January 2026 - Page 4 of 10

Taiwan’s $500 Billion Chip Deal: A Game-Changer for Small and Mid-Cap Suppliers

Posted on January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

The semiconductor industry just witnessed what could be its most significant announcement in decades. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed Thursday that Taiwan has committed to a staggering $500 billion investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing—$250 billion from Taiwanese companies and another $250 billion from the island’s government. For investors focused on small and mid-cap stocks, this massive capital deployment represents a potential goldmine of opportunities that extends far beyond the headline-grabbing chip manufacturers.

While giants like TSMC will dominate news coverage, the real story for small-cap investors lies in the extensive supply chain required to build and operate semiconductor fabrication facilities. Each new fab requires specialized equipment manufacturers, chemical suppliers, industrial gas producers, precision tooling companies, and advanced materials providers—many of which operate in the small to mid-cap range. Companies producing ultra-pure chemicals, photoresist materials, silicon wafers, and specialty gases could see order books expand dramatically. The construction phase alone will create demand for specialized contractors, clean room equipment manufacturers, and industrial automation providers that may currently fly under Wall Street’s radar.

The scale of this investment means new facilities will require substantial infrastructure development. Regional utilities, water treatment specialists, and industrial real estate developers in semiconductor-friendly states like Arizona, Texas, and Ohio stand to benefit significantly. Small-cap engineering firms with expertise in fab construction and environmental systems could see their prospects transform overnight. The ongoing operational needs of these facilities create sustained demand for maintenance services, logistics providers, and specialized workforce training companies—sectors where nimble mid-market players often excel.

Semiconductor manufacturing requires thousands of specialized components and systems. While industry leaders like Applied Materials and Lam Research will capture major contracts, numerous smaller suppliers provide niche equipment for testing, metrology, wafer handling, and process control. These companies often trade at more attractive valuations than their large-cap counterparts while offering leveraged exposure to industry growth. The hiring demands from a $500 billion investment will be extraordinary as well. Technical staffing agencies, specialized recruiters, and workforce development companies could experience substantial growth. Communities hosting these facilities will need expanded housing, services, and infrastructure—benefiting regional banks, homebuilders, and service providers in those markets.

Savvy small-cap investors should begin identifying companies with existing relationships in the semiconductor supply chain, particularly those with capacity to scale rapidly. Look for firms with proprietary technologies, high switching costs, and strong balance sheets capable of supporting growth. However, investors should remain mindful of execution risks. Not all suppliers will secure contracts, and the timeline for this investment will likely span years rather than quarters. Patience and selectivity will be essential.

Taiwan’s historic commitment to U.S. semiconductor manufacturing represents more than geopolitical realignment—it’s a catalyst that could reshape the small and mid-cap investment landscape for the next decade. While mega-cap chip stocks may grab headlines, the most compelling risk-reward opportunities often emerge further down the supply chain, where smaller companies can leverage this unprecedented capital influx into outsized growth. For investors willing to dig deeper, the $500 billion question isn’t just about chips—it’s about identifying tomorrow’s winners today.

Metals at Record Highs: A Warning Sign for the Economy?

Posted on January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

When virtually every metal on the commodities board flashes red-hot price signals simultaneously, savvy investors know to pay attention. Today’s market presents exactly that scenario, with precious and industrial metals alike reaching or approaching all-time highs—a phenomenon that historically precedes significant economic turbulence.

Gold continues setting fresh records, trading around $4,650 per ounce today after gaining roughly 73% over the past year. But gold’s ascent tells only part of the story. Silver has exploded to around $92 per ounce, marking an extraordinary 200% year-over-year surge. Platinum has climbed to approximately $2,411 per ounce, up 158% from last year, while palladium has nearly doubled, rising about 100% to trade near $1,907 per ounce.

The industrial metals complex mirrors this feverish activity. Copper smashed through $13,300 per metric ton today, marking a 38-40% year-over-year gain and setting new all-time highs. The surge reflects both AI-driven infrastructure demand and tariff-induced inventory stockpiling, with U.S. COMEX inventories ballooning from under 100,000 metric tons to over 500,000 metric tons in just one year.

When both safe-haven metals and industrial commodities rally simultaneously, it signals a dangerous market dynamic. Precious metals typically surge when investors flee traditional assets, seeking refuge from inflation, currency devaluation, or geopolitical instability. Industrial metals, conversely, usually rise on strong economic demand. Their concurrent ascent suggests investors are hedging against economic chaos while supply disruptions create artificial scarcity.

Base metal prices fall by around 30% on average during recessions, according to analysis from major financial institutions. The current recession risk for 2025 stands at 60%, with tariff-driven cuts to economic growth forecasts prompting analysts to turn bearish on near-term base metals prices. The mining sector itself appears to be pricing in recessionary conditions already.

The rally’s drivers paint a troubling picture. Supply disruptions from mining accidents and labor strikes have constrained copper output globally. Federal Reserve independence concerns following a criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell have driven safe-haven demand. Meanwhile, geopolitical flashpoints from Venezuela to Iran add fuel to the fire. Central bank gold purchases and rate cut expectations signal policymakers’ own concerns about economic stability.

History offers a stark lesson. Similar across-the-board metal rallies preceded the 2008 financial crisis and the early 1980s stagflation. When prices become untethered from fundamental demand and instead reflect fear, speculation, and monetary desperation, corrections inevitably follow—often accompanied by broader economic pain.

For small-cap investors, this environment demands defensive positioning. Companies with strong balance sheets, minimal commodity exposure, and recession-resistant business models deserve premium valuations. The metals market is flashing a warning sign that prudent investors ignore at their peril.

SKYX Announces $4 Million Strategic Investment from Philotimo Fund, LP, Investor in Growing Small-Cap Companies, at $2.00 Per Share in Straight Common with No Warrants

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on SKYX

January 14, 2026 10:42 ET | Source: SKYX Platforms Corp.

Investment Brings a Total of $14 Million to SKYX in Recent Funding Over the Past 3 Months from Strategic Investors and Long-Term Shareholders as SKYX continues its Market Penetration and Path to Cash Flow Positive

MIAMI, Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SKYX Platforms Corp. (NASDAQ: SKYX) (d/b/a SKYX Technologies) (the “Company” or “SKYX”), a highly disruptive smart home platform technology company with over 100 issued and pending patents globally and 60 lighting and home décor websites, with a mission to make homes and buildings become safe, advanced and smart as the new standard, today announced that it has closed a $4 million equity investment from a new institutional fund Philotimo Fund, LP, that invests in growing small-cap companies.

