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

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

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 AreasCapabilitiesExample of Solutions Poweredby AI & GenAI
Improve end-user interactions and engagementEnable more personalized experiences at scale with adaptive learning that improves engagementEnhancement of CX offering with market leading AI features:Real-time translationAccent smoothingAutomated quality assurance
Streamline core operationsAutomate time-consuming tasks, simplify workflows and process information faster with higher accuracyEnhanced identification of FDA-reportable eventsAutomated fraud detection for government prepaid card programs
Optimize enterprise functionsAnalyze data and gain insights quickly to help teams make smarter decisionsPersonalized, intelligent employee benefit experiencesContract 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/Conduenthttp://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

[email protected]

+1-310-497-9205

Joshua Overholt

Conduent

[email protected]

SKYX Platforms (SKYX) – Joining NVIDIA Connect


Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

NVIDIA partnership elevates SKYX’s technology profile. SKYX joined the NVIDIA Connect Program, gaining access to NVIDIA’s cloud and AI ecosystem to support development of its All-In-One Smart Platform. Management described the relationship as “game-changing,” reinforcing SKYX’s positioning as a technology platform company.

The Smart Platform is designed to be the ceiling-based hub of the home. The SkyPlatform embeds connectivity, safety, and intelligence into a single ceiling-based hub, combining Wi-Fi, voice and app control, speakers, thermostat functions, emergency lighting, and safety features. The platform is designed to be compatible with leading smart assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, simplifying how homes adopt and manage connected technology.


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

SelectQuote (SLQT) – Extended Maturities Enhances Balance Sheet Flexibility


Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Extended maturity. The company completed a comprehensive refinance that extends its primary debt maturities to January 2031, removing the prior 2027 overhang. The new $325M senior secured term loan and $90M revolver replace the legacy structure and provide a multi-year runway. We view this as a structural reset that repositions the balance sheet to be better-aligned with the company’s long-term growth strategy.

Cost of capital improvements. The new facility delivers immediate interest savings on the revolver (SOFR + 400 bps versus SOFR + 500 bps previously) and embeds a clear path to lower term-loan pricing. The term loan begins at SOFR + 650 bps, with step-downs to SOFR + 600 bps and ultimately SOFR + 550 bps as leverage and Cash EBITDA improve. Operating performance will now have the potential to directly translate into interest savings.


Get the Full Report

Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – SKYX Announces it will Supply its Technologies to Enable a New Luxury Waterfront Smart Home Community Development in North Carolina as it Continues to Grow its Market Penetration

Research News and Market Data on SKYX

January 12, 2026 09:23 ET  | Source: SKYX Platforms Corp.

The Waterfront Smart Home Community Lake Shore Reserve is Located on the Hickory Lake in Granite Falls, North Carolina Nearby Microsoft’s Upcoming 1,385 Acres Mega Park and will include 140 Luxury Smart Single-Family Homes 

SKYX is Expected to Supply its All-In-One Smart Home Platform Hub Comprising its NVIDIA AI Ecosystem with over 10,000 Units Including its Advanced Smart Plug & Play Technologies, Ceiling Lighting, Ceiling Fans, Recessed Lights, Down Lights, EXIT Signs, Emergency Lights, Indoor and Outdoor Wall Lights Among Other Advanced Smart Products

SKYX’s Technologies Expansion Provides Additional Opportunities for Future Recurring Revenues Through Interchangeability, Upgrades, AI Services, Monitoring, Subscriptions, Among Others

MIAMI, Jan. 12, 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 pending and issued patents globally and 60 lighting and home décor websites, with a mission to make homes and buildings become safe and smart as the new standard, today announced that it will supply and enable its advanced smart plug and play technologies to a luxury smart home residential development project Lake Shore Reserve on Hickory Lake in Granite Falls, North Carolina. The first phase of the project will include 140 luxury smart single-family homes.

The project will comprise luxury amenities including swimming pools, a state-of-the-art gym, modern meeting conference facilities, pickleball courts, nature walking trails, landscaped green spaces, and more.

SKYX is expected to provide its all-in-one smart home platform hub, integrated with the NVIDIA AI ecosystem, including over 10,000 units of its advanced and smart plug & play technologies, ceiling lighting, recessed lights, downlights, wall lights, EXIT signs, and EMERGENCY lights, plug-in LED backlight mirrors among other SKYX products.

1Majestic Development Co. luxury home founders and developers have over 20 years of experience in building luxury homes and developments in North Carolina and Florida among other locations. 1Majestic Development Co. is a partnership comprised of Robert Anderson, founder of ABH Construction, and One dwell Developers Group led by Ron Dable and Dror Tohar.

