Category: Accesswire

• This groundbreaking discovery has revealed a systemic metabolic dysfunction that creates a toxic exosome cargo in ALS patients, which is carried to the CNS, where it binds to and damages neurons

• Vesalic is pioneering a novel therapeutic to intercept and neutralise these toxins, potentially slowing or halting progression of monogenic and sporadic forms of ALS

• In addition, Vesalic has discovered a disease-specific alteration of the lipid composition in the membranes of exosomes circulating in the blood, and has developed a highly accurate biomarker-based technology to detect both monogenic and sporadic ALS

• Based on its novel biomarker discoveries, Vesalic is also applying its biomarker technology for other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / February 9, 2026 / Vesalic Limited, an early-stage neurodegenerative disease-focused biotech company, today emerged from stealth with the landmark discovery of a systemic process – largely external to the brain and central nervous system (CNS) – that is suspected to be a major contributor to motor neuron diseases (MND), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). This discovery could potentially transform understanding of the origin of these diseases. Vesalic is leveraging this groundbreaking finding, and the company’s identification of a previously unknown blood-based disease signature of ALS, to advance breakthrough therapeutic and diagnostic solutions. These advances could revolutionise the treatment and diagnosis of this devastating disease and potentially have implications for other NDDs as well.

Unmet Therapeutic Need in ALS and Vesalic’s Therapeutic Approach

Lack of therapeutic success with brain and CNS targets. ALS is the most common type of MND, with an estimated 350,000 people affected worldwide, and with an expected increase in the coming years due to the ageing population. ALS patients experience progressive degeneration and loss of neurons in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord, which results in the brain losing its ability to initiate and control muscle movement, leading to paralysis and death. ALS remains largely untreatable despite extensive investigation over many years of approaches targeting abnormalities in the brain and CNS. In addition, nearly all development efforts have focused on therapies for monogenic (or ‘familial’) forms of the disease, which account for around 10% of all ALS cases, out of which only about 3% can potentially access a therapy option. This offers little prospect of change for the remaining 90% of ALS patients with sporadic forms of the disease.

Vesalic’s target: a non-CNS driver of monogenic and sporadic ALS. Vesalic has characterised a systemic metabolic dysfunction that creates a toxic exosome cargo in ALS patients, which is carried to the CNS, where it binds to and damages neurons, yielding a novel druggable target against the disease.

Vesalic is now pioneering a therapeutic to intercept and neutralise these toxins before they can damage neurons. This approach could potentially slow or halt progression of both monogenic and sporadic forms of the disease. Vesalic is now conducting in vivo studies to establish preclinical proof of concept for its therapeutic and to support a planned regulatory filing in 2027 to initiate clinical study.

Unmet Diagnostic Need in ALS and Vesalic’s Diagnostic Approach

Lack of measurable biomarkers to diagnose ALS. In addition to a lack of therapeutic options, there is no definitive, non-invasive diagnostic method for ALS – especially in the early stages. Once other conditions are ruled out, a combination of techniques such as MRI scans, tests of nerve conduction and nerve and muscle electrical activity, and lumbar punctures, are utilised. The current diagnostic process typically takes many months, and in some cases over a year. There have been considerable efforts to identify biomarkers that would allow rapid, non-invasive and accurate diagnosis at symptom onset, or earlier, but with limited success to date.

Vesalic’s highly accurate biomarker-based technology. Biomarker-based diagnostics currently in development for ALS are designed to detect various protein and RNA abnormalities. Vesalic has discovered that the signature of ALS is also expressed as an alteration of the lipid composition in the membranes of exosomes circulating in the blood. Based on this discovery, Vesalic has developed a biomarker-based technology with >90% accuracy in detecting both monogenic and sporadic forms of ALS, and which could be deployed in third-party clinical trials.

Vesalic believes that its biomarker test potentially could predict ALS years before a patient becomes symptomatic. The test holds the promise of drastically simplifying the diagnostic odyssey that patients and their families currently endure. In addition, the test potentially could be utilised to monitor treatment response in real time and guide therapeutic strategies. Beyond ALS, Vesalic is also applying its biomarker technology based on lipid alteration in exosomes for the detection of other NDDs, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Intellectual Property

Vesalic has worked with leading scientists to build the data to support the therapeutic and biomarker concepts and has built a broad patent estate around these.

