segments, and carriers are analyzed continuously, giving clients the strongest available understanding of the marketplace and the most effective coverage selections.
• Moreadvisory — Platform-driven efficiency frees Lockton Associates to spend more time on strategic advisory work — backed by the marketplace relationships that matter most in advocating for clients.

Built for the Long Game 

 Lockton’s private ownership allows the firm to take the long-term view, investing deliberately in a flexible platform architecture that can continuously adopt leading AI models as they reshape how organizations evaluate risk. The result is a platform designed to keep innovating, adapting, and scaling alongside client needs — staying ahead of market demands, not reacting to them. 

“The market is full of tools, but clients need the right intelligence — connected, contextual, and built around how they actually make decisions. Lockton SAGE is our commitment to delivering exactly that. It’s not a single product. It’s the collective expertise of Lockton, working together to give every client greater confidence at every decision point.” 

— Claude Yoder, Chief Data, Analytics, and Digital Officer, Lockton 

Lockton SAGE creates a scalable foundation for continued innovation, expanding the value Lockton delivers across every client relationship. And because Lockton SAGE continues to develop new intelligence over time, it compounds in value as Lockton and its clients continue to grow, equipping Lockton Associates with the tools and insights needed to provide more informed and impactful guidance. For more information, visit LocktonSAGE.com.

About Lockton  

What makes Lockton stand apart is also what makes it better: independence. Lockton’s private ownership empowers nearly 15,000 Associates doing business in 180+ countries to focus solely on clients’ risk and insurance needs. With expertise that reaches around the globe, Lockton delivers the deep understanding needed to accomplish remarkable results.