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Volta Labs joins PacBio Compatible program to help PacBio customers scale sequencing through automated library prep

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BOSTON, Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Volta Labs™, a genomics applications company, announced today that it has joined the PacBio Compatible program, further expanding the partnership between Volta Labs and PacBio.

Volta Labs is partnering with PacBio to offer walk-away automation for PacBio library prep, enabling labs to scale sample prep for sequencing. Through preloaded apps on the Callisto™ Sample Prep System, a push-button sample prep solution for all NGS sequencing needs, PacBio customers can prepare high-quality PacBio HiFi libraries with less than 30 minutes of hands-on time and 5.5 hours of walk-away time.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Volta, and specifically the Callisto platform, into the PacBio compatible program. Thanks to Volta’s Callisto automation system, PacBio customers can now benefit from a streamlined library prep process, significantly reducing hands-on and setup time which in turn allows labs to focus more on sequencing and discovery rather than manual prep. This simplification aligns with where we at PacBio have been focusing our library prep innovations and supports our mission to make high-quality sequencing accessible and scalable for all,” said David Miller, VP of Global Marketing at PacBio.

The announcement comes shortly after a recent Genomeweb webinar where Greg Young, senior product manager at PacBio, joined Maya Fridrikh, PacBio sequencing manager at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to unveil new data showing the impact of Volta Labs library prep automation to scale PacBio sequencing. Callisto’s walk-away operation supports flexible batch sizes from 4-24 reactions, with high yield at half-scale reactions. The VoltaPrep™ app for PacBio SMRTbell Libraries has proven to positively impact operational costs and efficiency, for organizations ranging from core labs to biotech companies.

“PacBio library prep can be challenging for many labs, especially those suffering from resource constraints. With Callisto, even inexperienced users can be trained in minutes to generate high-quality PacBio libraries with minimal inter-operator variability,” said Udayan Umapathi, founder and CEO of Volta Labs. “We have been collaborating with the PacBio team for quite a while, and their recognition of Volta as a compatible partner is a big step forward for sample prep automation.”

PacBio Compatible works with a wide range of organizations to ensure customers can find verified products that are complementary to their workflows for PacBio sequencing. Partners like Volta Labs collaborate closely with PacBio scientists to provide seamless integration and support for customers who are just starting out with PacBio or expanding their current capabilities.

About Volta Labs
Volta Labs is a genomics applications company that has developed a cutting-edge digital fluidics platform to maximize performance and scalability of sample preparation in genomics while providing unparalleled consistency. Volta Labs is transforming the way biological research and analyses are performed, allowing scientists to focus on what they do best — pushing the boundaries of biology.

About PacBio
PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB) is a premier life science technology company that is designing, developing and manufacturing advanced sequencing solutions to help scientists and clinical researchers resolve genetically complex problems. Our products and technologies stem from two highly differentiated core technologies focused on accuracy, quality and completeness which include our HiFi long-read sequencing and our SBB® short-read sequencing technologies. Our products address solutions across a broad set of research applications including human germline sequencing, plant and animal sciences, infectious disease and microbiology, oncology, and other emerging applications. For more information, please visit www.pacb.com and follow @PacBio.

Media Contact:
Kim Miller
Volta Labs
kmiller@voltalabs.co

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SOURCE Volta Labs Inc.

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Japan’s first DJI and Hasselblad Dual-Concept Flagship Store: “DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando” to Grand Open in Late October 2026!

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Offering an unprecedented creative experience with hands-on latest drones and medium-format cameras, an indoor drone flight cage, and 1-on-1 support from multilingual dedicated specialists

TOKYO, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DJI, the global leader in innovative aerial and imaging technology, will announce that SEKIDO Co., Ltd., an authorized domestic distributor, will hold the grand opening of the “DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando” in the Omotesando area of Tokyo on Saturday, October 31, 2026. This dual-concept store allows visitors to experience the combined worlds of DJI and Hasselblad, the Swedish premium camera brand boasting over 180 years of history as the pinnacle of medium-format photography.

The store consists of two floors, the first and second floors above ground, bringing together the world’s finest imaging technologies, from DJI’s latest drones, handheld gimbals, and action cameras to Hasselblad’s flagship medium-format digital camera systems. The store features a permanent indoor “Drone Flight Cage” for actual flight and operational experiences. It also offers 1-on-1 personalized consulting by expert staff and a multilingual support system (Japanese, English, and Chinese), strongly backing the expressive activities of all creators from Japan and abroad.

