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Car Tech, LLC and AltEnergy Acquisition Corp Announce Definitive Business Combination Agreement to List Merged Company on the NASDAQ Capital Market

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SEOUL, South Korea and OPELIKA, Ala. and NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Car Tech, LLC (“Car Tech”), a U.S. stamped auto-body parts manufacturer and subsidiary of leading Korean supplier, Shinyoung Co., Ltd., and AltEnergy Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: AEAE) (“AltEnergy”), a special purpose acquisition company, announced today that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement that would result in Car Tech becoming a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The transaction aims to expand Car Tech’s U.S. manufacturing operations with an emphasis on its growing EV battery-related body parts business.

“We anticipate this transaction will expand Car Tech’s manufacturing capacity so we can fill new signed orders with major global OEMs, and, at the same time, deepen our partnership with AltEnergy’s management team, sponsor, and affiliates, who have significant experience focusing on energy transition and battery investments,” said Chairman Hogap Kang of Shin Young.

“As the electric vehicle market is expected to grow dramatically, demand for high-quality special purpose car parts will increase accordingly. With special expertise in battery-related parts and an existing plant location plus a planned expansion in the booming Auto Corridor of the Southeastern U.S., we believe Car Tech is well-positioned to capitalize on these positive market trends,” noted AltEnergy CEO, Russell Stidolph.

Chairman Kang noted the global and dynamic nature of Car Tech’s business: “In a short time, Car Tech has become a trusted Tier-One vendor to BMW and is scheduled to supply battery-related parts to BlueOval, the Ford-SK On joint venture, starting in 2025. With these top-tier customers as a foundation, we see a bright future to warrant Shinyoung’s continued investment and support of the to-be merged entity.”

The Boards of Directors of AltEnergy and the Management Committee of Car Tech have each unanimously approved the proposed merger, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024, subject to regulatory approval, the approval of the proposed merger by AltEnergy’s stockholders and Car Tech’s members and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.

GLC Advisors & Co., LLC is acting as financial advisor to AltEnergy. Morrison Cohen LLP is acting as legal advisor to AltEnergy. Finhaven Capital Inc. is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Car Tech. Dorsey & Whitney LLP is serving as legal advisor to Car Tech.

About Shinyoung/Car Tech: With over 50 years of technical expertise in the metal stamping industry, Shin Young Group was established as Shin-A Metal Company in 1974. Today, Shin Young and its affiliates provide body parts, molds, and automation solutions to major automotive companies worldwide, including in Korea, China, the U.S., and Germany. Car Tech was founded in 2016 to lead Shinyoung’s expansion of U.S. sales while being strategically positioned to diversify overseas sales and expand in the U.S. market. Car Tech is a Tier-One supplier that directly supplies parts to BMW, Volvo, and Volkswagen and is scheduled to supply battery cases for electric vehicles to BlueOval SK beginning in 2025.

About AltEnergy Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ: AEAE): AEAE is a blank-check company listed on the Nasdaq Global Market in 2021 to pursue a business combination with special focus in clean technology. AEAE is affiliated with AltEnergy, LLC, founded by Russell Stidolph, who has been investing successfully in this space since founding the alternative energy practice at JH Whitney in 2000. His previous investments span manufacturing and infrastructure companies including biofuels (Hawkeye Renewables), renewable power generation (Iowa Winds, American Heartland Wind, Broadview Energy), transmission infrastructure (Anbaric Power, Tres Amigas, Western Interconnect), and energy storage battery technology (Eos Energy Storage, now Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc., NASDAQ: EOSE). AltEnergy was the lead investor of Eos through its public listing and Mr. Stidolph serves as its chairman today.

About Finhaven™: Established in Canada in 2017 and led by CEO Dohyung “DH” Kim, Finhaven Technology Inc. is a fintech company that provides security token capital market infrastructure and investment platform, utilizing Web3 technologies. Using the platform, Finhaven’s vision extends to building a community of issuers and investors seeking an integrated, straightforward platform from lead generation to deal closing. Its subsidiary, Finhaven Capital, Inc. is an exempt market dealer registered in BC, AB, SK, MB, and ON in Canada, and provides financial advice to Car Tech LLC. Pickwick Capital Partners, LLC provides chaperone services to Finhaven Capital, Inc. For more information, please visit www.finhaven.com and www.finhaven.ca. 

