diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index dcdb8dd..905e0a9 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name=onixlabs-corda-core
 group=io.onixlabs
-version=4.0.0-rc1
+version=4.0.0-rc2
 onixlabs.development.jarsign.keystore=../lib/onixlabs.development.pkcs12
 onixlabs.development.jarsign.password=5891f47942424d2acbe108691fdb5ba258712fca7e4762be4327241ebf3dbfa3
diff --git a/onixlabs-corda-core-contract/src/main/kotlin/io/onixlabs/corda/core/contract/Extensions.AbstractParty.kt b/onixlabs-corda-core-contract/src/main/kotlin/io/onixlabs/corda/core/contract/Extensions.AbstractParty.kt
index 315703a..34e3c24 100644
--- a/onixlabs-corda-core-contract/src/main/kotlin/io/onixlabs/corda/core/contract/Extensions.AbstractParty.kt
+++ b/onixlabs-corda-core-contract/src/main/kotlin/io/onixlabs/corda/core/contract/Extensions.AbstractParty.kt
@@ -20,6 +20,20 @@ import net.corda.core.crypto.SecureHash
 import net.corda.core.identity.AbstractParty
 import java.security.PublicKey
 
+/**
+ * Guarantees strict equality between the current [AbstractParty] and the other [AbstractParty].
+ *
+ * @param other The other [AbstractParty] to compare with the current [AbstractParty].
+ * @return Returns true if the current [AbstractParty] and the other [AbstractParty] are strictly equal; otherwise, false.
+ */
+fun AbstractParty.strictEquals(other: AbstractParty): Boolean {
+    val equalByReference = this === other
+    val equalByThisOther = equals(other)
+    val equalByOtherThis = other == this
+
+    return equalByReference || (equalByThisOther && equalByOtherThis)
+}
+
 /**
  * Gets the owning keys from an [Iterable] of [AbstractParty].
  *