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Waters Flagship ARES‑G3 Rheometer Sets New Benchmark for Data Quality at Breakthrough Speed

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News Summary:

  • Reduces standard testing times by 80%.1
  • Delivers an industry-leading 25,000 data points per second, detecting transient material behaviors previously invisible to measurement. 2
  • Operates with fewer calibrations and superior atmosphere and temperature control. 3

SAN ANTONIO, Texas and MILFORD, Mass., March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pittcon 2026 Conference + Exposition — Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today launched the ARES-G3™ Rheometer, part of the TA Instruments product line. This next-generation rheometer delivers industry-leading speed paired with best-in-class data to accelerate materials research and product development. Capturing up to 25,000 data points per second (10x more than its predecessor) and cutting standard test times by up to 80% through fully integrated Fast Frequency Chirps, the ARES-G3 Rheometer addresses pressing industry limitations. As scientists and materials innovators pursue a deeper understanding of complex material behavior, this product unlocks new capabilities and outcomes across polymer and composites development, liquid and semi-liquid coatings, and fundamental research.

Capturing up to 25,000 data points per second (10x more than its predecessor) and cutting standard test times by up to 80% through fully integrated Fast Frequency Chirps, the Waters TA Instruments ARES-G3 Rheometer addresses pressing industry limitations.
Capturing up to 25,000 data points per second (10x more than its predecessor) and cutting standard test times by up to 80% through fully integrated Fast Frequency Chirps, the Waters TA Instruments ARES-G3 Rheometer addresses pressing industry limitations.

“Rheology labs are under enormous pressure to deliver better data, faster, to unlock breakthroughs and support business decisions,” said Dan Rush, Senior Vice President, Waters Materials Sciences, Waters Corporation. “We’re pleased to deliver a cutting-edge instrument that can provide unique data in record time, providing novel insights and empowering our customers to meet these increasing demands.”

The ARES-G3 Rheometer enables shortened experiment times, increased lab throughput, and previously unobtainable measurements of fast-changing samples in a single test. Because it fully integrates a Fast Frequency Chirps solution into its enhanced TRIOS™ Software, the ARES-G3 Rheometer eliminates the need for multiple software licenses and training in advanced programming packages to capture and process data through rapid frequency sweeps. Routine quality control tests and data generation can also be completed up to 80% faster than before with some tests reduced from six hours to one; this translates to accelerated workflows that save teams hundreds of workdays per year under typical conditions, without sacrificing data quality. The ARES-G3 Rheometer can also perform many tests without requiring user calibrations, reducing margin for human error and increasing confidence in measurements.

“For years, rheologists have struggled to capture in-depth data on materials that are actively curing or degrading. The kinetics are so fast that conventional rheometers miss the critical information,” said Chris Macosko, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota. “Integrating Fast Frequency Chirps and precise temperature control means we can now generate time-temperature-dependent data in one-fifth of the usual time. The new ARES-G3 Rheometer delivers the accurate and consistent data that we need to succeed.”

The ARES-G3 Rheometer builds on the flagship legacy of its predecessor, improving at-instrument control with a new touchscreen, enhancing data capture with hardware and software updates, and preserving its core proprietary, fully integrated dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) capabilities and purpose-built hardware for both stress measurement and strain control. Retaining the best-in-class oven of the ARES-G2 Rheometer, this next-generation rheometer delivers leading low-oxygen atmosphere control and temperature uniformity, further simplifying the process of simulating real‑world processing conditions, and enabling scientists to explore new rheological methods and gain a deeper understanding of structure-property relationships.

All existing ARES-G2 Rheometer methods and fixtures remain fully compatible with the ARES-G3 Rheometer. The Waters TA Instruments ARES‑G3 Rheometer is available for order today.

Additional Resources:

Waters, ARES, TRIOS, and TA Instruments are trademarks of Waters Corporation or its affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About: Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide. For more information, please visit www.waters.com/about.

References:
1 When using Fast Frequency Chirps compared to standard master curve and frequency sweep test methods.
2 When compared to the ARES-G2 Rheometer.
3 When compared to conventional, combined-motor-transducer (CMT) rheometers and oven accessories.

Contact:
Molly Gluck
Head of External Communications
Waters Corporation
+1.508.498.9732
molly_gluck@waters.com

 

Meet Optro: AuditBoard Unveils New Identity as AI Transforms GRC

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Global leader evolves brand, redefining GRC for agentic risk management.