Background and Aim of Opening: A Permanent Flagship Hub to Meet the Growing Demand for “Real-World Experience and Expert Consultation”

The use of DJI products has been rapidly expanding in the Japanese market across a wide range of fields, including aerial photography, film and commercial production, still photography, and even industrial applications such as surveying and infrastructure inspection.

In recent years, while the demand for high-performance imaging equipment for creators has further increased, many customers have voiced their desire for real-world experiential value, stating, “I want to check the actual operational feel, image quality, and holding grip before purchasing,” and “I want to consult professionals to select the optimal equipment for my specific production needs and shooting environments.” For highly advanced equipment like drones in particular, it is extremely crucial to verify the intuitive operability and shooting sensation, which are difficult to convey solely through spec sheets and online information.

In response to these changing market dynamics, we decided to open a store in “Tokyo Omotesando,” an epicenter of trends and culture. This permanent flagship hub integrates “product experience,” “expert consulting,” and “experiencing the brand’s world view,” which cannot be fully covered by online sales and short-term events alone. We aim to create an open creative community space for all visual expressers, from highly sensitive top creators domestically and internationally to entry-level enthusiasts aspiring to begin serious content creation.

4 Key Highlights of “DJI Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando”

1. [Brand Convergence] A Dual-Concept Store to Experience the Worlds of DJI and Hasselblad

“DJI,” which develops innovative imaging technologies, and “Hasselblad,” which continues to support photographic expression as a historic medium-format camera brand. This is a new, dual-concept official store where the craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology of both brands intersect in a single space. From still images to motion pictures, and from the ground to the sky, we offer an equipment lineup that supports diverse creative activities.

2. [Real Experience] Indoor Drone Flight Cage & Product Touch & Try

On the 1st floor, a dedicated “Drone Flight Cage” is permanently installed, allowing visitors to safely fly and pilot drones. Without worrying about weather conditions or restricted flight areas, you can directly experience the hovering stability, camera operation, and control responsiveness of the latest drones on the spot. In addition, handheld cameras and gimbals such as the Osmo series led by the latest Osmo 360 II and Osmo Pocket 4P, as well as the Hasselblad medium-format cameras on the 2nd floor, are all displayed fully powered on, allowing you to freely pick them up and experience shooting.

3. [Expert Consultation] 1-on-1 Personalized Support System by Dedicated Specialists

Expert staff who are thoroughly familiar with product knowledge and on-site shooting know-how are permanently stationed at the store. We propose the optimal equipment configuration and peripheral accessories tailored to each customer’s shooting style, application, and business implementation goals. From comparing products to lectures on initial setup and consultation after introduction, we politely address all questions before and after purchase on a 1-on-1 basis.

4. [Global] Trilingual Support (Japanese, English, Chinese) to Fully Accommodate Inbound Demand

Tailored to the internationally diverse location of Omotesando, not only Japanese but also English and Chinese communication will be supported at the store. We have established a hospitable environment where international tourists and overseas business visitors can experience, purchase, and process tax exemptions for high-end equipment with peace of mind, without feeling any language barriers.

Floor Guide and Overview of Each Area

Each of the two floors offers independent themes and experiential value.

Floor

Main Exhibits and Services

1F
DJI Area

[DJI Touch & Try, Sales, and Flight Cage]
Latest aerial drones (Mavic series, Air series, Mini series, etc.)
Handheld gimbals and action cameras (Osmo Pocket, Osmo 360, Osmo Action, etc.)
Indoor drone flight cage (Actual piloting experience)
Product consultation by dedicated staff

2F
Hasselblad Area

[Hasselblad Touch & Try, Sales, and Gallery]
Medium-format mirrorless digital cameras (X2D II 100C, 907X series, etc.) and XCD lenses
Hasselblad art gallery (Exhibiting the overwhelming gradation and details captured by medium-format cameras)
Premium lounge and consulting booths for in-depth discussions in a relaxed atmosphere

Future Outlook: Regular Events and Workshops to Foster a Creator Community

This store will play a role not merely as an equipment sales hub, but as a communication hub where creators can connect, learn, and collaborate.

