Market Newsdesk

CHICAGO, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As tariffs and the potential for rising cost of goods have dominated the news cycle since early April, a new TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) Q2 2025 Consumer Pulse study found that 27% of U.S. consumers are now pessimistic about their household finances over the next 12 months. This marks a six-percentage point rise from Q4 2024 (21%) and a four-percentage point increase from a year ago (23%). It’s the highest level since TransUnion first began tracking this data point in Q1 2021.

Despite the rise in pessimism, 55% of consumers are optimistic about their household finances over the next 12 months – the same percentage as in Q2 2024. However, optimism has declined from 58% in Q4 2024. The youngest consumers surveyed – Gen Z and Millennials – remain most optimistic about future finances, at 67% and 64%, respectively. The findings are derived from a survey of 2,998 American adults between May 1-12, 2025.

“Since early April, there has been a marked increase in the level of uncertainty about future costs primarily due to the ongoing discussions about tariffs,” said Charlie Wise, senior vice president and head of global research and consulting at TransUnion. “While we’ve seen a rise in pessimism about future finances, it can’t be overstated that the same percentage of Americans are as optimistic about their future finances today as they were at this same time last year. We posit this is happening because of the continued strong employment picture and sustained wage gains. If you have a job and feel like you’re likely to get some form of pay increase over the next year, then you also will likely be able to manage through most possible scenarios for increases in the costs of goods and services.”

Comparing Optimism and Pessimism Levels in the Last Year by Generation; Tariff Impacts

Generation/Insights	Percent of consumers  optimistic  about their household finances in the next 12 months						Percent of consumers  pessimistic  about their household finances in the next 12 months						Percent of consumers who say higher prices of products resulting from tariffs will impact them personally
Timeframe	Q2 2024		Q4 2024		Q2 2025		Q2 2024		Q4 2024		Q2 2025		Q2 2025*
Overall	55%		58%		55%		23%		21%		27%		67%
Gen Z	66%		64%		67%		14%		18%		17%		55%
Millennials	62%		66%		64%		21%		17%		21%		59%
Gen X	47%		53%		52%		28%		23%		29%		70%
Baby Boomers	49%		49%		43%		26%		24%		36%		77%

*Q2 2025 is the first time this question was included in the Consumer Pulse study.

Impact of Tariff Concerns on Credit Market

Nearly nine in 10 Americans (87%) reported some level of concern about the impact of current or possible tariffs on their household finances; 41% said they were very concerned. To that end, the Consumer Pulse study found that consumers now have an increasing interest in securing credit products.

Of those consumers who were very concerned about tariffs, 37% planned to apply for new credit or refinance existing credit in the next year, a higher rate than all others (30%) who planned the same. Liquidity credit products which provide access to cash, including credit cards and personal loans, appeared to be a greater preference for those who are tariff concerned. Specifically, this group is interested in increasing available credit on existing credit cards, applying for a personal loan and using buy now, pay later payment services.

“When there is uncertainty in the market, this often results in consumers seeking new credit to ensure they are prepared for any future financial hurdles. While it’s not clear just how much of an impact tariffs will have on consumer wallets, it is clear that those consumers who are most concerned about them are more likely to be preparing for the future through myriad credit options,” said Wise.

Recession Fears Return, But are Consumers Simply in ‘Rinse and Repeat’ Mode?

While inflation continues to be the top financial concern of Americans – 81% ranked it as a Top 3 concern in the next 12 months – there was a pronounced increase in fears of a recession. This metric jumped seven percentage points from Q2 2024 with 52% saying it was in their Top 3 financial concerns over the next 12 months — its highest level in two years. In Q4 2024, fears of a recession stood at 43%.

While recession anxieties are growing, Americans were even more worried two years ago, when 53% of respondents rated it as one of their Top 3 concerns. At that time, 75% of Q2 2023 Consumer Pulse study respondents said they believed the country would be in a recession by the end of 2023. In comparison, 72% of this quarter’s respondents believe there will be a recession by the end of 2025. No recession ever occurred in 2023 or has over the ensuing two years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

“Fears of a recession should never be discounted. However, history has a way of repeating itself. To this end, consumers are being pragmatic and considering the news of the day. As tariff discussions bring uncertainty, so do increased fears of economic setbacks. Yet, just like we saw in the second quarter of 2023, there are a lot of positives about the economy and the consumer credit market at-large. One thing is certain – we should expect to see more shifts in consumer sentiment in the coming months,” concluded Wise.