Majestic Group Project in North Carolina

Majestic Group Project in North Carolina

Majestic Group Project in North Carolina

Majestic Group Project in North Carolina

1Majestic Development Co. General Partner, Ron Dable, said; “We are excited to collaborate with SKYX and bring their innovative technologies into our waterfront Lake Shore Reserve Granite Falls project. Our focus has always been on creating modern, high-quality living spaces that enhance the daily lives of our homeowners. By integrating SKYX’s advanced smart home AI-driven plug-and-play solutions, we are raising the standard of safety, convenience, and design for our communities.”

Rani Kohen, Founder and Executive Chairman, of SKYX Platforms, said; “We are happy to work with luxury home developers 1Majestic Group on this exciting and unique smart home waterfront community. We look forward to collaborating with them to enhance home values while creating smarter, safer, and advanced homes of the future.”

For information about the Lake Shore Reserve development Click Here.

To view SKYX’s Technologies demo video Click Here.

About SKYX Platforms Corp.

As electricity is a standard in every home and building, our mission is to make homes and buildings become safe-advanced and smart as the new standard. SKYX has a series of highly disruptive advanced-safe-smart platform technologies, with over 100 U.S. and global patents and patent pending applications. Additionally, the Company owns 60 lighting and home decor websites for both retail and commercial segments. Our technologies place an emphasis on high quality and ease of use, while significantly enhancing both safety and lifestyle in homes and buildings. We believe that our products are a necessity in every room in both homes and other buildings in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit our website at https://skyplug.com/ or follow us 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
[email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db15df8c-8110-49f9-973d-bc4f49f2f9d3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c39dba0-2611-493c-b03b-c58ec6fb4732

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f92ec918-9b1c-4058-9a15-7d8386a54

The Real AI Arms Race: Why Power and Data Centers Are Becoming the Next Big Investment Theme

The artificial intelligence boom is no longer just about software models and chips—it’s increasingly about power, land, and infrastructure. That reality came into sharp focus this week as OpenAI and SoftBank jointly committed $1 billion to SB Energy, a fast-growing energy and data center infrastructure company positioned at the center of America’s AI buildout.

Under the deal, OpenAI and SoftBank will each invest $500 million to support SB Energy’s expansion as a large-scale developer and operator of data centers. As part of the partnership, SB Energy has been selected to build and operate OpenAI’s 1.2-gigawatt data center in Milam County, Texas, a facility large enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. The investment highlights a critical shift: for AI leaders, securing reliable energy has become as strategic as securing advanced chips.

AI workloads are extraordinarily power-hungry. Training and running large language models requires enormous computing capacity, which in turn drives unprecedented electricity demand. As a result, hyperscalers and AI developers are now racing to lock down long-term energy sources and infrastructure partners to avoid future bottlenecks. In this environment, companies that can deliver power at scale are emerging as essential enablers of the AI economy.

SB Energy represents a hybrid model well-suited for this moment. Originally founded as a renewable energy and storage developer and long backed by SoftBank, the company has expanded aggressively into data center development, ownership, and operations. This dual exposure to both energy production and digital infrastructure positions SB Energy as a critical middle layer between power generation and AI compute demand.

The investment also ties directly into OpenAI’s Stargate initiative, a massive joint effort with partners including SoftBank and Oracle to invest up to $500 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure over the next four years. Stargate’s ambition underscores how central physical infrastructure has become to sustaining AI growth—and why capital is flowing into companies that can execute at scale.

From an investor’s perspective, this trend carries important implications. While mega-cap tech companies dominate AI headlines, much of the real opportunity may lie one layer below, in infrastructure providers, energy developers, and specialized operators that enable AI expansion. These businesses often generate long-term contracted revenue and may benefit from structural demand regardless of short-term swings in AI sentiment.

However, the rapid interconnection between AI firms, financiers, and infrastructure developers also introduces risk. Heavy capital commitments assume that AI demand will continue to rise at an aggressive pace. If adoption slows or efficiency gains reduce power needs, some projects could face pressure. Investors should therefore favor companies with diversified customers, strong balance sheets, and assets that retain value beyond AI-specific use cases.

Ultimately, the OpenAI–SoftBank investment in SB Energy signals a broader shift: AI is becoming an infrastructure-driven industry. For investors willing to look beyond the obvious names, the companies powering the AI revolution—literally—may offer some of the most compelling opportunities in the years ahead.

SKYX Announces Collaboration with NVIDIA on its Connect Program, Cloud, and AI Ecosystem for its Patented Ceiling All-In-One Smart Home Platform and Hub

Research News and Market Data on SKYX

January 08, 2026 07:58 ET  | Source: SKYX Platforms Corp.