Professor Kevin Talbot, Head of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford, said, “Pushing boundaries to help us understand the causes and biological signatures of ALS is critical to delivering true progress against this devastating disease. It’s incredibly exciting to see Vesalic advancing this therapy that could potentially address sporadic and monogenic ALS, alongside a simple, non-invasive biomarker test that could allow patients to be diagnosed much earlier. These efforts offer meaningful hope for the future to the ALS community.”

Vesalic’s Executive and Scientific Leadership

Incorporated in early 2023, Vesalic’s founders include Dr. Valeria Ricotti (CEO), Professor Thomas Voit (Chief Scientific Officer) and John McLaren (Executive Chair). The company raised initial funding from individual investors, including its non-executive directors, Elie Vannier, Oscar Schafer and Simon Black, and prominent individual investors including Bertrand Meunier.

Dr. Ricotti said, “Our groundbreaking discoveries could fundamentally reshape the landscape in diagnosing and treating ALS, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. We’ve made remarkable progress advancing our ALS therapeutic programme, our biomarker technology, and building our patent estate. We continue to push ahead, and we look forward to sharing more updates in the coming months.”

Professor Voit said, “Years of focusing on brain and CNS-specific targets have been largely unfruitful in the search of both biomarkers and therapies for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. It’s vital that we explore new scientifically driven hypotheses, including potential systemic pathogenic drivers. They could hold the key to unlocking desperately needed advancements for patients impacted by these diseases.”

Dr. Ricotti is an entrepreneur and clinician-scientist with a strong track record in the development of advanced therapies and biomarkers, bridging academic innovation and biotech translation. Professor Voit leads Vesalic’s scientific operations. In addition, he serves as Vice Dean for Innovation and Enterprise at the Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, and Director of the National Institute of Health Research, Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre.

Vesalic’s Scientific Advisory Board

Vesalic’s advancements are the result of close collaboration among the company’s core scientific and advisory team of leading academic partners:

• Professor Payam Barnaghi – Chair in Machine Intelligence Applied to Neuroscience, Imperial College London; specialist in AI-based biomarker and digital phenotyping

• Professor Julie Dumonceaux, Director, Vesalic – Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London; expert in biomarker discovery and translational molecular biology

• Professor Albert Ludolph – Chair of Neurology at Universitätsklinikum Ulm; internationally recognised expert in ALS

• Dr. Umesh Muchhal – Chief Scientific Officer, Stealth Biotech; over 20 years’ experience in antibody design, preclinical, and clinical development

• Professor Paolo Pinton, Dept. of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara; a leading expert in pathology and cell-fate mechanisms in disease

• Dr. Valeria Sansone, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan; internationally recognised expert in ALS

• Professor Dame Pamela Shaw – Director, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience; leading researcher in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis and clinical translation

• Professor Kevin Talbot – Head of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford

• Dr. Michiel Vandenbosch – Facility Manager, Imaging Mass Spectrometry Core Lab, Maastricht University; leader in proteomic and mass-spectrometry-based biomarker discovery

About Vesalic Limited

Vesalic is an early-stage biotech company focused on neurodegenerative diseases, initially ALS. Despite extensive investigation of approaches targeting abnormalities in the brain and CNS, ALS remains predominantly untreatable and lacks a definitive, non-invasive diagnostic method. Vesalic has discovered a systemic process – largely external to the brain and central nervous system – that is suspected to be a pathogenic driver of ALS. Vesalic is advancing breakthrough solutions that could revolutionise the treatment and diagnosis of this devastating disease, and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Company Contact:		Media Contact:
Dr. Valeria Ricotti		Liz Melone
CEO, Vesalic		liz@melonecomm.com
valeria@vesalic.com

###

SOURCE: Vesalic Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Caprae Capital Converts 4 Interns to Full-Time, Broadens Global Reach as Gen Z Becomes Central to Growth Strategy

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / February 7, 2026 / Caprae Capital Partners, one of the fast-growing lower-middle-market platform rewriting private equity from the ground up, announced the conversion of three standout interns into full-time team members in early 2026 as it continues to scale its internship program across Asia and Europe.

