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Newport, an Ascensus Company, and PLANSPONSOR Trends Survey Shows Broader Adoption of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

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DRESHER, Pa., Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Newport, an Ascensus company, and PLANSPONSOR released the results of the 2024 Newport/PLANSPONSOR NQDC (Nonqualified Deferred Compensation) Trends Survey. This year’s survey revealed that employers are increasingly looking to use NQDC plans in their effort to attract and retain key employee talent and are expanding offering these plans to deeper levels of their organizations. The full report can be downloaded here.

The report, released biannually since 2020, is the retirement industry’s broadest and most comprehensive employer perspective on NQDC plans, providing insights and trends from among hundreds of the nation’s leading firms.

“We’re pleased to continue our partnership on this survey with PLANSPONSOR and share this important information with the NQDC industry,” said Mike Shannon, Senior Vice President, NQ Strategic Development. “This year’s survey results confirmed the trend we’ve been seeing—more small and mid-sized companies are implementing NQDC plans. The final report is a useful tool for employers and plan committees as the need to attract and retain key employees in today’s job market continues to intensify.”

Key Findings

An increasing need to attract and retain top-tier senior leadership is prompting small and mid-sized businesses to integrate NQDC plans into their benefits packages.Offering financial wellness (budgeting, debt management, investment and retirement planning) is becoming a growing trend as an added benefit to NQDC plan participants.A plan sponsor’s primary goal is a continued focus on communicating to and educating plan participants.Businesses are increasingly employing a mix of corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) and mutual funds. This shift has emerged as plan sponsors recognize that leading recordkeepers with expertise in the NQDC market are capable of administering various types of trust funding.A number of plan sponsors are considering switching NQDC plan administrators to enhance service, cut costs, or access better features.

Developed jointly by PLANSPONSOR and Newport, an Ascensus company, the survey was sent to a cross-section of organizations, ranging in size, and including PLANSPONSOR subscribers, Fortune 1000 companies, and various other for-profit and tax-exempt companies. The data collected includes responses from more than 265 unique companies across 46 different industries. The survey aims to capture the current state of NQDC plans and today’s issues facing advisors, plan sponsors, and their participants. The full survey report can be downloaded here.

“Nonqualified deferred compensation plans are an important recruitment and retention tool for top executives at employers of all types and sizes,” says Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, PLANSPONSOR, Managing Director, ISS STOXX. “The Newport/PLANSPONSOR survey shows employers continue to adjust strategies to improve the financial benefits of NQDC plans for employees while streamlining administration and securing funding.”

The data provided by the report can be leveraged by both employers and executive leadership within organizations when considering the benefits and priority level of certain plan design features based on employee needs. Financial advisors also use the report in benchmarking plan success with clients, referencing the data in conversations around current market trends. The in-depth analysis provided in the report allows audiences to quickly pull key insights from the data, allowing them to take advantage of the expertise of Newport’s nonqualified plan consultants.

About Ascensus

Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings—providing technology, services, and expertise that help millions of people save for a better future.

The company is a premier savings program service provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator. Its platforms, industry knowledge, and data-based insights enhance the growth and success of its partners, their clients, and savers through co-branded, private-labeled, and governmental partnerships.

Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and nonqualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, and fiduciary and total rewards services.

The company’s brands include Ascensus; Newport, an Ascensus company; and FuturePlan by Ascensus. Ascensus has more than $818 billion in assets under administration and employs more than 5,700 associates as of June 30, 2024.

For more information, visit ascensus.com and newportgroup.com.

About PLANSPONSOR

PLANSPONSOR is the premier educational and informational resource for U.S. retirement benefits programs. Our mission is to help retirement plan fiduciaries meet their responsibilities and address challenges associated with plan management.

PLANSPONSOR is one of the media brands within ISS Market Intelligence (MI), a leading provider of data, insights, and market engagement solutions to the global financial services industry. ISS MI empowers asset and wealth management firms, insurance companies, distributors, service providers, and technology firms to assess their target markets, identify and analyze the best opportunities within those markets, and execute on comprehensive go-to-market initiatives to grow their business.

For more information, visit plansponsor.com and issmarketintelligence.com.

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SOURCE Ascensus

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Luxor Expands LuxOS to MicroBT WhatsMiner, and MicroBT Intends for a Strategic Investment

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SEATTLE, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Luxor Technology Corporation (“Luxor”) announces the expansion of LuxOS firmware support to MicroBT WhatsMiner series miners, growing the LuxOS ecosystem. In addition, MicroBT, via its investment manager Inflection Technology Limited (“ITL”), has signed a term sheet to make a strategic investment into Luxor. Luxor has also committed to a US$100,000,000 purchase of MicroBT WhatsMiner hardware.

