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Octo Capital, Audrose Capital Partners, and Affiliates of Antarctica Capital Close Investment in DYCM Solar Modules Holdings

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Capital funds first solar module production facility and business expansion, with more than one gigawatt of annual FEOC-compliant capacity expected to be in place by year-end 2026 and more than 1.2 GW of orders already secure

LIVERMORE, Calif., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DYCM Solar Modules Holdings, LLC (DYCM) announced a Q2 closing of an investment led by Octo Capital, Audrose Capital Partners, and affiliates of Antarctica Capital. The capital will fund the growth of the business, including the initial buildout of more than one gigawatt of annual U.S. solar module production capacity and additional vertical expansion across the company’s manufacturing operations. DYCM’s first HJT module line is expected to begin commercial shipments in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The new line marks DYCM’s entry into volume domestic module production and anchors a broader buildout strategy. The company said all of its production lines will be housed in DYCM’s new 150,000-square-foot California facility, built to meet rising demand for American-made solar modules.

DYCM is among the first U.S. silicon solar module manufacturers to meet Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) regulations, officially known as “Prohibited Foreign Entity” restrictions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that govern eligibility for federal clean energy tax credits.

As policy increasingly conditions incentives on supply chains free of prohibited foreign ownership and control, FEOC compliance has become a central purchasing criterion for utility-scale and commercial solar module buyers. Moreover, DYCM modules could provide up to 50% toward the Domestic Cost Percentage, helping developers secure the 10% Domestic Content Bonus. DYCM modules are also estimated to comply with Build America, Buy America Act requirements. The investment positions DYCM to capitalize on domestic demand for non-FEOC modules, offering U.S.-made modules with full supply chain traceability.

“This investment lets us build at the scale our customers are asking for,” said Sriram Das, Chief Executive Officer of DYCM. “Our California facility will produce one gigawatt of FEOC-compliant annual module capacity, and with more than 1.2 gigawatts already under contract, the demand is here today. Octo, Audrose, and Antarctica understand that American solar manufacturing has to be rebuilt on supply chains the market can trust, and they are backing us to do exactly that.”

“Electricity demand, driven largely by the AI infrastructure buildout, is colliding with a structural shortage of domestic clean energy,” said Fred Bronstein of Octo Capital, a DYCM Board Member. “DYCM sits at the intersection of the energy transition, AI-driven demand, and a policy backdrop built to reward domestic manufacturing. We’re thrilled to have led the transaction, alongside our partners at Audrose and Antarctica.”

“Audrose invests at the intersection of consumer and infrastructure, and DYCM sits right in the center of that space,” said Justin Landau, Managing Partner of Audrose Capital Partners and a DYCM Board Member. “Power demand will continue to climb to support AI and the data economy, and the coming crossover of AI and robotics will only accelerate it. Domestic, FEOC-compliant solar manufacturing is exactly the kind of durable, demand-backed opportunity with asymmetry in the supply chain that we look for, and we are excited to help scale DYCM into the future.”

“Our experience investing across the U.S. digital infrastructure and clean energy generation sectors has led us to believe that a diversified physical power infrastructure and supply chains in the U.S. are foundational to continued economic growth and national security priorities, including AI-related developments,” said Philipp Klingelhofer of Antarctica Capital. “Along with our partners, we see an immediate opportunity to take advantage of state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly technology as well as a highly supportive regulatory framework to establish a competitive domestic supply chain for solar modules in the U.S. We’re excited to partner with the DYCM management team to execute on this opportunity and appreciate the support of our partners at Octo and Audrose to bring this vision to life.”

As the California facility becomes operational and additional lines are developed, DYCM expects to scale capacity in step with its order pipeline.

About DYCM
DYCM Solar Modules Holdings is a U.S. solar manufacturer producing advanced solar modules. The company is building domestic production capacity to serve utility-scale, commercial, and distributed customers seeking American-made products with full supply chain transparency.

About Octo Capital
Octo Capital is an alternative investment firm built for special situations in real assets. The firm invests across the capital structure — common equity, preferred equity, and high-yield debt — and has a primary focus on residential, hospitality, alternative energy, and domestic manufacturing. Since inception, Octo has invested more than $250 million of equity on behalf of its principal accounts and joint venture partners. Octo was founded in 2020 by Fred Bronstein, a former Elliott Management investment professional. For more information, visit: www.octocapitalmgmt.com

About Audrose Capital Partners
Audrose Capital Partners is a leading investment firm that pursues opportunistic investments at the intersection of consumer and infrastructure. Audrose takes control, minority, and structured positions in operating businesses and partners with founders and management teams to build long-term value. The firm was founded in 2018 by Justin Landau, following more than a decade in private equity. Its first investment was El Car Wash, which Mr. Landau also built and led as co-founder and CEO, through its sale in 2022 and as Co-CEO through 2025. Audrose’s portfolio also includes Rotten Candy, a consumer products company, and DYCM Solar, a next-generation U.S. solar module manufacturer.

