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Batteries Plus Begins 2025 with 17 New Franchise Signings, Coast-to-Coast Store Openings

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Franchise Agreements in Hawaii, Arizona, and More Highlight Strong Start to Year for Nation’s Leading Specialty Battery Franchise

HARTLAND, Wis., April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Batteries Plus, the world’s leading consumer and business specialty battery franchise, has charged into 2025 with impressive momentum, signing 17 new franchise agreements and opening eight new locations across seven states during the first quarter. With key signings to debut in Hawaii along with expansions in Florida, New Jersey, and Texas, the brand is on pace to have locations open and in development in all 50 states by year’s end.

“This strong start to 2025 reflects the continued demand for our expertise & franchise opportunity across the country.”

By the Numbers

Key development highlights for the brand from Q1 include:

17 new franchise signings, including seven new franchisees8 store openings across Arkansas, Georgia (2), Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, South Carolina, and TexasActive Development and expansion in Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, and Texas

“This strong start to 2025 reflects the continued demand for our products, services, expertise, and franchise opportunity across the country and beyond,” said Victor Daher, Vice President of Global Franchise Development for Batteries Plus. “From new franchisees entering our system to seasoned operators expanding their portfolios, entrepreneurs continue to see Batteries Plus as a stable, high-growth investment backed by innovation, support, and strong unit-level economics.”

Development in the Islands

Of the new franchise agreements, the brand’s debut in Hawaii is a milestone as Batteries Plus enters its 48th total state, closing in on offering service across the entirety of the U.S. Bringing Batteries Plus to the Aloha State is local entrepreneur Pierre Parranto who saw great opportunities for the retailer when he needed batteries, light bulbs, and more for other business ventures he owned.

“As a business owner and former customer, I saw firsthand the need for a dependable battery supplier in Hawaii,” said Parranto, “The franchise model fills a critical gap in the market while offering the backing of a national brand and a strong support system. I’m excited to bring Batteries Plus to Hawaii, where we can deliver reliable power solutions, create jobs, and become a trusted resource for local businesses and residents alike.”

Awards and Accolades

Batteries Plus also kicked off the year with several industry accolades, including its third consecutive recognition in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 Hall of Fame, celebrating 31 straight years of inclusion on the Franchise 500 list. Batteries Plus also climbed to #128 on the Franchise Times Top 400 list. With nearly 40 years of operational experience and more than 800 stores open and in development, Batteries Plus continues to lead the specialty retail space by delivering unmatched value to consumers and franchisees alike.

To learn more about Batteries Plus, including information on the franchise opportunity or tour a store virtually, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com.  

ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS:
Batteries Plus, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hartland, WI, is a leading omnichannel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. The retailer also offers key programming, replacement and cutting services. Through a nationwide network of stores, the company offers a differentiated value proposition of unrivaled product selection, in-stock availability and customer service. Batteries Plus is owned by Freeman Spogli, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles and New York City. To learn more about one of Forbes®’ Best Franchises to Buy in America, visit https://www.batteriesplusfranchise.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Danny Stewart, Fishman Public Relations, dstewart@fishmanpr.com or 847.945.1300 ext. 266

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/batteries-plus-begins-2025-with-17-new-franchise-signings-coast-to-coast-store-openings-302427699.html

SOURCE Batteries Plus

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Yalla Group Releases 2025 ESG Report

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DUBAI, UAE, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Yalla Group Limited (“Yalla” or the “Company”) (NYSE: YALA), the largest Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based online social networking and gaming company, today published its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The report outlines the Company’s 2025 ESG performance and future strategy across five key pillars: responsible governance, environmental stewardship, trust, people, and community engagement, underscoring its enduring commitment to sustainable development.

Tao Yang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Yalla, stated, “In 2025, we made tangible progress across our ESG priorities. We expanded our use of renewable energy, integrated energy-efficient technologies and deepened AI applications across daily operations, advancing toward our carbon neutrality goal while strengthening business performance. We also invested in building a more diverse and inclusive workplace where our people can thrive and deliver their best, supporting our sustainable growth. True to our mission of connecting our users and enriching lives across the MENA region through our social and gaming ecosystem, we will continue to innovate with purpose, leading responsibly to create positive, enduring impact and lasting value for all stakeholders.”

Mr. Saifi Ismail, President of Yalla, added, “Our fifth annual ESG report highlights our dedication to promoting sustainability, innovation, and responsible growth. Cultural respect and community engagement remain central to how we operate, enabling us to foster a sense of belonging in our digital entertainment community across the MENA region. This year, we also strengthened our cybersecurity infrastructure, building greater user trust in our platforms. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in ESG initiatives and leverage advanced technologies to cultivate a safe, engaging and innovative digital ecosystem, driving progress toward a more sustainable future.”

For more information on the Company’s ESG initiatives and to access the complete ESG report in English and Arabic, please visit the ESG section of the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.yalla.com/esg. 