LAS VEGAS, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AuditBoard, the leading AI-powered GRC platform empowering enterprises to transform risk into opportunity, today announced it has rebranded as Optro. This new identity reflects the value Optro provides to teams: a single, coherent view across audit, risk, infosec, and compliance, while staying true to the company’s foundational vision of providing innovative solutions built by practitioners, for practitioners. The announcement took place at The Institute of Internal Auditors’ Great Audit Minds conference in Las Vegas, NV.

Optro is built for the future of GRC: moving beyond reactive risk management toward proactive risk foresight enabled by agentic AI, and orchestrated by practitioners. Optro empowers teams to leverage best-in-class enterprise AI for GRC to transform risk into opportunity: continuously, accountably, and securely. 

“Today, AuditBoard becomes Optro,” said Raul Villar Jr., CEO, Optro. “This evolution reflects more than a new name. It represents the work we’ve done with our customers and partners to create an enterprise-grade, agentic system of action for modern risk practitioners. As we start this next chapter as Optro, our DNA and commitment to our amazing customer community remain the same.”

Further accelerating its commitment to providing innovative solutions for risk teams, Optro recently announced its acquisition of FairNow, a purpose-built AI Governance solution, enhancing Optro’s industry-leading capabilities with intelligent, automated, and step-by-step AI compliance guidance. The company has also made a string of strategic executive appointments over the past year, including Chief Executive Officer Raul Villar Jr., Chief Financial Officer Hugo Doetsch, Chief Growth Officer Jim Sperduto, and Chief Human Resources Officer Paaras Parker, all of whom are uniquely qualified to support Optro’s next phase of growth.

“For the past decade, we have been synonymous with helping our customers see risk before it happens. As the industry enters the age of AI, where risk runs at machine speed, our mission has expanded,” said April Crichlow, Chief Marketing Officer at Optro. “Today, we introduce Optro, a brand that captures our commitment to the future of GRC. This evolution reflects our mission to help customers spot risk and turn it into opportunity with unprecedented pace and precision.”

Optro has consistently been recognized for its industry-leading GRC platform and rapid growth. Most recently, the company was named to G2’s 2026 Best Software Awards lists for Best Governance, Risk, and Compliance Software and Best Software for Enterprise Businesses. Optro was also named to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ for the seventh consecutive year, named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Tools, Assurance Leaders, and was named the “Overall Risk Management Solution Provider of the Year” in the 2025 Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards. 

About Optro 
Optro (formerly AuditBoard) helps enterprises transform risk into opportunity, redefining GRC through an agentic system of action. More than 50% of the Fortune 500 trust Optro to elevate audit, risk, and compliance in addressing a new era of risk. Optro is top-rated by customers on G2 and was named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Tools, Assurance Leaders. To learn more, visit: optro.ai.

Contact:
Laura Groshans
press@optro.ai

 

Dr. Althea Names IVE’s Jang Wonyoung Global Ambassador Amid Overseas Growth

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The Pure Lab pairs the announcement with a Seoul headquarters relocation and a 500 billion won sales target for 2026.

NEW YORK, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Pure Lab has appointed Jang Wonyoung of IVE as global ambassador for its skincare brand Dr. Althea, a move the company describes as a milestone in its next phase of international growth.

Global K-pop icon Jang Wonyoung, member of the chart-topping girl group IVE, has been named Brand Ambassador for Dr. Althea as the brand expands into international markets.
Global K-pop icon Jang Wonyoung, member of the chart-topping girl group IVE, has been named Brand Ambassador for Dr. Althea as the brand expands into international markets.

The partnership was announced Feb. 28 with the release of a campaign teaser featuring the artist. Moving away from her glamorous stage image, the video captures her in quiet, everyday moments, reflecting the brand’s philosophy, “When Skin Heals, You Bloom.”

The Pure Lab said the collaboration goes beyond traditional celebrity marketing. Following rapid growth in major overseas markets, the company aims to strengthen Dr. Althea’s global presence and cultural relevance. Jang Won-Young was selected for her influence as a K-pop icon and her ability to connect with the MZ generation worldwide while embodying the brand’s clean beauty values.

The announcement comes as The Pure Lab prepares to relocate its headquarters to Korea’s “Wall Street” – Park One in Yeouido – in the first half of 2026. The move is intended to support global business expansion and organizational advancement while strengthening product development capabilities and overall brand competitiveness.

