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PRA Group and StepChange Advance Financial Inclusion and Consumer Resiliency in UK Parliament

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Financial community comes together on practical ways to support people in debt

NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PRA Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA), a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, and StepChange, the UK’s largest debt advice charity, recently partnered to highlight issues impacting people in debt in the United Kingdom. On behalf of the two organizations, The Viscount Chandos hosted a key roundtable debate in the House of Lords chaired by Credit Services Association (CSA) CEO and former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie.

Stakeholders representing banks, credit monitoring agencies, not-for-profits, regulatory agencies and the government gathered on 4 Feb. 2025 at the Palace of Westminster in London to draw attention to the importance of financial inclusion and building the resilience of UK households. The discussion highlighted how changes to credit scoring could reduce barriers for consumers to seek help and improve access to affordable financing.

In recent years, PRA Group UK and StepChange Debt Charity have partnered on consumer-focused strategies to address cost-of-living trends, how credit scores impact consumers and practical responses to help support people in debt.

The recent gathering focused on findings from the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Credit Information Market Study. The FCA, responsible for regulating financial service firms and financial markets in the UK, found the current credit reporting framework may not always deliver consistent or appropriate outcomes for consumers. This is supported by StepChange’s research, which shows concerns about credit scores delay people from seeking help at every stage of financial difficulty. PRA Group UK’s research also shows that people recovering from financial difficulty can remain financially excluded for too long.

“We are delighted to be working with StepChange and the UK financial community to support our customers who are concerned about their credit score,” said Martin Sjölund, president of PRA Group Europe. “There is a real opportunity to make a difference to help our customers who are financially excluded.”

Peter Tutton, head of policy at StepChange Debt Charity, said, “For many of our clients, worries about credit scores are front of mind, and our client research tells us that a fifth of StepChange clients delay seeking debt advice because of fears about how they may be affected. The FCA has recognized that change is needed to support consumers and our partnership with PRA Group on this topic seeks to improve client outcomes.”

As part of the Credit Information Market Study, the FCA provided a number of recommendations to address problems faced by borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Partners involved in the roundtable gathered to advance these recommendations with practical credit reporting solutions. Those solutions could support greater financial inclusion in the years to come by enabling people who are in the process of paying off their debt to re-enter the financial ecosystem and access affordable credit.

About PRA Group
As a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, PRA Group, Inc. returns capital to banks and other creditors to help expand financial services for consumers in the Americas, Europe and Australia. With thousands of employees worldwide, PRA Group companies collaborate with customers to help them resolve their debt. For more information, please visit www.pragroup.com.

About StepChange
StepChange Debt Charity is the UK’s largest debt advice charity, helping hundreds of thousands of people every year to deal with their debts. Founded in 1993, StepChange supports people experiencing debt problems through telephone and online services, and campaigns for change to reduce the harm and stigma associated with debt.

News Media Contact:
Elizabeth Kersey
Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Policy
(757) 641-0558
Elizabeth.Kersey@PRAGroup.com

Investor Contact:
Najim Mostamand, CFA
Vice President, Investor Relations
(757) 431-7913
IR@PRAGroup.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pra-group-and-stepchange-advance-financial-inclusion-and-consumer-resiliency-in-uk-parliament-302380691.html

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Millennium Dental Technologies and Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry Mourn Passing of Professor Raymond A. Yukna, DMD, MS (1942-2026)

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CERRITOS, Calif., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — It is with profound sadness that Millennium Dental Technologies and the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD) mourn the passing of Professor Raymond A. Yukna, DMD, MS, world-renowned clinician, educator, researcher, mentor and cherished friend.

Throughout a remarkable career spanning academia, research, clinical practice and education, Dr. Yukna earned the admiration of colleagues worldwide for his unwavering commitment to scientific inquiry, clinical excellence and the advancement of patient care.

A Diplomate of both the American Board of Periodontology and the American Board of Oral Medicine, Professor of Advanced Periodontal Therapies at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Professor Emeritus at Louisiana State University, internationally recognized lecturer, and respected researcher, Dr. Yukna devoted his life to advancing the field of periodontics. His contributions helped shape modern periodontal therapy and influenced generations of clinicians, educators, and researchers worldwide.

His reputation for integrity, scientific rigor and thoughtful leadership made him one of the most trusted and respected voices in the specialty.

A DEFINING CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE LANAP® PROTOCOL

Dr. Yukna brought credibility, intellectual curiosity and scientific discipline that would help shape the future of the LANAP® protocol, a minimally invasive laser treatment for the treatment of moderate to severe periodontal disease. He engaged in thoughtful dialogue with Millennium Dental Technologies Co-Founders Robert H. Gregg II, DDS, and Delwin K. McCarthy, DDS, regarding the emerging science behind laser-assisted periodontal regeneration.

