Transaction brings together broadband industry leadership and EarthLink’s
trusted nationwide consumer and small-business internet platform

ATLANTA, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WaveDivision Capital (“Wave”), led by broadband executive Steve Weed, along with The Pritzker Organization (“TPO”) and Stephens Capital Partners (“SCP”), today announced that it has partnered with EarthLink’s management team to acquire EarthLink, one of the largest internet providers in the United States.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, EarthLink currently serves over 500,000 internet and managed services customers nationwide. Through strategic partnerships with some of the nation’s largest fiber and 5G providers, EarthLink has built an asset-light, nationwide network and can offer fiber internet service to more than 68 million homes nationwide.

“We are very excited to partner with the management team and employees at EarthLink to further the growth of the company. EarthLink has built a unique, asset light national broadband platform,” said Steve Weed, CEO of Wave. “The platform is built on mutual trust between EarthLink, its partners and its customers, empowering EarthLink to deliver new internet choices to consumers and small businesses with streamlined connectivity.”

Trive Capital partnered with Management in 2019 to carve-out the business from its former public parent and has worked closely with the team to expand the business, strengthen its technology platform and broaden its wholesale relationships. Shravan Thadani, Partner at Trive, added, “EarthLink’s success has been a true partnership between Management and Trive; we are excited to continue to support the business with a minority investment as Wave, TPO and SCP work with Management to accelerate growth in the coming years.”

Glenn Goad, CEO of EarthLink, commented, “Over the last several years, we have taken one of the most trusted brands in the internet space and turned it into a trusted option for consumers and small businesses nationwide. As internet access has become one of the most important utilities in a consumer’s life, EarthLink has focused on making it easier for consumers to access the best internet options at affordable prices. We are excited to partner with Wave and team, and to continue growing EarthLink alongside our trusted fiber and 5G partners. Together, we plan to expand our footprint into new markets and continue to bring these offers to more consumers and small businesses. Our collective goal remains the same: to provide the right technology at the right price, supported by a world-class customer experience.”

Bank Street Group served as exclusive financial advisor to WaveDivision Capital.

Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About EarthLink
EarthLink is a leading internet service provider offering reliable, fiber and 5G internet solutions for homes and businesses nationwide. With a focus on dependable connectivity, flexible plans, and customer-focused service, EarthLink provides broadband options designed to meet the needs of modern households and businesses. EarthLink is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and serves over 500,000 customers. To learn more, visit earthlink.net.

Media Contact:

Cathie Costello
Cathie.Costello@elnk.com
470-203-0787

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Annual list recognizes inventions making the world better and smarter

GALWAY, Ireland, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), a global leader in healthcare technology, today announced that the Stealth AXiS™ surgical system and the Corsano™* multi-parameter wearable have been named to the TIME Best Inventions of 2026 list.

The annual award highlights the most impactful new products and ideas of the year, assessed by TIME editors. The dual recognition highlights the Medtronic enterprise-wide commitment to transforming healthcare through connected technologies that help clinicians make more informed decisions and improve care delivery.

Advancing connected surgery with Stealth AXiS™
The Stealth AXiS™ surgical system was recognized for bringing planning, navigation, and robotic-assisted execution together in a single platform designed for complex procedures. The system addresses challenges in surgery, where technologies for planning, imaging, navigation, and execution are often fragmented across multiple systems.

Built within Medtronic’s AiBLE™ smart ecosystem, the Stealth AXiS™ system supports spinal, cranial, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) procedures by integrating real-time data, advanced imaging, and AI-based capabilities into the surgical workflow to create a more connected approach to care across the surgical journey.

“Being named a TIME Best Invention is meaningful recognition of the innovation behind the Stealth AXiS™ system and our commitment to advancing the connected surgical ecosystem,” said Michael Carter, president of the Cranial and Spinal Technologies operating unit within the Neuroscience Portfolio at Medtronic. “Our goal is to help surgical teams work with greater connectivity and intelligence by bringing planning, navigation, and robotics together in one integrated platform.”

Expanding continuous patient monitoring with Corsano™* multi-parameter wearable
The Corsano™* multi-parameter wearable was recognized for its ability to extend clinical visibility beyond traditional bedside monitoring through a lightweight, tetherless wearable designed to capture key vital parameters and trending information to inform clinical decision making. Manufactured by Corsano Health B.V. and distributed in the U.S. and Western Europe by Medtronic, the wearable provides clinicians access to patient data in near real time, from the hospital to the home setting.

While spot checking alone can leave patients unmonitored 96% of the time1, the medical-grade wearable monitors pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), respiration rate, skin temperature, and activity, helping clinicians access timely patient information while enabling patient mobility and comfort.

“This recognition on the TIME Best Inventions list is a testament to what’s made possible by the next generation of patient monitoring,” said Kate Benedict, president of the Acute Care & Monitoring operating unit within the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. “The Corsano™* multi-parameter wearable meaningfully expands our portfolio of wearable patient monitoring solutions and reflects our commitment to helping clinicians stay connected to patient data wherever care is delivered, enabling more informed decisions with patient insights.”

About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic, visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn.

About the Cranial & Spinal Technologies Business at Medtronic
As the global market leader, Medtronic Cranial and Spinal Technologies is transforming the standard of care in spine and cranial surgery by putting patients first and addressing the complex challenges faced by spine and neurosurgeons. With a portfolio of 150 products covering more than 20 pathologies, we serve over 4 million patients annually. Building on a legacy of innovation, our AiBLE™ ecosystem integrates advanced technologies, data, and AI with a patient-centric approach, offering customizable solutions to enhance surgical precision, improve workflow efficiency, and pursue better outcomes, before, during, and beyond surgery.