Dr. Althea’s iconic hero product, 345 Relief Cream, has now surpassed 20 million units in cumulative sales, maintaining steady growth across global markets. Designed as a low-irritation formula suitable for sensitive skin, the product has earned consumer trust at home and abroad. It was recognized amongst others at the 2025 Olive Young Awards, underscoring its growth and market demand.

Building on this momentum, The Pure Lab is targeting 500 billion won in total sales in 2026. The company plans to accelerate distribution expansion and brand advancement in key global markets while undertaking large-scale hiring across global business, marketing, design and content divisions.

A company official said the ambassador appointment and headquarters relocation mark a pivotal step toward establishing the company as a global brand. “We will continue pursuing sustainable growth grounded in product competitiveness and brand philosophy,” the official stated.

Experiencing the Charm of Oriental Culture Amid Guizhou’s Mountains and Rivers

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GUIYANG, China, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from CNS: Nestled in southwest China’s hinterland, Guizhou is a karst ecological haven and a convergence hub of diverse ethnic civilizations, boasting green mountains and clear waters. In recent years, the province has advanced the deep integration of culture and tourism by developing premium travel routes, enriching immersive experiences and fostering cultural and creative industries. This drive has brought its profound historical and cultural heritage to life, accelerating its development into an internationally renowned tourist destination and making “Colorful Guizhou” a key window for the world to explore southwest China’s culture.

Top photo: A Tunpu local opera performance in Anshun. Photographed by Tang Zhe. Middle photo: Guizhou's
Top photo: A Tunpu local opera performance in Anshun. Photographed by Tang Zhe. Middle photo: Guizhou’s “Village Fashion Show”. Photographed by Wu Daping. Bottom photo: Yangming Culture Park in Xiuwen, Guiyang. Photographed by Tang Zhe.

Guizhou’s mountainous civilization is shaped by diverse cultural roots, with local efforts focused on protecting and innovatively utilizing cultural heritage to revitalize historical relics. Yangming culture, a iconic symbol, was born here when Ming Dynasty thinker Wang Yangming attained enlightenment in Xiuwen, putting forward the timeless ideas of “Unity of Knowledge and Action” and “Attaining the Innate Knowledge of Goodness”—concepts widely studied in South Korea, Japan and across the East Asian cultural circle. The province’s “Twelve Scenes of Yangming’s Quest for the Dao” research route links key cultural sites, inviting tourists to grasp Oriental philosophical wisdom through study tours and outdoor experiences.

Ethnic culture forms Guizhou’s most distinctive backdrop: home to 18 indigenous ethnic groups and 312 Chinese ethnic minority villages (the nation’s largest number), it preserves over 100 national intangible cultural heritages like Miao silver jewelry, Dong Grand Song and batik. Qiandongnan’s ethnic cultural reserve offers immersive experiences in villages such as Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, while Anshun’s Tunpu culture, a “living fossil of Ming Dynasty life”, is showcased via the “Tunpu: 600 Years of Family and Country” route, featuring local opera and ancient village homestays.

Guizhou has transformed cultural resources into attractive tourism products, with over 200 intangible heritage experience spaces and 510-plus workshops driving the industrialization of traditional crafts. Themed routes integrate cultural sites with natural landscapes and world heritage scenic areas, creating a unique tourism pattern where scenery and culture unfold at every step. The “One Code for Touring Guizhou” digital platform further boosts travel convenience with one-stop mobile services.

Opening up to the world, Guizhou hosts the International Forum on Yangming Culture and brings Miao embroidery, batik and other intangible heritages to global audiences via exhibitions and cultural creations. Upgraded inbound tourism services—including multilingual guides and international reception—draw more overseas visitors. Cultural and tourism development has also boosted local incomes, creating jobs in ethnic village tourism, embroidery and homestays, and fostering a positive cycle of rural revitalization and cultural protection.

From Yangming’s philosophical insights to vibrant ethnic customs and time-honored Tunpu culture, Guizhou weaves culture and tourism into a bridge connecting China and the world, traditional heritage and modern life. Its millennial cultural roots thrive in the new era, making “Colorful Guizhou” a shining cultural card of China’s high-quality development and open cultural exchanges.

 

MDJM LTD Highlights Strong Policy Support for Animation and Creative Industries Across the UK and Europe

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LONDON, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MDJM LTD (Nasdaq: UOKA) (“MDJM” or the “Company”) today highlighted the growing policy support and economic significance of the animation and creative industries across the UK and Europe, noting that the sector has become an increasingly strategic component of national and regional economic development.