The investment was completed at $2.00 per share in straight common stock with no warrants, representing the purchase of 2,000,000 shares of common stock. The fund is a new investor in SKYX and joins the Company’s growing base of long-term and strategic shareholders.

With this new investment, SKYX has now raised approximately $14 million in recent funding over the past 3 months from its strategic investors and long-term shareholders, further strengthening the Company’s balance sheet and supporting its path to cash flow positive while accelerating growth across commercial, retail, and smart home platform initiatives.

The new investor is a growth-focused fund known for building long-term positions in companies with differentiated growth platforms, scalable business models, and large addressable markets.

Rani Kohen, Founder and Executive Chairman of SKYX Platforms, said; “We believe this investment further validates our strategy, execution, and momentum. With expanding retail distribution, increasing commercial deployments, and the continued build-out of our AI ecosystem, we are well positioned for our next phase of growth in 2026 and beyond, as we continue to build what we believe is the future standard for smart, safe, and advanced homes and buildings.”

Leonard Sokolow, CEO of SKYX Platforms, added; “We are pleased to welcome a new long-term strategic investor to SKYX. This investment reflects increasing institutional recognition of our platform vision, technology leadership, and the significant global opportunity ahead of us.”

To view SKYX’s Technologies demo video Click Here.

About SKYX Platforms Corp.

SKYX Platforms Corp. (NASDAQ: SKYX) is a technology platform company focused on making homes and buildings safe, advanced, and smart as the new standard. As electricity is present in every home and building, SKYX is developing disruptive plug & play technologies designed to modernize traditional electrical infrastructure while improving safety, functionality, and ease of use.

The Company holds over 100 issued and pending U.S. and global patents and owns more than 60 lighting and home décor websites serving both retail and professional markets. SKYX’s platform emphasizes high-quality design, simplicity, and enhanced safety, with applications intended for every room in residential, commercial, hospitality, and institutional buildings worldwide.

SKYX’s technologies support recurring revenue opportunities through product interchangeability, upgrades, AI-enabled services, monitoring, and subscriptions. The Company follows a “razor-and-blades” model, anchored by its advanced ceiling electrical outlet platform and an expanding portfolio of plug & play smart home products, including lighting, recessed and down lights, emergency and exit signage, ceiling fans, chandeliers, indoor and outdoor fixtures, and themed lighting solutions. Its plug & play technology enables rapid installation in high-rise buildings and hotels, reducing deployment timelines from months to days.

SKYX estimates its U.S. total addressable market at approximately $500 billion, with more than 4.2 billion ceiling applications in the U.S. alone. Revenue streams are expected to include product sales, licensing, royalties, subscriptions, monitoring services, and the sale of global country rights.

For more information, visit www.skyx.com or follow SKYX on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are not based on historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “evaluate,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target” “view,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements reflect the Company’s reasonable judgment with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which have outcomes difficult to predict and may be outside our control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include statements relating to the Company’s ability to successfully launch, commercialize, develop additional features and achieve market acceptance of its products and technologies and integrate its products and technologies with third-party platforms or technologies; the Company’s efforts and ability to drive the adoption of its products and technologies as a standard feature, including their use in homes, hotels, offices and cruise ships; the Company’s ability to capture market share; the Company’s estimates of its potential addressable market and demand for its products and technologies; the Company’s ability to raise additional capital to support its operations as needed, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s ability to execute on any sales and licensing or other strategic opportunities; the possibility that any of the Company’s products will become National Electrical Code (NEC)-code or otherwise code mandatory in any jurisdiction, or that any of the Company’s current or future products or technologies will be adopted by any state, country, or municipality, within any specific timeframe or at all; risks arising from mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other collaborations; the Company’s ability to attract and retain key executives and qualified personnel; guidance provided by management, which may differ from the Company’s actual operating results; the potential impact of unstable market and economic conditions on the Company’s business, financial condition, and stock price; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. There can be no assurance as to any of the foregoing matters. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws.

Investor Relations Contact:
Jeff Ramson
PCG Advisory
jramson@pcgadvisory.com

Release – ISG Acquires AI Maturity Index Platform as Part of Broader AI Acceleration Strategy

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on III

1/14/2026

Forms AI Acceleration Unit to help clients drive AI at scale

Plans launch of insights platform with AI-powered ‘intelligence advisor’

Ranks among top 8% of Nasdaq-listed info-tech companies (sub-$1B market cap), for 2025 share performance

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm, said today it has acquired the AI Maturity Index, a SaaS platform that allows organizations to assess the AI readiness of their workforces and improve their employees’ ability to leverage AI technology.

The move comes as part of a broader AI acceleration strategy by ISG that includes the formation of an AI Acceleration Unit that brings an integrated, expert-led approach to helping clients rapidly scale AI, and the upcoming launch of a proprietary insights platform with an AI-powered “intelligence advisor” to give organizations real-time access to highly sought-after ISG data and analysis.

“ISG is moving with speed on AI,” said Michael P. Connors, chairman and CEO. “As an AI-centered technology research and advisory firm, we are committed to helping clients achieve maximum ROI from their AI investments with our unique blend of market insights, advice, ecosystem expertise and platform offerings. In this fast-paced, rapidly changing environment, clients need a trusted partner like ISG to help them cut through the AI noise and identify the best path forward to growth and value.”

AI Maturity Index Acquisition

ISG’s acquisition of the AI Maturity Index, developed and launched last year, is fundamental to its integrated AI approach. The ISG AI Maturity Index allows enterprises to assess, quantify and benchmark their employees’ readiness to adopt AI, while, importantly, prescribing a path forward to further improvement. The platform is the brainchild of co-founders Eryn Peters, a certified change management professional, founder of the Startup Consortium and editor of Weekly Workforce, and Iwo Szapar, a future-of-work evangelist and remote work infrastructure pioneer.

“The AI Maturity Index provides us with a high-impact, scalable entry point into every client’s AI journey,” said Connors. “Clients will benefit from the insights and actionable data provided by this platform, which also reinforces our core strengths in data-driven research and advisory.”

In its short time on the market, the AI Maturity Index has assessed more than 6,000 individual AI users and collected more than 400,000 data points—adoption that will expand exponentially as the platform gains broader use.

“The AI transformation market is surging, with investments outpacing organizations’ ability to broadly adopt and scale this game-changing technology,” said Peters, who will be product and strategy leader of the ISG AI Maturity Index as it is rolled out to ISG clients. “Research shows that 92 percent of companies are increasing their AI investment, but only 1 percent consider themselves AI-mature. Our AI maturity assessment platform allows companies to identify gaps in their workforce readiness and use a data-driven approach to achieve rapid improvement.”