About GLC Advisors & Co., LLC: GLC Advisors & Co., LLC is a leading independent investment advisory boutique delivering objective, senior-level expertise to successfully execute financial advisory assignments. GLC’s professionals have advised on 900+ transactions involving over $800 billion of enterprise value across numerous industries and sectors. The firm’s offices are located in Denver, New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. For more information, visit https://glca.com.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed transaction, Car Tech will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of AltEnergy and AltEnergy will be renamed as of the closing of the proposed transaction. AltEnergy is expected to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that will include a proxy statement and prospectus. AltEnergy and Car Tech urge investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read, when available, the Form S-4, including the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and documents incorporated by reference therein, as well as other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction, as these materials will contain important information about Car Tech, AltEnergy and the proposed transaction. Such persons can also read AltEnergy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, for a description of the security holdings of AltEnergy’s officers and directors and their respective interests as security holders in the consummation of the proposed transaction. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to AltEnergy’s stockholders. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of such documents and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by AltEnergy, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus can be obtained, when available, without charge, from AltEnergy’s website https://altenergyacquisition.com/. Before making any voting decision, investors and security holders of AltEnergy and Car Tech, and other interested parties, are urged to read the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination as they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed business combination.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the proposed business combination between AltEnergy and Car Tech, the benefits of the proposed business combination, the anticipated timing of the proposed business combination, the services offered by Car Tech and the markets in which Car Tech intends to operate, business strategies, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of regulations and AltEnergy’s or Car Tech’s projected future results. Words such as “expect”, “estimate”, “project”, “budget”, “forecast”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “believes”, “predicts”, “potential”, “continue”, and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions.

Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Investors, stockholders, and other interested persons should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in AltEnergy’s final proxy statement/prospectus to be contained in the Form S-4 registration statement, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, AltEnergy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by AltEnergy from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and AltEnergy and Car Tech assume no obligation and, except as required by law, do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither AltEnergy nor Car Tech gives any assurance that either AltEnergy or Car Tech will achieve its expectations.

Participants in the Solicitation

AltEnergy, Car Tech and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of AltEnergy’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of AltEnergy’s directors and executive officers in AltEnergy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of AltEnergy’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus for the proposed transaction when available. Information concerning the interests of AltEnergy’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of AltEnergy’s equity holders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed transaction when it becomes available.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of AltEnergy, Car Tech or the combined company, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.

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SOURCE AltEnergy Acquisition Corp.

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ModelBest and OpenBMB Open-Source MiniCPM-OCR Series, Delivering High-Performance Document Parsing and AI-Powered Quality Control

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BEIJING, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ModelBest and OpenBMB jointly announced the release and open-source availability of the MiniCPM-OCR series, a family of models for efficient document parsing and parsing-quality assessment. The launch includes two models: MiniCPM-OCR 1.0 (1.3B) and MiniCPM-OCR Jev (2B).

As the first OCR-focused model in the MiniCPM family, MiniCPM-OCR 1.0 brings top-tier parsing accuracy to a compact 1.3-billion-parameter architecture optimized for edge deployment, pushing forward the balance between efficiency and performance for open-source OCR models. Built for real-world conditions, it accurately parses scanned, photographed, curved, tilted and screen-captured documents without cumbersome image pre-correction, lowering the barrier to large-scale document digitization.

The model handles dense bilingual Chinese-English content, complex mathematical formulas, and multi-level or borderless tables, consistently performing at a leading level across a broad range of mainstream industry evaluations. Beyond full-page reconstruction, it supports key information extraction (KIE), pulling specified fields from invoices, IDs and financial statements according to business instructions.

Powered by DSpark decoding acceleration, MiniCPM-OCR 1.0 significantly increases end-to-end throughput while lowering per-page latency. For enterprises processing millions of pages—such as financial contract archives, academic libraries and government records—this means processing far more documents with the same hardware and time budget, at a substantially lower computing cost.