For more information about the Consumer Pulse study, please click here.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

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

http://www.transunion.com/business

Contact Dave Blumberg

Email
[email protected] 

Telephone 312-972-6646

SAN ANTONIO, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rackspace Technology^® (“Rackspace”) (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading hybrid cloud and AI solutions provider, today announced a strategic alliance with enterprise AI agent innovator Sema4.ai (“Sema4”). This collaboration integrates the Foundry for AI by Rackspace (FAIR™) services and Rackspace’s application management expertise with Sema4.ai’s advanced ‘SAFE’ AI Agent Platform, combining the strengths of both companies in artificial intelligence, cloud and systems integration to accelerate the adoption of secure, enterprise-grade AI solutions. The partnership will enable the rapid deployment of scalable, production-ready AI agents across enterprise functions with robust governance, transparency, and security protocols as their core foundational elements.

Why does this matter?

Rackspace’s recently published AI research report reveals that there is a critical gap between experimentation and enterprise-wide AI adoption. While nearly all organizations are open to integrating AI agents into their business strategy, only 24% of enterprises currently have AI agents in production and scaling effectively.

Through this new collaboration, businesses can design and deploy custom AI agents tailored to specific use cases, with seamless integrations across key functions such as HR, finance, customer support, sales, and operations. Customers will also gain access to full AI lifecycle management, including built-in observability and a centralized control plane, enabling scalable, secure, and efficient deployment.

“For over 25 years, we’ve learned what it takes to keep critical enterprise systems running reliably in production environments,” said Srini Koushik, President of AI, Technology, and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology. “At FAIR, we view AI agents not just as digital assistants, but as autonomous digital coworkers that require the same level of reliability, security, and governance as any mission-critical operation. This solution, in collaboration with Sema4, isn’t just about deploying AI; it is about operationalizing enterprise intelligence at scale.”

The SAFE Advantage: Agents that Integrate into Your Business

Sema4’s SAFE platform represents a fundamental shift from fragile, siloed AI tools to resilient, interconnected agents that understand the context of a business. Its flexible architecture enables the efficient integration of advanced AI capabilities into existing enterprise environments using decentralized, federated agents. These agents can:

• Operate independently
  or collaboratively, offering shared functionalities such as natural language understanding, workflow automation, and advanced document processing.
• Help streamline and enhance the automation of high-value tasks. The result is a secure, scalable AI agent platform that bridges the gap between structured and unstructured data, supports real-time decision-making, and leverages a low-code approach to accelerate adoption and drive scalability.
• Automate existing business processes, which interpret standard operating procedures (SOPs) and runbooks, eliminating the need for complex prompt engineering. This enables organizations to simply describe a process in plain English, letting AI agents automate workflows based on existing documentation reducing time to value while significantly lowering barriers to adoption.

“Enterprise agents are the defining application of the AI age and will fundamentally change knowledge work by converting insights directly into action,” added Rob Bearden, CEO of Sema4.ai. “The partnership between Sema4.ai and Rackspace FAIR empowers businesses to move beyond testing to enterprise-wide deployment of AI agents.”

About Foundry for AI by Rackspace (FAIR):



FAIR
 is a groundbreaking global practice dedicated to advancing business transformation, improving customer experience, increasing the quality of service, and accelerating value creation through the secure and responsible use of AI technologies. FAIR has identified over 500 use cases across multiple industries and is working on several industry-leading implementations for our customers across the globe.  

About Rackspace Technology
:
Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end, hybrid, and AI solutions company. We can design, build, and operate our customers’ cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products, and adopt innovative technologies.

