<img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/6ec5676a-a428-4640-9e42-4abd91b580f2?size=2" nborder="0" align="left" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="LOGO.jpg" alt="Ozop Energy Solutions, Inc"/>WARWICK, NY, Aug. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OZOP Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC: OZSC) today highlighted continued progress within Varon Corp.'s U.S. subsidiary, Varon USA, and its joint venture with Ballislife, Inc. through the addition of another NBA athlete partnership. Ozop and Varon Corp. are currently completing customary pre-closing conditions in connection with the previously announced transaction with OZOP. Ballislife Drink Inc. recently signed 2026 NBA All-Star and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren as both a brand ambassador and equity partner, further strengthening the Company's growing roster of NBA athlete partners. As part of the partnership, Ballislife HYDRO will introduce a Jalen Duren signature can, expanding the brand's growing lineup of athlete-branded products. The signature can is expected to strengthen Ballislife HYDRO's presence throughout Michigan and other key basketball markets, while leveraging Duren's growing popularity to deepen the brand's connection with basketball fans and support retail growth. Still just 22 years old, Duren has rapidly emerged as one of the NBA's brightest young stars. He became the second-youngest player in NBA history to record 1,000 career rebounds and became the 9th player in league history to additionally record 200 assists and 100 blocks before turning 21. His elite production, relentless work ethic and authentic connection to basketball culture closely align with Ballislife HYDRO's commitment to performance, authenticity and the next generation of basketball talent. "Ballislife's community of basketball fans has always admired Jalen's unique combination of athleticism, intensity and skill on the court," said Melcolm Ruffin, Chief Business Officer of Ballislife. "Today we're proud to bring Jalen's excitement and star power to our portfolio of Ballislife HYDRO athlete ambassadors and equity partners." Ballislife HYDRO continues building its athlete roster around long-term partnerships with players who embody the brand's commitment to performance, authenticity and basketball culture. Unlike traditional endorsement agreements, Ballislife HYDRO's athlete partners participate as equity holders, aligning their long-term interests with the continued growth of the brand. "Jalen represents the next generation of NBA stars, and that's exactly who Ballislife has always celebrated," said Matt Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of Ballislife, Inc. "We've followed his journey from his early basketball career to becoming one of the league's premier young big men, and we're excited to welcome him to the Ballislife family. We're not just adding another athlete, we're building long-term relationships with players who genuinely represent the future of the game." "Every athlete partnership we announce has to create value beyond marketing," said Benjamin Schubert, Chief Executive Officer of Varon Corp. "Jalen has already accomplished things at his age that only a handful of players in NBA history have achieved, and we believe his career is only beginning. His signature can gives us another unique product that retailers and consumers can rally around while further strengthening Ballislife HYDRO's presence in one of the country's most passionate basketball markets." "Every new athlete partnership strengthens more than our marketing efforts, it strengthens the value of the Ballislife ecosystem," said Lior Srulovicz, President and Chief Financial Officer of Varon Corp. "As our roster of equity partners continues to grow, we're building a portfolio of athletes whose interests are aligned with the long-term success of the brand. The addition of Jalen's signature can further demonstrates how our athlete partnerships create tangible commercial opportunities while reinforcing the authenticity