His groundbreaking research provided some of the earliest and most influential human histological evidence supporting the LANAP® protocol. Beginning with his International Association for Dental Research (IADR) abstract in 2003, followed by the submission of his landmark study to the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry (IJPRD) in 2006 and its publication in 2007, Dr. Yukna produced research that became a defining milestone in the scientific validation of the LANAP® protocol. His work demonstrated cementum-mediated new connective tissue attachment in humans and provided the periodontal community with compelling evidence supporting the protocol’s regenerative potential.

At a time when laser periodontal therapy was met with understandable skepticism by many within the specialty, Dr. Yukna’s willingness to objectively evaluate the science—and ultimately contribute his own landmark research—gave the LANAP® protocol a level of scientific credibility that helped change its trajectory. Many periodontists first embraced the LANAP® protocol because they trusted Dr. Yukna’s scientific integrity and respected his commitment to evidence-based dentistry.

His landmark study opened the door to broader acceptance of the LANAP® protocol within periodontics and laid the foundation for additional human histological studies, expanded university research efforts, and more than two decades of continued scientific investigation. The growing body of evidence supporting the LANAP® protocol today owes much to the foundation Dr. Yukna helped establish.

A TEACHER WHO SHAPED A GENERATION

Dr. Yukna’s influence extended far beyond the published literature. As an IALD Certified Instructor, he became one of the most influential educators in the history of the LANAP® protocol. He served as hands-on clinical instructor for approximately 350 LANAP-trained clinicians and lectured at roughly 130 Laser BootCamps™, helping educate well over 1,000 clinicians throughout his years with the IALD and Millennium Dental Technologies.

From the Denver BootCamps™ held during his tenure at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine to sessions conducted throughout New York and, later, at the facility in Cerritos, Dr. Yukna’s lectures, mentorship and quiet confidence inspired countless clinicians. His generosity in sharing his knowledge, his thoughtful guidance and his commitment to excellence helped shape the careers of an entire generation of LANAP clinicians.

A CHERISHED FRIEND

Beyond his extraordinary professional accomplishments was an even more extraordinary person. For Robert H. Gregg II, DDS and Dawn Gregg, DDS, Dr. Yukna and his wife, Charlotte, were not simply respected colleagues, they were dear friends. Over many years, they shared milestones, celebrated successes, supported one another through challenges and built a friendship that extended far beyond dentistry. In fact, when Dr. Robert Gregg and Dr. Dawn Gregg began their lives together as a couple, Dr. Yukna and Charlotte were among the very first people they chose to tell in person—reflecting the trust, respect and affection they shared.

Those privileged to know Dr. Yukna personally will remember far more than his curriculum vitae. They will remember his humility, kindness, generosity, wisdom, quiet confidence and unwavering integrity. He challenged those around him to pursue excellence, to follow the science wherever it led, and to never lose sight of the patients whose lives could be changed through innovation grounded in evidence.

HIS LEGACY LIVES ON

The LANAP® community, the periodontal profession, the IALD and the entire Millennium Dental Technologies family are better because of Dr. Yukna’s contributions.

His legacy lives on through the science he advanced, the clinicians he trained, the patients whose lives were improved by his work, and the countless colleagues and friends he inspired throughout his remarkable career.

Millennium Dental Technologies and the IALD extends deepest condolences to Charlotte and Dr. Yukna’s family, friends, colleagues, students and all those whose lives he touched.

Thank you, Dr. Yukna, for your leadership, your scholarship, your mentorship, your friendship, and your unwavering belief that scientific excellence could improve the lives of patients around the world.

ABOUT MILLENNIUM DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Headquartered in Cerritos, Calif., Millennium Dental Technologies is the developer of the LANAP protocol for treating periodontal disease and the manufacturer of the PerioLase MVP-7 variable-pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser. The company’s FDA-cleared LANAP protocol offers a more comfortable, less invasive alternative to conventional periodontal surgery while providing unique bone-building clinical results. Founding clinician Robert H. Gregg II, DDS, continues to lead the company with a vision to create better clinical outcomes for patients with periodontal disease while remaining true to its guiding principle: “It’s all about the patient.” For more information, visit www.lanap.com.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED LASER DENTISTRY

The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry is a nonprofit educational and research organization dedicated to advancing evidence-based clinical training in laser dentistry. Established in 1999, the IALD is nationally recognized for its continuing education programs as an ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program and Academy of General Dentistry Program Approval for Continuing Education provider. For more information, visit www.theiald.com.