AI Acceleration Unit

The new ISG AI Acceleration Unit, under the leadership of Chief AI Officer Steve Hall, will integrate expertise from across ISG to further enhance the firm’s AI advisory and research offerings for clients and turbocharge the firm’s AI growth. The unit will provide focused leadership to ensure all parts of the firm are working together to help clients determine their AI maturity and workforce readiness, set their AI strategy, develop and govern their provider ecosystem, and leverage change management to ensure maximum AI adoption and return on AI investment.

“Our new AI Acceleration Unit is comprised of an elite group of ISG leaders in the vanguard of developing and instituting our expert-led approach to AI adoption and value creation,” said Connors. “This unit is charged with delivering the full benefits of AI for our clients and our firm.”

New AI-Powered Insights Platform Planned

ISG also said it plans to launch a proprietary insights platform with an AI-powered “intelligence advisor” that will allow clients to access ISG’s rich trove of data and analysis on the broader technology market and the capabilities of specific technology and software providers. The launch of this new platform is slated for the first quarter of 2026, ISG said.

Nasdaq 2025 Ranking

According to Nasdaq, ISG ranks among the top 8 percent of listed information technology companies (under $1 billion in market capitalization) for 2025 share price performance. ISG shares appreciated 78 percent in value in 2025.

“ISG is pleased to be among the top performers in our sector for 2025, as ranked by Nasdaq,” said Connors. “We continue to work with our clients to reimagine how they can enhance their operations with technology and leverage AI, creating value for them—and for our shareholders.”

For more information about ISG’s AI-centered offerings, visit this webpage. Further details about the ISG AI Maturity Index can be found here.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

Source: Information Services Group, Inc.

Release – Century Lithium Strengthens Team With Appointment of Dr. Cormac O’Laoire as Strategic Advisor

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on CYVDF

January 14, 2026 – Vancouver, Canada – Century Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LCE) (OTCQX: CYDVF) (Frankfurt: C1Z) (“Century Lithium” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Cormac O’Laoire, PhD, as Strategic Advisor to Century Lithium.

“Cormac brings extensive experience across the lithium-ion battery ecosystem and a practical understanding of how lithium projects integrate into the global battery supply chain,” said Bill Willoughby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Century Lithium. “His perspective will support the Company as it advances Angel Island and evaluates downstream and strategic considerations.”

Dr. O’Laoire is a recognized expert in the lithium-ion battery ecosystem, with more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of lithium mining, chemical refining, and battery technology. He has worked closely with governments, global battery manufacturers, and leading materials suppliers to support the scaling production of critical battery minerals.

Currently, Dr. O’Laoire is the Managing Director of Electrios Energy, where he advises on lithium supply chains, with a particular focus on the technical and commercial challenges of refining lithium into high-purity, battery-grade lithium carbonate. His background includes research with the US Department of Energy, as well as experience related to lithium carbonate precursor active materials (“pCAM”) and cathode active materials (“CAM”) used in electric vehicle batteries.

Based in Hong Kong for more than a decade, Dr. O’Laoire brings a global perspective on battery supply chain development, competitive dynamics, and technological advancement relevant to the establishment of a resilient domestic lithium and battery materials industry supply chain in the United States.

ABOUT CENTURY LITHIUM CORP.

Century Lithium Corp. is an advanced-stage lithium company, focused on developing its 100%-owned lithium project Angel Island in Esmeralda County, Nevada, which hosts one of the largest sedimentary lithium deposits in the United States. The Company has utilized its patent-pending process for chloride leaching combined with Direct Lithium Extraction to make battery-grade lithium carbonate. As part of the Company’s chlor-alkali process, the planned sale of surplus sodium hydroxide produced at Angel Island is expected to contribute meaningfully to maintaining competitive operating costs for lithium carbonate production.

Angel Island is one of the few advanced lithium projects in development in the United States to provide an end-to-end process to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate for the growing electric vehicle and battery storage market. Angel Island is currently in the permitting stage for a three-phase feasibility-level production plan, expected to yield an estimated life-of-mine average of 34,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate over a 40-year mine-life.

Century Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “LCE” and the OTCQX under the symbol “CYDVF”, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “C1Z”.

To learn more, please visit centurylithium.com.

ON BEHALF OF CENTURY LITHIUM CORP.

WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, PhD., PE
President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:
Spiros Cacos | Vice President, Investor Relations
Direct: +1 604 764 1851
Toll Free: 1 800 567 8181
scacos@centurylithium.com
centurylithium.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved” and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

Forward-looking statements relate to any matters that are not historical facts and statements of our beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, without limitation, statements with respect to the potential development and value of the Project and benefits associated therewith, statements with respect to the expected project economics for the Project, such as estimates of life of mine, lithium prices, production and recoveries, capital and operating costs, IRR, NPV and cash flows, any projections outlined in the Feasibility Study in respect of the Project, the permitting status of the Project and the Company’s future development plans.

These and other forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause their actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein. These risks include those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual information form and its other public filings, copies of which can be under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.com. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update-forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Furthermore, Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Release – Alliance Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Endstate, Launches Endstate Authentic LLC

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on AENT

Scalable, enterprise-grade platform built to serve the entire collectibles and premium product authentication ecosystem

PLANTATION, Fla., Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AENT), a leading global distributor and creator of entertainment and collectible products, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Endstate. The transaction, effective December 31, 2025, includes the acquisition of all Endstate assets and the formation of a new wholly owned subsidiary, Endstate Authentic LLC.

Endstate Authentic serves as Alliance’s dedicated authentication and resale platform, using its patented technology to power next-generation, NFC-enabled collectibles, authenticated resale marketplaces, and digital product identity solutions across Alliance’s expansive catalog and partner ecosystem.

As part of the transaction, Endstate co-founders Bennett Collen and Stephanie Howard have joined Alliance Entertainment. Mr. Collen has been appointed President of Endstate Authentic, and Ms. Howard will serve as Senior Vice President of Operations, Endstate Authentic.

“This acquisition is a major strategic milestone for Alliance,” said Jeff Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Entertainment. “By combining Alliance’s unmatched global distribution platform and deep relationships across music, video, gaming, and collectibles with Endstate’s patented NFC authentication and marketplace technology, we believe digitally verifiable authentication will become foundational to the future of premium physical goods, generating value across the entire product lifecycle-from initial sale to authenticated resale. Endstate Authentic positions Alliance to help define that standard at global scale.”