About Sema4.ai


Sema4.ai believes enterprise AI agents are the “killer app” of the AI era—revolutionizing how knowledge work is executed. Our full lifecycle enterprise AI platform enables businesses to build, run, and manage AI agents at scale. Our platform was designed from the ground up to deliver SAFE AI Agents that are secure, accurate, fast, and extensible. And, unlike other agentic offerings, our agents enable the business user to define the process and the best practice outcomes.

By empowering businesspeople, and not just developers, to build and deploy AI agents that understand context, reason, and act autonomously, Sema4.ai is transforming how work gets done in the enterprise. This approach to agentic automation is driving significant gains in operational efficiency, productivity, and cost savings for some of the world’s largest and most successful companies.

Media Contacts


Rackspace Technology
Matt Conroy
Stanton Public Relations & Marketing
[email protected]

Sema4.ai
Eric Gonzalez
VSC for Sema4.ai
[email protected]

Salt Lake City, Utah, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TruGolf Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRUG), a leading provider of golf simulator software and hardware, today announced that it filed an amendment to its amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-50 reverse stock split of its Class A common stock. The reverse stock split will take effect at 12:01 am (Eastern Time) on June 23, 2025, and the Company’s Class A common stock will open for trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 23, 2025 on a post-split basis, under the existing ticker symbol “TRUG” but with a new CUSIP number 243733409.

As a result of the reverse stock split, every fifty shares of the Company’s Class A common stock issued and outstanding prior to the opening of trading on June 23, 2025 will be consolidated into one issued and outstanding share. Proportionate adjustments will be made to the exercise prices and the number of shares underlying the Company’s outstanding equity awards, as applicable, as well as to the number of shares issuable under the Company’s equity incentive plans. The Class A common stock issued pursuant to the reverse stock split will remain fully paid and non-assessable. The reverse stock split will not affect the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock or the par value of the Class A common stock. No fractional shares will be issued if, as a result of the reverse stock split, a stockholder would become entitled to a fractional share because the number of shares of Class A common stock they hold before the reverse stock split is not evenly divisible by the split ratio. Instead, the stockholder will be entitled to receive a cash payment in lieu of a fractional share.

As a result of the reverse stock split, the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding will be reduced from approximately 40.5 million shares to approximately 0.8 million shares, and the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock will remain at 650 million shares.

About TruGolf, Inc.

Since 1983, TruGolf has been passionate about driving the golf industry with innovative indoor golf solutions. TruGolf builds products that capture the spirit of golf. TruGolf’s mission is to help grow the game by attempting to make it more Available, Approachable, and Affordable through technology – because TruGolf believes Golf is for Everyone. TruGolf’s team has built award-winning video games (“Links”), innovative hardware solutions, and an all-new e-sports platform to connect golfers around the world with E6 CONNECT. Since TruGolf’s beginning, TruGolf has continued to attempt to define and redefine what is possible with golf technology.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements that are not of historical fact constitute “forward-looking statements” and accordingly, involve estimates, assumptions, forecasts, judgements and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the timing of the reverse stock split. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including ”believes,” ”estimates,” ”anticipates,” ”expects,” ”plans,” ”projects,” ”intends,” ”potential,” ”may,” ”could,” ”might,” ”will,” ”should,” ”approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

Contact: Michael Bacal
        [email protected]
        917-886-9071

        

LAS VEGAS, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company (“Hyperscale Data” or the “Company”), today announced that its wholly owned indirect subsidiary askROI, Inc. (“askROI”), has surpassed 160,000 cumulative app downloads between the Apple App Store and Google Play. This marks a key milestone in askROI’s early growth and adoption.

askROI recently announced the launch of its app in both the Apple App Store and Google Play, offering users access to advanced artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools for both personal and business applications. Despite minimal marketing efforts to date, askROI’s organic traction continues to grow as askROI seeks to fine-tune its AI platform.

“askROI has done very little marketing so far as the team continues to test and refine its AI platform across multiple use cases,” stated Milton “Todd” Ault III, Founder and Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. “I am very proud of the progress made by the team and look forward to more growth as the askROI team launches new updates and new future products. Over the coming months, the askROI team plans to roll out a new version of its AI platform and significantly bolster its marketing efforts.”