About Antarctica Capital
Antarctica Capital is a global investment firm headquartered in New York with over $10 billion in assets under management. Antarctica’s asset management, insurance and retirement solutions platforms are built for creating enduring value for the institutions, businesses, and communities it serves. Our asset management business is focused on generating attractive risk-adjusted investment returns throughout market cycles and the ever-changing financial market landscape. Our insurance and retirement solutions businesses provide financial security to retail and institutional clients through insurance, investment and retirement savings products. Antarctica’s long-term capital, in conjunction with its vertically integrated asset management and investment platforms, uniquely positions the firm to maximize long-term value for both investors and portfolio companies. For more information about Antarctica Capital, visit https://antarcticacapital.com

Media Contact 
Gabriella Font, DYCM, press@dycmsolarmodules.com

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SOURCE DYCM Solar Modules Holdings, LLC

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SparkLabs and Mirae Asset Launch a Venture Capital Fund for Central Asian Startups

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SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC), IT Park Ventures (Uzbekistan), Mirae Asset Venture Investment and SparkLabs Group have signed a term sheet to establish SparkLabs Mirae Silk Road Fund I LP, a new venture capital fund. The fund will be managed by Mirae Asset Venture Investment and SparkLabs Group.

The signing took place in Seoul during the state visits of the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Korea and the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit.

During this past week, South Korea and Kazakhstan signed commercial agreements worth US$18.95 billion. Kazakhstan is a country of 20 million people with its core industries being oil and gas, and among the highest producers of iron and silver in the world. Uzbekistan is a country of 39 million people, and they are the largest electricity producer in Central Asia.

Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC) is Kazakhstan’s national fund of funds and are anchor investors along with IT Park Ventures, the venture capital arm of the country’s state technology park. The new venture capital fund will back Central Asian startups at the Series A and later, which are businesses with a proven model that are ready to scale beyond the region. The fund is sector-agnostic but focuses on AI-native companies, where artificial intelligence is core to the product and business model.

“Higgsfield becoming Kazakhstan’s first unicorn was a turning point. It showed that a world-class AI company can be built in Central Asia. And it won’t be the last with more than half of the region’s population is under 30, growing up digital and our governments actively investing in AI. Yet the region is still largely overlooked by international investors, and that’s the opportunity this fund is built for,” explained Aslan Sultanov, Co-founder and General Partner at SparkLabs Mirae Silk Road.

Former Coinbase CTO and Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, Balaji Srinivasan, reopened his Network School in Kazakhstan last month. Telegram launched an AI lab and opened their first regional office in Kazakhstan this past year.

Beyond capital, portfolio companies will gain access to the SparkLabs and Mirae Asset’s global networks, along with hands-on support in expanding into South Korea, the United States and the MENA region.

About the Partners

SparkLabs Group is a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds that has invested in over 600 startups across 6 continents since December 2013. These companies include OpenAI, SpaceX, Vectara, Kneron, Anthropic, Nex Team, Kraken, GenG, Lyft, MetAI, and others.

Mirae Asset Venture Investment is the venture capital arm of Mirae Asset Financial Group, one of Asia’s largest independent financial groups with over US$845 billion in assets under management. The company operates worldwide across 18 markets, and manages a fully diversified global investment platform encompassing ETFs, alternative investments, and traditional strategies.

Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC) is Kazakhstan’s national fund of funds and part of Baiterek National Managing Holding. QIC invests in private equity and venture capital funds alongside international and private partners, with the goal of attracting long-term capital into Kazakhstan and developing the country’s investment ecosystem. QIC participates in 19 funds with a combined capitalization of $2.8 billion.

IT Park Ventures is the venture capital arm of IT Park Uzbekistan, the country’s state technology park and the main platform supporting Uzbekistan’s IT industry and tech exports. IT Park Ventures invests in startups from Uzbekistan and Central Asia and co-invests with international funds, connecting regional founders with global capital and markets.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sparklabs-and-mirae-asset-launch-a-venture-capital-fund-for-central-asian-startups-302883810.html

SOURCE SparkLabs Group

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AECOM Data Breach Investigation: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Probes Class Action Claims After Hackers Allege Theft of More Than 1 TB of Data

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National class action law firm offers free, confidential case evaluations to AECOM employees, clients, and others whose personal information may have been exposed in the reported AECOM data breach.

DALLAS, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from a reported data breach at AECOM, the U.S.-based multinational infrastructure and engineering firm. Anyone who has received a data breach notice from AECOM, or who believes their personal information may have been exposed, can request a free case evaluation.