This move reflects a bigger strategic truth: the best hires aren’t found they’re built. With over $50M in closed deal value in 2025 and another $60M+ already in the pipeline for H1 2026, Caprae is not only scaling revenue, but scaling ideology.

“No other profession starts with ‘I’m not like the other PE guys’ – unless you’re a politician somehow,” said Kevin Hong , Founder and Principal at Caprae. “Can you imagine a doctor, a teacher, or a police officer introducing themselves that way? PE is broken at the identity level. We’re not just fixing the tactics – we’re changing the culture. And that starts with how we train people.”

Internships That Build Operators, Not Pedigrees
Caprae’s internship program has become the company’s main talent pipeline, with plans to onboard at least 5-7 full-time hires from the program in 2026 alone. Interns start in one of four specialized tracks – PE, Research, Buy-Side, or Strategic Marketing – and many are added to payroll after just 30 days, upon completing training in cold calling, deal origination, AI-powered outreach, or market research.

“I got to do everything from A to Z for PE – not just research or modeling,” said Gabriel Peyrano, a full-time hire and graduate of Università Bocconi and Hult International Business School. “I didn’t have to wait years to work on real deals. I gained enormous deal experience and helped accelerate growth for companies preparing to exit in the next few years.”

For students unable to receive stipends or focused on earning academic credit, Caprae offers its flagship PE Internship, a flexible entry point with deep exposure to live sourcing, founder calls, and real-time diligence.

The program has sparked massive interest: 5,000 to 10,000 applicants per month, with an acceptance rate consistently under 0.1%, making it one of the most selective early-career programs in the LMM and ETA space.

International Expansion: India & Spain Now Anchors of Global Talent Strategy

In 2026, Caprae launched partnerships with six leading institutions across Europe and Asia:

• Spain: IESE Business School, IE University, CUNEF

• India: IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras

This strategic expansion cements Caprae’s presence across Europe and greater Asia, creating a robust pipeline of Gen Z operators trained from the ground up in Caprae’s unique operating system.

Gen Z > Boomers. AI > Pedigree. Culture > Credentials.

“It’s easier to teach a Gen Z how finance than to teach a boomer how AI works,” said Hong. “This generation isn’t chasing prestige. They’re chasing purpose.”

Caprae’s mission-first approach has struck a chord not just with interns – but with clients, vendors, and the broader ecosystem.

In a space riddled with old-guard dynamics, Caprae is building a movement. It has openly challenged the traditional search fund and LMM PE model by:

• Launching the Investor Rankings project to crowdsource anonymous feedback on investor behavior

• Forming the MBA Search Fund Alliance with student-club partners at top schools like Chicago Booth, UCLA Anderson, and HEC Paris

• Releasing data showing that Black CEOs in the search fund world are 3x more likely to be terminated, despite being only 8% of those funded

• Reverse-engineering Stanford GSB’s research on ETA to stress-test actual acquisition and termination rates across demographics

These moves have generated serious discussions across the search fund and lower-middle-market PE space.

From Playbooks to People

Caprae’s rise is not just about deals – though it has plenty, with $110M+ in closed or pipeline transactions since Jan 2025 and 14 straight months of 20%+ MoM growth.

The real story is this: Caprae is designing a new playbook for how talent is developed, boards are held accountable, and operators are empowered.

“Most PE guys don’t even like each other,” Hong adds. “We don’t want to fit in. We want to change what it means to lead.”

About Caprae Capital Partners

Caprae is a next-generation private equity and ETA platform that combines AI tooling, operator DNA, and a founder-first model to scale lower middle market businesses. With over $50M in closed transactions in 2025, an additional $60M+ in the 2026 pipeline, and 20%+ MoM growth for 14+ months, Caprae is pioneering a new standard for what LMM private equity can become – built by operators, not overlords.

For internship opportunities, partnership inquiries, or media requests, visit capraecapital.com or contact partners@capraecapital.com

SOURCE: Caprae Capital

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BROOKLYN, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 6, 2026 / IEH Corporation (OTC:IEHC) today filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the 3^rd fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2025.