 NVIDIA Connect Supports Advanced Technology Companies Developing AI-powered Products

Part of NVIDIA’s Connect Program is to Promote, Assist, and Identify Go-To-Market Opportunities

SKYX Expects to Include its All-In-One Smart Platform and Hub, in Collaboration with NVIDIA’s AI Features, in Future U.S. and Global Projects, Including the Upcoming $4 Billion Miami, Florida Smart City

NVIDIA Connect is Designed to Help Build AI Solutions Faster, Accelerate Growth, and Maximize Opportunities while Delivering a Range of Significant AI Ecosystem Advantages, as Well as Free Benefits

SKYX’s Technologies Expansion Provides Additional Opportunities for Future Recurring Revenues, AI Services, Monitoring, and Subscriptions Through Interchangeability and Upgrades, Among Others

MIAMI, Jan. 08, 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 pending and issued patents globally and over 60 lighting and home décor websites, with a mission to make homes and buildings become safe and smart as the new standard, today announced it has joined the NVIDIA Connect Program, gaining access to NVIDIA’s cloud and AI ecosystem to support the development of SKYX’s all-in-one smart home platform and hub, as well as its broader portfolio of advanced smart home products.

SKYX’s all-in-one smart home platform and hub comprises numerous safety, security, and smart home features including Wi-Fi and repeaters, AI ecosystem, voice, and app controls, 911 emergency calling feature, smoke and CO detectors, thermostat, speakers, room-to-room intercom, emergency light, safety night light, color changing light, among others.

The NVIDIA Connect Program, cloud, and AI ecosystem accelerates and offers significant advantages for SKYX’s all-in-one smart home platform and hub including the following:

  • Access to NVIDIA’s world-class GPU-accelerated AI development ecosystem, including advanced frameworks for speech recognition, anomaly detection, real-time analytics, and scalable cloud inference.
  • Advances the Company’s vision of transforming the ceiling into the AI-powered brain of the home, enabling the all-in-one SKYX platform to deliver intelligence across six distinct domains, such as voice, audio, safety, environmental, behavioral, and predictive.
  • Powers a secure, privacy-first cloud infrastructure leveraging NVIDIA’s GPU and DPU technologies to process anonymized device data, enabling fleet-wide learning while ensuring enterprise-grade security and data protection.
  • Supports the Company’s long-term roadmap, including next-generation safety intelligence, computer vision, healthcare applications such as elderly monitoring and fall detection, and whole-home connectivity through Wi-Fi mesh extension, Matter protocol and capabilities.
  • Joining a global ecosystem of AI innovators leveraging NVIDIA technology, reinforcing SKYX’s commitment to delivering the most intelligent and comprehensive smart home platform available.
SKYX Patented All-In-One Smart Home Platform and Hub

SKYX Patented All-In-One Smart Home Platform and Hub

Khadija Mustafa, SKYX’s Senior AI Advisor and former Global Business & AI leader at Microsoft & G42, said; “This is a significant development that positions SKYX to lead the smart, safe home and AI solutions category. Since joining SKYX as Lead AI Advisor, our focus has been on expanding the company’s AI opportunities and capabilities. Aligning with NVIDIA and its programs was a top priority from the outset. NVIDIA’s Connect Program and broader AI ecosystem provide SKYX with meaningful advantages to accelerate innovation, strengthen differentiation, and lead the advanced smart and safe home segment. Combined with SKYX’s progress in home safety standardization, this collaboration has the potential to be truly game-changing for homes and buildings.”

Rani Kohen, Founder and Executive Chairman of SKYX, said; “This is a significant and very exciting development for SKYX. The NVIDIA Program gives us a tremendous advantage toward our safe and smart home goal. Utilizing NVIDIA’s programs and the benefits of its Connect and AI ecosystem can be game changing for our Company and Shareholders.”   

For SKYX All-In-One Smart Platform and Hub Video Demo: Click Here

About SKYX Platforms Corp.

  • For more information about SKYX Platforms Corp. go to SKYX.com
  • As electricity is a standard in every home and building, our mission is to make homes and buildings become safe-advanced and smart as the new standard. SKYX has a series of highly disruptive advanced-safe-smart platform technologies, with over 100 U.S. and global patents and patent pending applications. Additionally, the Company owns over 60 lighting and home decor websites for both retail and commercial segments. Our technologies place an emphasis on high quality and ease of use, while significantly enhancing both safety and lifestyle in homes and buildings. We believe that our products are a necessity in every room in both homes and other buildings in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit our website at https://skyplug.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn.
  • SKYX’s technologies provide opportunities for recurring revenues through interchangeability, upgrades, AI services monitoring, and subscriptions. Company is focused on the “Razor & Blades” model and its product range includes its advanced ceiling electrical outlet (Razor) and its advance and smart home plug & play products (Blades) including its advance and smart home plug & play platform products, lighting, recessed lights, down lights, EXIT signs, emergency lights, ceiling fans, chandeliers/pendants, holiday/kids/themes lights, indoor/outdoor wall lights among other. Company’s plug & play technology enables an installation of lighting, fans, and smart home products in high-rise buildings and hotels within days rather than months.
  • Company’s total addressable market (TAM) in the U.S. is roughly $500 billion with over 4.2 billion ceiling applications in the U.S. alone. Expected revenue streams from retail and professional segments include product sales, royalties, licensing, subscription, monitoring, and sale of global country rights.