For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data’s public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Inc., Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging AI ecosystems and other industries. Hyperscale Data’s other wholly owned subsidiary, ACG, is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact.

Hyperscale Data expects to complete the Divestiture of ACG on or about December 31, 2025. Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would solely be an owner and operator of data centers to support HPC services, though it may at that time continue to mine Bitcoin. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data’s headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

On December 23, 2024, the Company issued one million (1,000,000) shares of a newly designated Series F Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the “Series F Preferred Stock”) to all common stockholders and holders of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. The Divestiture will occur through the voluntary exchange of the Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of ACG (collectively, the “ACG Shares”). The Company reminds its stockholders that only those holders of the Series F Preferred Stock who agree to surrender such shares, and do not properly withdraw such surrender, in the exchange offer through which the Divestiture will occur, will be entitled to receive the ACG Shares and consequently be stockholders of ACG upon the occurrence of the Divestiture.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company’s business and financial results are included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.govand on the Company’s website at hyperscaledata.com.

Hyperscale Data Investor Contact:

[email protected] or 1-888-753-2235

WESTBROOK, Maine, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Synergy CHC Corp. (NASDAQ: SNYR) (“Synergy” or the “Company”), a fast-growing consumer health and wellness company, announced today that it has expanded its international licensing deal with Gravity Pharma, adding Turkey alongside the United Arab Emirates UAE for exclusive distribution of FOCUSfactor®. This move brings total upfront licensing revenue to $2 million, with additional performance-based royalties tied to product sales across both high-growth markets.

“This isn’t just an expansion—it’s execution,” said Jack Ross, CEO of Synergy CHC Corp. “Adding Turkey alongside the United Arab Emirates (UAE), compounds our momentum and unlocks untapped growth in scalable, capital-efficient markets. We’re building brand equity globally without the overhead—exactly how growth should look in 2025.”

The UAE-Turkey licensing model allows Synergy to scale the FOCUSfactor® brand—including brain health supplements, cognitive beverages, and energy shots—without diluting ownership or diverting U.S.-based operational focus. Synergy retains 100% ownership and global IP, with performance-based royalties driving long-term upside.

Key Highlights for Investors:

• $2M in licensing secured
• Additional revenue potential through royalties
• Scalable, asset-light growth strategy
• Brain health market expected to top $20B by 2030

With global demand for cognitive health solutions surging and strategic distribution partnerships now active, SNYR is well-positioned to capitalize on both brand strength and macro health trends. These developments follow key leadership hires from Coca-Cola’s global beverage team, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to accelerated growth and operational precision.

About Synergy CHC Corp.

Synergy CHC Corp. (NASDAQ: SNYR) is a next-generation consumer health and wellness company. Its flagship brands include FOCUSfactor®, a clinically tested brain health supplement, and Flat Tummy®, a lifestyle wellness brand for women. Synergy is executing a high-margin, global expansion strategy across functional health categories through capital-efficient partnerships.

Investor Relations

Gateway Group

Cody Slach, Greg Robles
949.574.3860
[email protected]

RENO, Nev., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS), a pioneer in sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling, today announced it will hold the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 7 a.m. PT. The meeting will be held at the Company’s offices located at 5370 Kietzke Lane, Suite 201, Reno, Nevada 89511. Stockholders of record of the Company’s common shares as of June 17, 2025, are entitled to attend and participate in the meeting. To vote please follow the instructions at https://www.proxyvote.com.

About
Aqua
Metals

Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS) is reinventing metals recycling with its patented AquaRefining™ technology. The Company is focused on commercializing sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling that is non-polluting and closes the loop on critical minerals for clean energy technologies. Aqua Metals is based in Reno, Nevada, with facilities located in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. For more information, visit www.aquametals.com.