The UK’s creative industries are widely recognized as one of the country’s most dynamic economic sectors. According to official statistics cited in the House of Lords Library article “Creative industries: Growth, jobs and productivity,” published by the UK Parliament on January 30, 2025, the UK creative industries contributed more than £124 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy in 2023. This represented over 5% of total UK economic output and supported approximately 2.4 million jobs nationwide.

This sustained economic contribution has led successive governments to position the creative industries, including film, television, animation, design, and digital media, as a key growth sector within the UK’s long-term economic strategy.

UK Incentives Strengthening the Screen and Animation Sector

Within this broader framework, the UK maintains one of the world’s most structured policy environments supporting screen production and animation development.

Under the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) system, animated films and animated television productions may qualify for a 39% expenditure credit on qualifying production cost, subject to certification and eligibility requirements. The policy forms part of a broader reform of the UK’s creative-industry tax relief system designed to attract global production and strengthen the domestic creative ecosystem.

In parallel, the UK Government has introduced enhanced incentives for visual-effects production. Beginning in 2025, qualifying UK VFX expenditure for film and high-end television productions may receive a 39% credit, while previous limits on eligible VFX spending have been removed. These measures are intended to reinforce the UK’s role as a global hub for digital production, animation, and visual-effects technologies.

Together, these policies place the UK among the most competitive international locations for animation production and audiovisual development.

Scotland’s Expanding Creative Economy

Within the UK, Scotland has increasingly positioned the creative industries as a central pillar of its cultural and economic development strategy.

Scotland’s creative economy includes sectors such as film, television, animation, design, games, and digital media. Collectively, these industries contribute billions of pounds annually to the national economy while supporting tens of thousands of creative jobs. Public agencies such as Screen Scotland and Creative Scotland have expanded their focus on building production capacity, supporting creative talent, and strengthening the country’s screen-sector infrastructure.

Regional cultural infrastructure has also become an important component of Scotland’s creative-economy strategy. Cultural institutions and creative production facilities are increasingly recognized for their role in attracting international projects and supporting long-term industry growth.

European Policy Environment Supporting Animation

Beyond the UK, the animation and audiovisual industries across Europe operate within a robust policy framework designed to support cultural production and international collaboration.

At the continental level, the Creative Europe program serves as the European Union’s flagship initiative for supporting audiovisual and cultural production. The program facilitates cross-border collaboration among European studios, producers, and cultural institutions while promoting the international circulation of European creative works.

European governments have also expanded national incentive programs, co-production treaties, and cultural-sector funding mechanisms to support animation and audiovisual production. These policies have contributed to the emergence of a highly interconnected European animation ecosystem in which studios, artists, and production partners frequently collaborate across national borders.

Animation as a Strategic Creative Industry

The growing recognition of animation within policy frameworks across the UK and Europe reflects a broader transformation within the global creative economy.

Animated storytelling now occupies an increasingly central role within the international media landscape, spanning cinema, streaming platforms, digital media, and cultural institutions. As demand for high-quality narrative content continues to expand worldwide, governments and industry bodies have increasingly emphasized the importance of supporting animation as both a cultural medium and a high-value creative industry.

MDJM noted that the strengthening policy environment across the UK and Europe provides a supportive backdrop for the continued development of animation projects and cross-border creative collaboration.

The Company believes that the combination of structured policy incentives, growing public investment in cultural infrastructure, and an increasingly interconnected European animation ecosystem will continue to reinforce the long-term prospects of the sector.

Against this backdrop, the Company remains confident that its strategic direction and distinctive model, integrating cultural infrastructure, creative production, and digital platforms, will generate meaningful cultural impact while delivering sustainable economic value over time.

