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ID.me Announces $275 Million Financing from Ares Management

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MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ID.me, the market leading digital identity wallet, today announced it has closed a $275 million credit facility provided by Ares Management funds (“Ares”). Ares also plans to make a substantial equity investment in ID.me. Proceeds will fuel ID.me’s continued acceleration, as ID.me is revolutionizing the way Americans securely prove their identity online, expanding digital access while protecting privacy and preventing fraud.

This financing comes amid significant business momentum, as ID.me has signed up over 139 million users into its digital wallet, with over 65 million of these users verified to the federal standards of IAL2 consumer authentication. ID.me’s revenue has grown over 450% from 2020 through 2024, as superior results for customers and members are driving rapid growth and adoption.

ID.me is the only digital wallet that meets the federal government standards for secure login and multi-factor authentication while offering online, video chat, and in-person options for identity verification at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Identity Assurance Level 2. True to ID.me’s purpose of enabling consumer trust across the digital economy, members can use ID.me’s digital wallet to safely login and prove their identity in seconds at any government, healthcare, commercial or non-profit organization in the ID.me network.

“This credit facility provided by Ares, combined with its anticipated equity investment, provides substantial capital to accelerate our roadmap and growth strategy, scaling ID.me to the next phase of growth and sustainable profitability,” said Blake Hall, Founder and CEO of ID.me. “Coming soon after our recent secondary tender, we are pleased that esteemed institutional investors are recognizing our market-leading outcomes expanding digital access, protecting privacy, fighting fraud, and ensuring frictionless user experience.”

Ares Management, a leading global alternative investment manager with more than $464 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2024, brings decades of experience investing significant capital in high-quality software and technology opportunities.

“ID.me is a category and thought leader in the digital identity space, enabling government agency and commercial enterprise customers to navigate the demand for secure and inclusive digital access to their services while respecting end-user data privacy,” said John Clark, Principal at Ares Management. “As the world continues to be transformed by AI and vectors of fraud proliferate, we believe that ID.me’s digital identity wallets will become increasingly important in facilitating the consistent and fraud-resistant connections between these large organizations and their users. Ares is excited to work with Blake and the rest of the ID.me team, and we look forward to supporting ID.me’s next phase of growth.”

About ID.me
ID.me is the next-generation digital identity wallet that simplifies how individuals securely prove their identity online. Consumers can verify their identity with ID.me once and seamlessly login across websites without having to create a new login and verify their identity again. Over 139 million users experience streamlined login and identity verification with ID.me at 19 federal agencies, 44 state government agencies, and 66 healthcare organizations. More than 600 consumer brands use ID.me to verify communities and user segments to honor service and build more authentic relationships. ID.me’s technology meets the federal standards for consumer authentication set by the Commerce Department and is approved as a NIST 800-63-3 IAL2 / AAL2 credential service provider by the Kantara Initiative. ID.me is committed to “No Identity Left Behind” to enable all people to have a secure digital identity. To learn more, visit https://network.id.me/.

About Ares Management Corporation
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of September 30, 2024, Ares Management Corporation’s global platform had approximately $464 billion of assets under management, with more than 3,100 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

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SOURCE ID.me, Inc.

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Sidus Space Announces Closing of Offering

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sidus Space, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIDU) (“Sidus” or the “Company”), an innovative space and defense technology company, today announced the closing of its previously announced best-efforts offering of 13,453,700 shares of its Class A common stock (or pre-funded warrants (“Pre-funded Warrants”) in lieu thereof). Each share of Class A common stock (or Pre-funded Warrant) was sold at an offering price of $4.35 per share (inclusive of the Pre-funded Warrant exercise price) for gross proceeds of approximately $58.5 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and offering expenses. All of the shares of Class A common stock and Pre-funded Warrants were offered by the Company.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.

ThinkEquity acted as sole placement agent for the offering.

The securities were offered and sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-292839), including a base prospectus, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 20, 2026, and declared effective on February 4, 2026. The offering was made by means of a written prospectus. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering have been filed with the SEC and made available on the SEC’s website. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may also be obtained, when available, from the offices of ThinkEquity, 17 State Street, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10004.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Sidus Space

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) is an innovative space and defense technology company offering flexible, cost-effective solutions, including satellite manufacturing and technology integration, AI-driven space-based data solutions, mission planning and management operations, AI/ML products and services, and space and defense hardware manufacturing. With its mission of Space Access Reimagined®, Sidus Space is committed to rapid innovation, adaptable and cost-effective solutions, and the optimization of space systems and data collection performance. With demonstrated space heritage, including manufacturing and operating its own satellite and sensor system, LizzieSat®, Sidus Space serves government, defense, intelligence, and commercial companies around the globe. Strategically headquartered on Florida’s Space Coast, Sidus Space operates a 35,000-square-foot space manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility and provides easy access to nearby launch facilities. For more information, visit: sidusspace.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words ‘anticipate,’ ‘believe,’ ‘continue,’ ‘could,’ ‘estimate,’ ‘expect,’ ‘intend,’ ‘may,’ ‘plan,’ ‘potential,’ ‘predict,’ ‘project,’ ‘should,’ ‘target,’ ‘will,’ ‘would’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors described more fully in the section entitled ‘Risk Factors’ in Sidus Space’s prospectus supplement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Sidus Space, Inc. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Relations
Investor-Relations@sidusspace.com

Media
press@sidusspace.com

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SOURCE Sidus Space, Inc.