Aqua
Metals
Social
Media

Aqua Metals has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations website (https://ir.aquametals.com), in addition to its X, Threads, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts at https://x.com/AquaMetalsInc (@AquaMetalsInc), https://www.threads.net/@aquametalsinc (@aquametalsinc), https://www.linkedin.com/company/aqua-metals-limited and https://www.youtube.com/@AquaMetals respectively, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

Contact
Information

Investor Relations
Bob Meyers & Rob Fink
FNK IR
646-878-9204
[email protected]

Media
David Regan
Aqua Metals
415-336-3553
[email protected]

Source: Aqua Metals

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGS) a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patient outcomes through best-in-class therapies for liver and viral diseases, today announced the appointment of Kieron Wesson, PhD as Vice President, Head of Chemistry Manufacturing Controls (CMC), effective immediately.

“I am pleased to welcome Kieron to Aligos,” said Sushmita Chanda, PhD, DABT, Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer at Aligos. “With decades of experience, Kieron’s extensive knowledge and broad expertise will undoubtedly provide invaluable leadership and oversight on all CMC-related matters.”

“I am thrilled to join Aligos at this important time as we look to begin our Phase 2 study of ALG-000184 in mid-2025,” stated Kieron Wesson, PhD, Vice President, Head of CMC at Aligos. “I look forward to contributing my CMC expertise to our mission of improving patient outcomes in liver and viral diseases.”

Kieron Wesson, PhD, is a seasoned professional in the life sciences industry with over 20 years of experience focused on pharmaceutical development. Prior to joining Aligos Therapeutics, Dr. Wesson served in positions of increasing responsibility, including as the Head of CMC and Supply Chain at Kezar Life Sciences and AN2 Therapeutics. Earlier in his career, he led drug substance development at Anacor Pharmaceuticals, supporting the approval and commercial launches of Kerydin® (tavaborole) and Eucrisa® (crisaborole). Dr. Wesson completed his Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and continued there to obtain his PhD in Organic Chemistry.

About Aligos

Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGS) is a clinical stage biotechnology company founded with the mission to improve patient outcomes by developing best-in-class therapies for the treatment of liver and viral diseases. Aligos applies its science driven approach and deep R&D expertise to advance its purpose-built pipeline of therapeutics for high unmet medical needs such as chronic hepatitis B virus infection, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and coronaviruses.

For more information, please visit www.aligos.com or follow us on LinkedIn or X.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be considered “forward-looking statements,” including without limitation, statements regarding Aligos’ financial results and performance as well as research and development activities, including regulatory status and the timing of announcements and updates relating to our regulatory filings and clinical trials. Such forward looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our development programs, future results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, including Aligos’ clinical-stage of development, the process of designing and conducting clinical trials, the regulatory approval processes, and other matters that could affect the sufficiency of Aligos’ capital resources to fund operations. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Aligos in general, see Aligos’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2025 and its future periodic reports to be filed or submitted with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Aligos undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  
        
Aligos Therapeutics

Contact

Jordyn Tarazi
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
+1 (650) 910-0427
[email protected]

Media Contact

Inizio Evoke
Jake Robison
Vice President
[email protected]

Tokyo, Japan, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tokyo Lifestyle Co., Ltd. (“Tokyo Lifestyle” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TKLF), a retailer and wholesaler of Japanese beauty and health products, sundry products, luxury products, electronic products, as well as other products in Hong Kong, Japan, North America, Thailand and the United Kingdom, today announced its plan to open a new directly-operated store under its proprietary “Tokyo Lifestyle” brand (the “Store”) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in July 2025. This expansion underscores the Company’s latest progress in further expanding its market presence and regional sales network in the vibrant Southeast Asia market.

The Store will be located at 374 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street connects key commercial zones and cultural landmarks. With its prime location and accessibility, the Company expects the Store to benefit from high foot traffic and strong brand visibility, accelerating local brand recognition and sales momentum.

Mr. Mei Kanayama, Principal Executive Officer of Tokyo Lifestyle, commented: “We are pleased to announce our entry into the Vietnamese market, a move we have long prepared for and highly anticipated. We believe that Vietnam’s dynamic economy has increasingly drawn the attention of the global retail industry in recent years, and Ho Chi Minh City has emerged as a showcase stage for international brands and retailers. Among these global players, we believe our product offerings, deeply rooted in Japanese lifestyle, culture, fashion, and distinguished by exceptional quality and excellent services, will set us apart. We aim to appeal to the younger generation of Vietnamese consumers and establish a strong brand image in the country. Looking ahead, we are optimistic about our strategic expansion in Southeast Asia, which we believe will inject fresh growth momentum into our global operations.”