About MDJM LTD

MDJM LTD is a global cultural innovation company focused on cultural IP development, animation production, international licensing, and cultural venue operations. The Company has been expanding its operations in the UK, where it is developing projects such as Fernie Castle in Scotland and the Robin Hill Property in England. These properties are being remodeled into multi-functional cultural venues that will feature fine dining, hospitality services, art exhibitions, and cultural exchange events. As part of its broader strategy, MDJM is collaborating with select European animation studios to develop animated short films that blend Eastern themes with Western artistry. The Company aims to integrate Eastern philosophy with international artistic practices, creating a global cultural ecosystem built on storytelling and immersive experience. This initiative reflects the Company’s commitment to furthering its global market expansion and enhancing its cultural business footprint. For more information regarding the Company, please visit https://www.ir-uoka.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Contact
Sherry Zheng
WAVECREST GROUP INC.
Phone: +1 718-213-7386
Email: sherry@wavecrestipo.com 

YY Group Announces Preliminary Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Highlights

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Estimated revenue of US$57 million to US$58 million, up 38.7% to 41.1% YOY

Estimated gross profit of US$7.5 million to US$8 million, up 42.6% to 52.1% YOY

SINGAPORE, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — YY Group Holding Limited (NASDAQ: YYGH) (“YY Group” or the “Company”), a global leader in on-demand workforce solutions and integrated facilities management (IFM), today announced preliminary and unaudited financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. These results are subject to final review and will be confirmed when YY Group reports its Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Based on management’s preliminary review of full year 2025 financial performance, YY Group expects:

  • Revenue in the range of US$57 million to US$58 million, representing growth of approximately 38.7% to 41.1% compared with full year 2024 revenue of US$41.1 million.
  • Gross profit between US$7.5 million to US$8 million, representing growth of approximately 42.6% to 52.1% compared with full year 2024 gross profit of US$5.26 million.
  • Gross margin in the range of 13.2% to 13.8%, compared with full year 2024 gross margin of 12.8%.

Mike Fu, CEO of YY Group, commented, “Our preliminary fiscal year 2025 results demonstrate the significant progress we have made in scaling YY Group into a diversified, multi-market workforce outsourcing and facilities management platform. An estimated year-over-year revenue increase of approximately 40% reflects strong growth across both our on-demand staffing and IFM verticals, with meaningful contributions from businesses acquired during the year. Our expanded resource base has enabled us to invest decisively in the regional capacity and operational infrastructure needed to sustain our rapid revenue growth trajectory. We look forward to sharing our complete results and our outlook for 2026 in the coming weeks.”

Jason Phua, Chief Financial Officer of YY Group, continued, “Estimated full-year revenue growth of approximately 40% underscores our disciplined execution during a year of significant investment and expansion. Gross profit grew in line with or ahead of revenue across our estimated range, and we expect gross margins to remain stable to improving as scale efficiencies continue to increase across our platform. While we continued to invest heavily in new markets, capabilities, and acquisitions throughout the year, the underlying economics of our core business continue to strengthen. We are confident in maintaining this strong momentum heading into 2026.”

The Company expects to report full results for fiscal year 2025 on or around March 31, 2026. The FY2025 estimates above are based on unaudited management accounts and are subject to finalization upon completion of the annual audit. These estimates are based on a USD/SGD full-year average exchange rate of 1.3056 as of December 31, 2025. 

About YY Group Holding Limited
YY Group Holding Limited (Nasdaq: YYGH) is a Singapore-headquartered, technology-enabled platform providing flexible, scalable workforce solutions and integrated facility management (IFM) services across Asia and beyond. The Group operates through two core verticals: on-demand staffing and IFM, delivering agile, reliable support to industries such as hospitality, logistics, retail, and healthcare.

Leveraging proprietary digital platforms and IoT-driven systems, YY Group enables clients to meet fluctuating labor demands and maintain high-performance environments. In addition to its core operations in Singapore and Malaysia, the Group maintains a growing presence in Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Middle East.

Listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, YY Group is committed to service excellence, operational innovation, and long-term value creation for clients and shareholders.

For more information on the Company, please visit https://yygroupholding.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement
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 in Hong Kong, (ii) capital and credit market volatility, (iii) local and global economic conditions, (iv) our anticipated growth strategies, (v) governmental approvals and regulations, and (vi) 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 Phua Zhi Yong, Chief Financial Officer
YY Group
enquiries@yygroupholding.com

AZI’s Controlling Shareholder Fulfills Early Investment Commitment with $7 Million Fund Transfer. Further commits joint investors to invest $110 Million Investment at $1.3 Per Share to Bolster Liquidity

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BEIJING, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Autozi Internet Technology (Global) Ltd. (Nasdaq: AZI) (“Autozi” or the “Company”) today announced that the Company’s controlling shareholder has fulfilled its previous commitment by injecting $7 million, with all funds now fully received. This confirms that the funds have been successfully transferred, completing the controlling shareholder’s early investment commitment.  Concurrently, the controlling shareholder and co-investors have further demonstrated strong support for the Company’s development by jointly pledging an additional investment of approximately $110 million at a price of $1.30 per share, based on the current undervalued market price, dedicated to supplementing the Company’s liquidity and accelerating its strategic expansion.

