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Cyrus Watches and Patoro Partner with MetaMinds for Immersive Augmented Reality Experience at Luxury Innovation Summit

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Digital Twins of Cigar and Watch Brand Will Be Presented
on October 1-2 in Geneva, Switzerland

GENEVA, Switzerland, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MetaMinds, a metaverse and spatialweb technology company an entity within Zilliqa Group, is excited to announce its partnership with Cyrus Watches Genève and Patoro Cigars to create a unique augmented reality (AR) experience at the Luxury Innovation Summit. The event is the 6th annual gathering by Luxury Venture Group that showcases the latest trends and technologies in the luxury industry, taking place on October 1-2 in Geneva, Switzerland. It attracts C-level executives and leadership of international brands including LVMH, Kering, Chalhoub Group, etc.

This collaboration positions MetaMinds as the technology partner and leader in creating engaging and interactive experiences that enhance brand visibility and unlocks new ways of customer acquisition, especially appealing to brands entering the ‘engagement economy’ and targeting Gen Z audiences.

In 2024, the revenue in the cigars market worldwide so far amounts to US $23.4 bn with a projected CAGR of 4.12% from 2024 to 2029. It generated the highest revenue of US $13,330 mln in the United States this year when compared globally. The total luxury goods market has declined by 1-3% according to a study by Bain and Company causing the transformation that prioritizes experiences, emotional connections, and personalization, aligning with the needs and desires of modern consumers.

“The luxury industry is facing a profound shift, and we are excited to work with Cyrus Watches and Patoro Cigars, pioneers in embracing the innovative approach required to address declining customer demand. Moreover, luxury continues to evolve and is transforming into a lifestyle, rather than a mere product. We at MetaMinds aim to close this gap for luxury brands and help them tap into the ‘experience economy’ through technological means such as bespoke virtual worlds and spatialweb XR pillars by creating the virtual user interface for a web3 integrated CX (customer experience) journey,” – mentioned Sandra Helou, CEO and Co-Founder of MetaMinds Group.

The AR experience designed aims to reflect the craftsmanship required for both the watch and cigar industries by creating new means of engagement for the growing markets and helping brands transition into experiences and the production of digital twins for education and phygital ROI purposes. This occurs through integrating gamification elements, creating crafted digital assets and facilitating user-generated content (UGC) to promote the luxury brands products through immersive experiences.

“Attendees will be able to explore exquisite digital representations of Cyrus Watches, featuring customizable colourways, and Patoro Cigars with the ability to understand more about the industry. Our vision is the “Conquest of innovation and this is the first step in embracing spatialweb technology addressing the market changes and requirements of consumer behavior,” – shared Cyrus Watches and Patoro Cigars Owner, Dr. Pablo Richard.

“We are thrilled to welcome Zilliqa Group, a web3 venture builder which MetaMinds is an entity of, for a consecutive year at our event along with LVMH, Richemont, Chalhoub Group, Kering and others. What makes the Luxury Innovation Summit unique this year is the collaboration between MetaMinds and Cyrus and Patoro that will create an immersive and unforgettable experience for our audience and a vision that we want to carry forward across our Luxury Venture Group portfolio and grow,” – said Deependra Pandey, CEO of Luxury Venture Group.

The wider public not in attendance will have a chance to experience the AR products post-event available on the MetaMinds platform. Specifically, Klepcys Dice and Klepcys GMT Retrograde collections of Cyrus Watches and Patoro Gran Añejo Reserva and Patoro Brasil Cigars.

About Metaminds Group:

Established in 2022 with headquarters in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai – MetaMinds is an award-winning ‘Metaverse as a Service’ and spatialweb (XR) technology company. Providing & developing the infrastructure required for immersive 3D experiences and bespoke virtual worlds (MaaS), spatialweb XR (AR/VR/MR), and ROI-generating engagement models helping brands tap into the ‘Experience Economy’. Their focus is on providing an end-to-end virtual world and spatialweb platform accessible through a web browser/mobile and VR and the necessary infrastructure and ecosystem toolsets.

MetaMinds is a member of Zilliqa Group, a web3 venture builder which owns and operates Zilliqa Technology a world-leading Layer 1 from Singapore known for its fast, scalable and secure network within the industry.

Connect with Metaminds Group:

Website | YouTube | LinkedIn | Email

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SOURCE MetaMinds Group

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BCE reports results of Series S and T preferred share conversions

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MONTRÉAL, Oct. 19, 2026 /CNW/ — BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) today announced that 400 of its 4,798,333 fixed-rate Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series T (“Series T Preferred Shares”) have been tendered for conversion on November 2, 2026, on a one-for-one basis, into floating-rate Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series S (“Series S Preferred Shares”). In addition, 676,765 of its 1,866,877 Series S Preferred Shares have been tendered for conversion on November 2, 2026, on a one-for-one basis, into Series T Preferred Shares. Consequently, on November 2, 2026, BCE will have 5,474,698 Series T Preferred Shares and 1,190,512 Series S Preferred Shares issued and outstanding. The Series T Preferred Shares and the Series S Preferred Shares will continue to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols BCE.PR.T and BCE.PR.S, respectively.

The Series T Preferred Shares will pay on a quarterly basis, for the five-year period beginning on November 2, 2026, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of BCE, a fixed cash dividend based on an annual fixed dividend rate of 5.523%.