A New Platform for Authenticated Physical Products

Designed for scale, Endstate Authentic is purpose-built to serve the needs of leading brands, licensors, marketplaces, and platforms facilitating primary sales, secondary resale, grading, and authentication. The platform enables frictionless authentication, real-time ownership verification, and counterfeit prevention-without requiring custom scanning hardware, proprietary applications, or changes to existing fulfillment and commerce workflows.

As the collectibles and premium goods markets continue to mature, physical-only authentication alone is no longer sufficient. Persistent, digitally verifiable product authentication-maintained across ownership changes, marketplaces, and geographies-is rapidly emerging as the industry standard.

Through Endstate Authentic, Alliance expects to:

Enable the creation of new classes of encapsulated, uncirculated, and authenticated collectibles with embedded NFC chips linked to blockchain-based digital identifiers, enabling full lifecycle authentication from initial sale through verified resale.
Enable authenticated peer-to-peer resale of chipped items, creating recurring, high-margin revenue streams and capturing secondary-market royalties
Offer NFC-enabled authentication, engagement, compliance, and marketplace services to third-party brands, licensors, and ecosystem partners
Expand Alliance’s technology moat through a growing portfolio of issued and pending patents, proprietary software, and marketplace infrastructure

With the backing of Alliance Entertainment’s scale, capital resources, and global partner network, Endstate Authentic is uniquely positioned to become a leading authentication and digital identity platform for physical collectibles worldwide.

“This combination transforms Alliance from a traditional distributor into a technology-enabled platform company,” Walker added. “Endstate Authentic strengthens our competitive differentiation, expands margins, and positions Alliance at the center of the future of authenticated physical collectibles.”

Continued Focus on Serving External Customers and the Broader Collectibles Ecosystem

Endstate Authentic will support Alliance’s internal collectible and authentication initiatives while expanding Alliance’s third-party authentication and collectibles services offered through the Endstate Authentic brand.

Endstate Authentic remains committed to providing authentication, NFC enablement, digital identity, and authenticated resale solutions to collectible brands, licensors, teams, creators, manufacturers, marketplaces, and institutions seeking to protect product integrity, enhance customer engagement, and participate in authenticated secondary markets.

As EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) timelines move closer to requiring scannable Digital Product Passports on consumer products, Endstate is also uniquely positioned to help global brands achieve compliance through its integrated NFC chips and software suite.

“Endstate Authentic is not simply an internal solution for Alliance-it is a scalable, enterprise-grade platform built to serve the entire collectibles, resale, and premium product authentication ecosystem,” said Walker.

As adoption accelerates, Alliance expects Endstate Authentic to become a trusted infrastructure layer for brands, marketplaces, and rights holders seeking secure, future-proof authentication and resale solutions.

Proven Leadership Joins Alliance

Bennett Collen, President of Endstate Authentic, is a recognized leader in blockchain for pioneering use of the technology in digital authentication, having previously founded Cognate, a blockchain-based trademark protection company acquired by GoDaddy. He is named inventor on Endstate’s patented and patent pending technologies and has advised the European Union Intellectual Property Office in its adoption of blockchain technology and served as an Adjunct Professor at Boston College, teaching Business Applications of Blockchain Technology in the graduate business school.

Stephanie Howard, Senior Vice President of Operations for Endstate Authentic, brings more than three decades of experience designing and scaling products for leading global brands, including Nike, New Balance, Reebok, and Seventh Generation. Her work has been recognized as modern design classics, and she is named inventor on multiple utility and design patents.

“Alliance’s scale, relationships, and ambition create an extraordinary opportunity for Endstate’s technology,” said Collen. “Together, we can redefine how physical products are authenticated, experienced, and exchanged-at a global level.”

“Endstate Authentic allows us to bring credibility, design excellence, and operational rigor to an entirely new class of collectible and consumer products,” added Howard. “This is just the beginning of what we can build within Alliance.”

Looking Ahead

Endstate Authentic has immediately begun supporting Alliance’s growing Alliance Authentic initiatives while simultaneously accelerating its go-to-market efforts with new and existing external customers. The company expects the platform to become a foundational driver of margin expansion, recurring software revenue, and long-term strategic differentiation across Alliance and the broader premium brands and collectibles industries.

For more information about Endstate and its technology platform, visit www.endstate.io.

About Endstate Authentic

Endstate Authentic is Alliance Entertainment’s dedicated authentication and resale platform, using its patented technology to deliver NFC-enabled product identity, brand protection, customer engagement, and authenticated resale solutions for physical collectibles and consumer products. By embedding NFC chips directly into items, Endstate Authentic links each product to a secure digital identifier that enables authentication, unlocks exclusive digital content and experiences, and provides brands with actionable insights into customer behavior. The platform’s patented and patent-pending technologies support authenticated peer-to-peer resale, allowing brands and rights holders to participate in secondary markets while maintaining product integrity and establishing new customer relationships. As a scalable, enterprise-grade solution, Endstate Authentic serves Alliance’s internal initiatives while continuing to support external brands, licensors, and ecosystem partners across the global collectibles and authentication landscape.

About Alliance Entertainment

Alliance Entertainment (NASDAQ: AENT) is a premier distributor and fulfillment partner for the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry. With more than 340,000 unique in-stock SKUs – including over 57,300 exclusive titles across compact discs, vinyl LPs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and video games – Alliance offers the largest selection of physical media in the market. Our vast catalog also includes licensed merchandise, toys, retro gaming products, and collectibles, serving over 35,000 retail locations and powering e-commerce fulfillment for leading retailers. The company’s growing collectibles portfolio includes Handmade by Robots™, a stylized vinyl figure line featuring licensed characters from leading entertainment franchises. Leveraging decades of operational expertise, exclusive licensing partnerships, and a capital-light, scalable infrastructure, Alliance is a trusted partner to the world’s top entertainment brands and retailers. Our omnichannel platform connects collectors and fans to the products, franchises, and experiences they love – across formats and generations. For more information, visit www.aent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this Press Release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether identified in this Press Release, and on the current expectations of Alliance’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Alliance. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including risks relating to the anticipated growth rates and market opportunities; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the ability of Alliance to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its systems and related services; Alliance’s reliance on a concentration of suppliers for its products and services; increases in Alliance’s costs, disruption of supply, or shortage of products and materials; Alliance’s dependence on a concentration of customers, and failure to add new customers or expand sales to Alliance’s existing customers; increased Alliance inventory and risk of obsolescence; Alliance’s significant amount of indebtedness; our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness; our ability to continue as a going concern absent access to sources of liquidity; risks that a breach of the revolving credit facility could result in the lender declaring a default and that the full outstanding amount under the revolving credit facility could be immediately due in full, which would have severe adverse consequences for the Company; known or future litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of time and attention and the additional costs and demands on Alliance’s resources; Alliance’s business being adversely affected by increased inflation, uncertainty regarding tariffs, higher interest rates and other adverse economic, business, and/or competitive factors; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; as well as our financial condition and results of operations; substantial regulations, which are evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by Alliance to comply with these regulations; product liability claims, which could harm Alliance’s financial condition and liquidity if Alliance is not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims; availability of additional capital to support business growth; and the inability of Alliance to develop and maintain effective internal controls.