Luxor is working directly with a select group of mining partners to deploy and expand model support over time. With more than 300,000 Bitcoin mining machines already running LuxOS globally, Luxor brings to the WhatsMiner ecosystem the same enterprise-grade firmware infrastructure that large-scale mining operators rely on. MicroBT hardware represents a significant share of global Bitcoin mining capacity, and with this expansion, those operators now have access to flexible firmware features.

WhatsMiner fleets running LuxOS gain access to Power Targeting, Advanced Thermal Management, safe rapid curtailment, and faster ramp-up time — unlocking new capabilities beyond stock settings. Power Targeting delivers consistent, predictable performance across individual machines and makes infrastructure planning easier at scale. When shifting power targets, LuxOS completes the transition in 30-60 seconds while continuing to hash at higher hashrates — capturing additional hashrate. LuxOS also improves ramp-up time across curtailment events, reaching full capacity faster and reducing the unharvested hashrate lost every time machines cycle. Initial support spans select models in the M50 series. For the full list of supported models, visit docs.luxor.tech.

“We are excited to build on the MicroBT WhatsMiner platform. We are consistently impressed by their ability to execute with high-quality machines. Our clients have been asking for WhatsMiner firmware for years, and we have shipped a product that is going to help deliver significant profitability and usability benefits. We are also excited to welcome MicroBT as a strategic investor.”

— Lauren Lin, Head of Hardware and Software of Luxor

“Luxor has continued to be one of MicroBT’s trusted global partners. With their talented engineering team, we are excited they are building on top of the Whatsminer platform. We are happy to be taking a strategic position in Luxor and supporting their continued growth through this hardware partnership.”

— Dr.Yang, CEO and Co-Founder of MicroBT

Operators running LuxOS have access to Luxor’s full-stack mining experience: pool, hashrate derivatives, energy services, and Luxor Commander for fleet management — unified under a single platform. Commander includes Intelligent Miner, which keeps fleets running at peak profitability by continuously adjusting power settings based on real-time hashprice and energy prices.

Luxor is rolling out LuxOS for WhatsMiner in a phased approach, onboarding operations directly to ensure a high-quality deployment experience. Mining operations running WhatsMiner hardware can express interest in access at luxor.tech/contact.

About Luxor Technology Corporation

Luxor delivers hardware, software, and financial services that power the global compute and energy industry. Its product suite spans Bitcoin Mining Pools, ASIC Firmware, Hardware trading, Hashrate Derivatives, Energy services, a Miner Management software, Commander, and a bitcoin mining data platform, Hashrate Index.

If you are interested in contacting Luxor, please email sales@luxor.tech.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/luxor-expands-luxos-to-microbt-whatsminer-and-microbt-intends-for-a-strategic-investment-302753797.html

SOURCE Luxor Technology

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GLN Connects to Vietnam’s National QR Network, Enabling Nationwide QR Payments

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Direct access to Vietnam’s nationwide QR payment networkEnabling payments via partners’ home-market banking and fintech apps without currency exchange

SEOUL, South Korea, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GLN International has launched a nationwide QR payment service in Vietnam in partnership with NAPAS, marking its direct integration into the country’s national QR payment infrastructure.

The service was introduced at a launch ceremony on April 23 in Vietnam, attended by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), NAPAS, BIDV, and Hana Bank.

GLN leads the operation of the payment system connected to Vietnam’s national QR network and has driven its technical integration, as part of Hana Financial Group’s cross-border initiatives. Hana Bank participates as the only Korean financial institution designated as a settlement bank under SBV approval.

Vietnam’s payment infrastructure is built on the VietQR Global system operated by NAPAS, linking banks and merchants nationwide. Through this integration, GLN enables users of partner apps to access the network, expanding acceptance. The partnership is also expected to support inbound use cases, allowing Vietnamese users to make QR payments in Korea via their local apps.

The service is available across tourist destinations, including Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City, across everyday merchants. Payments can be made through GLN-connected partner applications, including major Korean fintech apps such as Toss, PurpleGLN, Hana OneQ, Hana Money, and Hana Card, without currency exchange. The service is expected to expand to platforms, including Naver Pay and KB Banking App.

Seok Lee, CEO of GLN, said, “This launch marks a significant step in connecting Korea and Vietnam through a unified QR payment infrastructure. By integrating with Vietnam’s national QR network, we enable a simple payment experience for travelers using the apps they already use in their home market, without currency exchange. We will continue to lead overseas payments and cash withdrawals without physical cards.”