Relative to the current secondary market trading price, the pricing of this proposed additional investment reflects the controlling shareholder’s strong recognition of and confidence in the Company’s long-term value, sending a clear and positive signal to the capital markets.

$7 Million Funds Received: Strengthening Operational Foundation
The Company stated that the received $7 million will be prioritized to ensure operational continuity, maintain and expand core business activities, and improve short-term working capital conditions. This timely capital injection provides necessary financial buffer for the Company to navigate industry cyclical fluctuations, supply chain adjustments, and macroeconomic uncertainties, ensuring stable operations and sustained service quality in core business segments.

Proposed $110 Million Additional Investment: Strategic Intent and Clear Deployment Pathways
Building upon the received funds, the controlling shareholder and co-investors has further proposed an additional investment of approximately $110 million at a price of $1.30 per share. Should this proposed investment proceed and be completed following the Company’s necessary internal procedures and regulatory approvals, it is expected to deliver systematic enhancements across the following strategic dimensions:

1. Significantly Supplementing Liquidity Reserves, Enhancing Financial Safety Margin
The injection of $110 million will substantially elevate the Company’s cash reserve levels and strengthen its liquidity safety cushion, providing greater financial resilience and risk resistance as the automotive aftermarket faces intensifying competition, supply chain cost fluctuations, and macroeconomic uncertainties. Ample liquidity reserves will also enable the Company to flexibly allocate resources and seize market opportunities at critical junctures.

2. Accelerating Core Business Expansion, Deepening Strategic Layout
Proceeds from the proposed investment will be directed toward key areas including:

  • Expansion of automotive aftermarket service networks: Increasing investment in regional operation centers, offline service outlets, and logistics distribution systems to enhance service coverage density and response efficiency;
  • Upgrading digital platform capabilities: Deepening the application of big data, cloud computing, and AI tools in supply chain management, customer profiling, and intelligent matching to improve platform operational efficiency and user experience;
  • Optimizing and integrating supply chain systems: Strengthening strategic coordination with core suppliers, optimizing procurement cost structures, and improving inventory turnover rates and order fulfillment capabilities;
  • Supporting high-potential business segments: Concentrating resources on regional markets and specialized business lines with strong profitability and growth potential to create new engines for medium-to-long-term performance growth.

3. Optimizing Capital Structure, Enhancing Financial Flexibility and Shareholder Return Potential
As equity-based capital, the proposed investment is expected to reduce the Company’s reliance on interest-bearing debt, optimize its asset-liability structure, and improve financial leverage levels. A more robust capital structure will provide greater flexibility for potential future mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and further capital market activities, while laying the groundwork for enhanced long-term shareholder returns.

4. Strengthening Market Confidence, Enhancing Supply Chain Negotiating Power
The controlling shareholder’s commitment to a substantial additional investment at a price above current secondary market levels demonstrates strong confidence in the Company’s future prospects. This move is expected to:

  • Enhance recognition of the Company’s long-term value among capital markets and investment institutions;
  • Improve the Company’s credit rating and negotiating power with supply chain partners, financial institutions, and business clients;
  • Provide more adequate and stable financial support and reputational endorsement for the orderly implementation of the Company’s medium-to-long-term development strategy.

Controlling Shareholder and Co-Investors’ Continued Commitment: A Dual Expression of Strategic Confidence and Governance Support
AZI’s management stated that the proposal from the controlling shareholder and co-investors for a substantial $110 million additional investment, following the full fulfillment of early commitments, fully demonstrates long-term trust in and strong conviction regarding AZI’s business model, strategic direction, and management team’s execution capabilities. This proposed investment represents not merely financial support but strategic-level recognition of the Company’s development path.

The Company believes this continued commitment from the controlling shareholder sends critical signals to the market:

  • Long-term confidence in intrinsic value: Pricing above current secondary market trading prices reflects the controlling shareholder’s independent judgment and steadfast position on the Company’s true value;
  • Sustained support for development strategy: Funds designated specifically for liquidity supplementation and business expansion directly target accelerated implementation of the Company’s core strategic direction;
  • Full trust in governance and management team: Consecutive capital injections indicate strong recognition of the existing management team’s execution capabilities and governance standards.