To address the long-standing need for page-by-page manual review, ModelBest and OpenBMB also introduced MiniCPM-OCR Jev, the first OCR result decision model that acts as an “AI quality inspector.” Rather than performing OCR itself, Jev compares the source image with OCR output and rapidly assigns confidence scores to text, LaTeX formulas and tables, detecting missing characters, errors and formatting misalignments. Despite its compact 2B-parameter size, Jev delivers judgment accuracy typically associated with far larger models.

Jev supports cross-model deployment and can be integrated into existing OCR workflows without replacing the underlying OCR engine. It can automatically identify reliable results for direct processing, flag potentially inaccurate outputs for human review and select the best result from multiple OCR systems. This enables enterprises to move from full manual inspection toward risk-based, automated quality control.

The MiniCPM-OCR series is available on GitHub, Hugging Face and ModelScope, and supports vLLM, SGLang, llama.cpp and Ollama, along with SDKs, APIs, Agent Skill plugins and open-source fine-tuning code. Day-0 hardware adaptation covers AMD, Arm, Houmo AI, Intel and NVIDIA. Through the FlagOS software stack, it also has Day-0 support for AI and edge chips from CIX Technology, Huawei Ascend, Hygon, Iluvatar CoreX, Kunlunxin, MetaX, Moore Threads, Sunrise, T-Head, TsingMicro, NVIDIA and Apple Mac (Arm).

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/modelbest-and-openbmb-open-source-minicpm-ocr-series-delivering-high-performance-document-parsing-and-ai-powered-quality-control-302925594.html

SOURCE ModelBest

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Wulcea Elevates Consumer Trust in Heated Apparel Through Multi-National Safety Certifications and Rigorous Technical Testing

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NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As smart heated clothing gains broader adoption, consumers are paying closer attention to the safety and reliability of the technology behind these products. Wulcea, a brand specializing in graphene-powered heated apparel, combines its flexible GrapheneNano™ heating technology with documented safety compliance and durability testing for its heating components and battery systems.

“Trust in smart heated apparel goes beyond warmth—it comes down to confidence in battery safety and heating element reliability,” said John C, Founder of Wulcea. “Our goal is to give users peace of mind through certified technical standards.”

Advanced Graphene Heating Elements Supported by Global Standards

At the core of Wulcea’s thermal architecture is its GrapheneNano™ heating technology. Engineered to eliminate garment stiffness, Wulcea integrates flexible graphene elements that deliver balanced warmth across key upper-body zones while preserving natural garment drape and full freedom of movement.

Wulcea supports its heating components with applicable compliance documentation for major markets. These include CE and FCC compliance documentation addressing relevant electrical and electromagnetic compatibility requirements, as well as PSE compliance for applicable products in Japan. RoHS compliance further addresses restrictions on specified hazardous substances in applicable electrical and electronic components.

Multi-Certified Battery System for Dependable Power

To power its heating elements, Wulcea pairs its heated apparel with rechargeable battery systems designed for convenient everyday use. Featuring a compact design and housed in dedicated interior pockets, the batteries provide portable power while maintaining a streamlined garment profile and comfortable fit.

Wulcea backs its battery options with comprehensive third-party accreditations. UL certification demonstrates that the battery system has been evaluated against recognized power bank safety requirements, covering key areas such as overcharge protection, short-circuit protection, and thermal safety. The battery systems are also supported by applicable CE and FCC compliance documentation, addressing relevant regulatory requirements for electrical and electromagnetic compatibility.

For daily handling and travel, RoHS compliance validates that the battery system meets stringent global standards for material safety. The battery models have also undergone applicable UN 38.3 testing, supporting compliance with international requirements for lithium battery transportation.

Real-World Durability and Practical Usability

Component compliance forms Wulcea’s foundation, but reliability is defined by real-world performance. Built for high-flex endurance, Wulcea’s flexible graphene heating elements are tested through 10,000 active flexing cycles to maintain steady thermal output through repeated bending and everyday body movement.

Everyday convenience is equally essential. Built for hassle-free care, Wulcea’s heating elements withstand 100 machine-wash cycles under standard care guidelines, maintaining internal conductivity and structural stability under repeated laundering.