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 First-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, including recent measures adopted by the federal government, 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management considers earnings (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, as adjusted, an important indicator in evaluating the Company’s business on a consistent basis across various periods. Due to the significance of non-recurring items, EBITDA, as adjusted, enables management to monitor and evaluate the business on a consistent basis. The Company uses EBITDA, as adjusted, as a primary measure, among others, to analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions regarding future operating investments and potential acquisitions. The Company believes that EBITDA, as adjusted, eliminates items that are not part of the Company’s core operations, such as interest expense and amortization expense associated with intangible assets, or items that do not involve a cash outlay, such as share-based payments and non-recurring items, such as transaction costs. EBITDA, as adjusted, should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, pre-tax income (loss), net income (loss) and cash flows used in operating activities. This non-GAAP financial measure excludes significant expenses that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Company’s financial statements and is subject to inherent limitations. Investors should review the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the comparable GAAP financial measure. Investors should not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company’s business.

Investor Relations Contact:

Jeff Ramson
PCG Advisory
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/13461e59-836b-4c5a-8676-e1f57b6cc2b2

Nvidia’s CES Comments Ignite Breakout Rally in Sandisk Shares

Sandisk Corp. has emerged as one of the most explosive stocks in the early days of 2026, with a rally that has captured Wall Street’s attention and reshaped expectations for the memory and storage sector. Shares of the company surged as much as 25% on Tuesday, marking their best intraday performance since February and pushing the stock to a fresh record high. The move followed comments from Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang at the CES technology conference, where he underscored the critical — and largely untapped — role of storage in the artificial intelligence boom.

Sandisk’s gains extend far beyond a single trading session. The stock has climbed more than 40% in the first three trading days of the new year and has skyrocketed roughly 1,050% since bottoming out in April 2025. On Tuesday alone, it stood as the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, outpacing peers across the memory and storage ecosystem. Western Digital and Seagate Technology also posted double-digit percentage gains, reflecting renewed enthusiasm for companies tied to data storage infrastructure.

At the heart of the rally are Huang’s remarks about what he described as a massive, underserved market. Speaking at CES, the Nvidia CEO said storage represents “a completely unserved market today,” adding that it could become the largest storage market in the world as it evolves to hold the working memory of artificial intelligence systems. His comments reinforced a growing narrative that AI’s next phase will not be limited to compute power alone, but will increasingly depend on fast, scalable, and affordable memory and storage solutions.

Industry fundamentals appear to support that thesis. According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jake Silverman, tight supply conditions and rising memory prices are already benefiting digital storage companies. The surge in demand is being driven by both AI training and inferencing, which require enormous volumes of data to be stored, accessed, and processed efficiently. Huang’s CES commentary, Silverman noted, suggests that demand for NAND storage will remain strong across Nvidia-powered systems.

Pricing trends add further fuel to the bullish outlook. Memory prices have been climbing steadily, and reports from Korea Economic Daily indicate that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are seeking to raise server DRAM prices by as much as 60% to 70% in the first quarter compared with the prior quarter. Such increases signal a supply-demand imbalance that could continue to lift margins across the sector.

Wall Street analysts are increasingly framing Sandisk and its peers as central players in the next leg of the AI investment cycle. Bank of America analysts, led by Wamsi Mohan, recently described memory and storage companies as “key beneficiaries” of the push toward AI inferencing and edge computing in 2026. As organizations retain more data for training, analytics, and regulatory compliance, demand for storage is expected to surge. Mohan highlighted expanding use cases across drones, surveillance systems, vehicles, and sports technology as areas of rapid growth.

While the AI narrative has so far been dominated by capital spending on chips and data centers, analysts argue that the focus is beginning to shift. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, AI inferencing — and the storage required to support it — may dominate the next wave of hardware investment. For Sandisk, that shift has already translated into a historic rally, and investors are betting the momentum is far from over.

Nvidia’s Market Dominance Faces Growing Challenges in 2026

The world’s most valuable company is entering 2026 on uncertain footing. Nvidia shares have declined roughly 8% since hitting a record on October 29, losing $460 billion in market value over recent months while underperforming the broader S&P 500. The pullback comes as investors question the sustainability of AI spending and whether the chip giant can maintain its stranglehold on the accelerator market.