About Yalla Group Limited

Yalla Group Limited is the largest MENA-based online social networking and gaming company, in terms of revenues in 2022. The Company operates two flagship mobile applications, Yalla, a voice-centric group chat platform, and Yalla Ludo, a casual gaming application featuring online versions of board games, popular in MENA, with in-game voice chat and localized Majlis functionality. Building on the success of Yalla and Yalla Ludo, the Company continues to add engaging new content, creating a regionally-focused, integrated ecosystem dedicated to fulfilling MENA users’ evolving online social networking and gaming needs. Through its holding subsidiary, Yalla Game Limited, the Company has expanded its capabilities in mid-core and hard-core games in the MENA region, leveraging its local expertise to bring innovative gaming content to its users. In addition, the growing Yalla ecosystem includes YallaChat, an IM product tailored for Arabic users, WeMuslim, a product that supports Arabic users in observing their customs, and casual games such as Yalla Baloot and 101 Okey Yalla, developed to sustain vibrant local gaming communities in MENA. Yalla is also actively exploring outside of MENA with Yalla Parchis, a Ludo game designed for the South American markets. Yalla’s mobile applications deliver a seamless experience that fosters a sense of loyalty and belonging, establishing highly devoted and engaged user communities through close attention to detail and localized appeal that profoundly resonates with users.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.yalla.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Yalla Group Limited’s beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Yalla Group Limited’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Yalla Group Limited does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Yalla Group Limited
Investor Relations
Kerry Gao – IR Director
Tel: +86-571-8980-7962
Email: ir@yalla.com    

Piacente Financial Communications
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com  

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com  

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yalla-group-releases-2025-esg-report-302750991.html

SOURCE Yalla Group Limited

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Citizens Bank Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation Into Exposure of Personal Information

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National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by the Citizens Bank cybersecurity incident

NEWTOWN, Pa., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Citizens Bank, N.A. data breach. Citizens Bank appeared on the Everest gang’s dark web ransomware leak site on or about April 20, 2026.  

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Citizens Bank, N.A. data breach.

What Happened

On or about April 20, 2026, samples of sensitive financial data from Texas-based Frost Bank and Citizens Financial Group showed up on Everest’s dark web site. The Everest gang has reportedly given the banks six days before it publicly releases the stolen data. This is a common tactic used by hackers to extort large payments. The Everest gang claims to have approximately 3.4 million records belonging to Citizens Bank

Information Exposed

Affected personal data includes names, home addresses, and account numbers.

Who May Be Impacted

Individuals who received a data breach notification from Citizens Bank may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Citizens Bank breach. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Review account statements and credit reports regularly and remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Confirm whether your information was involved in the Citizens Bank incident and preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit monitoring.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Citizens Bank

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is an American bank holding company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The company owns the bank Citizens Bank, N.A., which operates in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, as well as Washington, DC.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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

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

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/citizens-bank-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302751088.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Registration for the 2026 National Summit in San Diego, CA is Officially Open!

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Leading independent technology distributor Sandler Partners opens registration for their 3-day National Summit, an event dedicated to helping empower Partners to grow their business.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sandler Partners announces that registration is now open for the 2026 Sandler Partners National Summit, taking place October 26–29 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, CA.

The National Summit is the largest event of the year for the Sandler Partners community—bringing together 600+ Partners, Sandler leadership, and 75+ Providers for three days of insight, collaboration, and opportunity. The event is designed to equip attendees with the knowledge, connections, and strategies needed to navigate a rapidly evolving technology landscape and drive business growth.

Partners, potential Partners, and sponsoring technology Providers can register today by clicking HERE.

“I had the opportunity to connect with the Sandler team, delve into the latest technologies and Partner programs, and build relationships that will help expand the services we deliver to our clients,” states a West Coast Partner and 2025 attendee. “I’m coming back inspired and ready to put some of these new partnerships and ideas into action.”

Shaped by Partner feedback, the Summit focuses on what matters most—delivering practical insights, relevant education, and meaningful connections. Attendees will engage in Growth, Sales, and Technology sessions, explore emerging solutions, and collaborate with peers to exchange ideas, discover new approaches, and strengthen relationships across the community.

TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS, PLEASE NOTE: Only sponsoring Providers are allowed to attend this event. Those interested in participating as a sponsor can learn more by contacting Tina S. Dyksterhouse, Vice President of Marketing at Tina@SandlerPartners.com.

About Sandler Partners and Their Community Approach
Sandler Partners helps empower their network of leading independent Sales Partners to bring organizations around the world a comprehensive range of technology solutions, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things, and Continuity. Their community focus helps support Partners to identify solutions swiftly and unbiasedly from a diverse Provider portfolio of 250+ suppliers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to a robust support network, Sales Engineering expertise, marketing resources, and powerful sales tools like SCOUTSolutions FinderScout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center within the Sandler Portal. This helps give their Partners what they need to do what they do best – deliver quality, value, performance, features, unparalleled expertise, and service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partner community can rely on the industry’s strongest negotiated agreements and a team dedicated to ensuring all their commissions are found, tracked, and paid.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/registration-for-the-2026-national-summit-in-san-diego-ca-is-officially-open-302749840.html

SOURCE Sandler Partners

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