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WATCO COMPANIES ANNOUNCES PRICING OF PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES OFFERING

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PITTSBURG, Kan., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Watco Companies, L.L.C. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Watco Finance Corp. (collectively, “Watco”), today announced the pricing of its previously announced private offering (the “Offering”) of $700 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2032 (the “Notes”).  The Notes will pay interest semi-annually at a rate of 7.125% per annum.  The Notes will mature on August 1, 2032, unless earlier redeemed in accordance with their terms.  Watco expects to close the sale of the Notes on or about July 22, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Watco intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to purchase Watco’s outstanding 6.500% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Senior Notes”) tendered in a concurrently announced tender offer (the “Tender Offer”), to pay interest as required from time to time on the 2027 Senior Notes that are not tendered until such 2027 Senior Notes are redeemed, to repay a portion of Watco’s senior secured credit facility, to pay all fees and expenses related to the Offering and incurred in connection with the Tender Offer, and for general corporate purposes. The Offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Tender Offer.  The Tender Offer is conditioned on, among other things, the consummation of the Offering.

The Notes and related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.  The Notes and related guarantees are being offered in a private placement, solely to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to certain non U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. This communication does not constitute an offer to purchase or redeem any of the 2027 Senior Notes.

About Watco Companies, L.L.C.

Watco, headquartered in Pittsburg, Kansas, is a leading provider of integrated transportation services, providing a broad set of supply chain solutions. Watco provides short line railroad, terminal and port, and logistics services to over 3,500 customers across the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Australia. Watco owns and operates a diverse portfolio of transportation infrastructure assets across North America which includes being the second largest short line railroad operator (by mileage) and, according to Watco internal estimates, one of the largest bulk and break bulk terminaling services providers. More information about Watco and its subsidiaries can be found at www.watco.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “forecast”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “expect”, “should”, “believe” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include any statements regarding the Offering and Tender Offer. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, Watco’s ability to successfully consummate the Offering or Tender Offer; general and industry economic conditions; conditions in the capital and credit markets; Watco’s ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; Watco’s relationships with Class I railroads and other connecting carriers; risks related to the geographic markets in which Watco operates, including weather conditions; Watco’s compliance with governmental regulation and legislative and regulatory developments; Watco’s ability to obtain necessary permits and leases to operate its business; Watco’s exposure to credit risk of its customers and counterparties; competitive pressures within its industries; risks related to climate change, including market and regulatory responses to climate change and related litigation; Watco’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations; Watco’s transportation of hazardous materials by rail; rising fuel costs; Watco’s dependence on management and key personnel; availability of government funding; Watco’s labor relations and the availability of qualified personnel; Watco’s reliance on a limited number of suppliers and fluctuations in the supply of components it uses in its industries; risks related to operating in foreign countries; risks related to international trade policies; future acts of terrorism or war; Watco’s reliance on technology and technology improvements in its business; risks related to cyberattacks and system disruptions; conflicts of interests among its limited number of equityholders and investors in the Notes; risks related to epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks of communicable diseases; and risks related to its joint venture and other investments. Watco does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Watco Companies, LLC

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Melody Party Offers Over 20,000 Songs and Adds More Than a Thousand New Tracks Monthly, Enhancing Its Online Karaoke Experience

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43 minutes ago

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October 27, 2026

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SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Melody Party is a music social app featuring a variety of activities, including Mic Grab, Artist Mafia, and Singing Battle. Through its online karaoke feature, SING A SONG, the app brings the traditional karaoke experience online, removing time and location constraints and offering a music experience that combines real-time singing with social interaction.

SING A SONG features an extensive library of more than 20,000 songs, with over a thousand new songs added every month. Its diverse selection includes popular K-pop tracks, classic Korean songs, and karaoke favorites. The feature offers a free-use model, allowing users to start singing their chosen songs without paying a separate fee. This helps reduce the time and cost associated with visiting traditional coin-operated karaoke venues, making it easier to enjoy singing as part of everyday life.

In terms of functionality, SING A SONG supports pitch adjustment and independent volume controls for vocals and accompaniment, allowing users to customize their singing experience according to their preferences. Users can also create online karaoke rooms, invite friends to sing together in real time, and enjoy voice chat and social interaction.

By continuously expanding its song library and offering diverse music-based interactive experiences, Melody Party continues to strengthen its music ecosystem. Through SING A SONG, the platform aims to create an accessible, highly interactive online music social space.