The decline is striking given Nvidia’s remarkable three-year run, which saw the stock surge more than 1,200% since late 2022 and pushed its market capitalization above $5 trillion at its peak. The company remains the single biggest contributor to the current bull market, accounting for approximately 16% of the S&P 500’s advance since October 2022—more than double Apple’s contribution. Any sustained weakness in Nvidia would reverberate across most equity portfolios.

Competition is intensifying from multiple directions. Advanced Micro Devices has secured major data center contracts with OpenAI and Oracle, with its data center revenue projected to jump about 60% to nearly $26 billion in 2026. More significantly, Nvidia’s largest customers are developing their own chips to circumvent the expense of buying Nvidia’s accelerators, which can exceed $30,000 each. Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft—collectively representing over 40% of Nvidia’s revenue—are all building internal alternatives.

Google has been working on tensor processing units for over a decade and recently optimized its latest Gemini AI chatbot to run on these proprietary chips. The company announced a chip deal with Anthropic valued in the tens of billions of dollars, and reports suggest Meta is negotiating to rent Google Cloud chips for use in 2027 data centers. This shift toward custom silicon is lifting companies like Broadcom, whose application-specific integrated circuit business has helped vault its market capitalization to $1.6 trillion, surpassing Tesla.

Nvidia’s December licensing deal with startup chipmaker Groq appears to acknowledge the growing demand for specialized, lower-cost alternatives. The company plans to incorporate elements of Groq’s low-latency semiconductor technology into future designs, suggesting even the market leader recognizes it must adapt to changing customer preferences.

Despite these headwinds, Wall Street remains largely bullish. Of the 82 analysts covering Nvidia, 76 maintain buy ratings with only one recommending a sale. The average price target implies a 37% gain over the next year, which would push the company’s valuation above $6 trillion. CEO Jensen Huang declared at CES that demand for Nvidia GPUs is “skyrocketing” as AI models increase by an order of magnitude annually, with the company’s next-generation Rubin chips nearing release.

Investors are closely monitoring Nvidia’s profit margins as competition heats up. The company’s gross margin dipped in fiscal 2026 due to higher costs from ramping up its Blackwell chip series, falling to a projected 71.2% from the mid-70s percentage range in previous years. Management expects margins to recover to around 75% in fiscal 2027, but any shortfall would likely trigger concern on Wall Street.

Interestingly, Nvidia trades at a relatively modest valuation of 25 times forward earnings despite expectations for 57% profit growth on a 53% revenue increase in its next fiscal year. This multiple is lower than most Magnificent Seven stocks except Meta, and cheaper than over a quarter of S&P 500 companies. Some analysts view this as opportunity, arguing the stock is priced as if the AI cycle has already ended.

The AI infrastructure buildout remains massive, with Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta projected to spend over $400 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, much of it directed toward data center equipment. Even as Big Tech develops internal chips, the computing power requirements are so enormous that companies continue purchasing Nvidia’s products. Bloomberg Intelligence analysts expect Nvidia’s market share to remain intact for the foreseeable future, though maintaining 90% dominance will clearly be more challenging than before.

SKYX Provides Corporate Update Including $9.5 Million in Recent Investment from its Leading Investors as it Continues to Grow its Market Penetration

Research News and Market Data on SKYX

SKYX Board Member Converted an $835,000 Convertible Note at $2.20 per share

SKYX is in Process of Expanding its AI Ecosystem Program and AI Future Offerings

SKYX Announced Launch of its Patented Advanced SKYFAN and Turbo Heater in U.S. Leading Retailer Target, as well as into the Canadian Market in addition to its E-Commerce Platform with 60 Websites

Driven by Strong Demand, Management Expects to Announce Additional Launches of its SKYFAN and Turbo Heater in January at Several Other Leading U.S. Retailers and Big Box Chains

The Company Anticipates the Winter Launch of its SKYFAN & Turbo Heater Will Advance its Path to Cash-Flow Positive

SKYX Continues its Growth and Expects to Deploy over 60,000 of its Products into Homes/Units by the End of Q1 2026 through Retail and Pro Segments

Management Expects to Secure Additional Significant Business Opportunities in 2026

Following SKYX’s Successful Demonstration of its Technologies during a Marriott Hotel Renovation Company Expects to Significantly Expand its Hotel Segment in 2026

SKYX Revenues Increased for 7 Consecutive Comparable Quarters from Q1 2024 Through Q3 2025 with $19M in Q1/24, $21M in Q2/24, $22M in Q3/24, $23M in Q4/24, $20M in Q1/25, $23M in Q2/25 and $24M in Q3/25

SKYX’s Safety Code Standardization Team is Continuing to Progress and is Receiving Significant Support from a Prominent Leader with its Government Safety Organization Process for Safety Mandatory Standardization in Homes and Buildings of its Ceiling Outlet/Receptacle Technology