The Series S Preferred Shares will continue to pay a monthly floating adjustable cash dividend for the five-year period beginning on November 2, 2026, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of BCE. The monthly floating adjustable dividend for any particular month will continue to be calculated based on the prime rate for such month and using the Designated Percentage for such month representing the sum of an adjustment factor (based on the market price of the Series S Preferred Shares in the preceding month) and the Designated Percentage for the preceding month.

About BCE
BCE is Canada’s largest communications company1, leading the way in advanced fibre and wireless networks, enterprise services and digital media. By delivering next-generation technology that leverages cloud-based and AI-driven solutions, we’re keeping customers connected, informed and entertained while enabling businesses to compete on the world stage. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.

Media inquiries:
Ellen Murphy
media@bell.ca

Investor inquiries:
Krishna Somers
krishna.somers@bell.ca

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bce-reports-results-of-series-s-and-t-preferred-share-conversions-302913268.html

SOURCE BCE Inc.

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3M announces collaboration with GSEO to advance Expanded Beam Optical manufacturing and development

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ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced a collaboration with Genius Electronic Optical Co., Ltd. (GSEO, Taiwan: 3406), an optical technology company, to advance technology development and manufacturing for 3M’s Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) solutions. In support of these efforts, 3M expects to make a strategic investment to acquire approximately 4.7% of GSEO’s common shares as part of the company’s private placement of newly issued shares, subject to customary closing conditions.

The collaboration brings together 3M’s EBO technology leadership, optical interconnect expertise, materials science, manufacturing scale and customer relationships with GSEO’s precision optics manufacturing capabilities and production scale. Together, the companies aim to support EBO commercialization and long-term capacity expansion to meet growing demand from hyperscale data centers and other advanced connectivity applications.

“3M is investing in capabilities and partnerships that can accelerate innovation for our customers,” said William Brown, 3M Chairman and CEO. “By selecting GSEO as a manufacturing partner and investing in the company, we are strengthening the path to scale next-generation optical connectivity solutions for high-performance data center infrastructure.”

GSEO’s existing precision optics manufacturing capabilities and technical development experience are expected to support manufacturing readiness for 3M’s EBO ferrules, co-packaged optics solutions and related optical interconnect applications. The collaboration is part of 3M’s broader EBO ecosystem strategy, which includes continued work with customers and partners across the optical interconnect market.

“GSEO is pleased to expand its relationship with 3M as we work together to advance optical interconnect solutions for next-generation data center infrastructure,” said Micro Kuo, GSEO CEO and President. “This collaboration brings together complementary technology and manufacturing strengths to support continued innovation and help meet the performance demands of high-growth connectivity markets.”

3M expects the strategic investment to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release are considered “forward-looking statements” under the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and are intended to enjoy the protection of those laws. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this release and are typically identified by the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “evaluate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “impact,” “initial,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other words that are similar to, or have the opposite meanings of, those words. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, 3M assumes no duty to update those statements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of those statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events and trends that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of 3M’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) is focused on transforming industries around the world by applying science and creating innovative, customer-focused solutions. Our multi-disciplinary team is working to solve tough customer problems by leveraging diverse technology platforms, differentiated capabilities, global footprint, and operational excellence. Discover how 3M is shaping the future at 3M.com/news.

Contacts
3M
Investor Contact:
Diane Farrow, 612-202-2449
Media Contact:
3MNews@mmm.com 

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SOURCE 3M Company

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Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers Announces Second Annual Operation Fur-Ever Home Pet Adoption Event at Lafreniere Park

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NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers is excited to announce the return of its second annual Operation Fur-Ever Home, a free community pet adoption event taking place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, Louisiana.

The free, family-friendly event will give attendees the opportunity to meet adoptable pets from local animal shelters, learn about responsible pet ownership, and potentially welcome a new furry companion into their homes. Those who preregister for the event will also be entered for a chance to win a Soundcore speaker and a free pet adoption.

“Last year’s event was everything we hoped it would be, and we are incredibly excited to bring Operation Fur-Ever Home back for a second year,” said David Vicknair, founding partner of Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers. “There is something special about watching a family meet a pet that could become part of their lives for years to come. We wanted to create another opportunity to make those connections while supporting the organizations that work tirelessly to care for animals in our community.”

Building on the success of the first event, this year’s event continues the firm’s commitment to supporting local animal shelters and creating meaningful opportunities for families throughout Southeast Louisiana.

“Giving back to our community has always been an important part of who we are as a firm,” said Vicknair. “Whether we are helping students prepare for school, recognizing deserving teachers, or supporting local animal shelters, our goal is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.”

Operation Fur-Ever Home is free and open to the public. Families, animal lovers, and anyone interested in adopting a pet are encouraged to attend and preregister.

About Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers

Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers is a New Orleans-based personal injury firm committed to providing exceptional legal representation while also investing in the communities it serves. Their experienced team of dedicated attorneys specializes in car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death cases in New Orleans. With diverse personal and professional backgrounds, they craft legal strategies tailored to each client’s specific case and needs.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scott-vicknair-personal-injury-lawyers-announces-second-annual-operation-fur-ever-home-pet-adoption-event-at-lafreniere-park-302913183.html

SOURCE Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers

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