AECOM data breach — at a glance:

Company: AECOM, a Texas-based, multibillion-dollar multinational infrastructure consulting, engineering, design, and construction management firm.Reported: A cyberattack said to have occurred on or about September 17, 2026, first surfaced on dark web monitoring sites.Hackers’ claims: The group Metaencryptor claimed responsibility for an attack said to involve approximately 1.22 terabytes (TB) of data. Separately, dark web monitoring service Breachsense listed a related AECOM leak of roughly 670GB attributed to a group identified as BrainCipher.Status: The breach and the hackers’ claims remain unconfirmed. AECOM has not publicly detailed the scope or impact.Who may be affected: Current and former AECOM employees, clients, and others whose data AECOM held.Cost to you: Nothing. Case evaluations are free and confidential.

What Happened

According to a September 17, 2026 post on the dark web monitoring site Ransomware.live, the hacker group Metaencryptor claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on AECOM that allegedly affected about 1.22 TB of data. The cybersecurity blog HookPhish similarly reported that Metaencryptor was behind a suspected attack on the engineering firm.

Separately, the dark web monitoring service Breachsense reported an AECOM data leak listed at approximately 670GB, attributed to a group it identified as BrainCipher. Breachsense also indexed thousands of AECOM-linked credentials circulating online, including 27,434 @aecom.com accounts drawn from external breaches and 6,077 credentials tied to aecom.com itself — among them thousands of logins found in “combo lists” and in infostealer malware logs, many with plaintext passwords. Breachsense cautioned that those credentials may belong to either customers or staff and are not necessarily connected to the claimed attack.

The breach has not been confirmed, and important details (including its true scope, the specific data involved, and the number of people affected) are not yet publicly available.

What Personal Information May Be at Risk

The specific data involved in the reported AECOM data breach has not been confirmed. Data breaches like this can expose personal information, increasing the risk of identity theft and fraud. Affected individuals should treat any AECOM breach notification seriously.

Who May Be Affected by the AECOM Data Breach

The investigation focuses on current and former AECOM employees, clients, and anyone else whose personal information AECOM maintained. Anyone who has received a data breach notification from AECOM may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud and is encouraged to come forward.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the reported AECOM breach. A successful case could recover compensation for losses such as lost time, out-of-pocket costs, and loss of privacy, and could push AECOM to strengthen how it protects personal information. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Steps to Protect Yourself

Review your account statements and credit reports regularly and stay alert for suspicious activity.Confirm whether your information was involved in the AECOM incident.Preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach.Consider placing fraud alerts and enrolling in credit monitoring.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The reported data breach and the hackers’ claims described above are unconfirmed.

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SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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iScreen Reaches No. 1 in Graphics & Design Across 94 Markets Following iOS 27 Update

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Extra-large widget experiences, iOS 27-inspired themes and new customization tools drive iScreen’s latest global growth

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — iScreen, a mobile customization app for iOS and Android, announced that it has reached No. 1 in the Graphics & Design category across 94 countries and regions following its latest iOS 27-focused update.

The update expands iScreen’s Home Screen customization experience with new extra-large widgets, iOS 27-inspired themes, layouts optimized for new screen proportions, and AI-assisted design tools.

Extra-Large Widgets

Built for the larger widget canvas available in iOS 27, iScreen’s new extra-large widgets go beyond simply scaling up existing formats. The collection includes Photo, Album, Music, Calendar, Interactive Refrigerator and Quick Launch widgets, among others. Users can also customize content, layouts and visual styles to create more functional and expressive Home Screen experiences.

iOS 27-Inspired Themes and iPhone Duo Theme Support

iScreen has introduced new iOS 27-inspired themes that combine coordinated wallpapers, transparent-style widgets, icons and other visual elements into complete Home Screen setups.

Selected themes have also been optimized for iPhone Duo’s screen proportions and display dimensions, with wallpapers, widgets and icons adjusted to better fit the new format while maintaining a cohesive visual experience.

AI-Assisted Home Screen Design

iScreen is also testing AI Home Screen Designer with a limited group of users. The feature generates coordinated design suggestions based on users’ preferences for style, color and visual elements, combining wallpapers, widgets and icons into a unified setup.

“The latest iOS update has opened up new possibilities for mobile personalization,” said the iScreen team. “We want to turn those capabilities into practical and creative experiences that make Home Screen design easier and more expressive.”

About iScreen

iScreen is a mobile customization app offering widgets, wallpapers, themes and Home Screen customization tools for iOS and Android devices. With more than 100 million users worldwide, iScreen has ranked No. 1 in Graphics & Design across 94 countries and regions and has been featured by Apple Editorial in 128 countries for five consecutive days.

Official Website: iScreen – Phone Style, iScreen it!
iOS Download: ‎‎iScreen – Widgets & Wallpaper App – App Store
Android Download: iScreen Google Play

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/iscreen-reaches-no-1-in-graphics–design-across-94-markets-following-ios-27-update-302883972.html

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