Meanwhile, GLN, a subsidiary of Hana Bank under Hana Financial Group, provides QR payment and QR withdrawal services across 14 countries in Asia, including Vietnam, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, and Japan, with access to more than 200 million QR merchants globally. The company is a leading cross-border payment infrastructure provider in Asia, connecting users and merchants across markets. It has also established partnerships with overseas financial platforms, including Moreta Pay (North America), DeCard App (Singapore), and Taishin Bank (Taiwan).

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gln-connects-to-vietnams-national-qr-network-enabling-nationwide-qr-payments-302753730.html

SOURCE GLN International

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VARON Celebrates 5 Years Supporting Easier Breathing for Customers Worldwide

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NEW YORK, April 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — VARON is celebrating a meaningful milestone, its 5th anniversary, and is taking this moment to thank customers around the world who have trusted its oxygen therapy solutions over the years. What started as a mission to make breathing support more accessible has grown into a global community of users relying on VARON’s advanced oxygen machines in their daily lives.

This anniversary is not just about the company’s growth, but about the people behind it—the individuals and families who have chosen VARON for comfort, independence, and peace of mind.

Five Years of Supporting Easier Breathing and Everyday Living

Over the past five years, VARON has focused on one simple idea: making oxygen therapy easier to use, easier to move with, and easier to trust. From home use to travel needs, the brand has continued improving its range of oxygen machines to support different lifestyles and health needs.

Today, VARON offers a full lineup that includes compact portable oxygen concentrator models and reliable at home oxygen concentrator systems designed for long-term use. Many users also prefer VARON’s lightweight oxygen concentrator options, which allow more freedom of movement without sacrificing performance.

“Our customers are at the center of everything we do,” VARON CEO shared in a message marking the anniversary. “We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us over the past five years. Every device we create is built with real people and real daily needs in mind.”

Designed for Real Life: Home and On-the-Go Oxygen Support

VARON’s oxygen solutions are designed to fit into everyday routines—whether at home, during travel, or while staying active.

At home users continue to rely on models like the Serene 5 Home Oxygen Concentrator, which delivers steady medical-grade oxygen with quiet operation and simple controls. The Serene 3 offers a compact option for those who want efficient oxygen support in a smaller footprint.

For users needing flexibility, the VH-2 Pro Home Oxygen Concentrator provides adjustable flow settings and added features like nebulization support, making it a practical choice for daily home use.

On the portable side, VARON continues to expand independence for users who need oxygen on the move. The VP-8G Ultra Portable Oxygen Concentrator stands out for its ultra-lightweight design at just 4.37 lbs, making it easy to carry while traveling or running errands. The VP-6 Continuous Portable Oxygen Concentrator and VP-2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator offer additional options with adjustable flow settings and dependable oxygen delivery.

Each portable oxygen concentrator is designed with user comfort in mind—lightweight, easy to operate, and built for mobility without stress.

A Simple Way to Say Thank You: Anniversary Discounts and Free Gifts

To celebrate its 5th year, VARON is launching a limited-time global appreciation event with special savings across its entire product range.

Customers can enjoy featured anniversary offers:

18% OFF sitewide across all oxygen machinesFree VARON gifts, including a $30 store gift card and extra nasal cannulas with every machine purchaseUp to 40% OFF selected featured productsAutomatic discounts applied at checkout—no codes needed

Customers can also save more with bundle options such as the VP-8G Super Bundle and extra battery packages for VP-6 and VP-2 models.

“These anniversary offers are our way of saying thank you,” VARON CEO shared. “We want to make it easier for more people to access reliable oxygen support at home and on the go.”

Looking Ahead with Customers at the Center

As VARON moves into its sixth year, the company remains focused on improving its oxygen therapy technology and expanding accessibility worldwide. Future development will continue to focus on making portable oxygen concentrator devices lighter, more efficient, and easier to use in everyday life.

The goal remains simple: to help more people breathe easier and live with greater confidence and independence.

About VARON

VARON is a trusted provider of oxygen therapy solutions, offering a wide range of at home oxygen concentrator systems, portable oxygen concentrator devices, and advanced oxygen machines designed for home, travel, and personal use. The company is committed to creating lightweight oxygen concentrator technology that supports comfort, mobility, and better quality of life.

For more information on VARON’s 5th anniversary offers and full product lineup, customers are encouraged to visit the official VARON website.

Media Contact:
VARON Oxygen Concentrator
Email: support@varoninc.com
Website: https://varoninc.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varon-celebrates-5-years-supporting-easier-breathing-for-customers-worldwide-302753790.html

SOURCE Varon oxygen concentrator

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