Following the grand opening, we plan to regularly host shooting workshops led by front-line professional photographers and video creators, drone flight experience seminars, and advance hands-on preview events for new products. Through the enthusiasm and learning opportunities unique to a physical store, we will contribute to the advancement of Japan’s creative culture.

Store Overview

Item

Store Basic Information

Store Name (Japanese)

DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store 東京表参道

Store Name (English)

DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando

Scheduled Opening Date & Time

Saturday, October 31, 2026 (Grand Opening)

Location

1F & 2F, La Porte Aoyama, 5-51-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

Access

4-minute walk from Exit B2 of Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Chiyoda,
and Hanzomon Lines

Business Hours / Holidays

11:00 – 20:00 (Planned) / Irregular holidays

Phone Number

03-6803-8400

Official Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/djihasselblad_tokyo_omotesando/

For details regarding the opening day and related campaigns, please check the store’s official Instagram or DJI’s official social media accounts.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to our store.

*Please note that all store images featured in this press release are computer-generated (CG) conceptual renderings. The actual design, layout, and specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

About DJI
Since its founding in 2006, DJI has pioneered the civilian drone industry, driving innovation while empowering individuals to take flight for the first time, turning imagination into reality, and continuously revolutionizing professional video production. Today, DJI strives every day with the goal of promoting human advancement and building a better world. With a solution-oriented mindset and genuine curiosity, DJI has expanded its business into fields such as renewable energy, agriculture, public safety, surveying and mapping, and infrastructure inspection. In each of these areas, DJI products create new value and bring unprecedented, fundamental changes to the lives of people around the world.

www.dji.com/jp  |  facebook.com/dji.jp  |  twitter.com/djijapan  |  youtube.com/DJIJapan  |  instagram.com/dji_japan  |  www.linkedin.com/company/dji

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SOURCE DJI JAPAN

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Shareholder Proposal Support Nudges Up as Proposal Volume Falls, Broadridge ProxyPulse™ Report Finds

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2026 proxy season sees a sharp decline in environmental and social proposals, a 10-year high in say-on-pay support and expanded opportunities for investor participation

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shareholder support for proposals increased in the 2026 proxy season even as the number of proposals continued to decline, according to the latest ProxyPulse™ report from global Fintech leader Broadridge (NYSE: BR).  Average support for shareholder proposals rose to 27.9% from 24.3% in 2025 with increases in both retail and institutional investor segments.

“The number of environmental and social proposals that were voted on declined by 47% between the 2025 and 2026 proxy seasons,” said Chuck Callan, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Broadridge. “At the same time, shareholder support for proposals on disclosing political spending, at 42% on average, rose to a new high. Backing for directors and say-on-pay remained strong, with say-on-pay support hitting a 10-year high.”

Retail Investors Vote More Shares as Participation Options Expand

Retail investors owned 6 billion more shares this season than last and voted 2 billion more of the shares they own. The report also highlights the continued expansion of “voting choice” and digital governance capabilities to expand the options that shareholders have to make their voices heard. More than 900 funds offered pass-through voting in the 12 months ended June 30, 2026, up from approximately 400 a year earlier, with more than 400,000 shareholders enrolled. Companies held a record 2,542 virtual shareholder meetings between July 2025 and June 2026, including more than 200 first-time adopters.

About ProxyPulse™

The 2026 Broadridge ProxyPulse report examines ownership and voting trends across the past five proxy seasons and explores developments shaping corporate governance, including standing voting instructions, voting choice and support for tokenized equities.

ProxyPulse™ is based on Broadridge’s processing of shares held in street name at the 1,000+ broker-dealers and custodian banks it services. Accounts are classified as either “retail” or “institutional” based on the delivery channels and voting platforms they utilize. All data is reported in the aggregate. Comparative information covers annual meetings between January 1 and June 30 in each of the past five years.

About Broadridge

Broadridge (NYSE: BR) is a global technology leader with trusted expertise and transformative technology, helping clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients – driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences.

Broadridge’s technology and operations platforms process and generate over 8 billion communications annually and underpin the daily average trading of over $18 trillion in tokenized and traditional securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500® Index, employing approximately 16,000 associates in 28 countries. For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com.