Highlights include:

• 3.9% Increase in Revenue as compared to third quarter of Fiscal Year 2025

• $723,444 loss in Q3 Operating Income, primarily due to cost of gold and tariff charges

• Cash remains unchanged compared to third quarter of Fiscal Year 2025

• Five-year high in backlog, primarily due to orders in support of missile defense programs

• SEC dismissal of its administrative proceeding against IEH, which should enable uplisting in OTC marketplace

For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, IEH had revenues of $7,497,879 as compared to $7,217,616 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, reflecting a 3.9% increase; an operating loss of $723,444 for 3^rd quarter fiscal year 2026 as compared to an operating loss of $130,086 for 3^rd quarter fiscal year 2025; a net loss of $660,286 for 3^rd quarter fiscal year 2026 as compared to a net loss of $61,640 for 3^rd quarter fiscal year 2025; and a basic loss per share of $.27 for 3^rd quarter fiscal year 2026 as compared to a basic loss per share of $.03 for 3^rd quarter fiscal year 2025.

Dave Offerman, President and CEO of IEH Corporation, commented, “The relentless, steep rise in gold over the past two years, along with tariffs and other rising costs, continue to pressure our margins. While we continue to aggressively and strategically raise prices, we are still playing “catch-up” to these increases. In 2025, gold experienced its highest annual increase in 46 years, and most forecasts predict this rise to continue in 2026. To hedge against these increases, we have been more strategic in the timing and volume of our gold purchases, in an effort to mitigate these historic trends.

In tandem with these efforts, we are investing in infrastructure and capacity which will allow us to reduce costs through production efficiencies, and less reliance on outside, often overseas suppliers. We expect the cost savings from these investments to manifest in our next fiscal year.

Fortunately, our outlook for the next fiscal year and beyond remains very positive. Demand for the parts we supply in support of missile defense and related military programs continues to rise, and global defense spending is expected to sharply increase over the next several years, which bodes very well for IEH. This has led to our highest backlog since December 2020, and with a very strong sales pipeline, we expect this growth to continue. It is also worth noting that much of this business is sole-source and thus highly profitable, which should go a long way toward improving our margins. At the same time, we are starting to see more business for the commercial aerospace platforms we support, in particular the Boeing 737Max, and with recent news that the FAA has allowed Boeing to increase output on that jet, we expect that growth to accelerate in the coming months. We continue to win new designs in commercial space applications, and with an enhanced sales presence overseas, uncover new opportunities in foreign markets.

We also continue to actively pursue acquisition opportunities, for the purpose of diversifying both our product offerings, as well as our markets served. I look forward to sharing more details on those efforts as they progress.

Finally, as noted in our January 15^th press release, the SEC finally dismissed their administrative proceeding against IEH, for the late filings of 2021-2023. With this matter firmly behind us, we are in the process of applying to uplist our stock to a platform that allows for greater liquidity, shareholder visibility and investment opportunities.

On behalf of the management team and staff of IEH, we again wish to express our sincere gratitude for the support of our valued shareholders.”

About IEH Corporation

For over 80 years and 4 generations of family-run management, IEH Corporation has designed, developed, and manufactured printed circuit board (PCB) connectors, custom interconnects and contacts for high performance applications. With its signature Hyperboloid technology, IEH supplies the most durable, reliable connectors for the most demanding environments. The Company markets primarily to companies in defense, aerospace, medical, space and industrial applications, in the United States, Canada, Europe, Southeast and Central Asia and the Mideast. The Company was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements contained in this press release, and in related comments by the Company’s management, include “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, statements or expectations regarding our financial condition, statements or expectations regarding our revenues, cash and backlog, expectations regarding future cash requirements, revenue and revenue recovery, including for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, projected timelines for making our SEC filings or successfully preventing our registration from suspension or revocation and expectations regarding our efforts and ability to resolve our inventory accounting issues are forward-looking statements. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company has made on its current expectations and projections about future events. The Company believes these judgments are reasonable, but you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual performance or results could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, both positive and negative, as they will depend on many factors about which we are unsure, including many factors beyond our control. Among other items, such factors could include: any claims, investigations or proceedings arising as a result of our past due periodic reports, including changes in the proceedings related to the SEC’s Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings and Notice of Hearing pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; our ability to remediate our inventory accounting issue; our ability to reduce costs or increase revenue; changes in the macroeconomic environment or in the finances of our customers; changes in accounting principles, or their application or interpretation, and our ability to make accurate estimates and the assumptions underlying the estimates; our ability to attract and retain key employees and key resources; and other risk factors discussed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on June 12, 2025, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. Except as may be required by applicable law, we do not undertake or intend to update or revise our forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information or future events or developments. Thus, you should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. You should carefully review and consider the various disclosures we make in our filings with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our business.