SKYX Will Supply its Technologies to Two Key Projects in Austin Texas 278 Units, and San Antonio Texas 340 Units, Built by Prominent Developers Landmark Companies, SKYX is Expected to Deploy Over 25,000 Units of its Advanced and Smart Plug & Play Technologies to The Projects

SKYX’s Major Collaboration with the Mixed-Use Smart City Development in Miami is Expected to Deploy over 500,000 Units of its Advanced and Plug & Play Smart Home Technologies; The Smart City Project Has Expanded from a $3 Billion to a $4 Billion Project

SKYX Will Be Launching a New AI Driven Software for its E-commerce Platform of 60 Websites Which is Expected to Increase its Conversion Rate and Sales Up To 30%; The AI-Native E-Commerce Platform is Designed to Elevate B2B and B2C Experiences through its Innovative and Smart Product Line

SKYX’s Technologies Expansion Provides Additional Opportunities for Future Recurring Revenues Through Interchangeability, Upgrades, AI Services, Monitoring and Subscriptions, Among Others

MIAMI, Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SKYX Platforms Corp. (NASDAQ: SKYX) (d/b/a SKYX Technologies) (the “Company” or “SKYX”), a highly disruptive platform technology company with over 100 pending and issued patents globally and over 60 lighting and home décor websites, with a mission to make homes and buildings become safe and smart as the new standard, today provides a corporate update including $9.5 million in recent investment from its leading investors as it continues to grow its market penetration.

Highlights, Recent and Future Events

  • As of September 30, 2025, Company reported $13 million in total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and receivables.
  • Company has recently raised $9.5 million in additional capital from several of its leading shareholders.
  • Company continues to leverage its cash position through its e-commerce platform of 60 websites among other methods including support from leading strategic investors and insiders.
  • Management believes it has sufficient cash to achieve its goals including being cash flow positive.
  • SKYX has recently extended and converted $13.5 million in notes coming due with maturity out to 5 years until 2030.
  • SKYX entered into an agreement with Global Ventures Group, a leading U.S. and international real estate development firm, marking a significant step in SKYX’s global expansion strategy.
  • Pursuant to the agreement, Global Ventures Group plans to deploy SKYX’s smart technologies into tens of thousands of homes and hotel rooms in that region and is expected to supply hundreds of thousands of units of its advanced and smart home technologies to projects across the Middle East, including developments in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
  • The Company entered a major collaboration with a mixed-use smart city development in the heart of Miami, now expanded to a $4 billion project. SKYX is expected to deploy over 500,000 units of its advanced and plug & play smart home technologies.
  • SKYX announced it will be launching a new AI driven software for its e-commerce platform of 60 websites expected to increase its conversion rate and sales up to30%. The AI-native e-commerce platform is designed to elevate B2B and B2C experiences through its innovative and smart product line.
  • SKYX announced it will provide over 25,000 units of its Advanced and Smart Plug & Play products in two projects in the Austin and San Antonio, Texas led by prominent developers Landmark Companies.
  • Company is collaborating with Home Depot and Wayfair on its Advanced and Smart Plug & Play products for both retail and professional segments. SKYX’s product offering will include a variety of its advanced and Smart Plug & Play products including Retrofit Kits, Smart Light Fixtures, Smart Ceiling Fans, Ceiling Outlet Receptacles, Recessed Lights and more.
  • Marriott hotel chain owner, The Shaner Group, led a $16.5 million preferred round to date. The Shaner Group is an owner, and developer of more than 70 hotels worldwide.
  • SKYX has successfully demonstrated its technology during a Marriott Hotel renovation, incorporating its advanced and smart plug & play technologies, including ceiling lighting, recessed lights, downlights, wall lights, EXIT, and EMERGENCY lights, plug-in LED backlight mirrors among others.
  • SKYX revenues increased for 7 prior period comparable quarters from Q1 2024 through Q3 2025 with $19M in Q1/24, $21M in Q2/24, $22M in Q3/24, $24M in Q4/24, $20M in Q1/25, $23M in Q2/25 and $24M in Q3/25.
  • Management is expecting to secure additional significant business opportunities in 2026.
  • SKYX continues its growth and expects to deploy over 60,000 of its products into homes/units by the end of Q1 2026 through retail and pro segments.
  • The Company secured U.S. and global strategic manufacturing partnerships with premier manufacturers including U.S., Vietnam, Taiwan, China, and Cambodia.