About Tokyo Lifestyle Co., Ltd.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo Lifestyle Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Yoshitsu Co., Ltd) is a retailer and wholesaler of Japanese beauty and health products, sundry products, luxury products, electronic products, and other products in Hong Kong, Japan, North America, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. The Company offers various beauty products (including cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and body care products), health products (including over-the-counter drugs, nutritional supplements, and medical supplies and devices), sundry products (including home goods), and other products (including food and alcoholic beverages). The Company currently sells its products through directly-operated physical stores, through online stores, and to franchise stores and wholesale customers. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at https://www.ystbek.co.jp/irlibrary/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 registration statement and in its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, please contact:

Tokyo Lifestyle
Co., Ltd.

Investor Relations Department
Email: [email protected]

Ascent Investor Relations LLC

Tina Xiao
President
Phone: +1-646-932-7242
Email: [email protected]

HOUSTON, TX, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA) (the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with an institutional investor (the “SPA”) for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 223,762 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) at a purchase price of $10.60 per share (or pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) in a registered direct offering (the “Offering”). 

The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of this offering are expected to be approximately $2.37 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds of approximately $2.1 million from the offering for general corporate purposes. The transaction is expected to close on or about June 20, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The registered direct offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-282778) previously filed by the Company and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 4, 2024. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the proposed offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, by contacting Univest Securities, LLC at [email protected], or by calling +1 (212) 343-8888.

Placement Agent Agreement

On June 17, 2025, in conjunction with the SPA, the Company entered into a Placement Agency Agreement (the “Placement Agency Agreement”) with Univest Securities, LLC to act as the sole placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) in connection with the Offering. Pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement, the Placement Agent is entitled to a fee equal to an aggregate of 8.0% of the proceeds received by the Company in the Offering and reimbursement of the Placement’s reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable fees, costs and disbursement of its legal counsel, in an amount not to exceed an aggregate of $10,000.

Equity Purchase Agreement Deferral

The Company and the purchaser named in the SPA (the “Purchaser”) had previously had ongoing discussions about entering into an equity purchase agreement (the “ELOC Agreement”), which they have decided not to execute at this time. However, if the Company reconsiders the ELOC Agreement and enters into it with the Purchaser, it would likely provide that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, (particularly the closing of the previously announced Share Exchange Agreement dated February 20, 2025, between the Company and the members of Abundia Financial, LLC (“Abundia”)), the Company would have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to the Purchaser up to $30,000,000 of shares (the “Purchaser Shares”) of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) from time to time over the 24-month term of the ELOC Agreement. When last discussed by the parties, the price paid by the Purchaser for each share of Common Stock at each closing (each, a “Closing”) was expected to be approximately 96% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock during the three trading days following a purchase notice. Based upon market conditions at that time, the Company and the Purchaser also discussed that upon closing under the ELOC Agreement, which was expected to occur after the Company’s closing of the previously described transaction with Abundia, the Company would potentially issue a number of shares of restricted Common Stock commensurate with the size of the ELOC Agreement as a commitment fee upon filing a New York Stock Exchange Supplemental Listing Application, and an additional number of shares of Common Stock commensurate with the size of the ELOC Agreement upon the earlier of (i) a prepayment advance against a commitment or (ii) the effectiveness of a registration statement as declared by the Commission. The foregoing terms of the ELOC Agreement, including the number of Purchaser Shares and the number of commitment shares, would be subject to any resumed negotiations between the Company and the Purchaser and are subject to change based upon market conditions.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sales of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the registered direct offering, together with the accompanying base prospectus will be filed by the Company and, upon filing, can be obtained at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but not limited to, statements about the gross proceeds to the Company from the offering and the anticipated closing of the offering.

With respect to the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. A complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing our business is disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC on www.sec.gov.