of the Ballislife HYDRO brand." Ballislife Drink Inc. is a joint venture between Varon USA and Ballislife, Inc., one of the world's largest basketball media platforms. Ballislife HYDRO Sports Drink combines premium hydration with authentic basketball culture and continues expanding through strategic retail partnerships, athlete collaborations and live basketball experiences throughout North America. About Ballislife Drink, Inc. Ballislife Drink, Inc., formed in December 2025, is a joint venture between Varon USA and Ballislife, Inc. focused on developing and commercializing performance-driven beverages at the intersection of sports, media and basketball culture. Its flagship product, Ballislife HYDRO, is a non-carbonated, caffeine-free sports hydration drink formulated with electrolytes, B vitamins, beet root, L-theanine and beta-alanine to support hydration, endurance, focus and recovery. The company combines Ballislife's deeply established basketball ecosystem with Varon USA's beverage development, operational and distribution capabilities to build a culturally relevant performance brand at scale. Ballislife HYDRO's growth strategy integrates long-term NBA athlete partnerships and expanding retail distribution with Ballislife's media, live events, creating a differentiated platform for consumer engagement and brand growth. About Ballislife Inc. Founded in 2005, Ballislife is a leading digital media and lifestyle brand dedicated to the culture of basketball at every level of the game. Based in Southern California, the company has grown from a grassroots "mixtape" platform into a trusted authority in high school and grassroots basketball coverage, amplifying the stories of emerging talent and the communities that shape the sport. Ballislife reaches millions of fans worldwide through premium video, editorial content and nationally recognized live events. Its content has generated hundreds of millions of views across platforms and has been featured by major outlets including The New York Times and on broadcasts such as ESPN's SportsCenter. Ballislife is home to the long-standing FAB 50 National Team Rankings and produces marquee events including the Ballislife All-American Game, Ballislife Jr. All-American Camp and the Nesquik Creator Court. Through storytelling, competition and community engagement, Ballislife continues to influence and elevate the next generation of basketball culture. About Varon Corp Varon Corp (Varon) is the holding Company of its’ wholly owned subsidiaries Varon Wellness, Varon USA and Varon Spirits. Varon through Varon Wellness and Varon USA develops and operates brands across hydration, energy, recovery and sports- nutrition categories. Through Varon Spirits, the Company offers a limited premium spirits business that provides brand optionality and experiential reach. About Varon Wellness Varon Wellness operates established, high-velocity functional and performance beverage brands with proven, repeat consumer demand and meaningful national retail presence in Canada, with a focused mandate across functional wellness, performance, and sports hydration. The division includes Canadian distribution rights to Bucked Up, a recognized, culturally relevant performance energy and protein brand with deeply established traction in fitness, athletic, and performance-driven communities. Bucked Up (<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WBDMPm0Uuc8K8hUhED54WrbpO5zCJMVg7MblMmSLKKadTbSmOOYryCowOPYqxrTM0-qwUThTPWjacU2hZtPQbY8tWYGY9rZn1hvW8mqFD0U=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">https://www.buckedup.com/</a>; <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WBDMPm0Uuc8K8hUhED54Wo_utCy3IjKHLhFjnc_0qBO8ClpbJ5kr63-EP3_4gPcC4M_5lu3ApxK1L6ALrJmvfMQ5f-8Ipz9iNckvM51tdxU=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">https://ca.buckedup.com/</a>) is a sports nutrition and lifestyle brand focused on helping all athletes and individuals achieve their health and fitness goals. Offering over 500 different products ranging from supplements and energy drinks to apparel and accessories, Bucked