About Acute Care & Monitoring
At Medtronic Acute Care & Monitoring, we put patients first by designing patient monitoring and airway management technologies that support care in the moments that matter. By simplifying clinical decision making, workflows, and operational performance, we help care teams stay focused on patients while helping organizations create sustainable value from their technology investments. We do this to support our vision: to enable personalized patient care, anytime, anywhere. For more information, visit medtronic.com/ACM.

About the Ear, Nose, & Throat Business at Medtronic
Medtronic’s Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) business is the global market leader in ENT, delivering innovative technologies that impact nearly 3 million patients each year. For more than 25 years, we have collaborated with physicians to advance care across the specialty. Our portfolio supports surgical procedures related to chronic rhinosinusitis and head and neck cancers, spanning surgical navigation, tissue health, powered instruments, localized drug delivery, intraoperative nerve monitoring, and parathyroid detection. As the global leader in ENT navigation since the introduction of the LandmarX™ image-guided surgery system in 1998, we continue to advance the field with next-generation platforms including the Stealth AXiS™ Surgical System. For more information, visit Medtronic.com/AXiSENT.

About Corsano Health 
Corsano Health B.V. is a leading MedTech company that creates, manufactures, and sells advanced real-time remote patient monitoring solutions. With a CE-MDR medically certified system and FDA clearance, the Corsano™ multi-parameter wearable is setting new standards for continuous monitoring, focusing on our mission to lower healthcare costs and support clinical teams in improving outcomes and patient experiences. For more information, visit https://corsano.com/.

*The Corsano™* multi-parameter wearable is manufactured by Corsano Health B. V. and distributed by Medtronic. The Corsano™ multi-parameter wearable should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis or therapy and is intended only as an adjunct in patient assessment. It is not intended for use in high-acuity environments or on acutely ill cardiac patients with potential to develop life-threatening arrhythmias, or for SpO2 monitoring in conditions of high motion or low perfusion.

1Curry and Jungquist: A critical assessment of monitoring practices, patient deterioration, and alarm fatigue on inpatient wards: a review. Patient Safety in Surgery 2014 8:29.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

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SOURCE Medtronic plc

New Platform Helps Scholarship Granting Organizations Support Students Across Public and Private Schools

LINCOLN, Neb., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FACTS, a Nelnet company (NYSE: NNI), today announced FACTS Compass™, a scholarship administration platform designed to help Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) administer the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) and build a more connected scholarship management experience.

The FSTC creates a new opportunity for eligible taxpayers to support scholarships that help families cover qualifying educational expenses for students attending public and private schools. FACTS Compass is designed to help SGOs establish the operational foundation needed to participate in the program and serve students and families.

“We’re building FACTS Compass alongside SGOs that will rely on it every day, and we’re delivering it in step with the FSTC program,” said Jonell Sanchez, managing director of product for FACTS Compass. “The first release gives organizations what they need to begin raising funds and enrolling families, and 2027 will complete the picture. We’re excited about what FACTS Compass will make possible for SGOs and the students, families, and schools they serve.”

FACTS currently supports more than 120 SGOs and group programs, and five state education funding programs, providing experience in application processing, eligibility determination, and compliance administration. That experience informs FACTS’ approach to helping SGOs prepare for the FSTC.

“We’ve spent a decade helping schools navigate the compliance side of state scholarship programs, and that work continues,” said Matt Richardson, director of FACTS Compass. “With the FSTC, we’re bringing that experience to SGOs preparing to administer a new federal scholarship program. Beyond technology, FACTS can serve as an implementation partner and educational resource, helping communities understand the program, meet compliance requirements, and build the operations needed to serve students from day one.”

FACTS Compass is backed by a network of partners and resources that support scholarship organizations beyond technology, including governance, donor engagement, and advancement strategy. As part of Nelnet, FACTS also brings deep financial and operational expertise.

“We serve nearly 12,000 K-12 schools with education technology and financial management tools trusted by administrators, educators, and families,” said Scott Spethman, president of FACTS. “We understand both the operational demands of the FSTC and its changing regulatory environment. We’re developing FACTS Compass to reduce the administrative burden on SGOs so they can focus on delivering scholarship funds to students who need them.”

Nelnet’s roots in education date to 1978. Today, more than 5,700 associates serve K-12 schools, more than 1,200 colleges and universities, and millions of families, students, and borrowers across consumer lending, loan servicing, payments, and technology.

For more information, visit factscompass.com.

About FACTS

FACTS, a Nelnet company, provides mission-critical education technology solutions that strengthen operational efficiency, financial management, enrollment, tuition administration, and family engagement for schools worldwide. Serving nearly 12,000 organizations and over 4 million learners, FACTS delivers a comprehensive suite of edtech and fintech products designed to simplify school operations and connect schools and families through experiences built on trust, insight, and impact. FACTS also administers state education funding programs on behalf of program administrators nationwide.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to, among other things, the development, features, functionality, and release timing of FACTS Compass; the anticipated availability of core capabilities by the end of 2026 and additional features in 2027; the implementation of the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) and related regulatory requirements; expected participation by Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and states; and the anticipated benefits of the platform to SGOs, schools, and families. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “planned,” “project,” “forecast,” “designed,” “being built,” “expected,” and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These include changes in or interpretations of federal or state laws, regulations, and guidance, including the FSTC and Treasury rules; decisions by states and SGOs about whether and how to participate; delays or difficulties in product development, testing, or release; technology, security, and third-party service risks; competition; and other risks described in Nelnet, Inc.’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

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SOURCE FACTS