Contact:

Dave Offerman
IEH Corporation
dave@iehcorp.com
718-492-4448

SOURCE: IEH Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 6, 2026 / Capital becomes meaningful only when it alters how a company behaves. Until then, it’s just potential, visible but inactive. What matters is whether capital changes posture, cadence, and the range of decisions a management team can make without compromise.

That’s the significance of the latest ELOC amendment at SMX (NASDAQ:SMX).

Rather than fine-tuning terms, the amendment, which commits up to $250 million, extends SMX’s capital runway well into 2028, providing the company with more than twenty months of operational headroom. The immediate effect isn’t financial optics. It’s behavioral. SMX can now plan, sequence, and execute without the persistent friction that comes from a looming capital clock.

And in businesses built on infrastructure rather than short-cycle products, that distinction carries weight.

The Power of Time

Time changes how strategy is executed. With additional runway in place, SMX is operating from a position of continuity rather than compression. Decisions no longer need to be filtered through near-term funding constraints. Instead, execution can follow logic, complexity, and readiness. That shift alone separates platforms that scale deliberately from those forced into acceleration before systems are ready.

This isn’t a subtle point. Capital pressure tends to produce predictable outcomes. Timelines tighten. Integration gets rushed. Strategic conversations drift back toward financing, even when the stated goal is execution. By extending its capital runway, SMX has stepped away from that dynamic and reinforced a longer operational horizon.

Importantly, this amendment doesn’t stand on its own. It represents at least the fourth instance since 2023 in which capital has remained accessible to SMX as the company has progressed through its build phase. Notably, too, it comes in a market that has become increasingly selective, meaning repeated access to capital tends to reflect something tangible. Capital usually reappears and tends to stick with stories where execution is becoming easier to verify.

That recognition exists for a reason.

The Unique SMX Platform

As SMX’s strategy has matured, so has external understanding of what the company is actually building. The SMX platform isn’t a feature layered onto existing workflows. It’s verification infrastructure designed to operate across physical materials, regulatory regimes, and global supply chains. Systems at that level don’t scale on quarterly timelines, and they don’t advance uniformly.

They move through coordination, integration, and validation across counterparties that often operate on entirely different clocks.

That’s where a capital runway becomes operational rather than financial. It allows multiple initiatives to progress in parallel without forcing artificial prioritization driven by capital scarcity. It enables sequencing based on readiness instead of urgency. Over time, that approach compounds.

This becomes clearer when viewed against SMX’s current engagement footprint. The company is already active across a diverse set of institutional, industrial, and regulatory channels. These include collaborations involving A*STAR, materials and textiles traceability initiatives such as TruCotton, precious-metals regulatory and trade frameworks connected to DMCC, and sensing and verification work alongside Redwave, among others.

While these engagements differ in scope and geography, they share a common requirement. Each demands time to integrate properly, validate at scale, and mature into embedded systems. The extended runway aligns with that reality instead of working against it.

This alignment also explains why capital has continued to surface as SMX has moved through 2024 and into 2025. The company has shifted from describing what its technology can do to demonstrating how it fits inside real supply chains, regulatory environments, and industrial workflows. Capital tends to follow that transition, not because it’s encouraged to, but because progress becomes easier to assess.

That context frames why the upcoming period matters.

Funded to Engage, Develop, and Implement

Extending capital visibility into 2028 changes how outcomes can form. Instead of compressing timelines to satisfy short-term constraints, SMX can now let initiatives progress at the pace their complexity demands. Deal activity has room to deepen, integrations have room to settle, and partnerships can evolve into long-term operating relationships rather than transactional outcomes shaped by timing pressure.

That shift reframes how the market should think about capital altogether. In small-cap conversations, attention usually centers on how long funding lasts. For SMX, the more relevant question is how little it may need to rely on it. That isn’t a forecast. It’s an outcome that becomes possible when execution, not urgency, drives decision-making.