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SOURCE Melody Party

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Drawing new strength from 20-year legacy, IAACA calls on global counterparts to join annual conference to fortify integrity

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October 27, 2026

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MARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), an independent and non-political anti-corruption organisation with over 190 member anti-corruption authorities (ACAs) worldwide, will co-host IAACA Annual Conference 2026 in Marrakech, Morocco next month together with the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong, China (ICAC) and the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight Against Corruption of Morocco (INPPLC) to chart a path for the global graft fight and explore cutting-edge approaches to tackle emerging corruption challenges.

Themed “Building on 20 Years of Legacy: Drawing Strength from the Past, Guarding Global Integrity for the Future”, the international event will not only mark the 20th anniversary of the IAACA, but also provide a dynamic forum for IAACA members to exchange insights and enhance co-operation.

Calling on international counterparts to participate in the conference scheduled for November 25, IAACA President Mr Woo Ying-ming, who also serves as ICAC Commissioner, said that “As the IAACA marks its 20th anniversary, the conference will bring together global anti-corruption community at a pivotal moment for collective action. I anticipate that the valuable insights and new approaches generated through the international synergy will chart a resilient strategic path for us to navigate integrity risks and draw strength from our shared legacy to guard global integrity for generations to come.”

During the conference, renowned international experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Basel Institute on Governance, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, and global anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies and institutions will shed light on harnessing artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption, safeguarding integrity within global climate and biodiversity frameworks and analysing global corruption measurement and systemic effectiveness.

Following the conference, the ICAC, the INPPLC, the IAACA and the UNODC will co-organise a training seminar on leveraging AI in combating corruption.

While the ICAC and INPPLC will share how AI and new technology can reshape the future of anti-graft enforcement and corruption prevention, the UNODC will provide a global perspective on using AI models in financial crime investigations and addressing the operational relevance, legal robustness and adaptability across jurisdictions.

For details of the conference and training, please visit:
https://www.icac.org.hk/icac/iaaca-morocco-2026/index.html

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SOURCE International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA)

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Viettel moves 100 million subscribers to home-grown cloud-native charging in three months – with zero downtime

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43 minutes ago

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October 27, 2026

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HANOI, Vietnam, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Viettel High Technology Industries Corporation (Viettel High Tech), part of Viettel Group, has migrated more than 100 million subscribers and some 5,000 tariff plans at Viettel, Vietnam’s largest mobile operator, to vOCS 4.0, its in-house cloud-native charging system. The three-month cutover ran on a live national network with no service disruption.

Replacing a charging system is one of the riskiest projects an operator can undertake, which is why many stick with legacy platforms. Viettel High Tech reduced the risk through real-time data synchronization, parallel running and a phased cutover, with instant rollback at every stage.

The project won the Telecom Review Excellence Awards 2026 prize for Best Technology Deployment in Asia, a first for a Vietnamese company.

What it means for operators:

Scale: more than 300,000 transactions per second at latency below 5 milliseconds, across 2G–5G and fixed services on one platformLower cost: up to 50% less hardware investment than the previous generation, by sharing infrastructure with the networkAgility: new tariff plans in hours instead of days, new features three times faster and deployments about 30% fasterResilience: two active data centers about 2,000 km apart and automatic recovery in under two minutes

Viettel High Tech developed every core layer in-house, from a telecom-grade cloud-native platform and NFV-MANO orchestration to real-time charging, subscriber and balance management.

“Passing rigorous tests of real-time self-diagnosis and self-recovery is what allows an operator to keep its promise of 24/7 service to customers,” said Luu Manh Ha, CEO of Viettel Networks, which operates the system on Viettel’s network in Vietnam. “Above all, owning the charging system means an operator is not dependent on foreign vendors – it safeguards digital sovereignty and preserves business flexibility.”

“The charging system is where an operator’s business strategy turns into revenue in real time,” said Nguyen Minh Quang, CEO of Viettel High Tech. “We believe vOCS 4.0 is ready to help operators worldwide capture the value of 5G and digital services.”

In 2017, vOCS 4.0’s predecessor, vOCS 3.0, replaced a foreign vendor’s platform for 90 million Viettel subscribers. Across both generations, vOCS serves more than 220 million subscribers in 11 countries. Viettel High Tech now offers vOCS 4.0 to operators worldwide.

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SOURCE Viettel Group

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