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SOURCE Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc.

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Okta Set to Join S&P 500; Others to Join S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600

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NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — S&P Dow Jones Indices will make the following changes to the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, S&P SmallCap 600 effective prior to the opening of trading on Wednesday, November 4:

S&P MidCap 400 constituent Okta Inc. (NASD: OKTA) will replace Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) in the S&P 500, S&P SmallCap 600 constituent Glaukos Corp. (NYSE: GKOS) will replace Okta in the S&P MidCap 400, and McGrath RentCorp (NASD: MGRC) will replace Glaukos in the S&P SmallCap 600. S&P 500 constituent Kimberly-Clark (NASD: KMB) is acquiring Kenvue in a deal expected to be completed soon, pending final closing conditions.Loar Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LOAR) will replace LiveRamp Holdings Inc. (NYSE: RAMP) in the S&P SmallCap 600. Publicis Groupe SA (Euronext Paris: PUB) is acquiring LiveRamp Holdings in a deal expected to close soon, pending final closing conditions.

Following is a summary of the changes that will take place prior to the open of trading on the effective date:

Effective Date

Index Name 

Action

Company Name

Ticker

GICS Sector

Nov 4, 2026

S&P 500

Addition

Okta

OKTA

Information Technology

Nov 4, 2026

S&P 500

Deletion

Kenvue

KVUE

Consumer Staples

Nov 4, 2026

S&P MidCap 400

Addition

Glaukos

GKOS

Health Care

Nov 4, 2026

S&P MidCap 400

Deletion

Okta

OKTA

Information Technology

Nov 4, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Addition

McGrath RentCorp

MGRC

Industrials

Nov 4, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Deletion

Glaukos

GKOS

Health Care

Nov 4, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Addition

Loar Holdings

LOAR

Industrials

Nov 4, 2026

S&P SmallCap 600

Deletion

LiveRamp Holdings

RAMP

Information Technology

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

S&P Dow Jones Indices
index_services@spglobal.com

Media Inquiries
spdji.comms@spglobal.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/okta-set-to-join-sp-500-others-to-join-sp-midcap-400-and-sp-smallcap-600-302925405.html

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

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Tradier Brokerage Data Breach Investigation: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Probes Class Action Claims After a Vendor Attack Exposes Social Security Numbers

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National class action law firm offers free, confidential case evaluations to Tradier Brokerage customers and others whose personal information may have been exposed.

NEWTOWN, Pa., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from a data breach affecting Tradier Brokerage Inc., a Charlotte, North Carolina-based online broker-dealer. Anyone who received a breach notice or believes their information may have been exposed can request a free case evaluation.

What Happened

On August 28, 2026, a cyberattack targeted Etna Software Corporation, a third-party vendor that provides the order management system and pre-trade controls Tradier uses to operate its brokerage business. Tradier became aware of the incident on September 3, 2026. Tradier has said that its own internal network was not compromised and remained secure throughout the incident, and that the breach was limited to systems and data held by Etna.

Tradier began notifying affected customers by email and disclosed the incident to the California Attorney General. According to regulatory filings, the incident has affected 9,404 Texas residents and 1,580 Massachusetts residents so far. Tradier has said it is reviewing its third-party relationships and its data minimization program.

What Information Was Exposed

According to Tradier Brokerage, the personal information that may have been accessed includes:

Full namesAddressesPhone numbersSocial Security numbersGovernment-issued tax identification numbers

Because Social Security numbers and tax identification numbers are among the most sensitive categories of personal information, the exposure creates a heightened risk of identity theft and financial fraud for affected individuals.

Who May Be Affected

The investigation focuses on Tradier Brokerage customers whose personal information was held in the Etna systems used to operate Tradier’s brokerage business. Tradier has arranged with Cyberscout, a TransUnion company, to provide affected individuals up to two years of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection; eligible individuals must enroll within 90 days of receiving their notification letter.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action on behalf of individuals whose data may have been compromised. A successful case could recover compensation for losses such as lost time, out-of-pocket costs, and loss of privacy, and could press Tradier Brokerage to strengthen its data protection. The firm evaluates claims at no cost.

Recommended Steps to Protect Yourself

Watch for the notice from Tradier Brokerage and keep the enclosed code for the free credit monitoring being offered, enrolling within 90 days.

Place a free fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and obtain your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.Review your account statements for anything you do not recognize, and report suspected identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. Beyond data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, antitrust violations, ERISA benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tradier-brokerage-data-breach-investigation-edelson-lechtzin-llp-probes-class-action-claims-after-a-vendor-attack-exposes-social-security-numbers-302925353.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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