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Dave Gentry
RedChip Companies, Inc.
1-800-REDCHIP (733-2447)
1-407-644-4256
AENT@redchip.com

Release – Graham Corporation Announces Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on GHM

January 14, 2026 8:00am EST Download as PDF

BATAVIA, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM), a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the Defense, Energy & Process, and Space industries, announced that it will release its third quarter fiscal year 2026 financial results before financial markets open on Friday, February 6, 2026.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to review its financial and operating results, strategy, and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow.

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Results Conference Call

Friday, February 6, 2026
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Phone: (201) 689-8560
Internet webcast link and accompanying slide presentation: ir.grahamcorp.com

A telephonic replay will be available from 3:00 p.m. ET on the day of the teleconference through Friday, February 13, 2026. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13757532 or access the webcast replay via the Company’s website at ir.grahamcorp.com, where a transcript will also be posted once available.

ABOUT GRAHAM CORPORATION
Graham is a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the Defense, Energy & Process, and Space, industries. Graham Corporation and its family of global brands are built upon world-renowned engineering expertise in vacuum and heat transfer, cryogenic pumps and turbomachinery technologies, as well as its responsive and flexible service and the unsurpassed quality customers have come to expect from the Company’s products and systems. Graham routinely posts news and other important information on its website, grahamcorp.com, where additional information on Graham Corporation and its businesses can be found.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114006944/en/

For more information, contact:
Christopher J. Thome
Vice President – Finance and CFO
Phone: (585) 343-2216

Tom Cook
Investor Relations
Phone: (203) 682-8250
Tom.Cook@icrinc.com

Source: Graham Corporation

Released January 14, 2026

Release – Sky Harbour Announces First Draw under J.P. Morgan Facility; Posts $100 million 5-Year Bond Preliminary Limited Offering Memorandum; and Updates Leasing Activity

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on SKYH

01/12/2026

Closes its First Prepaid Long-Term Hangar Lease with a $5.9 million Upfront Cash Payment

WEST HARRISON, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Sky Harbour Group Corporation (NYSE: SKYH, SKYH WS) (“SHG” or the “Company”), an aviation infrastructure company building the first nationwide network of Home Base Operator (HBO) campuses for business aircraft, announced today that its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Sky Harbour Capital III LLC (“SKYH Capital III”) is filing today with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board through its Electronic Municipal Market Access system (“EMMA”) a Preliminary Limited Offering Memorandum relating to the offering of $100 million of tax-exempt fixed rate bonds with a 5-year mandatory tender date (the “Series 2026 Bonds”), which are proposed to be issued by the Public Finance Authority of Wisconsin, a multi-jurisdictional conduit issuer. Through underwriters Barclays Capital, J.P. Morgan, and Academy Securities, SKYH Capital III expects to price the Series 2026 Bonds during the week of January 26th, after a two-week investor marketing period. The proceeds of the Series 2026 Bonds are expected to be used to finance the development of certain of the Company’s hangar campuses, as described below. The principal amount, structure, tenor and timing are preliminary and subject to change. Any such offering is dependent on market and other conditions, and there is no assurance that all or any of the Series 2026 Bonds will be offered.

Separately, Sky Harbour Capital II (“SKYH Capital II”) completed the onboarding of subsidiaries owning its hangar campuses at Camarillo Airport and Bradley International Airport to the borrowing base of its committed warehouse bank facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on January 8, 2026 (the “JPM Facility”). The Company also amended the JPM Facility in order to facilitate the flow of funds securing the proposed Series 2026 Bonds. These amendments have been filed under Form 8-K with the SEC. On the same date, SKYH Capital II drew funds of approximately $13 million to reimburse the Company for prior advances associated with capital expenditures at Bradley International Airport and certain costs of issuance and fund certain reserves for the JPM Facility.

Update on Leasing Activities

Stabilized campuses: The Company expects revenue per square foot at its stabilized campuses to increase as legacy hangar leases turn over or are renewed and through the annual rent escalators embedded in all tenant leases.
Recently opened campuses: As of January 9, 2026, Dallas Addison (ADS) Phase 1, Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT) and Denver Centennial (APA) have reached 87% ,73% and 27% occupancy levels, respectively.
Pre-leasing: We continue our pre-lease activities at Washington Dulles (IAD), Bradley International Airport (BDL), and have begun pre-leasing at Miami-Opa Locka (OPF) Phase 2 and Addison (ADS) Phase 2. The latter two projects are under construction following the success of their respective Phase 1 developments, which are now nearly fully leased.
Selective long-term partnerships: We have extended our documentation negotiation period under the letter of intent with a potential joint-venture partner leasing a single SH34 hangar at OPF Phase 2 through mid-March 2026, in order to address certain operational requirements. Separately, we continue discussions for similar joint ventures at other locations in the network with other parties.
Ultra-long tenant leases: In late December, we entered into an amended lease with an existing tenant at OPF Phase 1 for a 15-year lease term in exchange for an upfront lump sum rent payment of $5.9 million.

Update on Capital Formation

The proposed Series 2026 Bonds, if completed, would raise $100 million, reducing the need for additional equity contributions associated with the $200 million JPM Facility. As previously disclosed, the JPM Facility has a 5-year term commencing September 2025 with an interest rate of 80% of the sum of daily SOFR + 0.10%, plus 200 basis points. The Company subsequently entered into a floating-to-fixed interest rate swap, with a notional schedule based on the anticipated draws under the JPM Facility and a 4.73% fixed rate for the duration of the term of the JPM Facility. Proceeds from the JPM Facility and the Series 2026 Bonds are expected to be used to fund construction projects at Bradley International Airport (BDL), Salt Lake City International (SLC), Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), Hudson Valley Regional Airport (POU), Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN), Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) and Dulles International Airport (IAD). The JPM Facility is expandable to $300 million subject to credit approval.
If completed as planned, the $100 million raised from the Series 2026 Bond issuance and the $200 million of borrowing capacity available from the JPM Facility and other existing Company resources are expected to fully fund approximately 1.1 million rentable square feet of new hangars, for a total of approximately 2.1 million rentable square feet portfolio-wide.
Selective long-term partnerships: Should the company enter selective long-term partnerships or ultra long-term tenant leases as described above, the Company expects to use the proceeds for the satisfaction of any of its future capital needs and for general corporate purposes.
Internal Cash Flow Generation. The Company expects that between its leasing activities in Q4 2025, Q1 2026, and the anticipated opening of its OPF Phase 2 campus in Q2 2026, the Company will now be able to reinvest internally generated cash flows as equity for its future developments.