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Ezee Fiber Connects First Customers in Santa Fe, Accelerates New Mexico Expansion

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HOUSTON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ezee Fiber, a fast-growing fiber internet company delivering 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service, announced it has connected its first customers in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This milestone marks the company’s first major step in building its Santa Fe network and expanding multi-gigabit, symmetrical fiber service across the state.

Installations are now underway, giving residents access to Ezee Fiber’s high-performance network, which features symmetrical multi-gig speeds, no data caps, no hidden fees and transparent lifetime pricing. The company also emphasizes locally staffed customer support and a reliable, high-quality experience that sets it apart from legacy providers.

“We’re excited to bring our modern, 100% fiber network to homes the state capital,” said Carlos Rosas, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Southwest Region at Ezee Fiber. “Communities deserve more than basic connectivity. We are focused on delivering ultra-fast speeds, reliability and long-term infrastructure that supports how people live and work today.”

Ezee Fiber began expanding in New Mexico in 2024 and continues to scale rapidly. In addition to Santa Fe, the company is building fiber infrastructure in Albuquerque and surrounding communities, with service activating on a rolling basis as construction is completed.

Residents can expect construction activity to move efficiently through neighborhoods. Ezee Fiber will provide advance notice before work begins and will restore all areas in line with municipal requirements and industry best practices.

Residents can check availability and learn more at ezeefiber.com.

About Ezee Fiber

Ezee Fiber is a rapidly growing fiber internet company delivering premium multi-gig service to residential, business, and government customers over a 100% fiber-optic network—at exceptional value.

The company’s carrier-grade infrastructure spans Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Oregon, Michigan and Washington, supported by local teams who live and work in the communities they serve. Ezee Fiber’s industry-leading speeds, award-winning customer service, and transparent pricing model set the company apart. Learn more at www.ezeefiber.com.

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SOURCE Ezee Fiber

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CFA Institute calls for functional, proportionate AI oversight to safeguard UK retail investors and market integrity

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LONDON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has published its response to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Review into the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on retail financial services (the “Mills Review”). CFA Institute welcomes the FCA’s technology-neutral approach, while urging greater operational clarity to ensure responsible AI deployment.

In its submission, CFA Institute supports anchoring AI oversight within the UK’s existing principles-based framework, including the Consumer Duty and the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR), rather than introducing a standalone AI rulebook. However, it emphasizes that supervisory expectations must be clearer and more practical as AI systems move from assistive tools to advisory functions and, ultimately, autonomous agents.

CFA Institute argues that regulation should follow what AI systems do for consumers, not how they are labelled or constructed. AI-enabled retail interfaces may generate “advice-like” outcomes, such as personalized product steering or portfolio construction guidance, without formally crossing regulatory thresholds. A substance-over-form approach is therefore essential to prevent regulatory arbitrage and ensure consistent consumer protection.

While the Consumer Duty provides a robust foundation, CFA Institute calls for AI-specific articulation of how its four outcomes apply where decision-making is increasingly delegated to automated systems. In particular, the response highlights a risk of automation bias, which may reduce effective consumer outcomes, especially among vulnerable customers.

Firms should be expected to test, monitor and evidence outcomes based on how consumers actually use AI systems in practice, not solely on how they are intended to function.

The submission also identifies a potential governance gap where firms report formal accountability for AI systems yet lack deep operational understanding of complex or third-party models. CFA Institute recommends clearer expectations around what “reasonable steps” and “meaningful oversight” mean under SM&CR and SYSC when AI is deployed in material retail use cases.

It further calls for:

A proportionate, tiered governance framework aligned to the assistive–advisory–autonomous spectrumClear allocation of end-to-end accountability for consumer outcomesReinforced oversight of third-party AI dependencies and operational resilience risks.

Although retail-focused, the response underscores broader market structure implications, including model concentration, correlated behavior, and third-party dependencies that could amplify volatility in stressed conditions. CFA Institute encourages close coordination between the FCA and the Bank of England, as well as continued alignment with IOSCO and the Financial Stability Board, to reduce fragmentation and support the UK’s global competitiveness.

Finally, CFA Institute stresses that responsible AI adoption depends on developing “hybrid” talent, professionals who combine technological fluency with fiduciary judgement and market expertise. Strengthening professional standards and supervisory capability should form part of the UK’s long-term AI competitiveness strategy.

Olivier Fines, CFA, Head of Advocacy and Capital Markets Policy at CFA Institute, said: “Artificial intelligence has the potential to expand access, improve efficiency and strengthen retail financial services, but only if trust and accountability remain firmly at the center.

“The UK’s principles-based framework is advantageous. The priority now is operational clarity: clear guidance on how the Consumer Duty and SM&CR apply when decision-making is increasingly delegated to AI systems.

“Regulation should follow function, not technological form. Where AI systems effectively shape or execute consumer decisions, protections must apply in substance, not just in label.

“We encourage the FCA to provide practical supervisory guidance by the end of 2026 and to continue close dialogue with industry and international standard-setters. With proportionate safeguards, meaningful oversight and investment in hybrid professional skills, the UK can play a leading role in responsible AI-enabled finance while preserving market integrity and public trust.”

About CFA Institute

As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standards for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across more than 160 markets, CFA Institute has 9 offices and 157 local societies. Find us at https://www.cfainstitute.org/ or follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe on YouTube.

 

 

 

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