Broadridge Contacts:

Investors: broadridgeir@broadridge.com

Media: Gregg.Rosenberg@broadridge.com

 

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SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

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UMC and AP Memory Collaborate to Enable Advanced Power Delivery Solutions for AI and HPC Systems

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HSINCHU, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TWSE: 2303) (“UMC”) and AP Memory (TWSE: 6531) today announced a technology and manufacturing collaboration to advance power delivery solutions for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. This partnership combines UMC’s deep trench capacitor (DTC) foundry technology and scalable wafer manufacturing with AP Memory’s silicon capacitor designs and system-level integration to address the power efficiency challenges of next-generation data centers.

Rapid scaling of AI workloads is placing unprecedented demands on power delivery within computing systems, driving an architecture shift in data center design from placing power stabilization components on the circuit board to embedding capacitors directly in the interposer or substrate. This innovative approach shortens the power delivery path, improves power integrity, and supports more efficient voltage regulation within advanced packages.

The collaboration reached a significant milestone in the third quarter of 2026, with AP Memory’s S-SiCap™ Gen2D discrete silicon capacitor designs completing tape-out and initial functional validation. The next step is to proceed to comprehensive system-level performance and reliability testing of capacitors in substrate packages, targeting support for a range of capacitance and operating voltage requirements. UMC and AP Memory are also exploring opportunities to extend the collaboration to other product lines including capacitor-embedded interposers and landside capacitors to address diverse system designs.

GC Hung, Senior Vice President of UMC, said: “The growth of AI and HPC is driving a fundamental shift in power delivery – from board-level towards increasingly vertical power integration on the chip-level. UMC is offering robust power delivery solutions, including our DTC technology, which enables high-density capacitance to be placed closer to the computing die for more stable power delivery. By partnering with AP Memory, we are helping to bring scalable solutions to the market to solve the critical power bottleneck challenges as AI infrastructure continues to evolve.”

Ivan Hong, President of AP Memory, said: “The successful tape-out and initial wafer validation of our customized S-SiCap™ products using DTC technology represents an important milestone in demonstrating the flexibility and manufacturability of AP Memory’s S-SiCap™ design. By working with UMC, we are providing our customers a total solution, from product design to wafer manufacturing.”

UMC’s power delivery solutions roadmap covers both discrete and embedded silicon capacitors that can be applied to different system architectures, and extends to active components such as internal voltage regulators. UMC is also leveraging its advanced packaging capabilities to enable higher-density integration of power components to meet the higher voltage and capacitance requirements of next-generation data centers. In parallel, UMC is further investing in new manufacturing capacity to support both power delivery and heterogeneous integration solutions.

About UMC

UMC (NYSE: UMC, TWSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry company. The company provides high-quality IC fabrication services, focusing on logic and various specialty technologies to serve all major sectors of the electronics industry. UMC’s comprehensive IC processing technologies and manufacturing solutions include Logic/Mixed-Signal, embedded High-Voltage, embedded Non-Volatile-Memory, RFSOI, BCD etc. Most of UMC’s 12-in and 8-in fabs with its core R&D are located in Taiwan, with additional ones throughout Asia. UMC has a total of 12 fabs in production with combined capacity of more than 400,000 wafers per month (12-in equivalent), and all of them are certified with IATF 16949 automotive quality standard. UMC is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, plus local offices in United States, Europe, China, Japan, Korea & Singapore, with a worldwide total of 20,000 employees. For more information, please visit: http://www.umc.com.

Note from UMC Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws, including statements about introduction of new services and technologies, future outsourcing, competition, wafer capacity, business relationships and market conditions. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market and economy; acceptance and demand for products from UMC; and technological and development risks. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in UMC’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. UMC does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

About AP Memory

AP Memory (TWSE: 6531) is a global fabless design semiconductor company specializing in customized memory design and IP solutions. Products include IoT memory (IoTRAM™), AI memory solutions (VHM™), and silicon capacitors (S-SiCap™). With strong R&D capabilities, AP Memory is committed to providing high performance, low-power and innovative customized products and solutions for applications such as mobile communication, wearable, IoT, high-end mobile application, high-performance computing, and edge computing.

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SOURCE United Microelectronics Corporation; AP Memory Technology Corp.

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