About Sky Harbour

Sky Harbour Group Corporation is an aviation infrastructure company developing the first nationwide network of Home-Basing campuses for business aircraft. The company develops, leases, and manages general aviation hangar campuses across the United States. Sky Harbour’s Home-Basing offering aims to provide private and corporate residents with the best physical infrastructure in business aviation, coupled with dedicated service, tailored specifically to based aircraft, offering the shortest time to wheels-up in business aviation. To learn more, visit www.skyharbour.group.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the financial condition, results of operations, earnings outlook and prospects of SHG, including statements regarding our expectations for future results, our expectations for future ground leases, our plans for future capital raising activity, the transactions contemplated by the letter of intent, our expectations on future construction and development activities and lease renewals, and our plans for future financings. When used in this press release, the words “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “would” and other similar words and expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Sky Harbour Group Corporation (the “Company”) as applicable and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For more information about risks facing the Company, see the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other filings the Company makes with the SEC from time to time. The Company’s statements herein speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Key Performance Indicators

We use a number of metrics, including annualized revenue run rate per leased rentable square foot, to help us evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions. Our key performance indicators may be calculated in a manner different than similar key performance indicators used by other issuers. These metrics are estimated operating metrics and not projections, nor actual financial results, and are not indicative of current or future performance.

Disclaimer

This Notice does not constitute an offer to sell Series 2026 Bonds or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Series 2026 Bonds by any person in any state or other jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer, solicitation or sale in such state or jurisdiction. No dealer, broker, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in the Preliminary Limited Offering Memorandum in connection with the contemplated offering of the Series 2026 Bonds, and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112608377/en/

Sky Harbour Investor Relations: investors@skyharbour.group Attn: Francisco X. Gonzalez

Source: Sky Harbour Group Corporation

U.S. Tariff Revenue Falls Sharply in December as Trade Volumes Continue to Reset

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

U.S. tariff revenue declined sharply in December, offering fresh evidence that President Trump’s aggressive trade policies are reshaping global commerce and slowing the flow of goods into American ports. A new report from the U.S. Treasury released Tuesday showed that $27.89 billion in tariff revenue was collected in December, nearly $3 billion less than in November and more than 10% below the October peak.

The December figure caps off a historically lucrative year for tariff collections, with total revenue reaching $264.05 billion in 2025—an unprecedented annual haul. However, it also marks the second consecutive monthly decline after the Trump administration rolled back or adjusted key tariffs late last year. October saw the highest monthly intake at $31.35 billion, followed by $30.76 billion in November before the more pronounced drop in December.

The downturn in tariff revenue reflects broader shifts in U.S. trade flows. Commerce Department data released alongside the Treasury report showed the U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $29.4 billion in November, the lowest level since mid-2009. While the data was delayed due to last fall’s government shutdown, it underscores a clear trend: less trade activity involving the United States, driven largely by sweeping tariff measures.

Administration officials have framed the shrinking trade deficit as a major policy success. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently credited President Trump’s trade agenda for the improvement, noting that the deficit has fallen back to levels not seen since the aftermath of the global financial crisis. When Trump introduced his tariff regime earlier in the year, monthly customs revenues surged dramatically, rising from just $7.25 billion in February and climbing steadily through October.

Yet the recent step-down in revenue highlights the limits of tariffs as a long-term funding source. The Congressional Budget Office has already slashed its projected tariff receipts for the coming decade by roughly $1 trillion, suggesting that trade volumes are adjusting downward faster than policymakers initially anticipated. This has implications for Trump’s broader fiscal ambitions, many of which have leaned heavily on tariff income.

The president has repeatedly suggested that tariffs could fund a wide range of priorities, from tax cuts to infrastructure to national defense. Most recently, Trump argued that tariffs could support a proposed $500 billion annual increase in the U.S. military budget—a figure that exceeds twice the total tariff revenue collected in all of 2025.

Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to loom over global trade in 2026. The White House has issued new tariff threats, including a proposed 25% levy on goods from any country doing business with Iran. At the same time, a closely watched Supreme Court decision on the legality of Trump’s broad “blanket” tariffs could arrive as early as this week.

Trade data underscores the scale of the shift already underway. Shipping analytics firm Project44 reported that U.S. imports from China fell 28% in 2025, while U.S. exports to China dropped 38%, describing the change as one of the sharpest bilateral trade contractions in recent history. While shipping volumes appear to be stabilizing, they are doing so at a markedly lower level.

As the U.S. recalibrates its trade posture, the rest of the world is moving in a different direction. The European Union recently approved a landmark free-trade agreement with Mercosur nations in Latin America, creating one of the world’s largest trade blocs and highlighting a growing divergence in global trade strategies.

Oil Prices Surge to Two-Month High as Iran Tensions Threaten Global Energy Markets

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Oil markets are experiencing their sharpest rally in months as geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran send shockwaves through global energy trading. Both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate have climbed more than 10% over the past week, with prices reaching levels not seen since October.

The rally comes as widespread protests continue to rock Iran, prompting President Trump to warn that the country’s ruling regime would face serious consequences. This marks a significant shift in market attention from Venezuela, where oil shipments have recently resumed, back to Iran—what energy experts are calling the nerve center of global oil markets.

Iran’s position in the global oil landscape is uniquely influential for two critical reasons. First, the country produces over 3 million barrels daily and exports approximately 1.5 million barrels per day. Beyond current production, Iran sits atop more than 200 billion barrels of proven reserves, ranking third globally behind only Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Unlike Venezuelan crude, Iran’s lighter, medium-weight oil is easier to refine and more desirable for buyers.

Second, and perhaps more critically, Iran largely controls the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow waterway that serves as one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints. Roughly 20 million barrels per day, representing about 25% of global seaborne petroleum trade, flows through this strategic passage. Any closure or disruption would immediately send prices soaring.

Historical precedent underscores this vulnerability. When Israeli forces struck Iranian military and nuclear sites last June, Brent crude jumped 7% in a single day despite the Strait never actually closing.

Energy analysts warn that sustained civil unrest could disrupt Iran’s oil infrastructure. Widespread upheaval might prevent skilled workers from reaching production and export facilities, while basic services like electricity could become unreliable. Experts suggest at least limited production interruptions are likely if tensions continue escalating.