Safety Standardization Mandatory Code / Insurance Specification and Recommendation:

  • SKYX’s Safety Code Standardization Team is receiving support from a new significant prominent leader with its government safety agency’s process for a safety mandatory standardization of its electrical ceiling outlet/receptacle technology.
  • SKYX’s code team is led by industry veterans Mark Earley, former head of the National Electrical Code (NEC), and Eric Jacobson, former President and CEO of the American Lighting Association (ALA). The Company’s safety Code Standardization team believes it will garner assistance from additional safety organizations with its code mandatory safety standardization efforts based on the product’s significant safety aspects. Mr. Earley and Mr. Jacobson were instrumental in numerous code and safety changes in both the electrical and lighting industries. Both strongly believe that, considering the Company’s standardization progress including its product specification approval voting for by ANSI / NEMA (American National Standardization Institute / National Electrical Manufacturers Association) and being voted into 10 segments in the NEC Code Book, it has met the necessary safety conditions for becoming a ceiling safety standardization requirement for homes and buildings.
  • With respect to insurance companies, the Company strongly believes its products can save insurance companies many billions of dollars annually by reducing fires, ladder falls, and electrocutions among other things. Management expects that once it completes an entire range and variations of its safe advanced plug & play products it will start being recommended by insurance companies.

About SKYX Platforms Corp.

As electricity is a standard in every home and building, our mission is to make homes and buildings become safe-advanced and smart as the new standard. SKYX has a series of highly disruptive advanced-safe-smart platform technologies, with over 100 U.S. and global patents and patent pending applications. Additionally, the Company owns over 60 lighting and home decor websites for both retail and commercial segments. Our technologies place an emphasis on high quality and ease of use, while significantly enhancing both safety and lifestyle in homes and buildings. We believe that our products are a necessity in every room in both homes and other buildings in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit our website at https://skyplug.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn.

SKYX’s technologies provide opportunities for recurring revenues through interchangeability, upgrades, AI services monitoring, and subscriptions. Company is focused on the “Razor & Blades” model and its product range includes its advanced ceiling electrical outlet (Razor) and its advance and smart home plug & play products (Blades) including its advance and smart home plug & play platform products, lighting, recessed lights, down lights, EXIT signs, emergency lights, ceiling fans, chandeliers/pendants, holiday/kids/themes lights, indoor/outdoor wall lights among other. Company’s plug & play technology enables an installation of lighting, fans, and smart home products in high-rise buildings and hotels within days rather than months.

Company’s total addressable market (TAM) in the U.S. is roughly $500 billion with over 4.2 billion ceiling applications in the U.S. alone. Expected revenue streams from retail and professional segments include product sales, royalties, licensing, subscription, monitoring, and sale of global country rights.

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 First-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, including recent measures adopted by the federal government, 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management considers earnings (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, as adjusted, an important indicator in evaluating the Company’s business on a consistent basis across various periods. Due to the significance of non-recurring items, EBITDA, as adjusted, enables management to monitor and evaluate the business on a consistent basis. The Company uses EBITDA, as adjusted, as a primary measure, among others, to analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions regarding future operating investments and potential acquisitions. The Company believes that EBITDA, as adjusted, eliminates items that are not part of the Company’s core operations, such as interest expense and amortization expense associated with intangible assets, or items that do not involve a cash outlay, such as share-based payments and non-recurring items, such as transaction costs. EBITDA, as adjusted, should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, pre-tax income (loss), net income (loss) and cash flows used in operating activities. This non-GAAP financial measure excludes significant expenses that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Company’s financial statements and is subject to inherent limitations. Investors should review the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the comparable GAAP financial measure. Investors should not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company’s business.

Investor Relations Contact:

Jeff Ramson

PCG Advisory

[email protected]

Meta Acquires AI Startup Manus to Accelerate Next Phase of Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Meta is continuing its aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence with the acquisition of Manus, a fast-growing AI startup, signaling the company’s intent to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive AI landscape. The Facebook and Instagram parent company confirmed the deal this week, though it did not disclose financial terms. Multiple reports estimate the transaction value at more than $2 billion.

Manus, now headquartered in Singapore, gained industry attention earlier this year after launching a general-purpose AI agent designed to assist users with research, coding, and productivity-driven tasks. The platform operates on a subscription model and has experienced rapid adoption across both individual users and businesses. Within just eight months of launch, Manus surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, highlighting strong market demand for its AI capabilities.

Meta described the acquisition as a strategic fit for its broader AI ambitions. The company plans to scale Manus’ technology across its ecosystem, including integration into Meta AI for both consumer and enterprise use cases. Importantly, Meta indicated that Manus will continue operating its existing services independently, allowing current users to retain access through the startup’s app and website.

Leadership at Manus emphasized continuity following the acquisition. The company views the partnership as an opportunity to grow on a more stable foundation while preserving its operational autonomy and product direction. This approach reflects Meta’s recent strategy of acquiring specialized AI teams while allowing them to maintain their core innovation culture.

The deal also carries geopolitical implications. Manus previously received backing from several Chinese-linked investors and originated from a company founded in China before relocating to Singapore. Meta confirmed that, following the acquisition, there will be no remaining Chinese ownership interests in Manus. The startup will also discontinue operations in China while continuing to expand from its Singapore base, where the majority of its workforce is located.