Up is committed to providing customers with the best products available. Dedicated to using high-quality ingredients and non-proprietary blends, Bucked Up's pre-workout is the #1 best-selling product in its class. The brand's products are now offered in over 75,000 stores worldwide. Varon Wellness also owns a 60% equity ownership in Vitagua, utilizing Varon’s proprietary, zero-sugar sparkling vitamin water brand purpose-built for modern, health-conscious consumers at scale, as well as a strategic, high-impact minority investment in Unity Electro Fest (“Unity”). Unity is a major Canadian music festival entity with large-scale attendance and national visibility that provides an experiential, high-engagement platform utilized for mass product trial, consumer immersion, and powerful brand activation. The division operates under Varon’s Elevated Wellness approach, prioritizing flavor-first, consumer-led formulations that deliver meaningful, credible functional benefits, supported by disciplined execution, operational rigor, and scalable commercialization across expanding channels. About Varon USA Varon USA builds truly healthy, performance-driven functional beverages, not “better for you” alternatives. Combining cultural relevance at scale, best-in-class marketing infrastructure, and products that taste exceptional while delivering real, measurable health benefits, Varon USA represents the Company’s primary growth engine in the United States. The division is focused on operating and partnership platforms supporting functional wellness, performance, and sports hydration brands that are deeply embedded within high-engagement, culture-defining ecosystems. The division includes Ballislife Drink, Inc., a joint venture in which Varon USA holds approximately 35% ownership interest, featuring Ballislife Functional Sports Drink, and is aligned with Ballislife, one of the largest and most influential basketball media platforms globally. Varon USA is also aligned with SG Revive, a functional wellness beverage developed in partnership with ASA Entertainment, a leader in youth culture and sports media. Collectively, these platforms reach tens of millions of highly loyal, deeply engaged consumers annually through dominant digital media channels, large-scale live events, broadcast exposure, and expansive youth initiatives, enabling Varon to systematically convert authentic cultural engagement into repeat consumer demand, while maintaining discipline, scalability, and long-term brand equity across a rapidly expanding national footprint. About Varon Spirits Varon Spirits is a boutique importer and agency representing a select roster of premium spirits brands. The business focuses on curating and distributing distinctive spirits rooted in heritage, craftsmanship, and cultural relevance, including ultra-premium tequilas, vodkas, and select rare offerings. Varon Spirits operates under a focused, capital-light model aligned with the Company’s broader lifestyle-driven beverage strategy. About Ozop Energy Solutions. Ozop Energy Solutions (Ozop Energy Solutions (<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ziWhBneDaUnV1GlfU9JEejhTXpBytRbJ3EX0B2PSwja2Dq7vnT_TG4bZxPwH_TD7_tyO0Kx-c2czcXmf9q_1tdPzHuGRt7Fb56FlcWDBFuU=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">http://ozopenergy.com/</a>) is the parent company that oversees a wide variety of products in the renewable energy sector. Our strategy focuses on capturing a share of the rapidly growing renewable energy market as a provider of assets and infrastructure needed to store energy. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s public filings which can be found at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=UbIEjbQcOW3OhVWOIgH9kuKlybYrOYJkfcpgoYUPg_HXXorTZJqHEkk_4uToSUYXgY1i374aexDjyiR_1CJFbw==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="www.sec.gov">www.sec.gov</a> Safe Harbor Statement “This press release contains or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the company’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential” or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the company’s control). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.” Investor Relations Contact – Ozop The Waypoint Refinery, LLC 845-397-2956 <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=PX5U2LFmwdrfyyKn-0KtEJtd8K5UJIrWpXUwEQ0FGVQPGcyAau2oTSBl3-wmvDG5oveq5_c6DSYruj__g2S6xl65HicU1M6mc7C1X3L-rryAZpiZgQ1XovVk5BdYmvtU46YDf620ihRpPWi9vqYBJPPENygAa3bop8gQB3aGaj9i-zngJwnbjlPAUkoCt6VFmsc_ZKM0krSWKh9w8AJxuqIxM3FSkJSjMUomxZIBnplQAhuM4hpdTGTsczfg8g0-yerPidkt15RxHsi9geDSSTPjQrZ1tS6Op-txXrom4pcZ8lX-fAOyQhDKEenJ6uXzEDc88MTKZpubV4ZBRJ311UlS6NEgeTBz6C-sZeMn8KNqTdIt3FkYEV8oSMne-FiBWM8F3EjwfcN4lEdwdeiNw-Yr1u3xbmN-NH34YOv4paU19sXuI73E9E-Lka2ZenAfebXE5k1b9XCxqWpgknxEZ0iyxTqd6Ls_SZ4IVlGc4SEwhU3541ODf3WAghdrHOYnhZSxKoRGLO3kHB5nDWgk-0Sj1oJjygEXc_dwz434z2eVav55CSbYpnYQtvDKq-SL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="www.thewaypointrefinery.com">www.thewaypointrefinery.com</a> <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WBDMPm0Uuc8K8hUhED54Wo19C6XEeR9-keBETUR4RHia5Sj7A8XUMPIvmwP8DaDpm5409ahLWFXb5kcCnBXKHbMJjaALZveAVAHVcE_jz6mP4f9O8cuRoO58a5kfH710kWZh5XibUegfTjkvcPpBkvrjKjbnRQxXL55pc9qcv7P44ObSR9IYJeAhOqiHpbtnEjBUHyrQ2uGuINh8YWmmlU1zZP0e8sYj2gSQwV6HqZh8buuDkr7_QFmJhz5Ih2wmZvzTMUXelKPAU6qLVIU_M8nFCQ9E3wTzQh15oNENGrUoIJShU9MpqvsXJHvAAUYg9GuVAI58790iAHvYkU_iIdsb-XFM70SZEYXfAguXVco5SPoieksJLYIHQuRqvA3lF2R2q-eV3W3G6mtUm9QcUStJXmQKxfHTO0jOzdG-H4jQ3DJC7u2NFbU2pVKoJFhveQRnqnQ01oI9I9OQ0YPoO46UPyP6aRn9UP5rXZo7yXczJKczp0gn8z1V0QPnF-7l_93qc7yFoTc6lN4hMh1sIvLTHbmH_nUnbX4S8Jix7sy36E1bhjcau3C2VKlo4OR4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">https://twitter.com/OzopEnergy</a> <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WBDMPm0Uuc8K8hUhED54WicULAR2L2s45c0mG1U147kPpOH-8TdGv5LSwQeE17gMIiFsRqCIc8I_WhAGGjgoCxJc6gWPGXMtg01vTezjNx7dvdzK5IuR53XjOIXNa21OwHHyhjK-jRkLjJd2mTV3t1ZOakx9NFrzvmT1yq5juvnMgbV7kdEpP73iXf4DMDJeovOvt1ed4N2cfRJAngc6ISE1BocUO6qzrN494VhFw7cnMy1TR4KUWGeyJGfQTyJSnOKVJ02qUfG_NIBK973qHvYVBHm6Ed1acRPtH0fMQ7Xn26BwWOv17mP0qrIDI5EMy7vMa22LdBHhkqVH0IobQy05UxD39nqK9IV_YPdinZT2Rmnfe2D2cDskj3jkenswEnqjbKUdYs9zsOD2LsSI37hvymIO_OKHsmIAQIIa-BbItU2R_QyAEuj559p0FOcheGusNzpjBrOPlr_P087oA5qlq-2Rolpqg593x3NV3rAEVhhOmgYIivgK-GYdae_BcOhAAylysBMguJJ_0ufyJE9k-Qhaiq8u7-2uT4wmpR9VgSxRbvb6-DFbZeRVKrabcTa4yPsJNV5I_z5wgQC_VJeHzApgQLO8-6zaXZojTPmFKbotjf1cLQRmZSIt2OAE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">https://www.facebook.com/OzopEnergy/</a> <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WBDMPm0Uuc8K8hUhED54WjuvkfjfuPC1ngSXOGpzShrQ84Hsjj1TIhX7n4aWEtkn6ZXySalR7fw02Eimrd23KMXMfFgPSmUGP_J5EuPIavCxxsakzyAVNdlGzrObPPlZ7yU84emUUFMkXKMeqjbbu_oWLJesf2na5y7rya4E2a2TEccvYQ5hHXlwt9nnAoymyy_1h-769CuQzrcBa2YRv_8YF-xNUdtFKT9aa2GPCzdTDlQBY3kjf_QfD6jq5WqlZ-SQcHxkIa-X5J_-tJP0TOxRMOclSk7FFLRhMHmPJ15HPzXLZcBfCStJae9T9xlqG4h0vc192WL8RnRadS0msynuB28eVmQ9Xc1DEw3crWB8gaGyS-qj38G5jl8iKzFG7m-C6EOjv559Aenz0sTn2UZ3foo2y0o_jwYsyuWwN_jsK8Gc9PFePPf6NxZJIYYcho9ExySDfHQWv_yKPIq8Kx6X7Mf0rsuqFJZhj5yaO9Az7YOZ4TF201YzEe_lZw2ggX_eEp0rLYWR5O-djVvySP73X_8DcFfBJ9zrSFLaEio4qfo1m-Ho6bYAS-U35KZ0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">https://x.com/benjamin_varon_</a> <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=X7inqqfgG-JU6tQQ9cGw65qw6neucZI5fYYrcgfym_7xBSl24OJshW8Er_0PB_b0sEYtN_HTCUKhQavYvzLAKngzk4fpy0sXvaSDMABZ-opyMOiO5KQam-0k2a_5QHnSornDa2QkNC9kxenYLw7DDXPEqGP89l3-hiKaPYy3wvnVSNeF1OMjDO9MYwfh2G0bBneYZoWFrH109wEbQAt2OwjDUxMI3nYd6ZNPhs1Q9vHBnNerbbFQswhtWm8npC_ZcS-lqSDreCbB50UoMX-Q744qJbOO5kMxseRkpimehacDk916Fzn3p1QsE4_TrkYvtJZA2yY5cS4hx5NkijgMjTKRKDUeU_9S3NzeAsWiuNEYkObb1WOoCjkijTRtoKBBOCdD1j6_6Uua_IfZs3t8PzLr57nVlaN2debn342QAaLVxpg69vpf76Lb1u1uM_hlM2yr-Ook3dbwaXxb7oU2FueaLGq2jlBZE89EncEgjts=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="www.varoncorp.com">www.varoncorp.com</a> <img alt="" src='https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/MzdjODhkYTUtMGE1NC00Njk4LTllOGUtYTY2OWUxY2I3YTc5LTUwMDA3MDg2Ni0yMDI2LTA4LTEwLWVu/tiny/Ozop-Energy-Solutions-Inc.png' referrerpolicy='no-referrer-when-downgrade' />

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