A worst-case scenario would mirror the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when political upheaval cut the country’s oil production nearly in half—from over 5.7 million barrels per day to just 3.2 million barrels. While analysts consider a complete production collapse unlikely, even partial disruptions would significantly impact global supplies.

The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Tehran, announcing immediate 25% tariffs on any country conducting business with Iran. The president has also signaled support for protesters facing violent crackdowns that have reportedly killed thousands amid internet blackouts.

China, which purchases more than 80% of Iranian crude, would feel immediate effects from any export disruptions. Chinese refiners might shift demand toward Russian oil or tap domestic reserves that Beijing has been stockpiling as geopolitical insurance.

Despite the price spike, some analysts urge caution. The global oil market currently faces a supply glut of approximately 3.6 million barrels per day, which could absorb moderate disruptions. However, trading activity tells a different story—Monday saw record volume in Brent crude call options as traders hedge against sudden price spikes, while volatility indicators have reached their highest levels since last summer’s strikes.

For now, markets remain on edge, closely watching whether Iran’s internal turmoil will translate into the sustained supply disruption that could send prices substantially higher.

Release – Conduent Launches AI Experience Center to Showcase AI & GenAI-Powered Solutions for Commercial, Transportation and Government Clients

Posted on January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on CNDT

January 13, 2026

Commercial Sector Corporate Transportation Government

New Center Demonstrates How AI Can Drive Business Performance, Enhance Customer Experience and Improve Financial Outcomes

Collaborations with Microsoft and Other Tech Leaders Helps Fuel Innovation Pipeline

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Conduent Incorporated (Nasdaq: CNDT), a global technology-driven business solutions and services provider, today announced the opening of its AI Experience Center at Conduent’s corporate headquarters in Florham Park, New Jersey.

The AI Experience Center is a curated, collaborative space where clients can explore how Conduent’s AI- and GenAI-powered solutions are designed to address their needs and deliver measurable outcomes to improve business process performance, enhance customer satisfaction and drive better financial outcomes. These commercially available solutions, which are tailored for Conduent’s commercial, transportation, and government clients to support their business and their end users, span across customer experience, document processing, pharma and life sciences, payment fraud mitigation, transportation license plate recognition, human capital solutions, and finance, accounting and procurement.

“For approximately 20 years, Conduent has applied advanced technologies like AI across our businesses to deliver meaningful outcomes that align with our clients’ strategic and financial goals,” said Cliff Skelton, President and CEO of Conduent. “As we expand our use of GenAI, the AI Experience Center demonstrates to our clients our innovative portfolio and how these solutions enable us to achieve higher levels of value, performance and personalized experience to support their businesses and their customers.”

In partnership with Microsoft, Conduent has been accelerating innovation across its portfolio leveraging the Azure OpenAI Service. The initial solutions utilizing AI and GenAI developed with Microsoft focused on end-user engagement, healthcare claims processing, and fraud detection.

“At Microsoft, we deeply value our collaboration with Conduent. The launch of the AI Experience Center is a milestone that reflects our shared commitment to innovation and empowering organizations with cutting-edge AI and Generative AI solutions,” said Chad Kammeraad, VP/General Manager Global Strategics Commercial Enterprise at Microsoft. “Together, we are helping commercial, transportation, and government clients unlock new possibilities and deliver transformative outcomes.”

Strategic Partnerships Expand Conduent Capabilities

In addition to working with Microsoft, Conduent has been able to accelerate the development of solutions through strategic partnerships with other leading technology companies. With the help of these tech category leaders and their AI and GenAI tools, Conduent solutions have expanded their capabilities, such as recognizing significant savings in the procurement process, helping guide employees through the open enrollment process, and expanding contact center agent expertise and abilities to support and service customers.

Advanced AI Solutions Delivering Breakthrough Solutions for Clients

Designed to align with our clients’ functional areas, the Center features in-depth demos that highlight Conduent’s ability to solve complex industry challenges through transformative technologies developed either in-house or with leading technology partners. Solutions are organized into three key functional areas:

Functional Areas	Capabilities	Example of Solutions Poweredby AI & GenAI
Improve end-user interactions and engagement	Enable more personalized experiences at scale with adaptive learning that improves engagement	Enhancement of CX offering with market leading AI features:Real-time translationAccent smoothingAutomated quality assurance
Streamline core operations	Automate time-consuming tasks, simplify workflows and process information faster with higher accuracy	Enhanced identification of FDA-reportable events Automated fraud detection for government prepaid card programs
Optimize enterprise functions	Analyze data and gain insights quickly to help teams make smarter decisions	Personalized, intelligent employee benefit experiences Contract compliance assessment and identification of procurement savings

About Conduent

Conduent delivers digital business solutions and services spanning the commercial, government and transportation spectrum – creating valuable outcomes for its clients and the millions of people who count on them. The Company leverages cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation and advanced analytics to deliver mission-critical solutions. Through a dedicated global team of approximately 53,000 associates, process expertise and advanced technologies, Conduent’s solutions and services digitally transform its clients’ operations to enhance customer experiences, improve performance, increase efficiencies and reduce costs. Conduent adds momentum to its clients’ missions in many ways including disbursing approximately $85 billion in government payments annually, enabling 2.3 billion customer service interactions annually, empowering millions of employees through HR services every year and processing nearly 13 million tolling transactions every day. Learn more at www.conduent.com.

Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit www.news.conduent.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://twitter.com/Conduent, http://www.linkedin.com/company/conduent or http://www.facebook.com/Conduent.

Trademarks

Conduent is a trademark of Conduent Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contacts

Sean Collins

Conduent

Sean.Collins2@conduent.com

+1-310-497-9205

Joshua Overholt

Conduent

ir@conduent.com

Release – Kratos Opens New 55,000-Square-Foot State-of-the-Art Hypersonic System Manufacturing and Payload Integration Facility in Princess Anne, Maryland

Posted on January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on KTOS

January 13, 2026

PDF Version

Kratos Continues to Demonstrate Commitment to Growing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base with this Announcement of Its Sixth New Facility in a Year

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in defense, national security, and global markets, announced today the grand opening of its new 55,000-square-foot state-of-the-art hypersonic and “Other” system manufacturing and payload integration facility in Princess Anne, Maryland.

The advanced facility will significantly enhance Kratos’ capabilities to support launch operations and hypersonic testing for the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program and other customers from agencies including the U.S. Navy, US Air Force, DARPA, and the Missile Defense Agency.