Subsequent Procedures and Disclosure Commitments
The Company will strictly adhere to applicable laws and regulations, relevant rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Nasdaq listing rules. All work related to the proposed investment will proceed in accordance with corporate governance requirements, including but not limited to internal decision-making procedures, regulatory communications, and compliant information disclosure. The Company commits to ensuring a transparent and compliant investment process, prudent and efficient use of funds, and timely disclosure of material developments to safeguard the right to information of all shareholders and market participants.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s proposed offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

 

10 Years After AlphaGo, Lee Sedol Returns to Launch the Era of Agentic AI

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– Go grandmaster demonstrates the future of human and AI collaboration at the site of the historic AlphaGo match as Enhans unveils its multi agent AI OS

SEOUL, South Korea, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Enhans, an enterprise Agentic AI company led by CEO Seung-hyun Lee, announced the beginning of a new era of human and AI collaboration during a live event held today at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul alongside Go grandmaster Lee Sedol.

10 Years After AlphaGo, Lee Sedol Returns to Launch the Era of Agentic AI
10 Years After AlphaGo, Lee Sedol Returns to Launch the Era of Agentic AI

The event took place at the same venue where Lee Sedol faced DeepMind’s AlphaGo in 2016. Marking the tenth anniversary of that historic match, Enhans presented a new narrative for artificial intelligence under the message “The Age of Agentic AI.” While the original match symbolized competition between humans and machines, the new demonstration showed how AI can evolve into a collaborative partner capable of understanding human intent and executing complex work.

The highlight of the event was a live demonstration in which Lee Sedol collaborated directly with Enhans’ AI agents on stage. Using only voice commands, Lee worked with the Enhans AI OS to reconstruct a Go model in real time and then played a match against the newly generated system.

Enhans also demonstrated how its multi agent architecture enables AI to execute complex workflows autonomously. With a single voice command, the AI OS distributed tasks across specialized agents responsible for real time web research, planning, coding, and deployment.

Rather than relying on a single model, the Enhans AI OS operates through multiple specialized agents that collaborate to solve problems. When a user issues a request, the system interprets the intent and assigns tasks to agents responsible for ontology reasoning, planning, and computer execution.

For example, a request such as researching competitors’ products, prices, and specifications and generating a comparison report can trigger coordinated activity across the Computer Using Agent (CUA), ontology agents, and planning agents. This process demonstrates how business workflows can be executed autonomously without manual coding or complex system manipulation.

The AI OS presented during the event represents Enhans’ full vision of a unified multi agent system designed for collaborative execution. While the architecture continues to evolve, many of its core capabilities including web search, commerce automation, planning, design, and coding are already operational and integrated into the company’s Commerce OS platform.

The event was officially sponsored by Anthropic, NVIDIA, and Microsoft and was broadcast globally through a live YouTube stream.

Lee Sedol shared his perspective following the demonstration.

“Enhans’ Agentic AI felt like a powerful collaborator that turns imagination into reality,” Lee said. “AI should no longer be defined as an opponent but as a tool that allows humans to unlock greater creativity.”

Seung-hyun Lee, CEO of Enhans, said the event reflects a fundamental shift in the role of artificial intelligence.

“If the AlphaGo match symbolized competition between humans and AI, today marks the beginning of collaboration,” Lee said. “Our goal is to standardize the core technologies behind this shift including Ontology, Agentic AI, and LAM and open an era in which enterprises worldwide can work alongside AI agents.”

Founded in 2021, Enhans is an AI OS company focused on automating workflows across vertical industries. The company’s platform is built on two core technologies. Ontology enables AI agents to understand industry and business context. Computer Using Agent (CUA) is an execution engine designed to operate in real computer environments and complete tasks from start to finish. By combining understanding and execution in an agent centric AI OS, Enhans aims to introduce a new paradigm in which AI can autonomously decide and act.

Enhans has also gained international recognition for its technology. In May 2025 the company was selected as the only Korean participant in Palantir’s Startup Fellowship. Its web AI agent model ACT 1 ranked among the top systems on the global Online Mind2Web benchmark leaderboard alongside models from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. The model achieved first place in DOM control performance and first place in the vertical commerce category. The system has since evolved into its next generation version ACT 2.

For more information, visit https://www.enhans.ai/

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