Very few infrastructure-oriented companies ever reach that position. When they do, it’s rarely obvious in the moment. What looks like a capital update on the surface is often something else entirely underneath. In this case, SMX didn’t change a financing narrative. It adjusted the sequencing of its execution.

With capital availability now aligned to the platform’s architectural complexity, operational friction is reduced across planning, deployment, and scale. Decisions can follow readiness instead of deadlines. And growth can follow structure rather than stress.

For SMX, that’s when execution stops reacting and starts compounding.

About SMX

As global businesses face new and complex challenges relating to carbon neutrality and meeting new governmental and regional regulations and standards, SMX is able to offer players along the value chain access to its marking, tracking, measuring and digital platform technology to transition more successfully to a low-carbon economy.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example: matters relating to the Company’s fight against abusive and possibly illegal trading tactics against the Company’s stock; successful launch and implementation of SMX’s joint projects with manufacturers and other supply chain participants of steel, rubber and other materials; changes in SMX’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; SMX’s ability to develop and launch new products and services, including its planned Plastic Cycle Token; SMX’s ability to successfully and efficiently integrate future expansion plans and opportunities; SMX’s ability to grow its business in a cost-effective manner; SMX’s product development timeline and estimated research and development costs; the implementation, market acceptance and success of SMX’s business model; developments and projections relating to SMX’s competitors and industry; and SMX’s approach and goals with respect to technology. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date, and no obligation is undertaken to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; any lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMX’s business; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which SMX operates; the risk that SMX and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize SMX’s products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the Company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that third-party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that SMX is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; the possibility that SMX may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described in SMX’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For Inquiries:

Contact: info@securitymattersltd.com

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Court Orders End All Claims Against the Tuckers; Only Their Affirmative Claims Remain

PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / February 6, 2026 / Jason Tucker and Melissa Tucker confirmed that the United States District Court for the District of Arizona has dismissed, with prejudice, Labor Smart, Inc.’s remaining claims against them, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion, following discovery. While Labor Smart and its principals accused Jason Tucker of failing to file Labor Smart paperwork and misappropriating funds, the claims were not substantiated by any personal knowledge or documentary evidence. No claims remain pending against Jason Tucker or Melissa Tucker. The Tuckers will seek recovery of their attorneys’ fees and costs relating to the dismissed claims.

What remains in the Arizona litigation are the Tuckers’ affirmative claims against Labor Smart (now Kultura Brands, Inc.) and other third-party defendants, including Takeover Industries, Inc., Next Gen Beverages, LLC, Tom Zarro, Michael Holley, Toby McBride, and Joseph Pavlik. The Tuckers’ claims against those defendants include breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent transfer, defamation, and related claims. Several matters are currently pending before the Court for decision on the evidentiary record, and the Tuckers have sought a trial on the amounts of damages owed.

The Tuckers issue this statement in an attempt to correct the public record, as allegations that have now been dismissed were widely repeated online. The relevant court orders and filings speak for themselves.

Court Order is available here: Court Order

About the Parties

Labor Smart, Inc. (now Kultura Brands, Inc.), a company quoted on OTC Markets and headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming, has described itself as a diversified consumer beverage and brand platform. In public releases, the company has promoted Lock’dIn® (lockdin.com), Elevate Health & Wellness, Thirst Responder™ Hydrogen Water (thirstresponder.com), and Adios Spirits (adiosspirits.com). Kultura Brands has also highlighted relationships involving Cookies (cookies.co) and a publicly traded pharmaceutical services company, Cencora Inc., and has stated that Manny Pacquiao serves on its board.

Jason Tucker is an intellectual property and brand growth strategist specializing in IP enforcement and brand-protection. He previously served as a board member and director of Labor Smart, Inc. and as an executive of Takeover Industries, where he led national retail expansion and high-profile beverage product launches covered by trade and mainstream press, and received two best new beverage product awards for that company.

Melissa Tucker is an operations, marketing, and SEO expert whose company provided contracted marketing services to a Labor Smart-affiliated subsidiary, including leadership of digital and brand initiatives, management of related assets, and execution of national marketing initiatives.

Battleship Stance, Inc. is an intellectual property, brand-protection, and legal services firm founded by Jason Tucker. The firm is issuing this public-record update regarding the litigation to address reputational harm to Jason Tucker arising from allegations dismissed with prejudice and other public statements at issue. The firm is not a party to the case.