All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

For additional information, view the company’s website at www.houstonamerican.com or contact Houston American Energy Corp. at (713) 222-6966.

New York, New York, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oak Hill Advisors (“OHA”) served as Administrative Agent and Lead Left Arranger for the private senior debt financing supporting the acquisition of Tyber Medical, LLC (“Tyber Medical”) by Montagu Private Equity (“Montagu”). Tyber Medical is a leading orthopedic device manufacturer serving the spine and trauma end markets.

As part of the transaction, Montagu will merge Tyber Medical with two of its existing portfolio companies, Resolve Surgical Technologies (“Resolve”) and Intech Medical (“Intech”), to create a scaled contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMO”) offering end-to-end services that span product conceptualization, development, manufacturing and regulatory approval for advanced surgical systems. OHA is one of the largest holders across the new first lien facility.

OHA’s comprehensive understanding of CDMOs, having invested in several leading private and public companies within the market, positioned it to diligence the financing opportunity with speed and certainty.

“We are pleased to partner with Montagu as a leading investment firm with a proven track record of investing across the healthcare ecosystem and driving growth within its portfolio companies,” said Eric Muller, Partner and Portfolio Manager at OHA. “Our deep history of investing in CDMOs allowed us to quickly gain conviction in each of Tyber Medical, Resolve and Intech, and we look forward to supporting the accelerated advancements within orthopedics that we believe will be driven by the scale and domain expertise of the combined business.”

“We are delighted to establish this new debt financing and to partner with our lender group, led by OHA,” said Henry Johnson, Partner and Head of Capital Markets at Montagu. “The transaction will support the business’s strategic initiatives and represents another successful capital markets execution in the U.S. for Montagu.”

Rothschild & Co served as financial advisor to Montagu for the debt financing transaction.

BMO Capital Markets also participated in this financing as OHA’s private credit joint venture partner.

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About OHA: Oak Hill Advisors (OHA) is a leading global credit-focused alternative asset manager with over 30 years of investment experience. OHA works with institutions and individuals and seeks to deliver a consistent track record of attractive risk-adjusted returns. The firm has approximately $95 billion in assets under management (AUM) across credit strategies, including private credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans, private capital solutions and collateralized loan obligations as of March 31, 2025. Additional information on OHA’s AUM calculation methodology can be found on the OHA website. OHA’s emphasis on long-term partnerships with companies, sponsors and other partners allows for the provision of customized credit solutions across market cycles.

With over 400 experienced professionals across six global offices, OHA brings a collaborative approach to offering investors a single platform to meet their diverse credit needs. OHA is the private markets platform of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ – GS: TROW). For more information, please visit www.oakhilladvisors.com.

About Tyber Medical, LLC: Tyber Medical, LLC is a leading orthopedic device manufacturer providing rapid access to FDA-cleared and CE-marked, private label, portfolio-enhancing regulatory-approved orthopedic implants for the spinal, extremity, and trauma markets. Since its founding in 2012, the company has released more than 50 spine, extremity, and trauma systems. Tyber Medical aims to develop and utilize differentiated bioengineered technologies, including surface treatments and coatings, to advance orthopedic science. For more information, visit https://tybermedical.com.

About Montagu: Montagu is a leading mid-market private equity firm, committed to finding and growing businesses that make the world work. Focusing on businesses with a must-have product or service in a structurally growing marketplace, Montagu brings proven growth capabilities to help companies achieve their ambitions and unlock their full potential. Montagu specializes in carve-out and other first time buyout investments and has deep expertise in five priority sectors: Healthcare, Financial Sector Services, Critical Data, Digital Infrastructure and Education. ESG forms an integral part of its strategy, and its commitment to responsible investment is fully integrated into its investment and value-creation process. Montagu partners with companies with enterprise values between €200 million and €1 billion and has €14 billion of assets under management.

Natalie Harvard, Head of Investor Relations & Partner
Oak Hill Advisors, L.P.
212-326-1505
[email protected]

Kristin Celestino, Vice President, Branding
Oak Hill Advisors, L.P.
817-215-2934
[email protected]