Integrated NTC temperature sensors provide thermal monitoring and are designed to stop heating if temperatures exceed 131°F (55°C). Combined with runtime of up to 10 hours on the low setting and a discreet interior control button, these features support practical everyday use in cold-weather conditions.

Aligning Technical Standards with Everyday Warmth

By combining graphene-based heating technology with documented battery safety compliance and durability testing, Wulcea continues to focus on the technical foundations of dependable heated apparel. This approach reflects the brand’s emphasis on bringing together safety considerations, practical functionality, and everyday comfort for cold-weather use.

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SOURCE Wulcea

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NIDS Co., Ltd. Confirms CES 2027 Participation, Pursues Expansion of Global Supply Chain for Environmental Sensors

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Company introduced optical and gas sensors at SEDEX and is strengthening its composite sensor business for robotics, home appliances, automotive, and smart building applications

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Environmental sensor manufacturer NIDS Co., Ltd. has confirmed its participation in CES 2027 and is moving to expand its global business-to-business (B2B) supply chain. Building on its experience supplying sensors to domestic and international home appliance and automotive companies, the company aims to secure overseas customers and extend its applications into smart building HVAC and robotics.

NIDS recently participated in the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association’s Sensor Pavilion at SEDEX 2026, held at COEX in Seoul, where it introduced its next-generation sensor modules. The company said the exhibition allowed it to raise awareness of its technology among domestic home appliance and electronic component industry professionals and to lay the groundwork for collaboration in the sensor field.

The company will use CES 2027 as its next stage. NIDS plans to firm up discussions on sensor module supply with global home appliance makers, HVAC specialists, and robotics companies. It aims to extend the industry contacts gained at the domestic exhibition overseas and to convert product introductions into actual supply opportunities.

Founded in 2000, NIDS develops and manufactures environmental sensors and air quality management solutions. According to the company, it has supplied more than 10 million sensors cumulatively to domestic and international companies, including Dyson, Samsung Electronics, and Hyundai Motor. Drawing on this supply track record, the company intends to showcase its precision sensing technology and mass-production capabilities to overseas customers.

Its main products include particulate matter sensors, optical gas sensors based on non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology, composite environmental sensors, and electronic nose sensor modules. The particulate matter sensors measure PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10, while the gas sensor lineup targets carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and other gases. The electronic nose is used for detecting everyday odors, gas leaks, and fires. The company said it designs the core components required for air quality measurement in-house and has a system in place to mass-produce 5 million units annually.

The area where NIDS will expand development and supply going forward is next-generation composite sensor modules. The company has been pursuing a sensor business that responds to industry-specific demand in home appliances, automotive, and smart building HVAC, and is now concentrating its capabilities on markets such as robotics, industrial safety, and odor detection based on this technology. Building on its experience supplying individual components, NIDS plans to continue developing and supplying, on a B2B basis, modules that handle multiple types of environmental data.

The company will also highlight its sensor product lineup and its newly developed ultra-compact MEMS sensor technology at the exhibition. NIDS plans to introduce its optical and gas sensor lineup along with examples of their application in actual air quality management systems. By explaining both the measurement functions of its components and its experience operating sensors for finished-product services, the company aims to broaden the scope of partnership discussions.

NIDS explained that, because it owns its precision sensors, it can control sensor sensitivity and tune algorithms to suit the system in which they are applied. Drawing on this technical operating experience, the company plans to pursue partnerships with customers and to promote its business capabilities extending from sensor components to air quality and odor management and industrial safety management.

NIDS will also leverage its existing branch network in its overseas market development. Through its overseas bases in the United States, Japan, and China, the company plans to widen its touchpoints with buyers and seek new supply opportunities in conjunction with its CES participation. Its goal is to generate export results by combining exhibition participation with its local networks.

The company intends to keep expanding the global supply of sensor components as a core pillar of its business. Building on the supply experience accumulated in home appliances and automotive, it will broaden its partners to robotics, HVAC, and smart buildings, and respond to industry-specific air quality measurement demand through the development of next-generation modules.

“We plan to continue expanding the development and B2B supply of next-generation composite sensor modules needed across a range of industries, including home appliances, automotive, and smart building HVAC,” NIDS said.

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SOURCE NIDS Co., Ltd.

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