Media Contact
Media Representative
publicrecord.ltnc@gmail.com

SOURCE: Battleship Stance Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / February 6, 2026 / Capital only matters if it changes how a company operates. Otherwise, it’s just a figure on a page, impressive in theory and inert in practice.

With its latest amendment to its ELOC framework, SMX (NASDAQ:SMX) hasn’t simply adjusted numbers. It has extended its capital runway, meaningfully reshaping how the business can be run. The result is operational visibility that now stretches into 2028, representing more than 22 months of capital headspace.

That distinction matters because time changes behavior. In SMX’s case, added time translates into clearer execution, steadier decision-making, and the ability to scale strategy with capital already in place.

When the Capital Clock Stops Ticking, Strategy Can Breathe

That difference is critical. Companies under capital pressure tend to behave similarly. Decisions compress. Timelines shorten. Even strategic conversations eventually bend back toward financing, whether anyone intends them to or not.

SMX stepped out of that pattern last December with its $116 million ELOC agreement. With this amendment, which increases committed capital to $250 million, the company has added an exclamation point to that shift.

By further aligning its capital runway with a multi-year execution horizon, SMX has reduced the background noise that can distort decision-making over shorter timeframes. With capital visibility extended, the company can maintain continuity in planning and execution, which is exactly what complex platforms require.

While announcements like this rarely make a loud splash, experienced investors and stakeholders tend to recognize their significance quickly. They understand what many overlook: access to capital, not just what’s immediately deployed, is often what allows a roadmap to hold together under real-world conditions.

It’s also worth noting that this amendment doesn’t stand in isolation. For at least the fourth time since 2023, SMX has demonstrated an ability to secure willing capital as its strategy has progressed. In today’s market, that pattern typically reflects progress that capital can verify, not just narratives it’s asked to believe.

That recognition exists for a reason. Stakeholders increasingly understand what SMX is actually building.

Time Is the Real Currency of Infrastructure

They see what execution reveals: the SMX platform isn’t a feature. It’s verification infrastructure that spans physical materials, regulatory regimes, and global supply chains. And systems built at that level don’t scale in straight lines or move on a single schedule.

They advance through coordination, integration, and validation, often across counterparties operating on very different clocks. That’s where a capital runway stops being a financial concept and becomes an operational one.

It allows multiple initiatives to move forward in parallel without forcing artificial prioritization driven by capital scarcity. It allows sequencing to follow logic rather than urgency. And that’s how platforms compound.

Why This Capital Runway Lines Up With Reality

That alignment becomes clearer when viewed alongside SMX’s current engagement profile. The company is already operating across a dense mix of institutional and industrial channels, including collaborations with A*STAR, materials and textiles traceability initiatives such as TruCotton, precious-metals regulatory and trade frameworks connected to Dubai’s DMCC, and sensing and verification work alongside Redwave, just to name a few.

These engagements differ in geography and application, but they share a common requirement. They need time to integrate properly, validate at scale, and mature into embedded systems. The capital runway, with up to $250 million committed, now reflects that reality rather than working against it.

That alignment also helps explain why capital has continued to show up. As SMX moved through 2024 and into 2025, the company shifted from outlining what its technology could do to demonstrating how it fits into real systems, real supply chains, and real regulatory environments. Willing capital tends to follow that transition.

Why 2025’s Turning Point Is an Action Event

All of this frames why the coming period matters. Much of the groundwork has already been laid. What follows isn’t exploration, it’s conversion. Not proofs-of-concept, but deployment. Not isolated wins, but repeatable integration.

That transition is where many companies lose momentum, not because the opportunity disappears, but because the financial clock reasserts itself too early. By securing its capital runway into 2028, SMX has materially reduced that risk.

It has also given itself the space to let deal flow mature into durable relationships instead of forcing outcomes on an artificial schedule.

The Question That Naturally Follows

In the small-cap world, most conversations stop at how long a capital runway lasts. For SMX, that answer is now measured in years. The more interesting question is whether it ultimately needs to be used at all.

That isn’t a claim. It’s a structural possibility. The framework in place allows future capital decisions to be driven by execution rather than necessity. Very few emerging infrastructure companies reach that posture.

SMX has.