“This strategic investment in Princess Anne represents Kratos’ commitment to expanding our nation’s hypersonic testing infrastructure and capabilities,” said Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services Division. “The new facility enables us to increase production capacity, streamline payload integration processes, and respond even more rapidly to the growing demand for affordable hypersonic flight testing. The Princess Anne facility will play a crucial role in supporting our $1.4 billion MACH-TB 2.0 contract and other critical programs, enabling increased test cadence and more affordable flight test opportunities for hypersonic technologies.

The Princess Anne facility features advanced manufacturing capabilities, specialized integration areas, and enhanced testing equipment designed to support Kratos’ expanding role in hypersonic testing and launch operations. The location was strategically chosen for its proximity to NASA Wallops Flight Facility, optimizing logistics and operational efficiencies.

“We are excited to welcome Kratos to Princess Anne and look forward to the opportunities it will bring. Kratos’ contributions will help strengthen our local economy and business community,” stated Jay Prouse, Princess Anne Town Manager.

Danny Thompson, Executive Director for the Somerset County Economic Development Commission (EDC), remarked, “We are thrilled that Kratos will be locating to the Princess Anne Industrial Park. The collaboration efforts between Kratos, the Town of Princess Anne, and Somerset County EDC, continues to foster expansion in the Aerospace Engineering field and provide job retention and economic growth.”

Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said, “This new facility is another example of Kratos’ strategy of making upfront commitments to rapidly develop and field relevant national security hardware, products and systems, and invest in growing the U.S. defense industrial base. Similar to other Kratos facilities, Princess Anne is directly tied to either customers, programs, contracts, partners and specific hardware, products and systems, resulting in a tailored, efficient, manufacturing, integration or production facility, resulting in low cost, efficient rapid execution and delivery to the warfighter.”

The Princess Anne facility is expected to create new high-skilled jobs in the region and further strengthen Kratos’ capabilities to support the Department of War’s initiatives to accelerate hypersonic technology development and testing.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology, products, system and software company addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. Kratos makes true internally funded research, development, capital and other investments, to rapidly develop, produce and field solutions that address our customers’ mission critical needs and requirements. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we seek to utilize proven, leading-edge approaches and technology, not unproven bleeding edge approaches or technology, with Kratos’ approach designed to reduce cost, schedule and risk, enabling us to be first to market with cost effective solutions. We believe that Kratos is known as an innovative disruptive change agent in the industry, a company that is an expert in designing products and systems up front for successful rapid, large quantity, low-cost future manufacturing which is a value-add competitive differentiator for our large traditional prime system integrator partners and also to our government and commercial customers. Kratos intends to pursue program and contract opportunities as the prime or lead contractor when we believe that our probability of win (PWin) is high and any investment required by Kratos is within our capital resource comfort level. We intend to partner and team with a large, traditional system integrator when our assessment of PWin is greater or required investment is beyond Kratos’ comfort level. Kratos’ primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles including software for command & control (C2) and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems, hypersonic vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter UAS, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality training systems for the warfighter. For more information, visit www.KratosDefense.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2024, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.

Press Contact:
Claire Cantrell
claire.cantrell@kratosdefense.com

Investor Information:
877-934-4687
investor@kratosdefense.com

Source: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

Release – Bitcoin Depot Acquires the Assets of Regional Bitcoin ATM Operator, Instant Coin Bank

Posted on January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on BTM

January 13, 2026 8:00 AM EST Download as PDF

Advances Bitcoin Depot’s Nationwide Expansion Strategy and Market Consolidation Efforts

ATLANTA, Jan. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Depot (NASDAQ: BTM), a U.S.-based Bitcoin ATM (“BTM”) operator and leading fintech company, today announced its acquisition of Instant Coin Bank, a regional BTM operator with locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The acquisition strengthens Bitcoin Depot’s footprint in the South-Central United States and supports the Company’s long-term growth strategy.

“Instant Coin Bank is a strong strategic fit in a region where we continue to see sustained demand for convenient, secure cash-to-crypto access,” said Bitcoin Depot CEO Scott Buchanan. “This transaction allows us to further expand our presence in Texas and surrounding markets while applying operational expertise and compliance infrastructure to integrate their network efficiently. As we continue to consolidate a highly fragmented industry, acquisitions like this support our goal of building the most reliable and accessible BTM platform nationwide.”

Instant Coin Bank’s ATM network will be fully integrated into Bitcoin Depot’s platform in the coming weeks, with all locations transitioning to Bitcoin Depot branding, and there will be no service disruption for its customers. Existing machines will retain their core functionality while gaining access to Bitcoin Depot’s 24/7 customer support, an established compliance program, and ongoing investments in technology and consumer protection.

“We started this company with the goal to provide simple, reliable access to crypto in our local communities,” said Obada Alhaj, President of Instant Coin Bank. “Joining Bitcoin Depot allows that mission to continue on a much larger scale. Their market expertise, operational capabilities, and commitment to compliance will enhance the experience for both our customers and location partners.”

Since becoming the first U.S. Bitcoin ATM operator to go public in July 2023, Bitcoin Depot has demonstrated its ability to expand internationally while maintaining a focus on compliance, access, and customer experience. Over the last year, the Company announced several key retail partnerships, an enhanced compliance program, multiple strategic acquisitions, and additions to its growing Bitcoin treasury.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. For more information, visit https://bitcoindepot.com.

About Bitcoin Depot
Bitcoin Depot Inc. (Nasdaq: BTM) was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect those who prefer to use cash to the broader, digital financial system. Bitcoin Depot provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot kiosks in 47 states and at thousands of name-brand retail locations in 31 states through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America and operates over 9,000 kiosk locations globally as of August 2025. Learn more at www.bitcoindepot.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations of plans, business strategies, objectives and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance, including our growth strategy and ability to increase deployment of our products and services, the anticipated effects of the Agreement. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “appears,” “approximately,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “designed,” “effect,” “estimate,” “evaluate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “initiative,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “priorities,” “project,” “pursue,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “when,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond our control.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; future global, regional or local economic and market conditions; the development, effects and enforcement of laws and regulations; our ability to manage future growth; our ability to develop new products and services, bring them to market in a timely manner and make enhancements to our platform; the effects of competition on our future business; our ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities; the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; and those factors described or referenced in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our assessments to change.

We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Contacts:

Investors 
Cody Slach
Gateway Group, Inc. 
949-574-3860 
BTM@gateway-grp.com

Media 
Brenlyn Motlagh, Ryan Deloney 
Gateway Group, Inc.
949-574-3860 
BTM@gateway-grp.com

Source: Bitcoin Depot Inc.

Released January 13, 2026