Meta’s move comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg intensifies efforts to position the company at the forefront of artificial intelligence development. Facing stiff competition from rivals such as Google and OpenAI, Meta has made AI a central pillar of its long-term growth strategy. Earlier this year, the company made a multibillion-dollar investment in AI data firm Scale and recruited its CEO to help lead advanced AI research initiatives.

By bringing Manus under its umbrella, Meta gains a commercially proven AI platform and a rapidly scaling technology team. The acquisition reinforces Meta’s commitment to embedding AI across its products while accelerating innovation in intelligent agents that could reshape how users interact with digital platforms in the years ahead.

SoftBank to Pay $4 Billion for Data Center Firm DigitalBridge

SoftBank Group Corp. has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc. in a cash deal valuing the digital infrastructure investor at approximately $4 billion, including debt. The transaction underscores SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s renewed push to dominate the backbone of the artificial intelligence economy: data centers, computing power, and the infrastructure required to scale AI globally.

Under the terms of the agreement, SoftBank will pay $16 per share for New York–listed DigitalBridge, representing a roughly 15% premium to the firm’s closing price on December 26. Shares of DigitalBridge jumped nearly 10% following the announcement, trading just below the offer price. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

DigitalBridge is one of the largest global investors dedicated exclusively to digital infrastructure, managing roughly $108 billion in assets as of September. Its portfolio includes a roster of major data center and connectivity platforms such as Vantage Data Centers, Switch Inc., AtlasEdge, DataBank, Yondr Group, and AIMS. By acquiring DigitalBridge, SoftBank gains not only physical infrastructure exposure but also deep relationships with institutional investors actively deploying capital into data center development worldwide.

The acquisition comes amid an unprecedented surge in demand for data centers, driven by the rapid adoption of generative AI and cloud computing. Major players across finance and technology have poured capital into the sector. BlackRock’s $40 billion purchase of Aligned Data Centers and Oracle’s multiyear agreement to provide OpenAI with up to 4.5 gigawatts of computing power highlight the scale of investment reshaping the industry.

For SoftBank, the deal fits squarely into Son’s long-term vision of building an AI-centric ecosystem. Earlier this year, SoftBank announced the $500 billion “Stargate” initiative alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi-backed MGX, aiming to develop large-scale data centers across the United States. While the project’s rollout has been slower than initially promised due to financing challenges and site selection disputes, the DigitalBridge acquisition strengthens SoftBank’s strategic positioning in the infrastructure layer of AI.

The deal may also pave the way for further consolidation. SoftBank has reportedly held discussions about acquiring Switch Inc., one of DigitalBridge’s portfolio companies, at a valuation approaching $50 billion including debt. If pursued, such a move would further cement SoftBank’s influence over critical AI infrastructure assets.

Despite its reputation for high-profile technology bets—such as Alibaba, Arm Holdings, and the ill-fated WeWork investment—SoftBank has prior experience in asset management. Its 2017 acquisition of Fortress Investment Group, later sold in 2024, demonstrated Son’s willingness to operate across both technology and investment platforms.

Funding the AI push has required difficult trade-offs. Son recently disclosed that SoftBank sold a $5.8 billion stake in Nvidia to reallocate capital toward broader AI investments. The DigitalBridge acquisition signals that SoftBank is betting heavily that control of digital infrastructure—not just software or chips—will define the next phase of the AI revolution.

ACCO Brands (ACCO) – An Acquisition Expands the Offerings


Tuesday, December 23, 2025

ACCO Brands Corporation is one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded academic, consumer and business products. Our widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE®, Esselte®, Five Star®, GBC®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA®, Quartet®, Rapid®, Rexel®, Swingline®, Tilibra®, and many others. Our products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. More information about ACCO Brands, the Home of Great Brands Built by Great People, can be found at www.accobrands.com.

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Acquisition. ACCO is acquiring EPOS, which provides a comprehensive range of premium enterprise wired and wireless headsets, and other audio solutions. The transaction enhances and broadens ACCO’s Kensington computer accessories portfolio into the large global enterprise headset category, estimated at $1.7 billion in size. We believe the acquisition aligns with management’s strategy to invest in markets with better growth profiles. The addition of EPOS will allow ACCO to deliver a more complete line of workspace technology accessory solutions to enterprise customers.

Details. The transaction is valued at $11.7 million, including up to $3.5 million in deferred payments, and will be funded by existing cash resources. The deal is expected to close in January 2026. EPOS generates approximately $80 million in annual revenue. ACCO expects to achieve cost synergies in the range of $10-$15 million over the next two years. ACCO expects to take approximately $7 million of restructuring charges. Management expects 2026 profit to be modestly positive.


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