Capital Vision Beyond 2027

The headline may reference a $250 million ELOC, but this isn’t a financing story. It’s a capital runway story, and more importantly, a timing story.

SMX has synchronized its capital runway with the complexity of its execution roadmap, extending operational visibility into 2028 and removing the constant gravitational pull of the markets from day-to-day decisions.

That freedom isn’t abstract. It shapes partner confidence, deal velocity, and strategic discipline in ways the market usually recognizes only after the fact. Preparation rarely looks exciting in real time, but it’s almost always what makes outcomes feel inevitable in hindsight.

About SMX

As global businesses face new and complex challenges relating to carbon neutrality and meeting new governmental and regional regulations and standards, SMX is able to offer players along the value chain access to its marking, tracking, measuring and digital platform technology to transition more successfully to a low-carbon economy.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example: matters relating to the Company’s fight against abusive and possibly illegal trading tactics against the Company’s stock; successful launch and implementation of SMX’s joint projects with manufacturers and other supply chain participants of steel, rubber and other materials; changes in SMX’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; SMX’s ability to develop and launch new products and services, including its planned Plastic Cycle Token; SMX’s ability to successfully and efficiently integrate future expansion plans and opportunities; SMX’s ability to grow its business in a cost-effective manner; SMX’s product development timeline and estimated research and development costs; the implementation, market acceptance and success of SMX’s business model; developments and projections relating to SMX’s competitors and industry; and SMX’s approach and goals with respect to technology. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date, and no obligation is undertaken to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; any lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMX’s business; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which SMX operates; the risk that SMX and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize SMX’s products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the Company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that third-party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that SMX is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; the possibility that SMX may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described in SMX’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For Inquiries:

Contact: info@securitymattersltd.com

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Darrell Kelley announces the release of his latest single, *How Dare You Ignore Their Cries*, reinforcing his commitment to emotionally driven and socially aware music. This press release formally presents the new release, its artistic direction, and the artist’s background, with full source attribution to UWGEAM LLC.

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / February 6, 2026 / Independent recording artist Darrell Kelley releases his newest single, *How Dare You Ignore Their Cries*, a compelling and introspective musical work that continues his tradition of purposeful, message-centered artistry. The release reflects Kelley’s dedication to music that emphasizes empathy, awareness, and emotional connection.

Inspired by **themes of compassion, accountability, and giving voice to unheard emotions**, the single delivers a sincere listening experience through expressive vocals and thoughtful production. The song is designed to resonate broadly, encouraging reflection without relying on external narratives.

## Artistic Direction and Sound

*How Dare You Ignore Their Cries* blends **contemporary R&B, soul, and pop influences**, showcasing Kelley’s signature vocal tone and emotional delivery. The production balances modern clarity with soulful depth, reinforcing the song’s reflective and impactful tone.

The track aligns with Kelley’s ongoing creative vision-music that prioritizes substance, sincerity, and human connection.

## About Darrell Kelley

Darrell Kelley is an independent recording artist known for **emotionally resonant and socially conscious songwriting**. Throughout his career, Kelley has developed a catalog of music centered on themes such as empathy, unity, resilience, and human dignity. His work consistently explores real emotional experiences, positioning music as a tool for reflection and connection.

Drawing influence from classic soul and R&B traditions, Kelley blends timeless storytelling with contemporary production. By maintaining creative independence, he has preserved full artistic control, allowing each release to reflect authenticity and personal conviction rather than trends.

Over time, Darrell Kelley has built a reputation for meaningful music that values depth and purpose, appealing to listeners who seek substance and emotional impact in their musical experiences.

## Release Information

*How Dare You Ignore Their Cries* is released through **UWGEAM LLC** and is available on major digital streaming platforms.

**Watch the official video on YouTube:**
https://youtu.be/zD3IsSuwF_U

## Media Contact

**Source:** **UWGEAM LLC**
**Website:** https://uwgeam.com
**Phone:** 888-557-8883

## Closing

With *How Dare You Ignore Their Cries*, Darrell Kelley continues to define his artistic identity through purposeful expression. Released through **UWGEAM LLC**, the single reinforces his dedication to authenticity, empathy, and music that connects with listeners on a meaningful level.

SOURCE: UWGEAM LLC

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire